What's Happening
at First Parish -
Our Weekly Newsletter

August 28 - September 8, 2019


 We aspire to be a beacon
of liberal religion, strong community,
and transformative service.

We aspire to be a Beacon of…..
 … Liberal Religion
Sunday September 8  Stone Soup
Celebrate our community and the start of the new church year with our annual blessing of the backpacks, computer bags, or whatever symbolizes the work of this season for you. We will also be collecting school supplies for Scituate schoolchildren who cannot afford them (further information in the article below). The choir will be back in full voice. We are in need of coffee hour hosts and greeters.

There will be no service on
September 1, 2019.
Reflection from Last Sunday
On Sunday August 25, The congregation was led in a reflection process of the poem The Silence of the Stars by David Wagoner. You can do your own reflection on it here: 
September's Community Book Discussion on Issues of Diversity
If you're looking for something to read on the beach, by the pool, or while you're hiding from the rain, consider picking up the book we'll be discussing on Tuesday September 17 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) in the Book Club Room at the Scituate Town Library:  All about Love by bell hooks. In this short book, the first of a trilogy on love, author, professor, and feminist bell hooks offers a re-definition of love, not as romance but as the basis of a social ethic for individuals and nations. Copies of the book are available in the library system and also in a pdf version:   http://wtf.tw/ref/hooks.pdf
Womensphere UU Retreat for Women
Womensphere, a Unitarian Universalist women's group in south-eastern New England, invites ALL women to the 2019 Fall Retreat "Circle of Women - Circle of Friends" at Senexet House in Woodstock, CT, on Saturday Sept. 28th - Sunday, Sept. 29th. Come, explore ritual in our lives and honor Gaia and our world. Join singing, dancing, crafts, games, meditation, and sharing. For more details, email  bcdwomensphere@gmail.com
Religious Education 2019-2020
In our three year rotation of themes (World Religions, Bible stories, and UU history, tradition, and practice), this coming year is our UU year. We are taking a slightly different approach this year, with curriculum September-January focused on history and tradition, and then in the spring using the hands on curriculum In Our Hands , a peace and justice curriculum which will involve the RE participants and discussing what they can do to make a difference in the world and choosing projects, depending on their age groups, to carry out.

In the fall, we will have a new nursery-preK group learning about the church and their place in it with the curriculum Chalice Children ; grades K-2 will learn stories of the seven principles, grades 3-5 will travel in time to learn about our UU ancestors and perhaps visit Concord, MA, to learn more about Emerson, Thoreau, and the Alcotts. The junior high group will look at values and ethics through the framework of the TV series Buffy the Vampire . High school students are invited to participate in our Coming of Age program, the UU version of a confirmation or a bar or bah mitzvah. Senior high students are also invited to participate in the SciCohRockWell youth group.

Teachers and leaders are needed for all these programs and for In Our Hands in the Spring. Teachers are asked to make a 10 Sunday commitment over the course of the year.

For planning purposes it would be very helpful if you could register your children at you earliest convenience, using the form ( please click here ) and either scanning it and sending it back to the church office, mailing it, or dropping it off. You may also pay the RE registration fee on-line ( click here for payment ) , or mail or bring in your check. If the fee is a hardship, please speak with Bill or Pam and it will be waived.
Transformative Service
Men’s Ministry
The next meeting is Saturday September 7, 2019. They will be putting in plantings in the church gardens. All men and boys are welcome. Please contact the office if you plan to attend, have questions or suggestions for future projects, or would like to be on the mailing list.
School Supplies for Scituate Students
As part of our backpack blessing on September 8, we will be collecting new and unused school supplies for Scituate Community Christmas to distribute through the schools. Items needed include: water bottles, glue sticks, children's scissors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, 3-ring binders, dividers, notebook paper, index cards, highlighters, and pencils. Please consider buying some extra supplies when out shopping for your own student.
The Scituate Food Pantry Needs....
Coffee, sugar, toothpaste & toothbrushes, juice boxes, and mustard.
Please bring items to church on September 15.
Are You Concerned About Diversity in Scituate?
Come learn about the work of Scituate's Unity Council and how to get involved on Thursday, September 12, 6:30-8 p.m., in the Gates Middle School Dining Commons. The Unity Council has been meeting for a few years, offering opportunities for conversation about issues arising in town and in the world, and is looking to refocus those efforts as it also begins to work with the Unity Councils of Cohasset and Hingham. 
Calendar for August 28- September 8

Wed. 28th
10:30 am Fididdlers

Sat. 31st
5:30 am Sunrise Service - Overdose Awareness

Sun. 1st
No Worship Service

Wed. 4th
10:30 am Fididdlers

Fri. 6th
6:00 pm Parent/Diversity Meeting

Sat. 7th
8:00 am Men's Ministry

Sun. 8th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship - Multigen- Blessing of the Backpacks


Save the Date

September 28th
Blue Boat Coffeehouse

September 29th
Synergy Sunday

October 13th
Animal Blessing Service

November 2nd
Silent Movie Night - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Our Mission
Liberal Faith: We commit to participate side-by-side across generations  in worship, religious education, social activities, environmental protection,
and social justice work—learning, sharing, and growing together. 

Strong Community : We commit to care for one another, nurture the light that shines within each of us, and support each other’s individual search for truth and meaning.
 
Transformative Service: We commit to pursue diversity, justice, equality, reason, and discourse;
provide inspiration through music, creativity, and the arts;
and work cooperatively to affect positive change in our community and beyond.