February 2, 2011 Volume 9, Issue 9
Sunday Services – 10:00 am
February 6: “The Through-Lines” (Founders Sunday) Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
369 years ago this weekend, a group of British Puritans covenanted together to gather a new church. We are still worshiping in the congregation they established. Join us as we celebrate their legacy, find the commonalities between their Puritan beliefs and our post-modern worldview, and look toward the future.
February 13, 20, 27 and March 6: The Burning Question Series, with Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
February 13: “Do I Really Have To Love Everyone?” The Second Sunday Offering will benefit Partakers Prison Ministry.
February 20: “What’s Holding Us Back?”
February 27: “‘God Needed Another Angel,’ and Other Examples of Bad Theology”
March 6: Your Burning Questions: Question Box Service. You will have the chance to submit your questions ahead of time, and Rev. Vicki will answer them during this service.
“IN THE SPIRIT”
How are you all doing!? It’s snowing hard out there again and the church is fine, but I’m worried about some of you out in the hinterlands. Do you need anything? Would you like some help figuring out how to order groceries online? Stop & Shop has a service called Peapod (www.peadpod.com) that has very reasonable delivery rates and all you have to do is go on their web site, check the items you want, and order away. Roche Bros. also delivers. The delivery person will even bring your bags inside for you. I know that the idea of entering your credit card number online is very unappealing to some of you but it really is a safe way to shop, and I’m concerned about your driving safety or falling on the ice and breaking something.
The parking lot here is shrinking a bit, although we did have a bucket loader in to get rid of some of the high drifts and we have some spaces. However, it would be a great idea if you could car pool to church on Sunday morning. If you’re fairly hale and hearty, it would be lovely if you could choose a parking space farther from the door so that folks who are a little less steady on their feet can get in without a hike.
If you can’t get to church, send me an e-mail check-in and I’ll share it with the congregation during Joys and Concerns. Above all, be safe. Stay warm and keep in touch.
In faith, hope and love,
Rev. Vicki
THE CUP OF OUR LIFE: A GUIDE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Wednesday Nights, February 16-March 23
Rev. Vicki
The Cup of Our Life is a God/Spirit-centered series on spiritual practice that will lead us into the Lenten season. Participants will be asked to make a daily commitment to prayer and reflection, journaling and attendance at each weekly section. Contact Vicki at if you are interested in signing up.
ALLIANCE NEWS
The Alliance will be meeting on Wednesday, February 16 at 10:00 am in the Fogg Parlor. Winnie Lou Rounds will be leading a book review. All are welcome!
The Church Office will close at noon on Friday, February 18 and remain closed throughout the school vacation week. We will reopen at 9:00 am on Tuesday, March 1.
NEWS FROM THE KNITTERS
A few of the knitters here at First Parish have been getting together at each other’s homes on Tuesday mornings throughout the winter to work on various projects - some for the church and for outreach projects, some for ourselves. We invite others to join us and would like to hold the next get together at the church Fogg Parlor this coming Tuesday, February 8 at 9:30 am. Bring your needles, your projects, your ideas, or just come for the fun and conversation!
~Sue Robinson
Mardi Grad Night at First Parish Church
Featuring an Auction of Goods and Services
Saturday, February 26
Wine, coffee, dessert and music at 6:30 pm
Live auction at 7:30 pm
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a time to celebrate life with friends and community, not just in the city but in the many surrounding “parishes.” Join in First Parish’s own celebration by participating in our biennial auction on February 26. Donate an item, sports and entertainment tickets, a gift certificate, use of a cottage, an outing, or lend your time and talents. More donations and more bidders will add to the fun! To donate, you can drop off the form below in the church office or the “Go To” table at Coffee Hour, see Cathy Phillips or Joanne Howard at Coffee Hour or email Cathy at . Laissez les bon temps rouler!
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Auction Donation Form
Item ______
Estimated Value: ______Minimum Bid: ______
Can you offer more than once? Yes No
Name: ______Phone: _____
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FROM THE OFFICE STAFF…
The Church Office is a well-used space - welcoming visitors, hosting meetings, and coordinating the activities of a busy parish. It would be greatly appreciated if you could reset the furniture to its original arrangement after meetings and dispose of your snacks, empty coffee cups and miscellaneous trash. Thank you for your cooperation!
The James Library & Center for the Arts
Make it an arts weekend at The James! Visit www.jameslibrary.org for more information.
Friday, February 4 at 4-6 pm: Free opening reception for the South Shore Woodturners. Come see amazing bowls and art objects made from exotic and native woods by members of the local chapter of he American Association of Woodturners. Many of these items would make wonderful gifts!
Friday, February 4 at 8 pm: "Delving into the Mysteries of the Steinway Piano" - a free lecture/demo by piano tuner and technician Paul Rattigan. Sponsored by the Stewards of the Steinway, a group which helps maintain the James' Steinway model B grand piano.
Sunday, February 6th at 3 pm: A Midwinter's Valentine. A concert of romantic music by Donald Zook, flute with Steven Young, piano. Tickets are $20 ($18 senior/$10 student), and are available by calling 781-659-7100 or at the door. Tickets to this concert make a great early Valentine's Day present!
HELEN FOGG SERVICE COMMITTEE
Last year we took part in the South Shore Unitarian/Universalist Congregations' Food Drive, when many UU churches on the South Shore collected non-perishable food at grocery stores for local food pantries. A total of 212 banana boxes of groceries and $108 was collected! This year the Food Drive will be in March. We will collect at the Norwell and Pembroke Stop & Shops. We need people to work at the stores in two-hour shifts. All the parishioners who worked last year said that it was a very successful and satisfying experience. Families are welcome to help. More later on this.
Our next Second Sunday, February 13, will highlight the Partaker's College Behind Bars program. It will also be the National Standing on the Side of Love Day when we will give a “Love Award” to individuals who exemplify the values of inclusion, diversity, community and equality. Awards will go to Lanny Kutacoff (the Executive Director of Partakers); Rachel Tedesco (our student minister from 9-10 years ago, who introduced us to Partakers); and to Paul Coolidge and (posthumously) to Frank Mercier because they, with Rachel, made the first difficult and scary prison visits. The Partaker's “Team Larry” finally has a fourth member! Thank you to Pat Bordeweick who will join Phyllis Buell, Peg Carpenter and Harry Heineman.
Remember- the three youths who are going on the New Orleans work week soon are trying to earn money to help with their expenses. Please call Olivia Bourque, Morgan Gallagher and Annalise Carroll who are willing to help with snow shoveling and other household chores.
~Bev Gardner
Chair, Helen Fogg Service Committee
For information on the church’s religious education program for both adults and children, please visit the “RE Everyday” blog at http://reeveryday.blogspot.com.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
February 6: Adult Bible Study in the Fogg Parlor, 9:00 am
Activities Committee in the Office, 11:30 am
February 8: Finance Committee in the Office, 7:15 pm
Invested Funds Committee in the Fogg Parlor, 7:30 pm
February 13: Helen Fogg Service Committee in the Fogg Parlor, 11:30 am
February 15: Parish Committee in the Fogg Parlor, 7:00 pm
February 16: Alliance Book Review in the Fogg Parlor, 10:00 am
February 18: Rev. Judith Campbell’s Lyceum at the James Library, 7:30 pm
The deadline for the next hard-copy edition of The Spire is Sunday, February 13th.
For more information, or to review archived issues of The Spire, go to www.firstparishnorwell.org
The full First Parish Calendar can be accessed online at the website by selecting “News” then scrolling to the calendar option.