The Beacon - August 2006
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICES
August 6th, 10:00 AM--Deathing. Congregation member Karin Tetlow will speak on issues surrounding death and dying. Malika Levy will serve as worship associate.
August 13th, 10:00 AM--How Art Makes Us More Human. Worship Associate Bill Sternman will explore art and our humanity.
August 20th, 10:00 AM--Reclaiming Our Democracy. As the Fall mid-term election cycle kicks into high gear, UU's have an opportunity and obligation to change the course of history in both our state and national legislatures. Worship Associate Ken Olin will speak.
August 27, 10:00 AM--Mother Earth. Join members of the Native American Spirituality class in an exploration of how the wisdom and culture of Native American peoples can guide us to more fully embrace our 7th UU principle, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. "Wendy Jastrzab will serve as Worship Associate.
September 3, 10:00 AM--Labor Day: To Find Yourself, Give Yourself. Join Worship Associate Bill Sternman for a Labor Day celebration of volunteerism
INTERIM TIMES
(A monthly column from our Interim Minister,The Rev. Bill Metzger)
It was a gorgeous day in Dallas--warm/moderate, clear skies & sunny, all that good stuff, when Diana and I were married in the garden at her sister Marilyn's home. My son and daughter and their families were there, and most of Diana's large family were there. Our friend Davidson Loehr, who is minister at the Austin UU church, presided, and we had a wonderful time. That was Sunday, July 2.
On Monday after we flew back to Philly, where we spent the Fourth of July (where else should one celebrate the founding?). We put off a honeymoon trip (we hadn't figured out the destination anyway) to go to Minnesota to visit my sister Dorothy, who had taken a fall and was unable to make her planned trip to Dallas for the wedding. She threw out a shoulder, and may require rotator cuff surgery, but she is at home and recovering from injuries sustained in the fall.
We made a bit of an adventure out of the trip; we flew to Chicago on July 5, spent the night with one of Diana's daughters and her family, then took the train to Minneapolis on July 6. We drove up to Crosby, near Brainerd, to visit Dorothy and a couple of her kids and a granddaughter came by on the weekend for a visit. All in all, it was a good time.
Riding the train across Wisconsin was pleasant--the views are great--and it was good to see a packed train of a couple dozen cars.
Now we are back "home," Diana in Detroit preparing for her move, and me here, preparing for mine. We will be moving on July 31 into the Rittenhouse Claridge at 18th and Walnut, overlooking Rittenhouse Square.
Once the move is completed, we will be getting reengaged in church--she at the UU Fellowship of Lower Bucks, I here at First Church. I am looking forward to another eventful year here. See you in church.
With love,
Bill
UU CONNECTIONS
UU Escape to Vermont
The Twelfth Annual B&B Weekend offered by the UU Church of Rutland, VT, is coming up this September 22nd-24th. Enjoy the beauty of Vermont, UU hospitality, and a choice of guided activities: hiking, canoeing, visiting the studios of local artists, touring historic sites and quaint towns, and much more. Registration by August 1, $225 (single) and $425 (double). After August 1, $275 (single) and $475 (double). For more information contact uufoliagevermont@yahoo.com or (802)438-2095.
General Assembly
This year's GA was in St. Louis, Missouri. I enjoy GA, because it is a way to meet UU's from various parts of the country, sing familiar and new songs, hear great preaching, deepen my faith in Unitarian Universalism, meet and worship with affinity groups such as the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship and DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries), and shop in the Fair Trade marketplace. So what was wrong with this year's GA? I was the only one to attend from our church! To view coverage of GA 2006 go the Unitarian Universalist website at: www.uua.org. General Assembly 2007 is in Portland, Oregon. Who's going with me?
Elizabeth Terry
UUA Washington Office Administrator / Office Manager Job Opening
The UUA is seeking qualified candidates to supervise office operations for the Washington Office and provide administrative and bookkeeping/financial support for the Directors of two UUA staff groups. This is an exempt Grade 9 position (minimum $34,200, midpoint, $42,300). Applicants should have at least 5 years of administrative experience, possessing excellent computer skills, primarily Microsoft Word, and a high level of proficiency with Excel, Outlook and web research. Applicants must be highly organized, detail-oriented, with excellent written and oral communication skills, a high level of customer service and strong basic math and financial bookkeeping skills. Human Resources and some supervisory experience would be helpful. People with disabilities and candidates who identify as a person of color, Hispanic/Latino/Latina and/or BGLT are encouraged to apply. Send resume and cover letter to: Taquiena Boston at tboston@uua.org. A full description of the positiion is available at http://www.uua.org/hr/openings.html.
Interfaith Networking
In late May, I attended a conference based at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC and headed by Rabbi Michael Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right
The interfaith worships, workshops and conversations that happened over the course of four days were thoughtful and inspiring. Each day we touched base with a “covenant group” of people from our local region.
The southeast PA group of which I was a member has met once since the conference. We made a tentative plan to initiative an interfaith observance such as we had experienced at the conference. In pursuing that objective, I have been in touch with Rabbi Arthur Waskow, who has been leading the local interfaith initiative called The Peace of Abraham.
They had already noted that, in 2006 and 2007, the sacred Muslim month of Ramadan coincides with the Sacred Jewish High Hold Days, with the Protestant World-wide Communion Sunday and the Catholic Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This is a confluence that will not occur again for thirty years. They are encouraging a host of interfaith exchanges during this period and a very visible event for Liberty Plaza on Sunday, October 8th. There will be numerous planning meetings in preparation.
If anyone is interested in hearing more or participating in preparations for these interfaith observances, please call me at 215-235-2343. Or you can simply reserve October 8, late afternoon on your calendar.
Submitted by Luana Goodwin
UU's and Jesus?
I had never been to Texas before I went to General Assembly last year as one of your delegates. I ended up going back to Fort Worth in November for the UU Christian Fellowship Revival. It was spirit-filled event with singing, workshops, praying and really good preaching If you are curious about what it might mean to be a follower of Jesus on your Unitarian Universalist journey, please attend this year's Revival at Fourth Universalist in New York City from November 2nd-5th. To find out more about Revival 2006 and the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship please go to their website: http://www.uuchristian.org. If you are interested in exploring the historical Jesus, let me know.
Submitted by Elizabeth Terry
Jewish Voices
In conjunction with a book project about Jews in Unitarian-Universalism, a new website has been launched. Nancy Cronk, editor of Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism, invites all congregation members and friends to visit the new site. If you have any sermons or articles about Judaism in Unitarian-Universalism that you would like to share with others, please let her know. The website can be accessed at:
http://www.jewishvoicesinuuism.homestead.com/
SOCIAL JUSTICE & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Recycling
Recycling at Trinity Memorial (22nd and Spruce Sts) continues every 1st and 3rd Saturday between 9AM and 1PM. Bring all mixed paper (including whole cardboard boxes) and plastic bottles (with necks) cleaned and crushed. Stay as long as you can to help organize or toss into the City trucks at 1:00 PM. Regulars include Luana Goodwin, Finy Hansen, Connie Baker, Jacob Fisher, Tricia Way, Ginny Beier and Diane Frey.
Books Through Bars
A donations bin is located in our lobby, ready to receive contributions for this national program providing reading material to prisoners. Books in Spanish, how-to/job training manuals, dictionaries, inspirational books, mysteries and science fiction are in high demand.
Anyone with a car is always welcome to help transport the books either on Tuesday nights or on the 1st and 3rd Saturday afternoons when packing is done. Call Nicole at the A-Space, 215-727-8170 to find out more and how regulars from Social Justice Group headed by Marilyn Ashbrook try to help out on each 3rd Saturday. Members from 35PLUUS head over to the A-Space Tuesday nights to help.
Eat brunch and support Books Through Bars! For the next 6 months Abbraccio Restaurant (820 S. 47th St.- around the corner from the A-Space) will donate 5% of their Sunday Brunch sales on the 3rd Sunday of each month (June 18, July 16, Aug.20, Sept. 17, Oct.15, Nov. 19). They open for brunch at 11 AM.
UUA General Assembly Passes Statement of Conscience on Global Warming
UUs adopted a Statement of Conscience on Global warming during the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly held in St. Louis, MO, June 21-25.
In an action-packed Plenary, the complexity of addressing over 50 unincorporated amendments caused Gini Courter, the UUA moderator, to move the delegates into a Committee of the Whole for only the second time in recent GA history and to add an additional Plenary session to the GA schedule to provide for more time for the amendment process to unfold. During the process, there was resounding consensus among delegates for a strong, action-oriented statement.
Many of the 38 amendments ultimately incorporated were those supported by a collaborative Earth Community Amendments Consensus group comprised of UU Ministry for Earth, the UU Service Committee, the UUA Commission on Socially Responsible Investing and members of interested UU congregations. The amendments served to strengthen the connections between global warming, our religious values and principles, human rights, and justice. They included a call for denominational response, a call to UUs to reduce our personal energy consumption and carbon emissions by at least 20% by 2010 or sooner, and provided clear guidelines for other congregational and individual action.
The Statement of Conscience may be viewed at: http://www.uua.org/csw/SOCFinal06_GW.pdf
Volunteers Needed
Teaching is a special ministry. If you would like to clarify your UU values, experience the reward of helping our children to develop their religious identities and values, help the CRE program achieve its goals, and enjoy working with colleagues to achieve ambitious goals, please consider being on the CRE team next year. There are opportunities to teach, help plan worship or All-Together Sundays, or be a specialist such as musician, storyteller or artist. If interested, please contact CRE Director Jansen Wendell at, CREDirector@verizon.net, or by calling 215-563-3980, Ext. 305.
ADULT PROGRAMS
Young Adult Program
The August Young Adult potluck will be Friday, August 25th at 7:00 PM. It will be an outdoor potluck in Fairmount Park where Poplar Ave. meets Lemon Hill Road, right off of Kelly Drive. For more information contact Marisa McClellan at Marisakm@comcast.net.
Young Adult Network Happy Hour
The next UUYAN monthly happy hour is scheduled for August 11, 2006 from 6-8:00 PM at Ten Stone Bar & Restaurant located at 2063 South Street in Center City, Philadelphia. For information, please call Nikyia Rogers. UUYAN happy hours are held every second Friday of the month.
Women's Book Club
We continue to meet in air conditioned homes in the summer and discuss our "beach reading". July's selection by Amy Goodman was felt to be a little too "in your face” by most, but it still provided a good discussion. Our August reading on August 7th at 7:30 PM will be Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles at the home of Joan Forman. Please let her know at 215-732-5478 or jlfor@erols.com that you are coming. The discussion will be facilitated by Justine Hansen. The September 11th selection is Don't Think of an Elephant by George Lakoff.
Depression Support Group
The Depression Support Group will meet after Sunday service on Aug. 6th at 11:30 AM. If the weather is very hot, we will meet at the apartment of Arcenia Rosal, located nearby at 1919 Chestnut St., Apt. 618, in air-conditioned comfort.
35PLUUS
The 35PLUUS group of First Church offers a chance for folks thirtysomething and older to get together for social evenings, outdoor activities and service. Communication and planning takes place online, and all are welcome to join our Yahoo group found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/35pluus. Monthly events include a Second Sunday potluck and Third Sunday meet-up at The Bards. All are welcome.
Second Sunday Potluck. Bring an entree or drinks to share a brunch after church in the Parish Room on Sunday, August 6th (11:30 - 1:00 pm). Come with ideas for social activities that we might want to arrange for coming months.
Third Sunday Meet-Up. A group of 35PLUUS members meets each third Sunday at The Bards pub
(2013 Walnut Street). This month we meet on Sunday, August 13th (7:00 - 9:00 pm).
Planning for the Third Sunday Meetup and the occasional Fourth Friday Dinners takes place on the Meet-up website, http://unitarians.meetup.com/16
MY 250 WORDS’ WORTH
By Bill SternmanCan You Hear Me Now?
On the el this morning, I was trying to read about the turmoil in the Middle East when a woman in front of me started screaming into her cell phone:
“Do you have Aunt Janet’s address? I need Aunt Janet’s address. Can you give me Aunt Janet’s address? I have to send her something. What is Aunt Janet’s address?”
In my frustration, I leaned over her shoulder and yelled toward the cell phone, “For God’s sake, please give her Aunt Janet’s address.”
The woman screamed at me, “Shut up. I’m talking.”
“I know you’re talking,” I replied, exercising my penchant for stating the obvious. “The whole train knows you’re talking.”
She did lower her voice. Whether she eventually got Aunt Janet’s address is a moot—and mute—point.
The insatiable voyeur in me loves to eavesdrop. Alas, what people trumpet to the world is usually not worth hearing, let alone over-hearing.
There was a time, when I was much younger (just after the end of the first Punic War), when people didn’t have to shout because they were sitting beside each other. They didn’t want to cause a disturbance and they certainly didn’t want their conversations overheard.
Nowadays, public transportation has become a forum for public discourse. Marc Antony would no longer need to ask his audience to lend him their ears; he would assault them without permission.
If I ever hear that irritating telephone commercial ask, “Can you hear me now?” I will know how to answer.
“Yes. Unfortunately.”
Bill Sternman
(1935)
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS
Over the past two months, I am frequently greeted by “Madam President, how are you?” To be honest I still flinch when I hear “president” but I must share with you that I feel healthy, happy and most of all grateful for all of the surprise “gifts” which people give to First Church. The talent, dedication and love for this church and faith demonstrated by numerous church members, friends and staff are wonderful Let me cite some examples knowing that I am touching only a smattering of the good things that are taking place.
If you were fortunate enough to attend the June farewell reception for John Herrick, our beloved Music Director, you may have felt the same love and generosity which I felt at the reception. I am grateful for Ed Close’s initiative and leadership in quickly getting this event off the ground working closely with our paid staff Norman Fouhy, Christina Doe and Mike McKee and several church members on all of the logistics. But even more I am delighted by the beautiful feast, lovely gifts and kind words and hugs for John Herrick that so many members and friends contributed to – what love!
The next week was the All-Church church picnic. Imagine Amy and Jim Fraatz and Amy’s visiting parents carrying tables, grills, you name it a few blocks to Clark Park making sure all was set for the church picnic. Best of all, what used to appear like just a young family picnic turned out to be truly an all-church picnic with a diverse group of members and friends, even some old friends who haven’t been around for a while--fun!
Two weeks later I was fortunate to experience the talent, creativity and energy of an “ad hoc” Arts Ministry Team which formed as a result of Val Sandburg’s sermon titled “Arts: The Religious Connection.” When I left at noon that Sunday a group was still brainstorming an Arts program that could be offered in the fall which provides members and friends an opportunity to share theatre, fine arts, architecture and other art happenings in the city--exciting!
In June a woman researching Frances Ellen Watkins Harper contacted First Church inquiring about the availability of information in our archives that could contribute to her research. That was the beginning of Anne Slater’s undertaking of a major project to dig through the hot and dingy safe with the goal this church year of organizing the many fascinating and important materials found in our archives. Anne’s detailed e-mails regarding hers and Liz Martin’s findings to-date have really been a treat and I am delighted that Anne has shared these initial findings with all of you in this Beacon – fascinating!
As you well know, June was rainy. As you may guess, First Church had numerous water leakage problems which affected the day care centers, our major tenants. Our staff, Norman Fouhy, Christina Doe, Jim Devenny and Jonathan Blount quickly tackled the problems, doing what was needed over the wet week so that the day care centers could continue to effectively operate. A dedicated staff – what a gift!
In June the Search Committee had a wonderful retreat facilitated by Meredith Higgins of All Souls Church in Washington. On July 10th, I was lucky to return from a vacation to find that the Search Committee had scheduled an all-church event on July 12th at which Meredith Higgins shared the impressive work which All Souls Church has done in their booming revival. The presentation was invaluable and I will end with a few terrific quotes/concepts from Meredith Higgins which can guide us as we move through this very important year.
Dare to dream as big as you can.
Be a permission giving congregation.
Seek help.
Look at what we do well.
What makes a large church successful is doing small church well.
This is a year of opportunity, one in which we can discover, build upon, appreciate and enjoy the gifts of our many church member, friends and staff. We have much to offer ourselves and ministerial candidates who are looking at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia as a great opportunity for a settled ministry. We’re off to a great start. May our gifts abound!
With much gratitude,
Debby Schultz
BOARD OF TRUSTEES HIGHLIGHTS
The Board of Trustees met in June and July. The July meeting was a joint meeting with the Ministry Leadership Team. Another joint meeting is scheduled for August 15th.
Board Policy: Understanding and clarifying the roles of the Board and the Ministry Leadership Team has been the focus of the June and July meetings. Key sections of the Board Policy have been reviewed followed by a lively dialogue.
By-Laws Review: Each Board member has reviewed a section of the recently revised By-Laws (approved by the Congregation at the May Annual Meeting) focusing on the areas that were deleted and making a recommendation for any actions which need to take place regarding the details that have been deleted. These recommendations will be reviewed at the August and September meetings.
Presentations and Votes:
• The Board voted unanimously to:
Accept a proposal by the Endowment Working Group to move the endowment to the UUA fund for one year while the group continues to review financial management options for the future management of the church’s endowment.
Approve John Lehman as Assistant Treasurer
Approve the current and the slate of potential Ministry Leadership Team members
• The Search Committee updated the Board on their excellent progress informing the Board of key roles and actions which the Board must take in the Search Process.
• The Board and Ministry Leadership Team were delighted to see the work to-date of the Web Group in developing the updated website which is scheduled for a September unveiling.
August Meeting: The major focus of the August 15th Joint Board and Ministry Leadership Team Meeting will be planning the calendar for the future church year. Board meetings are open to any interested members and friends of First Unitarian Church.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
The Property Committee is actively pursuing important projects.
Though you may not notice a new look, Hill Construction is gradually giving the roof a makeover, a large, expensive project. With the supervision and documentation of Marianna Thomas Architects and our caretaker, Christina Doe, Hill is repairing conditions identified in the Ortega/Hillier report.
Beyond the expected work, the team is finding roof and masonry deterioration that may require greater repair expenditures than anticipated.
The several added areas we are considering would require new roof which would not need replacement when we have to put on a new roof for the entire building—likely in 5 – 10 years.
Mark Peterson is overseeing a broad reconsideration of our property and liability insurance program. He is interviewing several agents, and the Committee will choose the most effective and economical this fall.
Two areas which you will notice when we are able to complete them are the Chestnut Street porch and the Parish House lobby and stairs. Stay tuned—the refinishing and carpets will make a big difference—but we have a ways to go. In fact the Committee really needs help. If you or someone you know could and would take on the project of researching about three possible floor covering firms—please get in touch. You don’t have to join the Property Committee to do a piece of work with us.
Thanks to the toilers on the Property Committee, and to our stalwart staff, Norman Fouhy and Christina Doe, and to our new Administrative Assistant, Mike McKee.
Richard Frey, Chair, Property Committee
richardfrey@dca.net
215-735-7156
Partners for Sacred Places
At the end of June I spent two days with Bill Metzger, Dane Wells, and Richard Frey from our church and about thirty members of eight other congregations at a workshop sponsored by Partners for Sacred Places. Together, we are learning how to find people, businesses, foundations and other community foundations and organizations that have a vested interest in financially supporting the work of our church homes.
Three important questions were raised in these two days: Who are we? What do we have? and What do we do? As a member of First Church, the first and last questions seem the easiest to answer. Every Sunday when we hear, “we are an intentionally diverse group of people….”we define who we are. And the list of what we do is long and varied. Here are a few highlights: we offer three other churches a sacred place to worship and two day care centers a safe place to care for children; our Camp Fire Kids engages neighborhood children in learning fun; as a music venue we attract everyone from Mozart lovers to could-be Moby moshers; we organize work parties to rehab homes; take to the streets of Washington to protest wars; and most recently, we have hung a rainbow banner outside our front door to let the world know that we are a welcoming congregation to all people.
The second question, “What do we have?” is one that we must all ponder. Two answers are obvious: we have a building and a congregation of people. Yet this training asks us to go deeper, to look within, and ask ourselves this question individually as well as collectively. What do I have to offer to the woman sitting next to me in the pew? What do I want to give to my church neighbors in Philadelphia? How can I work within the church to make my assets visible and real?
Take some time to think about this question and see what you come up with. Inventories are healthy—they often fill us with gratitude and give us energy. You will have an opportunity to share your thoughts and responses to these questions in September when we begin the initial planning stages of our search for partners for our sacred place. Happy pondering.
Submitted by Kim Cox
MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Ministerial Search Committee is off to a great start! In May, committee Members Billie Penn Johnson, Val Sandburg, Lora Thornburg, Seth Carrier, Marisa McClellan, Fran Poodry, Ken Olin, Leslie Abend and I met with our JPD consultant Reverend Howard Dana to review the search process. Soon afterwards, our friend Leslie withdrew from the committee, feeling that the demands of a new job and graduate school were too great. We will miss her participation.
In June, a Search Committee retreat facilitated by Meredith Higgins proved to be a tremendously uplifting experience. We began as individuals but left as a cohesive team, learning more about one another and accepting roles and responsibilities suited to our individual strengths. Most importantly, we took an immense task and broke it down into digestible components. The Congregational Survey was reviewed – thanks to all who took the time to complete this vital tool! We left the retreat with a complete schedule and a decision making process that will guide us throughout the entire search.
Next, we will compile our Congregation Record and post it on the UUA website in September. It will include answers to questions including:
• Which committees have recently had the greatest success?
• Which committees have recently been challenged?
• Does the congregation have a mission--not a mission statement, but a glowing coal at its center? If so, what is it?
• Which congregational issues will be most pressing over the next two years?
• Which congregational issues will be most pressing over the next ten years?
• Are there any congregational issues that may never be resolved?
As we compile this record, we value your input. Feel free to send your responses to Fran Poodry via the church or fpoodry@speakeasy.net by August 31. Potential ministerial candidates will then view this record and submit information that will be released to us in October.
At our retreat, we created a mission statement: “Through congregational input and our collective judgment, it is our mission to discover and recommend the best ministerial fit for the present and future ministry at First Church.” Everyone on the search committee is truly energized and committed to do just that!
Submitted by Christine Carlson
FIRST CHURCH ARCHIVES
In June, Norman Fouhy called me to ask if I would be able to help a scholar who had written requesting access to the church archives.
As Phyllis Belk had been after me to take the archives in hand, I figured that Norman’s call was a sign that the time had come.
With Marisa McClellan’s help (access to the Young Adult Listserve), I was joined on July 10th by Liz Martin, a Bryn Mawr alum who is pursuing her library degree, in front of the big safe in the hall outside the Parish Room which contains the archives of our congregation: precious relics and documents that are our history.
Our first task was to see what was really there, and to see how things were organized. Infinite thanks and praise must go up to Marie Boyle, late Board President and long time member of the church, whose significant work in the 1980s turned the job that Liz and I are embarked upon from mind-boggling to simply back-breaking and dirty. Marie sorted, labeled, and catalogued 200 years worth of deeds, membership rolls, etchings, financial records, song books, photographs, sermons, audio and video cassettes.
Among our “finds” were two embossers (those gizmos that imprint an institution’s name and address on official documents) with long-disused names of our congregation, the deed to our building, framed documents (fast-fading) of great historical significance, a portable communion set, a photograph of William Henry Furness (the portrait in the Parish Room is a gentler representation), an etching of William Ellery Channing, a beautiful brass vase given to the church in 1909, and a couple dozen heavy bronze Furness medallions that were created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Furness’s ministry.
There are books of check stubs, boxes of bank statements, cartons of envelopes filled with membership “applications”(!). There are loosely-wrapped documents and photographs, archival boxes cartons all numbered and their contents catalogued.
Liz and I managed to separate “old” (pre-1914) from “current” 1915-1970s) in one section of the archives. Our next project is going to be the removal of the numbered cartons and archival boxes so that we can return them to the shelves in order. (For example, I wanted to find some documents that were listed as being in boxes 1, 3 and 4. On the shelf we could only find boxes 2, 5, and 6.) We will be doing this in the third week of July, anticipating the visit of a researcher at the end of the month.
After a vaguely paranoid letter from a researcher concerned about getting scooped by another scholar researching the same topic, I consulted the Society of American Archivists and found their code of ethics (first come, first served; anonymity of researchers their right unless they say otherwise).
Following the recommendation of an archivist and using the SAA’s template, I have created a Researcher Registration sheet which will be helpful to us and potentially to future scholars.
Further work, envisioned for cooler weather, will entail examination, labeling, and cataloguing of the myriad packets atop the shelves of the main section; re-packing of the many loose materials (financial papers); and probably things I haven’t encountered yet.
Help would be greatly appreciated (call me!) in transferring audio tapes to CDs; transcription of the fading documents; preservation and restoration work on photographs, etchings, and various documents.
Ann Slater
WHEEL OF LIFE
Janet Austin Memorial ServiceA Memorial Service for Janet Austin will take place in the Sanctuary on Saturday, August 5th, at 1:00 PM. Rev. Metzger will be the officiant.
Congratulations, Ellen Foley!
Ellen E. Foley, married Ajayi Harris on June 17th in a surprise wedding that took place during their engagement party. The wedding was performed at the home of Jennifer Hurley by Cheryl M. Walker, M.Div., Assistant Minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City.
Ellen's new contact info in Massachusetts:
190 Westminster
Arlington, MA 02474
E-mail: ramatubaab@gmail.com
AUCTION ADVENTURES
Kayaking up the Schuylkill amidst cool breezes, then sharing a sumptuous supper on the porch of the century old canoe club while watching the sun set against river … what better way could there be to pass the time away on an otherwise tepid Philadelphia evening?
These were the pleasures afforded me by my humble purchase at our recent church auction.
Finy Hansen was my stalwart guide and hostess.
I have long wanted to try kayaking but backing off. I had thought it perhaps too strenuous or challenging. Admitted I was often looking at pictures of those on white water ventures. But I found that kayaking on flat water, even with the strong current the Schuylkill offered that evening, was quite manageable and only mildly strenuous.
I was pleased with my discovery. I also learned that Finy is much admired by her Canoe Club associates for taking and guiding club trips, swimming across rivers, hoisting her kayak onto the top of her car and hauling it the distance to water’s edge unassisted.
Who knew observing this slight woman as we most often do, in passing on a Sunday morning?
I was well pleased with my auction purchase and hope others of you will report on your Auction Adventures.
By the way, Paul Carbino has suggested that we have a church canoe outing in the Jersey Pine Barrens this fall and is researching options.
If you are interested in getting in on the planning stage, you may contact him at 609-501-4695.
Luana Goodwin
More Auction Adventures?
Have a story or anecdote to share about your own service auction experience?
Send yours into the Beacon for next month by emailing FUUAdminAssist@verizon.net.
Parking
We have a new arrangement with the Central Parking System Ambassador Garage, northwest corner of Chestnut and 21st Streets for four hours parking for $4 on Sundays. Please request a validation sticker from an usher or the church office.
Parking is still permitted on the east side of 22nd Street from Walnut to Market Streets.
Ushers, Greeters Needed
The Search is On… for a crew of people who are wanting to continue or expand their Sunday participation in the life of the church by being Ushers or Greeters. Both are important roles: the Usher requiring a bit more attention to the details of counting people and money, the Greeter requiring enthusiasm for talking with new visitors to the church. We are also in need of a Coordinator of Greeters.
At our recent Membership Ministry meeting, we decided that persons in these roles deserved some more distinguishing markers, such as ribbons for their name tags or sashes. You could, of course, create your own.
At any rate, the rewards are great! To make your availability known, please call or e-mail Jane Cox at 215-963-0069 or e-mail her at jhmarcox@aol.com. Please indicate whether you are volunteering as Usher or Greeter. Thank you.
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