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April
2003
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.
April
2003 Clarion
Headlines:
From
the Minister
Musing
upon brown earth and subterranean growth:
— “Among them are 1500 of the most dangerous men
on Earth,” says retired General Barry McCaffrey,
assessing American special forces.
—
My brother Paul, forced to leave the Pentagon with
his boss and now a military analyst for the
Congressional Budget Office: “Let your
congregation know the war itself is likely to cost
$50,000,000,000 and the war’s aftermath will cost
upwards of $400,000,000,000.”
Paul says the goal is to hide as much as
possible in the national debt and thus have our
children pay as well.
Even so, an average American family can
expect increased taxes of at least $1000 annually
for 7-10 years.
—
Tough times has forced national brokerage Edward
Jones to change: for the first time in its 130-year
history, the firm has added to its blue-chip lists a
company (General Dynamics) that is nearly 100%
devoted to military contracts.
“Military industrial stocks are current
safe havens,” says a broker.
—
Notes on wars “won”: Afghanistan is currently
costing American citizens about $25 million per
month in humanitarian assistance and nearly $1
billion per month in military/security costs.
Meanwhile, over in Kuwait, the country’s
first parliament has formed.
Led by the Islamic parties, its initial batch
of social legislation increased restrictions on
women in public places.
—
The world must change.
A fuller meaning for national economy,
international
community, and perhaps human being
must evolve.
Peace
– Jonathan
Rehmus
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Board
Notes
The Board of Trustees meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the church. The Board is your representative governing body; contact us if you have nay concerns. Here is a brief summary of major items from our
March meeting.
1. The Treasurer’s report in a single word is “okay”. General financial condition is “okay”. Recent pledge returns are okay.; not great, but at least okay. For any questions regarding tax deductions call Margo Campbell at 367-2872.
2. Our appreciation goes out to the new membership of two standing committees: Music has added Bob Cummings, and Membership and Hospitality added Dorothy Wright, Katherine
Waitkus, and Susan Fentin. This kind of involvement is congratulated and makes for a stronger church.
3. Rev. Rehmus noted the recent Jubilee Week-end to be a resounding success. Numbers alone were evidence; most workshops attract approximately twenty participants from a congregation whereas at least fifty members of All Souls were present there. Jon plans to work further with the Board to incorporate an even stronger anti-racist agenda in church affairs.
4. The R.E. Task Force Report was presented by Ruth Sterling. Basically, the creation of a DRE Council of five members to pupervise the DRE was proposed. Currently, the Board Chair is the supervisor. Discussions will continue on this matter.
5. By unanimous decision the Board voted for the purchase of the Yamaha Grand Piano. No doubt, this has been the most significant action by the Board this year. The final decision is in the hands of the membership as prescribed by the church by-laws. Asuming approval, a sixty-day board Fund Drive would start in early April. Actual cost to the church will be $11,500 because of advanced pledges which reduced the cost. The present owner anticipates payment in early June. A short and intense fund raising effort will be necessary. Please join in the effort.
6. Remember the UU General Assembly in Boston June 26-30 .
David Bigda, Chair of the Board of Trustees
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INTERESTED IN UU
SPIRITUALITY?
Have you ever wanted to read some of the great writings of our UU forebears, such as
Channing, Emerson, Parker, or Ballou? Have you wondered what bearing these great thinkers have on our modern day practice of
UU'ism? If so, then have we got the class for you!!! Minister Intern Manish Mishra will be offering a class on UU Spirituality starting in mid-March. This class will look at and discuss selections from some of the great, historical UU thinkers of our movement. We will share our thoughts on the meaning of these great writings and sermons, and discuss what these UU thinkers might contribute our our modern day understanding of what it means to be a spiritually grounded UU. Our first class session will be Sunday, March 16th at 9am, and continue thereafter on a weekly basis through May. If you are interested in attending this course, or have questions, please write to Manish by email at:
MMishra@aol.com.
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Coffee
& Soul
On Saturday, April 19, 7:30 p.m., we are extremely proud and excited to be presenting
Christine
Lavin. Peter Nelson will open. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the church, World Eye Bookshop, and Boswell’s Books. If you want to bake for half-price admission, call Carole Groman.
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All
Souls Passover Seder
Anyone interested in helping with the All Souls Passover Seder scheduled for Thursday night, April 17, please contact Eve Brown-Waite.
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All Souls
Tag Sale April 26
The All Souls Great Spring Tag Sale will be Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We need household items, toys, books, sports equipment, and, especially, collectibles. Spring and summer clothes only (no winter clothes, please).
If you bring your contribution on a Sunday when you come to church, it can be left behind the bulletin board in the Hope Street entrance. It would be helpful if the Youth Group could bring boxes down from the tower on Sunday, April 20.
Volunteers are needed for Friday and/or Saturday. If you can volunteer, or have any questions, please contact Irmarie
Jones.
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Dana Vespers May 4
All Souls will be presenting the Dana Vespers Concert, featuring the Pioneer Valley Brass, on Sunday, May 4, at 3 p.m. The concert is open to all and free of charge. It was paid for by the gift from the Universalist Church of Dana which was flooded to create the Quabbin Reservoir.
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All
Souls and Hope Church-Dialogues to Learn, Listen
and Grow
Angel Russek and Ellen Clegg
The two Friday evening potluck gatherings wrapped
around the Jubilee Weekend giving it context and a
place to return to. As new members at All Souls, it
gave us a place to link our commitment to address
racism and white privilege with our spiritual
growth.
After a nourishing feast we gathered to listen to
and dialogue with members of Hope Church’s
Understanding White Privilege group. This group has
been meeting for almost 8 years. The message they
shared and the lessons they learned are important
for All Souls members to consider as we move forward
with the possibility of creating a similar group
here.
What follows are a few things we felt stood out for
us in our conversations:
White Privilege colors our lives dramatically.
Even if we don’t want this privilege we still
benefit by its existence, despite our activism and
willingness to speak out against oppression.
It is our soul’s work to look at ourselves,
individually, and begin to unravel the ways we
collude in the existence of racism and white
privilege.
This is not easy.
We will be uncomfortable.
This is holy work.
We need to come together to assist and witness each
other’s journey.
We need to make a covenant with one another to
listen to and offer respectful challenge when the
privilege of skin color interferes with our words
and actions.
We need to forgive ourselves and not let guilt get
in the way of being actively anti-racist.
We need one another.
We need to find joy in the experience of hearts
opening when we are willing to face ourselves
without trying to change others.
This is not easy.
We felt privileged and humbled meeting members of
All Souls on this journey to wholeness and joining
with members of Hope Church to share this important
work. We hope the next step at All Souls will be the
creating of an Understanding White Privilege group
to continue this journey together.
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Notes from the DRE
I thought I knew what hard work was. I have given birth – twice – without anesthesia. I have been a Peace Corps Volunteer, a teacher and a rape crisis worker. But recently I have been doing the hardest work I have ever done in my life. I am standing for peace in a country that is engaging in war.
It is very hard work standing for peace with nothing but cardboard signs to shield us from the considerable anger of many of our neighbors. But I try to look beyond the anger to what is at the root of it all. I think it’s fear: fear of America’s vulnerability; fear that we may not be as right as we believe we are; fear of the ugly injustice we might see if we look too closely at the choices we have made; and fear of what would be required of us to make things right.
Those of us with unshakeable faith in peace and justice know what we must do. We must continue to stand for peace – in our homes, in our communities, in our workplaces, on the street corners if need be. That, as I have already learned, will be extremely hard work. But it helps to remember that we are not alone. We are not even the minority – although here in America it might seem that way.
We are joined with millions – maybe billions – of like-minded people world-wide. People all over the world are raising their voices, lobbying their leaders and taking to the streets for peace. People – and even governments – all across the globe are beginning to wake up to the realization that in the 21 century killing is no longer a legitimate way to resolve differences. There is a big, glorious, majority of people forming – a growing legion of peaceful warriors working to steer this planet toward peace.
Those of us in America today working desperately for peace may feel alone, but we are not. And we must not feel sorry for ourselves and we must not falter. For we have been given a great responsibility and a great privilege – to stand in the darkest place and hold up a beacon of light.
"It is not necessary for you to complete the work,” said the Talmudic sage Rabbi Tarphon. “But neither are you free to desist from it." The war is happening. But we will not be beaten as long as we remember our sacred obligation – to hold out the light of peace so that others may find us in the dark.
With prayers for Peace & Hope –
Eve
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Mid-Week Music
April 2 - Jeanne Marie Woodwind Ensemble - Susan Black, bassoon, Jeanne Dowd, clarinet, & Kirsten Hadden
Lipkens, oboe
April 9 - Lisa Woods, mezzo-soprano & Gretchen
Saathoff, piano
April 16 -Nick Real, piano (1910 - 1950 Americana)
April 23 - Alturas Duo, Carlos
Boltes, charango & viola, & Scott Hill, classical guitar
April 30 - Sophisticated Swing, Gene Clark, piano & Richard
Hurlburt, clarinet and saxophone
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Seek the
Furthest Horizon!
Sky Tours for All Ages
Astronomy Multi-media Presentation
Friday, April 25; 7:00 p.m. (free of charge)
All Souls Church; Greenfield
Evening Sky and Naturalism Tours
Saturday – Monday, April 26-28
6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. (suggested donation)
The Benson Place Farm in Heath: directions below
Join All Souls minister Jon Rehmus for the best seat in the house! Again in April, the owner of the Benson Place blueberry farm in Heath has made available this exquisite 270-degree view of the sky. Come early for the glow of sunset over the ancient standing stones on Burnt Hill. Watch Saturn and Jupiter set. Come to the later program and learn the beacon stars of Spring and ancient constellation lore.
Those who plan on attending are encouraged to watch for clear skies coinciding with one of those nights, though the tours will have a weather-geology-naturalism focus if there are clouds. No use of telescopes is planned – binoculars are recommended if available -- and the focus is on unaided exploration and learning.
“Unless it is raining or snowing, a visit to this gorgeous hilltop is worth it under a variety of conditions. And whatever the weather, be prepared with winter-like layers, hats, and gloves.” Rehmus was trained in astronomy education at the University of California at Irvine and led similar tours there and when he taught natural history at the Academy at Charlemont.
The 3-night set outdoors is preceded by a free multi-media presentation at the church. The first of these is Friday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. (the May one will be in Shelburne Falls). These presentations are an entertaining chance to learn about astronomy, skygazing, and some of the phenomena to be seen from Heath. Appropriate slides for the season make this a worthy experience for repeat attendees.
The outdoor program will have a charge that supports the Environmental Justice/Open Land Preservation work of the Social Action Committee. For church members: $5 for adults, $2 for children, $7.50 for families of 3 or more. Repeat visits ($2 regardless of age) are encouraged: it’s the best way to learn, and the view changes with the months and time of day!
Directions: Take Mohawk Trail/Rte 2 to Shelburne Falls. Follow signs for 112 north. Get on 112 N and from the point of the Rte 2 overpass, go 3.7 mi. Just beyond factory area in Colrain, turn left on Adamsville Rd. (crossing bridge). Go 1.6 mi. (keeping to left at T/Yield signs) to Heath Rd. Turn left, crossing small bridge. Go 3.9 mi. on Heath Rd., staying straight ahead almost entire way (at 1.8 mi. stay on pavement bearing rt.; at 2.7 mi., road turns to dirt). When you cross the pond, you’re almost there! Turn left (steep uphill) on Flagg Hill Rd., go almost .5 mi., turn rt. at fork (see sign for “Benson Place” on telephone pole). Go 1.3 mi. to the end of the road and park near shed.
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WHO IS GOING TO
GA
June 26 - 30?
It would be helpful to know who in our community is attending General Assembly in Boston this summer. If we know who is interested in attending either some or all, we can pool that information to arrange carpooling or van rental if some are interested in attending all or part of the gathering, and sharing of rooms is also possible. Do you have friends or family who would offer hospitality to anyone? Please let Jon or Diane know and we will keep a list and share it when time gets closer. Reminder: Registrations re-open on March 1. Also, lodging reservations will open. (See
Board Notes for more)
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Clara Barton District Spring Conference & Annual Meeting
April 4-5
You should have received information about the conference in the mail in the district newsletter Call & Response. If not, you can get one in the church office or on the CBD website,
ClaraBartonDistrict@aol.com.
The conference will take place at the First Unitarian Church of Worcester. The keynote speaker will be John Buehrens. There will be workshops provided on Saturday. The cost is $30 per attendee and advanced registration is requested. They also have a sliding scale of $20 — $40, requesting that those who can afford more do so to compensate for those who cannot. Registration at the door is $40. Child care may also be available, although the flyer said the pre-registration for that should have occurred by March 24. Any questions? Call 413-283-4893.
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Membership Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the Membership Committee will be on Monday, April 14.
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Creating Worship Workshop May 3
Members and Committee Chairs from the Springfield and Monson UU Societies’ Religious Service Committees and Rev. Georganne Greene will share their expertise, learned through trial and error, of how to put together a meaningful worship service. Contact people are Sue Mazrolle (413-583-8592) and Linda Walachowicz (413-527-7487).
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Second Annual
“Greening Your
Congregation” Meeting April 27
This meeting will be held on Sunday, April 27, from 2 — 4 p.m.
at the First Church in Roxbury (Eliot Square). It is free and sponsored by the Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light (MIP& L). The purpose is twofold: to pray and sing together, celebrating the religious imperative to be stewards of the earth and to work toward environmental justice; and to aid efforts to reduce pollution from religiously affiliated buildings. There will be a keynote speaker and workshops. For more information or to RSVP, call 800-406-5374 or e-mail
lhoke@MIPandL.org.
“To me the question of the environment is more ominous than that of peace and war. ...the environment is a creeping danger. I am more worried about global warming than I am of any major military conflict.” — Hans Blix, UN Chief Weapons inspector, March 18, 2003
(a note from Diane Dix) For the first time I attended a meeting of the Association of Unitarian Universalist Administrators (AUUA) on March 26. The CBD does not have it’s own branch of AUUA but administrators from our district are invited to attend the Mass. Bay District meetings. This one was entitled “How to Reduce Pollution from Your Buildings — and Save $! — Energy Stewardship Approaches for UU Administrators”. It was held at the UU church in in Concord, MA, an easy drive. The trainer for the day was Lara Hoke, Program Director of MIP&L.
The statistics Lara presented are pretty awesome and thought-provoking and much too much to share at this time. For instance, “If each U.S. congregation conducted an energy efficient upgrade, preventing 6 million tons of CO2 from polluting the air, it would be like taking 1 million cars off the street and planting 1.5 million trees!!”. There are ten UU churches in Massachusetts currently members of MIP&L, which provides energy audits and recommendations for upgrades. It’s too early to push for membership, with all that we have on our plate right now, but perhaps we can begin to be more attentive to what is happening in our building and perhaps take small actions? I notice that many churches from which we get newsletters have “Green Teams”. These are part of the “Green Sanctuary “ program.
Anyone interested in the April 27 event. Can we carpool? Please speak to me if interested.
“May your life preach more loudly than your lips.” — William Ellery Channing
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Next Jubilee Sub-Groups Meeting Tuesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m.
The work of the sub-groups formed during the Jubilee Week-end in early March continues. A variety of actions were decided on at the workshop and follow-up meetings throughout the year, where people can report how they are acting on their ideas, will take place. If you would like to attend these meetings and become involved, you are welcome, whether or not you were able to attend the Jubilee Week-end. If you would like to learn more, please call Molly Chambers.
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The New Church
Directory Is Finished
Copies are available at the church or, if preferred, can be e-mailed to you so you will have a copy in your computer. Please remember, this is for church use only and not to be shared with people outside our community. Contact Diane if you would like it e-mailed to you.
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Wheel
of Life
This column is our way of sharing with others some of the important events that affect members of our community. If you know of something that you feel would be appropriate for this column please contact Diane Dix by phone (number’s on the back page) or e-mail your news to:
newsletter@uugreenfield.org
and, also, to her home e-mail address which is endia2020@yahoo.com.
Our deepest sympathy to Carl Rombeletti on the loss of his father in late February.
All Souls received special thanks for providing the church for the memorial service for
Neo Kabelo Molefe, 20, who died in Seattle, WA. Dan Tinen was thanked for operating the sound system.
Irmarie has observed that the names of All Souls members and friends are predominantly in the lower part of the alphabet. If you go through the church directory, there are approximately 150 names from A to M and about 60 to 65 from N to Z. Irmarie said it has been this way for years. Go figure.
Eve Brown-Waite and Vanessa Bliss were among the 54 people arrested in a civil disobedient action protesting the war at Westover Air Force Base on March 22.
Joe Jabonaski and Eve Brown-Waite were among a panel of six community members who participated in a Community Conversation about the war in Iraq which is now being aired on GCTV and other community television stations in Franklin County.
Martha Elliott just took the job as Youth Director for the Clara Barton District. Congratulations Martha. You have given so much to the Youth of our church. This promotion is well-deserved.
Thanks to Meg Baker for her beautiful work in finishing off the quilt made at the 1999 Women’s conference. When looking at the hanging, pay particular attention to the beautiful wanderings of the silver thread which unites the pieces.
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Dates to Watch for This Spring
April 26 — Annual Spring Rummage Sale in the Parish Hall. Save household items, toys, books, sporting equipment, clothing, etc. More in the April issue of The Clarion.
May 4 — Dana Vespers, Pioneer Valley Brass, free public concert, 3 p.m.
June 8 — Greenfield 250th Anniversary Parade, Mary Ann Milewski and Irmarie Jones are planning a concession. If anyone can help, contact Irmarie. It would be from noon on Sunday until the parade goes by after 1:30 p.m…...probably3 p.m.
June 22 — Church Picnic at Camp Keewanee
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All
Souls Church History, Fifth Installment
(Every month it is hoped that there will
be an item of church history in The Clarion. Some of the
long time members are meeting monthly to bring the history
up to date. It has been quite sketchy since about 1940. Here
is a contribution from Rev. Holly Bell.)
Religious Education, continued
When I first started as Director of Religious Education, we used The New Beacon Series, which was the Religious Education Program developed by the Council of Liberal Churches — Quaker, Ethical Culturists, Unitarians. Sophia Lyon Fahs was the guiding light behind the
curriculum books I remember using: From Long Ago and Many Lands (which is still in print in an updated version today), a collection of tales and fables from cultures around the world teaching ethical principles; How Miracles Abound, about the wonders of the natural universe; Jesus, the Carpenter’s Son, revealing Jesus as a real person; The Church Across the Street, which is just what the title implies.
Many of us involved with the Religious Education Program were inspired by people like Frances Wood, who came out from “25 Beacon” to encourage us in developing our program. She inspired those of us who could not go to the Star Island Religious Education Conference. This was and is a week-long training session for those involved at any level in the Religious Education Program — parents, teachers, committee members, youth group leaders, superintendents/directors. I was the first to go in the summer of 1957 and was enthusiastic about its classes. Over the following years there were many of us who went year after year. Some of the names are familiar even now to the membership of the church: Hugh Bell, Sallee and Merritt Garland, Helen Severance, Dibby Falconer, Bill and Nancy Buchanan, Virginia Short, Marion (Kolakoski) O’Meara. All Souls had a significant representation present.
There were a number of us who led children’s programs at the conference, and did other tasks, like registration and manager. Three or four of us served on the New England
Inter-district Committee which planned the Religious Education Conferences at both Star and Ferry Beach. We always came back with many new ideas to try out at All Souls.
In the early sixties, we were going to have a number of boys from East Africa reside in the homes of church members so that they could get a high school education, and be equipped to go on to college. This was a special project of the UU Service Committee. I’ve forgotten now haw many boys were coming to New England as a whole, perhaps a couple of dozen.
Their imminent arrival led us to start having culture studies as part of our religious education program. Other churches were doing it, too. It was a way of assisting our children to understand the culture of the boys who would live amongst us. We learned about the East African land and tribes, what their lives were like, the occupations they had, the crafts they did, the games they played, and so forth. We learned some of their songs, folk tales, dances, clothing, customs, and food. The children from first grade through sixth grade were involved in the culture study, and at the end we would have a presentation for their families.
Each year in the spring, we would study a different culture, current or historic: Navajo, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese were some of the ones which come to mind.
Prior to this group, the churches of Greenfield, All Souls included, sponsored twenty-six Hungarian refugees at the time of the Hungarian Revolution. These refugees lived in our homes, we helped them find jobs, and to some degree, became a part of this community. At this time, 2003, I think there is at least one family still residing here.
The junior highers were involved in learning about Unitarianism and Universalism during many of these years. Among the things they did was visit a number of Unitarian churches to see what was done in these churches. They would attend church, visit with the young people of that church, and then talk about what was common and what was different.
By 1970, I had decided that I was interested in becoming a parish minister. I was accepted at Hartford Seminary Foundation, and began my studies in the fall of 1970. In the spring of 1971, I was invited to join a special project to educate ministers without a theological school, the Stevens-Gesner Project. I finished a two-year program at Hartford which led to a Masters in Religious Studies, while I was in the Stevens-Gesner Project. By the fall of 1973, I had received my Masters degree and equivalency from the Unitarian Universalist Association for three years of education beyond my graduate degree. I was ordained that September here at All Souls.
(Holly Bell was among six UU women who was awarded a $500 grant from the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation’s Lanning Fund. “This grant is being awarded to you in recognition of your devotion to our movement. Your 25 years of ministry to the congregation at Unity Church are a monument in dedication to Unitarian Universalism. Your legacy lives on in the congregation, and your warmth, your love, your intelligent leadership, and your ministry are palpable among the people of the church. Thank you for your long years of leadership.” )
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