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                                               What's the point?

What good is February, really?  The holiday season is a faint memory, and we're left with Presidents Day (a day designed to make our modern political world seem particularly lacking), Valentines Day (a day designed to make virtually everyone feel inadequate), and Groundhog Day (a day where we look to a rodent for guidance).  Sure, the days are getting longer, slowly but surely...  but it's awfully cold!  And this year, we have a whole extra day of February (thanks to Leap Year), aren't we lucky?  Thank goodness the Patriots are in the Super Bowl, that's all I can say.

There must be something good about the month, though.  Right?  Well, some of my favorite people (Washington and Lincoln aside) were born in February, so that's something.  It's also the season of Lent, which has deep meaning for some of us.  Maybe the best thing about February, though, is that it isn't a month with much going on -- we've got nothin' but TIME in February -- and it's a good reminder for me that I shouldn't wish my life away.  Sure, it's tempting to wish February away so that we'd be in March, where spring becomes a reality.  But every day of February, while perhaps not terribly interesting nor terribly warm, is still another day of my life.  I truly do consider life a great gift, and every day is a gift.  Even days in February.  So this year, I will cherish the month of February.  All 29 days.  Let's make them count! 

Blessed be. 

 Lara Hoke, support minister

Different Places, Different Values

 

          As many of you know, I have just returned from a two week cruise vacation in South America.  My brother, Bill, is a college professor and so his available free time is limited and since both of us enjoy cruising, we often try to get away in January between semesters.

          I had never been to South America and wanted to see it, particularly, I wanted to see penguins nesting and to go around the Horn, the southernmost bit of land in the world, except, of course, for Antarctica but its entire coast is a northern coast!  Due to failing to leave enough flexibility for shore excursions and a storm with 75 MPH winds and 30 foot seas that prevented a landing in the Falklands, I did not see penguins nesting!  I did sail around the Horn and through the Straits of Magellan and the Darwin channel.

          I also got to talk to the people and got some real surprises.  Chile and Argentina are very European.  Virtually all of the Native American population was wiped out and there never were slaves from Africa.  What really shocked me most, however, was their attitude toward their government.  Liberal that I am, I expected them to have a real hatred for the military dictatorships that they had lived under and a real desire for democracy, but a great percentage of the people I talked to—from tour guides to people I met in restaurants to store clerks—looked back fondly at those leaders of the past and had very little to say about those of the present and little excitement about the future.  Oh, they could tell you about the current government, but their description of what was happening was very matter of fact.  It was those dictators who were fondly remembered for making things “safe” and stable.  So long as they or their families were not brutalized, security was more important than freedom.

          I hope that we never get so focused on the past, whether it was good or bad, and that we always are willing to risk a little safety to insure freedom!

                                                                                                            Ralph Clarke, Lead Minister

 

 

 

 

Saturday, February 2, 2008

10 am ~ Peace Vigil

 

Sunday, February 3, 2008

10 am ~ Lara Hoke preaching

“Tao Te Ching”

 

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

7 pm ~ Parish Committee Meeting

 

Saturday, February 9, 2008

10 am ~ Peace Vigil

 

Sunday, February 10, 2008

10 a.m. THE GREATEST GENERATION

Thoughts on World War II era from those who lived it.  Doris Coolidge will introduce the panel: Horace Coolidge, John LePoer, Richard Moriarty  and Anne Perkins

 

Saturday, February 16, 2008

10 a.m. ~ Peace Vigil

 

Sunday, February 17, 2008

10 a.m. ~ Lara Hoke preaching

“Lent Theme”

Chocolate Auction

 

Thursday, February 21, 2008

7 p.m. Petersham Branch Alliance

 

Saturday, February 23, 2008

10 a.m. ~ Peace Vigil

 6 p.m. ~ In honor of Black History Month, a pot luck supper will be held, followed by a screening of the History Channel documentary,

"Voices of Civil Rights."

 

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

7 p.m. ~ Parish Committee Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNOW POLICY

If on Sunday morning you are uncertain if the worship service/program is taking place due to the weather, call a member of the Parish Committee, whose phone numbers are on the cover of the newsletter.

 

The new organ has been installed in the Davis, and we're anxious to hear it being played as part of a Sunday service.  We hope to use this building more to save on heating costs during winter months.

We have been working with the Finance and Canvass Committees to finalize a budget for the coming year.  We will have to tighten the budget in several areas, including eliminating childcare for Sunday services.

We would like to repeat last year's successful "Chocolate Auction" as the special Fundraiser for February.  If you have any other creative ideas for fundraisers, please let us know.  This is a great opportunity to strengthen our sense of community, as well as provide needed funds for our church.

Submitted by Pam Chevalier, Secretary

 

 

 

 

FAMILY NEWS

Thank you from Helen Kennedy:

“Earlier this week, I received a beautiful vase of flowers from the Church, which Russ and I are enjoying SO much! We've also received food, e-mail, cards, phone calls, and visits of concern and get-well encouragements since my return home from St. Vincent's, which resulted in my pace-maker implant there. Thank you everyone!”  We wish you a speedy recovery, Helen!

 

Bill Corey is working for the UUA! He is the assistant-manager of the Elliott-Rickett Houses – he supervises the maintenance and the buildings.  He looks forward to this new job even though he will be working weekends.  Good luck, Bill.  We’ll miss you presence here on Sundays.

 

Mary Jenkins has a new job, teaching at the Ruggles Lane School in Barre.  We wish her luck!  Lucky kids!  She is also beginning to plan the summer YMCA camp at Camp Wyaka, which she and her sister-in-law direct.

 

Bob Hall has enrolled in the Western Mass Police Academy and will be attending the Western Massachusetts Basic Reserve Municipal Police Training courses held in Springfield starting on February 26^th.

John LePoer is stepping down as chair of the Petersham Council on Aging, after serving that group for 22 years.  We honor him for his good work and faithfulness to the community.

 

 

 

A poem by Genevieve Fraser was accepted by the Washington Post.  Congratulations, Gen!

 

The whole community is saddened to know that Megan Legare has leukemia!  Megan is the daughter of Christine and Neil Legare and the grand-daughter of Jeanine and Denis Legare.  As Petersham always does, the community has rallied to do what it can to help and support the Legares. At the Center School, where Megan attends kindergarten, each class has done something to help Megan.  One of the classes has written her a song!  The Lions Club sent balloons to the hospital and again when Megan returned home.  Lions have distributed money jars to the various businesses in Petersham, (thanks to Andrea Borelli’s idea) the Package Store, the Country Store, the Garage and Quabbin Woods Restaurant. Lynn Scott, whose son Ray died of leukemia, has offered her help, as have Arthur and Anne Perkins, whose great-grandson, Dylan, has leukemia.   We hold the Legare family in our thoughts and prayers and are ready to help in any way that we can.

 

THANK YOU, FRED

On the Saturday following Fred’s death, 47 people attended the weekly vigil, thereby honoring Fred’s memory.  It was Fred who stood up at the 2007 Annual Meeting and galvanized the community into action.  Soon the banner was hoisted and after some difficulty, our First Amendment Rights were upheld and the banner continues to proclaim: Support Our Troops – Bring Them Home!

 

Thank You, Fred!

We will have our second Chocolate Auction on February 17^th during coffee hour.  We had such a good time last year that we feel we should repeat it.  So much chocolate and great bidding wars brought lots of laughs and sharing of goodies.  The fudge sauce was a prize to be coveted and the gift baskets, cookies, cakes, and candy all were wonderful delights.  So please bring your favorite chocolate item and plenty of money for the bidding and we’ll make this a fun, sharing time.

If you have any questions, please ask a Parish Committee member.

A reminder that all those who use one of the church buildings must complete a

Building Use Agreement Form. You may obtain forms from the church Administrative Assistant, Susan Peters.  Stop by the church office during her working hours or call to have her mail the form.

Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 8am to 2pm. Phone: 978-724-3401 

THE REAL TREASURE OF THE CHURCH

 Too often people come to Church only to listen to the words or to soak up the experience of the service, and then go away.  It is a little like visiting a town or country where you don't live, as a tourist.....But the real treasure of the Church is neither the minister nor the Sunday worship.  The real treasure is the community of people who have made all the of this possible, who have invested time and money to make this kind of spiritual oasis possible.  We don't discuss this often, but think of the unspoken convictions and determination that must be in such a Church.  These are the people who plowed the land and planted and watered the seeds, and made the whole garden possible.  Those of us who work here are really some of the fruits of their convictions and their commitments.  So if you are coming only to take some nourishment from this garden, you are missing the real treasure that is here---if you like the garden, do get to know the gardeners.                                                                                     Dr. Davidson Loehr                                               

 NEWS LETTER

Material for the newsletter may be emailed to the newsletter team or can be left outside the Church office in the pigeonhole designated for the newsletter. 

Email: firstparishnt@verizon.net

 

The Newsletter Team,

Don Eaton

Anne Perkins ~ Editor

Susan Peters

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!  MARCH 30^TH AT 4 P.M. – LARA’S ORDINATION

 

AT HOLDEN STREET UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN WORCESTER