Second Parish Unitarian Universalist
in Hingham
Glad Tidings
From the Minister –
Come into the circle of caring,
Come into the community of gentleness, of justice and love.
Come and you shall be refreshed.
Let the healing power of this people penetrate you,
Let loving kindness and joy pass through you,
Let hope infuse you
And peace be the law of your heart. In this human circle,
Caring is a calling.
All of us are called.
So come into the circle of caring.
- Richard S. Gilbert
‘Tis the season; perhaps you’ve already been affected by some of the hysteria which starts predictably the day after Thanksgiving (couldn’t we have at least a day of rest after Thanksgiving?) I was always intrigued by the designation of that day as Black Friday in light of the fact that the Great Crash of the Stock Market in 1929 occurred on Black Friday (a little-known fact I faithfully taught my 7th Grade U.S. History class each year). Our modern Black Friday, of course, is the day of the year when the books of retail stores turn from red to black and the profits start rolling in for the rest of the year. There is something a little black about the frenzy for bargains and for new products like PlayStation 3 we saw on that day this year. That frenzy reminds us of the darker side of our commercialized approach to Christmas, where more is better and kids come to expect everything but still come away dissatisfied. In the end, it is the caring that really matters. Find an opportunity this season to visit someone who needs some kindness or hope, someone who can’t get out easily or who just needs a cheerful word. You will find more rewards there than in any department store—unless you take someone who needs a hand shopping with you!
Classes: We’re nearing the end of our “Reading the Bible” course, but we’re considering whether to continue after Christmas with a more intensive approach. In addition, I’m planning to offer an “Introduction to Unitarian Universalism” for four weeks to anyone who is interested in becoming a member or who would just like to have a better sense of what Unitarian Universalism is all about. I would like to offer at least one additional course from among the following: Parents as Religious Educators; Islam (reading Karen Armstrong’s book of that title); Articulating Your UU Faith or Building Your Own Theology. In addition, I’m considering offering a group known as Evensong which would foster deep sharing in a small-group setting, perhaps early Sunday evenings. I’m considering moving my day off to Wednesday to allow classes on Monday as well as Thursday. Our Thursday Reading the Bible classes have been well-attended (about 15 in two sessions), so I would love some feedback about whether Sunday early evening and Mondays afternoon and evening might be a good time for additional classes and what classes would be of interest to each of you. Please drop me an email at minister@secondparish.org or leave a message with Sandi in the office.
In Faith,
Paul
Soup &
Salad with Hot Topics Friday, Dec. 8, 6-8 pm. Don't bother with cooking, just show up at
6 (or later if you need to) and join us for good food and conversation. This
time we'll talk about "Climate Change: Problem or Opportunity? Political Issue or Moral
Issue? Should we do anything about it at Second Parish?" See Rev. Sprecher
for resources if you'd like some background before we get together, or look on
the left column for links. We've interlaced "Concerned" and
"Skeptical" references (scroll down to see more). Or do some research
on your own.
Leadership Board Notes
Generous Plate Collections
One hundred and sixty-six dollars was collected on Sunday, November 12, and, as announced, donated to the UU Template Project in Minneapolis, MN, the group that helped us create our new website. The December 10 plate collection will be donated to Wellspring in Hull.
Wellspring's
mission is to provide support & skills to people facing challenges to their
financial, physical or emotional well-being in order for them to achieve
independence and self-sufficiency.
Wellspring is
a private, non-profit, multi-service organization located on the South Shore in Hull, Massachusetts. Wellspring's mission is
to provide people in need with the support and skills they need to make positive
changes in their lives. It is the aim of all Wellspring programs to reach
beyond providing emergency services to help people to become more independent
and productive members of the community. We also strive to act as a catalyst,
bringing community resources together to best solve problems and to offer
opportunities for community participation through volunteering.
Programs
include: Adult Education, Food Pantry, Counseling, Crisis
Intervention, Transportation, Housing, Domestic Violence Counseling, Thrift
Shop & Book Store, Career Counseling & Job Development and Computer
Learning.
Volunteer
opportunities include a constant need for Thrift Shop support. Other needs
arise on a regular basis. If you or anyone you know has professional
interests of any sort and would like to apply those to our work, we'll find a
way to use you. To volunteer, call Margaret Mellon at 781-925-3211.
Kim
Shaw and Allan Viden are both past presidents of the Wellspring Executive Board
and would enjoy informally talking over opportunities for service.
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, December 9th. All men of the parish are welcome to join us for a high cholesterol 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 me at lsbelknap@verizon.net.
Book Group
There will be no book group in December. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Betty Tower’s home (56 Garrison Rd.). The book for this meeting is The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. Any questions call Jennifer Love at 781-749-3243.
Saturday, December 2nd – the Glad Tidings Holiday Fair – 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Please Note: Friday, December 1st set up fair at 10:00 a.m. – all are welcome!
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The Glad Tidings Holiday Fair will take place Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Cushing Hall. The fair is a fun time for everyone - we put on a great event, have a great time, and even make some money for the church! We have been working throughout the year and have made some wonderful items for your Christmas shopping and holiday decorations. There will be homemade Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, balsam wreaths and tree decorations, plus much more. Plan to buy your door wreath that day as they are among the best you can find.
Urgent Call – We need home baked goods, donations for the gift table, jewelry table, cookies for the cookie exchange and volunteer help. We always need people to help with set up and clean up.
-Submitted by Helene Soini and Becky Weston, co-coordinators
Music schedule for December
12/3-Elizabeth Morrell, 12/10-Choir, 12/17-Elizabeth Morrell, 12/24-Choir, 12/31-Elizabeth Morrell
Sunday, December 31st Service
Our service on Sunday, December 31st will be a lay led service of favorite readings and hymns. If you would like to either suggest a reading/hymn or if you would like to DO a reading, please contact Elaine Cadogan or Stephanie Kelsch by December 10th. Thank you!! –Submitted by Stephanie Kelsch
The Caring Connection
There are times when our friends at Second Parish need a helping hand. It might be a ride to the doctor’s office, a
casserole, errands for the house bound, or a visit from the minister.
If you would like assistance, or know of someone who does, please call Dinah Collins (781-749-7184), Mary Collins
(781-740-4576) or Stephanie Haff (781-749-0546).
The Kitchen Gremlins
Gremlins have left odds and ends in the kitchen such as plates, platters and plastic food storage containers. If you think the gremlins may have left something of yours, check out the pile on the kitchen counter. After a reasonable time the remaining odds and ends will be taken to the swap area at the dump. -Submitted by Stephanie Haff
Christmas Eve Candlelight Caroling
Please remember to save time on Christmas Eve for our annual Caroling by Candlelight, Christmas Eve at 5:00 PM. It’s the perfect antidote for those last minute, I-can’t-shop-anymore, the-crowds-are-killing-me Grinch attacks. Join us for traditional carols, readings and hot chocolate after! We hope to see you there. -Submitted by Chip King
Thank You
The Belknap Family thanks all who have been very kind and supportive to us during Judy's illness. Thanks for the many cards and cheery notes, the meals and other goodies, and the telephone calls and visits. They were greatly appreciated. Second Parish was very important to Judy over the last 46 years. She served under six ministers and four interim ministers and saw many changes over that span. We hope that Judy's enthusiasm is contagious as Second parish moves forward under the guidance of Paul Sprecher.
Hear
the roar! Feel the mist! See the mighty Falls! July 15-17, 2007
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, even safely riding beneath a tethered balloon. Spend
four days with us exploring the rich historical and natural wonders around the Falls.
For information visit our web site:
http://www.uunex.net/,
Email: info@uunex.net, Telephone:
(716) 791-4453.
Education
News from our Cooperative Religious Education Program
Congratulations to the Junior class who met their challenging goal of $500, with the impressive sum of $502.49, as part of their effort to support UNICEF, and thank you to all who contributed, including the Primary class kids who went trick-or-treating for the cause.
Our Fall RE term is ending. Please join me in expressing our appreciation to your children’s Sunday school volunteer teachers, who all did a wonderful job: Suzette Droster and Sue Viden for the Primary Class, Julianna Lovell and
Helene Soini for the Intermediate Class, Pam King and Kurt Weisenbeck, assisted by Kathy Weintraub for the Junior Class, Heidi Brieger, Richard Bowker and Reverend Paul Sprecher for the Senior Class. The second term will start in January.
In our RE program, the children will enjoy preparing our traditional Christmas Pageant, which will take place on December 17. Parents will receive more information soon. The Christmas Eve Family service on December 24 will start at 5:00 p.m. and the lay led service on December 31 will have childcare (for any age) available.
On November 19, we distributed the Guest at Your Table material. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee began the Guest at Your Table program in 1975 as a way for adults and children to learn about and support social justice programs domestic and worldwide. Last year, over 700 UU congregations participated. The change that your family puts, daily, in the boxes displayed on your dining table, enables UUSC to conduct action projects on issues such as basic clean water rights, workers’ rights and humanitarian crisis. If you did not receive a Guest at Your Table Box, you can pick one up at the office from Sandi or from Helene Soini at church on Sundays. Please return the boxes or envelopes after the Holidays. Thank you and many thanks to Helene for her work on this project.
Best wishes to all for a joyous Holiday Season.
-Liliane Verdier, Acting Director of Religious Education Lilianevhing@aol.com, 781-749-9581