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Reflections from Our Interim Minister, Rev. Clyde Grubbs
We get by with a little help from our friends.
The weekend before Christmas a friend I know from the Occupy Boston movement emailed telling me that the Cambridge City council would be considering a resolution to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. I usually am aware of such efforts but this one slopped by my consciousness. On Monday night I went and testified in favor of this move, an initiative that is supported by the Unitarian Universalist movement and an idea that First Parish has discussed with interest in the past. Columbus was a genocidal slave trader whose adventure in “discovery” was really a prelude to conquest. Celebrating indigenous people can help society learn about sustainability, intergenerational relationship and deep respect for the cycle of nature.
What impressed me was the range of other supporters; there were long time community activists and young people from indigenous communities in South America. There were New England Indians and union organizers, and then there were the representatives of Cambridge redevelopment and other causes who came to the City Council to testify on their issues who lent support. For me this evening was illustrative of an aspect of Unitarian Universalist social justice work which we don’t often talk about. We work on justice issues with other people, well beyond Unitarian Universalism, and in that work we magnify our voices.
What are we doing about the issue of Syrian refugees? Unitarian Universalists are working in broad coalitions and writing letters, and by joining with such a broad array we make a much larger impact than any one congregation can make on its own. Please check in with the Social Justice Council on their efforts. The following is an example of one of the many coalitions that Unitarian Universalists work with; this example relates to the rampant Islamophobia in the United States.
Upcoming Worship Services
January 10 The Warriors Within Is individualized violence a Constitutional
Right? Deconstructing the System of
National Religious and Community Leaders Speak Out against Anti-Muslim Rhetoric, in Defense of American Religious Liberty
50 leaders from a host of religious denominations and community organizations took a public stand against the currently alarming level of anti-Muslim rhetoric and bigotry in America. The signers of the open letter, which ran as an advertisement in the Washington Post on December 21, assert that anti-Muslim rhetoric is a threat to the foundations of American democracy, and to the religious freedom of all Americans.
https://medium.com/@S2SCampaign/national-religious-and-community-leaders-speak-out-against-anti-muslim-rhetoric-in-defense-of-cf9afc9b9a41#.k8bxtzb6w
THE MEETINGHOUSE NEWSFirst Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist
January 2016
Make your Guest at Your Table gift today!This year Guest at Your Table highlights the empowerment of refugees and displaced people, an issue as important today as it was during UUSC's founding 75 years ago. Please share your blessings to support our shared mission.
Gifts of $125 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar.Please plan to return your Guest at Your Table box, or a check to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, during worship on January 31.
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Mayhem by asking what does it mean to say "people have the right to bear arms."
Rev. Clyde Grubbs preaches.
January 17 We Hold These Truths To Be?Looking at the meaning of rights, in the light of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of beloved community.
Rev. Clyde Grubbs preaches.
January 24 Standing on the Side of Love!Looking at the Standing on the Side of Love campaign.
Rev. Clyde Grubbs and Rev. Michelle Walsh preach.
January 31 Mystery and More!Sanctuary Boston is a community of vibrant worship and connection that meets every first Wednesday evening in the Barn Room. They are a new community grounded in UUism and exploring alternative worship and music. Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen is a founding member of Sanctuary, as well as a Community Minister with First Parish.
Pastoral CareThe Pastoral Associates, supported by Circle of Care volunteers, help to provide care to First Parish members and friends during times of need by providing meals, rides, and other help. Please contact the January PAM, David Light, at: [email protected].
January Shared OfferingCongratulations Tuesday Meals!
Each year the Religious Education Program focuses its justice work around one organization, our Justice Partner. We learn about the issues the group is fighting to solve, hold a drive for needed items, and make a visit or have a guest speaker come to us. We sponsor them through a Shared Offering and other fundraisers, and we present about our year’s work at RE Sunday in the spring.
In November our children voted for Tuesday Meals as their Justice Partner for the year, and we are excited to announce them as the January Shared Offering recipient.
The mission of the Tuesday Meals Program is to offer warm hospitality and an evening meal in a safe, dignified environment to anyone in need of nourishment. Doors open for dinner every Tuesday at 5:30pm!
“For the past three years I’ve been sleeping outside even when there is snow and ice. At Tuesday Meals, I know I can get a good healthy meal.” -Mike
For more information about the program, please visit http://www.tuesdaymeals.org/.
We’re excited to work closely with Tuesday Meals this year – through this month’s Shared Offering, and through the many ways our children will engage. Look for more from RE in the coming months as the children cook with our own Pam Cannon, learn about food insecurity in Massachusetts, and Walk for Hunger this May!
Religious Education Corner by Mandy NeffHappy New Year!
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I’m so glad to be back and wanted to thank the whole community for your support and well-wishes for my family during this leave time. I am very grateful!
Right before I left, I attended the LREDA Fall Conference on Religious Education Without Walls. Tim Atkins’ keynote speech was a highlight and he emphasized what he has done at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. The parenting ideas from the Think Orange series had the biggest impact on me. Atkins shared, “There are four times during an average parent’s day that are great faith-building opportunities.”
In the morning, see your role as a Coach -building them up and inspiring them on their way out the door. At drive time, see your role as a Friend – chatting about the day. At meal time, see your role as a Teacher – having discussions about your family’s core values. And at bedtime, see your role as a Counselor – help them deal with fears and go to sleep easily.
Even as an experienced Religious Educator and parent, these suggestions had a lot to remind me. They were a helpful guide for dealing with my own family and guiding us through the hubbub of sports schedules, homework, housework, and cooking a nutritious dinner that 5 people will all enjoy. I know many of you are facing the same thing!
While I was away I was able to spend some of my time focusing on our family’s routines. With a teen and two middle schoolers in the house, routines have become incredibly important again – but they’re not the ones we had for toddlers! With their changing sleep patterns, they’re not bouncing into our room to wake us up – now, they need me to be a wake-up cheerleader in the morning. We have safety limits that now involve technology and passwords, rather than holding hands in the parking lot. And they have taken on new chores and new responsibilities, walking the dog, vacuuming (if not willingly), and loading and unloading the dishwasher. James is fond of saying,” I can’t believe I used to complain about putting away half of the clean silverware!!”
So in 2016, I encourage you to be inspired by Tim Atkins too. Think about the four times you have a lot of contact and influence with your children. Which one is really stressful right now? Which of these roles does your family need a little more of in the coming year? Pick one to try, and give it a committed shot! Remember that a little bit of time and attention each day to your family’s faith builds up to something amazing by the end of 365 days.
Blessings,Mandy
You can view Tim Atkins’s Keynote at the following link. The Think Orange Family Time section begins at 8:15. https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEVi50DI1WZYMARjcnnIlQ;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTY4NwRfcgMyBGZyA3locy1tb3ppbGxhLTAwMgRncHJpZAN0aDl0ZkhkQ1NUZTRhb3ZYQmlFVUFBBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwMyBG9yaWdpbgNzZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDBHFzdHJsAzEzBHF1ZXJ5A3RpbSBhdGtpbnMgdXUEdF9zdG1wAzE0NTIwODQzODI-?p=tim+atkins+uu&fr2=sb-top-search&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002
Wanted: Your old wall calendars!Those beautiful pictures of animals, landscapes and artwork can come in very handy in the classroom, nursing facility, or the home... especially in under-resourced places short on wall decorations, art supplies, picture books or teaching aids. The RE students have made a drop box for your old or unwanted new calendars which will be in the parlor on Sundays in January.
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We usually get more than we need, so please help yourself to any that you think you can use – for your own children or home, or for a place where you teach or volunteer (check the list on the box for some creative ideas). In past years, calendars have gone to NGOs and schools in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Chile and Nepal, as well as the Margaret Fuller House, Sancta Maria Nursing Home, two nearby centers for adults with disabilities, and several local schools.Questions? Want calendars? Contact Mandy at [email protected] or Elke at [email protected].
Black Lives Matter Banner at First ParishIn alignment with our mission, the First Parish Transformation Team and Social Justice Council have asked Standing Committee for approval to display a Black Lives Matter banner above the doors at our Mass Ave entrance. Before Standing Committee votes on this request in January 2016, we want to solicit feedback and input from the congregation.
" #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society" Approximately 60 UU congregations across the country are displaying Black Lives Matter banners with more in discernment. This visibility campaign was organized in February 2015 by the founders of Black Lives UU (please visit UUA: Black Lives Matterfor more information). A BLM banner at First Parish would be a part of our ongoing social justice work and participation in the Black Lives Matter movement:
January 24, 2016 Black Lives Matter leaders presentation - Sponsored by Transformation Team and Social Justice Council May 2, 2015 - First Parish members participate in Black Lives Matter rally in MattapanMarch 2015 - Courageous Love Award presented to Sydney Fisher and Mary Gashaw for leading fellow Cambridge Rindge and Latin students in the Hands Up Walk Out demonstration in December 2014.November & December 2014 -- First Parish ministers and members joined protests following the non-indictment grand jury verdicts in the murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.September 2014 - A congregational conversation was held at First Parish after the uprising in Ferguson Missouri in response to the killing of Michael Brown and the egregious level of state power aimed at the protestors
Standing Committee plans to vote on the BLM banner request at the monthly Standing Committee Meeting on January 19, 2016. We welcome comments and feedback from the congregation before the meeting by talking to any member of the Standing Committee or via email at [email protected].
In Community,Peggy Kraft, of behalf of the Standing Committee
Standing Committee: Peggy Kraft, Sylvia Wheeler, Linda West, Ernie Sabine Julie Duncan, Devon Kinkead, Grey Lee, Mark Pickering, Rashid Shaikh
Search Committee Call for Nominations
Dear Member of First Parish,YOU are invited to nominate yourself or other members for the Ministerial Search Committee who will represent our congregation in finding our next Settled Minister! Any member may nominate themselves or another member for the Search Committee. We intend to have a team that represents our diversity and deserves our confidence. Therefore
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we would like you to take this important opportunity to consider who has the qualities of a good Search Committee member. Now is the time!
Who will select our Search Committee? Any member can propose nominees. All nominees will be reviewed and evaluated by representatives of the Standing Committee, with the final slate selected in April based on interviews and the candidates participation in 3 congregational conversations we are planning this winter.
What is involved in serving on the Search Committee?Serving on the Search Committee will be time-consuming and require overnight travel, diverse skills, strict confidentiality, and the ability to work for consensus.
Ministerial Search Committee Job Description: http://bit.ly/minister-search-jobWhat is the timeline of the Senior Minister Search process?
After being elected at the April 2016 Standing Committee Meeting, the Search Committee will be busy until June 2017 at which time they will present the chosen Settled Minister Candidate to our congregation. During that year, they will compile the packet of information about our congregation, review information from ministerial candidates applying for our position, interview selected candidates by phone and in person, travel to “neutral pulpits” to hear selected candidates conduct a service, and finally present one candidate to our congregation for our review and approval vote.
How can I nominate a member for the Search Committee?A link to the nomination form can be found below. A nomination form can be also be completed on paper and mailed to First Parish, put in the “Nominations” collection box on Sundays, or brought to the Church office. Nominations are due by January 31, 2016. You may nominate more than one member. Self-nominations are also welcomed. Multiple nominations for the same member will be accepted and will be evaluated based on the aforementioned process.
Ministerial Search Committee Nomination Form: http://bit.ly/minister-search-form What if I do not choose to nominate anyone?
It is extremely important that the Search Committee represent the entire congregation so we want to make sure that everyone has been informed about the search process and has the opportunity to submit nominations. However, you are not required to nominate anyone.
What if I have more questions about the form or the process?Standing Committee Members will be present at Coffee Hour after services throughout the month of January 2016 to answer questions. You may also [email protected] with questions or comments.
Congregational Conversations to Identify our Needs in Next Settled MinisterPlease mark your calendars and plan to participate in a series of three Congregational Conversations to help us identify our needs in our next settled minister. In community, we will use appreciative inquiry to discern what we need in a settled minister for our congregation. "Appreciative Inquiry is about the co-evolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them."
These Congregational Conversations will be on Sundays February 28, March 20, and April 10 at 12:30 pm in the Barn Room. Our community is a democracy that functions best with the input of all our members. Please join in this exciting process!
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Transformation Team
Call for Nominations for the First Parish Transformation TeamThe First Parish’s mission includes the challenge of transforming ourselves into a multiracial, multicultural, justice-making congregation. We recognize the unique role and impact of racism in the histories and present situations of our country, of Cambridge, and of Unitarian Universalism, and the Standing Committee has charged the Transformation Team (TT) with the role of facilitating our process of transformation. For the last the last six years the TT, along with other FPC leaders, has created opportunities for the congregation to educate itself about racism and multiculturalism as well as take various actions in the community. We also recognize that racism intersects with other forms of oppression that many of us experience.To do this work most effectively, we need to add a few more members to the Transformation Team to help with organizing and planning and/or facilitating the trainings and activities we sponsor. We meet monthly for discussion, planning and support, and Interim Minister Clyde Grubbs and our Ministerial Intern, Seanan Fong assist us as well.
We welcome your nominations and suggestions about congregants who have an interest in providing leadership for this important and inspiring transformation work. Self-nominations are very welcome. The Standing Committee will make the final selection.
All nominees should send a short letter by January 25 to let us know the following:
How long have you been in the congregation? What has your role been in congregational activities, groups, committees, etc.?
Based on personal, congregational or other experiences, why are you committed to the anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural mission of First Parish?
What specific experience have you had with anti-racism, anti-oppression or related activities at First Parish, in other organizations, the community, or at your workplace?
Please send nominations and the above letter to [email protected] by January 31. If you are nominating someone other than yourself, please notify them so they can indicate their interest by submitting their letter by January 25.
For more information, please contact Marcia Hams, [email protected] or Rashid Shaikh, [email protected]. Thanks!
Film and Reflection Series with Interim Minister Rev. Clyde Grubbsand the Transformation Team
We invite you to take this opportunity to learn, share and reflect. Join us during the day or after worship. RSVP if you need childcare. Please RSVP for the lunch count if possible, but come even if you don’t! To [email protected].
Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code
Two showings:Wednesday, January 13 at noon (with lunch)
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Sunday, January 17 at noon
The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code tells the story of Vatican documents issued in the fifteenth century that resulted in crusades of domination and dehumanization. The law systems in the United States and many other countries are based on these “doctrines”. They are the basis of concepts of white supremacy. Made by Dakota director Sheldon Wolfchild, the film concludes with traditional Indigenous teachings developed over thousands of years that provide an alternative to domination of humans and of the ecological systems of Mother Earth.
Cracking the Codes: the System of Racial Inequality
Two showings:Wednesday February 17 at noon (with lunch)Sunday February 21 at noon
This film asks us to talk to talk about the causes and consequences of systemic inequity. Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity features moving stories from racial justice leaders. Through discussion we will deepen our understanding of the system of inequality, which can help move us to more reflection and action.
MembershipStarting this month, every issue of the Meetinghouse News will feature a Membership spotlight
on a few individuals from First Parish. If you see Kylie or Don at Social Hour, ask them about their profiles! To nominate a member, please contact Membership Chair Karin Lin ([email protected]) or Emily Guthrie, Communications and Membership Coordinator ([email protected]). Happy learning!
Name: Kylie Mills
Are you new to First Parish and/or interested in becoming a member? Join us at our next Exploring Membership class to speak to staff and lay leaders in a more intimate setting, ask questions, and share your spiritual journeys. You'll learn about the various opportunities for involvement and what membership entails.The class will be held on Sunday, January 24, from 3:00-5:00 pm in the chapel. RSVP is appreciated but not required, and childcare is available upon request. For more information, contact Membership Chair Karin Lin at [email protected] or Emily Guthrie, Communications and Membership Coordinator, at cmc@ firstparishcambridge.org .
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Preferred pronouns: she, her, hers Joined First Parish: Officially in February 2015City of residence: SomervilleHow I spend my time: Homeschooling with Aleph (my daughter), cooking/baking with Aedan (my son), hiking in the Middlesex Fells, reading, having long conversations with family and friends. Family (including pets!): Micah Altman (my husband), Aleph, Aedan, Sunny (our dog), Betelgeuse and Eclipse (our newly rescued kittens)Theology: developingWhat I value most about First Parish: There are several things I value highly at First Parish. The first is simply how welcoming and accepting FPC has been to me and then to my family. The second is the numerous opportunities to learn about justice issues and ways for taking action. The third is being able to be part of a faith community without having to believe in a particular religious doctrine. Three interesting facts about me:1. In my youth, I was fortunate to be an outdoor educator in a few different states: Maine,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California.2. I am interested in disability history/rights and enjoy conversations digging into the ways
various paradigms shape our perceptions and actions in the world. 3. I love poetry, especially the poetry of Mary Oliver.
Name: Don TuckerPreferred pronouns: he/him/hisJoined First Parish: September 2012City of residence: CambridgeHow I spend my time: I'm a corporate bond analyst at Manulife Asset Management/John Hancock Funds. Hobbies: distance running; piano (2nd yr student); amateur astronomy. Family (including pets!): Charlene Galarneau (partner). Religious background: UU since age 12. Role(s) at First Parish: Choir, Gospel Choir, Stewardship Committee, Investment Committee. What I value most about First Parish: First Parish reminds/challenges/teaches me that I am "called". Three interesting facts about me:1. I grew up in East Tennessee. 2. I've come to enjoy the winter while training for two Boston marathons (2015, 2014). 3. I can dance the Hambo, a traditional Swedish couple’s dance.
From Paris Climate Talks Forward – An EJTF Update
On Sunday, January 3 after coffee hour, over thirty people gathered to hear three local climate change activists share their experiences at the December Global Climate Talks in Paris (COP21). Quinton Y. Zondervan (www.GreenCambridge.org); Henrietta Davis (former Mayor of the City of Cambridge and long-time environmental activist); and Anne Goodwin, activist (www.mothersoutfront.org) each shared their experience in Paris.
The Paris talks, we learned, were deemed a success because, unlike previous world climate talks, there was AGREEMENT by all the countries that our world is warming and that the goal is to limit the increase of global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius. This is an important platform never
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before achieved in UN Climate talks since they started in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. To emphasize this: at all previous meetings there was not agreement that the climate is warming and that the warming was caused by humans. Three decades have been lost but we must move forward. For a well written summary of the Paris Conference, please see Outcomes of The UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on the website, C2ES.org. The COP21’s agreement is critical and urgent because there has ALREADY BEEN a global rise in temperature of 1 degree Celsius as First Parish member and climate activist Michele Sprengnether pointed out. One of the very serious disappointments of COP21 was the inability to get carbon pricing on the table. It is clear that ALL efforts to eliminate fossil fuel emissions and ALL efforts to pull carbon out of the atmosphere are required to at least mitigate the devastation of a warming planet. Each activist who spoke on Sunday, though they had been to a worldwide meeting, emphasized that we can and must make significant contributions to the solution working LOCALLY. That is not to say that one home’s solar panels offset coal fired power plants. But stopping a gas pipeline in West Roxbury, repairing methane leaks in greater Boston and building net zero buildings are significant changes which beget other significant changes. Henrietta Davis pointed out that cities as a group can do a lot. This all requires educating ourselves, mourning the losses and, as we sang at the end: keep on moving forward, never turning back.
First Parish Environmental Justice Task Force offers several ways that you can be involved and learn more.
● On Sunday January 10 at First Church 11 Garden St at 5:00 pm see the film This Changes Everything based on the book by Naomi Klein. Sure to be a sell-out event, plan ahead! (www.masspeaceaction.org)
● Join Mothers Out Front in their work to stop the fracked gas pipelines proposed for our state and to plug the gas leaks. This work involves showing up, calling legislators and educating ourselves and/or having a house party.
● Join 350ma.org and Mass Climate Action Network, (or at least plug in to their websites where you can learn so much.)
● Join the work of First Parish on climate change by joining the EJTF. We work with the Massachusetts Interfaith Climate Coalition and UU Mass Action on pushing forward climate legislation on the state level. Help us plan additional educational programs and advocacy efforts. We meet next on Wednesday January 13 from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Chapel. If you think you might be coming, please let us know so that we can share the agenda with you in advance or if you would like to know more about the EJTF, contact Ginger Ryan or Peggy Lynch at [email protected].
Y2Y Update
Hello from the Y2Y shelter! We've now been open for exactly two weeks down here, and are happy to report that things have been going smoothly. We received our certificate of occupancy on the afternoon of Monday, December 21 and promptly opened the following evening. After a few days we reached full capacity (22 beds) and have been there since. We stayed open all day on Christmas Day and New Year’s day, and have been open on evenings otherwise.
Our students have had a phenomenal time working in the shelter, and are really enjoying volunteering with many members of the FPC community who have signed up for shifts. If you haven't had a chance to volunteer (or even if you have and can't get enough!) you can sign up here.
As you all know, we're still working out all of our processes around entering and exiting, as well
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as doors, hours, etc. We greatly appreciate all your understanding and patience as we figure this out. A big thank you to Carol, Roland, Susan, Sylvia, and everyone else for being part of this in partnership with us.
Finally, we wanted to take this opportunity to invite anyone who is interested to a small gathering downstairs in the space after worship on Sunday, January 24 at noon. We will have snacks, and take the opportunity to thank this amazing community that has made Y2Y possible. We hope you can join us!
Wishing everyone all the best,Sam, Sarah, and the Y2Y family
Y2Y Testimony by Grace HallYou’ve seen the requests for volunteers to help Y2Y over the winter break when the regular student volunteers are away. I want to report that I tried volunteering. The main benefit I received from helping out was that I saw Y2Y in action. That is very different from just seeing the lovely makeover of our First Parish auditorium space. Under the direction of the graduate-student staff, we volunteers were able to provide food and other services to the young people. I definitely feel a deeper connection to Y2Y than I did before. If you’re interested, there are a few weeks left (up to January 25) and a number of slots still open. The link to learn more or sign up is http://y2yharvardsquare.org/volunteer/.
Community EventsThe following are a small sampling of community events occurring at First Parish.
GBIO Lunch and Discussion- January 10On Sunday, January 10 after the service (at 12:15 pm in the Barn Room, upstairs) there will be a free lunch and conversation about our personal experiences, journeys, and thoughts relating to social & environmental justice priorities and interests of an organization (Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, GBIO) that First Parish voted to join last October. GBIO is based on creating and deepening relationships, sharing stories, and taking actions that can lead directly to improvements in people's lives. Please come and invite others to join with us.
Young Families Potluck – January 16All young families are heartily invited to the Young Families Potluck at 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Long Timers and Seniors Potluck- January 17
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Our next social breakfast for long timers and seniors at First Parish (the third Sundays of the month) will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on January 17. You are most welcome to come anytime during that hour for good food and relaxed conversation.
First Saturday Sing-alongs at Sancta Maria- February 6This January, we start our eighth year of monthly sing-alongs at Sancta Maria Nursing Facility. Many thanks to all of the First Parish members and friends who have participated over the years. These dark winter months after the holiday flurry can be especially difficult for residents who are feeling lonely or depressed. Singing old familiar songs is a great way for them to connect and engage... it is always rewarding to see people who appear uncommunicative and isolated suddenly start singing along enthusiastically to a favorite song. next events are Saturdays, February 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, and June 4 at 10:00 am. We’ll meet at 799 Concord Ave in Cambridge in the 5thfloor activity room- but feel free to come late or leave early if you have a tight schedule; we’ll finish by noon. Children, newcomers and non-FP folks are all welcome. For more information, to request a ride, or to be added to the email list for future events, please speak with Elke Jahns-Harms or email sing [email protected] .
“Who Owns the Past?: The Politics of Archaeology in the Middle East” - February 14Save the Date: On February 14, the Middle East Education Group will be presenting an interesting and highly relevant program on how history plays a central role in modern Middle East affairs. Using colorful illustrations, Robin Brown will provide an introduction to the ways in which the past is manipulated to satisfy the needs of the present. Archaeology in the Middle East can be a volatile subject and the interpretation of the past is often cast in the complex modern political framework. Where the landscape is contested, different groups may apply different values as they construct their distinct notions of heritage or ownership. These cases underscore the challenges archaeologists face in trying to achieve the objectivity that is so highly valued in science. The next meeting of the Middle East EducationGroup is on January 24 from 12:00-12:30 pm in the Landing Room. All are welcome. For more information, send an email to [email protected].
Parenting Discussion Book Group- March 6Save the Dates! Please join us for a Parenting Discussion Group on Renee Trudeau's new book, Nurturing the Soul of Your Family. Discussion dates are March 6 and 13 from 12:30-2:00 pm. Registration is $25 and covers the book, lunch and child care during both sessions.
Connect with other UUs in the Boston Area!
UU Urban Ministry Anti-Racism Summit- January 23This summit for Unitarian Universalists engaged in and thinking about Racial Justice will provide an opportunity for UU’s from around the Greater Boston area to be together, meet others fighting for racial equality, and share best practices and ideas. Come learn how to be a more effective ally and stand in solidarity with Communities of Color and the Muslim Community in Boston. Coffee and registration at 9:30 am; lunch provided. For more information, contact Rev. Rebecca Hinds at rhinds @ uuum.org or 617-318-6010 x214 . Directions at www.uuum.org/directions.
Film and Discussion- January 29Building Peace in a Violent Word, will be the subject of a film screening and lively conversation as acclaimed local filmmaker Jamil Simon, presents scenes from his upcoming feature documentary, Fragile Island of Peace, on Friday January 29 7:00 pm-9:00 pm at the First Parish Church in Waltham in the Chapel. Filming took place in Burundi, Central Africa in the winter of 2015, detailing the complex story of how this country emerged from a 12-year civil war utilizing a radical technique in peace building. Featured speakers will include Liz McClintock, Managing
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Partner at CMPartners and lead trainer for the peace building project in Burundi. The film and discussion will explore how a decade of peace building efforts are affecting the course of current tensions, and demonstrating the value of non-violent solutions to conflict worldwide. Liz will also share insights on how peace building is done. Snow date: same time and place on Friday, February 5.
Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) Ordinance Begins March 31 The Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) ordinance takes effect March 31, 2016. Under the ordinance, single-use plastic bags will no longer be permitted at the point of sale. There will be a charge (minimum 10¢/bag) on all checkout bags, including paper bags, at retail stores. Cambridge shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bag(s) to protect the environment and avoid the mandatory charge. The purpose of the Ordinance is to protect the marine environment, advance solid waste reduction, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect waterways by reducing disposable checkout bags at retail establishments. The Ordinance seeks to reduce the number of plastic and paper bags being burned, used, discarded and littered, and to promote the use of reusable checkout bags.In anticipation of the ordinance going into effect, the Cambridge Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) is sponsoring a reusable bag drive to collect bags for Cambridge residents who need them the most. Many of us have more reusable bags than we actually use. Let’s reuse and donate clean, empty and useful bags! Our goal is to collect 10,000 bags. Here’s a list of locations accepting donations of reusable bags:
1. Main Library, 449 Broadway, 1st floor entrance2. City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave, 1st floor near the brochure stand3. City Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor4. Recycling Center, 147 Hampshire St, back right corner of DPW yard5. Department of Public Works, 147 Hampshire St, 1st floor main lobby6. North Cambridge Senior Center, 2050 Massachusetts Ave, 1st floor main lobby7. Cambridge Police Department, 126 Sixth St, 1st floor by prescription drug kiosk8. Harvard University Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave9. Tobin School, 197 Vassal Lane, main entrance10. Morse School, 40 Granite St, main entrance on right11. Water Department, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, inside ranger station
Paine Senior Services
“I am so grateful that you exist!” Paine Senior Service Client
Dear Supporter,
As families continue to struggle with enormous uncertainty, seniors and their caregivers need help dealing with these overwhelming changes.
Since 1905, Paine Senior Services (PSS) has been dedicated to serving Cambridge seniors (60+) regardless of their ability to pay a fee. We are a rare agency –we do not receive federal, state, insurance, or municipal funding, yet we accept sliding scale fees and even waive the fee in cases of financial hardship and other special circumstances. Ninety-five percent of our funding goes to the provision of services.
Anna is a client who immigrated to the US in 1969. She worked hard all her life often in multiple jobs to support herself. When she was referred to PSS, she was struggling with bill paying,
The Meetinghouse News January 2016 13
undiagnosed health problems, homemaking, and hygiene. Those who had known her for a long time said she had always been meticulous and responsible and they were alarmed by the drastic change in her.
Anna could not see that anything was wrong, but accepted regular visits by her PSS social worker. After many months of visiting to establish a relationship, Anna finally allowed services to provide bill paying, homemaking, bathing, and transportation. She also allowed her PSS social worker to get her much needed medical care. Anna was found to have dangerously high blood pressure and cataracts—both conditions affected her ability to carry on daily necessary tasks.
PSS strengthened Anna’s formal and informal supports making it possible for her to once more thrive in her own home. This is the type of person your contribution helps.
Please support PSS with a donation and please share this letter with others you know who care about the dignity and wellbeing of our seniors.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth F. Aguilo, LICSW Executive Director
Paine Senior Services
