The Spire

the electronic newsletter of

First Parish of Norwell,

Unitarian Universalist

In - Spire - ing News UUs Can Use

March 27, 2024

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In This Issue

Sunday Worship

Easter Celebration

From the DCE

Spiritual Snack

Caring Corner

Office Closed April 2

Stewardship Update

From the Parish Committee

Helen Fogg Outreach Committee Meeting

Community Dinners

Side With Love Gatherings

Shared Ministry Team

Yoga Classes

Radical Welcome Program

Climate Justice Team

Passover Seder

Mental Health Action Team Webinar

Online Photo Directory

First Parish Book Group

Poetry Discussion Group

Ongoing/Recurring Events

Multiplatform Services on

Sundays at 10 am

Rev. Susan Chorley preaching

unless indicated otherwise

March 31: Longing for Alleluia

(Easter Sunday)

Derek Sulc, worship associate

For those joining in person, we will close our worship with a processional and an all-congregation photo on the front steps of the Meetinghouse.

Please see the Easter Sunday Celebration article to the right for more information on the Easter Breakfast and egg hunt for the little ones.

click here to join Easter Sunday

Meeting ID: 831 8312 7593

Passcode: Transform

Dial by your location

+1 305 224 1968

Meeting ID: 831 8312 7593

Our worship and Soul Matters theme for the month of April is Interconnectedness, referencing our Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We look forward to exploring together this sacred invitation to us as individuals, as a congregation and as a global community.

April 7: Practicing Community

Following the service, please join our Stewardship for Us consultant, Rev. Sara Green for a conversation. She will share with us about the work of her organization and will present her initial thoughts/takeaways from her time among us. All members and friends are strongly encouraged to attend. Childcare will be provided.

April 14: Special guest Matt Meyer

April 21: Blessing of the Animals

Pets should be on a leash or in a carrier. You may bring a picture of a shy pet who would rather stay home, or who has passed away. Children may also bring their favorite stuffed animal.

April 28: Multigenerational Service

Our RE classes will share their learnings from both Hindu and Jewish faiths and cultures.

click here to join any Sunday in April

Hope Weinman (she/her) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Meeting ID: 835 2290 6631

Passcode: Connect

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799

Meeting ID: 835 2290 6631

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. The 4th Sunday of each month will include am "open mic" component to Joys and Concerns.

Easter Sunday Celebration March 31

All are invited to a lovely breakfast in the Parish Hall at 9 am before our worship service.

Our worship service will honor the season of renewal and rebirth in many faiths, and our RE programming will focus on four charities that help kids locally and globally. The service will be followed by an egg hunt where children will find both candy and tokens inside their eggs. They will put the tokens they collect into four jars representing the charities they learned about, and the Fogg Committee will match their tokens with donations to those charities. Kids will leave with a basketful of candy and the satisfaction of having supported charities they helped to choose.

During Coffee Hour, a professional photographer will be on hand to take family portraits.

We are excited to celebrate a very UU Easter with all of you, incorporating a shared meal, world faith traditions and community service into one fun morning. Please feel free to bring friends to celebrate with us!

From the DCE

I love it when my world is COLORFUL! From the sprouts of spring flowers peeking out of the earth to the bins of plastic eggs stuffed and ready for our charitable hunt on Sunday, I’m a sucker for anything brightly-hued. It’s one of my favorite things about this time of year – the pageantry of pigments bursts out of nature and is reflected in so many cultures’ seasonal celebrations, from Easter to Ostara to Holi.

In fact, everything about the study of Hinduism over the past month has been colorful and bright, and that has been so much fun. From learning about blue and yellow and orange gods and goddesses to creating colorful kites, diyas, bracelets and banners to visiting the Hindu Mandir (temple) in Holbrook with its vivid altar, the kids in RE have taken a very colorful tour of this fascinating faith. Want to get in on the fun? Join us for a return visit to the Holbrook Mandir for their Holi Festival on Saturday, April 6 at 9 am. Our whole congregation has been invited to join in the color-throwing festival as well as learn about and participate in Hindu songs and prayers. Contact me for more details .

In April, we begin our congregation-wide study of Judaism. As we move from the plurality of the Hindu faith to the monotheism of the Jewish faith, we can reflect on the commonalities between these two seemingly disparate traditions – and on April 28, a multigenerational service will give everyone the opportunity to make those connections together. There is so much beauty in both faiths – thank you for going on this lovely journey to discover the beauty together.

With love and rainbows,

Amanda

Spiritual Snack

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.

~Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, the second Pakistani and the first Pashtun to receive a Nobel Prize. Yousafzai is a human rights advocate for the education of women and children in her native homeland, Swat, where the Pakistani Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. Her advocacy has grown into an international movement, and according to former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, she has become Pakistan's "most prominent citizen."^[

Caring Corner

With great sadness, we report that Helen Keeler passed away peacefully Tuesday night at Newfield House in Plymouth. Helen was a long time member of First Parish, as well as a former president of the Alliance. During the early stages of the pandemic, she greatly enjoyed viewing our online worship services on her iPad. She is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 5-7 pm at Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home (373 Court Street, Plymouth). A private burial will take place in June. Please click here to view Helen's obituary.

We are grateful that Betsey Detwiler is home and doing well following an overnight stay at South Shore Hospital.

Deanna Riley will be remembered at a memorial service at First Parish of Norwell on Saturday, April 27 at 1 pm, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Please click here to view Deanna's obituary.

Office Closed April 2 - Knitters on Zoom

As part of the project to spruce up our bathrooms, new flooring will be installed on Tuesday, April 2. This will require removing the toilets. Staff will be working remotely, but will be reachable on email. Our emails are hyperlinked at the bottom of this email.

Knitters will take place on Zoom:

click here to join

Meeting ID: 813 1658 3769

Passcode: Knitters

Stewardship Update

We are in the midst of our Stewardship Drive! All around us bulbs are bravely (considering the weather) pushing up their stalks and offering the blooms that we find life affirming. Know what else is blooming? Our response to the invitation to support FPN during the coming year! Many parishioners have already made their pledge, and we appreciate it. If you are also able to help, please send in your pledge or drop if off in the red mailbox outside the Parish Hall. You may also email your pledge to Hope Weinman in the Church Office. Thank you for supporting FPN. (And enjoy the flowers.)

As of March 28, we have received 19 pledges totaling $56,000. Our thanks go to:

Scott and Marcia Babcock, Larry and Karen Baker, Bob Cullum, Peter and Roberta Fairbanks, Bernie and Bev Gardner, Jim and Bethany Gavin, George Goodwin, Ralph and Betsy Gordon, Cathy Harder-Bernier, Carl and Ellen Herling, Dave and Joyce Hockman, Steve Hurt, Joan Kenworthy, Chris and Peg Kitchenham, Mary Mercier, Paul Bourque and Jeannette Mitchell, Becky Smock, Dexter and Sue Robinson and Duane and Sue Wilke.

For the Finance Committee,

John McCann

From the Parish Committee

We are looking forward to our Next Steps weekend on April 5-7 with Stewardship for Us. Here's the schedule for the weekend:

Friday

3:00: Meeting with Church Staff

4:30: Buildings and Grounds Committee

6:30-8: Dinner with the Parish Committee

Saturday

8:30: Drop in for coffee!

9:30: Helen Fogg Outreach and Activities Committees

11:00: RE Committee and Youth Group

12:30: Lunch with Invested Funds and Finance Committees and Treasurer

2:00: Membership and Nominating Committees and Congregational Care Team

3:30: Shared Ministry Team and Worship and Music Committee

Sunday

11:30: Presentation in the Fogg Parlor (childcare provided)

1:00-2:30: Wrap up with the Parish Committee

If you haven't already done so, please complete the following survey (even if you're not a member):

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5FJNN9B

You can also learn more here: https://stewardshipforus.com/

Warmly,

Elizabeth Robinson, Derek Sulc and your Parish Committee

Side with Love Overpass Gatherings

The LGBTQ + Support Group welcomes all who wish to join us on the River Street overpass on Saturday, April 6 from 8-10 am. This is an opportunity to be a public witness to the South Shore being a welcoming and open-hearted space for individuals who are often marginalized due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, class or immigration status. You’re welcome to bring a sign, rainbow or trans pride flag and to dress in bright colors.

Future Side with Love gatherings will happen on the first Saturday of the month through November.

Shared Ministry Team - Right Relations Gathering

Members of our Shared Ministry team are offering this space on a bi-monthly basis for members and friends to come together and reflect on our Right Relations covenant and how we as a community are attending to our shared commitments. It's an opportunity to reflect, share feedback and be honest about our successes and growth edges as a community. Join them on Sunday, April 14 at 11:30 am in the Fogg Parlor. Child care will be provided.

Yoga Program Changes

The yoga class schedule will be changing in April. Class will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month (still at 7 pm). Participants will sign up via a text message to our instructor, Susan Walsh. A minimum of 5 people is needed to run the class. The price per class will go up to $15; students will pay Susan directly in cash or via Venmo. Susan is an excellent teacher who makes accommodations for all levels of fitness. More details will be forthcoming, or you can reach out to Hope in the Church Office. We hope to see you April 11 and 25!

Radical Welcome / Transformative Hearts Collective

Pot Luck Dinner and Discussion - Tuesday, April 2 at 6 pm at the Parsonage (644 Main Street, Norwell)

This gathering is for all folks who have participated in the webinar series led by Rev. Alex Kapitan and Rev. Mykal Slack. We will discuss the final three sessions and begin to imagine together how our congregation can widen our welcome.

Reach out to Rev. Susan or Becky Smock for more information.

Climate Justice Team

Rev. Susan is hosting our team on Friday, April 12 from 6-8 pm at the Parsonage (644 Main Street, Norwell). If you are passionate about the climate and want to learn more about what our group is up to - or - simply want to get more involved, join us!

Reach out to Rev. Susan or Ellen Herling or Bernie Gardner for more information.

Save the Date!

The next meeting of the Helen Fogg Outreach Committee will be on Sunday, April 21 from 11:30 to 12:30 pm in the Skylight Room. All are welcome.

Community Dinners Resume!

Happy Spring everyone! The first Community Dinner of the season is upon us on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 pm in the Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to join us for chicken pot pie, salad, bread and butter and delicious brownies for dessert! Hope to see you then!

Passover Seder – Save the Date!

Mark your calendars now! On Friday, April 26 we will gather in the Parish Hall at 5 pm for a Passover Seder. This special meal tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt in a way filled with symbolism, ceremony, reverence, and gratitude. It will also be filled with fun!

Mental Health Action Team Webinar

On Sunday, April 28 at 7 pm, join us for a Mental Health and Addiction webinar led by AnnMarie Galvin, Project Director of Scituate FACTS (Families, Adolescents and Communities Together Against Substances) and Mark Mulhern, Executive Director of South Shore Peer Recovery. Stay tuned to the Spire and social media for Zoom link. Due to the stigma surrounding the topic, this workshop will be set up as a private webinar, with only the presenters visible on the screen.

New Online Directory

We are moving closer to the finish line in regards to the new online church directory. Thank you all for confirming your contact info with us. (If you haven't, no worries. See Heather Comeau or Hope Weinman in the Church Office.)

If you wish to add your photo to the directory, here's what you need to do:

Use your phone or tablet and take a selfie. Your camera is preset to the highest quality, which is great. All you need to do is send your photo to Heather Comeau. She will upload your photo to the directory for you.
If you don't feel comfortable taking your own photo, Becky Smock or Heather Comeau will gladly help you.

Unfortunately, photos from prior church directories are not available to us. Photos can be imported anytime, so if you don't get to this task, no worries. We can always add the photo later.

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 7:30 pm on Zoom.

Monday, April 15: "The Women" by Kristen Hannah

Monday May 20: "The River We Remember" by William Kent Krueger

click here to join

Meeting ID: 847 0898 5879

Passcode: Bookworms

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. Our meeting dates for the rest of the church year are: April 11, May 9 and June 13.