| |
MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER: Summer 2010 |
 |
From Rev. Marjorie Matty: A Time to Help… As we move into the slower warmer months of summer and hopefully more restful times we have an opportunity to reconnect in a different way with the earth, our bodies, friends and family. This is also a perfect time to renew your spirit. How does one do this you may wonder? Well first of all please do not forget that we have some amazing lay-led worship services throughout the summer. The Deacons have worked hard to provide you with compelling, interesting and inspiring worship and I would invite you to attend. Remember: worship moves to 10 AM during the summer months beginning with last Sunday’s worship service led by our own, Kara McGarigal. For a listing of all of the preachers and their topics please check the upcoming services section of this newsletter. Other spiritual options for your summer may include learning a new spiritual practice such as meditation or yoga or possibly gathering with other members or friends to engage in the Craft Circle which is held every other Saturday, meet with others and start a prayer group, a book club or a singing group. Another possible way to deeply engage your summer may include community outreach or what we Unitarian Universalists like to call Social Justice. I can think of neighborhood cleanup projects that one could engage in, cooking at the Salem Mission (now call Lifebridge) or working at the Salem Pantry. If you would really like to get daring: how about traveling to New Orleans and get involved in rebuilding the Ninth Ward with lowernine.org an organization that houses you for $100 per week and then trains you to rebuild the homes that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Another is traveling to Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida or Alabama to help with the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill You can contact the Volunteer Request Line at 1-866-448-5816 or take a look online at the opportunities to help: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/page/2931/46359/ In our First Universalist affirmation we call our selves to a higher purpose in our community and in our lives when we say the words, “and service is our prayer.” Summer is a perfect time to start a practice of prayer through service it is a perfect way to add deeper meaning to our lives and to take steps towards making the world a bit better. Friends, I will miss being with you on your journey this summer and I look forward to Rally Sunday (September 12) when we will gather once again in love, hope and faith. Peace be with you in your travels… In Faithful Service,  Rev. Marjorie Matty For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar Upcoming Worship ServicesJune 20, 2010Presented by Kara McGarigal Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places I will be talking about how I spent much of my life looking outside myself to feel OK. Whether it be relationships, drugs and alcohol, shopping, or any other number of ways I struggled to find true peace and happiness. I now know it's an inside job. June 27, 2010 Presented by Becky Christie Deacon: Liz Duff Gratitude, attitude and the Flying Monkeys One person's spiritual journey and practice. July 4, 2010 Presented by Rev.Annika Kleschinsky, Deacon: Beth Toolan In the Spirit of Freedom As we celebrate America's Birthday. in the land of the free and the home of the brave, let us reflect on what freedom means to us today. This country was built on the values of our founding fathers who said in the Declaration of Independence that " All men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." So then do you believe that the Spirit of All Life ultimately blesses us with freedom? What does that look like for you to use your rights, liberty and freedom with all your heart, mind and soul? Today we will honor our highest freedoms and give gratitude for our brave hearted souls! July 11, 2010 Presented by Beth Coakley Deacon: Elizabeth Black July 18, 2010 Presented by Marlyn Miller Deacon: Brenda Briana Love Your Neighbor AND Yourself Both the Jewish and Christian traditions ask us to "love our neighbor as ourselves," a version of the Golden Rule that many of us aspire to live by. At the same time, many of us have real difficulty practicing self-love. This sermon will ask what the relationship might be between loving oneself and being able to love one's neighbor. July 25, 2010 Presented by Elizabeth Black Deacon: Beth Toolan Birth, School, Work, Death...is that all there is? These days, with numerous natural disasters and war in the headlines; with our parents, as well as ourselves aging, our thoughts often turn to our own mortality. How do we truly live in the face of death? Please join Elizabeth Black as she explores this topic through music, text and thought. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar NOTES FROM THE BOARDOn May 16, 2010, the First Universalist Society held its Annual Meeting. Much business was transacted. The bylaws were amended by (1) the addition of an additional member to the Nominating Committee and (2) a revision that permits a review of our financial records by a CPA rather than an audit.All candidates on the slate were elected. The board is pleased to welcome Kathryn Baptista and Scott Davis, who have already been working hard in new roles as Trustees. Becky Christie, who joined our meetings as secretary, is already providing great support. The Board presented a budget that was adopted by the membership. The budget is very lean with significant cuts in many areas. One addition is funding for a part-time Membership Coordinator, who will aid our volunteers in welcoming visitors and in guiding them toward meaningful membership. The Board will keep everyone updated as this position is developed. At our April meeting, the Board approved a new committee, the Green Sanctuary Committee, to help the church become greener. This Committee grew from members of the church, who share a strong interest and bond with the earth. It is wonderful to see the church’s activities grow with the interest and commitment of its members. The Board of Trustees elected me as chairperson and Chris Weis as vice chairperson. From June 22 until August 23, 2010, the Board of Trustees will take over the responsibility of checking voice mail and email because Rosa Palomino is on a reduced schedule. When Rev. Matty is away, the Deacons will provide pastoral care; the message on the church phone will have a contact number. Please do not hesitate to contact me over the summer with any pressing issues. Rest up this summer; there are exciting things coming this fall. See you at Rally Sunday, Denise Regan Chair Board of Trustees. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar ELECTIONS RESULTSModeratorAgnes Buchanan Clerk Becky Christie Treasurer Bill Smith Assistant Treasurer Helen Jacoby Board of Trustees Scott Davis Kathryn Baptista Chris Weis Deacons Brenda Lunn Trustees of Permanent Funds Ruth Dougherty Natalie Johnson Sally Millice Nominating Committee Carole McCauley For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar Board of Trustees for 2010-2011Board of TrusteesDenise Regan Chair Denise Regan joined the congregation with her husband in 1995. They were seeking a religious tradition for their family that supported their personal values and they found it in the First Universalist Society. Their children Madeline age 17 and Dan age 23 enjoyed many years in Unitarian Universalist religious education. Denise has been a public defender since 1982. Chris is an attorney in private practice, with a concentration in criminal defense. Madeline just graduated from Salem High School and is attending North Shore Community College. Dan, who is spending the summer in Uruguay, attends Harvard Extension School. Board of Trustees Chris Weis Vice Chair Chris is honored to have been elected to the Board of Trustees and looks forward to this upcoming year working with the fledgling Communication and Social Justices/Community Outreach Committees, and helping First Universalist grow in membership and commitment. Chris has found First Universalist to be her anchor to the Salem community and a great place to fulfill her desire to give back to the community and the rest of the world. A Salem resident for 5 years, Chris loves living in the small unique city. A few years ago her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren moved to Salem and her son moved to the North Shore; a wonderful surprise to Chris as she never expected to be in the same state as her children, never mind the same city. Chris, an admitted “Europhile”, finds that her job as Sales Engineer for a small Telecommunications company offers plenty of opportunity to travel and experience new cultures. Her hobbies include hiking, quilting, reading, and of course traveling. Board of Trustees Kathryn Baptista Board Member Kathryn Baptista joined the church in 1993 with her partner, Beth Toolan, and their son, Julian Baptista. They were new to Salem and quickly found a community where they felt very welcome. In 1994, Kathryn was hired as the first Director of Religious Education the church had in twenty years. After serving in that position for seven years, and under three ministers, she then worked as DRE in the Wakefield UU congregation for almost another seven years. She is the author of the UU multi-age curriculum Sacred Science, with Beth Toolan. Kathryn is a freelance writer and directs the annual Northeast Unschooling Conference, (northeastunschoolingconference.com) which welcomes hundreds of participants from all over the world. She is mom to Julian, 20, who after unschooling for most of his childhood, will soon graduate from college with a degree in Music and Social Justice. Kathryn's biggest spiritual practice, along with her family, is voracious learning. She also loves to travel, to read, and create art and crafts. She's a really good idea person, and she's amazing at finding stuff on the internet. Board of Trustees Scott Davis Board Member Scott Davis signed the book at First Universalist in the Fall of 2009, shortly after moving to Salem. Scott’s path to that signature started with his older son asking questions about God and creation. Scott wanted to expose his two sons to a spiritual tradition of some kind, without associating it with doctrine, and upon discovering the seven principles in his research, realized that Unitarian Universalism fit the bill perfectly. He attended some services in Andover, MA, and became a regular attendant at First Universalist in the summer of 2009. During the week, he is Senior Manager of Quality Systems at Kiva Systems in Woburn, MA. “I find the community of thought and inquiry at First Universalist extraordinarily valuable and important. These are people who seldom stop at assumption, and really seek out opportunities to learn and grow as humans. Reverend Matty is a tremendously inspiring speaker and spiritual leader, and her sermons often speak directly to issues of work, purpose, and relationships in my own life. I am happy to attend a church that is non-doctrinaire and open to people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and points of view.” Board of Trustees Rebecca Greene Board Member Rebecca Greene has been a member of the church for 9 ½ years and is starting her second year on The Board. She is currently a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) but originally trained as a Plant Molecular Biologist and worked in research laboratories before having kids. Over the years she has served on the Membership and Permanent Funds Committees. Her areas of oversight for the upcoming year include Facilities Use and Building/house. She is also involved with the Salem Pantry. Board of Trustees Kathleen Riley Board Member Kathleen Riley and her family have lived in Salem for the past 9 years and have been part of the First Universalist community for 4 years. She looked for a warm, nuturing environment for her daughter that she and her husband could feel comfortable with. They found that First Universalist, and its unique and loving congregation, was able to welcome and engage them as well as their daughter. Her family agrees have never been involved in such a welcoming and spiritually supporting congregation and her daughter is thrilled to come to church every Sunday and be part of the youth group and religious ed. Kathleen’s daughter is participating in social outreach through the youth group and by helping her mother with the Salem Food Pantry. Kathleen has been on the Board of Trustees for the past two years and is thrilled to be part of helping to sustain and grow such a vibrant community. She is looking forward to working with our new Green Committee as well as our unequalled Music Committee and Religious Education Committee in the coming year. Kathleen and her husband are both scientists. They hope that they are working to make a healthier planet and population, albeit one molecule at a time. Kathleen’s interests outside of church include music, knitting, art, cooking, gardening, sailing, and anything to do with horses. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONDear Members and Friends,This has been an exciting few months for the religious education program. Our three classrooms plus youth group finished out the year last Sunday with Flower Communion, after winding up their study of world religions (for the older kids) and UU values (for the younger kids). The youth group designed and carried out a bake-sale fundraiser for Haiti, bringing in $80.60 to aid the relief efforts there, and all of the kids contributed to our fundraiser to provide school fees and books for our sponsored UU student in the Philippines, ten-year-old Romel Alagos. We are all looking forward to corresponding with Romel in the coming year and learning about life in the Philippines. This summer, we are asking children (and parents) to save any hair from their summer haircuts (or their dog’s haircuts!) and bring it to the church, where it will be donated to an organization called Matter of Trust, who uses it to make booms for clean-up of the Gulf oil spill. Please be in touch with me for more details. We will be putting new programs in place in the coming year, including Our Whole Lives for 7th-9th grade, and youth group will be meeting every week. Our Whole Lives, a program designed jointly by the UUA and UCC churches, is a wonderful and important program in human sexuality, and is open to all local children of the appropriate age (although it will entail a fee for non-members). If you know children who are interested and want to learn more, you can check out the UUA OWL site: http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/ or this article about the program from the Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/newton/articles/2009/02/01/lets_talk_about_sex/ Youth group is likewise open to all kids 11 and up, whether or not their parents are members. We are all grateful for the many new friends we have made this year, and the many people who supported RE in a myriad of ways, including out wonderful classroom teachers and assistants, and the many people who have donated time, talent, and materials. I would like to especially thank Ruth Dougherty for her generous contribution to the program, and Tania and Ryan Buchanan, Dora Duguay, Declan Davis, and Aaron Ngem for sharing their talents with us on RE Sunday. Wishing you all a joyous and restful summer! Marlyn Miller Director of Religious Education For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar NEW MEMBER PROFILESBy Tracy KellerTHOMAS COSTAGLIOLA Thomas Costagliola found First Universalist when he moved to Salem from Cambridge, where he was a member of First Parish Cambridge. He had heard of FUSS while he was a member of the Cambridge church, where FUSS enjoys a good reputation. He attended the Membership Classes and signed the book late last year. Brought up in Brooklyn, NYC, Thomas was raised as a Roman Catholic and had a strict parochial school education. He started questioning his faith when he attended a liberal Roman Catholic Franciscan high school. By the time he was in his twenties he was a devout atheist and believed that the god he had been taught to believe in did not exist and that the Roman Catholic Church was not the true church. While he loved the Franciscan order, he had no connection to the church and wanted none. “I could not participate without believing; I felt fraudulent attending any events. I wished that I had ‘faith’ but I did not,” he said. He didn’t find the Unitarian Universalist church until his late forties, when, at the urging of a girlfriend, he attended a Christian church in Lexington with a minister he said was extraordinary. “I loved his sermons even if I did not agree with his theological position about God and Christianity,” he said. He started looking around for churches and walked into a summer service at the UU church in Waltham where he instantly realized he had found the perfect spiritual home. A few months later, he joined First Parish in Cambridge where he lived. Since joining FUSS, Thomas has taken part in the Social Justice and Membership committees. He also started a series of discussion groups on various topics based on a similar program at his former church in Cambridge. Thomas is a self-employed real estate developer who delights in designing and planning buildings. His hobbies include investing, macroeconomics, Toastmasters, photography, reading the New York Times, and finding relatives here and abroad through social networking sites such as Facebook. He lives with his fiancée, JoAnne McNeill, in Salem, and has three grown daughters: Eden, Gina and Claire. THE COCO FAMILY A “wrong” number sent the Coco family to the First Universalist Society. Nicole “Nicke” Coco was looking for a UU church for her family when she dialed what she thought was the First Unitarian Church on Essex Street but connected with Reverend Marjorie Matty instead. “With her kindness, knowledge, compassion, and inspiring words, she drew us in. We both knew instantly that we wanted to be a part of a community that had such an amazing reverend,” said Nicke. Nicke and her husband Alex completed the membership classes and signed the book last winter-early spring. Neither of the Cocos had had much religious background while growing up in Massachusetts. Alex attended a local UU youth group. Nicke attended a Roman Catholic school but the church’s teachings didn’t resonate with her. She spent her twenties talking with pastors, rabbis and priests in an effort to find a spiritual home to no avail. Eventually, Nicke and Alex came to find a right fit by exploring Paganism. Nicke became a solitary practitioner with Strega leanings. Alex followed the Thelema tradition. Both continue to blend their ideas and practices with each other and their children. After moving to Salem from Derry, NH in October 2009, the Cocos were seeking to be part of a community and decided on First Universalist. When asked what is the family’s favorite part of the church Nicke replied, “The people! This community is filled with loving, respectful people who welcomed us with open arms and open hearts. While the Reverend drew us in, the community of people kept us here. We are very excited and honored to be part of such a diverse, accepting group of individuals.” Nicke is a stay at home mom who homeschools their seven children: Philip, Garrett, MacKenzie (Kenzie), Magaly (Maggie), Madeleine (Maddy), Santino (Sonny) and Mia. All of the children attend RE classes except Philip, who attends sermons in the Sanctuary. Nicke and Alex are currently restarting a custom embroidery business called Bewitching Stitching. She is also studying for the Massachusetts Real Estate license and should be licensed by mid-summer. Alex is a network security engineer. Alex likes board games, movies, coffee, embroidery and knitting. Nicke also enjoys knitting and embroidery, plus reading. However, what they enjoy most is spending time with their family. Both are involved with Religious Education at the moment and they look forward to working with Harry Wessel in expanding the youth group. They are also involved with the Food Pantry, something Nicke holds close to her heart after spending years volunteering at a local pantry where she used to live. Spreading the word of FUSS’ existence is something they feel is important to pursue. Their dream for the church is to see it packed to the rafters every Sunday, “filled with people of all walks of life who come together to love and worship and accept and learn from one another.” For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar THANK YOU FOR THE MUSICBy Joy RemyWhen I first came to visit First Universalist in the summer of 2009, I was impressed with the sermons I heard those first few weeks. I would have come back to hear more from the Deacons because their words touched my heart, but something else touched my heart that went beyond words--the music. I remember Incubus playing on a boom box--Incubus, in a church! Unheard of! Exciting! (Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there...) I remember Jo and Ryan Buchanan playing and singing bluegrass and gospel from O Brother, Where Art Thou? (When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away...) and I knew this was the church whose members loved the same kind of music I do. After the short few weeks of summer lay services, I went to another church, hoping for the same experience, just in another place, but it wasn't the same at all. When services at First Universalist started up again, I flew through the doors and wasn't disappointed. In no particular order, I remember Julian Baptista singing "Love's Divine" by Seal ("Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name..."). I remember Marlyn Miller singing a soaring Hebrew prayer, and later in the year, something husky and soulful and wonderful. I remember Elizabeth Black and the Sweet Adelines, singing barbershop, their sweet harmonies lighting up the sanctuary. I remember Bill Smith on the guitar, the banjo, the hammer dulcimer, and his tenor voice a strong counterpoint to Sarah Smith's happy alto, as they gave us the ever-renewing gift of folk. I remember Matt Myer conducting the "drumming service" and workshop afterward, wherein he taught me and a whole bunch of people with way better rhythm than I've got (including my daughter Kayleigh) how to play, sing, and dance a real samba dance party. I've seen Michael Mazurkiewicz countless times at the piano, playing pieces that were light and airy, solemn and stately, sweeping and grand, sentimental, and deeply spiritual. Every time he plays "Blue Boat Home," my husband Scott sings the words to every verse, even if nobody else is singing. Because the music has crawled into our hearts to stay. It's in the children, singing in the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas." It's in the weekly standards, which Nicole sings without looking at the words printed in the order of service. It's in the choir, with me, sometimes straining to belt out the high notes without sounding too much like a strangled goose (I'm not really a soprano!). It's in the hearts of the Music Committee: Julie Pottier-Brown, Bill Smith, Helen Jacoby, Brenda Briana, Michael Mazurkiewicz, and me, and maybe most especially in Becky Christie, who says she has found her faith in music at First Universalist. Yes, the music means that much to us. In the absence of a paid choir director, Becky has led the music program with a light hand and a light heart. We don't have a choir; we have a "Low Stress, Welcoming Singing Group." Everyone's welcome to sing in the choir, so long as you can pay attention long enough to learn a song or two. Under Becky's benign, gently encouraging governance, we have had the privilege of hearing many voices, many hands on many instruments. We heard Ryan Buchanan play the trombone. We heard Calvin sing "Amazing Grace." We heard Margo play classical piano, and piano for two-hands with Michael. We've heard songs ring through the sanctuary a capella, with people standing on the balcony, or under the pulpit, solo, in small and large groups. The music is starting to make its way into people's homes (did you know that Sarah Smith thought up the idea of having people get together outside the church, in someone's home, to sing?) We've sung in the dark; we've sung to candlelight; we've sung to organ music; we've taken to the streets to sing. I've racked my brain to think of all of the wonderful music I've heard from First Universalist here, and no doubt I've missed something important, maybe even your favorite thing (and if so, I hope you track me down, and scold me roundly for it). But I hope I've done my job here; I hope I've captured the spirit of the music. At coffee hour after the service, we all do talk about things other than the music. We hope the unemployed folks find jobs soon. We appreciate Marlyn, and the people who help with the children. We hug and praise the Deacons for being so awesome, after having hugged and praised Rev. Matty for knowing what we need to hear, and challenging us week after week. We give sympathy to those in pain, and celebrate with those with uplifting news. And then we seek out the special music people, so we can tell them how wonderful they are to have given such precious gifts. I'm not the only one who appreciates their gifts; I see you doing it too--the tears in your eyes and the smiles on your faces. I'm not the only one who is inspired by the sermons, but lives for the song. Not by a long shot. This church is full of people who love the music I love, who are touched and uplifted by the sounds of community. So, thank you all for bringing your love with you to First Universalist. Above all, thank you all for taking me in, and for giving me somewhere to sing. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENTSummer is once again upon us all however here is a sneak peak at some of the exciting Adult Faith Development happenings for the upcoming year.Rev. Marjorie Matty and Marlyn Miller will be teaching a course. Let your imagination run wild on what it will be about. The church will once again be holding game and movie night with potluck one alternating Saturday a month. 5pm - 8pm. There are rumors that Monty Python will make an appearance this fall. A New Members course will be offered for those of you interested in becoming members of First Universalist. A few single session meetings to learn more about a variety of world religions. There have already been a number of members that expressed willingness to help out with these single sessions. I will be contacting you over the summer for your help. And last but not least we are bringing back the previously successful Small Group Ministry program. Look for a sign-up sheet in September. One group will be scheduled the last Saturday of each month with other possible sessions such as a day group. Ask Helen for information on what SGM is if you are new to this. Spiritual sharings on a variety of topics in a small group setting. Adult Faith Development Team Rev. Marjorie Matty & Helen Jacoby For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar LIFEBRIDGESubmitted by Carole McCauleyVolunteers Sought for Lifebridge service: 2nd and/or 4th Wednesdays of each month Indeed, we are living in challenging economic times. Increasingly common are persons made homeless by factors that make the nightly news, such as foreclosure, poverty, rising unemployment, and declines in public assistance. Homelessness is also a serious problem experienced by the mentally ill, addicts, and victims of domestic violence. Alas, these problems are not absent in our own backyards. What is Lifebridge? Formerly known as the Salem Mission, Lifebridge is a non-profit organization loated at 56 Margin Street in Salem serving people in our community with the provision of shelter, housing, community meals, and essential services. A team of skilled and knowledgeable team of case managers, health care providers, and employment specialists serving over 1,000 clients annually, supported in part by over 400 volunteers each year who contribute time in the kitchen, food pantry, and thrift store. What do FUSS volunteers do at Lifebridge? Volunteers from our church help prepare and serve dinner for the residents of Salem Mission on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The food and menu are provided by Lifebridge, as well as a food prep coordinator. All you have to do is show up for dinner prep between 4:30-5:30pm, and then stay through dinner serving from 6:30-7:00pm. Lifebridge residents do the cleanup. Our church serves the Lifebridge community twice per month. On the second Wednesday of each month, we team with other UU churches in the area, and on the fourth Wednesday of the month, we provide an entire team’s worth of volunteers. There is always room to expand our service with additional volunteer interest! To sign up, or for more information, please contact Carole McCauley at email mccauliflower@gmail.com. Thank you to our Volunteers! Nancy Bacigalupo, Emily Bacigalupo, Cody DuPuis, Jaimie Hoover, Joyce Prior, Donna Blume, Michelle Rust, Bill Smith, Sarah Smith, Karen Snow, Chris Weis. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar PERMANENT FUNDS REPORTFiscal Year 2009-2010By Sally Millice, Chair, Trustees of Permanent Funds The stock market has improved over last year, climbing to an average performance in the S&P Index of 5.39%. The bond market Barclay’s Index was 1.78%. We expect continued volatility in the climb out of this recession. Because we live in a truly global economy, the issues that arise overseas have a big impact on our markets (for example Greece’s debt issues, Euro crisis). To manage this volatility and help us protect and grow our investments, we rely on our professional investment advisors. We are pleased with their performance this year, in these challenging economic times. Because the Permanent Funds are invested in balanced portfolios, we can weather volatility better than if we were in all stocks. The value of our largest account, invested at Cabot Management was $653,088 on March 31, 2010. (This is up from our balance at this time last year $632,293). During the year the church withdrew $144,939 for operations. We contributed $23,277 to the account, mostly in unused funds from the previous church year. The fees for managing this account were $4,907. The Strategic Plan of the church is on target to reduce the amount of annual withdrawals by at least 1% each year. Current asset allocation of the Cabot-managed fund is 40% US stocks, 15% Foreign stocks, 40% Bonds and 5% cash. In September, the Trustees decided to place the restricted funds into a fee-based account with Wells Fargo Advisors. We wanted to increase earnings and reduce holdings in the Income Fund of America, a mutual fund that held some companies not in alignment with our socially responsible principles. The Wells Fargo strategy for our Funds is to focus on dividend paying stocks with potential for growth that meet our criteria. Since making the change to active management, this fund has increased earnings from 1.4% to 5.2% as of March 31, 2010. Balances as of March 31, 2010: Lendall Brown Building Fund : $244,015 Flowers and Guest Ministers : $45,104 Organ Concert Fund : $ 3,869 Organ Restoration Fund : $ 812 Memorial Fund : $ 2,969 Total Restricted Funds : $ 296,769 (Last year the fund value was $230,378) During the year, the church withdrew $14,200 from the restricted accounts and made deposits of $3,408 (mostly by transfer of the Memorial Fund to this account). Fees to manage this account were $1,056. The current asset allocation of the Wells Fargo- managed account is 46% equities, 39% bonds and 15% cash. As of March 31, 2010 the total value of the Permanent Funds are $949,857. The Trustees for this church year were Tom Gifford, Sally Millice and Chris Weis. We are sincerely grateful Tom Gifford, who is retiring after serving three consecutive terms (a total of six years). We are deeply grateful to Tom for his outstanding service to this church. His wisdom, integrity and unflagging dedication to our principles will be missed. We appreciate the dedicated service of Chris Weis who is leaving the Trustees after serving one year, so that she may serve on the Board of Trustees. Chris has been a valuable and talented addition to our team and we wish her all the best in her new leadership position. Our Trustees for next church year beginning in June will be Sally Millice, Ruth Dougherty and Natalie Johnsen. For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar HOSPITALITY COMMITTEEGreetings, fellow coffee (and tea) lovers!The Hospitality Committee was formed for the purpose of providing a coffee hour after worship on Sunday. Coffee hour provides valuable time to get together with your fellow members, newcomers and guests. The informal opportunity to mingle and socialize allows us all time to get to know one another better. Hospitality volunteers provide finger-foods, juice for the children’s table and milk and half-and-half for approximately 20 people. The committee provides the coffee, tea and filters for the coffee makers. The volunteers have the discretion about what to serve; we only ask that they avoid serving cheese puffs or cheese popcorn with a cheesy “dust” on them which can be transferred to surfaces all over the church. We have a youth in the congregation with a severe milk allergy and contact with the cheese topping on a doorknob or chair arm will cause him to have a reaction. Volunteers need not feel pressured to put on anything lavish. A simple lineup of “munchies” is perfect. A basket is set out for donations to reimburse the volunteers for their contribution. The Hospitality Committee originally consisted of Donna Day, Chris Weis and Tracy Keller, with Denise Regan serving as the Board liaison. Recently there was a shift of responsibilities on the Board and Chris Weis left the committee to become our liaison instead. We could always use members on the committee! Committee members oversee the sign up list to make sure volunteers are lined up and instruct members on hosting coffee hour, i.e., how much decaf to make, where the serving platters are, etc. On behalf of the Hospitality Committee, I want to thank the following individuals for volunteering thus far, for hosting and cleaning up. If I’ve left out a name, let me know and I’ll make you a cup of coffee! If I’ve included someone’s name who hasn’t volunteered yet, consider this thank you for a future effort.: Kathryn Baptista, Beth Toolan, Nicole Davis, Scott Davis, Joy Remy, Tina Stoner, Jan Brick, Leslie Buchanan, Lori Scanlon, Lynne St. Onge, Patti Welch, Carole McCauley, Becky Christie, Brenda Briana, Tom Wickers, Francesca Moscatelli, Sally Millice, Margo Simon, Carla Smith, Michelle Rust, Kathleen Riley, Christine McInnis, Gretchen Westphal, Kara McGarigal, Ruth Dougherty, Helen Jacoby, Janet Madsen, Chris Weis, Denise Regan, Andrea Ogles, Jan Costa, Thomas Costagliola, Natalie Johnsen, Ayser Elamin and Donna Day. Sincerely, Tracy Keller Donna Day For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar THE SALEM PANTRYJune was LAST month we will be doing a bimonthly pantry since the numbers we're feeding don't seem to support all the extra energy required. In July we'll revert to our last-Saturday-of-the-month schedule. If you can help on Wednesdays from 5 - 7 PM with bagging or Saturdays 8 a.m. to about noon for distribution, please do.Tom Gifford 978-744-6334 giffordtj@hotmail.com For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar NURSERY ATTENDANT NEEDEDNursery Attendant needed for the next church year. This is a position for 3 hours every Sunday morning as a nursery attendant/supervisor. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact Kathleen Riley @ krriley60@hotmail.com or (617) 838-6597 for details.For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar CHURCH OFFICERosa will be in the Office Tuesday and Fridays (8 AM to 1 AM) starting June 20th through August 21st. Her hours return to Tuesday through Friday on August 24th. Rosa will also be away for a few days at the end of July . Board Trustees will check email and voicemail outside of office hours and during her vacation.For more upcoming events, please visit our online Calendar Newsletter Archive: You may also download our lovely and illustrated PDF version - just right click and choose save as. Older PDF's are available upon request. -March 15 - May 15, 2010 PDF -January 15 - March 15, 2010 PDF -December 2009 PDF -November 2009 -October 2009 -September 2009 -July/August 2009 - June 2009 - May 2009 - April 2009 -March 2009 -February 2009 -January 2009 |