Second Parish Unitarian Universalist
Hingham, Massachusetts
Glad Tidings
From the Minister –
There’s been a sudden change in the weather here around the end of September. Suddenly windows that we have been opening each evening to cool the house for the next day’s expected heat leave the house too cold. The shorts and t-shirts I’ve been wearing for much of the summer have come to offer too little protection. Of course, we can expect one last gasp of warmth when Indian Summer follows the first killing frost some time in October, but it’s becoming apparent that summer is gone.
One of the things I most appreciate about living in New England is that seasonal changes are so pronounced. This year it seems to me that this change from summer to fall has come just a little too soon; but there you are, come it will, ready or not. Sometimes the inevitability of the changing of the seasons reminds of the inevitability of other changes in our lives, some unbidden, some shocking, some welcome. Bending is always better than breaking.
Happy Fall!
I want to highlight some of the events that our interfaith religious leaders organization (HHRLA) is sponsoring this fall as we engage the whole community in interfaith learning about Israel and related topics. For those who have signed up for our interfaith trip to Israel leaving next April, these events will serve as background; but we want to include everyone in the wider community who wants to learn more about a variety of topics related to Israel.
First, we are hosting a series of classes on the Dead Sea Scrolls at 7 p.m. on the four Wednesdays of October – the 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th. The classes will be meeting at St. John’s Episcopal in Hingham, 172 Main St. The classes will explore the discovery, meaning and importance of the Scrolls, one of the most significant biblical discoveries of the twentieth century.
Then, on Sunday, October 30th at 3:30, we will be hosting a one-man show, In Between: Written and Performed by Ibrahim Miari. This semi-autobiographical production portrays the complexities and contradictions inherent in Palestinian-Israeli identity. This event will be hosted by Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, 1112 Main St., Hingham.
SERVICES – October 2nd: Blessing of the Animals – We will be remembering St. Francis of Assisi by bringing in and remembering pets – past or present – and other animals we cherish. Please bring photos or memorabilia – no live pets this year! October 9th: We Are Unitarian Universalists – This day is an opportunity for most of our Unitarian Universalist congregations to join together to promote excellence in ministry for our whole Association, and we reflect on the broader community of Unitarian Universalism of which we are a part. October 16th: Children’s Sabbath – A remembrance of the needs of all children, the future of all of us and of our world. October 23rd: How We Welcome – Why we need to become a Welcoming Congregation. October 30th: All Saints and All Souls – An opportunity for remembering those we have loved and lost. We will construct an altar from photos and memorabilia we all bring to church that day.
In Faith,
Paul
Calendar of Events for October
Weekly Meetings
Sundays Worship Service at 10:00 am
Mondays Sewing Group 9:30 to 11:00 am (Off Mon. Oct. 10)
Thursday Rev. Kim’s yoga classes 7:30 pm
Saturday, Oct. 15 8:00 am Men’s Breakfast
Tuesday, Oct. 18 7:30 pm Book Group
Sunday, Oct. 23 3:00 pm Celtic Concert
Music Schedule for October
10/9: Diane and David Whiting, vocalists
10/16: Choir
10/23: Choir
10/30: Diane and David Whiting, vocalists
Community
Men’s Breakfast
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The next men's breakfast will be Saturday, October 15 at 8 AM in Cushing Hall. All men of the parish are cordially invited to attend. We will continue our tradition of hearty breakfasts with some healthy foods included. Please email Lou Belknap at lsbelknap@verizon.net or call him at
781-749-5519 if you can attend. There is no agenda, but come prepared to discuss whatever is on your mind.
Book Group
The book group will meet on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Lou Belknap. The book is
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.
Celtic Concert on October 23rd
Glenfiddich Fiddle Competition winner, Calum Pasqua returns to Second Parish on October 23rd at 3PM to play some of the most beautiful melodies of the Scottish repertoire. Calum is joined by his musical partner, Susie Petrov, scholar, teacher, author and keyboard player. Their music played in the intimate setting of Second Parish is bound to evoke the hills and valleys and dancing energy of the places and people of Scotland. Admission will be $10. This is a concert you will not want to miss!
-Submitted by the Music Committee
Sewing Group
The sewing group will begin meeting again in October in the parish hall at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays. We will not meet on the holiday, Oct. 10, but we will be there on Oct. 3, 17, 24, and 31.
You do not need to be "talented" to join us. There are lots of
projects for the church fair that just need willing hands. Please join us if
you can. We have a lot of fun!
-Submitted by Elaine Cadogan
News from our Cooperative Religious Education Program
Happy October!
We are off to a great start this year. In order to provide greater consistency for the children the Religious Education committee has decided that Rev. Kim will be the main teacher of the Sunday school large group class (elementary to middle school). We will have guests come in to help with stories, crafts, and other fun things. Our guests will be parents, older youth, and members of the congregation who would like to be a part of our religious education mission.
In September: We learned about the Unitarian Universalist tradition of an Ingathering, welcomed each other back, and saw our new classroom set up. We learned about why and how people celebrate a Sabbath/Shabbat as a Time for Rest and Worship. We read a story of creation in Genesis called The Creation by Steven Mitchell. We decorated “About Me” posters and explored how we are a creation and how we also create. Finally, we talked about how we rest. At the end of the month, we also learned about Rosh Hashanah as a day of new beginnings. We learned the year goes round in cycles and seasons and that the Jewish New Year happens in autumn. We celebrated new beginnings and the responsibility of correcting past wrongs. We listened to the Shofar (ask your children what they thought about that). We ate apple slices, honey, and challah bread and wished each other a sweet new year.
In October we will have five Sundays to explore and learn together.
October 2nd We will explore Saint Francis Day, which happens Oct 4th. This will be A Time to Bless the Animals. We will learn the story of St. Francis who was a friend to the birds and animals. We will gain an appreciation for our seventh principle to care for our earth and the interdependent web. We will bring in representations of animals we care about. These can be pictures or memorabilia of pets we have now or had in the past or other animals we care about such as endangered species or other animals we like.
October 9th We will explore Yom Kippur which happens Oct 7-8th. We will learn about making amends, saying “I am Sorry,” and forgiveness
October 16th We will learn about the Interfaith Children’s Sabbath with a longer Time for All Ages and in class. The theme this year is "JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALL YOU PURSUE: ANSWERING GOD'S CALL TO PROTECT CHILDREN".
October 23rd We will explore All Saints Day, which is Nov 1st. We will explore A Time for Heroes and Heroines with some of our Unitarian Universalist “Saints.” We will consider our own life and the qualities and deeds of living a life based on our beliefs.
October 30th We will explore All Souls, which happens Nov 2nd, and Halloween, which happens (I think you know) October 31st. This will be a Time to Remember Those Who Have Died. We will talk about grief and honor memories of those who have died.
We have many wonderful things to learn and do.
Blessings,
Rev. Kim Preveza
Minister of Religious Education
SECOND PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
685 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043
Minister: Reverend Paul Sprecher, minister@secondparish.org
Minister of Religious Education: Reverend Kim Preveza, mre@secondparish.org
Paul: (781) 210-2016 – Home and Office
Church: (781) 749-1671, secondparish@yahoo.com
Website: www.secondparish.org
Caring Committee: Jane Shute, (781) 749-6518, caring@secondparish.org
Paul’s Office Hours: Tues. & Wed. 10:00 am-noon, Fri. 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
Church Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs, 7:00 am-noon
Sunday Service: 10:00 a.m.
The deadline is the 3rd Monday of each month.
Next Newsletter Deadline: October 17, noon
Production Date: October 25, 10:00 am
Newsletter Team: Alice Brewer and Sandi Smith
Editors: Lou Belknap and Susan Weisenbeck
Edition: October, 2011
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