The Beacon-September 2007
WORSHIP SERVICES
(Beginning September 9, services are held at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Please note the change.)
September 9, "Legacy of Liberty." Rev. Nate spent eight years living in New York City where the Statue of Liberty became for him a pedestrian backdrop to his commute. At first, Lady Liberty inspired him and then he found himself resenting the insincerity of the symbol as he mourned the erosions of liberties in America. Over time, he no longer found himself teary-eyed by the symbol. He no longer found himself outraged by its lack of meaning. Instead, he felt nothing. Will he come to be as stoic about the Liberty Bell? Or will the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia rekindle his faith in the legacy of liberty by creating a community where true freedom is not simply a political slogan but a way of life?
Water Communion. Please bring water to poor in a common bowl to symbolize the lessons you learned this summer – the wisdom you intend to contribute to a community dedicated to shared ministry.
September 16, "With You Always.” Rev. Nate heard Nelson Mandela deliver a final farewell to America, saying simply that he will be with us always. Rev. Nate was on an airplane when a man in front of him died. What do these stories have to do with the legacy of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia? Come and find out!
September 23, “At-one-ment.” Jewish and Christian theologies on atonement teach us that suffering is redemptive. Rev. Nate challenges this belief system by using the theology of atonement as a conceptual lens through which to view two cases: AIDS and Agent Orange. He asks whether or not the “sins” of homosexuals were reconciled through the 3 million people who died last year from AIDS? He goes on to ask, does the theology of atonement apply to the 3 million people who currently suffer from diseases caused by Agent Orange, a chemical used by the Americans in Vietnam? Or could it be that the biological and political roots of suffering call us to be at-one with all who suffer?
September 30, “Peering into the Face of Homelessness.” Dr. Ed Speedling, Outreach Coordinator for Project H.O.M.E., will be joined by his colleague who is both a resident of Project H.O.M.E. and a formerly homeless woman. They will tell their stories and express what they have seen and how they were changed. Members of the congregation will be invited to share what they see when peering into the face of homelessness, or perhaps the faces of homeless people.
MINISTER'S MESSAGE
Radical Hospitality
The hospitality you have shown to me has not gone unnoticed or taken for granted. I am moved by your generosity and thank you for your warm welcome. You have reminded me of the power of a friendly smile, the authenticity of a welcoming phone call, and the delight of a deliciously kind email. In my short time in Philadelphia, it has been made clear that you are a community that mindfully practices hospitality. It reminds me that the greatest gift we can give one another is our very presence. And what a radiant presence you bring to our church family!
When dealing with conflict you listen deeply and respond with loving speech. These exchanges promote organizational health. Your actions inspire a sense of belonging. These are remarkable characteristics. Keep cultivating these practices because they really do make a difference! And together let us celebrate the beginning of an already meaningful relationship.
Homeless Census
I joined with Project HOME on August 15 to help count the homeless in Center City. From midnight to 3:00 a.m., two of us drove up and down a one square-mile zone from Market to South and from 18th Street to the Schuylkill river. We counted 106 people. A supermajority of them were African American men. Some had bikes. Some were friendly, others unapproachable. Nearly no homeless slept south of Rittenhouse Square that evening, leaving me to conclude that the majority of homeless in this zone are our immediate neighbors. One hundred six of our neighbors are without home; 100% of my heart is breaking with the knowledge of this stark reality. Please join us on September 30 for a worship service led by the outreach professionals of Project HOME.
Laying the Foundation
We have begun to lay the foundation of a meaningful year of shared ministry. In the first 16 days of our ministry together we’ve efficiently collaborated with various ministry teams.
• The Worship Arts ministry developed 19 invigorating worship services through December. Each service is intricately woven into the next so that it begins to reveal a master narrative and vision for our year together.
• The Adult Religious Exploration ministry developed 11 adult programs this fall (see enclosed brochure).
• The Board, the Staff and Finance ministries have analyzed the factors that led to our substantial deficit in this year’s operating budget. I’m impressed with the wisdom and creativity of the deliberations and remain hopeful about our options.
• We’ve had a blast with the “Dates with Nate,” which has given me the opportunity to get to know you and the city.
• Pastorally, many of you have already arranged appointments to discuss various matters. This is a very good sign! Pastoral care is one of the great gifts we can give one another, so please know that your wellbeing is my highest priority.
• The Children’s Religious Education ministry is poised to offer remarkable programming and is planning to educate our community on the importance of a “Safe Congregation” policy designed to prevent child abuse.
These are only some of the meaningful things in the works. We are all very excited about the start of this new year. Please let me know if you have any questions!
With radical gratitude,
Rev. Nate Walker
Cell: (215) 701-9072
Email: RevNate[AT]Philauu.org
CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Greetings From Your CRE Director
Have you ever had the experience of trying to explain Unitarian Universalist Theology to someone unfamiliar with our religion, and discovering that it isn’t all that clear to you? Are you a little fuzzy about how our remarkable religion came into being and what keeps us together? Do you have trouble naming the prophetic people that shaped our two faiths? You are not alone. The majority of us come to UUism having grown up in a different religious tradition. We are attracted to the free-flowing, unstructured nature of our religion and the lack of a dogma. Children and adults alike can be heard saying “I like this church because we don’t have to believe anything”.
If this was true, our faith would not have survived. Although our values do evolve, there are core beliefs that have remained with us over the centuries. In 1557, King John Sigismund decreed a policy of open discussion and broad toleration of all viewpoints which made Transylvania, in religious matters, the freest country in Europe. In that one respect, our values haven’t changed in 450 years. This year our church school classes will examine those core beliefs, learn about the men and women who helped to shape our religion, and look at the ways that we can put our faith into action. The theme is UU Identity and History. Our goals are to enrich our children’s understanding of Unitarian Universalism, deepen their ability to articulate its values and to incorporate them into their own faith.
If learning more about UUism, being able to articulate UU values and incorporate them into your own faith are goals for you as well, you have a golden opportunity. One of the best ways to learn something is to teach it. I invite you to consider being on our teaching team. There are openings for teachers in a couple of our classes. You would be asked to be with the children about twice a month, once to prepare a class lesson and lead it, and once as a support teacher. If you want more detail about the curriculum that each class will use, check out our web site, www.philauu.org. Some of you aren’t prepared to make that big a commitment and there are opportunities for you. Once a month, we offer an All-Together Sunday when all the classes join together in one room for an exploration of a topic, a project and/or a story. This year the All-Togethers will also focus on UU Identity and History. You could participate in one or more of them as your time and energy allows. Please contact me if you have some knowledge or interest in any of the following subjects (or another): Astronomy and Cosmology, Joseph Priestly, the Red Cross, Bela Bartok, Ellen Watkins Harper, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Earth Centered Religions, Susan B. Anthony, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, GLBT issues, Charles Darwin, Buddhism, Sophia Lyon Fahs, Human Population, Racial Diversity, Evolution and the Great Story, Olympia Brown.
Another opportunity to participate is as a homilist or storyteller for our children’s chapel service. Please contact coordinator, Kate Connolly, if you would like to do a brief story or talk about a subject that is dear to you during our children’s worship. If you prefer to work behind the scenes, our CRE Ministry Team is seeking members to help guide the program.
There will be a teacher orientation meeting on Saturday, September 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon here at the church. If you are not sure what if anything you want to offer but want to get a feel for the curriculum or the teaching teams, you are welcome to come, observe and ask questions. We will offer child care, a light breakfast and snacks. Please contact me if you intend to come so I know how much food to buy.
With affection,
Jansen Wendell
CRE Director
(215) 563-3980, ext. 305
Jansen[AT]Philauu.org
Getting to Know UU
Many readers know of the considerable history of First Church. I’m certainly not afraid to bring it up in conversation! Other churches in the denomination have their own histories, and there are those that can rightfully highlight the many accomplishments of their members and ministry.
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, Iowa was founded in 1877 when the city had just 16,000 people, by a small group of brave souls who were tired of the conservative evangelism being preached in the city up until then. Among those founders was Benjamin Gue (pronounced Goo), an abolitionist, suffragist and influential politician in the state. His influence allowed women to enroll in what is now Iowa State University in 1865. The congregation was proud of its push for women’s rights. To emphasize it, they had an early tradition of selecting women as ministers. The Rev. Ida Hulting served as their third, arriving in 1886, and Rev. Mary Augusta Safford served from 1899 to 1910. Both were outspoken leaders for the rights of women and the oppressed. The first women’s suffrage march in the country was organized by assistant minister (under Safford) Rev. Eleanor Gordon.
Rev. Curtis Reese, serving from 1915 to 1919, went on to help found the American Humanist Movement, the basis for religious humanism, and was its first President. Rev. Aaron Gilmartin helped to found the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. In 1948, seven years before Rosa Parks took a seat in the front of the bus in Montgomery, Ala., much loved African American member Edna Griffin brought suit against a Des Moines lunch counter where she’d been refused service because of the color of her skin. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the lunch counter was found guilty in 1949, resulting in the integration of Iowa’s public accommodations. Is it any surprise that the church was among the very first UU congregations to be designated a Welcoming Congregation? There is much more to be found on their website, http://www.ucdsm.org/.
As we start a new phase of our ministry outreach to Greater Philadelphia, and to ourselves, with the arrival of Rev. Nate Walker, will we find the courage to become the activists this city needs to speak out on issues that concern us? We are on the cusp of what could be a historic time for First Church. But it depends on all of us taking part and stepping up. Won’t you join us? Get involved!
Submitted by Ken Olin
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTARY
The first Sunday that we’re all together again in September has always been an exciting one for me. I love seeing everyone and experiencing the warm sense of community that we have at First Church. It’s always felt like a celebration to me and this year with our after-church reception to welcome Rev. Nate into our long and rich history of ministers, it’s sure to be a great day.
The reception will be in the Parish Room. There will be the usual delicious snacks and lots of good conversation. We will also step back and in heartily welcoming Rev. Nate will reflect on the rich history of ministers who have served First Church.
This past spring and summer Ed Close has been working with Norman Fouhy, Christina Doe and Mike McKee with Dane Wells, the Property Ministry Team, Portia Sperr and Shirley Steele as reviewers to rearrange and label the portraits and photographs of the ministers in the Parish Room. An exciting aspect of this project is that included in this arrangement is the church’s newest portrait, that of our co-ministers Rev. Holly Horn and Rev. Benjamin Maucere.
This summer at General Assembly (GA) I truly got to experience a tiny bit of First Church’s history all in a few days. At the annual GA Service of the Living Tradition in which Rev. Nate’s Receiving of Preliminary Fellowship was celebrated, Rev. Ken Collier’s retirement as a minister was also celebrated. Rev. Ken Collier was our minister from 1986 through 1991. While at GA, Gerry Parchman, Ken. Goggins and I spent some time catching up with Rev. Holly Horn and Rev. Benjamin Maucere, our prior settled ministers. It was great to see them. Benjamin is an interim minister at the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church outside of Houston, TX and is experiencing much that interim ministry brings. Holly shared with us that she was on the verge of writing a book and was in conversation with a publisher. Holly portrayed a wonderful sense of serenity as she spoke of once again playing her harp, of the research for her upcoming book and of the garden they had while in Nova Scotia. And of course, both Holly and Benjamin asked about so many of you.
It’s often hard for me to think of the ministers I have personally experienced at First Church as “history” but they truly are. Each has stories and contributions they have made to the life of First Church and its members and friends. In a sense these familiar portraits and photographs help to make those stoic faces whose stories and contributions I have not directly experienced and in some cases can’t even imagine a bit more real. Each has contributed to our history building a foundation for each new minister to come.
Welcome Rev. Nate, we’re excited about this time in which a new era in our history has just begun.
With love,
Debby Schultz
COMMUNITY SERVICE & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Recycling
Please bring your cleaned, crushed, plastic bottles with a neck to the corner of 22nd and Spruce Sts. on the first and third Saturday of every month (between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.). Also bring cardboard and mixed paper. The Community Outreach Program benefits from the funds gained from this project, along with programs like WinterShelter, in which we participate.
Books Through Bars
We continue to support this national program which sends books to prisoners in response to their requests. Packing and sending takes place at the A Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave. every Tuesday 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. and the first and third Saturday of the month 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Bring your finished Summer Reading to the bin if you think a prisoner might enjoy it!
A Call For Volunteers From the Center for Literacy
According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, nearly half of all adults in Pennsylvania do not have adequate literacy skills to be effective in the workplace. Low literacy skills keep this portion of our population from achieving their potential as citizens, family members, workers, and individuals.
Tutoring with the Center for Literacy gives you the opportunity to help someone in our city reach their educational goals, while also building valuable interpersonal relationships. Volunteer tutors at CFL are asked to make a six-month commitment to work with adult students in Philadelphia who are working to improve their reading, writing, math, or English language skills. CFL will provide training, all necessary materials, a place to meet, and ongoing support to tutors and learners.
If you are interested in joining our volunteer tutor ranks, please contact Melissa Risser at 215-351-1670 or Risser[AT]centerforliteracy.org.
ADULT PROGRAMS
This month we invite you to check out the new Adult Religious Education brochure available in our lobby where you can learn more about these and other programs going on this Fall at First Church!
Interweave Organizational Meeting
Interweave will hold an organizational meeting after the church service on Sunday, September 16. All interested are invited to come and discuss goals and activities for the coming year, and to elect new chairpersons for this group focusing on issues of importance to the BGLT community. Contact Gerry Parchman (856-829-4561) for more information.
Depression Support Group
The group continues to meet on the first Sunday of each month, following service. For more info contact Arcenia Rosal at 215-561-6506, or Lynn Rubin at 215-837-3371.
Women's Book Club
Summer vacation plans resulted in a small attendance of a good discussion of a book by Edward P. Jones, with the premise of black slaves owning slaves and the interactions that took place. This month’s meeting on September 10 should be equally stimulating with a discussion of one or two books by Barack Obama. We will be comparing Dreams of My Father and Audacity of Hope. Discussion takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Sharon Tomalin. Please RSVP through her at 215-735-5047 or stomalin[AT]att.net. On October 1, we will meet to discuss Naguib Mahfouz’s Children of the Alley.
Native American Spirituality for Women
The class meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. At present, the class is not open to new members, but will reopen in January 2008. For further information, contact facilitator Connie Baker at conniejazz[AT]comcast.net, 856-282-7448.
Adults in Transition
All are invited to take part in this new Adult Religious Education series facilitated by Rev. Nate held on Monday evenings, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m., beginning September 17. For more information, consult the new Adult Religious Education brochure available in our lobby.
BEACON BITS
Reception to Welcome Rev. Nate
Please join us on our refurbished front porch and the rear of the sanctuary for a celebratory reception to welcome Reverend Nate immediately after services on Sunday, September 9, 2007. We will also recognize member Paul DuSold for his artistic contribution to our church.
New Church Email Addresses
Please note that the church staff and office email addresses have changed. You can now reach us at:
Rev. Nate, Minister RevNate@Philauu.org
Norman Fouhy, Church Administrator Norman@Philauu.org
Mike McKee, Church Office Mike@Philauu.org
Christina Doe, Sexton Christina@Philauu.org
Jansen Wendell, CRE Director Jansen@Philauu.org
Christopher Barnard, Music Director Christopher@Philauu.org
Update your records today!
First Unitarian Podcast
Recorded last winter, this Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation project can be heard on your computer or iPod. It features a photo of the church and the voices of Anne Slater, Bill Metzger, Marissa McClellan, and Richard Frey.
Visit the Church Website www.PhilaUU.org to listen!
Circle Dinners
Each fall we sign up for Circle Dinner groups. An informative flier and sign-up sheets are on the welcome table in our lobby. About 50 people joined last year and this fall we'll mix everyone up and re-form again. It's lots of fun and a good way to meet and get to know better your fellow UUs.
Update on Parking
The College of Physicians parking lot on Van Pelt street, flush with the church, is no longer available for church parking. The large parking lot between Van Pelt and 21st St. is available free of charge most Sundays. Vouchers for $5 discount parking at the Ambassador Garage (21st and Chestnut) are available from the ushers or by contacting the church office. Free parking is permitted on the east side of 22nd Street from Walnut to Market Streets on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
"Kudos!" --A New Section in the Beacon!
Let us all give thanks for one another: In an effort to build cohesion in our growing and changing community, this month the Board of Trustees would like to introduce a new ongoing feature to our Beacon. Kudos will give church members and friends a chance to offer public recognition to fellow congregants. Each month you may suggest a name and a one-sentence (or less) explanation of your appreciation of a particular member or friend. These will be compiled and sent to the church office for publication. The deadline for submissions for the October Beacon is September 9. Send your submissions to Heather Speirs at hmspeirs[AT]gmail.com.
Auction Events – A Second Chance!
Are there open seats at the auction event you are hosting this year? Here’s an opportunity to add some guests.
In the October Beacon, a list of available auction events will be published. Each event will consist of a short description, the host and the cost. Church members will be invited to contact the host and on a first come, first serve basis attend the event. Hosts will collect the money at the event and send the money into the church office. Easy!
So, if you are, interested in adding additional guests to your auction event, please by September 10 send to Mike McKee in the church office the following information to be published in the October Beacon:
• The event
• Date of the event
• Brief description
• Host(s) including contact information
• Number of available seats
• Cost
This is a great way to build community and raise money for the church. For additional information, please contact Debby Schultz at schultzd[AT]comcast.net or 610-664-0886.
MINISTRY FOR THE ARTS
Play Discussion Group for 2007 – 2008
After a highly successful inaugural year, the Arts Ministry is sponsoring discussion groups and Sunday sermon topics drawn from four plays for 2007-2008. All members and friends of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia are invited to sign up for these programs and to secure tickets individually to the plays. You can attend one or more of the plays and join in the discussion, as you are available. Please sign up for the program on the sheets at the rear of the sanctuary or by e-mail to valsand[AT]earthlink.net indicating your preferred meeting day of the week for the discussion group. If you are interested in hosting a discussion group please indicate that on your sign-up sheet or e-mail.
The plays selected are:
Assassins at the Arden Theater
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
September 13 - October 21, 2007
Part vaudeville extravaganza, part exposé and wholly electrifying, Assassins reveals uneasy truths about the American Dream. It investigates the personalities behind nine individuals who attempted to assassinate a President of the United States. Hugely resonant in today's celebrity-obsessed society, the story is peopled with desperate characters intent on making their mark.
Wittenberg at the Arden Theater
A World Premier By David Davalos
January 17 - March 9, 2008
Set during late October of 1517, this smart, sprightly and audacious battle of wits features university colleagues Dr. Faustus (a man of appetites), Martin Luther (a man of faith), and their student Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (a youth struggling not only with his beliefs but also with his tennis game). This is a story behind the stories in a highly entertaining exploration of reason versus faith.
Eurydice at the Wilma Theater
By Sarah Ruhl
April 30 – June 1, 2008
On the day Eurydice is to marry her true love Orpheus, a tragic misstep sends her plummeting to the surreal depths of the Underworld. Memories are forbidden in this world of the dead, but an unexpected reunion with her father vividly awakens Eurydice’s mind with the love she felt in life. A modern tale of loss and love, Eurydice is the classic myth of Orpheus retold from the heroine’s point of view, abounding with surprising plot twists, quirky humor, and an original musical score.
PROPERTY UPDATE
1) Roof work has continued and a final project of renovation is under way. Leaky masonry and rotted, leaking roof in the north west section, near neighboring building, over organ loft are being repaired. Part of this project is replacing an old skylight with new roof.
2) A new fence has been welded and installed along the garden on the Chestnut front.
3) The Chestnut Porch walls have been renovated and sealed—and painted pink. The color was specified by specialist Dorothy Krotzer as the color of a nearly lime wash finish of these walls. The woodwork paint, above and doors, has been analysed and we have specifications for painting in the original colors, we lack funds for this expensive job.
4) For the Chestnut Porch lamps from the old Divine Lorraine Hotel have been obtained and rewired. These fantastic lamps may not be exactly in Frank Furness style, but all seem to agree they will be a fine replacement for the 1950s style globes we’ve lived with for too long.
5) The grant proposal, both voluminous and complex, which the church submitted to the Philadelphia Regional Fund, Partners for Sacred Places, last spring, will be reviewed by their grant panel September 13. Keep your fingers crossed. If we get this baby, it will enable big projects like masonry restoration, vital to the future of our great building.
Submitted by Richard Frey
Richardfrey[AT]dca.net
215-735-7156
MINISTRY LEADERSHIP TEAM
We are on the Move!
The summer is great time for our ministry teams to gear up for the coming church year. And many have been about that very venture. Membership hosted a get together with Rev. Nate for summer visitors and is planning a meeting for early September. There was an Adult Religious Education summit to propose course content for the fall. Children's Religious Education is busy recruiting teachers and looking for more congregational involvement in the coming year. Property is showing us new improvements around the church.
The Worship Associates retreated with Rev. Nate and came up with plans for fall worship services. Chris Barnard, our Director of Music, attended a UU musicians conference in Florida and came back inspired. We applaud all who have been working on building more richness into our congregational life.
There have as well been some changes in your Ministry Leadership Team. Of course, we welcome Rev. Nate's arrival and involvement as Co-Chair. He and I had a shared experience at UULTI (the UU Leadership Team Institute) to begin our working relationship. Dan Widyono and Connie Baker have resigned from the team. We thank them for their contribution to building the team over the past year for Connie and two years for Dan. Both look forward to continuing other ministries in the church.
The standing Ministry Leadership Team is: Rev. Nate and Luana Goodwin, Co-chairs, Seth Carrier, Carol Peterson, Anne Slater, Phebe Shinn. The role of the MLT again is to assist Rev. Nate with assuring that Ministry Teams are able to work effectively in achieving the Annual Vision of Ministry and other essential aspects of congregational life.
Submitted by Luana Goodwin
RECITATIVE: A MESSAGE FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
An exciting and new adventure is beginning for all of us. As I begin my second year as your Music Director, I am very much looking forward to what the future holds for us!
Pondering the vision that I have for the music program, the musical term “counterpoint” comes to mind. Counterpoint is defined as “the art of adding one or more parts to a given theme or subject”. The growth and future of our program is up to you. You are the counterpoint – the addition to our given theme. I invite you to support and participate in our program. Do you enjoy singing? Play an instrument? Are you a composer or poet? Enjoy attending concerts and special programming? I invite you to look at your gift and consider how you can participate and help enrich the glorious music at First Church. Any or all of these are ways for you to become a vital and active part of our music program.
I would like to thank the Board of Directors for their support over the summer. For the first time in our history we were afforded the opportunity to have a summer choir season. This summer was a great start to an exciting year. Looking forward, we have many new plans for our program. I hope that you will share in my excitement as we grow together!
Submitted by Christopher Barnard, Music Director
WHEEL OF LIFE
It's a joy to welcome the newest member, Xiomara Rose Fulton Cota-Robles! She was born in August to Sona Cota-Robles and Brian Fulton. We hope the whole family will be blessed with abundant health and happiness!
If you have an announcement you would like to share with the congregation in the Wheel of Life section of the Beacon—be it a joyous, monumental, or a call for support or remembrance--we invite you to let us know here at the church office at Mike[AT]Philauu.org.
FLOWERS
September 9 – In memory of Mrs. Jonathan T. Rorer, Dominic Umine, and Saverio Del Sindaco, whose bequest has provided these flowers.
September 16 – Donated by Elizabeth Ralston in loving memory of her mother, Marjorie Brereton Ralston.
September 23 – Given by Steven Lynch in memory of his grandfather, Oliver Tennyson Alexander.
September 30 – In memory of my mother, Lorraine MacKenzie, 1913-1990. With love from Heather.
If you are interested in donating flowers for an upcoming service, please contact Connie Mast at 215-496-0840.
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