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SEPTEMBER, 2010
COME TO THE WELCOME-BACK BREAKFAST ON SEPTEMBER 12 BEGINNING AT 9:00!
WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST
Sunday, September 12, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
There
will be a Welcome Back Breakfast again this year on the first Sunday of the
church year. You will have a choice of eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, fruit
salad, cornbread, tofu scramble and vegan sausages, and the usual beverages.
Food should be ready at 9:00 a.m. and will be served until 9:45 a.m. Cost for
this all-you-can-eat breakfast is $6 for adults; kids eat free! So come eat,
register for Church School, socialize and find out what your friends have been
up to.
CHURCH SCHOOL
Parents will have time to register their children for Church School during the breakfast. Registration is $10 per child with a maximum of $25 per family.
WELCOME BACK!
September 5 at 9:00 a.m.: Living On The Edge Michael Hall, M.Div.
We Unitarian Universalists often find ourselves on the edge of the political, social, and creative spectrum. Edges are places where excitement, learning, and wonder meet. Yet they can also be frightening and frustrating. As our church draws near to a new beginning we can only dimly see, let us explore what lessons we can learn “living on the edge.”
The Sunday Worship Services and Religious Education Program begin at 10:30 a.m.
September 12: Tracey Robinson-Harris
Ingathering Sunday – Begin In Gratitude
We begin our new year together, in gratitude for the faith that the binds us; for this faith that makes gracious room for diversity of belief; for this community that would welcome all those seeking a religious home such as ours. There will be a story for all ages, and our choir will sing. In the course of the sermon, Tracey will share with you a little of her own journey to Unitarian Universalism and her reflections on this faith as both inheritance and legacy.
September 19: Tracey Robinson-Harris
Honoring The Spirit Of Rosh Hashanah And Yom Kippur
The Days of Awe in the Jewish Tradition are a time to commemorate the creation of the world, to acknowledge and seek forgiveness where it is needed and to move on, to begin again. In honoring the spirit of these days, the sermon will explore forgiveness in the face of wrongs both big and small, both our own and those of others, and look into the heart of Unitarian Universalism to see how the spirit of forgiveness is expressed among us, and how we make space to begin again in love. This morning there will be a story for all ages.
September 26: Tracey Robinson-Harris
The Power In What We Care About
This service is inspired by the work of Margaret Wheatley. She is a writer, teacher and consultant who focuses on how we can organize our work in chaotic times and willingly step forward to serve. The poem – The Power In What We Care About – will serve as the centerpiece of reflections on how we connect with one another and the things that matter, and what that can mean for a religious community like ours. Marilyn Thayer is our storyteller this morning, and the choir will be singing.
Large print hymnals, plus hearing assistance devices, are available. Nursery care is provided. Bring a friend!
In The Interim
The contract is signed. The commute is gaining a familiar feel. The schedule for the year’s Sunday services is taking shape as are the topics beyond September. With a few photos, a few baskets, a few turtles placed around, the minister’s office is feeling familiar. It is good to be here. It is good to be here with you!
This is a special kind of year for this congregation – an interim year – as you look ahead to calling your next settled minister. Language in my contract with you puts it this way:
The Interim Minister shall perform the usual and customary responsibilities of a parish minister. In addition, the Interim Minister shall assist the Congregation in addressing the following tasks during the interim period:
− Claiming and honoring its past and recognizing its unique identity and strengths.
− Acknowledging and addressing its griefs, conflicts, needs, and challenges.
− Renewing its vision, strengthening its stewardship, and preparing for new growth and new professional leadership.
− Setting specific goals to be undertaken during the interim period.
− Understanding the appropriate leadership roles of minister(s), church staff, and lay leaders and navigating the shifts in leadership that may accompany times of transition.
In the retreat with the Parish Committee held on August 15, and in conversation
since, these themes help me begin to see and to learn and to figure out
questions to ask and areas to explore.
The day after the Parish Committee retreat, I shared a brief entry on my Facebook page about beginning this ministry with you. I commented on the open and honest conversation of the day before, acknowledged hearing strengths, challenges and goals and ended with this:
Oh the possibilities! How can we make the most of them?
With respect and in faith,
Tracey
PASTORAL CARE
In this next year there will be many opportunities for us to give in a variety of ways not only to the church but also to each other. Please be thinking about ways in which you might be able to help.
I am beginning lists of people who may be able to help on a one time or ongoing basis. In September there will be sign-up sheets on the parlor table for those who might be able to provide such things as rides, cooked meals, visiting, grocery shopping, telephone check-in, etc. Please give this some thought even if you can only spare one hour a month. If you have any questions please call or email me. Janet Walkden
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
REV. DR. TRACEY ROBINSON-HARRIS
Rev. Dr. Tracey Robinson-Harris is a Minister of Religious Education. In 2009-2010 she served as a UUA consultant for Ethics in Congregational Life and for JUUST Change Consultancy (an anti racism, anti oppression, multiculturalism resource). She was the Director for Congregational Services at the UUA from July 1, 2002, until June 30, 2009. She joined the UUA staff in November of 1995, when she accepted the position of Deputy Director for Congregational, District and Extension Services.
As Director for Congregational Services (CS), Tracey’s ministry involved program development/leadership and work with CS staff to challenge and support our congregations of all sizes to live up to their potential for ministry in a world so much in need of what Unitarian Universalism has to offer. Congregational Services included resources, programs and consultation in Congregational Stewardship; Congregational Growth and Best Practices; Marketing Outreach; Young Adult and Campus Ministry; Anti Racism, Anti Oppression and Multiculturalism; Ethics and Safety in Congregational Life; Services to Large Congregations.
Tracey came to the staff from a ministry with the Community Church of New York in Manhattan (1988-1995). She also served the First Parish Church in Lexington, MA (MRE from 1983-1988), First Unitarian Universalist Church in Nashville, TN (DRE, 1980-1983) and the First Unitarian Church in Lynchburg, VA (DRE, 1977-1980). During these years Tracey served the denomination as a member and chair of the continental Women and Religion Committee, co-author of the religious education curriculum Beyond Pink and Blue (on gender identity for teens), the Hymnbook Advisory Committee (that did preparatory work for Singing the Living Tradition), a member of the Board of the Liberal Religious Educators Association, and a member of the Modified Residency Program Committee (Meadville Lombard).
Her educational background includes Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN, and a certificate from the UUA Independent Study Program for Ministry of Religious Education (now the Modified Residency Program of Meadville Lombard Theological School).
Raised a Southern Baptist, Tracey discovered Unitarian Universalism during high school with the help of a friend and a class in World Religions. When her grandmother died on Easter Sunday in 1971 – she faced a choice. In need of solace and understanding, she had to decide whether the Southern Baptist faith was what she needed or whether this newfound faith of Unitarian Universalism was where she should turn. She went to the UU church in Lynchburg that Easter Sunday and found the saving message she was searching for – that deep faith does not require baptism (neither she nor her grandmother were baptized), church attendance (her grandmother never went), and one doctrine (that Jesus is the way) in order to be real and meaningful, that eternal life is ours as we live on in the lives and hearts of those whom we touch with our lives and our love.
Tracey’s husband, the Rev. George Robinson, died in 2002. She has two stepdaughters, Lenora and Jennifer. She lives in Ashby, MA, in an 1860’s New England farmhouse in the center of town that was the parsonage for the First Parish Church. She enjoys restoring and remodeling her old house; hiking in Yellowstone National Park, especially when wolf watching is involved; and traveling in Alaska. She loves ballroom and latin dancing and competes regionally and nationally when she can.
From The President
Greetings, Congregation, and welcome back to our church year!
I hope that everyone's summer involved some relaxation and was enjoyable. I'm
so excited to be in the role of president during this time of transition and
deeply appreciative of the parish committee and the church for entrusting me
with this role. I am very much looking forward to working with the church,
board, and with our new interim minister, Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, to
nurture our many strengths and move forward on the hard work of changing and
growing.
While I will be flexible and responsive to our needs as they emerge, during my
time as president, I have three initial areas that I hope to focus on. The
first two are to nurture substantial growth, in terms of our numbers and our
spirit. I believe our loving, supportive, kind and dynamic church has a lot to
offer our community and world. During my time as president, a priority for me
will be that more people discover us, visit us, share their gifts with us, and
make our church home their church home. I think one of the key ways that we
can do this, aside from our welcoming and outreach efforts, is to make sure our
church is a place where the spirit is nurtured - not just a place to meet
people, to attend meetings or fundraisers or Sunday services, but truly a place
where, in doing our activities, we focus on what churches do best, which is to
nurture the heart and spirit. I think that our church already does this in many
important ways, but one focus of my presidency is to keep the spotlight on this
and see how we can change and grow on this front. And, my final focus, which I
believe flows naturally from the first two, is to see our financial situation
become stronger and more sound. People will give to what matters to them. In
addition to the amazing and hard work of our stewardship committee, I believe
that when we grow in numbers, and grow and improve the ways that our church
feeds the spirits of visitors, friends and members, good progress toward a more
sound and strong financial situation will soon follow.
I look so forward to this year together! Please don't hesitate to email me at
president@uumiddleboro.org
or talk to me at church about how the PC or I can better serve the needs of the
church.
Much peace,
Elizabeth
MONEY
Just
a reminder from the Stewardship Committee that your pledge amount for Fiscal
Year 2010-2011 began on July 1, 2010. Please be sure to continue to bring your
pledge to church or send it to the church c/o J.R. Pucillo-Dunphy, Treasurer.
Thank you.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION PROGRAM
Welcome back to a new year of religious education! We have some exciting things starting up this year.
We are using curriculum from the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Tapestry of Faith, which we enjoyed exploring last year. The Pre-K and Kindergarten Class will develop a sense of home that is grounded in faith in Creating Home. The Grades 1 - 3 Class will explore the spiritual and ethical tools they will need to make choices and take actions reflective of their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values in Moral Tales. And the Grades 4 - 6 Class will identify their own experiences and perspectives and learn to seek out, care about and respect those of others in Windows and Mirrors. We will also have classes on our seven principles woven in throughout the year. And we will be starting up a children’s chapel where the youth will have a chance once a month to participate in and help lead their own service in their worship space downstairs.
Registration begins on September 12. We can’t wait to see you there!
Annie Giddings
SHED
UPDATE
The Heartwood Apprentices worked on our Shed most Sundays throughout the summer. Check out the photos on the bulletin board downstairs. It is an amazing project. Remember we had some extremely hot Sundays? Well then they stopped a bit early to get a dip in the pool. Smart move - wish I'd been there to join them.
Weather permitting, the floor, walls, etc., should be delivered to UU on September 12. They will then need a few weeks to put the pieces together, shingle the roof, and make it weather tight. Jack Dempsey says they are shooting for the first or second week of October for their part of this to be done.
Then it is our turn to finish the inside by installing movable shelving, peg boards, probably a dividing partition and loft, etc. The Shed Task Force will gather to finalize those plans in the near future. Cheryl MacQueen, Chairperson
ABOUT THE TRANSITION TEAM
As the church begins the very important work of examining ourselves and working on objectives during our interim period, a Transition Team is being formed to work closely with Tracey, our interim minister, in guiding the process. The Transition Team and the interim minister will help the congregation focus on the important work to be done during this time. The Transition Team also will fulfill the role of the Committee on Ministry, which is inactivated for the duration of the church’s interim period. This includes serving as a conduit for information and feedback concerning the effectiveness of ministry in our church and serving as a sounding board and support resource for the minister. If you are interested in serving on the Transition Team, please convey your interest to Bob Waterman or to the Parish Clerk, Dave Trzeciak.
Please note:
The Transition Team is not responsible for searching for a settled minister. A
separate task force will be formed later in the year to do that work.
Bob
Waterman
MUSIC NOTES
The Music Committee has been hard at work over the summer, finding a pianist/accompanist to join us on “Choir Sundays” this upcoming year. We are delighted to have hired Richard Turk who comes to us from Plymouth with over 15 years of experience as a church organist and piano accompanist. Richard will be with us at the Ingathering Service and alternate Sundays thereafter throughout the year. Hooray & Welcome to Richard!
The Choir will begin weekly rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 on August 31. We sing a variety of music, come from a wide range of experience, and we welcome newcomers and old-timers to be a part of this joyful musical ensemble. Please contact me if you’d like more information. Susan Hotchkiss, Music Director ( music@uumiddleboro.org ;508-638-4016)
SPIRITUALITY/MEDITATION
GROUP
The Spirituality/Meditation Group meets each week on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the parlor. It's a time to break from the busyness of our daily lives and spend some time thinking and talking about things that are important to us as we try to grow and understand the greater meaning of our lives. We share thoughtful readings, light candles, and enjoy the warm fellowship of a caring circle. Please join us.
Bob Waterman
ADULT SQUARE DANCING
September 12 & 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Masonic Hall, Bridgewater
We are ready to Do-Si-Do after a quiet summer and will begin again at the Masonic Hall in Bridgewater on Sunday evening, September 12, at 6:30 p.m. We will be dancing Mainstream and Plus level with our caller, Bob Butler. About once a month we have a cuer present to practice our round-dancing techniques, and four or five times in the year we will be hosting banner raids. It should be another fun year. Bud Soule
LAKEVILLE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL FUNdraiser
Saturday, October 2 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FUUSM will again be serving food and drinks at the Lakeville Arts & Music Festival on Saturday, October 2, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., rain or shine. Proceeds support church programs.
Jill Hall is chairing the church's participation in the Festival this year; and volunteers are needed to cook, buy supplies, "stage" the food at the parish hall Friday evening, transport food and equipment Saturday morning, serve during the day Saturday, and break down and transport any leftovers back to the church at the end of the day. A volunteer crew will also be needed to sell any leftovers during coffee hour Sunday morning.
What you can do now – save the date, wish for sunshine and plan to volunteer. Please contact Jill at home (508-947-4134) or cell (508-821-8935) or by email ( justjill@comcast.net ) with questions, suggestions, or to reserve your favorite job. A sign-up poster will be available in the church, but rest assured, there's a place for everyone to contribute. Jill Hall
CRANBERRY CLUSTER
Our
Cluster year started in late August with Michael Hall as our worship leader. We
gathered at Cedar Hill Retreat Center in Duxbury and enjoyed the socializing,
picnicking and beach nearby.
In October, we will journey to the First Parish Church, Duxbury, for our fall Cluster at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20. The program will be announced in the October Newsletter Bud Soule
UU GROWTH WEBINARS
The BCD is offering three webinars in September and October to help support membership and growth efforts. Peter Bowden, Growth Consultant to the Ballou Channing District, is coordinating an ongoing series of webinars on topics related to congregational health, growth and vitality. Using the UUA's webinar platform and a corresponding conference call, participants are able to listen to presentations, see slides, virtually raise hands, comment and ask questions all from the convenience of home. Visit http://uugrowth.com for schedule and online registration.
Webinar: From Visitors to Members
Webinar: Congregations Count!
Webinar: Growing UUism by Keeping Our Kids
We've designed this series to bring great programming and support to leaders in the convenience of their homes. Additional webinars will be presented throughout the year.
FROM VISITOR TO MEMBER - A guide to successfully receiving visitors and welcoming them into your community
Presentation by Peter Bowden: Wednesday, September 8, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.; $10.
CONGREGATIONS COUNT!
Presentation by Linda Laskowski, Hosted by Peter Bowden: Wednesday, September 29, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.; $10.
HOW TO GROW UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM BY KEEPING OUR KIDS
Presentation by Rev. Christana Wille McKnight,Hosted by Peter Bowden: Tuesday, October 5, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.; $10.
How Webinars Work
If you can click a link and dial a phone number, you're ready to join us for a webinar!
BCD webinars combine a conference call with a website that allows the presenter to share slides and participants to click a button to "virtually" raise a hand and a window for typing questions.
If you have any questions about participating in a Webinar, contact Peter Bowden at bcdoffice@verizon.net ; (617) 744-9784 Office; (857) 928-1896 Cell.
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BCD FALL CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS
Newly Elected Congregation Leader Seminar – Thursday, September 2, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., All Souls Church, Braintree. No cost; Registration required.
Small Congregation Conference – Saturday, September 25, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., First Congregational Parish, Kingston. $160 for a team of up to 4 congregation leaders.
BCD Fall Conference – Saturday, October 30, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., First Parish Church, Duxbury. $25.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interim Minister: Tracey Robinson-Harris 508-967-2763 minister@uumiddleboro.org
Director of Religious Education: Annie Giddings 508-789-3624 dre@uumiddleboro.org
Director of Music: Susan Hotchkiss 508-638-4016 music@uumiddleboro.org
PARISH COMMITTEE
Your Parish Committee is the elected governing body of this Society. Their next meetings will be held on Sunday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 26, at 12:00 noon. The Parish Committee meetings are held in the Town Hall. Your input, ideas, concerns, and interest are important to the functioning of this democratic society. You are strongly invited and encouraged to attend and to participate in these open meetings. If you wish to have an item placed on the agenda, please contact Elizabeth Gish.
President: Elizabeth Gish 781-217-5938 president@uumiddleboro.org
Vice President: Sue St. Germain 508-822-5236 vp@uumiddleboro.org
Treasurer: J.R. Pucillo-Dunphy 508-946-0449 treasurer@uumiddleboro.org
Assistant Treasurer: Carole LeBlanc 508-947-4307 cllpac1221@verizon.net
Parish Clerk: David Trzeciak 508-947-0525 oldnavtar2002@aol.com
R. E. Liaison: Jeff Stevens 508-947-7289 stevens7981@comcast.net
Members-At-Large: Juli Gould 508-946-8664 juligould@earthlink.net
Cheryl MacQueen 508-947-3897 cheryl.macqueen@verizon.net
Gene Phillips 508-746-4742 genecphill@comcast.net
Janet Walkden 508-748-6850 jden6@comcast.net