Starr King View
June 2008 Newsletter
Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m.
June 1: “ Let the Little Children Come ”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
June 8: “ Youth Sunday ”
Religious Education Service
June 15: “ Building Our Dream ”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
June 22: “Sowing the Seeds ”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
This will be an intergenerational service and will include a flower communion, a Czech Unitarian tradition. Please bring a flower to share at the communion
June 29: “To Be Announced”
Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
June 1: The Rev. Sarah Stewart will lead a discussion following a sermon on the dangers of childhood sexual abuse, how churches can be particularly vulnerable to abuse, and what Starr King Fellowship and other congregations are doing to keep children safe. (This is the last Adult Ed for this church year.)
Fourth Annual
Fellowship Picnic
Mark your calendars for a good time at the Fellowship Picnic on Saturday, June 14, starting at 11:00 a.m. We will be gathering (if the weather is good) at Wellington State Park in Bristol, New Hampshire at the south end of Newfound Lake.
Picnic tables and a few grills are under the trees and close to the sandy beach with a convenient place to launch canoes and kayaks. A snack bar and bathhouse are nearby. There is a charge at the entrance of about $4 per person. Here are the directions:
From Bristol center go north on Route 3A and turn left onto West Shore Road. (Cunamara Restaurant is across 3A from West Shore Rd.). Follow West Shore Road, turning right at the ice cream stand, until you reach the entrance to Wellington State Park.
From Plymouth traffic circle on Tenney Mt. Hwy (Route 25) go south on Route 3A along Newfound Lake and turn right onto West Shore Road. Follow West Shore Road, turning right at the ice cream stand, until you reach the entrance to Wellington State Park.
The entrance to the parking lot for our picnic area is immediately on the left after you leave the entrance booth. There will be a sign for SKUUF posted.
Bring your own chairs, eating utensils, drinks, and a covered dish to share. See you there.
In Fellowship June 2008
What’s a minister for? In our liberal religious tradition, there are almost no actions a minister performs that cannot also be performed by laypeople. The two I can think of (marriage and absolutely confidential counseling) are not owing to anything in our spiritual heritage, but rather to the law. We are not a sacramental tradition, in which there are rituals only an ordained cleric can lead. We are rather a congregational tradition, where we all work together to create the sacred entity of our local congregation. You have welcomed me as your minister because you feel a professional, trained religious leader will help the community, not because of my superpowers.
One thing that helps me be a good minister to all of you is time away from the daily demands of congregational life. My regular time during the year for study and reflection make it possible for me to be a better pastor, a better preacher, and a better administrator. Congregations have recognized that periodically giving their ministers extra time to focus on reflection, spiritual development and continuing education benefits the ministry of the congregation as a whole. Starr King Fellowship gave its former minister, Art Vaeni, such a period when he took a sabbatical in 1997. During that time, the fellowship returned to its roots of lay leadership, and both Art and Starr King Fellowship benefited.
I plan to take a sabbatical from March through June 2009. This is in keeping with our agreement with each other, which sets guidelines for how and when your minister takes sabbaticals. I plan to use the time for professional development, a little travel, and to spend time with my family. I will work with the Sabbatical Committee, appointed by the Governing Board, to plan exactly how I and the congregation will spend these four months apart. I know that Starr King Fellowship will do a great job of lay leadership during the time I’m away.
This is a big step in our relationship together, exciting and a little scary. Please talk to me about your ideas, hopes and fears for the sabbatical time.
In fellowship,
Sarah C. Stewart
RE Calendar for June
June 1: Chapel and practice for the Youth Sunday Service on June 8.
June 8: Youth/RE Sunday. The service will be put on by the RE program to recognize not only our youth at SKUUF, but also our wonderful volunteers! This will be followed by the second annual RE picnic to celebrate the fellowship.
June 15: All youth start upstairs and then downstairs for Sundaes on Sunday. A wrap up of the year and a look forward to next year. This is our last Sunday of RE.
June 22: Intergenerational Flower Communion Service
RE News
June 8
Second Annual
RE / Thank You Cookout
The coffee hour will be replaced by the cookout. The many committees of SKUUF are donating various foods while RE is supplying burgers, dogs, veggie burgers and rolls. There will be salads, chips, veggies and desserts. Bring your appetite, lawn chairs (weather permitting we will be outside) and bug spray / sunscreen. A great time was had by all who attended last year. Hopefully the sun will cooperate this year.
Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers, both young and old, who helped make this another fun-filled year in the RE program. We all look forward to more great activities and programs next year. Have a fun, healthy, sunny summer and we will see you in September.
Contact Ministry
A new program, Contact Ministry, has begun at Starr King Fellowship. Members of the Fellowship have volunteered to stay in touch with the members and friends of our community. This is a way of maintaining contact and building relationship through friendly conversations and phone calls.
You may begin to receive calls from or have conversations with your Contact Minister. This is a pilot program. We have twelve Contact Ministers, and about 60 members and friends were chosen at random to be contacted. Sarah Stewart and Mary Tierney are coordinating the program. Please let them know what you think. If you'd like to be a Contact Minister in the future, stay tuned for a training in late August or early September.
Summer Office Hours
During the summer the SKUUF office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday and some Wednesdays.
From Your Prez ~
Fifty-two members were present at the Annual Meeting on May 18. Our current membership is 138 and we have many “friends” as well, so I decided to give an overview of the meeting for those who could not attend. (30% of the membership is needed for a quorum so we were able to conduct the business of the Fellowship.)
Our first order of business was a vote to increase the Nominating Committee from three members to five members. This involved a Bylaw change. The motion passed and we moved on to the election.
The slate of nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee passed unanimously.
Our Treasurer, explained the Budget for FY ’09 and it was accepted. Our pledge goal for next year is $129,000 and the Stewardship Campaign is now at about $126,000. If you have not yet made your pledge for next year, please do so soon!
The final piece of business was an update on the Building. “The Capital Campaign was a GREAT success (applause!), but the price of the addition has increased considerably so changes will have to be made. An informational meeting was held on May 4 to discuss possible changes to the original plan. No firm consensus emerged from that meeting.
Your Board will be working over the summer to create a revised plan that includes the priorities mentioned in the Strategic Plan, yet stays reasonably within our budget. There will be at least two opportunities for congregational input. Stay tuned!”
Any Questions? Please contact me.
Notes from the Treasurer
I hope that everyone has had a great SKUUF year! For me it has gone by so extremely fast, and I am really glad to see summer coming. I do not need to see any more snow for quite a while. Most of the year I have been writing about the financial support that you all have provided both to the SKUUF operating budget and to the capital campaign and there will be a some of that here but I also want to highlight another part of your support.
First the financial part- the capital campaign has been very successful: we have $444,235 in pledges- over our goal of $430,000. I would like to thank each of you supporting the campaign and for your collective confidence in our future. Also, to be sure that everyone is aware, the proposed budget for next year (FY 09) was passed at the annual meeting, based on receiving $129,039 in pledges. As of this writing, we are still about $3,000 short of that goal. Based on this current year (FY 08), that should be OK- we received a little over $3,000 in additional pledges as FY 08 progressed.
There is another side of your support, apart from the financial side, that is essential to the health and future of SKUUF. Have you ever tried to imagine what SKUUF would be like without volunteers? As was obvious from Sarah’s topic on Sunday, most of us volunteer for some part of the life of our congregation. As Treasurer, it is quite obvious that without the volunteer support of so many of us, SKUUF could not exist as it is. What it comes down to is this: SKUUF is us. SKUUF is what we are and what we make it- and that is a really great thing! Thank you all for your participation and support!
I hope that you all will have a really great summer, with health and peace.
SKUUF Finances Snapshot
as of May 23, 2008
Fiscal Year to Date:
Income $ 122,591.28
Expenses $ 110,360.52
Important Balances
Operating Funds $ 27,084.69
Building Funds* $ 248,552.31
Endowment Funds* $ 12,330.27
This represents only selected funds and liabilities. Please note that this is not a full accounting of assets or liabilities. If you would like more detailed information feel free to talk to Gary, or me.
*These funds represent multiple accounts grouped together.
Newsletter Deadline
The next newsletter will cover the months of July and August. We will resume our monthly schedule with the September newsletter.
The Summer Newsletter deadline is Friday, June 20, 2008.
Worship and Music
Summer Services
As most of you know, our minister is away from the pulpit beginning at the end of June and continuing until the middle of August, and many of our members enjoy a respite from their busy volunteer schedules during this time.
Others of us, including many returning summer folks, appreciate a time to be together on Sunday mornings through the summer. Relaxed and informal, our summer services are a great way to stay connected, to become better acquainted, and to learn what interests your fellow SKUUFers.
Do you have an interesting topic that you would like to present to the Fellowship? Do have a yearning to lead a worship service? Well, this summer can be your opportunity. Our summer worship services are all lead by members of the fellowship and are very informal services. We usually set the chairs in a circle and go from there. If you would like to lead a service or present a subject for discussion you will find a sign up sheet in the foyer
September's Water Communion
Each September we begin our church year with a Water Communion Service. At this service members, friends and guests are asked to deposit water, gathered during their summer travels, into a common container and provide a short verbal description of where the water came from and share any special meaning it has for them. This is a reminder in June about the service so as the fellowship heads off to all the different destinations for their summer vacation, you will remember our September service and bring back some water. After the water service in September the combined waters from all over are boiled to sterilize them and then saved for use during the church year in ceremonies when water is needed.
Remember to wear your Nametag.
It helps Everyone.
Landscape Update
Our Irrepressible Landscape committee is welcoming new members. There are few meetings, and occasional chores, augmented by the wider SKUUF volunteer network. Don’t be shy!
Recent needs include a few additional tools and mid-summer volunteers. Please let us know if you could contribute:
· a string trimmer
· a second lawnmower to speed our teamwork.
· several spades and shovels of various shapes
· a leaf rake
Also needed are additional volunteers for lawn-mowing for the month of June, August and September. You may sign up alone or in pairs. Find a friend and make it an occasion! Most months require two mowings, although a dry month may need only one. We will provide guidance and details before your shift begins. You arrange for the time best for your schedule.
Look for the sign-up sheet in the foyer.
Adult Ed Offerings
June 2008
The Wheel of the Year
Thursdays - every six weeks June 19 - 6:30 p.m. - Reverend Sarah Stewart
Join our minister, Sarah Stewart, and others for rituals and discussion around the major points of the natural year. On five evenings for the rest of 2008, gather to engage in a ritual tied to the season, discuss ancient stories, and make our own meaning of them:
· May 1 (Beltane)
· June 19 (Summer Solstice)
· September 18 (Autumnal Equinox)
· October 30 (Samhain/Day of the Dead)
· December 18 (Winter Solstice)
Come to any or all meetings, and please see Sarah with questions.
Hatha Yoga
Saturdays –Ongoing: Spring and Summer - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Take time to restore and rejuvenate your mind, spirit, and body with Hatha Yoga. These one hour yoga classes are gentle enough for beginners and beneficial for intermediate students as well. Classes begin with warm ups and stretches and conclude with a deep relaxation. Please bring a yoga mat. Suggested donation is $10.00 per class.
Fall 2008 Walking Program
Preliminary details:
The Fall Walking Program, in conjunction with the Congregational Church, will begin on September 7 and end November 16 (ten weeks). The theme for the program will be “Tromping in the White Mountain National Forest.” People may walk on their own, form groups or join walks planned around Plymouth. There will also be weekend hikes on some of the local trails in the WMNF.
Although this is called a “walking program,” it is really meant to encourage participants to do some sort of exercise, whether it be walking, hiking, swimming, biking, yoga or other. Look for more details on the program’s website: http://www.walkingishealthy.org.
The Universalist Heritage Foundation
2008 Summer Services
The Universalist Heritage Foundation invites you to attend one or more of the summer services to be held in July and August at the historic Universalist Memorial Church in Winchester, New Hampshire.
June 29—Rev. Wendy Fitting, Minister, Independent Christian Church—Universalist, Gloucester, Massachusetts
July 13—Rev. David M. Horst, Minister, First Parish Universalist, Malden, Massachusetts
July 27—Winner of the First Annual Universalist Heritage Sermon Award
August 10—Rev. Douglas A. Taylor, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church, Binghamton, New York
August 24—Rev. Dr. Richard S. Gilbert, Minister Emeritus, First Unitarian Church, Rochester, New York
For directions to the church in Winchester, New Hampshire and for more information about the Universalist Heritage Foundation: www.universalistheritage.org
Social Justice
After much discussion and struggle, the Social Justice Committee will focus on issues of energy as a way to implement the priorities of the environment and global warming as determined at last fall's potluck. We hope to get your input into how and where to take our first actions.
Community Outreach for June
Restorative Justice: Restoring balance through community-based restitution
Our collection to be taken on June 8 will be for the Restorative Justice Victim Compensation Fund described below. Shelly Golden will tell us more when she comes to our service on June 1.
Restorative Justice is a new way of looking at juvenile crime that focuses on repairing the harm to the victim. Through the process, youth offenders (aged 13-17) are held accountable, develop empathy for the victim, and make amends. Communities support the victims, and hold the offender accountable while encouraging personal growth and lasting behavioral change. The process takes place with the understanding that community ownership of youth development is a cornerstone of a healthy community.
One of the overarching principles of the CADY Restorative Justice program is offender accountability to their victim. Victims and their families must deal with the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of crime. To reduce impact to victim, the Restorative Justice Victim Compensation Fund was established to help innocent victims and their families when they have no other means of paying for the financial cost of the crime.
If, as a part of a reparative agreement, the Restorative Panel, comprised of community members, requires an offender to make restitution to the victim for an expense related to the crime and the offender cannot do so in a timely manner, a request for payment will be made to the fund. The Restorative Justice Victim Compensation Fund is the "payer of last resort." It is a secondary source that pays for certain out-of-pocket expenses the victim would be responsible for as a result of the crime.
The Fund is administered by CADY to ensure timely victim compensation. The money paid to victims will be reimbursed in full to the Victim Compensation Fund by the youth offender in a timeframe determined by the Restorative Panel.
The Restorative Justice Coordinator works with victims, youth offenders, and their families to make sure all available resources, including the Fund, work in the best interests of the victim.
For more information on how you can be involved in this community-based justice program CADY Restorative Justice Coordinator at 536-9793.
Seventh Principle Hint
After viewing the movie “The Story of Stuff” last month, I heard several discussions about paper versus cloth so did some research. This is from the Care2 web site (http://www.care2.com/greenliving) and was written by Melissa Breyer.
So Not-Green, At All! Paper—Virgin Fiber, Chlorine Bleached
Virgin fiber is that which comes straight from a tree. Doesn’t it seem a waste to use a tree for a single-use item? Well how’s this: If every household in the United States replaced one roll of virgin-fiber paper towels with 100 percent recycled paper towels, we could save 1.4 million trees. If every household in the United States replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees. With those numbers in mind, using virgin fiber for single use items seems simply outrageous.
Next up, bleach. Gleaming, bright white paper towels and napkins don’t get that way naturally. There are several methods of bleaching paper products, some far better than others. The one to avoid is Elemental Chlorine (chlorine gas). This is the worst of the bunch, and is responsible for the release of chlorinated compounds like dioxins and furans, which are powerful carcinogens and mutagens. These chemicals can adversely affect immune systems and reproductive systems and are dreadful for aquatic life and wildlife. Bad, bad, bad. Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) process may be okay—this method employs a chlorine derivative such as chlorine dioxide rather than chlorine gas, and is not the best choice, but is a cleaner process than the use of elemental chlorine.
Green: Paper—Totally Chlorine Free, 100 Percent Recycled
There are two types of materials used in recycled paper products: Post-consumer fiber and recovered fiber. Post-consumer fibers come from paper that has already been used by the consumer and sent to recycling. Recovered fiber is from paper waste leftover in manufacturing, such as trim, scraps, unused stock. When you are buying recycled paper products, strive for 100 percent recycled paper with a minimum of 90 percent post-consumer materials. The higher the post-consumer percentage, the more paper is being saved from hitting the landfill. Also look for Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) paper towels and napkins—these are brown, and a very pretty brown at that.
Greener: Cloth—Cotton
If you are hugely careless in your treatment of cloth napkins and dishtowels (like running a load of hot-water wash for a few barely-soiled napkins), paper can be the more eco-friendly option. But if you approach your cloth towels and napkins conscientiously, cloth is the greener option. Some say that washing cloth must be more energy-intensive than using paper, but electric dryers are actually twice as energy efficient as the manufacture of paper towels. When you factor in all of the components of making a paper towel or napkins (harvesting the material, processing and bleaching it, packaging it, shipping it, stocking it at a supermarket, transportation to and from the store to purchase it, etc.) all for a single use, you find that the paper towels and napkins are about twice as energy-intensive and create more greenhouse gases overall. A cloth napkin or dishtowel may go through similar processes to get to your kitchen drawer, but it will stay there for many, many years, rather than being sent directly to the landfill.
Greenest: Cloth—Recycled and/or Hemp, Linen or Organic Cotton
Buy used cloth napkins and dishtowels. You can find lovely and fun ones at second hand stores, at flea markets and on eBay. You can make your own dishtowels by cutting up old sheets, towels, etc., and hemming the edges (same goes for napkins). If you are buying new dishtowels or napkins, remember that conventional cotton is a notoriously nasty crop in terms of pesticides, so aim to use organic cotton. Alternatively, choose hemp or linen which are more sustainable than conventional cotton. Follow the tips below for the greenest use of your cloth napkins and dishtowels.
Paper Towel and Napkin Green Tips
· Purchase paper towels made of 100 percent recycled materials.
· Look for paper products that contain a minimum of 90 percent post-consumer waste.
· Choose unbleached paper towels. If those are unavailable, opt for process chlorine free (PCF) next, or elemental chlorine free (ECF) as a last choice.
· Choose paper towels and napkins that have no added pigments, inks or dyes (say goodbye to that floral printed border).
· Select packaging with minimal environmental impact, such as that made of recycled and recyclable materials; imprinted with safe inks; and containing no toxic metals, dyes or inks.
· Seek items having the largest amount of product to minimize packaging, for example, high-capacity hardwound roll towels have 800 feet or more. Some brands are puffier and allow for fewer paper towels per roll or napkins per package.
· Avoid folded paper towels, it is too easy to use too many of them.
· Look for paper towels that are wound on a 100 percent recycled core.
Cloth Napkin and Dishtowel Green Tips
· Only wash when soiled. Most adults don’t really dirty a napkin after every meal.
· Designate a place to store “in-use” nap-kins and use the same one until it is dirty.
· If you have a large family, designate a napkin ring for each member to identify their napkin between meals.
· Toss dirty napkins and dish towels in with other laundry.
· Use eco-friendly laundry detergent.
· Wash with cold water and line dry when
weather permits.
Betty Ann Trought
with help from Consumer’s Report
Green Sanctuary
May was a good month to begin to reconnect with the Earth. Green Sanctuary provided a program on May 18 for the RE class so our kids stay up to date on the latest in REduce, REuse , and REcyle. Hopefully this will reinforce parents who are battling with TV ads and peers encouraging kids on what they “need” ! Lots of yard sales and auctions through the summer are a great way to introduce kids to idea of Reuse.
Tired of all the catalogues that show up at your home and work? Such a waste of resources and addition to our recycling problems. Check out Catalogue Choice at http://www.catalogchoice.org/ to start eliminating those unnecessary items.
General Assembly is scheduled for the end of June and I will also be attending the UU University. Hopefully I will return with some fresh ideas on how we can continue our progress toward fulfilling the 7th Principle and leaving a healthier environment for future generations.
Remember to Recycle Cans
It is important to recycle cans if you use them. In 1996, 36 billion aluminum cans with a scrap value of $600 million ended up in U.S. landfills, according to “Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices.” Better yet, drink organic beverages from produce grown on sustainable farms or water (after all we are 90 percent water), which doesn’t require manufacturing plants (from your tap) or bottles and cans.
Remember to bring your aluminum cans to SKUUF. Let us continue to recycle for the good of SKUUF and the planet. Those cans SKUUF collects and recycles help the work of our Fellowship.
Technology Committee
Missed a service?
Want to hear a favorite sermon again?
Check out these sources.
SKUUF services are available on cable channel 20 in the Plymouth area. You can view the station’s schedule on your computer at www.plymouth-nh.org/node/458 to check for the next scheduled broadcast.
After the services have appeared on television, they are available on DVD from the SKUUF library downstairs. They are kept on the shelf in the office assistant’s office. Be sure and leave your name if you check one out.
While you are on the website, click on the podcast link and listen to a sermon by the Rev. Sarah Stewart. Eleven sermons have been posted since last fall.
Words from Walter
24 May 2008
The windshield wipers on my car quite often take to talking –– yakking away sometimes just to the air, but often directly to me –– and I find a number of these instances to be irritating and occasionally upsetting.
I remember as a boy the appearance on the market of mechanical windshield wipers. My father bought one for his car. It was air operated; it tapped into and utilized as power the vacuum created by the car’s engine air intake, and was a huge success in the automotive industry. The airflow into an automobile engine, however, is anything but even; it is constantly changing as the driver’s foot on the accelerator keeps calling for higher or lower power and speed, so the back and forth motion of those 1920’s and 30’s wiper blades was anything but steady or rhythmical. With the introduction of the superior electric wiper, the timing and tempo has all changed and wiper blades now operate as steadily and rhythmically as a metronome.
Well, the wipers on my Ford wagon are electric, two of them mounted on the front windshield, and they operate reliably and rhythmically when weather conditions call for their service. My problem with them, however, is that they frequently start talking to me –– distracting me with silly and often irksome thoughts and ideas. They are prone to this kind of behavior –– this intrusive, accosting behavior –– any time weather conditions call for their mechanical services. One other condition they require is that I be alone in the car and the radio and/or record player be silent. Those accessories and/or human company are my only defense.
It all happened exactly this way while driving in a light rain through Alexandria just the other day. The steady and regular beat and swish of the two synchronous blades kept saying: “It wasn’t nice, it wasn’t nice, it wasn’t nice, it wasn’t nice, it wasn’t nice, it wasn’t nice” –– on and on and on!
“What the hell wasn’t nice?” I said in an irritated tone. Their reply was slow in coming. Then they started droning, over and over, “Your manner, your manner, your manner, your manner, your manner, your manner, your manner,“ –– on and on and on.
“You mean that guy who came to the door about a mooring? Oh geeeez,” I groaned. “Look! All I said to him was ‘No, I can’t consider it. I haven’t even yet hooked up the chains to the anchors for my own boats. Sorry, I need them for myself; sorry. Oh! there’s the telephone; I must go; goodbye.’ But he would not stop talking. As I moved indoors, he called after me:
‘“Yes, I understand,’ he called, ‘but it’s just for two or three weeks, and I’ll put the moorings in for you, I’ll hook up the chains, I’ll check them out –– replace them if necessary –– no charge for anything __.’
I called back over my shoulder, ‘“Thanks, but no; sorry , I’ve got to go.’
“That was the whole thing, you nosey windshield wipers, that’s all that happened; that’s all I said to him. And, incidentally, and hear this! When I got in the house, I looked up my mooring file and guess what I found; I hadn’t even sent in my 2008 applications. Now I’ve got to do all that silly, repetitive, bureaucratic, carbon paper, copy machine, paperwork and send it in with, yes, $100 for two moorings and wait two weeks or more. And you have the gall to criticize me!”
Those wipers didn’t wait a second: “Boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck, boat wreck” –– on and on and on.
“Yes. Dam it,” I said, and turned off the wipers.
My little sixteen foot fiberglass sloop, “Til”, had been wrecked by the winter. She was in her usual winter quarters on her trailer bed in an Alexandria boat shop. The roof of the barn in which she was hibernating was piled high with snow, and the very night before the snow removal was to be undertaken, it rained three inches hard and then froze. The roof collapsed on her. It fell upon her with such force that the main axle of the heavy trailer under her was sharply bent, and one of its big wheels jammed completely through her fiberglass hull and cockpit deck cracking her almost from stem to stern. Adding insult to injury her aluminum mast was bent beyond repair.
So I don’t know what I’ll do about sailing this summer –– maybe get another boat. I am unhappily aware that my responses in windy, puffy, and blustery weather are now slower than required. Maybe I should quit and help that mooring-less chap and go sailing with him.
As I crossed the line from Alexandria into Bristol it began raining again; I restarted the wipers; they, of course, immediately resumed their chanting:
“ Look to day, look to day, look to day, look to day, look to day, look to day, look to day” ––– again and again and again, on and on and on and on.
And then –– suddenly, happily, joyously –– I got it! ––– the Sanskrit verse! –– author unknown as you probably know.
But here it is, and may I once more say, “again”:
Look To This Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the varieties and Realities of your existence ––
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a Dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.
Such is the salutation of the dawn.
Community Closet
Remember, the Community Closet can always use our help. There is a basket in the foyer for your non-breakable food contributions. You can drop off canned or boxed goods anytime.
Final Notes from Concord
State Representative
Now it is June 2008, and amazingly two years have passed during this phenomenally productive legislative journey.
When I decided to seek office in June 2006, newspaper reports of inefficiencies in the State computer department seemed headed toward scandalous cost overruns, attacking newspaper columns, indictments of government incompetence, and fodder for those seeking to use government as a “whipping boy” for escalating costs and increased property taxes. I know that a private citizen has no access to the department, nor is it possible to have reporters ask questions when they cannot understand the discipline and process of systems implementation. Consequently, my career which started in the fifties with punch cards, transitioned in the seventies to first generation computers that filled a room, and ended with the internet where users do not know or care where a computer is located, could serve the State and our citizens to understand the problems and perhaps obviate them. With amazement and joy, I was elected.
Computer Department
I became a spokesman for the computer department as a legislative representative who understood their problems and could champion their cause by submitting bills, testifying in multiple twenty member committees for them to understand the need, speak before the 400-member General Court to have the bill passed, and follow through with five member Senate committees for their concurrence to have the bill enacted into law. Since 2007 we:
· Crafted a separate department removed from the governor's office;
· Upgraded or repealed obsolete 1980s laws controlling hardware, software, or consultant purchases, contracts, reporting, oversight, and accountability;
· Facilitated economies of scale by incorporating multiple functions into the department;
· Defined supervisory and managerial levels to increase effective and efficiency, and
· Served on committees to oversee implementing the statewide accounting and budgeting system which is in progress.
Social Justice and Health
Although my primary focus was facilitating an effective computer department, there were long needed laws enacted for NH citizens:
· Minimum wage increase after 11 years of bills that had been voted down
Community Closet
Remember, the Community Closet can always use our help. There is a basket in the foyer for your non-breakable food contributions. You can drop off canned or boxed goods anytime.
· Removed interference between a woman and her doctor for reproductive rights
· Eliminated smoking in restaurants and taverns
· Allowed health coverage for unmarried children who live at home after college
· Allowed EZ-Pass errors to be corrected when an automobile is registered rather than a driver being immediately arrested because of toll recording problems
I am proud to have been a part of the 160th General Court that has been instrumental in achieving these important goals.
The Future
When elected, I knew that I would only serve one term. Primarily because I believed I could accomplish my computer department goals in that time, and that if it could not be done in a single session, it would be unlikely to be accomplished, either because it was too difficult, or there were significant political ramifications that I didn't understand. I found that the goals were achievable, and I did so.
Additionally, I am a pragmatist. I know that a retired person's capability can be impacted over two years; and that health challenges (like life) happen. I am happy that my mental capability is unchanged (although some might not agree) and my physical capability is still good (but less than two years ago). Unfortunately, my glaucoma is worse. Last year, there was a bill to test drivers who are 70 and older every two years to preclude driving with impaired faculties. The bill was rejected because it discriminates against the 70+ age group and ignores the 18-25 age group that cause most accidents. With increasing limited sight in one eye, I am uncomfortable driving long distances. So, I could say I was prescient, but I was only practical.
Finally, during this period, I've shared my legislative experiences for you to understand what happens in Concord. It would be marvelous if another member of our fellowship could spend two days per week at the State House during next January – May to continue the progressive focus of the House of Representatives. We have fought long and hard to help citizens after having been thwarted for the prior fifty years. We Unitarian Universalists are concerned with the environment, social justice, fair taxation, and maintaining the hard won legislative advances over the last two years. If anyone would like to run, I will work with you to continue our progressive agenda.
Bulk Ordering From D Acres of NH
Several SKUUF members and friends requested that a Catalogue for Bulk ordering be available at SKUUF. Monthly catalogues have begun arriving for the June order.
Please make your list and either call 786-9342 or email your requests to info@dacres.org with subject heading Bulk Order. If you want to split orders or desire a smaller amount of a common item that available, first check with friends and see if you can buy together, if not, please call and talk to Bill as he might have someone else you can share with or you may be buy smaller amounts from D Acres bulk order. Orders can be arranged to be picked up at D Acres or at SKUUF.
Currently scheduled dates are:
Order Due Pick up
June 2 June 9
July 28 August 4
September 22 September 29
November 17 November 24
UU Society
of Amherst, Massachusetts
Presents
Emily Dickenson’s World
This autumn, admirers of America’s most enigmatic poet are invited to immerse themselves in her work and her life as part of 2008’s Emily Dickenson’s World weekend, Friday, October 10—Sunday, October 12, 2008.
For a brochure and registration materials, write to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst at PO Box 502, Amherst, MA 01004-0502: e-mail a request to office@uusocietyamherst.org; or phone 413-253-2848.
Extending Family
There are times in all of our lives when we need the support of others to help us in a difficult situation. And, we are so fortunate to be part of a very special caring community that can be counted on to be there to support us during such times. I’ve heard many say that they think of the SKUUF fellowship as family. It is true, we are an extending family wanting to reach out in service to each other when needed.
As we expand our fellowship it is sometimes harder to know who those are who can give the helping hand we need. It is equally true that even though we want be of help, we can be unsure of what kind of support is really needed. Also, as we grow, it is harder to know when a member of our community needs our assistance.
That’s what the Extending Family committee is here for. It is a focal point waiting and ready to bring the right support to those in our family during difficult times. If you are in a situation where the support of others would be helpful, please get in touch with Extending Family committee members and we’ll find you the help you need.
On the other hand, we need to identify the helping hands. Each of us has a skill, talent, or specialty that can be helpful to someone. Maybe you have a special interest which you can share; you may be able to help build a ramp, cook good comfort food, enjoy driving, or reading out loud. Maybe you have a knack for being cheerful or comforting. Just being there and keeping company can very special too. There are so many ways to help; surprise us! We want to hear from you because your special ability can be a much appreciated gift to another member of our community, fellowship, family.
We don’t have a crystal ball, so we need you to let us know how you can, and want to be of service. Please let us know how you want to help and contribute to the well being of another. Ours will be one of the many sign up sheets in the foyer and we appreciate your letting us know either by signing up, or contacting committee members as we build a team of those willing and ready to serve when the need arises.
We look forward to hearing from you!
More of Our
Favorite Books for 2007
(As space allows, each month we will list
some of the books mentioned in our annual
Book Sharing service.)
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
The Butterfly and the Ball Jar by Julian Schnabel
An Ordinary Life Transformed by Stephanie Rutt
When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
The Best Day The Worst Day: Life with Jane Kenyon by Donald Hall
Starr King View
Minister: Rev. Sarah Stewart
sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org
Office Administrator:
admin@starrkingfellowship.org
Office: (603) 536-8908
Website—www.starrkingfellowship.org