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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN ROCKLAND MARCH 2017
Changing your life, changing the world.
UUR Contacts
Minister Rev. Mark Glovin 594-8750President Reba Richardson 273-3044Director of Religious Exploration Carney Doucette 975-9994Music Director Sojourner Hodges 230-9167Worship Lois Anne 542-7348Building and Grounds Joe Patten 542-7762Treasurer Dick Tomeo 596-7989Wall Coordinator Peter Lehman 542-1496Area Interfaith Outreach BOT liaison
Pinny Beebe-Center Tonian Circle - Co-presidents: Charmarie Blaisdell 372-6118Susan St. John 594-9084Office Administrator
Sarah Rogers 594-8750
NEWSLETTERMarch 5th - “Blessings for a Caregiver” - Led by Carney McRae Doucette, Director of Religious Exploration Carney will share her personal story of caregiving for her husband, and reflect on the blessings that helped sustain her through eight years of care.
March 12th - Worship Leaders : Amy Libby, Bill Pluecker, Jonathan Williamson, Lois Anne. All four have first-hand experience with serious life-threatening/life-changing health issues and the impact it has had on their lives. They will share their stories, each focusing on what sustains her/him in that really deep place in their core/soul/spirit/heart/inner-being - whatever/however that is for each individual.
March 19th - “Finding Balance” - Led by Rev. Lara K-J Campbell As the spring equinox approaches, we will explore the role that balance plays in our lives and our spiritual growth. Rev. Lara K-J Campbell is the 26th called Minister at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk, Maine. She is a fifth generation Unitarian, raised as a Unitarian Universalist in northern Minnesota. Lara is currently on the Board of Directors for the UU Trauma Response Ministry and also leads Adolescent and Elementary Our Whole Lives trainings. She holds a MDiv from New York Theological Seminary, a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Michigan State University and a BS from the University of Minnesota.
March 26th - “Taking Action in a White World” Led by Bill Pluecker Our congregation has decided to begin asking questions, through our Social Justice Initiative, about our role as a majority white congregation in a world infatuated with white culture, and in this service, we will explore some of those questions. To a large degree, many of us have begun to confront our role in the dominant white culture as a majority white congregation. How do we do we probe our role in our racist past and present it in a way that doesn't make us turn away in shame or guilt, a response that can be as paralyzing as outright racism? How can we do this individually as well as a congregation? And how does our commitment to our spiritual journey compel us to act in ways that push us out of our comfort zones?
We are a Welcoming Congregation
Welcome! Our worship service begins at 10AM
�Louise, Levina and Franz enjoying worship >>
345 BROADWAY - ROCKLAND, ME 04841 - [email protected]
<<<<< Thank you Beth Wilson for sewing the gorgeous new choir stoles!
Our Multi-generational Choir! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
^^^Carney, Oscar and Violet on the Ukes! ^^^^
Kids listening in Worship
BOARD PRESIDENT’S NOTEFebruary was a tough month. The painful loss of Milt and Don on a personal level and the attempts to abolish justice on a national level are heartbreaking. I trust that our community's love and support for Phyllis and Jean will be strong in the coming weeks and months. On a larger scale, as a community of conscience, I trust that we will care for each other by standing up for our values and our dreams for justice in America. As a spiritual home, it is our responsibility to offer hope and leadership, and I know we can fill that role with wisdom and tenacity.
Some things that give me hope: 1 We're looking inward to our personal role in race, racism and racial justice as part of our first step
in the Social Justice Initiative. Some members of our congregation and Board of Trustees have already begun to read the book 'Waking Up White' by Debby Irving. We encourage others to pick it up. It's an accessible and personal account that is a great starting point for this conversation.
2 The new rainbow UUA banner (see below and here) that articulates so many of the reasons I am proud to be a UU. I can't wait until we have one of these to hang in front of UUR.
3 All the ongoing individual stewardship meetings taking place within the church membership. Our connection to each other, knowing each other more deeply, is what makes us a strong and and impactful community. Canvass is an important piece of our work and allows us to be a strong presence in the lives of our members and the community.
4 The Rockland City Council's Resolution to Promote an Open, Respectful, Healthy Community. I'm proud to be a part of a church that will sign on to this statement of community justice.
5 Websites that help me make sense of what I should be doing. 5calls.org and the weekly Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience are two of my favorite resources.
As we approach canvass and the auction, think about what pieces of this church community give you hope and inspiration, and what challenges you. Talk about those things with your canvasser -- the conversations that we have during stewardship really impact decision-making throughout church leadership. With successful stewardship our church foundation will remain strong, our programs will continue to thrive, and our work for justice at every level will continue to grow and strengthen. Hard work is the best cure I know for an aching heart, and I plan to take that ache and turn it into action, as best as I can.
Thank you, Reba Richardson
HAPPENINGS IN RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION…AllBirthdayParty–Sunday,March19-Mul7genera7onalThisisCoffeeHourwithatwist! A2erworship,wewillgatheraroundtablesthatrepresentamonthoftheyearbasedonourbirthdays. This isan inten>onalmixertomeetandgreetnewpeople,ofallages. Whileenjoyingabirthdaycupcake,therewillbeabriefac>vityforyoutodowithyourother“birth-monthmates.” TableswillbesetupintheGriffith Room and in the Collins Room. Coffee and non-sweet treatswill be served in both loca>ons. The order ofserviceonthatSundaywillletyouknowwheretogotofindyourbirthdaytable.Canyoumakeadozencupcakes?Pleasesignupontheposterinthelobby!Weneedatleastonedozencupcakesthataregluten-free.
PetProductsforEaster“egg”huntneeded-FaithinAc7onLookforthered&yellowbasketinthelobbyonSunday,March26aswebegintocollectpetproductsforourEaster“egg”hunt.WeusethesepetproductsforouregghuntandthendonateitalltotheKnoxCountyHumaneSociety.WewillhavemoredetailsintheAprilnewsleTer,butyoucanbeginbringinginitemsattheendofMarch.
Film: Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War
On Friday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. we will be showing this powerful documentary of a daring mission that occurred on the precipice of World War II. It tells the story of Waitstill & Martha Sharp, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to multiple life-threatening missions in Europe. Over two dangerous years they helped to save hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation across Europe.
GuestatYourTable–suppor>ngtheUUServiceCommiIeeOnSunday,March26,wewillintroduceourchildreninREtoGuestatYourTable–aprojecttohelpsupporttheUUSC(UnitarianUniversalistServiceCommiTee).Childrentakehomeaboxtoputontheirtable,andwhentheysitdownatameal, theyput somemoney in thebox,and reflectononeof thestoriesofpeople theUUSCsupports. Dona>onenvelopesalsowillbeavailablefordirectdona>ons. Thisyear’sthemeis“DefyingHate.”Yourdona>onssupporttheUUSC’sworktoprotecthumanrightsanddefyhatefromthegroundup,whilealsoapplyingpressureonthoseinpoweratthetop—asUUSCfoundersMarthaandWaits>llSharpdidduringtheirmissionstorescueJewsanddissidentsfromNaziGermany.
UUSC partners with grassroots organizations in over 25 countries around the world, including the Arab American Civic Council, which provides refugees resettling to Southern California with the resources they need to build a new life in an unfamiliar country.
COMING in APRIL…
For KIDS - Food Hacking Science Camp (one of our six UU sources)
One of our six sources (where our beliefs come from) is the use of reason and the discoveries of science. During this week, we will explore and discover many aspects of science related to food. This camp is for children, K-5. Pam Bryer of STEAM Micro School and a RE volunteer is working with Carney Doucette to offer this science camp during April break. The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 17-Friday, April 21. The fee will be $125 ($100 for UUR members). There will a couple of spots for counselors (youth 6th-12th grade). If you are interested in helping at camp or being a counselor, please contact Pam or Carney. More information will be coming in the April newsletter.
For ADULT women - Cakes for the Queen of Heaven rise again! …wisdom is a wise old woman. Listen to her words and be free.
“And still she persisted!” Coming in April and May, In Ancient Times, a five-session journey into the relationship between our ancient religious past and our personal experience as women. Women interested in joining Lucie Bauer, Krista Meinersmann, and Linda Zeigler in exploring our rich religious heritage, please let Carney Doucette know ([email protected]).
The 2017-18 Canvass Committee continues to visit our members, weaving the fabric of our community in personal meetings. Canvassers meet every other week and report that their time with congregants deepens their connection to the church and to one another as we all continue to make our way on our life journeys. The generosity of our community is breathtaking, and we are confident that we will complete our canvass season with good footing for a stable financial outlook. Thank you to everyone for taking the time, for opening your doors, for showing up, for seeking more connection.
Milt Parsons March 4, 1933 - February 18, 2017
There were so many volunteers who showed up, in every way, for Milt Parsons' memorial service, that I run a serious risk of leaving someone out who should be thanked. I'll start with my list of people who brought food, prepared and served it, and follow with those who worked on set-up, greeting, parking, ushering and clean-up, although most of those folks also brought food.
Our thanks must begin with our Chief Chowderman, Brian Smith, who undertook to shop (and haggle), manage prep in a kitchenful of volunteers, and finally serve forth sufficient fresh haddock chowder for 150 (North Haven style), served with fresh biscuits and bread. He was assisted by Ike Johnson, Milt's neighbor and friend, Lorrie Kniesner, Norma Athearn and Lucie Bauer. Set-up and greeting involved Carney Doucette, Louise Cadwgan, Jean Matlack, Beth Wilson, Audrey and Roger Moody, Penny Dunning, Beth Gifford, Joe Patten, and the parking & valet service, Judy Powers, Bill Pluecker, Susan St. John, and Team Temple, featuring Broo. Most of these folks also filled in as greeters and ushers, helping people use the lift and find seats in a very crowded sanctuary.
Coffee and tea stations were set up early by Lorrie Kniesner, and restocked throughout the day by anyone at hand. Food was delivered, sorted, covered or refrigerated, and set out by an army of volunteers. Specific thanks to Charme Blaisdell, Audrey Moody, Liz Stanley, Susan Solman (who supplied a vat of butternut/ ginger soup, vegan, as a delicious alternative), Bob and Sue Wieluns, Carney Doucette, Penny Dunning, Judy Powers, Nan Greenier, Beth Gifford, Norma Athearn, Gin Mackay, Melissa Holt, Louise Cadwgan, Joe Patten, Sam Clark,Tom Hopps, Margaret Boyajian, Sharon Osbourne, Marilyn Hotch, and Lois Anne. As I said, I'm pretty sure I've left out helpful folks who also served; please let me know, that I may correct my record. For instance, we had an excellent turn-out for choir, with extra singers, and for all I know, they also brought food and/or helped.
I know how much our efforts that day made to Phyllis and the Parsons family, who came from all over and were hosted by Stevie and Alan Kumble and Bob and Sue Wieluns. Thanks to you all for a wonderful memorial to a wonderful man, Milton Chase (Parsnip) Parsons. He will be greatly missed. - Cathy Baker
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE UUR …
Art Club in Collin's Room Wednesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am.
All welcome, bring your supplies and draw/paint/sketch/etc with us.
No dues, no pressure, no judgements - occ laughs, recipes, suggestions - always
support and encouragement.
We’ll have you in stitches! in Collin’s Room Wednesdays at 10am
Join our Stitcher’s Group We are a group of needle-workers who meet
here every Wednesday in the Collins Room at 10AM.
Save the Date! UUR Plant Sale will be May 13th! How can you help?
Can you help organize a plant digging cavalcade? Will you have plants that need thinning that you can dig up, and divide?
Will you have containers to put donated and dug up seedlings, cuttings and bulbs in ? Recycling! Do you have some forgotten garden sculptures that you could give new life to by donating them?
How about garden benches, furniture, tools or bird baths?Do you like to label, set out and price items?
We will need a cashier and salespeople knowledgable about plants. We need some able-bodied folk just to help customers lug things off.
There is something for everyone to do and it’s great fun to participate!Please sign-up to help by contacting Noreen Mullaney at [email protected]
Time to clean out your closets and prepare for the upcoming June 9 & 10 Used Clothing Sale Fundraiser! We will accept donations of clothing and accessories at the church starting April 1. If you need to lighten your load before then, please contact Patty King at [email protected] or 691-3301 to make special arrangements. Donations of clothing for men, women & children accepted, as well as accessories such as purses, hats, shoes, scarves & jewelry. Stay tuned for more information and calls for volunteer help soon.
Share your passion on the wall outside of the Sanctuary! This can be art, poetry, prose, photography, knits, crafts - anything that can hang - please share your joy, talent, and passion with us! We need volunteers to share their passion on the wall. Most of this year awaits your inspiration! Email Peter Lehman [email protected]
345 BROADWAY - ROCKLAND, ME 04841 - [email protected]
March 2017 Hospitality TEAMS
March 5 - Moose March 12 - Churchmice March 19 - Tigers March 26 - Chickadees
Where is the First Universalist minister, Reverend Mark Glovin? Mark is in the midst of a five-month sabbatical, and will be returning to the congregation at the end of May, 2017. Our Sunday pulpit will be filled by UU clergy from throughout Maine, as well as speakers from within and outside our congregation. We have a strong Pastoral Care Team in place, and church operations will continue as usual under the oversight of our skilled staff and the First Universalist Board of Trustees. Please contact our office administrator, Sarah Rogers, at 594-8750 or [email protected] with any questions or needs, and please pick up a copy of the Sabbatical Brochure on the entry table for further info. We will celebrate Mark's return in early June!
Reminders for Sundays….
The Sanctuary is used during the week. Please take a moment before you leave to put away your hymnals. Your Orders of Service can be recycled by placing them on the table outside the Sanctuary.PARKING Anyone who is able should be parking across the street in the lot.No parking on Court St. No parking on lawns.Choir who comes early should still be mindful.
Do you shop at Staples? Many members of our UUR family shop at Staples and collect a few "Staples Reward Points" each month. But if you're like me, they seldom amount to enough to really save me much money. Then I found out that I can use the Staples Rewards Number for UUR. My points are added to those of many other members and help the church save money on much needed office supplies. The UUR Recycles Ink Cartridges and gets reward for that too! If you want to you can drop cartridges at Staples and use our number and we get credit there as well. Staples Rewards Number for the UUR is 3430008205
Sharing Wall for Joys and Sorrows We're trying a new way to share our joys, sorrows, hopes, etc. In the back corner of the sanctuary is a table with markers, pens and for now post-its. Each of us is invited to write down what we wish to share, date it and sign it or post it anonymously on the wall above the table. Thank you Sam Clark for making the frames!
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
For the April issue is: Mon. March 27th
Submissions may be sent to [email protected]
If you are newish member or even just visiting - please stop by our welcome table in the lobby and fill out a “ welcome card”(tall and white with yellow logo next to the pamphlets). This card will let us know if you want a nametag, our newsletter emailed to you, if you are interested in membership, children’s programs or want to talk to our minister. Please fill out one today and stick in the black box on the office door if we don’t have your information already.
345 BROADWAY - ROCKLAND, ME 04841 - [email protected]
Helpers at Coffee Hour
Spirit Play in Lower Elementary
Dancing with Maria in Ways to Pray
Making Love Rocks in Ways to Pray
Melissa reading to our Children
TONIANS
345 BROADWAY - ROCKLAND, ME 04841 - [email protected]
TONIANS MEET MARCH 8th, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN's DAY, to HEAR PARIVASH ROHANI on the BAHA'I FAITHWE ALSO GREET SHARON HOBSON, of "ONE LESS WORRY" at LUNCH -- ALL WELCOME
The Tonian Circle will meet Wed., March 8th, at noon, for an interesting program. We look forward first to welcoming Sharon Hobson, director of "One Less Worry", a new project here in Rockland to help women and girls in need get access to pads and tampons, and other items of personal care they cannot afford (like toilet paper!). Sharon will describe the group's work, which Tonians have materially assisted, while having lunch with us, and she'd like to stay and hear Parivash Rohani, as, I believe, will other members of our community. Parivash is a friend of Negar Paydar Smith's, with whom she celebrated Norooz (Perian New Year) last year in Yarmouth. Parivash kindly sent a paragraph on Baha'ism by way of introduction:
"The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad. The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification. One of the purposes of the Bahá'í Faith is to help make this possible. A worldwide community of some seven million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races, and cultures on earth, is working to give Bahá'u'lláh's teachings practical effect. Their experience will be a source of encouragement to all who share their vision of humanity as one global family and the earth as one homeland."
Ba'ha'is are a religious minority persecuted in Iran and other Mid East countries where Islam is part of the government. There are many Americans who are adherents, and they aren't necessarily of Arab or Persian origin. But one of the sources of fuel for forced migration is religious persecution, and we have a chance to learn from another woman about a faith with which most of us are unfamiliar. It seems like a wonderful way to celebrate International Women's Day, and the first anniversary of One Less Worry as well. Hostesses (so far) are Penny Dunning and Susan Solman, but we can use more, please.
Our Feb. 8th meeting, between snowstorms and the blizzard, came on a lovely day that had begun as yet another snow day for local schools. By noon, the sun was shining and the temperature was up into the 40's. There were 21 of us around the tables, including guest Elysa Rose-Coster, our new building manager. It was particularly nice to welcome Jean Morrison, knowing that someone was staying with Don (this was a week before he died, at home), and to meet Elysa (accent on the E, as in e-mail). She gave us a description of her job, a few hours a week; her days at church will probably be Mon. and Fri. We had a little business to do before proceeding to hear our speaker, Gin Mackay. Pres. Susan St. John asked us to consider "funding things we believe in", which we had discussed at Christmas and in January. Norma agreed to advocate for AIO, Cathy Baker will give an update on the Knox County Health Clinic, and we could ask either Lucie Bauer or the new PR director for OUT Maine, Jennifer Temple, to tell us what OUT is up to this year. Carney gave us some happy news: the short course on goddess imagery, "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" is returning to UU curricula. Veterans can tell you that it is extremely rewarding; please let Carney know if you might be interested. We circulated a card for Betsy McRae ( whose 90th birthday was Feb. 21st). Our speaker, Gin Mackey, gave a fascinating talk on her writing career, a late-blooming one according to her, and she also described her experiences in self-publishing. She first had several crime stories published in collections, and became president of the New England chapter of Sisters In Crime, the guild of women crime writers. She is now an active member of Maine Writers & Publishers Asso., because she has become her own publisher, at Pink Granite Press (of Owls Head, registered at town office). She described her evolving writing process in creating "Suddenly Spying", which is closer to a comedy; her latest, "Disappear Our Dead", partakes more of mystery and her own research into home funerals (her detective/ main character is a home funeral guide). She told us about the freedoms and the work that comes with self-publishing and sales & promotion, and we also got to hear from Kathryn and Christopher Avery, who have been doing this for a while. It was an exciting discussion, because so much has changed with the advent of "print on demand" services. Our thanks to Gin for her talk, illustrated with boards and sticky-notes, which document her story-plotting. We are cheered to know that she's already thinking about her next book, in which, she imagines, " the characters are working through their final issues", as part of home funeral planning. One final note from this meeting: Louise Cadwgan volunteered to work on an updated Tonian Directory. We have so many new members, and changes to keep track of, that others of us despaired of replicating the feat last performed by Mary Tufts the year she lived amongst us. Louise has persevered, and we hope to see a Directory at our next meeting. Finally, sincere thanks to the 14 (or more) Tonians who volunteered food, set up, greeted, parked, ushered, cleared away and made all go well at the memorial service on Feb. 25th for our beloved Milton Parsons. We had one week's notice, and a crowd, I believe, of 150, most of whom stayed for lunch with us. Tonians agreed to reimburse the chief chowderman, Brian Smith, for the 25 lbs. of fresh haddock and other supplies required to make those vast quantities of chowder. Our Tonian Treasurer will report on the total for expenses before our Mar. 8th meeting, I believe. Hope to see you all out for Tonians on March 8th! Cathy Baker, Secretary
