First Parish, Hingham

Old Ship Church

Unitarian Universalist

14 Main Street Hingham, MA 02043

(781) 749-1679

office@oldshipchurch.org  www.oldshipchurch.org

Services for October 2023

Sunday, October 1 

Report from General Assembly

This year was unusual in that a substantial number of people from Old Ship made it to Pittsburgh in June for the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly. The service this morning will feature a report from those attendees as well as in invitation to participate in the ongoing work to decide whether Article II of the UUA Principles and Purposes needs to be updated. That process will culminate in a vote next June at GA.

Sunday, October 8 

Goodbye, Columbus! 

From what we know now of the voyage of Columbus and the Age of Discovery which followed, is there any reason to keep honoring him?

Sunday, October 15 

Rev. Paul Sprecher, pulpit guest

"Gaia:  Our Unitarian Universalist Interdependent Web"

 The Gaia Theory posits that the Earth is a self-regulating complex system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrospheres, and the pedosphere. The name comes from Gaia, the Greek goddess of the earth - that is, Mother Earth. And our mother is under relentless attack. We can't fix that all by ourselves -- but still, we can each do something, as we commit to doing in our Seventh Principle.

Sunday, October 22  

Calvin and Original Sin

Both Unitarianism and Universalism arose as reactions to Calvinism. What have we laced at the center of our religion where Original Sin is in Calvinism?

Sunday, October 29 

The Thinning Veil 

Halloween was an ancient Celtic holiday called Samhain, the Celtic New Year. In pagan thought, there were two worlds which existed die by side, the world of ordinary reality and the world of the Fairy Folk. The new year, Samhain, was said to be the time when the veil between the two worlds was at its thinnest. We expect to have some Celtic music to get in the mood.

The Minister's Monthly Musings

Fall isn't just the time you can get fresh pumpkin lattes from your favorite barista. It's the time that reminds you of the cyclical nature of time itself.

We are used to thinking of time as a straight line, like a ruler or a taut string. That's certainly one way of looking at it. But as the odometer of our year clicks over to 50, 55 60, 70, we recognize that whatever the day is, time not only moves in straight lines but also in spirals. Wherever we are, we've been here before.  Not exactly, but close. This fall has characteristics of last fall, but also differences. 

My favorite account of this phenomenon is from that Young Adult classic, "A Catcher In the Rye." Here is the teenage narrator trying to explain time in cycles versus time in straight lines:

One of my favorite expressions of this idea is in J.D. Salinger’s "A Catcher In the Rye," where the precocious teenager Holden Caulfield is recalling his elementary school class visits to the Museum of Natural History in New York:

“The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole,with their pretty antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket. Nobody'd be different.The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you'd be so much older or anything. It wouldn't be that, exactly. You'd just be different, that's all.You'd have an overcoat this time. Or the kid that was your partner in line the last time had got scarlet fever and you'd have a new partner. Or you'd have a substitute taking the class, instead of Miss Aigletinger. Or you'd heard your mother and father having a terrific fight in the bathroom. Or you'd just passed byone of those puddles in the street with gasoline rainbows in them. I mean you'd be different in some way—I can't explain what I mean. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it."

Fall is a time for taking stock. There are two cultures which celebrate new years during this period, Jewish and Celtic. In both, people are encouraged to think about how they are situated today. In Jewish custom, the holiday calls for an assessment of how you have treated your fellow humans and God. In the Celtic holiday of Samhain (pronounced sow-en), great bonfires are built to provide warmth against the approaching winter.

Is time a straight line or a spiral? It can be both, depending on how we feel looking at it.

My office hours are Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 4, but you can make an appointment for any time I am available. I want to get to know you. Call me at 617-710-0508 or email at edmuund@gmail.com (yes, that’s two “u”s).

Message from the Board of Trustees

As we begin October the Board of Trustees (BOT) is overseeing the Old Ship as it settles into the rhythm of another church year. Last month the BOT continued to work closely with our new minister, helped to get committees up and running, and gained some new tools to help us in church governance. Here is recap of the BOT’s busy September;

On September 7th the Board of Trustees met for our monthly meeting with a robust agenda. Particularly notable were the following items:

-Reporting on conversations held with long time church members in response to the “After Pastor” concerns identified in the Interim Ministers final report. These particular congregants felt the ministerial misconduct (which took place in the 60s and 70s) had been sufficiently dealt with at the time and did not believe this impacted our congregation today. Look for more messaging about this later this month.

-The Building & Grounds Committee met and is planning for some repairs for the Meeting House. Priorities are to put up a safety railing along the east side of the Meeting House steps, fix the grade along the hill on the north side of the building that is worn down from people walking to 14 Main Street.

-A newly energized Website/Communications committee (Kate Doyle & Heather Nolasco) has met and will work cooperatively with our Parish Administrator Lisa Beck in updating and managing electronic communications. This committee will also take on a rebuild of our Old Ship Church website.

-Rev. Edmund reported that the Hingham Hull Religious Leaders Association (HHRLA) voted to host the 2023 Thanksgiving Eve. service again at Old Ship following a one year hiatus. Please see the “Thanksgiving Service Update” portion of this newsletter for more information.

Then, on Saturday, Sept. 16, several BOT members and Rev. Edmund attended the UUA event for church leadership entitled “Facing Our Challenges Together” in Lexington, MA. This event brought together close to one hundred lay leaders from congregations in NE to share on and learn best practices in two specific areas; ministering to millennials and families post pandemic and creating or refreshing church covenants. Our BOT attendees enjoyed being in

community with UUs from across the area. We found this a helpful and collaborative event and took home lots of fresh ideas and good energy. Lastly, our Old Ship specific BOT retreat, originally set for Sept.is set for Oct. 7. At this retreat our board members will practice maintaining a spiritual perspective while attending to church business and goal setting. In particular the BOT will determine the central focus for Old Ship in this pivotal church year. Look for more messaging about our retreat takeaways in the month ahead. Please contact Board President Trish McAleer @ president@oldshipchurch.org with any questions or comments.

Trish McAleer, President

president@oldshipchurch.org

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Be a Part of Worship and Music!



Our Sunday services are a central part of our church life providing weekly opportunities for

spiritual renewal and community throughout the year. Did you know that just a few folks on the

Worship and Music Committee (WAM) have been making this magic for several years now?

WAM is a collaborative committee consisting of our Minister, our Music Director and members of our congregation. As some long term WAM members have stepped down, WAM is in critical need of new folks to join them in making our services happen. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas for ways to make Old Ship services even more engaging and giving back to our community. Please contact Karen Churchill at xplasticfishx@yahoo.com, or Bonnie Baynes at stbaynes23@icloud.com to join WAM or with any questions.

Thanksgiving Service Update



Old Ship will again host the The Hingham Hull Religious Leaders’ Association (HHRLA) Thanksgiving Eve Service next month. As we know, the Native American experience and

perspective on Thanksgiving is unique and is often associated with loss and with pain. Adequately honoring this important perspective in our shared community gathering, was and continues to be very important to us. Last year the Board of Trustees (BOT) voted to support

Rev. Erin’s efforts to have the HHRLA service reflect increased respect and compassion for Native Americans. The initial hesitation of the HHRLA to make changes, led to the service being moved to another local church. However, while the HHRLA service was not held at Old Ship, it is our understanding that the HHRLA service was changed to be more reflective of the Native American experience. It is our hope that this year’s HHRLA service at Old Ship will continue in this mode. The HHRLA group will continue to coordinate together this month and next. Feel free to reach out to Rev. Edmund or to a BOT member with questions.

Pastoral Care Leadership Team



We are all on the pastoral care team, but our “Pastoral Care Leadership Team” meets each month to share any concerns about parishioners who are ill, in the hospital, or facing other significant challenges, and to coordinate responses. If you have a pastoral concern to share with our Team, please feel free to contact any member of the group:

Ralph Brown

Liz Flint

Elaine Gomez

Fan Leonard 

Claire Petrie

Joan Wilson 

Patience Gardner 

Louise Smith 

Edmund Robinson 

Musical Notes

Hello Old Ship, 

With the new church year underway, now is a great time to consider joining the choir! We are always welcoming new folks, whether or not you have experience singing in a choir. We typically sing the first three Sundays of every month and we rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am -- no evening commitments required! For more information, feel free to reach out to me directly. I look forward to hearing your voice! 

Musically Yours,

Christopher

WISDOM OF THE POETS

Here are three Haiku poems for your enjoyment:

Deep autumn -

   my neighbor,

how does he live, I wonder?

           Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Late autumn - 

a single chair awaiting

for someone yet to come.



           Arima Akito (born 1930)

   Don't worry, spiders,

I keep house

     casually .

            Kobayashi Issa (1762-1826)

Responses always welcome.  elizabethtorrey@hotmail.com

Religious Education News:

Join us on Sunday mornings for religious education opportunities for pre-school & elementary school age children. Families and children begin their Sunday in the worship service with the whole congregation, and an activity / class starts right after the Story for all Ages part in the service.

The Coming of Age program happens this year ( it's an every other year thing) for our youth in grades 8 and 9. If you are an 8th or 9th grader and/ or their family member please reach out  Maureen Butler by phone or email with any questions.

We will be reaching out to families with youth in this age group before Sept 30th with October dates for a family meeting and the COA class outline/schedule. The program will begin later in October and run through May. Day and time of meetings will be determined by teacher/ facilitator and participant availability and preference (ie Sunday vs week night)

Coming of Age Programs:

As youth prepare to leave childhood, congregations seeking to honor this transition support and offer a Coming of Age Program. This experience often culminates in a youth led worship service & ceremony where youth share their statements of individual belief. The multi month program that precedes the ceremony explores Unitarian Universalism, theology, spirituality and many of life's big questions related to faith, religion, & ethics through a well considered curriculum of discussions, mentor relationships, social action activity, drama, a retreat, music, writing and art.

Heather Nolasco 

Janet Asnes

Maureen Butler

Diane Elliott 

Welcoming Congregation Discussion

Thursday, September 28, 7:00 PM on Zoom

Our 1st discussion for church year. It will be an open topic; anything from summer fun to anti-LGBTQ+.   Click here for the Zoom Link - WCC Discussion Discussions are open to everyone and are held on the 4th Thursday of each month during the church year

Welcoming Congregation Tid-Bit

At church we've talked about the various sexual orientations and pronouns, we haven't discussed discriminating words.  

Even if you are not familiar or ever heard of these words, it's clear their meaning is being used against LGBTQ+, especially transgender people.

Must keep working to stop all forms of discrimination.

Alloxesism - discrimination against asexuals.

Cissexims - belief that there are only two genders and that they are assigned at birth.

Heteronormativity - belief that being straight is the norm.

Heterosexism - assumption that everyone is straight.

Monosexism - belief that people who are attracted to only one gender are superior.

Welcoming Congregation's Monthly Discussion

Thurs Oct 26th, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Zoom 

Join us for an open discussion. Log in   Here

Side with Love Gathering

Sat. Oct. 7th, 8:00 am -10:00 am on the River St Bridge, Norwell.  

Park at North River Theater, 513 River St., Norwell 

Hold signs and flags with UU, other churches and the general public seeking justice for Black Lives, Reproductive Justice & Trans Rights, LGBTQ+, Democracy and Climate Change.

You are encouraged to make or bring your own sign, banner and/or flag.

Life Learning Offerings

Bodhisattva Study Group - Every Sunday morning, 8:30 AM. Zoom only.

Twenty minutes of sitting meditation followed by discussion of a Buddhist or related text, facilitated by Catherine Mayes. For questions and Zoom link, email Lisa Sawyer.

Men’s Breakfast – Meets on the second Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m., of each month. Our next gathering will be October 8th– in 14 Main St. Parlor and on Zoom. Contact Ralph Brown (ralph.e.brown@gmail.com) or Rich Elliott (richelliott56@gmail.com) for information and, for the Zoom link.

Ceilidh! – Gathers on the first Tuesday of each month. This means our next monthly song/poem circle will be on Tuesday evening, October 3, at 7:00 p.m. We are currently planning to gather in the Parlor as well as on Zoom. Email Eric Cornetta with any questions about Ceilidh or for the Zoom link:EECornetta@aol.com. The zoom link is:https://zoom.us/j/92888235659?pwd=M3NEcVNibjdqM1RvUHhTUm9aN21Edz09

Fiber Funship

Fiber Funship is still meeting on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM in the 14 Main St Parlor. For info contact Diane Elliot or Carol Valentine.

Sacred Texts Meditation Group

Next gatherings: Thursday, September 28

4:00 - 5:30 p.m., Zoom  

Second and fourth Thursday afternoons

​Each session will have a reading, a 15-minute meditation, and exploration of one chapter from the Tao Te Ching, including its meaning to each of us, as well as related writings, poetry or art. Newcomers are welcome. Gatherings will be Zoom only. For information and the Zoom link, contact Rich Elliott. 

UU 101

Old Shippers, New Shippers, anyone who is curious about these two religious movements called Unitarianism and Universalism, are welcome to come to a class that Reverend Edmund is teaching on Wednesdays in October -- the 4th, 11th and 18th. The class will be held in person from 6 pm to 7:30 in the parlor at 14 Main Street and on Zoom. You may be interested in the class because you are considering signing the membership book at Old Ship, or because you have considered yourself a UU for many years and just want to check in to see what the new minister thinks UUism is. There will not be tests or exams or essays, but he'd like you to bring your critical intelligence to try to probe in depth how this faith differs from the other faiths practiced on this earth.

Serving Others

News from the Social Justice Council (SJC) 



Next Meeting is Saturday, October 14, at 9 a.m. on Zoom. All are welcome! Here is the

link to the meeting: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86766866670?pwd=9GQ0PcB6nPz1NYEnMjbK7ZWgIQaf5P.1

October Special Plate Collection: Hingham Food Pantry — Given the increase in food insecurity, we have decided to name the Hingham Food Pantry as our special plate recipient for the month of October. We think this is an important way to serve our Hingham neighbors in need. Donations can be made online through the Old Ship website. Click the donate button and

then designate your donation for the Hingham Food Pantry. The special plate during a Sunday service will be announced in a weekly Constant Contact.

We also collect food donations for the Hingham Food Pantry each week in the Meeting House; there is a basket in the vestibule for donations. Currently, the following items are especially needed for the pantry: Pasta Sauce, Mac & Cheese, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Canned Tuna, Cookies, Minute Rice, Noodle or Potato Side dishes, and 64 oz Juices. Also, please note that Stop & Shop on Rt. 3A is currently collecting food for the Pantry at the Service Desk; there

is not a bin for collections at the moment.

Public Standout for Side With Love on Saturday, October 7 — First Parish in Norwell has invited Old Shippers and others to join them on the Norwell bridge over Rt. 3 from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st to demonstrate our commitment to love, diversity, and justice. Bring your rainbow flags and other signs of love to show support for these values on the South Shore. For

more information, contact Abby Diamond-Kissiday, abby@abbycpa.com.

Anti-Racism/Social Justice Drop-in Book Group meeting on October 15 at 7 p.m. on Zoom — All are welcome to join us as we discuss Richard Rothstein’s, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. This book explores how laws were used to segregate housing in the United States. It is an important study of how segregated

housing was created in urban areas. Here is the Zoom link for the October meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84935047590?pwd=ldT5TIY49boEmcnQRNnV3LLTDJFUxO.1.

Upcoming Events this Fall focusing on Climate Change — Please mark your calendar for these important events, open to the community at large. On Tuesday, October 24, we will be screening an important film, The Letter, based on Pope Francis’ Message for the Earth. This film showcases the commitment to climate change of five individuals from all over the world. It is a powerful film, making clear how important it is to be working to confront the disasters awaiting us from climate change. Two weeks later, on November 7, we will host a forum on what we as individuals can do to affect climate change. Both events will take place at 7 p.m. in the Meeting House and are free to the public. More details will be in next month’s newsletter.

News from the UU Urban Ministry — 

Everyone is invited to a special tour of the “Trees of John Eliot Square: A historical perspective.” Enjoy a stroll around the neighborhood focused on Roxbury's agriculture and horticulture and how these shaped the neighborhood over the years. Tour led by historian Thomas Plant. This tour takes place on Saturday, October 7, from 9:30 – 11:00 AM. The tour begins at the UU Urban Ministry, 10 Putnam St, Boston, MA. Beginning to think about Holiday Gift Shopping? Consider supporting a Roxbury- based artist of color through the UUUM’s Directory of Artists, which can be downloaded or viewed at Arts and Humanities Programming | Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (uuum.org). This is an opportunity to peruse and purchase some incredible local art while supporting artists of color.

Update on Migrant Shelter Collection — Thanks to Everyone Who Contributed Items and Gift Cards to the Temporary Migrant Shelter in Quincy! We delivered an SUV full of pack ‘n plays, diapers, baby wipes, and personal hygiene items, as well as $565 in gift cards for the shelter to use to purchase needed items. Thank you for your generosity toward our new neighbors! This is an important example of acting on the side of love!

Old Ship Social Justice Action Alert Network — Sign up for the Old Ship Social Justice Action Alert Network to find out about specific advocacy opportunities such as letter writing, advocacy calls, and participating in educational and advocacy events with local legislators. Send your email address to Davalene Cooper, Keeper of the List.

October Game Nights:

Fridays, October 13th & October 27th

at 6:00 PM 14 Main Street

Bring a game, a snack, or just yourself to an Old Ship community game night! We can have some fun and get to know each other better. Contact Heather Nolasco (heatherbachelder27@gmail.com or 541-721-1418) with any questions or your RSVP.

October Walking Club:

Sundays at 1:30 PM, weather depending,

October 8th- Webb Memorial Park

October- 22nd - Pond Meadow in Weymouth

Weather-permitting, our Old Ship Walking Group will be exploring nearby parks after Sunday services. Contact Heather Nolasco (541-729-1418 or heatherbachelder27@gmail.com) to be added to the contact list for upcoming walks

1806 Grandfather Clock

Our Hingham made,1806 grandfather clock is back and keeping time in the parlor. A generous member of the church had the clock's feet repaired and some restoration done to the case.  

Although the clock is meant to chime on the hour, we have decided to let it quietly run keeping time without the chime. As it is 217 years old, it likes to be admired from a distance and handled as little as possible. A designated person will wind the clock weekly. 

Merrie Market - Saturday, December 9th

Hard to believe it, but Merrie Market is only two months away!

We are excited to continue this annual tradition of merriment and fundraising in a wonderful new

location: the Hingham Community Center. Many hands will make light work as we get closer

to the big day.

For now, please save the date and start gathering your treasures. We are seeking items in

excellent condition, including silver, china, jewelry, antiques, art, pottery, housewares,

linens, and holiday items. 

If you have any questions, please contact

Lisa Patterson via email: pattersonlisa66@gmail.com or phone: 617-529-1192. If you want to make your donations early, you can drop your items off anytime during office hours at 14 Main Street.



Merrie Market is an easy and fun way to support our beloved Old Ship and engage with each other and the community. Stay tuned for details about the many volunteer opportunities that will be available to help make the day a great success!

• Board of Trustees - Thursday, October 5, 7:00 p.m. Zoom/Parlor; Click here for the Zoom Link
• Deacons - Wednesday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. 
• Pastoral Care Team Meeting - Tuesday., October10 1:30 p.m. Zoom/Parlor

Printer Cartridge Collection

Please bring your used printer cartridges to the Parish House and help raise funds for our office supplies. In 2021 we were able to convert used cartridges into almost $500 of office supplies! Drop off your cartridges in the cabinet in the outer vestibule of he Parish House office. Any brand or type of cartridge is fine. Thank you!

Happy Fall from your friends at Old Ship Church!