spirit of life nsl Aug 2018 · two grown sons and 'Bubbie' to 5 year old, Charlotte. Share the Plate with Berkshire Environmental Action Team 8-12-18 “A Free and Responsible Search

Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire

Spirit of Life

August 2018

Sunday Worship 10:30am

Mission: We come together from diverse traditions as a welcoming, religious community with shared values, seeking spiritual growth, lifelong religious education, and fellowship. We strive to promote justice, acceptance, and compassion in the world.

Music: Trustee/Greeter:

Greeter: Hospitality:

Hosp./Chalice:



Hosp./Chalice:

Music:

Trustee/Greeter: Greeter:

Hospitality: Hosp./Chalice:



Hosp./Chalice:

8-5-18 “Finding Our Way...Losing Our Way”: Rabbi Cohen Rabbi Barbara Cohen has served as Spiritual Leader of Congregation Ahavath Sholom, a Reconstructionist synagogue, in Great Barrington since 2005 and is in her final year of training as a Jewish Spiritual Director. A Berkshire County resident since 1980, Rabbi Cohen is the parent of two grown sons and 'Bubbie' to 5 year old, Charlotte.

Share the Plate with Berkshire Environmental Action Team

8-12-18 “A Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning”: Rev. Carol Allman-Morton Meaning making is fundamental to our humanity. What does it mean to do that work in spiritual community?

8-19-18 “What is Evil?”: Rev. Carol Allman-Morton The first in a new monthly series of sermons on “big questions” connected to our Second Sunday School topics each month.

8-26-18

“Calming the Storm: Equanimity”: Rev. Cara Davis Rev. Davis is a minister in the UCC and the past Executive Director of Construct. .

Hilda Banks Shapiro Lana Bennett Larry Bennett Marion Jansen Connie Canty Bonnie Benson Lana Bennett Larry Bennett Valerie Bluhm Linda Skipper Hilda Banks Shapiro UMSB Choir Lana Bennett Larry Bennett Emily Christensen Sharon Meyer Hilda Banks Shapiro Lana Bennett Larry Bennett Sheryl Davies Carol McKenna

Reverend: Carol Allman-Morton

Mailing address: PO Box 783, Housatonic, MA 01236 Tel: 413-358-3877

Residence: 1089 Main Street, Housatonic, MA 01236 map and directions

Jus ce, love, and compassion in spiritual community

www.uumsb.org [email protected] Spirit of Life August 2018 1 of 12

Rev. Carol’s Column

“Love Will Guide Us”

Lifespan Faith Development programs at UUMSB are designed to offer opportuni es for deepening and exploring spirituality, tradi ons, history, scriptures, and prac ces in a Unitarian Universalist context including our congrega onal covenant and our UU Purposes and Principles. In service of the congrega on’s Strategic Plan (2017), and Opera ng Plan (2018), I am working with Ray Garne and Deb Benne on a number of programs in order to meet the goals we set in the area of Lifespan Faith Development. You may not have met Deb yet, she is a member of the Pi sfield congrega on, and a ministerial candidate who will be very kindly helping us out on this project with some volunteer training, and as an opportunity for her to gain some Lifespan Faith Development experience as she moves through the Fellowship process. We are very lucky to have her assistance. In case you don’t read the Strategic Plan before bed each night, here are some of the goals that are related to Lifespan Faith Development.

Goal 2 ‐ Maintain excellence in worship through collabora ve and crea ve professional and lay services, including current and emerging styles as well as use of available Technologies.

Goal 4 ‐ Establish the mechanisms and informa on for robust member engagement, support and educa on.

Goal 7 ‐ Become an ac ve learning congrega on through the planned, ongoing use of internal and external resources, linked to the congrega on’s goals and priori es, and reflec ng lifespan educa on.

We began our work this summer by speaking with a variety of congrega ons in our area about what is working and not working in their programs, and learned about some innova ve best prac ces at General Assembly. Building programs for Lifespan Faith Development for children is an ongoing challenge for U.U. congrega ons of all sizes, and “tradi onal” Sunday School models that were common in the 1950s ‐ 80s are the excep on rather than the rule, especially in congrega ons under 100 members. We have put together a series of pilots for our congrega on, based on our culture, stated goals for intergenera onal worship and community, educa on, and growing and deepening our community’s engagement.


Some things will start right away, like our new Second Sunday School topic for the year: Big Ques ons, which I will follow up with a sermon on the same topic later each month. We have upped our game on art supplies and coloring pages in the back of the sanctuary and moved rocking chairs into the sanctuary in case they are needed for any parents (or people who like to rock). We will also be forming a team of lay storytellers and song leaders to help with the Grace Note each Sunday, especially those Sundays when we have a guest preacher, so that this me can be more inten onally accessible for children. Deb is willing to offer training and discussion with any poten al storytellers. If that sounds like fun to you, please be in touch with me! We will keep folks updated in the newsle er on projects, reflec ons, and more, so keep your eyes and ears out! One of the biggest changes we are working on is be er communica on about the programs we already offer, so… sorry about this really long ar cle!! We are very glad for sugges ons and feedback. As things roll out, be sure to let us know what you think. I am hopeful that our efforts to be more inten onal in offering an intergenera onal experience on Sunday mornings will offer wonderful opportuni es for spiritual growth across our community. I am excited for us to live into our mission and covenant in new ways.

Blessings on the journey. ‐ Carol See Carol’s sermons: h p://www.uumsb.org/worship/past‐worship‐services/

If you have any pastoral concerns, please call me to set up an appointment. I am available to meet on Sundays and weeknights. 413‐717‐5097 or [email protected]. Carol’s Summer Plans: Conferences: September 14 – 16: I will be at Star Island Conference Center in Maine for a small choir training.

Vaca on: July 30 – August 10: I will be on vaca on in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont where phone recep on is spo y, but I will be checking my messages every few days. For more urgent pastoral emergencies, I will provide contact informa on in advance. August 20 – 24: I will be camping, but available by phone for pastoral emergencies. August 31 – September 3: I will be back up in Vermont, and again in spo y recep on land.


Second Sunday School

Big QuestionsThis year explore “Big Questions” with Rev Carol through readings, discussion and activities for all ages. Families are encouraged to come together. Each question will also be featured in an upcoming sermon.

What is Evil?August 12

Noon to 1 p.m.Coming Soon:

September 9 – What Does it Mean to be Human?October 14 – What is Faith?November 11 – What Does it Mean to Live a Virtuous Life?December 9 – What Holds the Universe Together (or not?)

Questions about Second Sunday School? Or have some questions you wantto talk about in the spring?

Please send them along to Rev. Carol! [email protected]


Message from our President, Martha Page

Water, water, everywhere… There is an old fable about a frog and boiling water. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is first put into tepid water which is slowly brought to a boil, it will not perceive the danger and will, as a result, be cooked to death. This par cular story has been on my mind several mes in the last few weeks and months as we are exposed to a near‐daily onslaught of crises, scandals, outrages, lies, gasligh ng, and inhumani es that feel like our “water” is always boiling. How do we keep from being “cooked” or, at the very least, overwhelmed and numbed to the point of inability to act? In a commencement address several years ago, David Foster Wallace shared another water image:

There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”

Has the daily deluge of bad news fundamentally changed the nature of the water we inhabit? Wallace’s point was that each of us swims in a “near‐invisible cultural stew of words, ideas, a tudes, images, and sounds that cons tute the personal stage upon which the ac ons of our daily lives unfold.” This stew is the context for the work we undertake. For me personally, remaining conscious about the water that surrounds us is both painful and essen al. Building awareness helps us to not lose sight of the urgent need to change the nature of the water within which we are all swimming. Understanding our context and discerning what is true and real and what is not become part of the daily work of living and striving to make the world be er for us having been here; our congrega onal home here at UUMSB can be a place for us to engage in that discernment process, while supported by our fellow “fish”. Inspired by others who work for a be er world may help us to do so with joy, enthusiasm, and even a willingness to get hurt. As the amazing John Lewis reminds us (using another water image!):

Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be op mis c. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year; it is the struggle of a life me. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. At every moment in every person’s life there is work to be done, always work to be done, some of it small, some of it Great. The Great Work, in a sense, always has to do with healing the world, changing the world, and, as a necessary predicate to that, understanding the world. You rise every morning aware that you are called to this work. You won’t live to see it finished. But if you can’t hear it calling, you aren’t listening hard enough. It’s always calling, sometimes in a big voice, sometimes in a quiet voice.

(Tony Kushner, b. 1956)


UUMSB Social Justice Committee— update for August 2018

August 2018 News for our UUMSB Congrega on from your

Social Jus ce Team

Late last month your Social Jus ce Team met before service (yes, an early mee ng) for our 3rd Quarter Planning Mee ng. We meet to review what we have done during the previous quarter and plan toward the weeks ahead. We only meet four mes each year so when we do meet face to face we try our best to be as efficient as possible. We come together in other ways during each quarter – our reading/discussion group, going to social jus ce stand‐outs together, working at the People’s Pantry, a ending local jus ce events (the Mul cultural BRIDGE 10th year Gala Celebra on – see below) and much more. This month our People’s Pantry Team will be working at the pantry in Great Barrington at Saint James Place on Thursday, August 2. If you are interested in joining this once every other month responsibility, please contact Erin McNamara. On Sunday, August 5, Gary Shaw will be introducing the work of BEAT – Berkshire Environmental Ac on Team during our August Share the Plate Sunday. BEAT is one of the most ac ve environmental organiza ons in Berkshire County. Please be generous during the plate collec on. Last month Al Blake was a BEAT volunteer during a Housatonic River clean‐up day. Ask Al about some of the items the volunteers pulled out of one of the mother river’s tributaries on that day. Some of us a ended Mul cultural BRIDGE’s 10th Year Gala Celebra on at Naumkeag in Stockbridge last month. It was a grand evening tled Resilient Connec ons. It seemed like every social jus ce ac vist in Berkshire County was present – including the local elected officials of South County – many voices talking about the impact and the legacy of the work of BRIDGE. Have you ever wondered what BRIDGE stands for – Berkshire Resources for Integra on of Diverse Groups through Educa on. Your Jus ce Team took out a full‐page ad in the Resilient Connec ons gala program (see below). It was a fine evening to celebrate the work of an important local organiza on, co‐founded by our own Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant. Our Social Jus ce discussion group con nues. . . organizer of the group, Erin McNamara, has guided us from reading books together, to sharing ar cles on par cular subjects (currently income inequality), to planning toward film screenings. Ever read a powerful book, an ar cle in the World or the Atlan c and so wanted to talk about it with others? Well, that is just what we have begun to do ‐ in a planned se ng, right here at UUMSB. Our next discussion date is pending with these busy summer months but ask any of us about joining in on the discussion. . . we would love to have you join us!


August 2018 News for our UUMSB Congrega on from your Social Jus ce Team

We have a new Social Jus ce Team Member – Linda Skipper. Linda was welcomed to her first Jus ce Team mee ng last month. She has also joined our Jus ce Discussion group – again you can too! We are so glad to have Linda be part of our work!

We also have been joined by a long‐ me member of UUMSB, Lissa McGovern, who came to a book discussion and has decided to stay and become a member of our team. Lissa is also a new member of the UUMSB Board of Trustees. Welcome Lissa!

Tommie Hutto-Blake for the UUMSB Justice Team ~ Ricky Bernstein, Al Blake, Valerie Bluhm, Karen Clark, Stu Dalheim, Sheryl Davies, Ray Garnett, Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant, Lissa McGovern, Erin McNamara, Martha Page, Sue Protheroe, Gary Shaw. And Linda Skipper.

REMINDER:

Our 2018 Labor Weekend Tag Sale will be Saturday, September. 1, 2018

Bring items to the side entrance hall

Sermon Writing Workshop Sunday September 16—9:15 to 10:15

There is a wealth of wisdom and experience in our congrega on, some of it yet to be shared. We are eager to hear from some new voices in our lay services. Do you have thoughts you'd like to organize into a sermon?

Come join the discussion. Everyone is invited. We hope those who have already presented sermons will a end to share ps and encouragement. There will be handouts from trained ministers and worship leaders.

A endance at the workshop in no way commits you to leading a service, but we are hoping that the workshop will encourage addi onal members and friends to move in that direc on.

Marion and Jan for the Worship Commi ee


The Unitarian Universalists Meeting of South Berkshire – Social Justice Team

is so proud of member Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant,

and the Bridge team.

10 years of programs, community organizing and coalition work between local town

leadership, other community non-profits and community members

- bringing us all closer to theBeloved Community – the vision we all dream

about. . . in our collective future.

W e look forw ard to hearing from you!B y M ail: P . O . B ox 783, H ousatonic, M A 01236B y Phone: 413-358-3877B y Em ail: in fo@ uum sb.org


The Caring Committee, a part of the Membership and Growth Committee, coordinates and delivers caring services to members experiencing difficulties. We are available for anyone needing assistance in life or family situations that seem to come to everyone from time to time. Our committee finds volunteers from the congregation to help provide visits, food, transportation, and other services, depending on the situation. Whether you or someone you know may need information, encouragement, a hand or a ride, please call:

Valerie Bluhm (413) 394-4309 Zoe Dalheim (413) 243-3617 Phlox Laucher (413) 281-8351 Sharon Meyer (413) 528-0956 Sue Montague (518) 321-5102

August

1 Nicki Wilson

12 Marian Rose

17 Sheryl Davies

18 Bob Dix

19 Tommie Hu o‐Blake

24 Sam Morton

30 Tom Fiederlein

31 Pierre Duhon

Any one else have a August birthday?

Email Sheena and let her know!

Would you like to join?

Come and sing with us! We rehearse at 9:15 a.m. before worship on the Sundays we will be

singing. Contact Marian Rose for informa on.

We come together August 19

UUMSB Community News:

If you have any personal joys or concerns that you would like to share, send them to Sheena at [email protected]. Thanks!

Membership Directory! If you are part of our community, but have not yet officially joined the congrega on, we would love to add you to our member directory as a friend, so that folks can be in touch with you and we can call you in case of cancella ons. Just send an email to our administrator Sheena with your contact info at [email protected]!


Our congregation’s first meeting was in 1995 with 6 people in attendance. We are a chartered congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We currently have 67 members and maintain strong ties to our community. We are a growing congregation in the liberal tradition that respects ideas, values diversity, and encourages the exploration of spirituality and life’s meaning.

UUMSB Church, Housatonic map and directions-

All gatherings held at UUMSB in Housatonic unless specified otherwise Click on this link to go to UUMSB calendar

South County Race Task Force 7:00pm: Thursday August 2

Membership and Growth Committee meeting 9:30am: Sunday August 5

Worship Committee meeting 12Noon: Sunday August 5

Facility Use Committee meeting 9:00am: Sunday August 12

Choir Rehearsal 9:15am: Sunday August 19

Board meeting 12Noon: Sunday August 19

Safety Training 12Noon Sunday August 26

Second Sunday School 12Noon: Sunday August 12

UUMSB Board

President: Martha Page (860) 597-2612 Vice President: Mike Thiemann (413) 344-6969 Secretary/Clerk: Graham Christensen (407) 670-9980 Treasurer: Chuck Pierce (413) 528-7910

Trustees at Large: Lana Bennett (316) 518-3099

Lissa McGovern (413) 717-2891 Laurie Shaw (413) 528-0343


Lifespan Faith Development at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire

Lifespan Faith Development programs at UUMSB are designed to offer opportunities for deepening and exploring spirituality, traditions, history, scriptures, and practices in a Unitarian Universalist context including our congregational covenant and our UU Purposes and Principles.

Worship – This fall, we are experimenting with some new worship styles that will cultivate intergenerational connection and shared spiritual development. Keep an eye on the newsletter for more information on these services. Children are encouraged to take part in worship. Please note we have a variety of art supplies for all ages available at the back of the sanctuary every Sunday. If you or your family would like to participate in worship through music, telling a story, leading a song, lay readings, or even planning a service, there are lots of opportunities! Talk with Rev. Carol to learn more.

Second Sunday School – The second Sunday of each month, noon – 1 p.m. This year explore “Big Questions” with Rev Carol through readings, discussion and activities for all ages. Families are encouraged to come together. Each question will also be featured in a sermon later in the month.

August 12 – What is Evil? September 9 - What Does it Mean to be Human? October 14 – What is Faith? November 11 – What Does it Mean to Live a Virtuous Life? December 9 – What Holds the Universe Together (or not?)

For Children ages 7 and under – Child care and age appropriate activities are available each week in our space for younger children if they will not be comfortable in the service. Quiet toys are available at the welcome table at the back of the sanctuary.

Children and youth older than 7 are encouraged to take part in the Second Sunday School program, and to participate in worship. If there is ever a worship topic, or a wiggly day, when they do not wish to be in the service, they are welcome to visit the nursery to read to or play with our youngest members.

Coming of Age Program (Youth ages 12 -14, and mentors of all ages) – This program is an amazing opportunity to help youth bridge into young adulthood, build relationships with the congregation in new ways, have a mentoring relationship and learn more about Unitarian Universalism. Contact Rev. Carol for more information.

Living by Heart – Second Wednesdays each month in the evening - Explore memorizing poetry as a meditation tool and spiritual practice. Jan Hutchinson is the facilitator and we meet at her house in South Egremont. If you would like to participate, please let Jan know ([email protected]).


Other ways to connect: Small Group Ministry - The Small Group Ministry program deepens and broadens personal spiritual growth. A group usually consists of 8-10 members who meet at each others’ homes, usually once each month. Each meeting is focused on a spiritual or religious topic. Check with Rev. Carol for more info. Social Justice ministries - There are wonderful opportunities for doing justice work in our community and with rare exception are for all ages (sometimes outside groups have minimum age requirements for some tasks, i.e. Habitat for Humanity). We encourage everyone in the community to look at upcoming social justice programs including work days, marches, book discussion groups and interfaith worship and programs. If you have any questions, see Tommie Hutto-Blake or Karen Clark.

Feel free to bring your lunch or snacks to any post-worship programs!

For More Information: Please contact Rev. Carol Allman-Morton

at 413-717-5097 or [email protected]

We worship at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday, 1089 Main Street, Housatonic, Great Barrington, MA


Documents

spirit of life nsl Aug 2018 · two grown sons and 'Bubbie' to 5 year old, Charlotte. Share the Plate with Berkshire Environmental Action Team 8-12-18 “A Free and Responsible Search