The Spire

the electronic newsletter of

First Parish of Norwell,

Unitarian Universalist

In - Spire - ing News UUs Can Use

October 10, 2024

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In This Issue

Outreach for 2024-2025: Choosing Deep Engagement

Hygiene Drive 10/20

Joyful Songs Pick-Up Choir

Courageous Conversation

Outreach Offering for October

Welcoming Congregation Status Renewal

All-Church Meeting 10/20

Printed Copies of Spire and Directory

How Can I Schedule Something at Church?

Book Group

Holiday Fair and Baskets

Choosing Depth Over Breadth in This Year's Outreach

Generosity is one of our shared values as Unitarian Universalists, and it's a true strength at First Parish of Norwell. Baking casseroles for Community Dinner, bringing coats for graduate students coming to New England from warmer climates, donating blood for a national emergency, purchasing socks for kids in the foster system, offering rides to those who need them, giving generously of time and energy - our community readily steps up to give to others.

This open-hearted generosity is something we wish to model for our youngest members, which is why we have monthly Coffee Hour Service Projects that engage adults and kids together, working as a community to give joyfully. During this series, we have given to Project Linus, the Norwell Housing Authority, Boston Children's Hospital, Carolina Hill Shelter, South Shore Friends of the Homeless, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, the YMCA Family Farm, a local AA group, Father Bill's Shelter, the Prison Book Program, Cradles to Crayons, Sole Hope, and more. It has been beautiful to reach out to so many groups - AND - our connections with them were at times fleeting.

This year, we are trying a different approach for our monthly service projects. Instead of giving to a different organization each month, we have selected three organizations to partner with for the church year. We are excited to deepen our engagement with foster families, the migrant families living in Rockland, and the Norwell Housing Authority. Each of these organizations is more than a title - it is a group of people, and we hope to get to know them better by working with them more often.

Look for more information about our Coffee Hour Service Projects on our webpage and in the next Spire article about our Hygiene Drive. We hope you find the depth of our work with these organizations to be meaningful as the year goes on, and as always, we thank you for your generosity.

Hygiene Drive October 20th - Bring One Thing!

First Parish of Norwell will be collecting personal care and baby care items for the migrant families sheltering in Rockland on October 20th during the service. During coffee hour from 11:15-11:30, we will will have a quick project: "fun kits" with stickers and markers to assemble for the 40 children living at the shelter.

We invite everyone to bring one item from the list below, given to us by the services coordinator at the shelter:

Body Lotion
Body Soap (bars/liquid)
Comb
Feminine Hygiene (tampons/pads)
Deodorant
Hairbrush
Hair Conditioner
Laundry Detergent
Shampoo
Shaving Cream
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Mouth wash
Baby formula
Diapers size 3-6

Joyful Songs Pick-Up Choir this Sunday, October 13th at 9:15 am

This Sunday morning, join those who love to sing at 9:15 in the Meeting House to practice two songs for worship. This is a great opportunity for people who wish they could be in the choir but can't attend Thursday practice. All are welcome!

Want to join our Worship Service online?

Our Worship Services can be found at this zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83606479122?pwd=T3MWcC9L51bgKuiYXXC2c6i9SsDT02.1

Meeting ID: 836 0647 9122

Passcode: SundayAM

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Meeting ID: 836 0647 9122

Courageous Conversation this Sunday

Join Rev. Susan following worship this Sunday for a Courageous Conversations circle. This year we are focusing on themes of radical welcome and how to be authentically accessible for all people who join us at FPNUU. This Sunday's conversation will be a reflection on the themes explored in the sermon as well as exploring the principle of white supremacy that proclaims there is only one right way to do things. Join us as we grow and learn from the wisdom of one another. Childcare is provided.

For a one-page poster listing all our October events, scroll down to the very bottom of the newsletter!

Caring Corner

A letter from Lorna Phillips:

Dear Reverend Susan and Friends,

Thank you for your cards, prayers, good wishes and support! It meant a lot to me. I know Harold, Sr. would have been smiling! I am so glad I was able to care for him at home. He was the love of my life!

Love,

Lorna Phillips and Family

Halloween Potluck Oct 19th 6pm

Saturday October 19th, join us at 6pm for some fellowship and spooky fun. Bring a dish to share - no need to sign up, it's a true pot LUCK!

Wear a costume if you like, or grab a prop from our box. We can't wait to see what creative and fun outfits arrive.

The Youth Group will be running some kids' programming to make the event extra special. We hope to see you there!

Are you coming to the Halloween Pot Luck?

LOCATION

Parish Hall

DATE AND TIME

10/19/24 6:00pm - 10/19/24 8:00pm US/Eastern

Event Description

I'll Be There!

Maybe

I Can't Make It

Justice Work at First Parish Norwell

Justice is one of our shared values as Unitarian Universalists, and justice work at First Parish of Norwell has been propelled by the energy of our Action Teams. Those teams meet to share and gain knowledge, raise awareness, set goals and get things done!

On October 6th, we hosted a Justice-Centered Sunday Service designed to bring the entire congregation into the conversation about justice work. The results were inspiring!

People in attendance broke into seven groups to discuss some of the goals of sustainable development laid out by the United Nations. Each group engaged in an activity to jumpstart their thinking and then encouraged conversations in pairs and in the group about hopes and ideas for those goals.

During coffee hour, those ideas were hung on the wall for everyone to interact with - people who felt inspired moved some of the ideas into spaces for "things we might be able to do as a congregation" and "project I would like to get started on." Take a look at the photos and see what inspires you - maybe you want to get a project started or join a group that's forming!

Use the online church directory to contact people who are ready to take action. Here are some exciting ideas taking shape:

Contact Amanda Adams to work on conversation English practice groups for the migrant families living in Rockland.
Contact Julia Traggorth to develop an idea about a CSA for access to healthy food.
Contact Marcia and Scott Babcock to help show and discuss the documentary "Bad Faith."
Contact Dave Traggorth to explore investments in renewable energy.
Contact Reverend Susan to help shape a project promoting daily rest and renewal.

AND - in addition to these newly forming ideas, our existing Action Teams are meeting and planning and doing - and they would love to hear from you.

Contact Elizabeth Robinson to get involved with the Racial Justice Action Team
Contact Les Taylor to get involved with the LGBTQ+ Allies Action Team
Contact Betsey Drollett to get involved with the Community Dinners/Food Justice Action Team
Contact Bernie Gardner to get involved with the Climate Justice Action Team
Contact Cathy Harder-Bernier to get involved with the Health and Wellness Action Team
Contact Reverend Susan to get involved with the Fogg Outreach Committee

Alliance Program Wednesday

Join us on Wednesday, October 16 at 10 am in the Parish Hall for a program on The Boston Tea Party of 1773 and its connection to the South Shore, by John Galluzzo of the Hanover Historical Society. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. Bring a friend.

You can help support our programming by joining the Alliance for $15.

Outreach Offering for October

Our congregation has a practice of taking a special offering for organizations or people in need on the 3rd Sunday of every month.

This month our Fogg Outreach Committee has designated we give to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund who are supporting efforts to clean up and rebuild following the recent hurricanes and their damage in the Southeastern US. You can give online or in person. Thank you for considering a gift on 10/20/2024 in support of our siblings in the UUA and beyond who have been hardest hit by flooding.

All-Congregation Meeting

Our Fall congregational meeting will by October 20th at 11:30. We will vote to a new members.

Welcoming Congregation Status Renewed!

The UUA recently notified us that First Parish of Norwell has successfully completed its Welcoming Congregation Renewal status! This has been a long-time goal and it’s quite fitting that we accomplished this in our 25th year as a Welcoming Congregation at First Parish.

Sending a big THANK YOU to Jeannette Mitchell for guiding, documenting and submitting all the information to achieve this goal for our congregation and to the entire LGBTQ+ Support Group for their commitment, care and advocacy. 🌈

This Sunday we will celebrate this milestone in worship as well as highlight National Coming Out Day (October 11) and LGBTQ History Month.

Printed Directories AND Printed Spires at the Welcome Table

The Welcome Table in the Parish Hall is not just for newcomers! Here's a list of some of the things you can do there:

get a printed copy of the directory if you need one - or just get help accessing the one online to save a tree
get a printed copy of the Spire
Meet Amanda Buron, our new Operations Coordinator
request a nametag
grab a printed monthly calendar for your fridge
check or update your information in the ONLINE CHURCH DIRECTORY - or get your photo taken and uploaded
sign-up for many ways to help and get involved: usher, RE volunteer, worship associate, food for the next potluck or Community Dinner, etc.
take home directions for using the First Parish online calendar
chat with friendly folks who will help track down the answer to any question

Stop by the table every time you're at Coffee Hour to see what's new and what's needed!

How Do I Schedule a Church Activity?

You're involved! Great! You are on an action team or a committee, and you're ready to schedule something - a meeting, an event, or a service project. How can you get it on the church calendar?

Step one: Check the calendar to see what's already on the schedule. Is your preferred date and space available? Is that week already crowded with church activities? Select a date and time that will work.

Step two: Email Amanda Buron, the Operations Coordinator, at office@firstparishnorwell.org to reserve the space you want. Give her as much detail about the event as you like, and she can list that all under "event details" on the calendar.

Step three: Once you've gotten a reply from Amanda B. that your event is on the calendar, promote it! Share the date with other members of your team or committee. Post it on Facebook Friends and Members. Email newsletter@firstparishnorwell.org to have it listed in the Spire. Contact Amanda Adams to create posts on our social media pages. Ask members of your team to share those social media posts far and wide.

Good luck with your next event!

First Parish of Norwell Book Group

Please join us for any or all of our monthly book discussions. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 pm on Zoom.

Oct. 21 – “ Sandwich” - Catherine Newman (local author) This slice-of-life novel follows Rocky and her family on their annual week-long summer vacation in Cape Cod. Her two children are now young adults, her parents are aging, and her husband remains a steady presence in her life throughout their highs and lows. ⁣

Nov. 18 - "The Comfort of Ghosts” -Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs, a psychologist and investigator, uncovers a wartime mystery involving her first husband in this historical mystery fiction the 18th and last book in the award-winning series.

click here to join

Meeting ID: 847 0898 5879

Passcode: Bookworms

The Holiday Fair: It's Time to Prepare!

Sat., Nov. 23 - 9:00 – 2:00

We need your help with this major fundraiser.

We will need you to bake, make handcrafts, clean out your closets and bring your clean, good toys, books/CDs and household treasures to the church the week before.

All Tables need help. Contact any chair or Peg Kitchenham781-635-0007 to volunteer. If you are new, let us know your interests! Thanks to Karen Baker for being in charge of the bake sale.

Be a part of this year’s fair and make special memories! Be sure to bring a good appetite for lunch and don’t miss the fun of this important all church activity. Mark your calendars now!

Themed Gift Baskets to be Sold at the Holiday Fair!

Themed Gift Baskets-Still time to sign up to create a basket to be sold at the Holiday Fair. Choose one of our baskets and sign up at Coffee Hour (or use your own basket!) Questions? Contact any of us! Thanks!

Bev Gardner, Noel Constantino, Heather Comeau, Debb Welsh

Plant Table

We want to start a plant table this year. Small to medium house plants were sold at Grandma's Attic last year and did quite well! We would like them to have a table of their own! This would need one or two people to volunteer to be the "co-ordinator(s)" of the House Plants Table." VERY fun and easy table to co-ordinate! Contact Peg K.