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.

From the Minister
Dear All Souls community members,

The Supreme Judicial Court ruling on behalf of same-sex marriage places UUs in a role suggestive of our principles and our tradition of defending the separation of church and state.

The majority’s opinion put it well: "Whether and whom to marry, how to express sexual intimacy, and whether and how to establish a family -- these are among the most basic of every individual's liberty and due process rights. And central to personal freedom and security is the assurance that the laws will apply equally to persons in similar situations." Same-sex couples deserve equal worth and dignity.

Meanwhile, President Bush opposed the SJC ruling saying that marriage is a "sacred institution" between a man and a woman. Similarly, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist: "I very much feel that [heterosexual] marriage is a sacrament." The state should not enforce a definition of marriage driven by religion.

Arguments absent religion but citing "thousands of years of tradition" were similarly used in denying women the vote for so long. While I respect you who have misgivings or think differently, I strongly oppose a constitutional amendment overturning this ruling. I urge contact with legislators and outreach to your neighbors on behalf of this opportunity for equal rights. UUs have a critical role to play. 

Peace – Jonathan Rehmus

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Board Notes
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 9, 7 p.m., at the church. Contact any Board member (listed on the back page of The Clarion) with your concerns or suggestions. Here are some highlights for our November meeting and other developments.

1. The Board Retreat of November 1 was a success. First of all, full thanks to Gary and Susan Fentin for providing their splendid Ashfield setting, magnificent views across the valley included, for our gathering. One major positive of the retreat was simply the act of cooperatively working together, learning about each other, building a cohesion and solidarity among the group and coming up with various action proposals. In a nutshell, the desire t improve communication/dialogue among church membership seemed to be the overriding theme. First, greater stature and a higher public profile to the church website was suggested by expanding its offerings: Board minutes, church policies, committee news, etc. Of course a move in that direction would mean more human maintenance and the creation of a new budget line item for financial support. Secondly, a concern was expressed for improving rapport between the membership and the Board. One suggestion was a "Meet the Board" forum once a month after Sunday service. What is your response to this suggestion? Let the Board know!! Also, proposals were made for the improvement of leadership tactics re the All Souls anti-racism efforts. The idea is to develop an outreach program form the church to other community based organizations.

2. The principal event of the November Board meeting was to officially install a new Canvass Committee. Membership is as follows: Gary Fentin, Mark Gregory and Rocky Perham. The hope of the Board is that by making plans early to create a greater membership awareness for new church programs and ambitions that financial support will grow more easily/ Rather than to even thin of cuts as we did last year, reducing the minister’s service time for example, the conviction of the Canvass Committee is that an improved sensitivity of the need and desire for expanded services will result in stronger giving. Rally to the support of this concept!! Join with Gary, Rocky and Mark and help them.

3. One other major Board event was the creation and appointment of membership to the D.R.E. Council: Suzanne Gluck-Sosis, Cliff Daniels and Elizabeth Bonney. The D.R.E. Council will function as the direct governing body of the Director of Religious Education. The R.E. Committee will stay in place to work with the D.R.E. to concentrate on the operations and development of the Religious Education program.

4. Finally, a thousand cheers go out to the Membership Committee for their very successful welcoming event for church newcomers on November 14^th. Significantly, the 15 newcomers truly seemed to enjoy themselves and the company of our members who attended. Gloria Bean and Anne Hare orchestrated the triumph.

5. Take note: The "Music for All Souls" four hands piano recital with Julia Bady and Jamie Goodnow was an extraordinarily pleasant listening experience and enthusiastically received by a good-sized audience. Next up is the December 7 with church member Bob Cummings, piano and keyboard, Chris Devine, violin, and Greg Snedeker, cello. Be there! David Bigda, Chair of the Board of Trustees

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Notes from the DRE
"When I was a kid, I loved baseball …" So began a story told to us at a workshop I attended recently. The story wasn’t about baseball, at all. It was about tennis camp. Well, it wasn’t really about tennis camp, either. No, it was about how the storyteller had unearthed a seemingly ordinary moment in her own life. She dusted it off and tumbled and polished it and recast it in a totally new light. What she created, in the end, was a jewel of a story that was full of meaning. And then she gave this story, as a gift, to her listeners.

The workshop was about storytelling. And when I signed up for it I thought I would learn some handy skills about how a DRE who aspires to be a Minister might tell a good story. I thought I’d come home with a handy little bibliography of UU Sunday School-appropriate stories. I thought I’d learn a few storytelling tricks of the trade. But I didn’t really learn any of that.

Instead I found myself transfixed by a storyteller named Lani Pederson, as she wove enthralling and deeply touching stories out of some ordinary – and not so ordinary – moments in her own life. More than once, her stories touched my soul and moved me to tears. And I learned that the best stories we can tell may well be the stories from our own lives.

Human beings are the narrators of life on earth. Our stories are how we make sense of the journey we call life. By telling our stories, we share not only our individual histories, but we add to our communal history as well. When television replaced storytelling as the leisure time activity of choice in Inuit villages, residents spent more time alone and alcoholism rates went up. And what of our society, where stories told by the television have long ago replaced the stories we tell each other?

"When I was a kid, I loved the stories my mother told me …" So begins the stories our children might tell their children, if we are wise enough to tell them our stories. We each have wonderful stories to tell – stories that have meaning and lessons; stories of adventure and triumph; stories of loss and recovery. Let us define our place in the world. Let us pass down our own histories. Let us begin to tell our stories together.

In Peace & Hope – Eve

Several tables (one broken) have been repeatedly left in the Nature Room (we move them out and someone keeps moving them back in). Sunday School classrooms are not appropriate long-term storage spaces. If you need to store something – temporarily – in a classroom, please be sure to remove it before Sunday morning. Broken and dangerous items should never be left in the classrooms. Thank you for respecting our children.

Servicenet is looking for some kind hearted compassionate citizens who would be willing to serve as "Rep Payee" for some of our guests at the shelter/drop-in center who experience mental illness and/or addiction and need help managing money. This volunteer position would require about fifteen minutes to a half hour out of each month or week, and some amount of willingness to handle paper work from Social Security. It would also require some sensitivity to homelessness, mental illness and addiction. Anyone interested can call Amy Winters during the day.

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Welcome Gabriel Elliot Zaccheo, son to Barbara and Mark Zaccheo! Gabriel was born Friday, November 7 and the entire family is doing well. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces. We look forward to meeting Gabriel in coming months!

Elizabeth (Betty) Chapin Anderson, mother to new member Carol Flandreau, was celebrated in a memorial service November 22 at All Souls. We extend our condolences to Carol and her entire family.

Angel Russek was featured in multiple Greenfield Recorder cover articles in November related to her work on behalf of drug and alcohol-free teens. With a wonderful photo, Bill Griswold was also featured on the front page Veterans Day as a decorated World War II "Black Hawk" pilot.

Credit and thanks are due to Janice Sorensen and Dino Schnelle (Director of the Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield) for their work starting a food pantry in Shelburne Falls.

Christine Copeland has gotten off to a successful start with her new knitting and yarn shop "Northern Woolies." on Miles Street in Greenfield,

Maureen Moore underwent successful surgery in November, and the entire community wishes her all health and blessings in recovery.

Marty Ortiz and Carl Romboletti announced their engagement, with plans to be married this coming April 17 at All Souls with Rev. Jon Rehmus officiating. Congratulations!!

With the new piano in place, our organist Paul Praetz is now the proud owner of the old one. Thank you again to Isabelle and Craig Cole for the long-time enjoyment of their piano.

Congratulations to Janice Sorensen who is graduating this month for UMass with a degree in Community Arts Education. She was on the Dean’s List last semester.

The All Souls Day at World Eye Bookshop was a great success. Irmarie Jones reports that $1,580.72 worth of purchases were made with the All Souls coupon, and the 20% profit to the church is $316.14.

Thanks to Don Weld for replacing the light on the front porch of the church the night of the last Coffee & Soul concert. No one knew the light was out but Don went home and returned with a ladder and flood light bulb and saved the night!

Monica Sharp, who has always appreciated stimulating conversations, has a new dinner companion. Veteran actor Arthur Hill has moved into the assisted living facility where Monica resides. Arthur Hill won a Tony in 1962 for his Broadway role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and appeared in films such as "The Andromeda Strain" and "The Ugly American." He also had a T.V show in the 70s, "Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law". Monica says, "It's not a romance. I just admire him and enjoy his company at mealtimes." Monica added she still misses her friends here at All Souls.

Welcome New Members of All Souls!
All Souls Church – past, present, and future – is honored by those who deepen their commitment, and we warmly welcome Carol Flandreau, Paul Flandreau, Renate Goepp, and Janie Howard as new members. A long-time UU in other parts of the country, Ranata signed the membership book following the November 16 New Member service.

Membership is a vital means of empowering oneself in our democratic process. If you are interested in joining the church, please contact minister Jon Rehmus or Membership & Hospitality Committee members Susan Fentin or Gloria Bean at any point in the year. There will be another set of orientation sessions in the spring. All are welcome!

Are we Safer, and are we Still Free?
Come to a community meeting to find out just how the USA Patriot Act protects, and how it limits, our freedom. The Greenfield Bill of Rights Defense Committee will sponsor a meeting on Thursday, Dec.11, at 6:30 pm at the Teen Center upstairs meeting room, 20 Sanderson St. Handicap Accessible for more information contact: Ann Keough 774-2112 -or- Vanessa Bliss Bill of Rights Defense Committee 413-582-0110

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Newcomers’ Circle on December 14
Feeling new at All Souls? Considering membership in the church? Join minister Jon Rehmus and members of the church for introductions and conversation immediately after the Sunday service on December 14. This is an opportunity to share a bit about yourself and your reasons for seeking church community as well as an opportunity to raise questions about All Souls Church and UUism. We gather in the Chapman Room upstairs, just off the church vestibule, and refreshments will be available.

A Welcoming Event for the GLBT Community
Join All Souls minister Jon Rehmus for a potluck brunch at the church, Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. This is a follow-up to our October dinner when over 20 people gathered for fun and conversation! If your sexual orientation differs from "straight," if you are an adult or adolescent questioning your sexual orientation, or if you are a supportive partner, parent, or grandparent of an LGBT person, come and feel the embrace of good fellowship and food. Discussion topics will include meeting with Mayor Forgey, and organizing for a spring Pride event. Please bring a fruit, juice, or pastry/bread to share (a choice of main dishes will be provided) and feel free to invite others of the wider community. Also welcome are All Souls members who have been actively allied with the LGBT community through Gay-Straight Alliance and other involvement.

New Testament Series Continues
"New Takes on the New Testament" continues as the Sunday morning discussion series (note: no sessions December 7 or 28). The group will meet in the Chapman Room at 9:00 a.m. and is led by All Souls minister Jon Rehmus and long-time UU Dan Tinen. The December focus will be passages from the Gospels of John and the gnostic gospels. Bring a Bible, but no background in New Testament study is required. Including part-timers and drop-ins, all are welcome!

Save the date for the Anti-Racism Film Festival Saturday, January 24, 2004
We still need help with publicity. Contact Molly Chambers.

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The AntiRacism/White Priviledge Reading/Discussion Group Coninues to Meet
The time is 6:15 p.m. on December 4 &18 and the contact people are Angel Russek and Molly Chambers.

Next Social Action Committee Meeting December 8
Social Action Committee will meet at church in the sunshine room at 7 pm, Monday, December 8th. All are welcome...Call Molly Chambers or Toni Eaton if you have questions.

Welcome Yule Returns
Welcome Yule is a midwinter celebration of music, dance, song and story that is in the tradition of Christmas Revels, and has a broad early English flavor, with special reference to the long seasonal traditions of the British Isles. Children perform with adults in the show, and there is small group singing performance, rousing full-chorus songs, and seasonal sing-along. Children in the audience find the Mummer's Play hilarious! The performances are at Frontier High School in South Deerfield, on December 12 and 13 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday December 14 at 2:00 pm. New All Souls members Carol and Paul Flandreau are in it this year. It is a show for the entire family. Adults $9, Children and Seniors $6. Tickets at the door or World Eye Bookshop, Greenfield; Jones Library, Amherst; Broadside Bookshop, Northampton.

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Report on the Fall Community Meal
As coordinator of our Community Meal effort, I tried a slightly different approach for the meal we served on Wednesday, October 29. In years past I noticed that salads went almost untouched and meat dishes, which were the most popular, were in shortest supply. Usually, those at the end of the line went without meat. This time, donors were encouraged to either collaborate on a large meat dish of 20 – 24 servings, or to donate regular-sized side dishes or desserts as we have done in the past. And backing up these stalwart cooks were the "angels" who provided funds to cover the cost of meat dish ingredients, beverages and bread, a team who picked up dishes from various locations and delivered them to the site, and a small group who helped serve and clean up.

It was a huge success. Each person received a generous portion of meat, side dishes, bread, beverage and dessert, and most were able to take a little with them. Everyone was very grateful, and as we were washing dishes, one gentleman in a wheelchair complete with oxygen tank made his way back to the kitchen to thank us! Later the Greenfield coordinator called to congratulate us on a job well done.

The next Community Meal that we will be serving is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 at which time I hope we can repeat this success. I will be contacting people during December. If you are not on our list of past contributors but would like to help, please call me or e-mail me.

Toni Eaton
Social Action Committee

Last Chance To Get Your Name in the Church Directory!!!
We will be reissuing the church directory with new entries, changes, etc. Early this month. Please leave new information with All Souls administrator Diane Dix as soon as you can by phoning or e-mailing the church or putting it in her office folder. Thanks!

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All Souls Church History
(by Regina Boron, as told to Irmarie Jones)

In February 1960, several families from the Holy Name of Jesus Church is South Deerfield were voted in as members of All Souls Church.

But, this was only the end of an exciting story that began on July 7, 1929. On a calm summer Sunday, as the Greenfield Recorder-Gazette reported, a huge crowd of Polish people tried to prevent a new priest from entering St. Stanislaus Church in South Deerfield. Their beloved priest, who preached one sermon a week in Polish, was being moved by the diocese.

Fire hoses were even used to dispel the crowd of nearly 600 Polish women and men. Even State Police were called. Eventually, the new priest was allowed to enter.

However, by July 26, there was talk of forming an independent parish, which is exactly what happened. Those wishing to join the Polish National Church formed the Holy Name of Jesus Church and by August 25 the first mass took place in Redman’s Hall. Land was purchased on Thayer Street and a church, which is still active today, was built.

Thirty years later, there was another split. As the newspaper again stated, "Quietly and without publicity, history is again repeating itself for the members of Holy Name of Jesus Church!"

The Rev. Joseph Alen (correct spelling), pastor of the church for 13 years, was relieved of his duties by the bishop on November 15, 1959. Our minister, the Rev. Paul Chapman, invited the Polish priest to come to All Souls. At least 60 members of the South Deerfield church followed Rev. Alen. Chapman invited him to give a sermon in Polish, following the regular worship service of All Souls on two Sundays.

Holy Name was closed over Christmas that year.

As Regina Boron writes, "Most of Alen’s followers, not having reached ‘spiritual maturity’ in their beliefs regarding Jesus Christ, returned to the South Deerfield church with sadness."

But, the Skalskis, the Borons, and another family stayed at All Souls and most are members to this day. That included Regina’s parents, Joseph and Josephine Skalski. Leonard and Steffie Skalsi and their children and Ray and Regina Boron and their family.

Regina continued: "There must have been dissension in the Grenfield church at Mr. Chapman’s impulsive invitation. However, the vote took place in February 1960 and we were members. Rev. Alen then went on to Harvard Divinity School to become a Unitarian minister. That service was led by Dana Greeley in Hubbardston, where Alen had served as Interim Minister.

In a paragraph in a letter Alen wrote to the members of Holy Name of Jesus in November, 1959, he expressed his beliefs…."Regarding my own private beliefs, it is true that I do not believe in the divinity of Christ but I believe in his divine mission as it is expressed in the creed of this church, namely that Jesus was a ‘messenger’ of God."

Joseph and Jane Alen moved to Hopedale after he was ordained and he was the minister of the Hopedale Unitarian Church until he died from cancer in 1976. Jane Alen still lives in Hopedale and is a good friend of the Borons.

"He was a large part of our lives and a nucleus for many divergent people," said Regina. "I was 35 and very grateful too, after burning the midnight oil and perusing the American Encyclopedia about Unitarianism, I knew I had found my niche...a I had been since I could talk about things."

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ALL SOULS CARING NETWORK
The sense of community at All Souls Church is strengthened greatly by the several ways it provides support in times of serious need. The Membership Committee is updating its list of volunteers and hoping most of us will find some ways we can offer occasional service to each other. If you would be willing to help a congregant in an emergency, please consider offering one or more of these services.

Please check anything you might be willing to offer noting frequency, add personal information and return the form by mail or in a collection plate at a Sunday service.

To access assistance, call the Caring Coordinator for that month (listed in THE CLARION and each Sunday Order of Service). The Coordinator will set the wheels in motion by calling those who have volunteered for the needed service. People able, at that particular time, to help will call you directly.

My name and phone number: ____________________________________________________

In an emergency this is how I can help:

___ Provide meals

___ Transportation

___ Shopping

___ Visiting Shut-in

___ Childcare

___ Other/Comments:

Members Welcome Newcomers
What we want to know is: "Who won the Getting-to-know-you Bingo game?" Or didn't it matter because we all had so much fun trying to find others who: ski, have tropical fish, like to sing, grew up UU, have been to General Assembly, etc.? Or did we simply forget after food was served, and we had settled into friendly conversation?

No doubt about it. Including nine children we were over forty strong Friday evening, November 14, everyone came bearing salad or dessert and entered into the spirit of the evening.

David Bigda, Board Chair, thanked most of those responsible the following Sunday and we appreciate it. To the list we wish to add his name as all-around assistant, Rev. Rehmus as song leader, and Nancy Buchanan who designed and produced the attractive invitations received by our newcomers. Thanks once again to Christine Bates, son Rick, and friend Bethany, without whose culinary skills the tasty spaghetti dinner simply would not have happened.

Anne Hare and Gloria Bean, Co-chairs, Membership Committee

Next "Music for All Souls" Concert
OPUS ONE: From Beethoven to Bill Evans, featuring Bob Cummings, piano and keyboards, Chris Devine, violin, and Greg Snedeker, cello. Sunday, December 7, 3 p.m. Tickets $10, $5 seniors and students. Can be purchased at the church or at World Eye in Greenfield or Boswell’s Books in Shelburne Falls.

The committee organizing these concerts can use a few more helpers on a regular basis, and bakers for the reception that follows the performance. If you would like to be a part of this series, by helping with mailings, set-up, or clean up, or can bake a nice, home-baked dessert in exchange for an admission, please let Marty Ortiz know (625-9305).

The November 23 "Music for All Souls" concert was a tremendous success. Julia Bady and Jamie Goodnow gave a beautiful piano four hands concert. Over 100 people attended.

Query to the congregation: Does anyone have any ideas or experience so that when we have the next four hand concert in January there can be a mirror erected behind the musicians so people can see the interaction of the four hands? The concert was marvelous, but it would have been nice to see the hands. Because the piano is on the floor level, views from most areas of the sanctuary were very limited.

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