ALONG THE WAY
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR MINISTER
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Prayer is the voice of the heart. It wells up from within the deepest part of who we are. More than simple emotion, yet more than simple intellect, it is the opening of our full personhood. Prayer is beyond calculation, yet it is not unfocused angst. Prayer is beyond intuition, yet it is not confused. In the moment of prayer, all of who we are, all of who we are becoming, is present without self-consciousness. Radiant, contrite, needy, joyous, wounded, thankful, seeking--none of these are alien to us as humans and none of these should be alien to the moment of true prayer.
Millions every day page through prayer books, speaking words that might seem little more than incantations. Is this prayer? It can be, if it is the heart which is speaking. Millions every day pause a moment and, in silent gratefulness, attend to a leaf, a spot of sunlight, a child’s smile. Is this prayer? It can be, if it is the heart which is grateful. However, the crying truth is that for most of us, little of what we do is prayerful. Every human can pray; few of us choose to do so most of the time. Our hearts are parsimonious, frightened, busy, wounded; not unable but unwilling to risk the moment of whole openness.
Who knows what might happen when we do? We fear the Holy Ultimate may not exist, may not hear us, may ignore us, so in our pride we keep silent--or, perhaps more deeply frightening, that which we call God may indeed exist, may indeed hear us. The Holy Mystery make take us up, change us in some way, move us out of our carefully constructed bunkers. “Be careful what you pray for,” runs the old cliché, “you may get it!”
How often it is death that drives us; death or fear of death. We believe we are dying (an imperative chest pain, a car out of control) and the name of God is on our lips before we know it. Someone we love is dying and we find ourselves on our knees for the first time since childhood, asking, “Are you there? Can you hear me? Please, please--take me instead.” --and we mean it; deeply, thoroughly, we mean it. Such moments of prayer are fathomless, genuine and life changing.
Let it be more often life which drives us. Let prayer be more often the laughter which breaks unbidden from a heart surprised by the unearned gifts of life: Music, compassion, beauty and love. Let our response be gratefulness, delight, and generosity--and the breathing of thanks in prayer.
So then, prayer must be the response of faith. If we are to shake off our busyness and fear, if we are to risk the moment of complete openness, if we are to know gratefulness, we must have a deep intuition that we will be heard and heard in love. Choose any metaphor we will, use any practice we will; we must know, in that place of knowing which is beyond proof, that our openness will be met in kind. This I know.
See you in church.
Rev. Steve
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GREETINGS FROM YOUR BOARD
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Greetings from your Parish Board-
Spring’s sweet interlude… March comes in ‘like a lamb!’
With the arrival of warmer days, but still chilly nights, spring is arriving right on schedule. Here at HUP, this means a new season for gathering, sharing, and worshiping together. We, your board, continue to work on both our short and long-term goals and will be asking for your support in various ways as needs, activities, and initiatives arise.
On Thursday, March 5th, HUP is hosting a public conversation that will explore the Universalist theology of Hopedale’s visionary founder, Reverend Adin Ballou. Professor Dan McKanan, from Harvard Divinity School & Chair from the Emerson/Unitarian Universalist Association, will discuss Adin’s path with Hopedale and Universalism.
Joining Dan in a panel discussion will be Pat Giles and historian, Linda Hixon, who will talk about the women of Hopedale, most specifically about the Sewing Circle and the Unitarian Alliance. *The free public discussion will begin at 7PM. All are welcome!
** ‘Spring Ahead!’ Daylight Savings time is here! Please re-set your clocks so we see you at 10AM for this Sunday’s breakfast and service. **
On Sunday, (March 8th), please join us in the Parish Hall at 10AM for our first breakfast service in 2020. Reverend Steve will be giving a sermon that will be inspired by the Jewish festival of Purim.
March is Stewardship season! This is a time for personal reflection. As we enter our pledge season, please take some time to consider what it means to be part of Hopedale Unitarian Parish and how best to ‘steward’ our church community towards our future. Your Board is working on stewardship efforts and a ‘pledge’ letter will be mailed to all members shortly.
**Please join us on March 22nd, following our Sunday morning service, for lunch in our Parish Hall as we ‘kick-off’ this year’s fundraising effort.**
May Peace Be with You.
Thankfully celebrating spring!
Your Parish Board
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CHURCH EVENTS AND INFO...
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Potluck Breakfast Service (10:00 AM) March 8th
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Share the Plate Partner- Maple Farm Sanctuary
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Our Share the Plate Partner for the month of March is Maple Farm Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary providing lifelong homes for abused, abandoned and unwanted farmed animals while promoting veganism and respect for all life through public information. Maple Farm Sanctuary has taken in a fraction of the billions of farmed animals that are bought, sold, tormented and slaughtered by the meat, dairy and fur industries. They strive to treat both humans and non-humans as individuals who are worthy of compassion and respect, where they pursue a vegan diet and a non-violent lifestyle and where our stewardship of these 120 acres of beautiful Massachusetts farmland and wildlife habitat is a sacred trust.
At Maple Farm Sanctuary they have made a special commitment to serve animals whose lot in life is especially difficult, those with a need for extraordinary consideration and commitment. Their goal is to create an ever more safe, loving and healthy environment for these special beings, and for all the residents of Maple Farm Sanctuary. You can learn more at http://www.maplefarmsanctuary.org/.
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Universalism, Socialism, and Spiritualism at Hopedale
Thursday, March 5 -- 7:00 PM
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Rev. Beverly Morrison Boke
March 15 - Guest Minister
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The Rev. Beverly Morrison Boke — called “Buffy” by just about everyone — was called and settled as minister to the Canton, Massachusetts congregation in August 2011, from which she retired in July of 2017. Immediately prior to that, she served on the Administration Team as a guidance counselor for three years at the American Community School in Beirut, Lebanon.
Buffy was ordained at the Unitarian Church of Barnstable in 1985. She has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Hartland Four Corners, Weathersfield, and Chester, Vermont; Andover, New Hampshire; and Newport News, Virginia. In addition, she has supplied pulpits in many other towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Buffy lives with Nick, her husband of many years, in Providence, Rhode Island. They have one daughter who lives in Vermont.
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COMMUNITY MEAL - Friday, March 27th
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Members and friends of Hopedale Unitarian Parish volunteer at the Free Community Meal at Trinity Episcopal Church on the last Friday of each month (along with folks from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hopedale) by preparing a meal, serving it, and having dinner with our neighbors.
We need help cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Contact Alice Jacobson to be added to the volunteer email blast (alicejacobson@comcast.net).
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VIRUS TRANSMISSION SAFETY
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We are asking all to follow a few common sense rules in light if the spread of COVID-19. Stay home if you are sick (videos of Rev. Steve's Sermons are posted each week). Use tissues and hand sanitizers. Wash your hands frequently and don't touch your face. We should not be shaking hands. We are removing all the tablecloths in the Parish Hall for now and will spray the surfaces with disenfectant.
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FIRST AID CPR COURSE - SAT, MARCH 21
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We will be offering a First Aid & CPR course on Saturday, March 21 st from 10AM – 2PM in the Parish Hall. The fee for the certification is $50. for HUP members and $100. for outside public. Participants will receive certification from the American Heart Association. *To sign up please contact Alice Jacobson at alicejacobson@comcast.net. |
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 HAPPENINGS IN THE UUA
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We are rooted. We are inspired. We are ready.
The UUA General Assembly is on June 24-28, 2020 in Providence, RI! Experience all of the amazing opportunities to enhance your faith and connect with other Unitarian Universalists. General Assembly offers workshops, programs and lectures customized and created for spiritual growth and development. You don't want to miss this incredible opportunity.
REGISTER EARLY TO SECURE YOUR SPOT: https://www.uua.org/ga/registration
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- ACOA Meeting, Mondays at 7:30 PM
- Choir Rehearsal, Sundays at 9:00 AM, Thursday (TBD) at 7:00 PM
- Meditation, Sundays at 3:00 PM
- Board Meeting, Tuesday, 3/10 at 6:30 pm
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Contact Information
Parish Minister: Rev. Stephen Cook: 508-473-0745
revsteve@hopedaleunitarian.org
Parish Board Co-Chairs: Tracy Anderson: 508-962-0235
tracylanderson@verizon.net,
Alice Jacobson: 508-380-6911
alicejacobson@comcast.net
Music Director/Organist: Carol Devendorf: 774-573-0568 mpac1991@aol.com
Church Office: Jody Buck 508-473-0745 hopedaleunitarian@verizon.net
Community Meal Coordinator: Alice Jacobson alicejacobson@comcast.net
Caring Connection Contact: Becky Chan rwchan19@gmail.com
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Publication Policy
If you have some news or information you would like to get out to people via our twice monthly email or in our order of service insert, or mentioned from the podium on Sunday morning, please get the announcement of 50 words or less to the church in writing via hard copy or email no later than 10 a.m. on Thursdays. We publish as much as we can weekly and two or three timely announcements will be read aloud during the service on Sunday morning. We ask that announcements be about congregational life, the greater world of Unitarian Universalism, or local community events of importance to congregational life and mission.
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