The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate

March 30, 2010

The Sloop’s Log

Easter Sunday
April 4, 2010
10:30 am
Rev. Richard Stower

The service with music and

flowers will feature a sermon on
the meaning of Easter.

Good Friday Church Service

Ecumenical Service Hospitality
Religion and the
Easter Sunday
1:00-2:00 PM Visual Arts
April 4
April 11, 2010
First Trinitarian Church Flowers: Alma Morrison & 10:30 am
on
Ray DesRoches Rev. Richard Stower
Country Way Coffee Hour: Janice Evans
In Rev. Stower’s series on Religion
Sunday Hospitality and the Arts, the sermon will
discuss the use of painting and
engraving in religion.
There are several openings on the
" help wanted list" for greeters,
flowers, and coffee servers. Please
consider volunteering.
Rev. Stower will be participating
Thank You.
Hospitality Committee

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 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
Thank You
Dear First Parish Family,
I am unable to express the depth of my
gratitude for your love and support while I
provided hospice care for my mother in
Maine from December until her death on
February 20.
Your notes, cards, gifts and other
messages of compassion and love wrapped
me in comforting, which I needed.
Speaking of being wrapped in comfort,
Dear Prayer Shawl Group,
On the recent day I left Maine to return
to Scituate, I passed on the shawls you had
made for me and my Mom (both of us used
them with gratitude) to women who helped
me on a daily basis, had admired the shawls
and the love behind them.  One of the
women is facing her own life threatening
illness. It was a privilege to spread the love
of First Parish Scituate into the Yarmouth,
Maine neighborhood in which I grew up,
especially to the dear, strong, brave women
who helped me help my mother die.
A cliche, I know, but it is in times like
this that our church and church family
provide essential connections to life's gifts
of a caring community. Sharing, even from
afar, such a heart-wrenching experience
somehow validated its importance and
spirituality.
Simply put, it mattered to me that my
journey with my Mom mattered to you. It
made less lonely the special loneliness of
such a personal loss.
With gratitude,
Nancy Richards-Stower
More Thanks! Minister
Rev. Richard M. Stower
I would like to thank everyone for all the Church 781-545-3324
cards, prayers and delicious meals!! You are Home 781-544-3574
all awesome. Thank you so much for all Director of Religious
your support! I am recovering well and Education
everything has worked out fine. Am Jim FitzGerald 617-983-0619
looking forward to seeing everyone soon.
Parish Committee Co-Chair
Mary McRae 781-545-2504
With all my love and gratitude,
Claire Sherman 781-449-5286
Church Office Administrator
Pam Molinari 
Christine Conway 781-834-2040
Treasurer
Among Ourselves Judy Wolffer 781-544-0191
Parish Committee Secretary
With saddened hearts we inform you that Janice Evans 781-545-5001
Sheila and Greg Coolidge are moving to the
Collector
warmer, but not necessarily drier, climes of
Florida. Sheila, Greg and their sons, Matt Vicki Davis 781-545-2369
and Ben have been loyal and active Buildings and Grounds
members of First Parish since 1987. Both Erica Boyle 781-545-3452
Sheila and Greg have served on various Frank Kilduff 781-545-9365
church committees and Sheila served as Endowment
Parish Committee chair in the mid 1990’s.
Joanne Fraser 781-545-4571
Matt and Ben were active in the Youth
Finance
Group and Ben has become a devoted Star
Island staffer. First Parish wishes them well Sarah Murdock 781-545-8274
with our deepest thanks. Leigh Todd 781-544-7767
Membership & Hospitality
Our prayers and thoughts go to Frank Brit Davis 617-275-5700
Hilliard who suffered a heart attack last Denominational Affairs/
week. He is recovering at home in South Social Justice
Carolina. Frank is the husband of former Carol Sullivan-Hanley 781-545-9341
First Parish Music Director and organist, Public Relations
Beth Hilliard. Katie Jacobsen 781-545-2504
Religious Education
Laura Carson- Laciner
Piano Is Looking For 781-544-0220
Jean Shildneck
New Home 617-275-5700
Religious Services
The Coolidges are looking to sell their Barbara Gifford 781-378-1617
up-right piano which has been in the family Jane McGuinness 781-545-6394
for seventy years It is in very good Social Programs
condition but will need a tuning. Sue Duff 781-545-5604
Head Usher
Contact Sheila Coolidge at 781-545-3329 for Jack Shaw 781-545-0547
more information.
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 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
Religious Education
TRANSITIONS
Last month, I announced that I would be leaving
my position as Director of Religious Education at the
conclusion of our church school year on June 30th. I am
sad to leave because in my short time here, I’ve felt such
a strong sense of community at FPUU in Scituate. It is a
very special place. I’m most grateful for all good wishes
that have been extended to Jaimy, Nathan, and me as we
make this transition in our lives. This marks another
transition for First Parish Unitarian Universalist in
Scituate as well and with transition comes a mixture of
uncertainty of change and excitement of a new beginning
that is on the horizon. A change in DRE opens the door
for our faith community to reexamine what it wants in a
religious education program and renew its commitment
to making that vision come to life. Over the next few
months, I will walk with you on that journey and
encourage all of us to dream out loud and set wildly free
our creativity and skills so that our RE program mirrors
the potential that resides at FPUU in Scituate.
CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT – Spirit Play
Whether it is through teaching in our church
school on Sunday morning, creating the lesson materials,
or serving on the RE committee, the religious education
program is made possible thanks to the loving dedication
of volunteers. Spirit Play is a curriculum for Pre-K
through 2nd grade that includes a mixture of ritual,
storytelling, discussion, and play. Volunteers with an
artistic flair work behind the scenes to create vibrant and
engaging props that make the story come alive. RE
teachers use the story to open up a discussion intended
to let youngsters raise questions, voice opinions, and
bond with one another. Spirit Play invites grown-ups to
connect with our youngsters in a way that doesn’t require
a large amount of time preparing lessons each week.
As always, feedback and discussion regarding our RE
program is always welcome. For further conversation,
please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Many blessings,
Jim
News from the Caring Committee
Thanks to those who checked in on Barbara Koelsch over
the past two weeks. Having company really lifted her
spirits and she’s feeling better! We’re going to continue
taking care of our friend and we’ve started a list of people
available to pop in on her from time to time.
 
If you’d like to be added to the list please contact Laura
Smith at fldtsmith@aol.com or Kim Ryan at  
kimryan47@comcast.net .
From the Committee on Ministry
 
Thank you so much to all of you who have put so much time
and thought into our questionnaire! We have heard from so
many of you and have collected so many completed surveys
already! But we'd love to have more. Most of you have
probably already heard from us by e-mail or phone. We're
hoping to be able to start examining the completed
questionnaires for trends and themes this spring, so we'd
love to have all of them back by the first few weeks in April.
We anticipate it will take about 20 minutes of your time
to complete the questionnaire, and again, you can pick one
up in the Old Sloop Room (table near the name tags), by
phone, or by email. If you've decided not to complete the
questionnaire, please just let us know and we'll stop emailing
and phoning.  
Kim Ryan, Mary Ann Linker, and Ann Hale
Mark Your Calendars: UU Advocacy Day
Please put the 4th Annual UU Advocacy Day on your
calendar! On Wednesday, April 28th from 10-2:30, join
with other Unitarian Universalists to make a difference.
We will meet in Boston at the national headquarters of the
UUA literally next door to the State House, and then -
after being trained and having lunch together - walk to the
State House and visit our state Senators and
Representatives. The issues this year - chosen by survey
of UUs - are homeless prevention programs, climate
change, and the health disparities between rich and poor.
UU Advocacy Day is sponsored by UUMassAction with
the UU Urban Ministry. RSVP and reserve your $10 lunch
to Nancy Banks at nancy.banks1@verizon.net or
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 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate

Garden Helpers: Start your Rakes! 2010 Stewardship Campaign

Well, it is spring, 
Begins April 11th
and 'tween all the showers
I need your help to rake The 2010 Stewardship Campaign will begin April 11th and last for
leaves from th' flowers. the following two weeks.  Please look for letters in the mail during
the first week of April and note each individual is responsible for
In front of the church submitting his/her own pledge card.  There will be a raffle award
and at the back steps; for all pledge cards submitted by April 18th and updates will be
In front of the Tower  provided in future Sloops Log’s and during services.
and the mound to it next.
The Memorial Garden Thank you.
has tons to pick up Leigh Todd (2010 Stewardship Campaign Chairperson)
And to drive away - 
Do you have a truck? It’s Circle Dinner Time!
All leaves to the Brush Pile
on the Driftway must go
On April 10th at 5:30, First Parish Church will be hosting its 7th
Can you rake? Can you drive? Annual Circle Dinner to start off our canvass campaign. Sign up
(All alone is so slow!) sheets to volunteer to host appetizers or dinner are on the bulletin
This is the year  board in the Old Sloop Room. More information to come or
we'll clean under the tall contact Sue Duff at 781-545-5604.
Maple tree at the back 
of the garden (by Fall!)
Woman’s Alliance Meeting
So we can't dump our clippings 
or leaves in that place
(We're making a chapel, 
outdoors in that space) Woman’s Alliance will meet Wednesday, April 7 at 1:00 pm in the
Old Sloop Room. Rev. Richard Stower will be the speaker. He will
So raking the leaves   share pictures from his 2009 European journey. Desserts and coffee
may seem now more a chore,
will be served. All women of the church are invited.
(but hauling them away  
burns off calories galore!)
If you can't rake,
still wanna play?
How 'bout schlepping some bags
or barrels away!
(In the white shed, April
leaf-filled bags are piled high
with sticks and barrels Birthdays
way up to the sky.)
When we're all done Nora Fritz April 12
with the leaves we must rake,
I'll order the 12 yards of mulch
we must shake Alma Morrison April 15
all over the gardens
so weeds cannot grow Mackenna Berkeley April 17
Then our bushes and flowers
will put on a show.
(Please let me know if you can help.) Chris Munson April 8
Thank you so much!
Nancy Richards-Stower 781-544-3574 Colin Munson April 29 4
nrichardssto@igc.org
 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate

Ministerial MUUsings.... Buddhists, a good number of moral, ethical people

leading positive lives,” I said.
“Don’t you want to be saved?,” I was asked.
“Saved from what? For what?,” was my reply.
Passover is a holiday that celebrates human
“From damnation. Don’t you want to be
freedom, freedom not only from physical bondage
blessed by God?” “But I have already been
but religious freedom as well. And that is a good
blessed by God,” I continued.
thing. Easter is a holiday that celebrates the
everlasting life embodied by love.
We are in the midst of both the Christian
Holy Week and the Jewish Passover holiday.
The essence of these two holidays are not
It is at this time in centuries past that these
incompatible. They contain the best of the human
two religions with a common heritage had
spirit, God - given, if that is what you believe. If
their most tense relationship, if not outright
only the world could see the truth in the spirit of
hostility and violence. Christians having
all the world’s religions and dispose of the desire to
been taught that the Jews, as a group, were
convert others to their religion by way of physical,
responsible for the death of Jesus were quite
verbal intimidation or worse.
willing to believe in the rumors that
Christian children were being murdered at
Passover so that their blood would be used in The good news of freedom and love would be
the making of matzoh, the unleavened bread wonderful presents to spread around during this
used during the Passover season. Part of this holy season.
hatred came also from the disbelief of
Christians that Jews wold not accept Jesus as
the Messiah. Peace...

I have never fully understood the need of Rich

one religious group to convert another. Yes,
I know the New Testament calls upon the
apostles to spread the gospel of Jesus. But if
someone says, “Thanks, but no thanks,”
What is wrong with that? A Christian, Jew
or Muslim acknowledges that God has given Donations
humanity free will. So why can’t a person be
free to choose their religion or practice their
spiritual experience? “Are you happy, ?” I was Clean out your kitchens! Pots, pans, dishes, cups,
asked. “Most of the time,” I replied. “But utensils. Alan Donaldson is collecting donations of
how can you be happy without knowing kitchen necessities for Renewal House. Contact
Jesus?” “I know a lot of happy Jews, Hindus, Alan @ 781-378-1562 for pick up!

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First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
330 First Parish Road
Scituate, MA 02066
781-545-3324
www.firstparishscituate.org
E-mail:firstparishscituate@verizon.net
Founded in London, 1616
Gathered in Scituate, 1634
Something to think about.......