FROM THE INTERIM
MINISTER . . .
Back
in September 2007 I wrote my first minister’s column to you. I had occasion to look
at that column the other day. In it I quoted T. S. Eliot:
One has only learnt to get the better
of words
For the thing one no longer has to
say. . . . And so each venture
Is a new beginning, a raid on the
inarticulate.
I continued: “We begin together, interim
minister and congregation, knowing some things:
that a minister who served you and God faithfully for 38 years is gone;
that a voice heard each Sunday in prayer for 38 years will no longer be heard;
that a pastor who knew your comings and goings for 38 years will no longer be a
presence at every turn of the congregation; that a minister you hardly know,
me, will stand in these places for the time being. We begin knowing these
facts, but are yet to give words to their meaning.”
I also said: “Interim time yields to a simple
template: finding words that tell who you were during this long ministry, who
you are now that it is over, and who you will be in the ministry yet to come. I
promise, during this time, to be faithful to you, to care for you, to listen to
you, and to pray with you, as is your tradition.”
I have amazed myself how prescient Eliot’s
words are; how close to the plan of our time together we stayed; and how
faithful to you I have been. Indeed what was inarticulate in the beginning has
now been given words. Together we have accomplished much.
As you receive this newsletter you will be in
the throes of candidating week. My best wishes to you and to your candidate,
whose name you will have become quite familiar with by then.
In
faith,
Rosemarie
OUR SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SEASON
May 3:
Acts
4:5–12; John 10:11–18; Psalm 23.
May
10: Acts
May 17: Acts
May 24: Acts
May 31: Acts
2:1–21; John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15; Psalm 104.
MEMBERSHIP BOOK
Welcome
to Samuel L. Batchelder Jr. (
SPECIAL MEETING MAY 3
The Standing Committee is calling a special meeting
of the church on May 3 at
ALTAR
FLOWERS FOR MAY 2009
May
3: The
flowers are given in loving memory of Lewis F. Perry and Alice de V. Perry by
their children.
May
10: The
flowers are given in loving memory of Charles Smith Cornish by his family.
May
17: The flowers
are given in loving memory of Arthur T. and Gertrude L. Nelson and of Arthur T.
Nelson Jr. by the Waldron family.
May
24: The
flowers are given in loving memory of Louisa T. Baker by her family.
May
31: The
flowers are given in loving memory of Josephine Sturgis Crocker and Edith
Eustis Sturgis by the Crocker family.
BIBLE STUDY
Bible study meets Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. We
are reading the Book of Isaiah.
SUMMER SERVICES
Summer
services begin June 14 and continue through July 26. Summer Morning Prayer
consists of the reading of prayers and scriptures and a homily about eight
minutes long that reflects on one of the Bible passages of the day. Rev.
Rosemarie Smurzynski will lead the services on June 14 and 21 and July 12. The
Standing Committee has agreed to have lay-led services on the remaining
Sundays: June 28 and July 5, 19, and 26. Please let Rev. Smurzynski or Standing
Committee chair David Brooks know if you would consider reading the prayers or
writing and giving the homily for one of those dates. The scriptures for the
four Sundays in question are:
June
28
July 19
2 Samuel 1:1, 17–27 2 Samuel 7:1–14a
Mark 5:21–43 Mark 6:30–34, 53–56
July
5 July 26
2 Samuel 5:1–5, 9–10 2
Samuel 11:1–15
Mark 6:1–13
John 6:1–21
READING GROUP
We are
reading Pigeon Feathers by John
Updike and will meet to duscuss the book at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at
Molly Batchelder’s house (
UU
URBAN MINISTRY ANNUAL MEETING
The
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry invites us to its 174th Annual Meeting on
Thursday, May 21, from10:30 a.m. to
The
Women’s
FROM
THE STANDING COMMITTEE
There
will be a reception to thank Rev. Rosemarie Smurzynski after church on May 31.
As our Interim Minister, Rosemarie has piloted us through the transition period
with wisdom, experience, and a gentle hand. With her help and guidance we have
a new understanding of who we are and where we are going, and she has readied
us for greeting a new called minister. Please join us to thank her and wish her
Godspeed in her new assignment.
FAMILY
CHOIR TO SING MAY 31
The Family Choir will provide special music on
Sunday, May 31, to help celebrate Interim Minister Rosemarie Smurzynski’s two
years at the
Because we hope to perform “How Lovely Is Thy
Dwelling Place” from the Brahms Requiem
for the first time, Family Choir members are asked please to attend at least
one of the two preliminary rehearsals! Thank you in advance. Sam Adams
BOUILLON
HOURS
Members,
friends of the parish, and newcomers are invited to enjoy fellowship and
refreshments after the services on Sunday, May 3, and Sunday, May 17.
USHERS
May 3: Werner Lohe May 24:
Dorothy Baldini
May 10: John W. Gittinger Jr. May 31: Sally Baker
May
17: Dorothy Waldron
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION
Thank
you to all the families and individuals in our congregation who provided table
decorations (including toys for children!) and food, cooked, and cleaned up
after our delicious Easter Breakfast. It was truly a
Many
of you asked, “How did we find our wonderful Sunday school teacher, Elizabeth
Moran?” The answer is: “Through our participation in the Council of Christian
Churches within the UUA,” of which
Also,
The
short Easter morning hymn sing
prepared us to sing more Alleluiahs at morning prayer. Thanks to Brian
Cartwright for leading it.
The Religious Education
Program continues with stories of the Great 50 Days of Easter (Easter is a
season), which end at Pentecost. Alleluiah! Joan Hunt
SEARCH
COMMITTEE UPDATE
On
Easter Sunday, the Search Committee was very pleased to announce that, after a
thorough search process and careful evaluation, it has unanimously presented
Mark Caggiano for the congregation’s consideration as its new called minister.
A letter describing Mark’s background was mailed to the congregation in
mid-April. Mark is now with us for
candidating week, which began on Sunday, April 26, and continues through
Sunday, May 3. During this week Mark is meeting with the committees of the
church and members of the congregation. He conducted the service on April 26
and will preach again on May 3. Immediately following the May 3 service, there
will be a meeting of church members to vote on calling the Reverend Mr. Mark
Caggiano to be our next minister. We hope many of our members will be in church
on May 3 to take part in this important and exciting event.
Search Committee members: Bert Dane,
Co-Chair; Susan Welch, Co-Chair; Sarah Buermann; Isabelle Cazales-Evans;
Jonathan Levi;
LAST TRANSITION TEAM
UPDATE
The Transition
Team will conclude its work on May 17 with an after-church discussion on an
appropriate topic—closure. Over the past two years the Team has hosted multiple
discussions to facilitate dialogue on topics of interest to the congregation.
Open discussion rather than consensus has been the goal, and we have learned a
great deal about the congregation and about ourselves. In this final discussion
we will summarize the journey we have taken, relying heavily on comprehensive
minutes recorded by Molly Batchelder. Sally Baker will lead the discussion.
The
Transition Team is grateful to all those who have attended the after-church
discussions, freely sharing their thoughts and opinions, and in so doing
strengthening our community with openness, trust, and respect for our diverse
points of view.
Transition Team members: Sally Baker,
Molly Batchelder, David Brooks, Bert Dane, Amy Isaac, Rosemarie Smurzynski
Music
for MAY 2009
May 3
(Fourth Sunday of Easter)
Preludes: “Prelude
on Rhosymedre” ―
“Sheep
may safely graze” ― Bach
Anthem: “My
Shepherd will supply my need” ― Thompson
Response: “May
the words of my mouth” ―
Anthem: “Lo,
my Shepherd’s hand divine” ― Haydn
Choral Amen: “Twofold” ― Ramsey
Postlude: “In
Thee is gladness” ― Bach
May
10 (Fifth Sunday of Easter)
Preludes: “Espressivo”
(Sonata II) ― Arne
“Variations
on a Dutch Choral” ― Bull
Anthem: “How
excellent Thy name, O Lord” ― Handel
Response: “May
the grace of Christ our Savior” ― Corner’s
“Gesangbuch”
Anthem: “If
ye love me” ― Tallis
Choral Amen: “Threefold” ― Traditional
Postlude: “
May
17 (Sixth Sunday of Easter)
Prelude: “Air”
from Suite in D Major ― Bach
“Trumpet
Voluntary” ― Heron
Anthem: ”Rejoice
in the Lord alway” ― Purcell
Response: “Let
my prayer come up” ― Purcell
Anthem: “O
Lord, give Thy Holy Spirit” ― Tallis
Choral Amen: “Threefold” ― Traditional
Postlude: “Trumpet
Voluntary in D Major” ― Clarke
May
24 (Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Preludes: “Prelude
on St. Columba” ― Stanford
“Benedictus” ―
Rowley
Anthem: “O
for a closer walk with God” ―
Scottish Psalter, arr. Stanford
Response: “Grant
me, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit” ― Bach
Anthem: “These
are they which follow the Lamb” ―
Goss
Choral Amen: “Twofold” ―
Anonymous
Postlude: ”Trumpet
Tune in C Major” ― Johnson
May
31 (Pentecost Communion, with Family Choir)
Preludes: “Adoro
te devote” ―
Titcomb
“Antiphons
III and V” ―
Dupre
Anthem: “How
lovely is Thy dwelling place” (from Requiem)
― Brahms
Response: “Come
Holy Ghost, God and Lord” ―
Bach
Anthem: “I
will not leave you comfortless” ―
Titcomb
Choral Amen: “A
Gaelic Blessing” ―
Rutter
Postlude: “Magnificat
6: Gloria” ―
Dupre