June 22, 2011 Electronic Edition Volume 9, Issue 19

June 22, 2011 ELECTRONIC EDITION Volume 9, Issue 19

Rev. Vicki will be at General Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 21-28. She leaves for London on July 6 and will be in the UK through August 9. She will be working through that month and welcomes your calls (via Skype if you have it!) and e-mails at [email protected]. Her Skype number is 339-613-8090. If you have immediate pastoral needs in her absence, please call Pastoral Care Coordinator Judy Bond at 781-826-9039.

CARING CORNER

Many thanks to the Lifespan Religious Education Committee for coordinating the wonderful All-Church Picnic on Sunday. The weather was perfect, and a great time was had by all!

Hello,

As the organizer of the ad-hoc committee developing a proposal to install a solar electric system at First Parish I would like to let you know about a couple of blogs that Clayton Handleman has set up. Since we are almost into the summer break, this seems like a good way to allow for communication. Please have a look at these blogs and participate if you have anything you would like to communicate. You can also email me directly at [email protected].

The link to the general information blog is: http://firstparishsolar.wordpress.com/ and the link to the forum is: http://firstparishsolarforum.wordpress.com/.

I hope everyone has a good summer and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Bernie Gardner [email protected]

A CD recording of the Meetinghouse Organ Dedication concert is now available for $10. Proceeds will be applied to a loan used to purchase additional stops. Contact Dexter Robinson, [email protected], 781-294- 8840 to order one. SUMMER OFFICE UPDATE

The Church Office will close for the summer on Wednesday, June 22. We will be in the office after that only on a “periodic and unscheduled” basis. Voicemails and emails will not be picked up regularly. We will re-open on the Wednesday after Labor Day, September 7. The deadline for the last Spire (email version) before we close for the summer is Sunday, June 19. The deadline for the summer issue of the Spire is Monday, August 15.

SUMMER SERVICES AT FIRST PARISH NORWELL

Summer worship services in the Meetinghouse: July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14 and August 28 at 10:00 am. These are all intergenerational services, with no separate children’s program or baby care.

Each “Fresh Air and Fellowship” (FAAF) Sunday, those wishing to participate will gather at the church at 10:00 am and then walk together in the Norris Reservation for conversation and fellowship. If it rains, we will gather in the Parish Hall for coffee instead. We hope that this will be an enjoyable, intergenerational time!

June 26: FAAF, leaders Marlon and Les Taylor July 3: Summer service July 10: FAAF, leaders Ralph and Betsy Gordon July 17: Summer service July 24: FAAF, leaders Bernie and Bev Gardner July 31: Summer service August 7: FAAF, leader Carol Neely August 14: David Turner’s summer service August 21: FAAF August 28: Rev. Vicki’s summer service September 4: no services (Labor Day Weekend) September 11: Homecoming Sunday

30TH ANNUAL FIRST PARISH NORWELL REGATTA

Saturday, July 30 (rain date July 31) noon (the tides require a schedule change from last year) Save the date! Bring your canoes and kayaks for a wonderful family day on the North River. Then, keep the fellowship going for a pizza party in the late afternoon. You can join us for either or both parts of the day. Here are the specifics: RIVER TRIP: 1. Meet at the Marshfield canoe launch site at the Union Street Bridge (Bridge Street in Norwell becomes Union Street when you cross the river). We leave promptly at 12:00, so plan to arrive by 11:45 (or earlier!) to have time to get your canoes and kayaks off your car and in the water. We’ll go upriver with the tide (easy paddling). 2. Bring your lunch and a beverage. We’ll picnic at the Couch property beach (where we stop for a swim and wait for the tide to turn before heading back to our cars). 3. Don’t forget life preservers, sun block and paddles. A camera and binoculars are nice to have, too, if they're waterproof. 4. If you can’t canoe or kayak but want to take part in the river trip, we'll have several spaces available on a motorboat. These seats fill up early, so call Marcia or Scott Babcock (781-659-2956) to reserve one right away. If you need to borrow a canoe or kayak, we may have extras available. 5. Reservations are not necessary, but if we know you’re coming on the regatta, we’ll be sure to wait for you to arrive. PIZZA PARTY: 1. It’s become a tradition to end the evening together - children as well as adults. 2. The party begins at 5:00 pm at the home of Scott and Marcia Babcock, 86 Old Meetinghouse Lane, Norwell (off Route 123/Main Street) 3. Bring $5.00/person for pizza and either an appetizer or dessert to share. We’ll have soda and lemonade here. Bring any other beverages you’d like. QUESTIONS? Call Scott or Marcia Babcock at 781-659-2956.

THE JAMES LIBRARY & CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Summer Hours begin on July 1: Tuesday - Friday 1-5 pm. Saturday morning hours resume in September. Stop by for your vacation and school summer reading books.

Marcia Babcock is The James Library’s Volunteer of the Year. Marcia was honored at The James’ annual volunteer and friends party on Friday, June 17 for the variety of her activities at The James. Congratulations to Marcia!

HELEN FOGG SERVICE COMMITTEE

We are pleased to tell you that we have two new members: Noel Constantino and Paul Bourque (a “new” former member).

On the Second Sunday of June, our generous parishioners donated $935 dollars to the Trevor Project, a suicide hot line for gay, lesbian, transgendered and bi-sexual teens. The Fogg Service Committee rounded that number up to $1500. Thank you to Les Taylor who spoke about our being a “Welcoming Congregation” and to Marlon Taylor who spoke about the Trevor Project!

The two-week special collection for the MA Tornado Relief Fund came in at $600. Thank you to those who contributed! The Fogg Service Committee rounded that up to $1500.

End-of-the- year contributions from the Committee ($500 to each of the following):

The South Shore Women's Resource Center- a non-profit community-based agency that serves victims of domestic violence and their families in 16 communities on the South Shore. Campus of Caring- an organization dedicated to building a 10-bed non-profit hospice home on the South Shore of Boston to be managed by their partner, the Norwell VNA and Hospice. Weston Rehabilitation Center for Women- a not-for-profit rehabilitation employment program with which our successful former prisoner from Partakers, Carolyn Gunter, worked before and after release. South Shore Habitat for Humanity- a non-profit organization which builds homes in partnership with families in need. The Amaryllis Foundation- runs “The Robin's Nest” in Marshfield for people with AIDS. Norwell Farms-a not-for-profit community farm in Norwell at the historic Jacobs Farmhouse on Main Street. Positively Beautiful- a group led by a very good friend of Marcia and Scott Babcock who is making a movie about living with AIDS in South Africa. The remainder of our generous $15,000 budget from the church, $426, went to the Norwell Food Pantry.

Ferry Beach, UU Camp and Conference Center on the Coast of Southern Maine

At Heritage Week 2011 we will examine our history and heritage as peacemakers. Our theme speaker, Harvard Professor Dan McKanan, will introduce one or two Unitarian or Universalist peacemakers from the past, considering the ways these individuals grounded their peace work theologically, worked collaboratively with people of other faiths or ideologies, and left a legacy for UU peacemaking today. Guest speakers each day will address particular themes in peacemaking and how these are realized today in Unitarian Universalism. Afternoon Porch Talks will offer more perspective on personal views on peace. For more info, go to www.ferrybeach.org.

Bev Gardner, Chair of the Helen Fogg Service Committee Marcia Babcock, Scott Babcock, Noel Constantino, Pat Bordewieck, Paul Bourque, Carrie Brandon, Pat Crumley, Barbara Meacham, Mary Mercier, Dorothy and Bill Montuori, Sue Robinson (Parish Committee liaison), Amy Stephenson, Jack Wallace and Jane and Stan Wilderoter

For information on the church’s religious education program for both adults and children, please visit the “RE Everyday” blog at http://reeveryday.blogspot.com. The deadline for the next hard-copy edition of The Spire is Monday, August 15th. For more information, or to review archived issues of The Spire, go to www.firstparishnorwell.org The full First Parish calendar can be accessed online at the website by selecting “News” then scrolling to the calendar option.