|
April
2004
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
2004 Clarion
Headlines:
The
Caring Coordinator for
April is Martha Elliot.
April
2004
From
the Minister
Daffodils,
Passover, vacation, peepers, Easter, baseball,
gardening: April is a month to rejoice! – Jon
Gentle
me,
Holy One,
into an unclenched moment,
a deep breath,
a letting go
of heavy experiences,
of shriveling anxieties,
of dead certainties…
That, softened by the silence and surrounded by
light,
open to the mystery,
I may be found by wholeness,
upheld by the unfathomable,
entranced by the simple,
and filled with the joy
that is You.
- Ted Loder
Board
Notes
Next
meeting date: Tuesday, April 13, 7 p.m., at the
church. Contact any Board member (listed on the back
of The Clarion) with your concerns or suggestions.
Here are some of the highlights from our March
meeting and other developments:
1.
Treasurer Margo Campbell reported that the rate of
pledge giving remains steady. Margo compliments the
membership and remains confident that pledge goals
will be met.
2.
The Board made recommendations for its portion of
the ‘04 — ‘05 budget. Foremost was the
creation of a new line item to cover small size
building improvements capped at $4,000 per year. For
next year, recommendations were a snow guard barrier
on our south side roof as a protection for the
alleyway users between our building and The
Recorder; and a replacement of the decayed door at
the Hope Street entrance. This is a new pro-active
approach to building preservation designed to take
care of small items on an ongoing basis. Hopefully
this will become a permanent fixture in our church
budgeting without being a serious financial burden.
Also, this approach may minimize the frequency and
the size, somewhat, of the large capital fund drives
that will never go away. Also, The Board’s
Discretionary Fund was the same as was submitted for
the previous year.
3.
The Board enthusiastically supported the plan for a
Fancy Dessert Buffet with entertainment as a Canvass
Kick-Off event. Lynn Nichols and Peggy Kennedy are
the masterminds behind it all. Board members have
promised to help and other All Souls may join in as
we all shall joyfully and cheerfully pledge for
‘04 — ‘05. Look for the separate announcement
elsewhere in The Clarion.
4.
Discussions continued on the best approach to
determining membership attitudes to the current wide
assortment of religious, spiritual and social issues
that affect church programming and policy. A
sub-committee has been formed and its
recommendations will be acted upon at the April or
May meeting.
5.
An energy audit of the church by the Massachusetts
Interfaith Power & Light will be conducted on
April 6 at 10 a.m. Members are invited to
participate/witness the survey.
6.
On March 13th UUA President William Sinkford spoke
at the Northampton church. Our members in attendance
were impressed by him and said so the next day in
"Joys & Concerns". Rev. Sinkford
demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of church
issues, offered the vision of a socially responsible
church, and enhanced his reputation as a leader in
whom we all can have confidence.
David
Bigda,
Chair of the Board of Trustees
What
a Sweet Way to kick-off this Year's Canvass!
Plans
are underway for a Decadent Dessert Social to be
held the evening of April 16th from 7 — 9 p.m.
Dust off your party clothes and plan to join your
friends at All Souls. What better way to satisfy
that Friday night hunger for good company, fine food
and music!
Got children? Bring them along! They'll be having
their own party complete with make-your-own sundaes
and a movie.
Of
course, pledge forms will be available for those
interested in taking care of business!!! So, mark
your calendars and be on the alert for an email (or
phone call) with more information.
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
"Learn
to let go. That is the key to happiness." - The
Buddha
Wheel
of Life
Many
thanks to Tom Burke for the quick and commendable
work he did on repairing two downstairs windows
vandalized in two separate incidents which have be n
reported to the police . He performed a professional
installation and replaced the broken panes with
plexiglass at his own expense and on his own time.
Kim
Smith’s son Jeremy is seeking a room to rent in
Greenfield by April 15. He is able to pay upto $400
a month. He gets along with children and pets.
Congratulations
to Leah Garfield-Wright for her acceptance at McGill
University. This was her top choice and the only
college she applied to.
Our
best wishes are with Maureen Moore who is home and
recovering from emergency surgery.
Rick
Kmetz is on Star Island. He has the job Yankee
Magazine once rated the Number One Summer Job. He
will be working as a lifeguard and dock hand this
spring and summer, and possibly the fall, as well.
(Please
help keep the community informed of significant
events affecting our members. If you have any
information you would like included in Wheel of Life
please speak to Diane Dix.)
Seder
at All Souls
Sunday,
April 4, 5:00 p.m.
Because of the numbers already signed up, the Seder
has been moved back to the church parish hall as in
previous years. It is important to RSVP with Jon
Rehmus if you plan on attending! Michael Hoberman
will be leading the dinner with Jon, and along with
bringing a dish to share, please offer $5-10 per
family to help defray other expenses.
Pioneer
Valley UU
Young Adult (ages 18 — 35) Potluck
on
April 17th at
6 p.m. in Montague Center. Come meet young adults
from other churches including young adults from All
Souls. We’re hoping to meet more young adults and
maybe start some regular socializing. Children
welcome. Contact Annie at winklerar@yahoo.com to
RSVP and for directions. Contact Ellen at 222-4241
if you’d like to carpool from Northampton.
Youth,
Young Adult Film Series
Sunday,
April 4. Please join us after church for a fun
afternoon. Bring a beverage to share and suggestions
for the future movies. Lunch will be provided. Call
Martha Elliott (774-5601) for more information.
Showing
of "Race Matters" Documentary
The White Privilege Discussion Group will be meeting
at 5:30 p.m. at the church on Thursday, April 8, for
a viewing of "Race Matters" (a PBS
documentary on the many meanings of race for members
of different racial groups in the U.S.) Please bring
you own bag dinner.
We
will also be meeting on Thursday, April 22, at 6 PM.
Contact Angel Russek, Molly Chambers or Gloria Bean
for details.
Jubilee
Workshop Follow-Up
We
will meet and report on the work of the sub-groups
formed from the Jubilee Workshop at 6:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 20, at the church.
Sunday
Morning Discussion Group:
Jesus
in His Proper Jewish and Roman Context
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. in the Minister’s Study
A response to Mel! Join discussion leaders Dan Tinen
and Jon Rehmus for weekly adult discussion. This
spring we will be reading and discussing the
wonderful written collaboration of a Biblical
archaeologist and a Biblical text scholar,
Excavating Jesus, by John Dominic Crossan and
Jonathan Reed. Newcomers welcome!
Connect
– Commune – Pray
Wednesdays,
April 7 & 21; 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Meets in the Minister’s Study
Join minister Jon Rehmus and a small group of All
Souls community members for a brief period of
reflection, sharing, and prayer every other week. We
meet in the minister’s study, and all are welcome
without regard to religious belief. One need only
bring an open heart! If you don’t wish to attend,
but have someone in mind – perhaps yourself –
for whom prayers are desired, feel free to call or
approach Jon in this regard.
Membership
Committee Meeting Wednesday, April 7, 6:30 p.m.
Tag
Sale May 8 — Help Wanted!
Before
we know it, the May 8 tag sale will be here. If you
have items to donate that are not too big, they can
be left in the space next to the coat rack to the
right of the front door. A week or two before,
things can also be left behind the bulletin board at
the Hope St. entrance. Anyone who can help on
Friday, May 7, or on Saturday, May 8, even for an
hour, is asked to see Irmarie Jones to volunteer.
Two or three strong individuals are needed first
thing Friday to help set up.
Mid-Week
Music Returns! It Must Be Spring!
Wednesdays,
12:15 — 12:45 p.m. Free of charge, but donations
in support of this program are gratefully accepted.
April
7 - Broque — Gideon Freudman, cello, and Mark
Herschler, guitar
April 14 - Gene Clark, piano, and Dick Hurlburt,
clarinet and tenor saxophone
April 21 - Melinda Forrest, vocals, and Judith
Williams, piano
April 28 - Four Seasons Chamber Ensemble, conducted
by Robin Stone
Fifth
Friday Family Fun Night
We're doing it again on April 30th from 6 - 8 PM.
Come join the fun! Please bring a simple snack or
dessert to share and a favorite game to play. This
will be an opportunity to meet with the fine Youth
of the CBD/YRUU as they arrive for the Con which All
Souls is hosting that weekend.
Missing:
Does anyone know what has happened to the convenient
two-step wooden stool that used to be in the
kitchen? Let Diane Dix know. Also, we used to have
about 15 dish towels in the kitchen. There are none
now. Where are they?
Kitchen
Clean Up
See
Irmarie Jones if you might be able to help with
kitchen clean-up sometime in May. Projects include
clean out the refrigerator, organizing the
cupboards, cleaning the ovens, etc. A couple of
people have already said they will volunteer, but it
takes six to eight.
A
Reminder About Pledges from
the Finance Committee
The
Finance Committee is reminding everyone that we are
almost 3/4ths of the way through Fiscal Year '04 and
so people should have paid about 3/4ths of their
pledged amount. We really need the money to operate
and ask that outstanding pledges be paid as soon as
possible. Thank you to those people who have paid in
advance and to those who have are up to date (paid
nearly 3/4ths).
– Rocky Perham
Holocaust
Remembrance Service
Sunday,
April 18; 7:00 p.m.
Temple Israel (27 Pierce St.) in Greenfield
As part of our ongoing worship and study theme
focused on Judaism, I invite the All Souls community
for this interfaith memorial to the victims of the
Holocaust. There will be a special emphasis on youth
this year and on the seeds of hatred and violence
that still grow and need to be rooted out in our
society. Call me with questions: Jon Rehmus
As
the End of the Year
Approaches….
As
the sun warms our hearts and our gardens, as we take
to bike rides and walks, time slips away. The church
year always seems to end in a rush! Thus, please
take the time now to note some important upcoming
events in May and June:
New
Member Orientations and Sunday: May 23 & 30;
June 6
Join
All Souls! New member orientation breakfasts occur
before services the last two Sundays in May, and the
New Member Sunday service is the next week. Contact
Jon Rehmus (624-3025) or Susan Fentin (369-0001) if
you are interested in joining.
Worship
Committee Planning Session: May 16
New
members are welcome to this meeting where we
critique this past year’s services and plan for
2004-05. We will meet over lunch (provided) after
church.
2004-05
Calendar Meeting: May 23
A
brief, coffee-hour check-in for all committee
chairs, program organizers, and church
officers/staff: bring plans & dates already set
for next year along with percolating ideas. That way
we can start looking ahead in a coordinated way!
Church
Picnic and Annual Membership Meeting: June 19 &
21
The
spacing of June Sundays and Father’s Day
considerations combined to move the picnic to
Saturday this year; the Annual Meeting is held the
following Monday evening. Stay tuned for details!
Annual
Reports Due in Early June
Please
remember we like to have the Annual Reports
completed the week-end before Annual Meeting so
people have time to read them before the meeting. I
would be appreciated if all reports can be given to
Diane Dix by June so there is time to edit, copy and
collate.
(Top
of Page)
|
