Second Parish Unitarian Universalist
Hingham, Massachusetts
Glad Tidings
From the Minister –
Most of you are probably aware that our Director of Religious Education (DRE), Liliane Verdier, will be retiring at the end of this church year. We all owe Liliane a debt of gratitude for serving our congregation over the past two years. She has brought excellent organization to our program and her deep knowledge of Unitarian Universalist courses has enabled us to deepen and strengthen our program. We will miss her and her hard work for our congregation.
You will read elsewhere about the DRE search committee which the Leadership Board has set up. We are delighted that Tasha Allan, Richard Bowker and Allison Crowe have agreed to take responsibility for this important assignment. Helene Soini will serve ex officio representing the Board as Commissioner of Religious Education as will I. The role of the DRE in leading the programs which teach, challenge and care for our children are among the most important for our congregation’s future, and we look forward to your response to the questionnaire attached to the newsletter.
Adult Religious Education: The course Second Parish is co-sponsoring with the Linden Ponds Unitarian Universalist Fellowship got off to a great start with nine members of Second Parish and another fourteen from Linden Ponds. You are welcome to join us on the remaining Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 on Feb. 6, 13 & 20. Our meetings will take place in the Derby Music/Classroom. Please let Sandy Peavey or me know that you will be joining us.
Upcoming Services: I have been hesitant to announce sermon topics in advance because I hope that everyone will make a habit of coming to church regardless of the particular topic of the sermon. However, many of my colleagues do announce their sermons and this can be a way of attracting others by means of newspaper notices and notices on our web sites, so I’m going to begin announcing services in the newsletter. We’re in the middle of a series of sermons on The Prayer of Jesus. Our use of the prayer in services as well as our covenant, which says that we unite – “in the spirit of Jesus” – is one of the keys to the identity of our congregation, so I feel that it’s important to reconsider these sometimes all-too-familiar words. On January 27th I will be preaching on “Kingdom” – what it means when we say “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” Feb. 3 we will consider “Daily Bread,” and what it means to have enough; on Feb. 10th, also the date of our Chocolate Auction, we’ll talk about “Love and Lent” and on
Feb. 17th we’ll conclude this series with “Evil” – whence comes evil, and how may we be delivered from it? On Feb. 24th I will be away and Jeannie Gagné, who did a great service at Second Parish last year, will be back with songs, music and words to lead an intergenerational service. I believe there may be dancing in the aisles again this year.
In Faith,
Paul
Notes from the Leadership Board
The Leadership Board is beginning a process that will enable the church to look at both its short-term needs as well as its long-term goals. Using our Mission Statement and our Covenant as starting points, we will examine where we are at this point in the long path this church has taken over the years and how we might want to set our sights on the future. Everyone will be kept abreast of the progress of this endeavor.
-Allan Viden, Leadership Board Chair
Membership
Swimming Night - Everyone Welcome
Friday, Feb. 8th, 7-9pm, Wm. Connell Pool, 220 Broad St., Weymouth
Enjoy an Olympic size pool installed one year ago. Fun for all ages-bring family and friends. For questions or a ride, please call Dinah Collins at 781-749-7184.
Share your thoughts about the Caring Connection
Traditionally this has been a group that organized meals, rides and visits for people in need. It’s very important in fostering a community committed to helping one another. In the past year, groups of people have been very effective in working on projects too big for one person. In discussion, questions arise about people's awareness of available help and people's awareness of who may need a helping hand. A note or a call during a tough time can also be very helpful! Stay posted for news about a meeting to address these and other pertinent issues.
Movie Night
I'd like to show a DVD in Cushing Hall once a month. I'm looking for suggestions of movies that would appeal to a broad audience. That could certainly include some old classics. I'd also like to include some for children.
See Chocolat (PG-13) A young mother and daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village. Watch what ensues...a little magic. Starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp. Saturday Feb. 23rd, Cushing Hall 7:30 pm, For teens-adults-bring friends. Refreshments!
-Dinah Collins, Membership Chair
Music and Greeter Schedule for February
2/3 Choir (Greeter: Dinah Collins)
2/10 MacIsaac & Ross Folk Duo (Greeter: Dinah Collins)
2/17 Elizabeth Morrell, soprano (Greeter: Dinah Collins)
2/24 Jeannie Gagné and Choir (Greeter: Betty Tower)
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, February 9th. 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.
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!
Faith of America's Founders and their influence on Unitarian Universalism in America-from the Mayflower to the Civil War continues; you're welcome to join even if you haven't come before- Sponsored by Second Parish and The Linden Ponds Unitarian Universalist Fellowship - Presented by Rev. Paul Sprecher
Three Wednesday afternoon sessions remain, February 6,13,& 20 1:00 to 2:25 PM, in the Derby Music Classroom at Linden Ponds - see Paul or Sandy Peavey if you'd like to join us.
Book Group
The Book Group will meet on
Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30
p.m. at Gene
Chamberlain’s (29
Pleasant St.).
The book is The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.
The next meeting is March 18th at 7:30 p.m. and the location will be announced. The book is The
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Any questions, call Jennifer Love at
781-749-3243.
Not Just Your Average Church Book Club
Are
you tired of watching the same old reruns of “Jeopardy”? Do you need to get out
and socialize more with a group of your peers? Are you yearning to be part of a
scintillating dialogue about some of the best works ever written? Do you just
read mysteries? Would you like to expand your literary horizons? This might be
the most important question of all…How do you feel about brownies and other
baked goods?
We are not
just your average church book club! We’re a group of people who like first-rate
books of distinctive genres. We get together once a month for interesting
conversations whilst noshing upon tasty treats and drinking delicious beverage
(an occasional glass of wine sometimes makes for a fascinating meeting!) Here
are just a portion of books that we have read over the years:
· Atonement
· The Alchemist
· The DaVinci Code
· Huckleberry Finn
· The Secret Life of Bees
· David Copperfield
· Lindbergh
· Prodigal Summer
· The Red Tent
· Shipping News
· The Notebook
· Madame Bovary
· Mountains Beyond Mountains
· Snow Falling on Cedars
· Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
· Pride and Prejudice
· Angela’s Ashes
· Teacher Man
· The Tipping Point
· Blink
· A Lesson Before Dying
· John Adams
· Franklin and Winston
· Message in a Bottle
· A Civil Action
· Ahab’s Wife
· The Devil in the White City
· A Murder, a Mystery and a Marriage
· Reading Lolita in Tehran
· Seabiscuit
· Mystic River
· Weight of Water
And much more! We’re very friendly, very casual and very much interested in having you come! Questions? Speak to Lou Belknap…he has all the answers! Well, maybe not all the answers but most of them.
Thank You!
Many thanks for the 88th birthday celebration. I was most pleased and honored to have the day remembered.
-Gene Chamberlain
UU Bed and Breakfast
Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area? The UU bed and breakfast directory UU're Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. Host listings on the UU're Home website at www.UUreHome.com are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. Sign up for access or a paper directory at their web site.
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Annual Intergenerational Spring Seminar
The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office is proud to invite you to attend our Annual Intergenerational Spring Seminar, ntitled Picking Up the Pieces: Building a Culture of Peace. This thought-provoking three-day seminar, taking place at United Nations Headquarters and its neighborhood in New York City from April 3-5, will address international efforts to achieve sustainable peace and discuss the importance of peace in the Unitarian Universalist faith.
Application and registration materials are available for download on website at www.uu-uno.org. Please note the deadline for application is February 15, 2008. Register now while there are still spaces!
News from our Cooperative Religious Education Program
Our annual Christmas Pageant was a big success, very much enjoyed by parents, grandparents and all present. New this year were the additional musical contributions of six more talented young musicians. Congratulations go to all the participants and grateful thanks to all who gave background support.
On February
17, the Religious Education teachers will have the day off. We will have an RE
session for all ages on the theme of “India”. Guest speakers Paige and Baba Shetty will
comment on a few slides from their recent family trip there and we will make a
creative related craft component. Don’t miss the display of authentic Indian
artifacts during coffee hour. We would love it if you would contribute to the
display by loaning any authentic objects or materials from India!
The following
Sunday, all the children are invited to attend the musical (and possibly
dancing) service which will be led by Jeannie Gagné. This event was well
appreciated last year. Our planned regular RE sessions will be postponed.
Allison Crowe
has volunteered to share her pottery expertise. As soon as the kiln is
installed, we will plan some clay projects and sessions. Suggestions are most
welcomed.
Enjoy the winter
days getting longer. -Liliane Verdier
, Director of Religious Education, Lilianevhing@aol.com, 781-749-9581
Donations wanted:
The Religious Education Committee prepared the following wish list of items that we could use in our
Religious Education Program:
- a computer
- a DVD player
- a TV set
- a nice area rug
- Large shelving units
- a book case
- a storage unit to hang costumes
(Your donations are tax deductible and well appreciated. Thank you.)
Dear Congregation,
For every time there is a season. It is now time for me to announce that I will end my working relationship with Second Parish in June 2008. I need more personal time to prepare a peaceful, healthy and positive retirement period for my husband and me. I want to thank all of those whose contributions and support made my experience at Second Parish a rewarding one. I wish you the best in your future.
-Liliane Verdier