WEEKLY CONNECTOR

 www.fpsudbury.org                                                                                                           February 18, 2015  


WORSHIP

SUNDAY, February 22, 2015


"Soul Connection"

Have you ever felt a connection with someone that seemed like you knew each other for life times? Many people talk about being "soulmates" or "twin flames." What is that all about - what evidence might there be to refute or support such a premise and is it even necessary to prove such connections? Can such soul connections be negative in nature and thus be unwanted? Rev. Dr. Marjorie Matty will share her thoughts about the concept of such deep connections and ways to cultivate, engage and/or in need be disarm them.

 

Sunday Worship begins at 10:00 AM and will be followed by a fellowship hour in the parish hall. Religious education and Childcare are available. First Parish of Sudbury is a Unitarian Universalist welcoming congregation, encouraging and celebrating the participation of all people regardless of theological belief, sexual orientation, or gender identity. If you are a seeker of scientific, technological, or spiritual meaning in life you will be warmly welcomed.

 

The First Parish of Sudbury Meeting House is located at 327 Concord Road, across from Town Hall. For more information about upcoming events, visit fpsudbury.org or call 978-443-2043.


SHARE THE PLATE

Due to the cancellation of worship service last Sunday, share the plate with the Hudson Food Pantry will take place this   Sunday, February 22.

The Hudson Food Pantry is open twice a week plus one evening a month for clients, providing much needed groceries to needy families in Hudson. They are an all-volunteer organization that struggles to adequately serve the over 200 individuals and families totaling over 3000 visits by those who need their help. Their service group is about 20% seniors, 45% adults and 35% children who receive collectively over 9000 bags of food per year.

 

Thanks to the generosity of First Parish and other supporters, they were able to purchase new refrigerators last spring and are now able to offer more produce and milk that is donated by the local stores. When they have fresh food that will not keep until their next opening, it is given to the Willis House in Hudson, which provides food and shelter to typically 25 - 35 young single women and children. They also support the free suppers provided by Hudson area churches and a summer lunch program in Marlborough.

 

They are VERY grateful for the past support from First Parish Sudbury and note that they still find Hudson residents in difficult economic times. This food pantry actually has in the past run out of food during times of the year when donations fall, that is from May on through the summer. They gratefully accept donations of fresh produce in the summer from individual gardeners as well as local farms

 

Hudson Food Pantry depends heavily on the USPS and Boy Scouts donation drives and some smaller school group programs. Hudson is one of the many communities from which First Parish draws members and friends. Your donation will allow the volunteers to go to Boston and purchase fresh vegetables to augment the donated items and improve the diets of their clients and to maintain their small facility. Please give generously to this most deserving and thoughtfully run organization serving our area.

 

 Stewardship

Sustaining Abundance ~ Giving from your heart

 

In March, the Stewardship Team will launch the 2015 Pledge Campaign which will fund First Parish of Sudbury's operations for next year. Our finances and our community are healthy. The success of the campaign helps ensure our future financial health, and sustains our culture of generosity and abundance.  

 

Click here for more information from your Stewardship Team. 

 

 

The Salon

Bohm Dialogue

Sunday, February 22 at 7:00 pm in the Brackett Room 

 

Suppose we were able to share meanings freely without a compulsive urge to impose our view or conform to those of others and without distortion and self-deception.
Would this not constitute a real revolution in culture?
- David Bohm

 

The Religious Exploration Salon is a group that meets 3rd Sundays to discuss various topics in the format called Bohm Dialogue. On February 22, the topic will be "Denial, Detachment, Non-attachment". (For more details about how Dialogue works, click here to see our February article and here to see last month's article on the website. Contact Paul Reising paulcilla@msn.com for more information.  

 

Everyone is welcome. You are welcome to think about the topic beforehand but no preparation is required or expected - come as you are with whatever thoughts/feelings/intuitions you have, ready to listen, learn and contribute.   

Journey of Discovery

 

The Journey of Discovery originally scheduled for Sunday, February 15, will be rescheduled at a later date to be announced.

   

Here is a brief synopsis: 


Rev. Marjorie will be leading the first in a series of five discussions that will include teachings, life experiences, thoughts, and insights on a particular topic. The title of this Sunday's discussion will center around the question: "Is God Really Dead? In1882 German Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed that God is dead. What did he mean and do we need God to maintain a value system that honors our neighbors and builds upon the premise of the Golden Rule. Join Rev. Marjorie and Jan Hardenbergh to share thoughts and ideas about this topic. We hope to see you there. 

 

SEEKER'S POTLUCK
(All ages welcome)
Join Rev. Marjorie the 1st Saturday of each month in the Commons at the Meeting House at First Parish.  Come and enjoy good music, thoughtful discussion, and fellowship.


March 7 - Stewardship: We pledge to support our community and yet there is a deeper level of participation when we engage in stewardship. Are we good stewards of our lives, our planet and the communities that we participate in? What does it take to be a good steward and what are the individual rewards and benefits? Do the benefits outweigh the commitment? Our worship theme for March is "Stewardship" and this Saturday Seekers Potluck will focus on the concept of stewardship and the "feel good" afterglow of being a good steward. Each Seekers Session will start with the sharing of a meal, please bring food to share, readings, music and a multi-media presentation.


PARISH OFFICE

The Parish Office is staffed week days 
 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.   

If you need to contact the office outside of regular office hours, please send an e-mail to
office@fpsudbury.com
 or leave a voice mail at 978-443-2043. E-mail and voice mail will be checked regularly on week days.  
 
 



Humming Bird:  "Hey, little rabbit. Do you think Spring will ever come?
Little Rabbit:  "Of course.  It always does."
Hummingbird:  "But when?
Little Rabbit:  "When Mother Nature says we've had enough."
Hummingbird:  "I'm soooo ready!"


Daylight Savings Time - March 8
First Day of Spring  - March 20

February:   

Feb.18: Pastoral Assoc. Meeting (7:30-9:00pm - Commons)

Feb.19: Insight Meditation (1:00-2:30pm - Commons)

Feb.19: Choir Rehearsal (7:30-9:00pm - Commons)
Feb.22: Worship "Soul Connection"  Rev. Dr. Marjorie Matty

Feb.22 Landscape Meeting (11:30am-12:30pm -Library)

Feb 22: Hop Brook Dancing (11:45am-1:00pm (Commons)

Feb.22: GMMS (4:45-6:45pm - Parish Hall)   

Feb 22: The Salon -Denial (7:00-8:30pm-Brackett)  

Feb.23: REC meeting (7:00 - 9:00 pm - Library)

Feb.24:Yoga (7:30 - 8:45 am - Commons)

Feb.24: 4th Tuesday Lunch (12:00 - 2:00 pm - Commons)

Feb.24: Quilters (7:00 - 9:00 pm - Commons)

Feb.26: Insight Meditation (2:00 - 2:30 pm - Commons)

Feb.26: Conscious eating (6:30-8:30 pm - Library/Kitchen)

Feb.26: NO CHOIR REHEARSAL

   

Coming up in March:

March 1: Worship - Guest Speaker

March 1: Joint Choir Reh-MCC/FPS (12:30-2:30pm)   

March 1: COA Workshop (3:00-4:30pm - Commons) 

March 2: Board of Trustees (7:00-9:00 pm - Commons) 

March 7: Seekers Potluck-Stewardship (5:00-8:00 pm - Commons) 

March 8: Worship - Legacy and Our Commitment - Rev. Dr. Marjorie Matty  

March 8: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME 

March 15: Journey of Discovery-Why Soul (2:00-4:00 pm -  Brackett Room) 

March 15: Salon-Bohm Dialogue-(7:00-8:30pm-Brackett)  

March 20: First Day of Spring!

March 21: Stewardship Kickoff (6:00-9:00 pm - Parish Hall)  

March 29: Journey of Discovery - Holy Week (2:00-4:00pm-Brackett) 

   

To view the full Meeting House Calendar Click here.

Be the Change:  

 

Activist Dinner Party March 14, 7:00 pm:

 

Come have fun at this theatrical experience at First Parish. Not a fundraiser, but truly a fundraiser!

 

The play, written by Stephen M. Shick (a UU minister) and performed at 2014 GA, brings alive the words and wisdom of famous poets, activists, and sages like Martin Luther King, Jr., Marge Piercy, and Thich Nhat Hanh to address the everyday spiritual and political frustrations we all face and the frustrations of staying engaged.

 

In this play performed by our very own First Parish congregants, a prototypical UU finds herself waning in her commitment to her core values. Feeling frustrated and over-whelmed, our protagonist dreams up a dinner party in which major historical, political, and literary figures arrive.

 

Now - at this time of the 50-year anniversary of the march from Selma with its message of the tireless road of fighting for social justice - we can reaffirm that our efforts matter. And have some fun while doing it.

 

As Helen Keller says, 'I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.'

 

Come join us. There are still a few roles open for 'acting', some off stage helping, and plenty of room for an audience. Dinner will be provided and bring a dessert. Childcare can be provided with advance notice.

 

Contact Liz Rust for more information (Liz@therusts.net)

 


Living Our Faith Food Fact 
Eating Local



Several of our congregants buy meat raised by Buddy and Linda Wheeler, farmers at Balance Rock Farm in Berlin, which delivers to Maynard on Saturdays. Balance Rock also sells and delivers many other locally grown items. Check out the information about all their available products at www.balancerockfarm.com
Weekly Adult Programs
at the Meeting House

Gentle Kripalu Yoga:  Every Tuesday morning from 7:45 to 8:45 am in the Commons.

Quilters:  Every Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Commons.

Insight Meditation:  Every Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the Commons.

If you would like any information about any of the adult programs offered at The Meeting House at First Parish of Sudbury please contact the Parish Office by e-mail at office@fpsudbury.org or by phone at 978-443-2043.
SERVICE AUCTION - May 9, 2015.

 

Every year First Parish holds a gala auction in the Parish Hall to raise money for our operating budget.  There will be food, music, a silent auction and a live auction - and always a lot of fun.  Please be sure to attend. Child care will be provided. The Service Auction Committee will be contacting you to see what delightful items you can donate for the auction. Be creative!

 

Service Auction Committee Members:

Gail and Jan Hardenbergh, Liz and Erin Llewellyn, Sherene Aram, and Sherri Cline.

 

October 17, 2015
 

HARVEST CRAFT FAIR  

 

2015 marks the 114th Annual Harvest Craft Fair. We need co-chairs to lead the effort.

 

We have all the templates and information needed to take over these positions. Plus free training is available!  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask the retiring co-chairs -  Sherri Cline, Liz Rust, and Carolyn Lee.

 

This is a very gratifying event.   Please consider carrying on this great tradition.

 

The Village on the Website: Need help with fpsudbury.org/village? Ask Jan (jch@jch.com)

Weekly Connector:  The next issue of the Weekly Connector will be published on February 25.  The deadline for articles is February 20.  Thanks.
Sunday Helpers for February, 2015
 
February 22: 
Ushers:  Gene Piazza and Ginny Doxsey
Greeters: Sherri Cline and Fran Sharp
Fellowship:  Val Tratnyek
Flowers: Alorie & Craig Parklhill (To welcome Spring)

March 1 
Ushers:  Sara Hartman and Craig Parkhill
Greeters:  Jan Hardenbergh and Rebecca Parkhill
Fellowship
Flowers: Bruce Langmuir

   
 
First Parish of Sudbury | | office@fpsudbury.org | http://www.fpsudbury.org
327 Concord Street
Sudbury, MA 01776-1820