The Spire

the electronic newsletter of

First Parish of Norwell,

Unitarian Universalist

In - Spire - ing News UUs Can Use

August 28, 2024

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In This Issue

Operations Coordinator Role in Transition

Worship Services Resume September 8th

Zoom Information for Worship

Side With Love Overpass Gathering

Pool and Pizza Party

Caring Corner

Worship Associates

Bring a Friend, Help a Foster Child on September 22nd

Honoring Hope Weinman

Soulful Centering on Sunday Evenings

Inspiration and Justice Through Art: Monthly Small Group

Online Church Directory

RE Volunteer Sign-ups and Training Session

Community Dinner

Joyful Songs "Pick-Up Choir"

Old Stables Market

Community Coffee Hour

Inclusion for All Event

FPN Book Group

Blood Drive

Alliance

Climate Engagement Weekend

Social Justice Sign-Ups

Small Group with Duane Wilke

Calendar Reminder

Operations Coordinator Role in Transition

This summer we have been interviewing candidates for the role of Operations Coordinator in our front office. As we work to fill the position, many administrative duties are being shared by other church staff and volunteers. Our response time to emails and voicemails may be slower. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to find the right fit for our team. If you know of someone you think would be a good candidate, please share the job description.

Worship Services Resume September 8th

We are so excited to come together again for weekly church services starting September 8th. The theme for our church year is "Free to Be You and Me," and our monthly themes will focus on aspects of freedom and liberation. September's focus is Beloved Community.

Our September Sermons:

Sunday 9/8 "Love at the Center"

Sunday 9/15 "Grace and Acceptance"

Sunday 9/22 "Balance in Doing and Being"

Sunday 9/29 "Healing self, Healing world"

Want to join our services 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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One tap mobile

+13017158592,,83606479122# US (Washington DC)

+13052241968,,83606479122# US

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Dial by your location

• +1 301 715 8592

Meeting ID: 836 0647 9122

Side With Love Overpass Gathering Saturday,

Sept 7th 8-10am

Meet us on the River Street overpass of Rt 3 to send a message of love and positivity to the South Shore. Colorful clothing and signs of positivity are welcome! Parking available at the North River Theater. The FPN LGBTQIA+ Action Team is proud to lead this initiative!

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

Pool & Pizza Party: Aug. 31st 5pm

All are welcome to a pizza and pool party at the Barber’s home at 128 Waterford Drive in Hanover. Bring a chair, $5 per person for pizza and a side dish or dessert to share. Let us know you’re coming!

The River Regatta Fun Day is that morning - contact Jon if you're interested in boating with us!

Caring Corner

Love and care sent to Prue Miller who continues recovery at a rehab facility in Rochdale, MA. You can send her a card at her home address or at Vibra Hospital ATTN Prue Miller; 111 Huntoon Memorial Hwy; Rochdale, MA 01542.

We hold Peg Carpenter and family with deep care following the death of John Carpenter on Sunday, August 25th. We will be in touch soon with details for a service honoring John later in the Fall.

We send comforting thoughts to Kris Cahill as her wife, Cheryl, has been hospitalized recently and may need to transfer to a long-term care facility.

We send our condolences to Bethany and Jim Gavin and children following the death of Jim's father, Tom. Here are the details for visiting hours & the Funeral Mass.

Worship Associates Needed

Do you love worship on Sundays? Would you be willing to participate by providing a reading or sharing a personal reflection? We'd love to have you sign up.

If you have questions about it - feel free to reach out to Rev. Susan or Marie Miller.

Our themes for the Fall are:

September: Beloved Community

October: Supporting accessibility

November: Finding our way forward (while fully facing & learning from our past)

December: Generosity

Register for RE

RE classes begin on Sunday, September 8th with a special Blessing of the Backpacks ceremony and a keychain gift for each child.

This year our classes will be play-based explorations of significant stories from the Bible. We will focus on creativity, community, and inclusion.

Bring a Friend, Help a Child on September 22nd

September 22nd is Bring a Friend to Church Sunday - we hope you'll invite someone to visit our community! We'll be hearing from Charlene Melo of the Southeastern MA Foster Closet, a new service for South Shore foster families that is just getting established. All are encouraged to bring a new pack of socks or underwear for the foster children served by the closet - or, if you'd like, purchase a pair of sneakers from the families' wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28OGU85NKWNYW?ref_=wl_share

Honoring Hope Weinman on Sunday, Sept 15

During the service we will participate in a ritual of celebration and thanks for our Office Administrator for 13 years, Hope Weinman, and offer her a blessing upon the occasion of her retirement. We'll continue the celebration following worship with a special coffee hour.

Soulful Centering on Sunday Evenings

8:30-9pm via Zoom beginning Sunday 9/8

Join Rev. Susan via Zoom each Sunday evening for a brief time of centering and meditating before the beginning of a new week. Each session will begin with a song, a reading and then a meditation practice.

In this somewhat anxious time in our world, this space is an opportunity to be in touch with the sacred within you and within our community.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86578407355?pwd=PIRWF9hshHEtaBDOcSez2L5mXmHt22.1

Meeting ID: 865 7840 7355

Passcode: Centering

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One tap mobile

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+13017158592,,86578407355# US (Washington DC)

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Dial by your location

• +1 646 931 3860 US

Meeting ID: 865 7840 7355

Inspiration and Justice Through Art

Monthly gathering (Thursdays - 9/26, 10/24, 11/21, 12/19)

12pm-1pm in Fogg Parlor

Join Rev. Susan for this monthly small group gathering. Each session we will learn about an artist and how they are expressing their faith/spirituality through their work.

We will explore a variety of modalities including sculpture, pottery, weaving, music, writing and multi-media. It's an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of art and the offering of an artist - as well as how art moves, inspires and shapes us.

Online Church Directory

Our church directory is up and running! Tremendous thanks to Heather Lawson-Comeau, Les Taylor and Hope Weinman for their hard work to make this project happen.

We will print hard copies of the directory and make them available after people have had a chance to check their entries and upload and changes and/or photos. If you would like a draft copy printed in the meantime, please contact Amanda Adams .

The directory can be accessed at any time by clicking the yellow button at the bottom of the church webpage. You can also use the link below:

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE DIRECTORY

Steps:

Click the link. It will take you to a sign-in page.
Use the email you gave us/the one that is listed in the directory to sign in.
Our directory is protected with two-factor authentication. Follow the directions to your second digital location (phone or other email) to get your code.
Log in! Look around! The directory is searchable.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR OWN ENTRY and submit any edits, additions or changes.
Make our directory even more useful by adding to your entry in ways that might help people connect with you. You can check boxes to note that you are a member of a committee or choir or other group. You can upload a picture. Email us if you see a place where I should add or change groups listed.
WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP! We know that logging in and making changes is not for everyone. If you would like help logging in or someone to make changes for you, email us. If you want me to upload your photo for you, send it to us. We will also have a "help desk" at coffee hour for people to access and learn more about the directory.

THINGS TO KNOW

A link to the login is in the footer of our webpage, so you can find it at the bottom of every page in a yellow box. However, no one can login without being listed in the directory and having access to the second device.
We have tried to label landlines. Any other phone numbers listed are cell phones.
We have listed everyone's full name under "first name" because this directory doesn't have a way for family members to have different last names. That's our workaround.

RE Volunteer Sign-Ups and Training Session

Ask anyone who helped last year - volunteering in RE is fun and easy!

With no prep work and easy lesson plans, you can make a big impact with a small commitment. Everyone is encouraged to volunteer. You can lead a class for a month or be an assistant for a day.

SPECIAL TRAINING SEPTEMBER 1ST AT 11 ON ZOOM

All RE volunteers will be attending a training session with Lisa Drennan, an inclusion consultant, as we reshape RE classes to be more accessible and fun for all of our kids. This training will include information about the new play-based curriculum we’ll be using in classes and about how to meet the needs of diverse learners. The training will be live on Zoom, but it will also be recorded so that anyone who can’t attend live can still watch and learn. I am excited to be able to provide this excellent perspective for all RE volunteers as we begin a year-long focus on Inclusion for All. Volunteers will leave the training knowing exactly what to expect from RE classes this year!

Here is the Zoom link for all who are able to attend the training live. ANYONE FROM THE CONGREGATION CAN ATTEND! This is great information for all, and I'd love it if everyone were able to volunteer in RE for at least one Sunday!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84765383126?pwd=gudC4ugH6d2KDcrF7j21SONgTSzgcR.1

Meeting ID: 847 6538 3126

Passcode: 822634

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When

Sunday Sep 1, 2024 ⋅ 11am – 12:15pm (Eastern Time - New York)

Community Dinners Resume 9/10

Join us on September 10th at 5pm for a home-cooked meal and great company. We want to feed anyone who’s hungry for food or companionship, so please help us spread the word.

Donations are needed - a pan of lasagna, a pan of lemon bars, or salad ingredients. Children will be supervised on the playground. All are welcome!

Contact Betsey Drollett to bring food

Joyful Songs "Pick-Up Choir"

We are trying something new this year with choir.

Are you interested in dipping your toe into singing?

Can you pick up simple melodies quickly?

Do Thursday nights not work for you to come to rehearsal?

Here's something for you!

The second Sunday of every month (beginning in October) anyone can come and practice with Gingy and the choir at 9:30am and sing the anthem that Sunday.

We will even send out a link to the song ahead of time so you can listen to it and practice on your own.

Come make a Joyful Song with US!

Old Stables Market

On September 28th, FPN will host "The Old Stables Market," a pop-up artisan market.

The carriage sheds and surrounding areas will be transformed into a shopping destination!

Vendors will feature their vintage, artisan and floral items. There will also be food trucks on site.

Organized by Tami Lynch and Patricia Gill - More details to follow.

Community Coffee Hour

After our Sunday Worship Services, we look forward to our lovely Coffee Hours. We are extremely grateful for the tasty treats in the Parish Hall, kindly provided by Peg and Chris Kitchenham and many others. The waft of popcorn is so enticing to the children as well as the adults as we enter the Parish Hall. What a delightful way to engage with our community as we enjoy these special offerings!

The Kitchenhams will graciously continue to coordinate the food, and Tom Fazio will gladly continue to make the coffee and do cleanup as he has done in the past. We also appreciate the assistance of Heather and Alan Comeau, as well as Noel Constantino.

We invite anyone else who would like to offer any goodies to the Coffee Hour to place your contributions on the Coffee Hour table or on the kitchen counter by 9:30 AM or whenever you arrive at church. All contributions will be gratefully consumed!

Inclusion for All: Community Education Event

On September 17th from 7-9pm, First Parish of Norwell is partnering with Norwell Public Schools and MERGE Inclusion Consulting to provide a free workshop on best practices in inclusion. This event is designed to equip parents, coaches, troop leaders, potential employers and community members with the skills and understandings needed to become more inclusive and welcoming to people with diverse abilities.

We are excited for this event and hoping to pack the house! Too often, events that focus on inclusion are only attended by those who are directly affected by disabilities or already work to advocate for people with diverse abilities - but we know that inclusion is everyone's responsibility in a beloved community! Please attend, please help spread the word, and please invite friends to this important 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.

Sept. 16 – “Honor" - Thrity Umrigar

Honor is a novel about two couples and the challenges of love across a cultural divide in India.

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

Red Cross Blood Drive

There is a nation-wide emergency blood shortage, and First Parish of Norwell will help! We are hosting a blood drive on October 1st from 1-6pm.

Please sign up to donate and tell your friends! The donations are desperately needed now.

Alliance Programming Resumes

Join us on Wednesday, October 16, at 10:00 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.

The Alliance will also hold its Annual Christmas Concert by the Broad Cove Choral on Dec. 6.

In the spring, Bernie & Bev Gardner will share photos of the River Cruise from Paris to Normandy they did.

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

Climate Engagement Weekend September 26th-28th

UUs around the country are participating in a special revival weekend to focus on creating communities of support for our climate.

Join us on Friday, September 27th for a plant-based dinner and discussion about FPN's past, present, and future climate action steps. You will leave feeling hopeful and energized!

On Saturday, September 28th, spend some time outdoors connecting with your love for nature! Join us for a walk in the woods near the church or appreciate the beauty of the earth on your own. We'll share photos on social media to connect our experiences.

On Sunday, September 29th, our special climate-themed worship service will be lead by activist Claire/Karl Muller, with a conversation to follow in the Fogg Parlor.

Social Justice Sign-Ups

Our service on October 6th will focus on the possibilities that come from our engagement in social justice - then, during coffee hour, we will carry that momentum into plans and action steps by signing up for social justice interest teams. Be sure to spend some time learning about the work people are engaged in at FPN and finding your own passion

Small Group with Duane Wilke in October

Duane Wilke will lead a three-session discussion group: Investigating Consciousness After Death. Participants agree to read 26 pages of an award winning essay for each week to discuss on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 for October 9, 16, and 23 at FPN. There is room for four more participants. Please email Duane: duanewilke@gmail.com and he will send further details for your consideration.

Online Calendar - On Our Webpage!

Just a reminder as groups start meeting and planning events that the FPN online calendar is easy to access at any time from the upper right corner of our webpage. Check to see what's happening before you plan your next meeting, and email office@firstparishnorwell.org to add your own reservation.