|
Summer 2023 Newsletter
Trouble viewing this email or want to print? View as Webpage
Deadline for September newsletter: Monday, August 21, 2023
| | |
Summer Services in July and August
On July 2nd, summer services will begin. Services start at 10:30 a.m. and will be in person in the Meeting house as well as on Zoom. Each service is hosted by the Worship and Music Committee and a guest speaker. The Zoom link is our usual Sunday worship link
If you have a joy, sorrow, or concern you would like to share at any of the summer services, please email our Worship and Music Committee co-chair Karen Churchill or text Karen at 781-812-5518
If you would like to be a speaker there are dates available. Don't be shy and let your voice be heard.
And here’s the schedule of Sunday services:
July 2 - Karen Churchill
July 9 - Ellie Handleman
July 16 - Diane and Rich Elliott
July 23 - Elizabeth Torrey - Poetry
July 31 - TBA
August speakers will be Tom Zarle, Pat Bianco and more to be announced!
We look forward to sharing with you all summer long.
| | |
Message from the Board of Trustees
As we end one church year and begin the next, your Board of Trustees is planning a busy summer. Here are some highlights of the past month and what to look for this summer.
Congregation Conversation
We had a robust turnout at our June 19th Congregational Conversation focusing on the Interim Minister’s Report. We appreciated hearing the diverse points of view and the willingness to listen and dialogue on these important topics. To allow for additional participation, the Board will be offering a daytime opportunity for a second discussion. Please check your email for more information.
| |
Ministry Update
In July, we will officially say goodbye to our Interim Minister Rev. Erin Splaine. Rev. Erin has provided us with a fresh perspective, valuable insights and left us with a lot to think about. We wish her much success next year as she moves just down the road to First Parish Scituate. In August, Rev. Edmund Robinson will start his ministry with us. Per his contract, Rev. Robinson will work in the following areas; planning and conducting Sunday services and some special services (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, vespers), delivering sermons, coordinating with our Music Director, attending our Board meetings and advising us on governance. Rev. Robinson will also attend meetings with the Committees on Ministry, Pastoral Care, and Worship and Music and teach an adult learning class (on a mutually agreed upon topic). Additionally, as a trained Interim Minister, Rev. Robinson will do some interim work with us as determined by the Board. We very much look forward to working with Rev Robinson in the next year
| |
Old Ship Priorities Survey is Coming
This summer, as we look to broaden participation, the Board will be sending out an Old Ship Priorities Survey will ask members to identify the areas YOU feel should be focused on at Old Ship next year. Which areas of our congregational life do you feel are most important? All voices are essential. Your participation in this survey is greatly needed and appreciated!
| |
Summer Services
This year’s lay-led summer services will happening in the Meeting House. We hope you will attend and stay connected. But as summer is a time to relax and refresh, whether you are on the beach, in the woods, your yard or walking down a city street, we hope that you will find the time and space to slow down and enjoy.
| | |
Looking for housing
One of our congregants is seeking a reasonably priced one bedroom or studio apartment for himself. Please contact Lisa in the office for his contact information if you or someone you know might have something available.
| | |
Old Ship Church members at UUGA
Your Old Ship banner was displayed proudly this year at the General Assembly conference in Pittsburgh. Our attendees are headed home after a very successful and inspiring week. We can't wait to share with you what we've learned!
| | |
WISDOM OF THE POETS
Elizabeth Torrey
SUMMER MEDITATION by
Robert T. Weston
Now blows the wind with soft, relaxing warmth.
The sun beats down. The schools are out.
Children swarm in playgrounds and streets.
Folks vacation-bound crowd broad highways.
Lakes and seashores lost their solitude.
All the world seems turned to carnival.
What of ourselves? There could be now
deep peace, a time for soul-searching.
We might turn to examine our own lives,
to sort and probe our tendencies of thought.
To sift the true from false
in the things of doubt,
The beautiful from ugliness unmarked.
The sun beats down; it is a time for pause,
Even the trees seem resting for a time
as if to meditate and gather strength
for the more strenuous times
that lie ahead.
And shall not we? Here's the unfinished clay,
half-moulded, that still waits on us
To think what we have been and as we are
Still yet have to become
| |
HUMMINGBIRD by Raymond Carver
for Tess
Suppose I say summer,
write the word "hummingbird",
put it in an envelope,
take it down the hill
to the box. When you open
my letter you will recall
those days and how much,
just how much, I love you.
Wishing everyone moments of laughter, connectedness, and peace this summer.
elizabeth (elizabethtorrey@hotmail.com)
| | |
Children's Religious Education
Sunday School classes have ended for the church year. All ages are welcome to attend and participate in our Sunday Services.
Please reach out to Maureen Butler with any questions 617-877-5204
| | |
Life Learning Offerings
Ongoing groups and gatherings
Our Life Learning Committee is preparing a schedule of classes and groups for 2022-2023.
Watch future newsletters for updates.
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. Currently we are reading Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.
For questions and Zoom link, email Lisa Sawyer.
Men’s Breakfast — Meets on the second Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m., of each month – but taking a break in July and August. Will resume meeting on September 10th. Contact Ralph Brown or Rich Elliott for information and, if we are still meeting on Zoom, for the link.
Sacred Texts Meditation Group
Next gatherings: Thursdays, July 13th, August 10th and August 24th
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.
Ceilidh! – Gathers on the first Tuesday of each month. This means our next monthly song/poem circle will be on Tuesday evening, July 4th, at 7:00 p.m. We are currently planning to gather in the 14 Main St Parlor as well as on Zoom. Please email Eric Cornetta with any questions about Ceilidh. The zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/92888235659?pwd=M3NEcVNibjdqM1RvUHhTUm9aN21Edz09
Fiber Funship
During the summer months, Fiber Funship will meet Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. at members’ homes. Hopefully outdoors! No crafting is required. For info contact Diane Elliot or Carol Valentine.
Fellowship Hour & Snacks:
Fellowship Hour will be held outside the Meeting House (weather permitting). People are asked to bring some type of finger or toothpick food that can be placed on a napkin is best. We don’t have volunteers to hand wash dishes and are going to keep things simple. Please leave your food item on the table outside the Meeting House ready to go. Food can be left in it’s box or served on a paper plate. Thanks everyone.
| | |
Welcoming Congregation
Wednesday, June 28, 7:00 P.M.
Zoom for Welcoming Congregation
Welcoming Congregation Discussion
This is the last one for this church year, so it will be open to all topics. We might discuss - Pride, anti-LGBTQ+ laws around the US, plans for the summer, what you'd like to see in the next church year, etc. Don't let this open discussion time pass you by without chiming in.
| | |
Serving Others
News from the Social Justice Council (SJC)
Our Next Meeting is Sunday, August 6, 2023. We will be gathering in person for a potluck and to plan our work for the coming church year. Please contact Davalene Cooper at davalenecooper@verizon.net if you would like to attend and be part of our planning process. All are welcome to join us in our work in creating a more just world!
Want to Help Provide Lunches for the Anderson Veterans Home in Hingham this Coming August? We at Old Ship are part of a community wide interfaith effort to provide six lunches twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) to the Anderson Veterans Home on Fort Hill Street in Hingham. Lunch consists of a deli-meat or PB&J sandwich, chips, fresh fruit, cookie, and water or juice. Old Ship is responsible for the month of August; we are looking for a few more volunteers to take one of the August dates and provide the six lunches. You could do this individually, as a family, or as a group of friends. The lunches are left in a cooler outside the side door of the home. If you would like to be a part of this effort, please contact Davalene Cooper.
Donations for the Hingham Food Pantry — During the summer months, the need for food for those served by the Hingham Food Pantry continues. Donations may be made at the Hingham Stop and Shop (large bin at the front of the store). The food pantry only accepts non-perishable, unopened, and unexpired food. Although all donations are appreciated, the following items are among the most needed at this time: Crackers, Canned Beef Stew, Instant Mashed or Scalloped Potatoes, Rice Side Dishes, Cookie Baking Mixes, 1 lb or 2 lb Granulated Sugars, Ketchup, Cheese or Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches, and Granola Bars. Checks to support the food pantry also are appreciated (for every $1 donated, the food pantry can purchase about $3 of food from the Greater Boston Food Bank). If you are interested in donating, please send a check to: Hingham Food Pantry 685 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043.
Special Plate Updates: We have completed our special plate collections for the church year; special plates will resume in October. Thanks to everyone who supported our special plate recipients this past year. In May, we donated $830.51 to Holly Hill Farms Farm to Pantry Program. We appreciate the congregation's support of the special plate program during this past church year! Thank you.
| | | |
The Old Ship Church calendar is available on our website by clicking here.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting and you want to see it on the calendar, please email Lisa in the office.
Additionally, if you contact information has changed, please email Lisa so she can update the Old Ship database. | | Upcoming Committee Meetings | |
-
Board of Trustees - Thursday, July 6, 7:00 p.m. Zoom/Parlor; Agenda will follow.
Click here for the Zoom Link / Click here for the agenda
-
Deacon's Meeting - Thursday, July 6, 7:00 p.m.
-
Finance Committee Meeting - Tuesday, July 18, 6:00 p.m.14 Main Parlor
Contact Lisa for links or information about these meetings.
| | |
Summer (July & August) Office Hours:
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Office is Closed on:
Tuesday, July 4th
Tuesday, July 18
| | |
Printer Cartridge Collection
Please bring your used printer cartridges to the Parish House and help raise funds for our office supplies. In 2022 we were able to convert used cartridges into almost $500 of office supplies! Drop off your cartridges at 14 Main Street office. Any brand or type of cartridge is fine. Thank you
| | |
Happy Summer
from your friends at Old Ship Church!
| | | | |
