The Spire

the electronic newsletter of

First Parish of Norwell,

Unitarian Universalist

In - Spire - ing News UUs Can Use

September 24, 2023

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In This Issue

Sunday Worship

From the Minister

Spiritual Snack

Welcome from the UUA President

From the Director of Community Engagement

Rev. Susan's Installation

Community Engagement Fair

Alliance

First Parish Book Group

Yoga Classes Return

Monthly Lunchtime Poetry Group

Movie Outing

Message from the Treasurer

Multiplatform Services on

Sundays at 10 am

Rev. Susan Chorley preaching

unless indicated otherwise

Sunday, September 17: Shared Leadership

Join us during Coffee Hour for a Community Engagement Fair - please see the full article below for more information..

Sunday September 24: Radical Welcome

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Meeting ID: 897 5190 2462

Passcode: Welcome

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+1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 897 5190 2462

Please send your joys and concerns to Rev. Susan by 8:30 am on Sundays. be sure to tell her if your news can be shared with the congregation or if it should be kept private.

From the Minister

One key aspect of Unitarian Universalism is our belief that ministry of the congregation does not belong exclusively to ordained clergy, but to everyone. I like this quote by Henry Ford on leadership and community: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

This coming Sunday we will explore the importance of shared leadership within our congregation. Following worship our fellowship time will include a community engagement fair - during which all members and friends can learn about committees and initiatives of the congregation and how to get involved.

It takes all of us to build and create a community of care and support, justice and play, music and joy. See you Sunday and look forward to broadening our vision of shared leadership this year.

Rev. Susan

Spiritual Snack

"All the months are crude experiments, out of which the perfect September is made.”

~Virginia Woolf

Welcome, in this Season of Return

The Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, elected UUA President at General Assembly in June 2023, offers a message of welcome at the start of a new congregational year for Unitarian Universalists. Rev. Dr. Betancourt also invites all UUs into a shared ministry together to reimagine the workings and expressions of Unitarian Universalist faith, while holding on to the traditions, theology, and commitments that have made us who we are.

From the Director of Community Engagement

Hello, First Parish Family,

It was WONDERFUL to see so many of you last Sunday as we kicked off the church year. I’m really excited to have so many children in our program and so many upcoming events on our calendar – it’s going to be a great year! Here are just a few of the things that will be going on all year:

Coffee Hour Service Projects – These monthly projects will continue as easy and rewarding ways that members of the whole church community can help others before they head home. On September 24 we will assemble art kits for Boston Children’s Hospital, and on October 29 we will make no-sew blankets for Project Linus. Throughout the year we will make cards, weed gardens, sing carols, collect school supplies, and raise awareness. All are invited to participate!
World Religions Study – Each month we will focus on a different faith in a congregation-wide study of world religions. In addition to RE classes, look for suggested readings, interfaith poetry group meetings, special holiday celebrations and multigenerational learning during services.
Sunday Signing – Each Sunday I will teach an ASL sign as part of the service, because we have members who communicate with manual language and because it’s always great to be more inclusive. We can learn and practice these new signs together!

I hope you are as excited about this programming as I am – if so, please spread the word and bring someone new to see what we have to offer for Bring a Friend Sunday, on Sunday, September 24. Our service will be a great one for newcomers and our RE classes have an especially fun lesson planned – in addition to the service project during Coffee Hour. It’ll be a great introduction to First Parish of Norwell!

Thank you to all of those who have signed up to be an RE assistant – you are making our program possible! We still have MANY slots available If you’d like to sign up.

Looking forward to learning and doing good things together,

Amanda

Rev. Susan's Installation

There's only 17 days until Rev. Susan is formally installed as our next settled minister! Many of you have asked how you can help... Becky Smock and Wendy Brown are coordinating the reception afterwards and are looking for volunteers (serving food, ushering, set up/clean up). We are also asking members to bring iced tea or lemonade, either store bought or home made. In lieu of gifts, there will be a collection during the service that will benefit two organizations especially close to her heart: the UU Urban Ministry and the North/South Rivers Watershed Association. Most importantly, please come celebrate on Sunday. October 1 at 4 pm! If you are unable to attend in person, we hope you will join us on Zoom.

please click here to join us on Zoom on October 1

Meeting ID: 824 8382 2267

Passcode: Susan!

Community Engagement Fair

Loving the community at FPN and looking to get more involved? Wonderful! Join us on Sunday, September 17 after worship for a chance to learn about all the possibilities where you can offer your time, energy and passions to furthering the mission of our community. There are lots of ways to be a part of FPN from sharing in leadership during worship to making food for the Community Dinner - plus so much more.

Come and explore the ways you can build connections here and support activities and initiatives for ourselves and our neighbors.

Alliance

African Safari

Join us in the Parish Hall for a talk by Dave Horton of Scituate on his June 2018 African Safari in South Africa. The itinerary included a short stay in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia - then on to Durbin - for a bus ride to ZULU NYALA game lodge - where they "safaried" twice daily for a week. They visited three different game parks and saw virtually every animal native to the area. Then they visited Johannesburg for a bit and then flew to Hong Kong for a few days before coming back to Boston. It was the best adventure he and Gail have ever had. Please join us at 10 am on Wednesday, September 20 for refreshments and this wonderful program.

First Parish of Norwell Book Group

Please join us for any or all of our monthly book discussions. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7 pm on Zoom.

Monday, September 18: "All American Boys" by

by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Monday, October 16: Dear America, Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Antonio Vargas

Monday, November 20: "Small Mercies" by Dennis Lehane

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Meeting ID: 847 0898 5879

Passcode: Bookworms

Yoga

Classes

Return!

This Fall our Mental Health Action Team is sponsoring a restorative yoga class led by local yoga teacher, Susan Walsh, in the Parish Hall beginning Thursday, September 28 at 7 pm. Susan teaches for all levels and is skilled at offering options for injuries or other special needs. The first 4 weeks are free and then $10/class moving forward. Come and invite a friend to join you. (Please bring your own mat if you have one.)

Monthly Lunchtime Interfaith Poetry Series

Rev. Susan will be leading an Interfaith Poetry group on a monthly basis this year. On the second Thursday of each month from 12-1 pm we will learn about a unique world religion, as well as a poet who represents that religion. We will then read a poem by that poet and reflect on its meaning for us in this moment as well as its illustration of the religion we are centering. Join us for a lovely and unique way to learn together through the arts.

Thursday, October 12: Buddhism

Thursday, November 9: Indigenous Faiths

Thursday, December 14: Christianity

An Afternoon at the Movies

Thursday, October 19 at 3:30 pm

Barbie was so fun we will do another outing. A little different this time and in Braintree (the film is only in AMC Theaters). So far 2 of us are set to experience the Taylor Swift concert documentary. It’s 2 and a half hours, which will get us out at 6-ish. Dinner at Legals for anyone interested after (it’s about 1/4 mile from the theater at the bottom of the hill). To go, simply get on the AMC website and buy a ticket but do it quickly as they are selling fast. We may not be sitting together but will be at the same show/same theater and can dine afterward. Let Becky Smock know if you would like to be on dinner reservation.

From the Treasurer

In the next few weeks, a tree company will be pruning and taking down selected trees on our properties as we prepare for winter storms and ongoing maintenance. We are letting you know that the evergreen tree next to the Meetinghouse window (on the Kent House side) is on the list to be taken down. Given its visibility from the Meetinghouse and parking lot, I wanted to let you all know in advance.

Unfortunately, as we prepared for the exterior painting project, it became very apparent that the tree is growing too close to the Meetinghouse and causing siding rot, clogged gutters, and wildlife to have access to the building. After a lot of consultation with tree experts and the dedicated volunteers and professionals that care for our buildings, we determined its best to take the tree down and re-plant the area in the future with trees appropriately distanced and sized to compliment the Meetinghouse. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to care for our historic buildings.