Sarah’s Circle

July 2016

Our July meeting will be on Saturday, July 16^th, in the Fellowship Room from 10 AM to 12 noon as usual with meditation at 9:30 for those who wish to join in.  We have selected Spider Woman’s Granddaughters: Traditional Tales and Contemporary Writing by Native American Women— a powerful collection of traditional tales, biographical writings, and contemporary short stories, many by the most accomplished Native American women writing today. Paula Gunn Allen enriches our understanding with her scholarly and analytical headnotes.

Our August meeting will be on Saturday, August 13^th when we will focus on women in poetry—choose your own favorite female poet and bring some spiritually focused poetry to the meeting to share and discuss.

We need volunteers for goodies and milk.

Christian Education

July 2016

Sunday school
We are continuing to use the Heifer International curriculum to learn about our global neighbors.  Calendars with activities and discussion for home are available in the narthex.  Summer Sunday school
is relaxed and fun with just one multi age group, and we are downstairs in the cool air conditioning.
Come join us!

Outdoor Church

Join us on Sunday, August 7 from 2-5 to help make and distribute lunches in two groups in Harvard and Central Squares.  We’ll join Outdoor Church staff on their regular routes.  We can carpool together from PACC.  If you’d like to join us or have questions, please let Kate know by July 25.  For more information about Outdoor Church, go to outdoorchurch.org

Adult Education

Evening Bible Group typically meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the Fellowship Room at 7:30-9 p.m.  We decided to take July off, please join us in August! We meet August 10 and 24.

Join us for a lively discussion! All are welcome.

Small Talk

July 2016

We are works in progress as the Church, as a congregation, and as persons of faith.

When we strive to build on what we do well and work on what we can do better, there is a huge potential for happiness and there’s a huge potential for growth of all kinds.

We talk about wanting to grow, but don’t talk much about being happy. It’s easier to get caught up in what isn’t working or to complain about what we don’t have than it is to celebrate the blessing of potential.

The thing about potential is that it’s realized by someone or something that tips the balance, precipitates the change, invites the difference. That can happen in various ways.

There’s a wonderful tool, a simple purple wristband, created by Will Bowen to help people realize just how often we complain. You can read about him and his project at www.acomplaintfreeworld.org. One of the churches I’ve served as interim pastor used the wristbands as part of its Lenten focus. It generated a lot of conversation about awareness.

Tools like Will’s wristband really are about becoming aware. Another word for that is mindfulness: paying attention – on purpose. We’ve done some of that together in the past few months. Walking the labyrinth is about mindfulness. So is lectio divino – reading scripture with intention and purpose. Prayer certainly is about mindfulness. Talking about race invites mindfulness; so does debating how we make decisions. We need mindfulness: it’s the key to abiding happiness.

We need the respite of mindlessness too. It’s the key to immediate happiness. Sometimes I enjoy doing something ‘mindless’, like seeing a silly film (I loved Alice Through the Looking Glass) or rambling about why using a Designated Hitter isn’t real baseball (because it’s not).

We need mindfulness and mindlessness. We need abiding happiness as well as immediate happiness. We need potential and we need it to be realized. We need stability and we need to rock the boat, not for the sake of staying the same nor for the sake of change in and of itself, but because we are living beings. And we are works in progress.

May the summer bring you the happiness of renewed energy, greater hope, and deeper peace.

Faithfully,

Jill

The Reverend Jill H. Small

 

Local Mission and Justice Matters

Youth Villages Birthday Bags

We provide a monthly birthday party in a bag for about 20 teen girls.  Each bag contains:

• four boxes of cake mix – four tubs of frosting
• disposable cake pans – sprinkles to decorate
• candles – birthday cards
• hats for the girls celebrating that month (1-2)
• decorations (birthday banners or signs, streamers)
• paper plates, forks and napkins for 20
• something fun like stickers, mini glow sticks, individual bubbles, mardi gras bead necklaces, or anything that seems like it would help make a birthday party fun for 20 girls.

The girls really look forward to this every month. Birthdays can be very hard because they can remind the girls that they aren’t celebrating their special day with family and friends.  Thank you to all who have donated birthday supplies for the Youth Villages birthday bags!

Arlington Food Pantry (AFP)

We will be collecting non-perishable food items
and household goods for the AFP on Sunday, June 5. For a list of recommended items and for “How to Register to Receive Food from the Arlington Food Pantry” visit www.facebook.com/foodpantryarlington or arlingtonfoodpantry.org.  We are also looking for regular or occasional volunteers to deliver to the AFP.
Talk to Kate Lindheim, Lauren Evans or Mike Rich.

Regional Gun Buy Back

Help make Arlington even safer. Saturday, June 11 from 10-3 at the DPW yard at 51 Grove St.  Arlington police will collect unwanted guns and in return distribute gift cards from food businesses ($50-$200 depending on the type of weapon). Any leftover gift cards will be given to the Arlington Food Pantry.

Community sponsors, including PACC, raise funds to purchase the gift cards.  If you’d like to contribute to the PACC donation talk to Kate or Lauren.  Thank you!

 Thank You!  Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Network

In recognition of our ONA anniversary, we raised $250 to provide snacks for 10 weeks for the Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Network’s Friday night youth meetings.  Mystic provides a safe and supportive place for LGBTQ youth in Arlington and surrounding towns.

Join Us at Boston Pride, Saturday June 11

We usually attend the service at Old South Church first at 11 am, which is a lively interfaith service celebrating the LGBTQ community.  Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Pastor Judy Hanlon, co-founder of the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force will both be honored during the service. If you would like to join other PACC walkers, talk to Jill Lewis to arrange car/MBTA-pooling.

At noon we walk under the UCC banner with other congregations. The parade route starts near the Boston Public Library, goes through the South End past the State House, and ends at City Hall Plaza.  It’s a moving and powerful experience to make a statement that our churches are open and affirming! Join us!

See www.bostonpride.org/parade for more details, including Handicap viewing area, Handicap-accessible trolley, thanks to Super Duck Boats and other information for those who are physically unable to walk the full route!

There are a ton of activities in and around Boston for Pride Month – June 1 to 30, 2016, which can be viewed at http://www.bostonpride.org/calendar/.

Sarah’s Circle

Our June meeting will be on Saturday, June 18th, in the Fellowship Room from 10 AM to 12 noon as usual with meditation at 9:30 for those who wish to join in.  We have selected the autobiography of Dorothy Day for our next book, The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of the Legendary Catholic Social Activist.

Christian Education

Sunday school

Youth Sunday, June 12

This year’s theme is The Road to Peace. We’ve been learning stories about peacemaking—with God, each other, ourselves, and creation.  We’ve been talking about who our neighbors are and what it means to be a good neighbor.   The children and youth will lead the service featuring music from the youth choir, and a skit about the good Samaritan.  Jill will give the sermon.

Our only rehearsal with everyone will be on Saturday, June 11, 4:30-5:30 in the sanctuary.  Children without speaking parts can come for the first 20 minutes.  We’ll also be potting the flowers that we give on Sunday during the rehearsal.  If you can help, let Kate know.

Sunday school

The last regular day of Sunday school is June 19.  After that, we’ll have one multi age class for preschool-4th grade.  All other children and youth are invited to attend the worship service.  We’ll be using Heifer International’s Animal Crackers curriculum and we’ll continue to talk about who our neighbors are and being good neighbors.  We’ll learn about some of the people Heifer works with around the world and the animals, clean water and tree seedlings that Heifer helps provide.  A calendar of stories, activities, and discussion for home will be available in the narthex on June 26.  It’s also a great way to stay connected to church while you are on vacation or can’t be at church.  Read the stories at home and talk about them together.

All Church Picnic and Pool Party

Join us at Lexington Christian Academy, 48 Bartlett Ave, Lexington, on Sunday, June 19 from 12-4 pm.  There are sunny and shady spots to sit and relax.  Bring a towel if you’d like to swim and/or a tennis racquet to play.  Bring a game or puzzle to share if you’d like.   There’s also a field if anyone would like to organize a softball or whiffle ball game.  The CE ministry provides hot dogs, chips and drinks.  Please bring a side dish or dessert or dessert to share.  Thanks!

Adult Education

Evening Bible Group

Evening Bible Grouptypically meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the Fellowship Room at 7:30-9 p.m.  June dates are June 8^th and 22^nd

Join us for a lively discussion! All are welcome.

Book Discussion Wrap Up, June 12

We’ll be wrapping up our discussion of Jim Wallis’s America’s Original Sin with sessions 5 and 6 of the study guide on June 12 after church in the Fellowship room.  Go to http://americasorigninalsin.com to get the study guide which includes resources for additional reading and links to video clips.  Join us even if you haven’t been to previous sessions, or even if you haven’t read the book!

Free UCC Webinars about White Privilege

The UCC, with the Center for Progressive Renewal, is launching a series of several free webinars in June. This is an extension of the UCC Sacred Conversation on Race and in anticipation of a new adult education curriculum, White Privilege—Let’s Talk.  Five different ministers will offer one webinar each on different topics with four areas of focus: telling the story of your spiritual journey through the lens of race; looking at the dynamic of a culture in which whiteness is the established norm; learning how American attaches a cash value to whiteness; and inviting the participants to commit to becoming an ally in the pursuit of racial equity See http://progressiverenewal.org for details. Webinars will be available live or as recordings.

Small Talk

June 2016

What’s next? That’s a great question! It’s a big one for PACC and there are a number of ways to begin answering it.

Very soon, this congregation will have formed its Pastoral Search Committee. That’s what’s next. The Pastoral Search Committee will begin gathering information, objective and subjective, and it will craft that information into a church profile. That’s what’s next too.  All of that will help PACC as the Spirit guides you to the answer to the question, “Who’s next”.

One of the wonderful things about an interim is that it provides both movement and continuity. This is the both/and I talk about. I like statistics, and as “what’s next” unfolds, here are some things that I find useful to remember and to think about.

If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you’re a Baby Boomer. So am I. We were born into a post-war world, one that for the U.S. was filled with a heightened sense of peace and prosperity.

Plenty of people, myself included, yearn for days that seemed much more innocent. Of course, they were also days of tremendous social change.  They are an important part of the past – and the thing that causes distress for many Boomers is that they are past.  Unbelievable as it seems, I’m writing this on Bob Dylan’s 75^th birthday.

Just two months ago, in April, 2016, Boomers were overtaken by Millennials (born 1981-1997) as America’s largest living generation.  There were just under 75 million Boomers living in 2015. By 2050, a date I fervently hope to see, there will be only 16.5 million. [Pew Research Center. April 26, 2016.]

The Pew Research study also reported that churches founded after 2000 increase membership by five (5) persons per year. Those churches formed before 2000 have declined by about 16 members annually.  Eight in ten (80%) of U.C.C. congregations have fewer than 100 persons in worship weekly, and that’s good news, because that’s up about 1% over the year before!

Open and Affirming Congregations have larger membership, over 225 on average, and attract more new participation/members than do U.C.C. congregations that are not Open and Affirming.

So what could all of this mean for PACC?

Your next pastor probably will not be a Boomer. Statistically, that person will serve this congregation for about 8.5 years. About 53% of active UCC clergy are male, so it’s a bit more likely that your next pastor will be a man.  Of course, the Spirit may guide you to a 55 year-old woman who will be with you until she retires at age 70!

In this Pentecost season, the Spirit is always moving, always inviting, and always doing something wonderful as part of “what’s next”.  May it be so here in our midst!

Faithfully,
Jill
The Reverend Jill H. Small

Downton Abbey Tea

May 8, 2016 at 1:30 and 3:30pm

Silent Auction

Here’s a preview of the 19 items being offered in the Silent Auction at the Downton Abbey Tea on May 8. If you’re going to be at the tea, you can bid on them then. If you’re not going to be at the tea, you’re welcome to submit bids ahead of time. It’s a good way to support the tea and get something you like at the same time. Just give the name and number of the item, the amount of your bid, and your own name, phone number, and e-mail address. If you don’t mind one of us knowing how much you have bid, you can e-mail that information to one of us by Sunday morning at church time, or if you prefer to keep your bid secret, just put it in an envelope with the item name and number on the outside and get it to one of us by the end of church on Sunday morning. Each item will be sold to the person who offers the most money for it. Winning bidders will be notified by phone or e-mail.

Thanks!

Linda Cohn and Barbara Wagner

The British Basket

This basket is chock full of traditional treats (Walker’s shortbread, Cadbury chocolate, Earl Grey tea, orange marmalade) and also a set of recipe note cards featuring the designs of Charles and Margaret Mackintosh as well as some reading material and British souvenirs.

Donated by Judy Miller, Linda Cohn, and Barbara Wagner Value at least $50

Vintage Wine, Glasses, and Linens Basket

“Party like it’s …. Downton Abbey in the ‘20s!” This basket features 4 vintage wine goblets, 4 white linen and lace formal napkins, and a bottle of 2009 Bordeaux, a classic blend referred to back then as “claret”.

Donated by Andy Hart and Berman’s Fine Wines and Spirits, Lexington. Value estimated at $100

Mother’s Day Basket

We haven’t seen the details yet, but Nadine Lombard is creating a special basket full of items picked out to please Mom on Mother’s Day. More info to follow.

Paddington Bear

“Please look after this bear.” Paddington Bear needs someone to take care of him. That could be you. This brand-new Paddington is decked out in yellow Wellington boots.

Donated by Tim Durning and Barbara Wagner Value $30

Royal Doulton Bunnykins Dishes

Imagine the special child in your life using these adorable dishes. Fine bone china child’s plate, bowl, and cup. Bunnykins design reminiscent of Beatrix Potter.

Value at least $25

Denby Pottery 2-tiered Serving Dish

New English pottery 2-tiered serving dish, white with Imperial Blue Rim

Donated by Bonnie Hayner Similar items sell on-line for about $50

Jewelry roll

Lady Mary may have used something similar to this white jewelry roll with flowery brocade and lace overlay. It comes with a ceramic flower pin with pink and blue flowers in the English style (shows a little almost indistinguishable wear).

Jewelry roll donated by Merrith Sabo-Jones

Child’s Tea Set

Perfect for afternoon tea parties, this child’s tea set from Singapore comes in a red brocade box and has 6 child-size teacups, a teapot, and tray.

Donated by Rachel and Gretchen Durning

Mirror Compact

The Downton Abbey ladies in the 1920’s likely carried something like this pink and silver compact, which comes with two mirrors, regular and magnifying.

Donated by Merrith Sabo-Jones

White Wedgwood Vase

Vintage Wedgwood Queensware vase, white ceramic with embossed grapevine around the rim.

Donated by Linda Ziebell Similar items sell on-line for $30–$60 and more

Glass Teapot

Everything you need to start exploring the world of flowering teas, this glass teapot comes with 4 flowering tea buds and a mini Tea Time book with tea tradition, presentation and recipes.

Donated by Meredythe Schober Similar items sell on-line for $20-$30

Wedgwood Brooch

Vintage Blue Jasper porcelain silver brooch with mother and child cameo. Dated 1954.

Donated by Barbara Wagner Similar items sell on-line for $85 and more. **Minimum bid $30**

Ceramic flowers

Small pot of English fine bone china flowers, approximately 2 in. tall

$25 Gift Certificate for Henry Bear’s Park Toy Store

Donated by local toy store Henry Bear’s Park

Downton Abbey: A Celebration

The Official Companion to All Six Seasons

Written at the beginning of the final season, this book by Jessica Fellowes leads us through the house and estate, reliving the iconic moments of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they navigate the emerging modern age.

Donated by Barnes and Noble, Burlington

Value $30

Victoria and Albert Plate

This is a commemorative tin replica of a plate made in 1840 with the superimposed initials of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Donated by Merrith Sabo-Jones

Champagne Flutes

For special occasions offer your champagne toast in Downton Abbey style with this pair of Shannon Crystal champagne flutes.

Donated by local gift shop Firefly Moon Value at least $50

Homemade shortbread cookies

Take home a delicious plate of homemade shortbread cookies.

Donated by Cindy Manson and Merrith Sabo-Jones

Teavana Artisanal Brewing Kit

This “Welcome to Loose-Leaf Tea” artisanal brewing kit contains one Perfectea Maker, four tea tins, one Perfectea spoon, Perfectea rock sugar (1 pound), and 2 ounces each of four tea blends: Youthberry & Wild Orange Blossom white tea/herbal blend, Maharaja Chai Oolong & Samurai Chai Maté blend, Peach Tranquility herbal blend, Jade Citrus Mint green tea blend.

Donated by Linda Kristian, value $69.95

America’s Original Sin

May 23, 2016, 7:30pm

After the Waking up White discussion some of us expressed interest in reading America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America, a new book by Jim Wallis exploring the roots of racism in churches.  Some of us read on our own and gathered for a discussion in April, around the time of our Sacred Conversation on Race on April 10.

We will continue our discussion on May 23 at 7:30pm in the Fellowship Room. We’re using the author’s study guide for our discussion.  We’ve covered session 1 and we’ll be looking at sessions 2 and 3.  The study guide and additional resources are available online at americasoriginalsin.com. Everyone is welcome to join us, whether you’ve read the book or not.

Mission and Justice

In the UCC

Mass Conference (MACUCC) “Conference Buzz”The Massachusetts Conference website has links to many interesting articles, blogs, and information about upcoming events. See www.macucc.org.

MASS CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

Registration is now open at http://www.macucc.org/eventdetail/2392063 for the 217th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference.

The Annual Meeting will take place at UMass Amherst from Friday, June 17 to Saturday, June 18. It’s an opportunity to gather around God’s immense table of grace, to spend some time in a season of discernment concerning our future. It is a time when bold new initiatives are presented, worship is creative and uplifting, networking is possible at every turn, new ideas are introduced.

PACC is entitled to send two voting delegates, in addition to clergy. Talk to Mike Rich or Tim Durning if you want to be a delegate or alternate.

Local Mission and Justice Matters

Arlington Food Pantry (AFP)

We will be collecting non-perishable food items and household goods for the AFP on Sunday, May 1. For
a list of recommended items and for “How to Register
to Receive Food from the Arlington Food Pantry” visit www.facebook.com/foodpantryarlington or arlingtonfoodpantry.org.  We are also looking for regular or occasional volunteers to take our donations to the AFP.
Talk to Kate Lindheim, Lauren Evans or Mike Rich.

Donations to Mystic LGBTQ+

We’ll celebrate our ONA anniversary by enjoying cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles after church in Parish Hall and we’ll collect donations for Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network to provide a month’s worth of snacks ($100) for their Friday night youth meeting. Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network provides a safe and supportive place for LGBTQ youth in Arlington and surrounding towns.  For more information about the work that Mystic does, see queermystic.org.

Regional Gun Buy Back

Arlington will participate in a regional gun buy back program on Saturday, June 11 from 10-3 at the DPW yard on Grove St.  Arlington police will accept any unwanted guns and local gift cards will be distributed in return.  This helps dispose of unwanted guns and helps reduce the risk of suicide, accidental discharge, and domestic violence.  More information will be forthcoming. If you’d like to help out with the planning or help distribute gift cards on June 11, please speak to Jill Lewis or Kate Lindheim.

Collecting Shoes for Refugees

A Place to Grow is collecting shoes for Refugees in Europe: used shoes for walking in good condition (preferably sneakers and walking shoes, especially for kids). Please tie laces together or put rubber bands around pairs. They have managed to collect 6000 but need 6000 more to fill the container before May 15.   A box is downstairs in the hall near the daycare.

The shoes will be shipped to one of the refugee camps in Europe where the organization IAMYOU operates and will distribute .http://www.iamyou.se/mission/  The effort to collect shoes and pay for the shipping costs is a private one. For more info visit: https://www.gofundme.com/shoesforsoles

PACC’s Mission and Justice Deacon is Lauren Evans, supported by Mike & Betty Rich, Jill Lewis, Margaret Bell, and others. They’d be happy to talk with you about this ministry!