Second Parish Unitarian Universalist
Hingham, Massachusetts
Glad Tidings
From the Minister –
As I write this column, a firestorm of criticism has been unleashed against Barack Obama over the words of his minister, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Our business at Second Parish is of course not about endorsing particular candidates or participating directly in the process of elections. It is, however, about the faith-basis on which we make decisions as citizens. It is also about the kinds of arrangements that we make to govern ourselves in our free society. Our Union Service with four other local congregations on March 9th, was organized around the theme “Taking the Fifth: Our Religious Practice of Democracy.” In that service we held up a variety of ways of understanding just how dearly we hold our fifth Unitarian Universalist principle – “We covenant to affirm and promote… The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” – as part of our practice of our free religion.
I ended my own reflection at that service by saying that “Our fifth principle affirms that self-governance in our faith communities as well as in our society at large is not only nice to have – it is a critical part of what enables us to become whole people.” In our course on “Faith of Our Founders” which we just finished at Linden Ponds, we went over some of the important ways in which our founders both as a religious tradition and a nation agreed that religion and politics are two very separate spheres and that each must maintain complete independence from the other. At the same time, our founders believed deeply that religious convictions are part of what makes us human, part of what makes us whole. I am therefore troubled when a candidate is held accountable for every word spoken by his or her pastor; words spoken in a religious context are not and should not be taken to be the same as words spoken in a political context.
I am troubled for another reason. One opinion piece in the local press suggested that the author would do his best to ensure that his religious leader was drummed out of the pulpit if he said what Jeremiah Wright said. Regardless of whether we agree or disagree with his words, our tradition places a high value on the freedom of the pulpit. Jesus was often unpopular with the religious leaders of his times, and he himself spoke of how prophets are attacked in their own country. I’m proud to be part of a religious tradition which holds high the freedom of the pulpit. I’m also reminded by this incident that words spoken from the pulpit really do matter. I hope that I occasionally say something that disturbs you or that you disagree with. If not, I’m failing to live up to the prophetic tradition from which our faith grows. It is precisely in those challenges to our zones of comfort that we learn and grow.
In Faith,
Paul
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Important News from the Entire Leadership Board Team Music. Education. Communications. Properties. Publicity. Mission. Faith. Worship. Leadership. What do these words mean at Second Parish? How does each one impact the total experience we have at church? What is their current status or situation? How can they be strengthened? And what are the key actions required to do this? Finally, how do we create and harness the energy to act on the answers to these questions? On Saturday, 15 March, the Leadership Team at its mid-year Retreat pondered what’s presently happening at Second Parish and launched a plan that will involve the entire church in a great leap forward. The consensus of the Board is that we are good now, but we can be better. Another planning session will be held in late March. Then a congregational meeting following the Sunday service on 13 April will give everyone the opportunity to hear more about this exciting venture. -Allan Viden, Leadership Board Chair
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Religious Education
The RE Search Committee is in the process of interviewing three candidates for the Director of Religious Education position. -Helene Soini, Education Chair
Membership
Second Sunday Collection
The collection on April 13th will go to Project Bread, the organization that started the Walk for Hunger forty years ago. What started as a small grassroots educational-action program on hunger is now the leading anti-hunger organization in Massachusetts. More information is at www.projectbread.org. -Dinah Collins, Membership Chair
Music Schedule for April
4/6 Elizabeth Morrell, soprano
4/13 Choir
4/20 Elizabeth Morrell, soprano
4/27 Choir
Covenant Renewal
Our annual Covenant Renewal, the process whereby we reaffirm our commitment to the life of Second Parish and its ministry, will take place in April and May. Members and friends will once again receive a brochure detailing our needs and goals for the coming year. Answers to some questions you may have are included to help you understand the process. We ask you to review the information in your brochure carefully, ask for more explanation if you have questions, and then consider your commitments of time, talent and treasure to Second Parish for the coming church year.
On April 6, Pledge Sunday, the morning service will focus on Covenant Renewal. Brochures will be distributed following the service to those in attendance, or mailed the following week. During the month of April, several members will share brief comments on what our church covenant means to them. After church on April 13 we will have a budget presentation to provide further information about church finances. Finally, we will be asking everyone to return their volunteer and financial pledges by Sunday, May 4.
If you have any questions about the Covenant Renewal process, please see one of the members of the task force:
Bernie Peavey, Susan Weisenbeck, Allan Viden, Paul Sprecher or Kim Shaw.
Community
Men’s Breakfast
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The next men's breakfast will be held at 8:00 a.m. in Cushing Hall on Saturday, April 19th. All men of the parish are welcome to join us for breakfast and conversation. We have no set agenda. Come prepared to talk about anything on your mind. We break promptly at 9:00 a.m. Call Lou Belknap at 781-749-5519 if you can join us, or email him at lsbelknap@verizon.net.
"You can provide now for a future gift to Second Parish UU in Hingham by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust."
Book Group
The Book Group will meet on
Tuesday, April 29th 7:30 p.m., at Lou Belknap’s. The book is
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Any questions, call Jennifer Love at 781-749-3243.
Women’s Sewing Group
Feeling left out of the Men’s Breakfast? The women of the parish gather every Monday morning in Cushing Hall to catch up and create items for next year’s Christmas Fair. Right now, we are working on Christmas ornaments. We will have examples of easy-to-make ornaments on display at coffee hour on Sundays. You can work on projects at home or join us on Mondays to work on these or your own projects. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, April 13, 2008, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Interfaith Seder, at Congregation Sha'aray Shalom
The Seder will focus on the theme of Immigration
Soul Work
This
is to remind you of the upcoming sessions of the Soul Work conversations. Dates
and locations for meetings are:
April 6 and May 4 at Old Ship.
While you
might find participation more meaningful if you have read the chapter, you are
welcome to participate even if you haven't had a chance to do so. And if you
know anyone who might not be receiving this notice who you think might be
interested in participating, please invite them to join us.
Copies of Soul
Work will be available for the reduced price of $18 from Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull,
minister at First Parish UU in Cohasset. To
learn more, contact co-facilitators Jan Carlsson-Bull at 781-383-1100 or JCarlssonb@aol.com or Eva
Marx at 781-749-0485 or tomneva@supportlab.com.
Soul Work:
Conversations Across Congregations is a collaboration of three congregations:
First Parish-Cohasset, First Parish-Old Ship, and
Second Parish.
Update on the 52ndAnnual Exhibit and Sale of Art and Fine Crafts, May 8th-18th
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This month of April will be very active with preparing for the show’s opening, May 7th. Please note that a sign-up sheet will be posted in Cushing Hall for hostessing. We are asking, for those who can, to sign up for more than once. The show has been extended and therefore we are asking for time of two hours each rather than the three hour shift that has been served in the past.
Preceding the event, many of you will be called to help with receiving the art and crafts, hanging the art, and setting up Cushing Hall. Help will be needed starting Saturday, May 3, and then every day until the opening night reception. A call to Sandi or me for what ever you would like to do would be a big help.
The Leadership Board sanctioned the extended times for the show this year. Everyone’s support will help to make it a financial success as well as a beautiful event.
School students K-12th grade (The Junior Division) take note! Remember, if your school does not participate, you are encouraged to enter yourself. Contact Joyce Schreier for information. -Submitted by Becky Weston
Would you like to help?
Senior church member looking for in-home assistance: Light housekeeping, laundry, running errands and transporting to appointments, meal preparation. Two or three days per week, flexible but consistent hours. Hourly rate-$20. Must be reliable and have own car. References and interview required.
For additional information, please contact:
Elizabeth Chamberlain Habich, 978-664-0187 (home/evenings)
Rich Chamberlain, 781-749-7647 (home/evenings)
Anne Chamberlain Tuite, 914-548-5556 (cell)
Water - Justice - Transformation
April 5th 9:30- 2p.m Duxbury 1st Parish Church
What does it mean to be thirsty? What does water represent to us physically, emotionally, politically, spiritually? Is water justice something far away or are we facing a threat increasingly locally?
How Are We Called To Respond As Religious People?
Come explore these and other water justice issues through discussion, music, political action, worship, art, and food experiences. A totally unique day of spiritual reflection and opportunities for collaboration brought to you by BCD congregations and the UUSC. Information and registration forms at the BCD web site: www.bcduua.org
More questions? Contact Nancy Landgren: 781-934-6006
Womensphere-Spring Gathering: Aging with Grace and Spirit
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9:30am-3pm, First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA
Womensphere organizes sacred circle gatherings for women of the Ballou Channing District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our spring gathering will be a day spent celebrating the wonderful journey that aging can be. Our panelists are six wise and spirited women in their 70's, 80's and 90's. Cost is $27 including lunch. A limited number of scholarships are available. To register or for more information, please contact Kate Gillis, 401 823 7929, ksgillis@netzero.net
Join UUs from around the country in Niagara Falls, July 20-23, 2008
Come experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities while being taken care of like royalty. The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every perspective. Spend four days with us exploring the rich history and natural beauty around the Falls. For information visit our web site: http://www.uunex.net/. You don't have to be UU to join us.
Thank you
The family of Shirley Keeler would like to thank everyone at Second Parish for their kindness and help thru this difficult time. God Bless, Joanne R. Storrs
News from our Cooperative Religious Education Program
On UU Union Sunday, about 30 children and young teens enjoyed a great session of drumming and chanting, wonderfully facilitated by Dawna Hammer.
We will have our intergenerational Easter service on March 23, followed by the traditional egg hunt. Many thanks to all who will make it all happen.
Thanks also go to the following teachers Suzette Droster, Anne McGuire, Anna Maude, and Susan Weisenbeck who are helping the children in making clay projects during the spring, under the expert leadership of Alison Crowe.
How do you feel about a high school level Youth Group next year? The Directors of Religious Education, the RE committees, the Ministers, the Leadership boards and others, members of First Parish in Cohasset, First Parish in Norwell, Old Ship and Second Parish in Hingham are talking about creating a joint high school level Youth Group, hopefully by next year. Please contact me about this exciting project and with your ideas.
Beth Morrell’s daughter is serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jordan. She is working with special needs children and would love to receive gently used beginners story books, with pictures and few sentences that she can translate easily. Please bring you donation soon to me and I will pass them on to Beth. Thank you very much.
Happy Spring to all.
-Liliane Verdier
, Director of Religious Education, Lilianevhing@aol.com, 781-749-9581
NOT YOUR AVERAGE YARD SALE!
This one is sure to shake it up a bit. Why…you ask?
This is not a Street Fair where you drop off your stuff and someone else sells it, rather you sell your own stuff and donate as much of your proceeds to the Church as you wish!
A win – win situation. You get to Clean out stuff you don’t want, Spend a day with your friends at Second Parish and help Raise Money for a very good cause.
Saturday June 7th in front of Second Parish Church. (Rain date TBD)
From 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Proceeds to benefit the renovation of Cushing Hall.
As part of our community service effort I would like to invite a local charity such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters to come along with a truck around noon time. We could be a drop off site for anyone in town who would like to donate to that charity and could donate any items we don’t sell at the end of the day!
What we will need:
Bake goodies and donate to the Bake table
Staff the Bake table
Organize and staff a Book table
Cook and sell hotdogs during the event
Sell water and soda
Helpers with a truck to pick up larger items
Set up and take down tables and chairs
Charity coordinator (if we decide this makes sense)
What we won’t need:
We don’t need anyone to move stuff in and out of the barn or go to the dump!! Yeah!
If you bring it to the yard sale, you either sell it, give it away, or take it away!
So, find a buddy, start thinking about items you may wish to sell and get ready for a wonderful day.
Many more details to follow. This is just to get you thinking about the event and ask you to come up with suggestions ideas to make it a huge success!
If you are so curious you just can’t wait, give me a call.
Warning… You’ll be drafted to help. I could really use a co-chair or two. Please!
Thanks much!
Mariann O’Connor 781-749-9896