Second Congregational Meeting House Society

Unitarian Universalist11 Orange St. ~ P.O. Box 1023

Nantucket, MA 02554(508) 228-5466 (Office)

Newsletter of the Nantucket Unitarian Universalist Church ~ March 2011

FROM THE MINISTER’S DESKby Rev. Jennifer Brooks

THEOLOGY AS BETA-TESTING

In the 21st century, Google-guided information age, the idea of “theology” is changing almost as fast as mobile phone technology. Even a mere 50 years ago, academic theologians published weighty articles, which some local ministers read, and then the carefully honed, elaborate theological ideas were transmitted in bits and pieces via Sunday morning sermons.

Life is a little different now. The Web is popping with ideas, debates, proposals, and multilateral conversations about theology. Bloggers seize onto a thought, spin it out into an essay, and put it “out there” for comment. People from anywhere in the world can find it and weigh in with their responses and ideas. They may be regular readers of the blog, or they may have stumbled onto it through a Google search for a topic of interest to them.

The upshot is that anyone can be a theologian. The truth is that everyone really is a theologian. Whether we use that term or not, each of us, daily, is mediating between all the stuff we do and our longings, hopes, and concerns. Inevitably we human beings wind up asking why we are here. We wonder about the meaning of life. And we question, revise, and renew our understanding of whatever theological theories we absorbed in childhood.

So the Web-facilitated phenomenon of open comment on theological ideas hasn’t changed reality, but it’s made theological reflection more open, more visible, more inclusive. And the Web invites anyone (everyone) to offer up their own ideas. To Unitarian Universalists, who during much of the 20th century had a monopoly on the principle of free inquiry on matters of faith, this development probably is neither unexpected nor uncomfortable. For a lot of folks from more doctrinal traditions, the theological free-for-all may be both.

But for UUs, Web-based theological discussions nonetheless have significance. Just as software designers “beta-test” their designs with Web users who volunteer to try something out and give feedback, we can expect that today’s young adults assume ideas are out there to be beta-tested. That means that UUs ought to be especially welcoming and engaging when young adults, perhaps influenced by our website, drop in for a visit.

How are we responding to and welcoming this generation of beta-testers, who may expect to engage our membership with theological conversation and a longing for spiritual growth? Are we prepared to meet their needs? Are we flexible enough to adapt to their lightning-fast style of interaction and idea generation? Meeting this challenge well is the key to a vital congregational life and a growing church in the 21st century.

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

10:45 a.m. Every Week

Sunday School for Children Each Week

~2~

UPDATE FROM THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEEby Pete Sawyer, co-chair

What is the Fundraising Committee? It is a special group of congregation members who each have an idea which will raise money for the church to provide financial support for operating expenses and valuable programs.

If someone in the congregation gets an idea for a project, they are urged to come to the commit-tee to present the idea and see if the committee agrees that it is a good idea. If there is consensus, the originator of the idea is then designated responsibility for that project, with guidance as needed from the Fundraising Committee. He then plans how it will be accomplished and gets the helpers he needs to bring the plan to fruition. All those members will be involved in only that fundraising project before getting involved in another one.

In this way we have an unending supply of volunteers who are only signing up to work on their own ideas. If it is a one shot project, they can do the job and then retire when the project is finished. If it is an ongoing project, they can stay with it long-term or turn over the reins to one of their helpers.

The Committee is just in its formative stage. Our primary project currently is the new Bed & Break-fast program, which we has begun this year. (An update is provided elsewhere in the newsletter.) We have also provided support in helping launch the updated wedding rental program

The co-chairmen of the Fundraising Committee are Pete Sawyer and Linda Sonnonstine Spery. See us with your new ideas. Bertrand Briere is project manager of the B & B project with assistance by committee member Eidy Venzor. Jack Reindel is also serving on the Fundraising Committee.

Now you know what is going on. The rest is up to you. Let’s hear your ideas.

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY REPORTby Les Ottinger

At the Committee on Ministry meeting on February 9, there was a discussion of the possible role of the committee during the months when Rev. Brooks will continue to serve as our minister.  We believe the committee should continue to serve until the arrival of the interim minister, at which time the Committee on Ministry will be replaced by the Interim Minister Search Committee.  We think it should continue to be available to assist relations by working with members of the congregation and the minister as is usual for a Committee on Ministry within the Unitarian system.  It would be helpful for the committee to be brought back up to strength with new members.

The committee would be pleased to participate in the activities to mark the observance of Jennifer’s leaving for another church and saying goodbye to her.  A concern that the withdrawal of some of the members of the Partner Church Committee may have jeopardized our relationship with the Partner Church was expressed and it was hoped that steps are being taken to reconstitute the committee.

~3~

MUSIC NOTESby Marcia Hempel, Music Director

Restoration ConcertI would like to invite all choir members--past and present--to sing with us for a special event,

scheduled for May 28, when Gerry Mack will conduct “The Heavens Are Telling” by Haydn. The event, to celebrate the restoration of the church, will include some speakers, choral music by our choir as well as the Accidentals and Naturals, and special organ music. We will begin rehearsing for it now, on Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. each week. I’m hoping some of our former choir members will sing, and we also hope that members of the NCMC chorus will join us, and singers from other churches. 

Children’s ChoirWe are having choir rehearsals every Saturday, for children in the congregation from ages 7 to 11. If

you would like to be on the e-mail list for the choir, let me know. My phone is (508) 228-3802. Right now we’re working on “All You Need Is Love,” “If I Had A Hammer” and other songs.

Adult ChoirWe need you in the choir! Please come and sing, even if it is only occasionally. If you can come on the

previous Thursday to a Sunday service in which you would like to sing, then you can usually learn the music. I will work one-on-one with people, too. Please give it a try!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSby Lizie Hagenstein and Sally Ure

A number of special events will take place this month, sponsored by the Lifespan Religious Education Committee. All are welcomed to attend the “First Friday Potluck,” will take place on Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. We’ve decided to drop the theme aspect of these first Friday events; they’re now just potlucks! Our popular “Third Wednesday Spaghetti Dinner” will be happening on Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Sunday school recommences after the school break, continuing with our comparative religion segment. We covered Buddhism and Hinduism before the break and this month we will be studying Islam, Confucianism, Christianity and Judaism.

Please take a moment to admire the ceramic “Chalice Tiles” that the children made during our special programming time over winter break. They are on display in the Activities Room. The youth group will be hosting coffee hour and introducing themselves on March 6 (date to be confirmed). Please take the time to chat with our outstanding teens.

Thanks for helping us turn hate month into “Eat, drink and stay merry” month. It will soon be spring!

~4~

REACHING OUT TO EACH OTHERLooking for ways to reach out to the congregation with news about a project or committee?

The deadline for the monthly Weathervane newsletter is noon on the fourth Sunday of each month (for the following month’s publication date). Please e-mail newsletter items as a Word document attachment to Sissy Girard at sissy02564@yahoo.com and put “Weathervane Submittal” on the subject line.

To have an announcement posted on the website, send it directly to Georgen Charnes at curiositykeep-er@gmail.com or provide it as an announcement for the Sunday Bulletin or the Weathervane newsletter.

To put an announcement in the Sunday bulletin, please call Patti Demarest in the Church Office at (508) 228-5466 by noon Thursday, or e-mail nantucketminister@comcast.net no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday.

SOUTH CHURCH PRESERVATION FUND (SCPF) UPDATEby Les Ottinger

The Board of Directors met on February 19 to give final approval to the patterns and colors proposed by EverGreene Architectural Arts for recreating the original wall paintings.  The panels representing these plans were viewed with great enthusiasm and the plans were unanimously accepted.  These panels were presented for viewing by the Society at its special meeting February 27 after the church service.

The wall paintings are to be completed and the scaffolding removed by April 15 or 22.  Because of all the plaster dust, it will be necessary to employ a commercial cleaning firm and then we will proceed to reinstall the former lighting.  It is likely that the runners and carpeting will need to be replaced and there is still the possibility that the front platform will have been removed.  A plan is presently underway to reopen the space for religious and general use on May 28.

Plaster expert Giles Gregory prepares the lath for instal-lation of the replacement plaster in the sanctuary.

~5~

David Barham presents color palette and design details for the repainting of the historic sanctuary at the February 27 congregational meeting.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORTby Craig Spery, Board President

The third and final Congregational Conversation for building a healthy congregation was held on February 13, led by Rev. Beth Miller. Church members divided into four groups and discussed identified needs in four areas:

1. How do we effectively take the pulse of the congregation on a regular basis, perhaps twice a year?

2. How do we make church governance more accessible to members?

3. How do we address differing opinions amongst members?

4. How can we welcome newcomers/visitors more effectively?

Toward the end of the meeting, the four groups gathered and shared their findings with each other. Many good ideas and suggestions were developed and are planned to be implemented.

The Board of Trustees and the newly formed Interim Minister Search Committee met with Rev. Judith Downing on February 12. Rev. Downing is the Unitarian Universalist Association’s district representative specializing in ministerial transitions and was very helpful in explaining the search process. The board of trustees looks forward to working closely with the search committee as the process continues. 

Board of Trustees member Christine Sanford has agreed to serve as chairperson of the restoration celebration committee, responsible for planning and carrying out the commemoration event marking the completion of the sanctuary restoration this coming May.  Christine will be working in conjunction with board members from the South Church Preservation Fund as well as members of our congregation. Preliminary plans include speeches, music, refreshments and tours of the restored sanctuary for the entire community. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the Board of Trustees, please feel free to contact me at (508) 228-7892 or craigspery@aol.com.  Our board meeting minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the activities room for your inspection and you’re welcome to attend and monitor board meetings, which are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. in the activities room. 

~6~

ARCHIVES UPDATEby Joanne Polster

A few years ago, Tim Thompson, knowing of my past life as librarian and researcher, asked if I would be interested in organizing some boxes of church papers that he had found in the church tower, with, of course, the Board’s approval. Thus began what I thought would be a lively jaunt of a few weeks or months direction that turned out instead to be a challenging and ongoing experience over the past several years. The four boxes grew to very many more and, I am happy to say, as of this date, every document has found a home and is accessible.

The nature of the Society’s affairs inspired three separate file systems: (1) financial records, organized by year, which should be purged from time to time, (2) Society archives, documents which should be retained permanently and stored in archival, acid-free folders and boxes, when necessary, (3) South Church Preservation Fund records, consisting of architectural plans, visual materials, histories of construction and repair, yearly collections of status reports, invoices, anything pertaining to the repair, restoration or construction of church property, as well as administrative and fundraising records.

With the exception of a few stragglers, everything is up-to-date as of 2005. Recent and current financial records are kept in the church office, although material of an archival nature is passed on to me as it appears. Future sorting and storing should be relatively easy as categories have now been established. Indexes to all three collections are available in the church office and in the records room located in the attic of the parsonage.

Among the really fascinating documents in the archives are the original bills of sale and invoices for construction materials dating back to 1809 bearing all those historic names we know so well. In addition, there are accounting ledgers citing pew sales and rentals, cemetery plot purchases, trustee reports, all documenting the early history of the meeting house.

These precious and fragile documents have been handled archivally in acid-free folders and boxes. Because the vicissitudes of temperature and humidity in the attic records room would play havoc with this valuable material, documents from 1809 to 1900 are currently being stored in the Nantucket Historical Association Library’s climate-controlled vaults. They are, of course, available to the serious researcher for use in the library.

A good project for some aspiring community service candidate might be to scan this material so that we could have a hard copy on hand in our archives file. Please let me know if you know of someone who might be interested in this project.

Ted Anderson has been an invaluable resource with his knowledge of the church’s history and I am grateful for his patience in answering my many questions. Also, many thanks to Georgen Charnes, who is always generous with her advice and suggestions.

BED & BREAKFAST PROGRAM UPDATEBy Bertrand Briere, B & B coordinator

It is my pleasure to let everyone know that our Bed and Breakfast program has been advertised on the UU World website. We have already received a few inquiries and have booked our first B & B for Daffodil Weekend. We are still looking for cottages and/or rooms to rent out. For the first year we will only be offering our B&B program on the shoulder season and Christmas Stroll. If there is anyone who is willing to offer times during peak season, please let me know for the next year.

Please feel free to check out our website for more information on how the program works. If you have any other questions and can’t find your answer on the website, please feel free to contact me at Bbriere01@gmail.com.

~7~

INTERIM MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATEby Chris Lohmann and Brian Girard, co-chairs

The Board of Trustees appointed the following individuals to the Committee: Patrick Beaugard, Sharon Carlee, Brian Girard, Gerry Mack, Chris Lohmann, Jack Reindel, Marina Sutro. Since the original appointment, Sharon Carlee has resigned from the committee, agreeing with the UUA repre-sentative’s observation that the committee was unusually large and would work more efficiently with a smaller membership. 

 In the morning of February 12, the Committee met with the Board of Trustees and Rev. Judith Downing (representing the UUA) to discuss the search process. The discussion continued in the afternoon without the Board of Trustees present. Besides going over the UUA guidelines for the search, the Committee made two decisions: (1) It elected Brian Girard and Chris Lohmann co-chairs. (2) Agreeing with Rev. Downing’s strong recommendation, it decided to specify a two-year rather than one-year term for the interim minister. (It was felt that a one-year term would not give sufficient time for the interim minister to work with the congregation and to make preparations for the search for the settled minister.

Brian and Chris met on February 17 to fill out the required UUA online application form for the search, and they distributed their draft to the rest of the Committee for their suggestions and comments. With no responses having been received as of the date of this writing (Feb.27), we will transmit the application in the next few days in advance of the deadline (April 15). The next step will be for the Committee to meet and discuss the format and content of the information packet about our congregation that will be mailed to the pool of selected candidates on or after May 6. We will also arrange for a meeting with the UUA Director of Transitions at a mutually convenient time to assure that appropriate attention will be given to the particular needs, goals, and preferences of the Nantucket congregation.  

We are planning to conduct interviews with selected candidates starting on or about May 6 and, if all goes well, to conclude the search process by making our recommendation to Board of Trustees by June 1. Please direct any questions, suggestions, or comments to us, and we will be glad to discuss them with the Committee. For more information about the UUA guidelines for the interim minister search, go to www.uua.org – Ministerial Transitions – Interim Ministry – Transitional Ministry Handbook. 

MY FAMILY’S UU HISTORY

by Debby Merritt

I am a 12th generation Nantucket native on my father’s side. My mother’s parents—Harold L. Pickett and Anita Trueman Pickett-- were both Unitarian ministers beginning in the early 1900s at our UU Church here on Nantucket. I was born during my grandfather’s ministry of this church, which was from 1930-1940. His daughter (my aunt Estelle Pickett Coggins) lived in the parsonage with her young family, attending to the parish work of the church.

Grampa came on weekends to preach and visit (he worked also for the MSPCC in Brockton). Sometimes it was my grandmother, who was minister of the Barnstable church, and he would fill her pulpit. The bench dedicated to Harold and Anita and the banner was designed and made by Estelle to represent the Nantucket UU Church at annual General Assembly. Anita was a poet, and in January 1938 wrote:

“Darkness makes us aware of stars, So when dark hours arise, They may hold a bright and lovely thing We might never have known otherwise.” We are separate stars within a mutual night. Against the encompassing darkness, Let us together light our candles...”

Second Congregational Meeting House Society11 Orange St. ~ P.O. Box 1023Nantucket, MA 02554

NON PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDNANTUCKET, MA

02554PERMIT NO. 5

Second Congregational Meeting House SocietyUnitarian Universalist

11 Orange St. ~ P.O. Box 1023Nantucket, MA 02554508) 228-5466 (Office)

www.unitarianchurchnantucket.orguuchurchnantucket@verizon.net

Rev. Jennifer Brooks, Minister / Rev. Edward B. Anderson, Minister EmeritusMarcia Hempel, Music Director and Organist - 508-228-3802

Lizie Hagenstein & Sally Ure, Lifespan Education Co-Directors - 508-228-0188Craig Spery, President, Board of Trustees - 508-228-7892

Sissy Girard, Vice President, Board of Trustees - 508-257-9982Jack Weinhold, Treasurer - 508-228-5242

Patti Demarest, Office Administrator - 508-228-5466Mimi Jones & Dennis Santangelo, Sextons

Board of Trustees: Craig Spery (President) Sissy Girard (Vice-President) Bob Hall (Clerk)Jack Weinhold (Treasurer) Bertrand I. Briere III, Larry Miller, David Hall, Joan Ottinger, Christine Sanford