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The following First Parish News items are listed starting from the most recently posted.
From Rev. Ellen - I will be on vacation April 20 through April 27. The Reverend Jackie Clemente will be covering for me for pastoral emergencies. Her contact information will be on my office answering machine at 978 256-5555. --- Rev. Ellen [posted 4/26/08]
From CindyG - For anyone who might notice I’m missing on Friday the 25th through Monday the 28th … I’ll be in Florida for Jess’ graduation from FSU. [posted 4/26/08]
Creating a Covenant, follow-up from the All Congregation Retreat – to those of you who signed on (and anyone else who might have decided they’re interested) the first meeting to start the process of creating a covenant will be on Saturday, May 10 from 9:30-11:30. Please join us if you can! [posted 4/26/08]
A couple of notes from your Collector - The church fiscal year runs through the end of June. Contributions towards your 2007-2008 pledge can be made up until about a week prior to that (basically until the last service of the church year). Of course, now that pledges for 2008-2009 have started coming in, you can also make contributions for the next fiscal year, too. But, in order to keep things straight, it would help me a great deal if you could mark any checks or envelopes with either "2007-2008" or "2008-2009" if there might be any doubt. Normally, anything not marked will be considered to apply to the current fiscal year.
Finally, since we continue to grow, and some people may not be aware of this - did you know that you can get an automatic email notification with an updated "account statement" for your records every time you make a donation? Just let me know that you'd like this by sending email to dave@kaffine.com. You can also request an update any time you'd like by email or phone. Thank you! --- Dave Kaffine, 978-667-3690 or dave@kaffine.com) [posted 4/26/08]
Canvass Corner - Thank you to everyone who pledged generously on Stewardship Sunday! If we didn't hear from you by the April 20th, we will be calling to check in. Please keep an eye on the thermometer in the vestry to keep track of our progress!! --- The Canvass Team: Kirk Kirkpatrick, Bryan Grad, Carrie Little, Ben Rankin,Dave Kaffine, Mark Sullivan, and Kathy Deschenes [posted 4/26/08]
May Breakfast, May 3rd - Time once again for the biggest fundraiser of the church year, and the famous First Parish homemade donuts and hand crafted May Baskets filled with delicious homemade fudge. Great eats, great company, and an opportunity to offer a special treat to the community – a delicious, affordable breakfast with beautiful - community renowned! - May Baskets available.
It takes lots of helpers to coordinate this very popular annual event. There are weekly sign-up opportunities in the Vestry during Social Hour. Lend your skills and cheerful personalities for a few hours or multiple tasks. We all have talent to share and First Parish needs you. Call Joan Keane for details. See you in the Vestry!
Fudge for May Baskets - We have 200 baskets that need to be filled with homemade fudge/candy. It takes approximately 50 pounds of fudge to fill 200 May Baskets. Some tried and true fudge recipes are below. Please consider cooking up a batch (or 2 or 3 or ) a day or so before the evening of May 2 (easier to cut if it’s had time to settle) We will be in the Alliance Parlor filling the baskets in preparation for the May Breakfast Friday May 2 – exact time TBD. Thank you!
Peanut Butter Fudge: 1 pkg. confectioners sugar; 3/4 cup milk – mix together until it forms a soft ball (240 degrees on candy therm.) Remove from heat and add: 4 tbsp. pnt. butter; 2 tbsp. butter/margarine; 1 cup marshmallow fluff; pinch of salt. Beat well until creamy. Pour into 8X8 pan.
Chocolate Fudge: 5 cups sugar; 1-12 oz can evaporated milk; 1 tbsp cornstarch; ¼ cup butter/margarine. Bring to a boil and boil to 240 degrees on candy therm. (approx. 12 minutes) Add 1- 12oz pkg chocolate chips for light chocolate fudge . (for darker chocolate, add 1 more cup of chocolate chips) Add: 10 oz. marshmallow fluff; 1 tbsp. vanilla; Beat until creamy. Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts if desired. Pour into cookie sheet 11X16X1 inch deep.
White Fudge: use the chocolate fudge recipe and omit the chocolate chips and add 1 – 12 oz. pkg. WHITE chocolate chips. [posted 4/26/08]
Women’s Discussion Group – The next meeting will be May 6 at 7:30 at the home of Cindy Berry with co-chair, Dorit Lammers. Topic is "Humor in our Lives" Everyone is welcome. For more information and directions, please call Dorit. [posted 4/26/08]
Women’s Alliance will meet for lunch at Nashoba Technical High School on May 12 at 11:45. Reflections by Yoko Taylor. Hospitality Rosemary McMullin and Yoko Taylor. The annual business meeting will follow at the church. [posted 4/26/08]
Insurance Policy Review Update - Well, it seems that UU's do indeed work in the insurance industry! Marisha Rowse, has put us in touch with a member of the Littleton UU Church who owns and operates an insurance agency in Westford. He has kindly agreed to review our church's insurance policies and recommend any necessary changes to them. It is essential we are adequately covered in case of damage to our beautiful historic building and it's contents, including the organ. The workers compensation policy will be reviewed as well, since both that policy and the general liability policy will be renewed in July. Thank you Marisha.
I also want to thank Ami Hughes, Ron Deschenes and Eric Jendrock who contacted me about helping with this important. I will keep you all in mind should we need additional help with this project. The willingness to step up, and the resources you bring to our community is extraordinary. Many Thanks! --- Debra Grad Chair, Standing Committee [posted 4/26/08]
Community Table - On March 30, 2008 Community Table (soup kitchen) served 65 people at the Lowell YMCA. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers: Shopper: Tom Wight; Cooks: Paul Windt, Judy Consentino and Ellen Spero; Servers: Phyllis King, Joanne Ruiter, Beverly Barry, John Rowse, Ron Deschenes, Stone and Mary Cleven, Andrew Flewellen-Gore and Rebecca Gore, Tommy Bentley, Mark and Henry Tervo, Kyle and Eric Jendrock, Chris and Bill Newhard. A special thank you to Mickey O’Connor for bringing in clothes. A heart felt thanks to all our caring volunteers! Your dedication to help feed the needy is very much appreciated! I will publish future serving dates as soon as I hear from the coordinator. If you would like to help out or need more information, please call me at 978-692-9036. --- Linda S. Newhard
(and apologies for the delay in printing this thank you! Linda did get it to me, but I ran out of room in the last newsletter! --- CindyG) [posted 4/26/08]
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - At the recent Green Ministry book discussion, many church members discussed how our food choices affect the environment. One of the topics was CSA's, farms where people pay a yearly fee and, in exchange, get a share of vegetables each week during the growing season. Bear Hill Farm in Tyngsborough, a CSA farm to which some First Parish members belong, still has openings for new members for this year. They don't usually include fruit, with the exception of melons, although they often have conventional fruit from a local farm for sale. For more information, check out their website www.bearhillfarmcsa.com. [posted 4/26/08]
Update from Welcoming Congregation Committee: We are now an official church committee. The Welcoming Congregation Committee applied for and was granted chartered status by the Standing Committee. Over 60 congregants have signed postcards that MassEquality will be sending to respective state representatives and senators. These postcards urge the signer’s legislators to support specific legislation that will come before them this year that will strengthen basic rights, protection, and/or health support for homosexual and transgendered people. We will have the postcards available for those of you who missed them at the following venues: During the book discussion group this Friday night, at our movie night in May (details to be announced soon), and during/after the June 8th service. [posted 4/10/08]
Auction and Wine Tasting - Have you been wondering when the Auction and Wine Tasting event will occur this year? Have you been wondering when your talents and generosity will be called upon to create, donate and bid high for that unique handmade quilt, home cooked dinners, tickets to plays, handcrafted jewelry, yard work help and much more?
The Auction and Wine Tasting is having a year off. We expect to meet our fundraising goal after the 82nd May Breakfast on Saturday May 3rd. So, please plan to join us then for a hearty breakfast with friends and purchase the beautiful May Baskets filled with sweet confections to help us meet that goal.
I'd like to thank all the members and friends of First Parish who have, over many years, donated so generously to the Auction, coordinated and attended the wine tasting prior to bidding with abandon afterwards. I hope that by taking a rest this year we will have even more enthusiasm and creativity next year. For those who had planned to be a donor to, or bidder at the Auction and who would still like to contribute I encourage you to donate to the minister's discretionary fund. The minister's discretionary fund is used to help people, especially from First Parish, with financial emergencies, a growing need in this current economy. The account itself is in need. You may give your donation to the minister directly, place it in the offering plate with a note to the collector to direct it to the minister's discretionary fund, or mail it to the church, again with a note of your intent. Checks should be made out to First Parish, with minister's discretionary fund written on the memo line.
The Auction and Wine Tasting will be missed. It is truly a fun social event that results in future gatherings in our homes, showcases our talents, and offers many opportunities to serve each other. Please consider volunteering now to chair or co-chair so we can begin planning in the Fall, for the next Auction and Wine Tasting. We have wonderful people who will share all they know and have learned from working on past events. Thank you.---Debra Grad, Standing Committee [posted 4/10/08]
Unitarian Universalism and Membership: The Spiritual and the Practical - I will be leading a three-session adult (and youth if interested) religious education course on the spiritual and practical aspects of membership and Unitarian Universalism. If you are thinking about becoming a member of First Parish, or are a member but want to explore more about it, or want to get a background in UUism, this is a good course for you. We will look at UU history and polity, as well as First Parish history. We will also explore our own spiritual journeys and dreams. We will meet 5:30-7:30 on Sunday evenings March 30, April 6, and April 13th. Please contact me to let me know if you would like to sign up so I can prepare materials, or if you have any questions: minister@uuchelmsford.org, 978 256-5555. --- Rev. Ellen [posted 3/28/08]
Green Tips - Fuzzy fruit isn’t the only way to be green in the kitchen - Use a toaster oven whenever possible, consider using a crock pot for cooking soups and stews and other foods that take a long time to simmer, use the smallest pan necessary to do the job as smaller pans require less energy, and defrost frozen foods in the fridge to reduce cooking time. [posted 3/28/08]
Wearing Your Nametag is Welcoming! With so many new faces around church, it’s getting hard to remember everyone’s names. Nametags reduce SHA (Social Hour Anxiety) for visitors, newcomers, friends and members alike. If you don’t have a nametag yet or have lost yours, please add your name to the list on the clipboard that sits on the Narthex table, just to the right of the main doors into the Sanctuary. If you find you have left your nametag in your car or at home, fill out a temporary nametag for that morning. This small act of wearing our nametags will be appreciated by many. [posted 2/16/07]
Burial Plots Available In Lowell - Among the assets that First Parish acquired from the dissolution of Grace Universalist Church is a 3000 square foot cemetery lot in Lowell Cemetery. This lot with space for 100 graves is for the use of First Grace members at the time of dissolution and for members of First Parish. At present, 30 graves are filled, and there are 27 members on the First Grace list. That leaves over 40 graves that are unreserved. First Parish members should be aware that these graves are available when making interment plans and, if interested, should so advise their families and the Standing Committee. [posted 12/5/03]