-
JANUARY 2017
The First
Universalist
Church of
Essex
"Humankind is our Business"
Despite all of the rush and busyness
around the celebration of Christmas
(and Solstice and Hanukkah), I deeply
enjoy our own liturgical lead up with a
few Advent meditation evenings,
culminating in our amazing Christmas
Eve service/celebration. So much goes
into that 1 hour together as the
evening descends by about 4:30 and
we become the light in the darkness as
the church attendance swells
beginning about 4pm. Brilliantly,
Betsy decided a few years back for the
choir to end practice by 4:30 so that
we can all welcome attendees and
center ourselves a bit before the actual
service begins.
As facilitator/minister of the service, it
is not always easy to fully appreciate
the ritual, as I must be concerned
about making sure each part flows and
we don't skip something special.
Nevertheless, as the years have gone
on, I've more and more immersed
myself in each rich element, whether
words or music or hymn singing, etc.
Indeed, it is a very special, as one
person said "transcendent,"
experience. Most especially I want to
thank Betsy Vicksell and Fran Pierce
for extraordinary coordination of al,
the music pieces. This year well over
200 participants got to experience this
special night. I hope many of you had
this opportunity.
For my
last
message
at
Christmas,
I returned
to an old
standby:
Dickens
and
Scrooge.
This year I
focused
on
Scrooge's experience with the "Ghost
of Christmas Present," the jolly giant
of a ghost, who reminded Scrooge of
his partner, Marley's admonition in his
ghostly appearance that "mankind"
(humankind) should have been their
"business" not greed. And in
attempting to bring this tale up to
date, I mentioned not only "jails" and
"workhouses," but also detention
centers and deportation centers. As
we go through a major transition this
January in this country with a new
Administration, there is deep concern
that immigrants and refugees will be
in danger of deportation. This, of
course, is not the only concern, given
the rhetoric of our new leadership, as
LGBTQ folks are also concerned, as
are Jews and Blacks and Muslims and
the poor. However this turns out,
though, I wanted to remind us all of
this amazing message from Dickens
that "mankind is our business," and
that as people of a deep faith drawing
on so many ancient faith perspectives,
we, as a community, are called to
stand with those most vulnerable in
our society and world. And I pray, that
as Scrooge went through a
transformation thanks to his dreams
and ghostly wisdom, our leaders will
also return to the early vision of our
republic that we are a refuge for all in
need.
God Bless us All, Art
THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF ESSEX- JANUARY 2017
UU
ESSEX
EVENTS
Tues. Jan. 3
PFLAG 7pm
Thurs. Jan. 5 ECCO
7pm
Sun. Jan. 8
Choir 9am
" " " "
Group 5pm
Fri. Jan. 13
Night 6pm
Youth
Family Game
Sat. Jan. 14 Spiritual
Parenting 4:30 pm
Sun. Jan. 15 Choir 9am
Mon. Jan. 16 Annual Dr.
King March 9:30am
Thurs. Jan. 19 ECCO 7pm
Sat. Jan. 21
One World
Coffee House 8pm
Sun. Jan. 22 Family
Promise week
" " ' "
Youth
Group 5pm
Wed. Jan. 25 Board of
Trustees 6:15pm
Sun. Jan 29
Choir 9am
"
" "
Congregatio
nal Mtg. 11:30pm
'
'
"
Family
Promise - week #2
The annual
MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR MARCH and
SERVICE will take
place at the
Rockport UU church
on Monday,
January 16th,
starting at 9:30am.
Family Promise has asked the Essex Congregational Church and our
church if we could host the families for the last two weeks in
January, since other churches have difficulties with these two weeks. So
we will be hosting and cooking on Tuesday, January 24, Wednesday,
January 25, Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1. If you
have had the training to be a host with Family Promise, please sign up for
one of these dates. Of course, no training is required to cook, so please
watch for the signup sheets to help provide meals. We will announce and
post them in church. Because of this double duty in January, we will not be
asked to host again until September this year. Many thanks to all who help
with this worthy cause.
Becky Axelrod and Debbie Frontierro
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THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF ESSEX- JANUARY 2017
Cold Chocolate at One World Coffeehouse: Jan. 21, 8 pm, $15
The bluegrass fusion band Cold Chocolate from Boston uses guitar, upright bass, percussion and
three-part harmony to fuse bluegrass and roots with a dash of funk.
This will be the band's first appearance at One World Coffeehouse. In their honor, a variety of
chocolate bars, cookies and cake will be available for purchase, along with the usual fare of goodies,
teas and coffee. For information and reservations: 978-768-3690; uuessex.org/oneworld.
MINISTER's DISCRETIONARY FUND
Many thanks to the many folks who've contributed to the discretionary fund for those in need. Art has
received about $1600 since Sarah announced the need to replenish the fund a few weeks back. In going over
my records, the fund has given away over $7000 in the past 5 years. THANKS to all. Art
.
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THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF ESSEX- JANUARY 2017
CARE & HOSPITALITY
CHRISTMAS TREE SALES
Please sign up for DINNER
CIRCLES; dates and hosts are on
a scorecard in the church foyer.
The sale of Christmas trees
amounted to about $550 as we
sold 12/13 trees, thanks to the
GENEROUS DONATION of
Eunice Dock and family. And
thanks to the great team that
collected the trees: Tudy, Dave,
Neil, Tim and Art, under the great
guidance of Wild Bill Vachon, who
was on the disabled list this year.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Many thanks to Lyn Towne-Smith
for a spectacular job in keeping
the children's program operating
without a glitch during Allison's
maternity leave. We are looking
forward to Allison's return on
Sunday, January 8th.
SPIRITUAL PARENTING
Join us on January 14 for our
annual New Year's visioning
activity for the whole family.
Along with the kids, we'll talk
about our accomplishments from
2016 and make vision collage
boards to reflect our intentions
for the year ahead. If you have old
magazines, please bring them
along! A potluck meal will follow.
YOUTH GROUP meets on two
Sundays at 5pm, January 8 & 22.
Talk with Sean Moynihan or Lois
Bairstow.
Although we are a bit late this
year, PLEDGE FORMS went out
in the mail and in e-mail form.
Please take the time to fill them
out so as the Board has a good
sense of this year's resources. See
Treasurer Tom Duff if you have
questions.
MINISTERIAL
TRANSITION
On January 29th we will have a
congregational meeting after
church. With an update on
finances by the board and an
update by the Transitional
Committee – they will be
arranging small group meetings
to discuss the future needs of the
ministry. In preparation for our
change – it is the opportunity to
discover more about who we are.
We will also be planning a retreat
in March that will focus around
reflecting and defining who we
are.
4
Don't miss
FAMILY GAME NIGHT
on Friday,
January 13, at 6pm.
Thanks to LOIS SIMMONDS and
team for
bringing the
lovely
Poinsettias for
Christmas and
to those who donated in memory
or honor of loved ones.
SOCIAL JUSTICE &
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
ECCO has two major meetings
coming up in January, the 5th &
the 19th. Both meetings are at St.
Stephen's in Lynn, the first on
BELOVED COMMUNITY (Black
Lives Matter, prison reform and
policing issues) and the second on
Immigration issues. Among other
things ECCO will be advising
towns and congregations about
the declaration of Sanctuary as a
way to stand in solidarity with
immigrants, many of whom are
ECCO members. Speak with
DEBBIE FRONTIERRO if you have
questions.
PFLAG meets on January 3 at
7pm.
Thanks to Deedee Schiano for
organizing around toiletries
donations for GRACE CENTER.
And thanks to our ongoing
volunteers at GRACE Center,
Becky, Carol, Robin, Diana, and
all who help with lunch on the 5th
Fridays.