First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
What's Happening Newsletter
November 2020
We aspire to be a beacon of ...
...Liberal Faith
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All Souls Sunday November 1 The Path They Laid
For our Universalist ancestors All Souls Day, November 2, was one of their two major holy days. (The other was Ascension Day.) All Souls Day celebrates our great good news that living and dead, in this life and whatever comes next, we are all held in Love.
For those who listened to their preaching in the 18th and 19th century, hearing that they and their loved ones were not doomed to spend eternity in hell came as a huge relief. And even in our time, this understanding still needs to be heard. This Sunday as we remember loved ones who have died and the Love which still connects us we will also remember their qualities and actions which left us and the world better. The Music Director will provide music and Moira and Michael will sing Remember Me from the Pixar movie Coco. Because of the forecast of rain, this service will be held over Zoom.
Pamela invites your participation in 3 ways:
- Please fill out the form with names of loved ones who have died since All Souls Day 2019:
- and with descriptive phrases about the people you are remembering, who may have died at any time, such as "She never met a child she didn't enchant." "He tried to limit his carbon footprint." "She took pride in her roses." "He loved to wear the color pink." "She always said 'hello' to everyone." The sentences should be particular - to give us a feel for the person - rather than the more general "She was kind." These phrases will be set out in the memorial garden to form a meditative walk for the service. You may send Pam as many as you would like.
- On the day of the service place photos of loved ones who have died where you can see them.
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Daylight Savings Time this Weekend!
Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday at 2 a.m! Before you go to bed Saturday night, you'll want to turn your clocks back an hour, so you're not early for the service!
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Sunday November 8, 2020 Our Truest Power
Buddhist scholar and environmental activist Joanna Macy writes, "It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest power." It can often though be difficult to feel powerful in uncertain times. How can we come alive to that power in these times? Pamela will lead this service. Weather permitting, we will gather outside for worship.
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From the Minister
As I write on October 28th, planning for our life together in the coming month, it's hard to know what that life will look like: Who will be president? Will we have a peaceful transition of power? Will schools be open? What will we do for Thanksgiving? Though we don't have answers yet, I do know that throughout the uncertainties and whatever answers may come, the First Parish community will be here, supporting one another, encouraging one another, and standing for truth and compassion for all people.
This newsletter contains ways we will gather for support and for action. If you have other ways you'd like to see us come together, please speak with me or with a member of the Parish Committee, our governing body (Mary, Carey, Lin, Anthony, Sheri, Damian, and Patty). And please remember that if you (or your child) would like to talk about how you're doing, I am here to listen.
peace,
Pam
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Resources for Election Day |
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On the evening of Monday November 2, Pamela invites you to share what's on your mind during "Let's Talk." from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The hour will begin with a chalice lighting, a reading, and some silence. You are invited to have a candle near you to light.
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On Election Day, the Scituate clergy are hosting Anchored in Hope a Meditation Walk. Beginning at 8 a.m., every 30 minutes, members of the clergy will lead a meditation walk around Lawson Common to help us de-stress, ground ourselves in hope, and remember that we are one community, united in our desire for a future of peace for all people. The last walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. Older children are welcome to participate.
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At noon on Election Day the churches will ring their bells for one minute, calling us to pause and remember all that holds us together as a nation. We are looking for someone to ring our bell at that time. Please let Pam know if you can help.
Also on Election Day, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., UU ministers from around the country are offering Spiritual Grounding for Election Day, a space for respite, positive energy, peace and spiritual practice. Different UU ministers will be leading every 15 minutes. You may join in at any time and stay as long as you want. It will take place over Zoom:
And on Wednesday Nov. 4, between 1 and 4 p.m., our sanctuary will be open for prayer and meditation. Pamela will be present if you would like to talk. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing.
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Notes from Beth 🎶🎶🎶🎼🎶🎶🎶
Choir rehearsals continue outside at the back of the church on Sunday mornings in good weather. 9:00-9:45. We’ve been surprisingly warm! In poor weather we will have choir rehearsals over zoom.
Bell Choir - Cathie, Vicki, Sarah , Laura, Mary, Frank and Mark have joined in the fun. If you would like to learn how to play our bells, we will rehearse the last Sunday of each month in the sloop room in lieu of the singing choir rehearsal. This month we’re going to learn Deck the Hall and The Holly and the Ivy.
11/1, 8, 15, and 22: Choir rehearsal
11/29: Bell Choir rehearsal
Looking Ahead: Noah and Beverly recorded music videos and we will hear them this month. We will also hear the choir’s anthem O Music.
-Music Director
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Monday Night Meditation - November 9
This is the last Monday Night Meditation for the year. Join Brian for 45 minutes of meditation and reflection on November 9. Meditation relieves stress and promotes restful sleep.
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Tea with the Minister
Thursdays November 5, 12, and 19
Grab your mug and join Pamela for conversation from the comfort of your own home, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. You don't have to come for the whole time - drop in as fits your schedule.
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Thanksgiving Morning Walk
This Thanksgiving holiday, many of us will not be gathering with family or friends as usual. We can't have a church Thanksgiving dinner, but we can come together outside on Thanksgiving Day. The Parish Committee invites everyone to a walk on the Carl Pipes Trail in Scituate beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday Nov. 26. Details to follow.
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Outdoor Snowflake Fair: Call for Volunteers
We hope to make this a festive event in these times of global worries, so please consider volunteering in any way you can and feel comfortable.
There are many opportunities to contribute from making baked goods, fudge and crafts, decorating wreaths, delivering fliers to public sites, hosting a lawn sign, setting up and decorating tables and canopies, staffing the booths, and clean-up.
Leaders are needed for some of the sub-committees. Please contact Sarah or Kim if you are willing to take a spot.
The market will be open from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, December 5. If the market is cancelled that day because of inclement weather, our alternate date will be December 12, same times. Please note, the market may be cancelled because of Covid concerns, in which case, we still hope to sell trees and wreaths. We are currently not making plans for on-line selling unless another group wishes to take on that project.
Please also note, we encourage buyers to use credit cards and Venmo to reduce the use of cash for extra safety. We also are looking for loans of canopies to cover the market tables.
Detailed guidelines for safety during the market can be found on our website.
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...Transformative Service |
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Scituate Food Pantry
We are doing a soft-re-opening for community food donations by asking for 10 items listed on our website: Scituate Food Pantry and FaceBook. In order to process this food, we will be asking for 5 additional volunteers, 3 on Tues mornings and 2 on Thurs afternoons. Please sign up on our website if you'd like to volunteer.
We are still pursuing the Cafeteria of the old Gates School building as a temporary home for the SFP in order to get more space and be on one level.
We are sponsoring a SALUTE TO SERVICE DAY at the SFP for ALL Veterans in Scituate! It's on Friday Nov 13 at 11 am in the parking lot. There will be gifts, food, refreshments, music, decorations, etc. to celebrate our in-town heroes! Please come and join us for this celebration!
Following right up on that, we will again be doing our Thanksgiving dinner event and then our Christmas dinner event right after that.
-Scituate Food Pantry
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The Month to Come
Sun. 1st
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
3:00 pm Love Shows Up for Justice
6:00 pm SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting
Mon. 2nd
7:30 pm Let’s Talk
Tues. 3rd
8-11 am Anchored in Hope
7:00 pm Picture Book World Religions
Wed. 4th
1-4 pm Sanctuary open
Thurs. 5th
4:30 pm Tea with the Minister
7:00 pm A World of New Friends
Sat. 7th
12:00 pm Private Service in the Memorial Garden
Sun. 8th
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
Mon. 9th
8:00 pm Meditation
Tues. 10th
7:00 pm Picture Book World Religions
Thurs. 12th
4:30 pm Tea with the Minister
7:00 pm A World of New Friends
Sun. 15th
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
6:00 pm SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting
Tues. 17th
7:00 pm Picture Book World Religions
7:30 pm Parish Committee Meeting
Thurs. 19th
4:30 pm Tea with the Minister
7:00 pm A World of New Friends
Sun. 22nd
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
Tues. 24th
7:00 pm Picture Book World Religions
Thurs. 26th
10:00 am Thanksgiving Walk - Carl Pipes Trail
Sun. 29th
9:00 am Bell Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
6:00 pm SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting
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