211 Bridge Street, Salem, Massachusetts
Worship and Religious Education is 10:45 AM
Nursery is available for babies and toddlers.
To Download the January/February 2012 newsletter PDF
Address of the email page: http://www.salemuu.org/newsletter.html
The End of a Journey or Just the Beginning...
Happy New Year!!!
I hope that your holidays were wonderful and that you have your New Year resolutions in hand. I am not sure about you but I find it interesting that our forbearers decided that every year on December 31st that we should mark both an ending and a new beginning all within a twenty-four hour span of time. We think of this yearly ritual as a "turning of the wheel of the seasons" and it gives us a level of continuity to our year. The honest truth is that I have kind of taken the calendar for granted my whole life. It has just done its thing, counting the passing days and helping me keep track of future commitments. However, there is a clear and certain history and purpose to calendars and it is explained that, "The earliest calendars must have been strongly influenced by the geographical location of the people who made them. In colder countries, the concept of the year was determined by the seasons, specifically by the end of winter. But in warmer countries, where the seasons are less pronounced, the Moon became the basic unit for time reckoning; an old Jewish book says that "the Moon was created for the counting of the days." http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0002061.html#ixzz1jFkhrTW1
The oldest calendars were lunar in nature and they eventually fell out of use. The Egyptian and the Roman (aka Julian) calendars were discarded with the advent of the Gregorian calendar in 1582. I have to admit that I have been thinking a lot about calendars and specifically, and more recently, the Maya calendar, which is the longest running calendar bar none. Authorities disagree about the date that the first Mayan "long year" began. Here are some of the guesses:
13.0.0.0.0 = 8 Sep 3114 BCE (Julian) = 13 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian)
13.0.0.0.0 = 6 Sep 3114 BCE (Julian) = 11 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian)
13.0.0.0.0 = 11 Nov 3374 BCE (Julian) = 15 Oct 3374 BCE (Gregorian)
Those same authorities are a bit uncertain about when the Mayan long calendar will end. Some predict on December 21, 2012 while others believe it to be December 23, 2012. The Mayans who had an amazing level of accuracy with regard to their mathematics and calendar, in spite of being an ancient civilization, believed that this date of 13.0.0.0.0 was the beginning of the world. It is extrapolated by many that on the end date of the long calendar we can expect the end of the world. I always like to add to the end of that statement, "The end of the world as we know it." An article in USA Today explains some of the predictions for the end of the Maya long year calendar, Journalist Lawrence Joseph forecasts widespread catastrophe in Apocalypse 2012: A Scientific Investigation Into Civilization's End. Spiritual healer Andrew Smith predicts a restoration of a "true balance between Divine Feminine and Masculine" in The Revolution of 2012: Vol. 1, The Preparation. In 2012, Daniel Pinchbeck anticipates a "change in the nature of consciousness," assisted by indigenous insights and psychedelic drug use."
The truth is, that in spite of our best efforts, we do not know what the future will bring even if we plan like crazy and stick to the plan. What is true about every calendar is that they, including the Farmers Almanac, do not help us to predict our future so much as they are a reminder that there are days, weeks, and appointments to keep ahead of us. I wonder if the Mayan’s believed and hoped, as we do at the end of and beginning of a New Year, that this time is one where we mark and review and to look back over the generations and then try to imagine how we can make the future different, maybe even transformative. Outside circumstances, such as climate change or a diagnosis, can nudge us towards transformation, however, the actual decision and motivation comes from within us. My friends we can be passengers on the journey to transformation or we can be adventurers as we travel into our future.
This idea of being adventurers of our own destiny is particularly poignant at the beginning of this New Year because we are beginning the process of reimagining the future of First Universalist. We all know that our resources are limited and in some ways our future is uncertain, however, I call to you to have faith and to get excited about the possibilities and engaged in the process because it is from within that transform will arise. I am excited about the possibilities that will unfold over the next several years and I believe in the leaders of First Universalist and I believe in you, the members and friends of First Universalist. We can do whatever it is that we put our minds, hearts, and spirits into!
Let us be courageous adventurers as we begin again in love.
In loving and faithful service,
Rev. Marjorie Matty
Change, however wonderful at times, can be challenging and scary. And, needless to say, we as a congregation are going through a change. The wonderful part about being a church like ours, where we make the decisions for our own congregation rather than relying on a hierarchal source to do it for us is that we can own our future.
These are not decisions to be made by the Board you've elected. We can help plan process (and we are always open to other ideas), but these plans will be made by all of us. We hope all will be involved in the meetings and sessions ahead.
The Board has asked Beth Toolan to lead us through some of this process. We chose Beth for many reasons. Beth Toolan has extensive experience leading organizations through change. Beth has a master's degree from Northeastern University in Leadership and is currently an adjunct professor there in the Professional Studies department. In addition, she is the Executive Director of the Waltham Partnership for Youth. She has been a Unitarian Universalist for nineteen years, and has served in two churches in various capacities, including Canvass chair, Board President (in Wakefield), and is now our church's head deacon. We felt that her knowledge and sensitivity would serve us well as we begin this process.
So we have decisions to make, but while we make those decisions we keep doing the work and play we always do. We minister to one another. We continue to plan fun times and worshipful times. We think about serving our community and saving the world, and we take action to do both. Whatever choices we may make for our congregation's future, we are a strong and joyful community.
As we head into spring, we start our planning for next year. We'd like to remind committees to get their budget requests for next year into the board (through your Board oversight representative) by February 1, and to also begin assessing how their strategic plan goals are going.
As we do our work, I'd like to share this quote from Starhawk:
Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.
Kathryn Baptista
Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
Our three prong strategy for coming to a decision regarding the future of our community starts in full force these next couple of months.
Tuesday, January 10th
Brenda Brianna, Thomas Costagliola, Helen Jacoby, Brendan O'Brine, Mark Stevens, Beth Toolan and Chris Weis met and brainstormed financial options. They, along with other interested members, will investigate the implication of these options. They will continue to meet throughout the winter and early spring. As their results come in, they'll be able to share more about their findings. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact Chris Weis or Brendan O'Brine.
Saturday, January 14th
The deacons and the board of trustees will meet with Jim Sherbloom who will share his expertise and experience in leading the Brookline UU congregation through change. He will also preach on Sunday the 15th and be available for a Q&A session after service.
Sunday, January 29th
How are you feeling? Are you in a place of worry or concern? A congregational "check-in" will be held after service. Lunch will be provided and childcare will be available. We invite you to bring it all and share as a congregation.
Sunday, February 26th
The Appreciative Inquiry process for managing change will start after service. Lunch will be provided and childcare will be available. We hope most of our congregation will be able to attend this session or the one to be held in the evening of March 13th.
This past October, the First Universalist Society of Salem welcomed four new members to our congregation:
Jaime Hoover & Maureen Olson
Emilia "Mia" Poppe Mountain
Carol Reilly
We're happy to have them in our community. Please say hello when you see them around the church.
From Helen Jacoby, Music Committee
It is that time of year again! Our Music Sunday service will be on February 26th.
We are looking for those interested in taking part in this service either by playing, singing or doing one of the readings for the service.
If you would like to take part please let Lynn Taggert from First Church or Helen Jacoby / Brenda Brianna from First Universalist know by January 29th.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF
DEVELOPING A SPIRITUAL
LIFE.
Join Jeff Barz-Snell and Marjorie Matty for a wintertime adult spiritual experience as we discuss the "why's" and "how's" of developing an intentional devotional practice that becomes a part of one's daily / weekly routine.
Text: A Sacred Primer: The Essential Guide to Quiet Time and Prayer, by Elizabeth Harper Neeld, Ph.D., Renaissance Books,1999. Available at Amazon.
Chapters are no more than 8-12 pages and can be read in less than half an hour. Even so, this is a "guilt free" program. All interested participants are encouraged to attend regardless of whether or not they have completed the reading.
Most classes will be 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Library at First Universalist. The room for the February 15th class is TBA.
Program Schedule:
Tues, January 17
Introduction
Chpt 1: Remembering Sacred Moments
Chpt 2: Encouraging a Spiritual Attitude
Tues, January 31
Chpt 3: Experiencing the Sacred
Chpt 4: Choosing to Commit to a Spiritual Practice
Wed, February 15
Chpt 5: Creating the Space & Making the Time
Chpt 6: Describing a Spiritual Practice
Tues, February 28
Chpt 7: Coming to Stillness
Chpt 10: Living an Aligned Life
(Copies of the reading for the first two meetings will be available at the First Church and at the First Universalist Society in the back of the Sanctuary. Copies can also be emailed as a PDF file upon request.)
From Marlyn Miller
Director of Religious Education
Belmont Youth Con, February 3-5
See Marlyn for details.
Winter Term Begins, Sunday, February 5
Chocolate Communion And Valentine's Activities, Sunday, February 12
Teachers And Assistants Needed!!!!
Winter term is almost upon us. We are looking for the following volunteers: A teacher for the 4th to 5th grade class (they will be doing bible stories), a teacher for the 3-4 year olds (they will be doing a curriculum based on UU principles of stories and games). We also needs assistants for all classes: K-1 is doing a Seuss curriculum, 2-3 Creation stories, and 6-8 a social justice curriculum. Please remember that ours is a cooperative program that relies on all parents to contribute. Besides, it's fun! The term runs for six teaching weeks, plus two event-based Sundays (February 5 to March 25). Please see Marlyn for further details.
You may have noticed the little "a" under the slideshow on the main page of our website. It is a fundraising link for First Universalist though Amazon. If you utilize the Amazon.com link found here (http://www.salemuu.org/page2_amazon.html) to make your purchases, it will help First Universalist earn income to help sustain this community of hope and love.
This is only one more way to know that your dollars support the beliefs that you hold, the work that we do, and the change that we endeavor to create in the world. Thank you for your consideration as you shop at Amazon.com
We have decided that we will use Facebook as our primary social networking site. Please join the fun on our Facebook group. If you are interested in being a part of the new group "Mind, Body Spirit", please let Rev. Matty know. This group will focus on trying to achieve balance in the new year.
Once again a large crowd gathered at Dead Horse Beach in Salem to start a new year with a dip in the icy cold ocean. The 3rd Annual Freeze Your Tush Off for charity ocean dip took place under a beautiful blue sky and in a 36 degree ocean. Approximately 85 dippers ran into the water just after 1PM on New Year's Day to raise money for the Salem Pantry located at 211 Bridge Street in Salem. These brave souls were encouraged by nearly 200 spectators who remained dry watching from the beach. Mayor Kim Driscoll provided a send off to the group and Rev. Marjorie Matty , minister of the First Universalist Society of Salem, offered a "Blessing of the Frozen Feet."
The Annual Dip was founded by Becky Christie, a Salem resident, in 2010. Christie and friends have done the ocean dip since 2000 and it became an official fundraiser on 1/1/10 by proclamation from Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. The annual event is supported by B&S Event Management, headed by Ashley Steeves.
Since its inception the dip has raised close to $10,000 for the Pantry. Almost $3200 (almost $5000 as of January 15th) has been collected so far from this year's event. Rep John Kennan was a participant in the swim as was President of Lynn City Council, Tim Phelan and his girls soccer team. Bill Legault, Fitness Director of the Salem Y and Deb Barrowclough, Fitness Director of the Danvers Y also led a contingent into the icy water. B&S Fitness was once again well-represented by Brandi and Steve Dion and their large group of dippers.
Christie has a personal reason for doing the ocean dip each year. The very first time she dipped in January, she was with her good friend and Salemite, Elizabeth Bookholz. After Elizabeth's untimely passing in 1999, Christie vowed to swim every year to keep her friend's memory alive. At the 10 year mark in 2010, she decided to have the ocean dip benefit others which is fitting of Bookholz's own personality. "She was a giving, loving, caring person" Christie says of her departed friend. "And she would still think this is just crazy!"
Photos can be sent to Christie at her Facebook page. The website address is www.freezeyourtushoff.org and it will be updated with photos and news coverage of the 2012 event. Donations can be made to the Pantry from the website.