Second Parish Unitarian Universalist
Hingham, Massachusetts
Glad Tidings
From the Minister –
I’ve been spending part of my August vacation sorting through some of the boxes of papers I’ve accumulated over many years and lugged from place to place (we’ve moved 3 times in the last 6 years). I have a wee bit of pack rat in me, so I found papers and letters going back to high school among my files. I’ve hung on to them for sentimental reasons over the years, but I’ve gotten to realize that I will likely go back to many of them only rarely, so I’ve undertaken a burst of activity to cull things that I’ll never read or look at again. I’ve kept cards and letters over the years, papers and syllabi from college and seminary, articles that have caught my eye and should be read some day; and all of them are finally consigned to the stream of recycling for other uses.
I’ve found a certain amount of pleasure in reviewing all of these written memorabilia. I fondly remember friends, look at photographs of when our kids were young and when we were young, visits to our families, records of the growth of our nephews and nieces, and so much more. I’ve remembered classes I’ve taken, papers I’ve written, times of hard work and times of relaxation. There’s another side to the memories, of course. There are the times I regret a letter I sent or received, times I remember wishing I hadn’t said or done something, wishing I’d taken another path when there was a turning point.
One thing I’ve taken up (again) this summer is playing the guitar (very badly so far); and I was happy to find among the files some songs I wrote, oh, about 35 years ago. I’m hoping to do the time for all ages as a song with guitar some day.
The whole process has been a kind of harvesting of the past, remembering the good and bad and in a way reassessing my life to this point and helping me to focus on what I haven’t done yet that I still need to pay attention to, and what I can let go while treasuring the memories in the past. I suppose our whole lives include such a process of reflection, but I have found that it’s sometimes useful to set aside a concentrated time just to reflect, resolve, and get rid of some of the clutter I’ve been carrying around in our garage and in my mind. At least there’s more room in the house and the heart when it’s all done!
WORSHIP PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR
I will be meeting with Rev. Kim, Mark Slawson, Sarah Philips, Stephanie Shute Kelsch and Sandy Peavey to plan services for next year in late August. If you have ideas or suggestions for themes or topics for services next year, please let one of us know so that we can include them in our planning. Also let any of us know favorite hymns you might want to have included in services.
SERVICES – September 11th – Intergenerational Homecoming & Water Communion Service. Wherever you’ve gone, or if you’ve stayed right where you are to savor the summer, remember to bring a little water to homecoming service on September 11th. As it happens, September 11th is also the tenth anniversary of 9/11, so we will also be remembering that tragedy. The children will be with us for the first half of the service and then will go upstairs to meet their teachers.
In Faith,
Paul
Calendar of Events for September
Weekly Meetings
Sundays Worship Service at 10:00 am
Mondays Sewing Group 9:30 to 11:00 am
Mondays Rev. Kim’s yoga classes 7:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 10 8:00 am Men’s Breakfast
Sunday, Sept. 11 11:45 am Informal Concert in celebration of our “new organ”
Sunday, Oct. 23 3:00 pm Celtic Concert
Music Schedule for September
9/11 at 11:45 - Mark Slawson will play a 1/2-hour organ recital, in appreciation of the resourceful folks who made this summer's organ repair possible.
9/18 - Diane and David Whiting, soloists
9/25 - Choir
Community
Men’s Breakfast
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The kickoff for this year's men's breakfasts will be Saturday September 10 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 hidden agenda, but come prepared to discuss whatever is on your mind.
Organ Appreciation Concert
Early this year we set up an Organ Maintenance Fund to raise money for needed repairs to our wonderful organ. Members and friends donated over $10,000 to the fund – thank you!! In July Darren Wissinger, who originally built and installed the organ in 1993, traveled from Rockland, Maine to Hingham to perform the repairs and voicing. Our organist Mark Slawson recently tested the organ and remarked that it sounded “like new.”
In celebration of our “new” organ, and to thank the congregation for their support, Mark will perform an informal concert after coffee hour on Sunday, September 11, starting at about 11:45AM. All are welcome – please join us for all or part of the concert if you can.
Save the Date! - Celtic Concert on October 23rd
The violin and piano duo of Calum Pasqua and Susie Petrov will return to Second Parish on Sunday October 23rd at 3PM to present a program of traditional Scottish music. They last performed at our church in 2009 – to rave reviews. Mr. Pasqua is a renowned Scottish fiddler who has placed first in several competitions, including the New England Championship and the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Championship at Blair Castle, Scotland . Ms. Petrov has performed in a number of Scottish ensembles and has appeared at dances, festivals and in concerts in the USA, Canada and in Scotland. Please mark your calendar – this is a concert you will not want to miss!
News from our Cooperative Religious Education Program
Welcome Back!
We have a very exciting year ahead full of celebrations!
Our 2011-2012 year focus for our Larger Group ( First Grade – Middle School) is on Special Times: Honoring Our Jewish and Christian Heritages
This year children will explore the Jewish and Christian heritages out of which our Unitarian Universalist faith has grown. They will engage in celebrations, Holy Days and holidays, and other special times such as Thanksgiving, and everybody’s birthday.
Children will better understand how important ritual, celebration, tradition, and wonder are to all people. Children’s religious education and faith development are enhanced as they become aware of the connections between Unitarian Universalism and the Jewish and Christian traditions.
Youth 8th, 9th, 10th graders will explore Our Whole Lives
Youth who participate in this class will end the year equipped with accurate, age-appropriate information about human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view, comprehensive sexuality education helps class members clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, social, and political aspects of sexuality. Parent participation at the orientation session and signed parent-permission forms are required in order to enroll . Classes will be with Old Ship and Quincy, hosted at Old Ship. Details TBA.
Sept 11th. We will celebrate our Water Communion as a half-intergenerational service. After the Water Communion children will go up stairs for our own Ingathering: A Time to Say Hello.
Sept 18th A Time to Worship: Shabbat and Sabbath. We will explore the roots of a day of worship
Sept 25th A Time for the Year to Begin Again: Rosh Hashanah. We will explore the joy of new beginnings and the responsibility of correcting past wrongs.
This new year’s classes will be great! Every Sunday we will learn new things through stories, songs, crafts -- and celebrate holidays, for many sessions we will also eat wonderful foods which is often a highlight for the children.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Rev. Kim Preveza, Minister of Religious Education
PLEASE CHECK CHART BY SEPT. 5
Dear Friends at Second Parish,
I hope
everyone's having a great summer and that we will all get to catch up with each
other when the church year starts again, next month.
Once again,
I’m coordinating the after-service social hour and am writing to ask for your
help in hosting the coffee hour, and in providing flowers and ushering during
the church service. I am very grateful to everyone who helped out last
year.
Would you kindly look over the attached chart and see if you can volunteer for
the same times this year? We also need people to sign up for the times that are
still blank.
Please write
or call me (sarah.phi@gmail.com,
781-740-4004) by Monday, Sept. 5 to change times or to volunteer; I will then
send out a final chart. If last-minute changes need to be made, I am asking you
to find a substitute and just drop me a line, so we can mention it in the
church program.
Thank you so
much for your help in making our church a strong and friendly place to be!
Sarah Phillips, Worship Committee
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: September 19, noon
Production Date: September 27, 10:00 am
Newsletter Team: Alice Brewer and Sandi Smith
Editors: Lou Belknap and Susan Weisenbeck
Edition: September, 2011
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