UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF CASTINE FEBRUARY 2015 The COMMON Weeda Rocks the Palace! From symphonies to shortbread, David Weeda hits a high note CALENDAR Pulpit Feb. 1 Rev. Charles J. Stephens
Feb. 8 Dr. Lynn Parsons
Feb. 15 Rev. Albert Boyce
Feb. 22 Rev. Charles J. Stephens
Events Feb. 15 Pot luck Luncheon
Feb. 19 Board mee ng David Weeda, here tricked If you’ve not thought of the out in Sco sh garb, a er a brief bag pipe as an orchestral summer rain. . . piping on the instrument, you missed David’s beach at The Colony in Hulls guest turn last year with the Cove, on Mount Desert Island. Bangor Symphony, which led to Thanks to Don G. Powell for this his invita on to play with the magical photograph! Albany Symphony. See page 2
SEARCH ON SCHEDULE ANNE PARSONS Your Ministerial Search Commi ee during congrega on. Those applicants January received and reviewed several then par cipated in a Skype on-line applica ons and informa on interview (voice and video via packets. In this ini al review, we the Internet) with the full narrowed the field to those applicants commi ee to help further focus who appeared most likely to match our on those who best matched our needs and a ributes, as set forth by the needs. see page 4
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PIPING THE SYMPHONY David Weeda Last month I was thrilled to play the 2.5 minute Highland Pipe part in Peter Maxwell Davies' "An Orkney Wedding, With Sunrise!," with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, no less. The composer's direc ve is for the piper--represen ng IMAGINE ..... the rising sun--to march, playing, into the concert hall and down the aisle to join the orchestra on- stage--a triumphant and drama c finish to his joy- ..... there's no heaven filled tone poem depic ng the celebra on and It's easy if you try revelry of the (apparently thirsty) crowd a ending No hell below us a wedding in Scotland's Orkney Islands. Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one The concert was presented on Saturday, I hope someday you'll join us January 17, at Albany's historic and beau ful And the world will be as one Palace Theatre. I was proud to be on the program with Colin Currie, an amazing percussionist from Imagine no possessions Scotland who joined the orchestra to play Julia I wonder if you can Wolfe's rISE and fLY concerto, wri en especially No need for greed or hunger for Currie and influenced by the rhythm of live A brotherhood of man street musicians in New York City. Hearing and Imagine all the people seeing his rehearsal was AMAZING, and Sharing all the world... overflowing with exuberant fun for the en re orchestra! Julia Wolfe a ended rehearsal and was You may say I'm a dreamer an honored guest at the concert itself. The Albany But I'm not the only one Symphony Orchestra rounded out the program I hope someday you'll join us with a performance of Mendelssohn's "Sco sh" And the world will live as one. Symphony. When I read a bit of the history of the Palace Theatre, I was happy to learn that Melissa Brought to you by your organist & choir director, Etheridge has performed there, as she and I were GENA high school friends back in Leavenworth, Kansas! . . .now we've both "played the Palace!" See page 7 for more David Weeda news!
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CHARLES’ COGITATIONS We can lament that we don’t live in a more mul cultural or mul racial community but there is absolutely nothing Learning more about African American preven ng us from delving into the history is important for Americans in mul cultural and mul racial history and general, but especially for people here in culture that literally lies at our finger ps. Maine. Our state has a very low popula on Let us be among those who openly and of African Americans; in fact, we are the honestly face our country’s history and, whitest state in the Union. Combine that learning from that history, work together with the reality that African Americans to create greater apprecia on of all now comprise 13 percent of the U.S. people. popula on. Furthermore, studies show Rev. Charles J. Stephens that today nearly 50 percent of Americans under 18 are minori es and by 2042 nonwhites will be in the overall majority.
It is quite disturbing that in a 2012 poll, 51 percent of Americans expressed an - black sen ments. It is even more startling that the rate of such sen ments had increased by 3 percent since 2008. We know that living in denial of the reality of race rela ons will con nue to cause things to fester and worsen. The people of our country need to learn to appreciate the Pulpit Preview value of persons of other races and to Feb. 1 “Compassion for Yourself” learn how to cooperate to ensure that our Sixth in Compassion Sermon Series. children and grandchildren learn to treat When you hear the Golden Rule, how o en one another as equals do you focus on the second half? And how would a friend or neighbor feel if Our White History and our Black you talked to him or her like you talk History challenge us with the images of to yourself when you forget something or racism that dominated our country in the make a mistake? 1700’s, the 1800’s, the 1900’s. Knowing and understanding the many facets of our Feb. 8 Minister’s Sunday off. American history can help us create a more UUCC President Lynn Parsons will speak. whole and unified America. Being ignorant of our fellow American threatens our Feb. 15 Minister off for a week of vaca on future. (10-16). The Rev. Al Boyce will speak. I challenge us all to learn more about the history of Black Americans during Feb. 22 “How Abraham Lincoln’s February--Black History Month. Pick up a Melancholy/Depression Helped Make Him book about African American history. Read a Great President.” Lincoln was one of our biographies about African Americans. Read greatest presidents and yet his mood novels and books of poetry by African swings and emo onal breakdowns would Americans. have made it impossible for him to be elected president today.
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FRANK GLAZER Membership at the Unitarian Universalist Congrega on of Cas ne
If you have been a ending UUCC and might be thinking about signing our membership book, I invite you to talk with me at church or give me a call or email me minister@uucas ne.org The normal process of formally joining our congrega on is for a person to contact me indica ng interest. Then we make an appointment so that we can talk about membership and I can address any ques ons you might have. Know that the Unitarian Universalist Congrega on of Cas ne welcomes all those who iden fy with our principles and purposes to join us in our quest to create a caring welcoming liberal religious congrega on.
******************** Renowned pianist and ar st in residence at Bates College, Frank Glazer died on January 13, Ministerial Search, from page 1 one month short of his 100th birthday. Glazer was among the great pianists of our me. Had he been During late February and early March, Japanese, he would have been a Na onal the pre-candidates will meet in person with Treasure. the commi ee at neutral sites so the Trained by Artur Schnabel and Arnold commi ee can get to know them and their Schoenberg in Berlin, Glazer as a young pianist qualifica ons even be er, and so the connected with some of the biggest names in candidates can learn more about us. music. In addi on to Schoenberg, Kurt Weill a ended Glazer's Town Hall debut recital in New The agreed-upon candidate will be York. He played Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 with invited to visit Cas ne in late April or early the Boston Symphony under conductor Serge May, to preach from our pulpit on two Koussevitzky. From 1965 - 1980 he taught at the Sundays. There will be ample Eastman School of Music and ever since he had opportuni es provided for members and been at Bates. friends to get to know the candidate and for the candidate to get to know us. In concert venues around the world, Glazer earned superla ves from cri cs and audiences Following the visit, members will vote alike--”formidable, phenomenal, dis nguished, on whether to call the candidate to be our elegant, a master musician and virtuoso.” se led minister. If approved, our new For his Mee ng House appearance here in minister would begin serving in August or Cas ne in August 2011, Glazer played a wonderful September. assortment of works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt. For all who were there, it truly was a memorable evening.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 21st Century Faith Forma on Workshop Saturday, March 21 10 AM--3 PM First Universalist Church, Rockland
Given the small size of our district, it is rare to have religious educa on workshops within the state of Maine, let alone north of Portland. The Midcoast Cluster DRE Group has worked hard to bring a religious educa on workshop to Rockland. This workshop is structured for teams of people from each church who want to see their religious educa on programs grow in response to 21st In December, Samantha Revell, daughter of century reali es. The team should include the Colin Powell and Emma Sweet, began as our Director of Religious Educa on or religious Religious Educa on Aide. A student at George educator and minister and at least one or two (or Stevens Academy, “Sam”will be working with our more) other people from the church. youngest children. When she is able, she will read a story and provide an ac vity. During February, “Faith Forma on.” What does that mean? stories and ac vi es will focus on our world of • This is just the 21st century term for animals and taking care of our earth. religious educa on.
For our older group, we will explore the lives of What will you gain from this workshop? people from all over the world who are models of • “Par cipants will gain clarity around roles our Seven Principles. Through this explora on, we and responsibili es, recognize the gi s and will brainstorm ways we might help our church, priori es of your par cular congrega on, our community, even our world become a be er and learn how to plan and assess place. In addi on, we will con nue to help with innova ve approaches to religious the monthly church potlucks. educa on and faith forma on for all ages. Par cipants will also learn how they can Religious Educa on needs: remain connected to colleagues in sibling congrega ons throughout the year to • Names of several high school students I manifest our interdependence by sharing could contact about subbing for Sam support, ideas, and resources.” when she is unable to be at church. Since one of the goals of our church is to a ract • Adults who would join the RE Commi ee to families and keep our children par cipa ng in explore new ideas for Cas ne’s Religious church, I hope we will have a team of folks who Educa on Program. will join me on the 21st in Rockland. Without a team from Cas ne, I will be asked to work with a • Adults to a end a workshop on religious team from another church. Let me know if you educa on. (See below.) are interested or have any further ques ons. The registra on deadline is March 11.
Kay Hansen, Religious Educator
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JUBILEE agriculture in Israel, but what if they were part of Western socie es and applied to all work? The following ar cle by Michael Lerner is adapted from Tikkun Magazine, winter 2015. Ed. Sabba cal Year and Jubilee Now imagine that every fi y years the wealth in 21st Century America of individuals and na ons is redistributed to ensure that everyone has a roughly equal share.This is what it means to have a Jubilee. This is a thought experiment, meant to open space for thinking afresh about our world. By envisioning what it would be like to implement the Given this knowledge, would you feel less periodic Sabba cal Year and Jubilee called for in mo vated to create, produce, and innovate, even the Torah’s laws on debt, we can experience the if your work encourages your crea vity and serves true tension between the way the world is and the common good? Answer for yourself, not how it should be. according to what you think others would do.
Imagine that every seventh year, most Our current society plays to our smallest, most workplaces are closed so that nearly everyone in fearful, and pe est selves. It appeals to our fear your society has a year of freedom and the earth that there is not enough and urges us to hoard itself is given a year to regenerate. This is the resources--money, food, land, and more. In our Sabba cal Year of the Torah. During this year your current system, some of these fears are well basic needs for food and shelter will be founded: a few have way more than they need, adequately met. How will you spend your me while many have not enough. To protect and energy? What are you currently not able to themselves, the few on top create systems and par cipate in because you don’t have the me? structures that perpetuate inequali es.
What if we created a world based not on our fears but instead on the desires of our highest, idealized selves? What if we forgave all debts every seven years and redistributed wealth every fi y years? Would not these prac ces play to our most generous, loving, and compassionate selves, rather than to our most fearful selves? Now imagine that all debts are forgiven every seven years. Will you avoid paying an outstanding This vision no doubt is wholly unrealis c and debt before the end of seven years? Or do you fraught with problems. But even if we never see a feel a commitment to pay back your loans and live Sabba cal Year or a fi ieth-year Jubilee, is it not with integrity? Do you feel differently about worthwhile to imagine such a break from toil and different kinds of debt? acquisi on, hoarding and inequality? When we allow ourselves to think through what we would be willing to give up to have every seventh year As it happens, we are in the middle of a off, we are one step closer to living in the joyous Sabba cal Year, according to Orthodox Jews who simplicity that is necessary to save the earth from have kept track for the past 2,000+ years. being further ravaged by excessive consump on. Currently, Sabba cal prac ces apply only to
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SHORTBREAD! MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Did you sample David Weeda’s shortbread during coffee hour in January? Typical response: Lynn Parsons, President “Wow, David, you ought to be selling these!” Gil Tenney, Vice President Actually, he already had thought of that, and Diana Bernard, Treasurer plans are taking shape. Let David tell it: Anne Romans, Clerk “My shortbread baking venture is coming Tom Mason together, but won't be officially "up and running," Leslie Fairbank un l Spring, but then I expect to be be on shelves Colin Powell, Alternate in Maine retail stores and available for order and delivery through the website and US Postal The Governing Board meets in the Parish House at Service. Plus, I am VERY willing to bake 8:30 am on the third Thursday of each month. shortbread for my "friends" who call and order Observers always are welcome. and schedule delivery of 4-dozen bulk-packaged "David's Shortbread" -- Baked With Love By The Hands Of A Highland Piper In Downeast Maine! THE COMMON
“I'm pu ng together all the business The Common is published monthly and distributed requirements for licensing, etc, and working on in both electronic and photocopy forms. All packaging, label design, and marke ng. Any sales members and friends are invited to submit items to friends right now will help get me through this for considera on. Send submissions or comments start-up phase (helping to pay the winter to editor Kent Price at [email protected]. mortgage, propane bill, snow-plowing bill, etc.) Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding And of course, I give a 10 percent discount to UU's publica on. who want to have a visit to Williams Pond Lodge Bed & Breakfast -- where they will find a n of CONTACT US David's Shortbread wai ng in their guest room when they check-in!” The Rev. Charles J. Stephens minister@uucas ne.org ******************** 326-9083 (Mee ng House) Pledge yet? 609-947-5564 (home) What with snow and other du es calling for a en on, responding to our call for commi ng to Lynn Parsons, President pledge financial support to the congrega on may [email protected] not have topped your to-do list in January. Yet 326-9790 many people indeed have pledged for 2015, and it’s vital to our church community that we at least Kay Hansen, Rel. Educa on come close to full par cipa on. We can’t keep the [email protected] heat and lights on without your contribu ons, let 667-9421 alone pay our staff and play our part in the larger community. If you have not pledged yet, please Becky St. John, Office Administrator do so soon and put it in the collec on plate (in an office@uucas ne.org envelope marked “pledge”) or mail to Becky St. 326-9083 John, UU Congrega on of Cas ne, Box 520, Cas ne ME 04421
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