What's Happening
at First Parish -
Our Weekly Newsletter
October 30 - November 9, 2019
We aspire to be a beacon
of liberal religion, strong community,
and transformative service.
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We aspire to be a Beacon of…..
… Liberal Religion
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All Souls Sunday November 3, 2019
Love Continues
Our annual multigenerational celebration of All Souls Day, when we remember loved ones who have died and our Universalist good news that they are still connected to us through love. Please email the names of people close to you who have died since last All Souls Day by Wednesday October 30 to Pam. You are invited to bring photographs and other mementos of people you are remembering to place in the sanctuary. We could also use some pots of white mums for the sanctuary; please let us know if you plan to bring one.
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Sunday November 10, 2019
No Other Gods: Are the Ten Commandments Relevant In a Secular World? Anne Robertson, guest preacher
Especially since Alabama Judge Roy Moore literally carved the Ten Commandments into stone and insisted on their public display, the Ten Commandments have had a prominent and divisive place in our cultural, religious, and legal debates. But does that have to be the case? Is there anything in that ancient moral code that could find resonance with those who long for a just world in the 21st century? Might that relevance extend beyond church walls? We’ll take a look. The choir will sing
Let There Be Light .
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From the Minister
All Souls Day is one of the holiest days in our church year and one of the most important. It remembers the good news crucial to our Universalist ancestors: that far from facing damnation after death, everyone one would continue to be embraced by love. In a time when it was common for people to hear sermons proclaiming that hell waited for all the unsaved, like the famous "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards in which he described the threat facing all human life: “[the Devil]... stands waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it...," the Universalist message much have eased people's fears and dread like rain after a drought.
Though the Universalists preached their message so well that it is now not uniquely ours, still it is important to remember and to share. For still there are traditions which preach hell and damnation to all who vary from what they see as the correct way to live. And for all who grieve for loved ones gone, it helps us to remember that we are still connected to them through the love that bound us which never dies. I look forward to celebrating that love again with you this Sunday.
See you in Church,
Pamela
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Remembering our Beloved Dead
Every year during our celebration of the Universalist holy day All Souls, we remember the good news that our family and friends who have died are still connected to us in the Love which holds us all, and we read aloud the names of loved ones who have died since last All Souls Sunday. If you have lost family or friends this year and would like to have them remembered, please send their names to Pamela Barz.
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Minister's Community Office Hours
Join the Minister for conversation at the Lucky Finn on Thursday October 31, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Bring your ideas, your thoughts, your questions. Have friends who might be interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and First Parish - bring them along!
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SNOWFLAKE FAIR – Just Over Five Weeks Away!
Saturday, December 7, 2019
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Snowflake Fair is a beloved community event, a fun way to serve the church, and a wonderful way to get to know other members of the congregation.
It is also our largest fundraiser of the year! All members and friends of the church are invited to support this event in ways large and small!
Please sign up on the signup board in the Sloop Room, or send an email indicating how you would like to participate.
- Decorate! Come to the church the evening of Wednesday, December 4 to decorate wreaths to sell at the fair.
- Bake, Cook, and Can! We have tables selling homemade baked goods, fudge and candy, and jams, jellies, and pickles. All contributions are welcome! We also need chowders, chilis, and cornbread for the kitchen.
- Craft! Knitted, sewn, beaded, painted, felted, constructed, and other crafted items. Wearable or giftable. Holiday themed or otherwise.
- Plant! Plants for gifting such as paperwhite bulbs, herbs, air plants, and houseplants.
- Re-gift, Re-use, and Upcycle! Quality costume and vintage jewelry, holiday décor, and other items. For Vintage Jewelry table, Holiday Gifts & Decor table, and Kids’ Shopping Room.
- Coordinate! Please sign up to coordinate a table or activity! We will pair you up with someone else if you need help.
- Think creatively! Let us know if you have an idea for something new. If there's not enough time to get it going this year, we can consider it for next year.
- Post! Help us advertise by posting flyers around town.
- Prep! Help us prepare the space by staying for an extra half hour after coffee hour on Sunday, December 1.
- Set up! Help us set up tables and decorate in the days before the fair.
- Staff! We need adults and teens to cover shifts the day of the fair. No experience needed! Sign up for a specific table or activity or we will assign you where needed.
- Clean up! Stay after the fair is over to clean up, clear out, and put the sanctuary and Sloop Room back in order.
· SHOP! Even if you can’t help staff the fair, please come by and shop. We offer some of the best hand-crafted and home-made fair items in town!
Stay tuned for additional information about the Snowflake Fair in What’s Happening and on Sunday mornings.
-Team Snowflake
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First Parish Needs Your Help!
Here's how you can serve our church and strengthen our community this week.
We need:
- Coordinator(s) for our annual Thanksgiving Soup Lunch on 11/24
- Soup-makers for the Thanksgiving lunch
- Donors of mum plants for 11/3
- Clockwinders for the sanctuary clock
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Sign-up for the Bottle and Can Fund Raiser!
The opportunity came up for First Parish to partner with St. Luke’s church, next month, for what we affectionately know of as “Dump Duty.” We have signed on for November 1
st through November17th.
For those who are new to this fun activity, it means sorting the redeemable bottles and cans at the transfer station and turning them in at the redemption center in Cohasset. Shifts are usually 3 hrs, but we can vary those to fit a sorter’s schedule. We make sure that an experienced sorter will be with newcomers, to show them the ropes.
The Men’s Ministry is taking the lead on this, however we will be asking for help from all of the willing folks from our church.
There will be more discussion and reminders about this in the upcoming weeks. In addition, First Parish is signed up for the month of March 2020.
Bottles & Cans Coordinator
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Teams Hosting Coffee Hour This Year
This year we are trying to make hosting coffee hour easier for everyone by eliminating the sign-up sheet. We will try this for the year and see if it works!
We randomly created fifteen teams so each team will host coffee hour
two times
during the year. More people will lessen the work and expense. More people
doesn’t
mean “more food”! Let’s bring simpler snacks which makes clean-up easier.
If you do not see your name on any team and you want to be included, please let us know and we will include you. Also, if you feel you cannot serve in this way, you may ask to be removed from the teams list.
If you can’t be there on the date, you could supply some snacks and give them to a team member to bring to church.
Each team consists of four to six people. Duties include setting the table, putting snacks on serving plates, make the coffee and heat tea water, wash the dishes and put the trash in the shed. The team will also bring a quart of half and half and juice. We will send out a more details of how to set up.
Thank you for trying this!!! Please call or email if you have a question.
The Parish Committee
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Peter Krasinski and The Hunchback of Notre Dame
This Saturday November 2, 2019 at 7:30 pm
AN UNUSUAL MUSICAL EVENT! HISTORIC PIPE ORGAN MEETS THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME!
We are proud to present another unique and extraordinary event for all ages at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Scituate on Saturday evening, November 2: concert-quality music, a classic Hollywood silent film, and the pleasure of hearing the peal of the church’s unique, antique pipe organ. The event will be held
from 7:30 to 9:00 pm., and is by cash admission of $15 per person (16 and under free).
Award-winning silent film improv organist Peter Krasinski will once again bring his story-telling artistry to interpret the classic silent movie,
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, performing on the church’s historic and recently-renovated 1906 Hook & Hastings pipe organ. Mr. Krasinski skillfully adds an extra thrill with his brilliant rendition of plots and characters … an event not to be missed!! A dark church, dramatic organ music and Quasimodo … an unusual and wonderful experience on a Saturday night!
Here is a link to the flyer, please print it out and post it in stores and businesses which accept community notices, and anywhere else people might be interested.
Hunchback Flyer
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Send messages of peace and joy this holiday season with these beautiful and ethically made cards. Cards and envelopes are 100% recycled paper and packaging is biodegradable. Printed by union workers and published in the USA. Check out our complete selection of holiday cards
online at in Spirit
, the UU book and gift
shop.
and stay tuned for our holiday guide!
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Celebrate and honor the earth this holiday season with these special cards. Message inside: "Let us honor the great spiral of life in this season of renewal."
Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.
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These beautiful cards are sure to bring others joy and happiness during the holiday season. Message inside: "Celebrate the Holidays with Joy, Compassion & Community." Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.
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Italian-born Paolo Domeniconi's whimsical children's book illustrations have been celebrated and enjoyed around the globe by children and adults alike. This lovely illustration of a wintry scene is no different and will be sure to bring a smile to your recipient. Message inside: "May the season bring to you gifts of Song & Light" Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.
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Serving with the Men's Ministry on Saturday
First Parish's Men's Ministry meets on the first Saturday of the month to help people in need in Scituate with moving, home repair and maintenance. On Saturday November 2, they'll gather for breakfast at 8 a.m. and then serve in the community. All men and boys of the congregation are welcome. Please contact us if you have questions or ideas or would like to be on his email list.
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Mass Power Forward Environmental Justice & Action Training
Thur Nov 7, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
First Parish of Norwell Unitarian Universalist, 24 River St. Norwell
Please RSVP - it's an important part of preparing for this event
RSVP Link
Join us for this Mass Power Forward Coalition training on building power and achieving our Environmental Justice and Legislative Action priorities. The training includes:
- A brief overview about the Mass Power Forward Coalition
- The central role of environmental justice in achieving our legislative outcome priorities
- Intel & action on engagement with local legislators
- Small group breakout sessions to plan next steps for local engagement
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Community Soup Suppers?
In her sermon on Sunday October 20, a vision of First Parish hosting community soup suppers to bring people together, promote vegetarian meals and composting, and work together to heal the environment has laid out. (If you missed the sermon, you can read it here:
Practice Resurrection
. In the sermon she invited people to gather after the service on October 27 to discuss the idea, but because of a conflict, that gathering is rescheduled for after the service on November 3.
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Calendar for October 30-November 10
Wed. 30th
10:30 am Fididdlers
Thurs. 31st
9:30 am Minister's Community Office Hours
Sat. 2nd
8:00 am Men's Ministry
7:30 pm Silent Movie Night with Organist
Peter
Krasinski
Sun. 3rd
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am All Souls service
11:45 am Community Soup Supper Meeting
Wed. 6th
10:30 am Fididdlers
7:00 pm RE Committee Meeting
Sun. 10th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship and RE
5:00 pm Youth Group - Rockland
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Save the Date
November 16th
Blue Boat Coffeehouse
December 4th
Wreath Making
December 7th
Snowflake Fair
December 15th
Christmas Music Sunday
December 22nd
Pageant
December 22nd
Community Solstice Service, 4 p.m. at St. Luke's
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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.
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