FOR THE TIME BEING . . .

Asparagus: An early spring vegetable in which the whole of the plant’s fleshy mass appearing above ground is taken off and eaten. Needs to be harvested immediately upon emerging, but not the whole bed of it. Some of the plants need to grow and store starch underground for the next season. This is in contrast to how beans, tomatoes, or zucchini grow and are harvested: Every last piece is taken off the vine.

Asparagus is an important plant at the church, as well. After all, in 19 11, when the congregation had outgrown its chapel space for worship, the new church was built on Colonel Lee’s asparagus patch. Your former minister, Rev. Joseph Bassett, called this column “From Colonel Lee’s Asparagus Patch.” I assume he called it that because he wrote the column from the minister’s study in the church built atop the old asparagus patch. My column is called “For the Time Being.” It describes my place amongst you, and I write the way E. B. White did: from points north, south, east, or west, and sometimes from the coffee shop in Arlington, Jam and Java.

Asparagus is an interesting vegetable. The stalks are delectable and delicate and cook up in a moment to vivid green, sautéed with a bit of olive oil and butter. Other facts, which I learned in a book I recently read by Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: An asparagus patch needs three years to take hold. That is, don’t expect a prolific yield the minute you plant the roots. The plants need at least three years before a harvest is possible. Depending on where you live, north or south, a harvest is anytime between March and May. Then the patch yields without much work for 25 to 30 years, one generation. 

I must admit, I poke around the yard at church looking for a stray asparagus stalk. I haven’t found one. But the other day, as I was eating what I hoped was seasonal asparagus in my kitchen, I connected the dots: Colonel Lee’s patch, the name of Rev. Bassett’s column, and interim time (always interim time is on my mind). And I started to think of this time in terms of an asparagus patch. What we plant this year and watch grow next year will be ready for the harvest the following year and for years to come.

It’s been a pleasure to garden with you. Have a safe summer. In faith, Rosemarie

THANK YOU to all who helped with the Sunday services: ushers, bouillon hour hosts, and those who gave flowers. R.C.S.

OUR SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SEASON

June 1: Genesis 6:9–22, 7:24, 8:14–19; Matthew 7:21–29; Psalm 46.

June 8: Genesis 12:1–9; Matthew 9:9–13; Psalm 33.

June 15: Genesis 18:1–15; Matthew 9:35–10:8; Psalm 116.

June 22: Genesis 21:8–21; Matthew 10:24–39; Psalm 86.

June 29: Genesis 22:1–14; Matthew 10:40–42; Psalm 13.

July 6: Genesis 24:34–38, 42–49, 58–67; Matthew 11:25–30; Song of Solomon 2:8–13.

July 13: Genesis 25:19–34; Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23; Psalm 119.

July 20: Genesis 28:10–19a; Matthew 13:24–30; Psalm 139.

July 27: Genesis 29:15–28; Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52; Psalm 105.

MEMBERSHIP BOOK

The Membership Book is on the History Table on the first Sunday of every month, to peruse or to sign. Welcome to new members Ja-Naé Duane, Samuel Perry, and Carol Stuart.

ALTAR FLOWERS FOR JUNE 2008

June 1: The flowers are given in loving memory of Isabelle Marckwald Bushnell by her family.

June 8: The flowers are given in loving memory of Anne Parker Batchelder by her family.

GUEST MINISTER JUNE 1

On Sunday, June 1, Rev. Helen Cohen will preach. Helen Lutton Cohen grew up Unitarian in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a college English professor before studying for the Unitarian Universalist ministry at Harvard Divinity School. She is minister emerita of the First Parish in Lexington, which she served from 1980 to 2002. She and her husband, Don, have two daughters, one of whom is a UU minister. Rev. Cohen teaches UU theology every other year at Andover Newton Theological School.

SUMMER SERVICES

Starting June 15 and continuing through July 27, Morning Praise will be at 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall. The service, 30 minutes long, can be a pleasant way to start a summer Sunday.

BIBLE STUDY

Bible study meets as usual at 10:00 a.m. each Thursday this month.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Please join us to celebrate the Sunday school year at our annual picnic with barbecue, ice-cream making, and games, after Morning Prayer on Sunday, June 8. We’ll be singing some of our old and new favorites too, so bring your instruments and join Brian Cartwright and his guitar. There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall where you can let us know what you will bring and how many are coming.

This transition year David Gabel has graciously offered to don Michael Frankel’s illustrious grilling-chef hat for the picnic. We are in need of an ice-cream maker and a charcoal grill (for at least 10 hamburgers at a time). Join the fun and volunteer early and often. Joan Hunt

USHERS

June 1: John W. Gittinger Jr. June 8: Dorothy Baldini

BOUILLON HOUR

Members of the congregation, friends of the parish, and newcomers are invited to enjoy conversation and refreshments following the service on Sunday, June 1.

FROM THE SEARCH COMMITTEE

The search committee has held its second meeting and is getting down to business. In the next few weeks we will be taking time at a retreat to explore the decision-making process for the important task ahead of us, arranging to meet with representatives at UUA headquarters, and meeting with Sue Reamer for further analysis of the survey to prepare for an all-church meeting in September. Needless to say, we are getting to know one another better in the process. 

And we want to hear from you! Please speak to any one of us at any time with your suggestions, questions, or concerns. At least one of us will be at church services through July, and we are always available by phone or e-mail.  The more we hear from you, the better, and the better job we will do. 

Finally, the committee wants to thank Sue Reamer for her fantastic job in organizing and presenting the results of the survey. She has done an invaluable service to all of us, and if you haven't yet seen the results of her labors, copies are available in the parish hall. 

Search Committee members: Bert Dane and Susan Welch (cochairs), Sarah Buermann, Isabelle Cazales-Evans, Jonathan Levi, Werner Lohe, and Dorothy Waldron.

TRANSITION TEAM UPDATE

As this first interim year concludes, the Transition Team has completed several tasks. It has led the congregation in identifying topics of interest and scheduled after-church discussions on two of the topics: outreach, and tradition and theology. For the most recent discussion (May 4), there are copies of the minutes in the parish hall. In the year ahead, the Transition Team will continue to organize after-church discussions and to develop a process for forming topic-centered working groups. In addition, the team will work in concert with the Search Committee and the Standing Committee as the search process continues.

Transition Team members: Sally Baker, Molly Batchelder, David Brooks, Bert Dane, Amy Isaac, Rosemarie Smurzynski

CHURCH DIRECTORIES AVAILABLE

Thanks to the careful management of the church database by Sue Reamer, we now have available a directory of church members and friends. Please help yourself to a copy in the parish hall, and be sure to note any changes, corrections, or additions.

Music for june 2008

June 1 (Third Sunday after Pentecost)

Preludes: “Blessed Jesus, at Thy word” ― Bach

“Grave, adagio” (Sonata II) ― Mendelssohn

Anthem: “The Lord is a mighty God” ― Mendelssohn

Response: “Almighty Father” ― Mendelssohn

Anthem: “Sing to all eternity” ― Sewell

Choral Amen: “Threefold” ― Mendelssohn

Postlude: “Allegro maestoso e vivace” (Sonata II) ― Mendelssohn

June 8 (Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

Preludes: “Chorale Prelude” ― Buxtehude

“Ciacone in E Minor” ― Buxtehude

Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord” ― Redford

Response: “I sought the Lord” ― The Revivalist

Anthem: “O happy souls” ― arr. Parker

Choral Amen: “Twofold” ― Traditional

Postlude: “Fugue in C Major” ― Buxtehude