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December
2001
The
Clarion deadline coincides with the monthly
Friendship Potluck Luncheons on the third Sunday
of the month. Submissions can be in writing, on
disk, faxed (773-5018) or e-mail at newsletter@uugreenfield.org.
Past
issues of The Clarion can be found by clicking here.
Clarion
Headlines:
Jonathan
Rehmus
Though
truth is said to be among the first victims of war,
apparently Americans are not being asked to
sacrifice. No draft. No increased taxes. No need to
cut back.
Yet
ask again. Military tribunals by presidential
decree? War conducted in secrecy? Active alliance
with states employing torture? We are being asked to
sacrifice our standards of due process, democratic
oversight, and human rights. After recent
congressional votes and more effort at Arctic
drilling, we are also being asked to sacrifice
fairness and environmental stewardship.
Before
we are asked to make still other sacrifices in the
name of security, let us seek enlightenment about
the process of war. The November 19 New York Times
headlined, “Surprise. War Works After All.” For
whom? As retribution for those fallen? In
reestablishing the status quo? How are things
working in our own, war-torn country? One
congresswoman’s question after voting was, “Why
do the big dogs always eat first?” These questions
are worth asking if — in pursuit of a secure
homeland — the only things we need dispense with
are the environment and “liberty and justice for
all.”
War
is hell, justice being a faint cry. As with a
far-off infant’s cry in the night, however, may we
stand witness for those whose cries are faint. May
light find those shadowed and broken by war, here
regionally and at far reaches. In holy days ahead,
may the truth of peace find our inner souls
(Top
of Page)
Sunday
Morning Discussions:
Current
Events
9:00 a.m., Sundays,
December 2, 16, and 23
A
sharing of reports, news, and personal views of
those processing the September attack and its
aftermath. The shape and topics of discussion may
evolve according to events and participants: all are
welcome on a one-time or joining-in basis.
Discussions led by Jon Rehmus
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of Page)
Coffee
Hour News
Coffee Hour Volunteers Desperately Needed!
The Membership/Hospitality Committee is
responsible for coordinating volunteers to host the
Coffee Hour after Sunday services. This is a
friendly reminder to the congregation that we still
have MANY Sundays
through June which still need hosts.
A
ONE-TIME DONATION OF TIME during the church year by
each member can easily fill this need. We encourage
people to ask a friend or partner to volunteer
together (although that is an individual decision).
If you are a newer member and would like an
experienced buddy to work with you please put an asterisk
(*) by your name on the sign-up sheet. We will find
someone to work with you. This is a wonderful way
for new members to get involved in the church in a
hands-on, concrete way. The Coffee Hour sign-up
sheet is located on the bulletin board on the west
wall of the parish hall.
Detailed
Coffee Hour instructions are posted on the wall by
the kitchen refrigerator. It is the host's
responsibility to bring cream and milk for coffee
and a gallon or 2 of juice/cider for the adults. All
other supplies (tea, sugar, pretzels, crackers) are
provided and located in the kitchen. As a reminder
to the congregation — due to the significant
expense borne by hosts in providing Coffee Hour
snacks in previous years — hosts are not expected
to bring snacks as the Hospitality Committee now
provides them.
The
Membership/Hospitality Committee appreciates your
donation of time to provide an essential part of the
socialization we all enjoy after Sunday service. If
you have questions or are a new member who needs a
buddy to work with, please do not hesitate to call
Susan Schillmoeller.
Small Change and Helping Hands Needed!
The next time you are savoring that delicious
cup of coffee at Coffee Hour, we ask that you donate
some pocket change (a basket will be provided on the
table). This will help offset the costs of providing
snacks. Also, Coffee Hour hosts would appreciate
help with clean-up afterward. Please help them out
by taking a couple minutes to help wash, dry, or put
away a couple items away. Thank you!
(Top
of Page)
Name
Tags
If
you need a name tag, please contact Susan
Schillmoeller. She will be happy to make one for
you!
(Top
of Page)
Spiral
of the Seasons — Special Sunday School Program
December 23
The
traditional “Spiral of the Seasons”, an elegant,
magical honoring of going within the darkness and
emerging with the light, will take place during
regular R.E. time this year so that all the children
in our program can participate. This children’s
ritual encourages family participation, so all
adults who are interested in attending this
alternative to the “upstairs” service are
welcome to do so.
(Top
of Page)
Capital
Campaign Celebration
Sunday, December 16
(instead of Friendship Potluck)
The
Capital Campaign, which began more than three years
ago to repair our tower and install the ramp, has
come to a very successful close. A goal of $110,000
was met by a total of $106,938.99 There were 208
pledges from members, friends, and businesses. On
Sunday, December 16, at noon, we will display the
plaque thanking everyone who contributed. This will
be in the sanctuary. From there, we will go to a
reception to thank everyone who donated, in the
Parish Hall. The plaque will be installed. The money
was originally taken from the Clarke fund and it now
has been replaced.
(Top
of Page)
Important
Information About
The Holiday Fair
Please
remember, the All Souls Every Member Holiday Fair
will be Saturday,
December 8, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
f
you agreed to make jams or jellies, theme baskets,
or hand-made items, the fair committee will be
setting up on Thursday, December 6, so all items
(except baked goods) should be at the church (or at
the Buchanan’s house) by then. Final set-up should
be completed by Friday afternoon. Baked goods should
arrive on Friday or before 8:30 on Saturday morning.
If you haven’t been asked to bake or make candy,
do it anyway! People are eager to stock their
freezers for the holidays.
All
raffle ticket stubs must be returned before the fair
so they will be in the drawing. Please get them, and
the money, in before December 2nd if possible.
Antiques,
jewelry, and collectibles should be brought to the
church by December 2nd, so they can be appropriately
priced. Cynthia Page, Irmarie Jones and Dorothy
Wright are in charge of setting up and pricing those
items.
Jean
Cummings requests that those raising plants for the
Holiday Fair label them with the plant name. Also,
it is important that the plants be healthy.
Volunteers
are welcome at any stage in this process. If you
haven’t been contacted, call us! Linc Hirst is in
charge of snacks and lunch foods and he will need a
lot of help in the kitchen.
If
you have questions or need help transporting items,
get in touch with Nancy Buchanan or Anne Hare.
(Top
of Page)
Religious
Education
(Notes from the DRE)
by Eve Brown-Waite
Way
back in September when the ache of horrible things
were still throbbingly-fresh in our minds, a friend
(and member of All Souls) told me about a
conversation she had with her daughter.
"Will
terrible things happen now, Mommy?" the eight
year girl asked her mother.
"No,
dear," the mother answered in that automatic
response parents sometimes use when trying to
comfort their children. "Nothing terrible will
happen."
"Really,
Mom," the eight year old persisted, for she was
too bright to be so easily fooled. "I want to
know. Will more terrible things happen?"
Her
mother was thoughtful for a moment and then she said
"Yes. I think some terrible things will happen.
And I think some beautiful things will happen,
too."
"Oh,"
said the very wise eight year old girl. "Then
tomorrow will be just like yesterday."
*****
As
I write this I am still sleep deprived from the
early-morning Leonid meteor shower extravaganza.
John and I ventured out into the frigid black
morning. The first thing I noticed was the crystal
clear night sky and the thousands of stars that
seemed to hang in the naked trees like Christmas
lights. And then I saw the meteors: Flashes of light
that streaked over our heads, in front of our eyes,
all around us. We woke the kids, bundled them in
blankets and held them against us as the stars put
on their 360° light show. Later we sat together,
huddled under our blankets on the porch and watched
the meteors make their graceful swan dive exit.
We
sat there silent with awe and wonder. No one
fidgeted, pinched or pulled hair. No one complained
about the state of the world or the lack of
leadership in the State House. No one even whined
about the cold. No one worried about the deadline,
the budget or the dirty dishes in the sink. And for
a little while I didn't even think about the
smoldering hole in my native city or the gaping one
in our humanity. I didn't think about the fear that
has become my daily companion. We sat there in that
moment, my family and I--and maybe millions of other
people--perfectly content.
And
all it took was a little miracle of nature.
*****
Terrible
things will happen. And beautiful things too.
(Top
of Page)
Thank
You, Marilyn Christian
A
great big THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to Marilyn
Christian for her wonderful work with the Explorers
for the past year and a half. Marilyn's generous
sharing of her time, energy and talents have truly
been a gift to the RE program and to the entire
community.
(Top
of Page)
Journey
Toward Wholeness/Jubilee
Workshop Schedule
Social
Action Committee Films, Discussion & Potluck
Supper at All Souls UU
Saturday,
January 12, 2002, afternoon — evening,
showing of three films: Rosewood, Remember
the Titans, and Blue-Eyed. Blue-Eyed
will be followed by a facilitated discussion.
Potluck Supper will be between the 2nd and 3rd
films. (Remember the Titans is suitable for
family viewing. The other films are suitable for
adult and teenage viewing.)
Journey
Toward Wholeness, UU Society of Amherst, Sunday,
January 20, 2002
Sunday
Sermon — Becoming a Racial Ally & film Skin
Deep
Jubilee
Workshop at Unitarian Society of Northampton &
Florence
Joint
sponsorship of Greenfield, Northampton and Amherst
UU churches
Friday
evening, February 8 — Sunday morning,
February 10, 2002
PLEASE
SAVE THESE DATES AND TALK TO AT LEAST TWO OTHER
PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS….THANK
YOU!
Please
call Molly Chambers if you have any questions about
these events or if you need transportation.
(Top
of Page)
Wheel
of Life
Ginny
Low thanks the whole community for the calls and
letters and all the offers of support. She is
feeling much loved! Her condition for now has
stabilized, and she can be visited at Charlene Manor
Care Facility.
Ginny’s
daughter, Barbara Keith, with her husband and
stepson, Doug and John Tibbles, are the Stone
Coyotes. They gave a wonderful concert here at All
Souls on the Saturday following the week that Ginny’s
health began to decline. They made frequent tributes
to Ginny throughout the concert. We appreciate their
strength of spirit and commitment that the show went
on despite their concerns.
Jean
Cummings recently flew to Tacoma, WA, to attend
the Installation of her son, Stan, Jr., as Head of
the Annie Wright School, a private school of 400
students from kindergarten through high school. She
flew out with her daughter, Cappy Nunlist,
who was principle speaker at her brother’s
ceremony. Cappy is a practicing attorney and an
assistant professor of legal writing at Vermont Law
School. Jean said she was so thrilled and proud that
tears came to her eyes when she saw her two “kids”
at the podium together. Her trip was made possible
by her other son, Bruce, who stayed with Stan, Sr.
while she was gone.
In
an effort to encourage ecumenicalism in a school
that started as an Episcopalian school, and with
many Pacific rim students, Stan had symbols of
various religions carried to the stage by students.
“After all, he is a Unitarian!,” said Jean.
Monica
Sharp wrote from her new home: “I was thrilled
to receive the quilted lap robe made by Barbara
Parker, Holly Bell, and Nancy
Buchanan. It is a beautiful and a comfortable
addition to my room here at “Assisted Living” in
Pacific Palisades, California. The many well-wishing
inscriptions from All Souls friends added to my
delight and appreciation of the robe. Bless you all.”
There
were $1,274.79 worth of purchases made at World
Eye Bookshop on All Souls Day. 20%, or $255.84
was donated to the church.
The
Christmas Tree this year will again be a mitten
tree. Mittens, gloves, scarves, and caps for adults
and children can be left on the tree. They will be
divided between the Franklin Area Survival Center
and the Greenfield Family Inn.
(Top
of Page)
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