Religious Education Happenings

What a treat we enjoyed with the Youth Worship in February. It was a wonderful experience to have the youth join with the choir, assist with parts of the service and present the morning message. For those who may not have had a chance to be there, a simple description may be to say, “To Tell the Truth, Will the Real God Please stand Up?” There was something for everyone to think about and we thank you all! – Youth, Melanie Bates, Jackie Flynn, Allison Cain, Sarah Ellstrom, Jonathan Flynn, Emily Cain, Jessica Ellstrom, Cora Madrid (guest youth) and advisors; Joyce Albrecht and Joseph Maloney. Also a thank you to the choir, announcer Pat Flynn and commercial break by Rick Anderson.

The March Religious Education Program will continue with the UU principles 4 & 5 for the Primary group, and Project Planning with the Elementary and Youth for Easter morning activities.

Search for Spring Nature Walk - March 16, with Joyce and Pat. Morning trip for grades 3 and up, meeting at 10 and returning by 12.

Easter Activity - March 23, for children during or after the morning worship.

Saturday Youth Project - March 29, we will meet in the morning to prepare and deliver lunch to those working on local Habitat for Humanity project.

FUN FOR ALL

Maple Sugar Days - March 8 & 9, 10AM – 4PM, Jonathan Flynn, one of All Souls’ Youth, will be an interpreter again this year for this event, sponsored by Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Explore the taste and history of Maple Sugaring.

Spring Nature Walk - March 30 – after worship, time TBD

Joyce and Pat will lead interested folks to the Blue Hills area, to share knowledge of nature and the joy of finding signs of spring.

The RE Program at All Souls supports you – the parents, as primary religious educators for your children. Coming together on Sunday morning is an important opportunity for us to share and encourage and support each other and our children and youth. But during the activities of the week we also have learning moments that are important to each of us. The following resource is commonly used by Religious Educators and intended for use at home as well. The RE Committee welcomes all questions and suggestions. Our next meeting will be March 9^th, at noon and is open to all interested youth and adults.

Carolee Fogg, Acting DRE

Maureen Ellstrom and Angeline Graham, Committee Co-Chairs

Membership Committee

This month we would like to congratulate Jan Norris for becoming our newest member. She signed the books on Sunday, 2/10 and was voted in by the Board of Trustees on the 19^th. The total membership now stands at 62 members. This is due to placing 14 members on the inactive list because of not pledging or not being actively involved in the church & also because of withdrawal from the church. We also need another member of the committee who will be our computer person.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 31^st,^9AM-2PM for our Flea Market – Start gathering your treasures now – Give new meaning to your spring cleaning chores this year. You can bring your items to the church Wed., 5/28, Thurs., 5/29 & Fri., 5/30 at 7PM. We also need people to sort & price items on those evenings & to work at the Flea Market on Saturday. See Rick Anderson for details.

Also please take the time to consider being a mentor to a new member of the church or someone who is new that hasn’t made a decision yet about joining our church. It will be a wonderful experience for both parties. Our next meeting will be March 3^rd at 7:30PM in the Elliott Room. See Doris Goss, Pat Mascelluti or Rick Anderson, Chair.

March 2008

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

2/24

2/25

2/26

2/27

2/28

2/29

3/1

3/2

Value Analysis

Workshop-Noon

Drumming 7PM

3/3

Membership

7:30PM

3/4

3/5

3/6

3/7

Coffee &

Conversation

11:30AM

3/8

Social Action Roundtable

9:45-Noon

3/9

Prayer Group Noon

RE Meeting Noon

Noon – Worship &

Music Comm.

Ministerial Search

Noon

3/10

3/11

Social Action 7:30PM

3/12

3/13

3/14

3/15

3/16

Chimes Deadline

Depression Group

Noon

Value Analysis

Peace & Pizza 4:30

3/17

St. Patrick’s Day

3/18

Board of Trustees

Meeting 7PM

3/19

3/20

3/21

3/22

3/23

Prayer Group Noon

3/24

3/25

Buddhist Reflections 7PM

3/26

3/27

3/28

3/29

Habitat for Humanity Lunch Services 10-1

3/30

Intro to UU

12:15PM-1:15PM

3/31

Thursday evenings Yoga, 6:30PM - Gay Men’s Discussion Group 7:30PM

Office Hours Tuesday & Thursday mornings 9AM-Noon

Social Action/Environmental Committee Notes – March 2008

“Leave safety behind. Put your body on the line. Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind - even if your voice shakes. When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say. Well-aimed slingshots can topple giants. And do your homework."

Maggie Kuhn, Founder, Gray Panthers

Quoted in the National Women’s Hall of Fame Website (www.greatwomen.org)

Green Tip: Use non-chlorinated bleaches instead of chlorine bleach.

When sent down the drain, chlorine bleach can produce organochlorines, which are suspected carcinogens and reproductive, neurological, and immune system toxins.

Page A Day Green Tips Calendar

Gray Panthers to form Boston Chapter

At our last meeting, Justin Dobbs, a representative from the Gray Panthers, reviewed some of the history of his organization. Founded in 1970, the Gray Panthers was created to work on issues of concern to the elderly, such as pension rights and age discrimination, but also to concern itself with larger public issues, such as the Vietnam War and other social concerns. Currently, there are 24 local organizations with 26,000 members. In May, they plan to hold an organizational meeting for a new Gray Panthers chapter in the Boston area. They envision “an inter-generational, multi-issue organization working to create a society that puts the needs of people over profit, responsibility over power, and democracy over institutions”. It advocates for social and economic justice as well as for peace.

Low Carbon Lifestyles Promoted at All Souls

Twenty people ventured out on a blustery evening in January to hear Judeth Van Hamm, President of Sustainable South Shore, introduce the Low Carbon Diet program to help stop global warming. One small Low Carbon Diet group has been formed and has already held its first meeting, generating good ideas and enthusiasm for taking steps to reduce energy use. It’s good for our wallets and good for the planet! If you cannot join a group but would like to purchase a workbook ($12) to work on your own, please contact Mary Mitchell.

MARCH EVENTS AT ALL SOULS

Social Action Roundtable: Saturday, March 8, 2008 – 9:45 A.M. – 12:00 Noon. All Souls Church will host this informative and fun gathering of Unitarian Universalists that are working on social and environmental justice in their congregations. The morning will begin with a brief worship service followed by an opportunity to share the social action work in which each church is involved. There will also be a legislative update from UU Mass Action and hands-on training on how to write a letter to your editor. This event is open to everyone even if you are not a member of the Social Action/Environmental Committee at All Souls. Organized by the UU Mass Action Network (www.UUMassAction.org). Contact Mary Mitchell or Diana Althouse if you can donate a baked good (e.g.: a quick bread or muffins) to add to our breakfast table. Please email Nancy Banks at uumassactionnetwork@verizon.net to register or call 617-835-5426.

Next Meeting of the Social Action/Environmental Committee: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 7:30 P.M. All are welcome!

Peace and Pizza (Bring your own Pizza!) – Sunday, March 16 – 4:30 P.M. – The theme of this gathering will be the risks of speaking out in favor of peace. Why do some people feel threatened by peace activists? How can we promote peace as an agent of positive change in the world?

Habitat for Humanity – Saturday, March 29 – 10:00-1:00

Habitat for Humanity is building a new home on Glenrose Avenue in Braintree. They have builders but need volunteers to provide lunch to the builders on Saturdays. All Souls will provide the luncheon on March 29^th at 12:30. We’ll meet at the church at 10 AM to make sandwiches, etc. Please let Linda Steiner know if you would like to help (781-356-5218).

In Braintree, Habitat for Humanity has monthly meetings where you can find out about other volunteer opportunities. Attend a “Ways to Help” session, on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:15 PM at the Braintree Heritage United Methodist Church, 236 Grove Street. Call 781-843-9080 ext 12 for more information.

Equal Exchange Coffee

All Souls Church continues to serve fair trade coffee distributed by Equal Exchange at our coffee hours. Fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate are also offered for sale at this time. The products are delicious, good for the environment, and provide a living wage for growers around the world. A small profit is received both by All Souls and by the UUSC’s Small Farmer Fund with every sale. See Marge Kearns after worship to purchase these products.

MARCH EVENTS OF INTEREST IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Saturday, March 8 - 3:00-5:30 PM. A Crude Awakening will be shown at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church at 4 Towne Square, Plymouth MA. A discussion will follow. The film is about peak oil production and the energy crisis that is rapidly approaching. In the midst of the current oil crisis, this film strikes a very powerful cord. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, March 12 – 7 PM - Is Your Water Drugged? Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals in Our Water" with Marc Zimmerman, US Geological Service (USGS) Scientist South Shore Natural Science Center, Jacobs Lane, Norwell.

March 11-13 – Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Trade Show and Conference. Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center. $20. http://www.buildingenergy.nesea.org/ .

March 28-30 – The Down 2 Earth Festival – Sustainable Living Expo. Hynes Convention Center, Boston. This three-day event includes educational, inspirational and entertaining events as well as keynote speakers Bill McKibben (Saturday) and Frances Moore Lappe (Sunday). $10 per day, $20 for weekend. See www.d2eboston.com/events.

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, April 3 – UU Mass Action Lobby Day at State House Diana Althouse and Mary Mitchell are planning to attend again this year and would welcome more colleagues from All Souls to join in the action! It’s not only a great way to connect with our legislators, but also provides an opportunity to network with UU’s from other communities. See www.uumassaction.org.

Saturday, April 5, 2008 – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM -- Ballou Channing District World Water Day Celebration – Duxbury First Parish Church – Promises to be an eye-opening, spirit-enriching celebration of the transformational power of water. Register by April 1 - $15 adults; $10 students (discount for youth groups) $5 for individual soup bowl to paint and use that day.

Saturday, April 5, 2008 -- Dianne DeVanna Pasta Dinner – This annual event at All Souls will benefit the Braintree-based Dianne DeVanna Center, which works to prevent child abuse and neglect. Two seatings: 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Adults: $10; Children under 12 and seniors over 65: $5. Please let Diana Althouse know if you can help out that day or make some brownies.

RESOURCES

“Environment Massachusetts, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, is the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work. Our professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for Massachusetts' environment. Environment Massachusetts draws on 30 years of success in tackling our state's top environmental problems.” When you visit their website, you can edit and personalize their suggested letter to your legislator, click and send. – It’s so easy! www.environmentmassachusetts.org.

In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched, WaterSense, a partnership program which seeks to “protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water efficient products, programs, and practices”. The program was developed because water management is a growing concern in the United States as communities across the country face increasing challenges regarding water supply and water infrastructure. Visit the website at http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm. The website lists water-conserving products; there is also a Kid’s section.

Notes from the Board of Trustees

Value Analysis Workshops continue on March 2 and March 16-On Sunday March 2 and Sunday March 16 at Noon in the Sanctuary, everyone is invited to join Rev. Rob Ross for the second and third of a series of three workshops to help create a vision of the future for All Souls. Using a methodology called Value Analysis, everyone will have an opportunity to contribute to a concrete picture of what is important for the future of All Souls. Value Analysis is based on the belief that decisions about the future of a congregation should express the needs and hopes of its members and friends, and that all of their voices must be heard. A summary of the results of the first Value Analysis workshop on February 10 will be distributed for review. More information about these workshops will be available in the Parish Hall after services, or by contacting Mark Sullivan or Rev. Rob.

Leadership positions at All Souls- The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Joyce Albrecht has accepted the position as Chair of the Nominating Committee, and that Andy Pearce has agreed to accept the position as Chair of the Finance Committee. On behalf of the All Souls community, the Board wishes to express its thanks to Joyce and Andy for their willingness to serve in these important leadership positions.

Ministerial Search Process – I have confirmed our meeting with Rev. Judith Downing, Ministerial Settlement Representative, on Sunday, March 9, 2008. The meeting should last about 90 minutes, from noon to 1:30 pm, but you should feel free to stay as long as your schedule allows. I think this will be an important and useful way to start the Ministerial Search process, and I encourage you to make every effort to attend.

Introduction to Unitarian Universalism & All Souls Church – March 30^th, 2008

Introduction to U.U., who we are & where are we going. Please join us & bring your questions & concerns so that we can help you. Time is 12:15PM-1:15PM after church.

Jessica shared this poem during Sunday worship on February 17, 2008. She wrote it for a class assignment, which was to write a poem incorporating two lines from one poem into a new one of her own. We’d like to share it with those of you who were unable to hear it read at church.

Our Soul

By Jessica Ellstrom

Is our soul solid, like iron,

Tough to the core, strong and uneasily broken?

Or is it delicate and tender, like the wings of a moth,

Easily shattered into a million pieces?

Does our soul float like the spirits of the trees,

Or does it sink like the anchor attached to a boat?

Is our soul an object inside of us,

Or is it energy that forever flows?

Can we ever capture it in a glass jar,

Or is it wild and cannot be tamed?

Is our soul something that is given to us,

Or is it something that must be gained?

Does our soul have a permanent shape,

Or is it like steam,

Continually moving,

Forever remaining shapeless?

Do we take care of our soul,

Or does it take care of us?

Does everyone possess a soul,

Or does only a certain few?

Do we actually need a soul,

Or do we just think we do?