NSUU ADVANCE • February 2009 • page 1

NORTHSHORE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH THE ADVANCE • FEBRUARY 2009

323 Locust Street Danvers, MA 01923 978-774-7582

nsuu@verizon.net www.nsuu.org

Reflection

It’s the dead of winter, but we are looking ahead to spring and our Pledge Campaign. Mark your calendars for Sunday, MARCH 8th, when we will celebrate all that we do together at Northshore Church and turn in our pledge cards!! In February, you’ll receive a letter and a Stewardship Card. Notice the new name … yes, it is a Pledge Card, but stewardship is more than giving money to sustain and grow this church and our movement. It is volunteering as so many of you do to give your time and effort to fulfill the mission of this church. Perhaps you’d like to try something new this year, join in the leadership of the church, or participate in a small group ministry. Whatever you decide, you’ll indicate that on your card as well. And so, on March 8th, we’ll mark the cards with the ways in which you envision being involved in the new church year, both financially and physically. Please plan to attend church on March 8th. We promise you a lively, fun and fulfilling experience. On the Sundays leading up to March 8th, we will have different people each week speaking about their spiritual journey — the one that led them to NSUU and what this church means to them. I can’t give you any more details than this now, but stay tuned. Jennifer and I are doing something new this year for our charitable giving. We are pledging 5% of our incomes to give to those movements or organizations that we feel are most important in our lives and in the world. I don’t know about you, but we receive numerous requests for money throughout the year. I’ve discovered sometimes that I’ve given multiple times to an organization without knowing it. So, we’ve decided to be better stewards of our money. At the beginning of the year (now) we are deciding where that 5% is going to go. At least 2.5% of mine will go to Northshore Church, because I feel most connected to the work that we are doing here. The rest will be split between various groups and causes. I always plan to give microloans too to people, mostly women, in developing nations who are starting or expanding businesses. That is such a joy because you read about the person you’re lending to and get updates on how they’re doing, and the money comes back to give again! If you’re interested in doing that too, look at www.kiva.org. There is a Unitarian Universalist group of investors you can join there. See you in church! Frieda

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FEBRUARY 2009 SERVICES

Each Sunday leading up to our Stewardship Sunday on March 8th we will hear from a member of the congregation about their spiritual journey that led them to Northshore Church.

FEB. 1, 2009 SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 A.M.

Facing our Shadow

Rev. Frieda Gillespie Sharing Our Journey – Frank Armstrong

The groundhog looks for his or her shadow and finds out if there is to be more winter ahead. What do we see when we look at our “shadow”? What do we tell ourselves about the darker aspects of our natures and how can we be better stewards of that darkness? FEB. 8 SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 A.M.

What Does Gender Have to Do With It?

Rev. Frieda Gillespie Sharing Our Journey – Rosemary Broadbent

In anticipation of Valentine’s Day we’ll look at various ways to love. Whether gender has a whole lot to do with who we fall in love with is an interesting question. How does the idea of gay marriage get confused with spiritual, moral and relational principles. FEB. 15 SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 A.M.

Happy Birthday Charles Darwin

Rev. Frieda Gillespie Sharing Our Journey – TBA

On the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, we will celebrate his contribution to our understanding or ourselves and the living world. FEB. 22 SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 A.M.

Strands of the Web

The Rev. Paul L’Herrou Sharing Our Journey – TBA

The Rev. Paul L’Herrou is retired and lives in Ipswich with his spouse, The Rev. Sylvia Howe. He is the person who crafted the wording of the Seventh Principle, and will explore some of its meanings with us.

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Introducing the Ministerial Evaluation Committee As a relatively new Unitarian Universalist minister, the Reverend Frieda Gillespie must be evaluated by our church before she can enter into full fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. The recently formed Ministerial Evaluation Committee will assess Frieda’s work and submit its findings to the denomination in the summer of 2009. In accordance with UUA guidelines, we will consider the full range of Frieda’s ministry — her services and sermons, her administrative abilities, and her approach to pastoral care, among other things. The three members of the committee, chosen jointly by Frieda and the Board of Directors, have begun monthly meetings with Frieda. We are learning a great deal from her, and we hope we are able to offer advice and ideas to Frieda as well. Committee members are Beth Blanchard (BDHBlan@comcast.net), Dan Kennedy (dkennedy56@gmail.com), and Tracee Kneeland (tke.swan@verizon.net).

New UU Class Join our minister, Frieda Gillespie, and members of the Membership Committee, for a three session class that will broaden your understanding of UU history, theology, and governance. We will also talk about the history of Northshore church, how it is structured, and the many ways to be involved. You are welcome whether you are new to the church or have been coming for years! This is also a great way to get your questions answered before considering membership and to get to know some people in the church. The dates are three Sundays at 11:45 am: Feb 1st, 8th and 15th. A light lunch and child care will be provided. Pre-registration is required by contacting Nancy Paskowski, our Church Administrator at 978 774-7582 or nsuu@verizon.net.

Cakes is coming.....Cakes for the Queen of Heaven that is.

Cakes is a religious education curriculum in feminist thealogy; the religion of the goddess and women's relationship to her. The course is for women interested in exploring the ancient roots of civilization where the divine was seen as female. It investigates the influence of Judaism and Christianity on our position in society and examines the emergence of the women's spirituality movement.

If you are interested in participating Cakes or for more information, please contact Amy Steeves at 978-774-0342 or asteeves100@hotmail.com Inauguration Ball Our Inauguration Ball was very successful. What a great way to celebrate a new life for our country! Many thanks to Fred Mills for sharing this brilliant idea, finding and setting up the equipment to view the Inauguration, to Nancy Paskowski for all of her work with the setup and advertising and for getting the dancing going, and to Frank Armstrong who provided the fabulous music! And to the many others who brought food, helped advertise and attended, thank you!!

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Hymnal Donation Drive

The Northshore UU Church currently has a wonderful problem. Our Sunday morning attendance has increased to the point where we no longer have enough hymnals. We are therefore launching a hymnal donation drive. We invite members and friends to donate a hymnal which will bear a bookplate with a dedication of your choosing, e.g. "Donated by," "In memory of", "In honor of". During the first three Sundays in February, in the Fellowship Hall, forms will be available and money collected (approximately $28-30) for hymnal donation. Or you may contact Helen Brandt, Marty Langlois, or Judy Putnam.

Ferry Beach Organizational Meeting Wednesday, February 11th at 7 P.M.

There will be an organizational meeting about our Ferry Beach weekend, on Wednesday, February 11, at 7 PM at NSUU Church. Everyone who has an interest in this wonderful event is invited. There have been some major changes in the meal plan of which we should all be aware. If you have any questions, please call or email Leonard Swanson at 978-356-8880. leonardsw@verizon.net

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE SILENT AUCTION

In support of Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church Two Sundays, March 15 and March 22

Mark your calendars for this annual fundraising event. You'll be receiving more information in the weeks to come about donations, bidding, and helping to make the connections between us and our church that always make this event fun and successful. Please start thinking about donation items - goods, services, tickets to events, anything you would like to offer. Thank you!

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In the Works --

Notes from the Membership Team Throughout the holiday season your Membership Team has been working away to make Northshore

Church a well-known gathering place for friendly, spiritual people.

• Bob Cumming has taken nearly all the photos of members and friends for our graphical directory,

and we’re now deciding on the best formats for publishing this great memory aid and connection

tool.

• We’ve started a program of putting notices of church events on local cable TV stations, gradually

moving outward from Danvers to the other towns we serve. Getting newspaper notices to provide

the right geographical spread with full accuracy and regularity is an ongoing project.

• You’ve probably noticed a certain amount of fluidity in the layout of various notices and

materials in the Fellowship Room – we’re working hard to make this crucial space a hospitable

and exciting place to welcome and connect with members and guests.

• In conjunction with Rev. Gillespie’s upcoming New UU Class, we’re working on clarifying some

issues that we’ve taken for granted over the years – “who’s involved in what committees and

what do they do”, and “what does membership in Northshore Church mean and how can I join”.

And if you aren’t “new” but still want to find out this cool insider stuff, maybe you should talk to

Frieda about joining the class!

• We have a goal of reviving the Circle Dinners, which we haven’t held for many years. Much

more on this topic to come; but if you want a preview, ask an old-timer. Chances are she or he

has fond memories of becoming One Of The Group through a circle dinner.

UPCOMING COFFEE HOSTS

Feb. 1 Greilich, Chausse, Glennon, LaPointe Feb. 8 Bradlee, Ewing, Ferris, Duff, Kennedy Feb. 16 Armstrong, Pelonzi, I. Johnson & D. Nelson Feb. 22 Cumming/Jensen, MacDonald, Duff

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Dottie Barton

February 2009 Member Profile by Martha Ardiff

“I have been a homemaker all my life,” Dottie says proudly, adding that she’s from Universalist roots through her grandparents and parents. “I believe that people have the right to think for themselves and go their own way That’s who I was and who I still am.” She says that her mother and grandmother “loved the Beverly Universalist Church and worked their hearts out for it.”

Dottie met her first husband, Robert Miller, at Ferry Beach, where both had positions one summer. Their two children are: David, who lives in Colorado, and Nancy -- OUR Nancy Paskowski, long-time Administrator of Northshore UU Church. Dottie was very happy being at home with her children, tending the house and yard, helping put her husband through theological school, being a model minister’s wife, and singing in the choir. Dottie and her family, including her parents, were active members of the Danvers Unitarian Universalist Church on High Street. When Bob Miller left her, Dottie worked through much pain and anger to continue raising her children in a positive spirit. With degrees from Endicott College and Burdett College, Dottie worked for Hood Sailmakers in Marblehead for many years, enjoying the variety of customers and also “the young people I worked with, who were active and smart.” At that time she lived in Danvers and eventually became the Danvers Housing Authority Executive Secretary for over ten years.

Then the fairy tale: Dottie’s childhood sweetheart called her out of the blue. Henry Barton, a widower, had been a school superintendent in California for many years, but moved east to marry Dottie in 1988. We don’t see Henry much because he’s not into organized religion, but he’s happily there for Dottie. The two of them enjoy learning about our earth universe. Dottie also loves to read a lot, do puzzles, and knit. And for 10 years (so far), she and her brother have been working on family genealogy. Recently Dottie and her brother both donated DNA samples to an ongoing National Geographic study and received a map of their bloodline heritage.

At Northshore Church Dottie cleans the church kitchen weekly, sometimes does weeding and flower arranging and often joins our Family Singers. “I do what I can when I want to -- and I want to because it’s my church and I care.” At Ed Lynn’s request Dottie became our church historian, organizing old records of our four parent churches, writing an article about the history of Universalism in Danvers and finding the material a safe, accessible home at the Danvers Archival Center. She particularly values “ Cares and Celebrations” during our service. “You just don’t know what the people are struggling with. And it’s great to hear their joys, too.” She also values the music and coffee hour after the service.

At almost 83, Dottie continues to enjoy growing as a person. She joined a group in the Northshore Church’s Small Group Ministry just over a year ago and says “It has helped me overcome my shyness. I like finding out who people really are. I’ve become comfortable enough to say things I didn’t think I ever would. I care more than ever about others.”

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February 2009 Calendar For up-to-date information, see our online Calendar of Events at NSUU.org

Feb. 1 Sunday at 12 noon New UU Class Feb. 1 Sunday at 12 noon Small Group Ministry Feb. 2 Monday at 6:15 P.M. Leadership Development Feb. 2 Monday at 7 P.M. Board of Directors Feb. 3 Tuesday at 10 A.M. Small Group Ministry Feb. 4 Wednesday at 7 P.M. Membership Team Feb. 8 Sunday at 12 noon New UU Class Feb. 9 Monday at 7 P.M. Religious Services Feb. 11 Wednesday at 7 P.M. Ferry Beach Meeting Feb. 15 Sunday at 12 noon New UU Class Feb. 15 Sunday at 12 noon Small Group Ministry Feb. 15 Sunday at 12 noon R.E. Committee Feb. 17 Tuesday at 10 A.M. Small Group Ministry