The Deacons, with the Minister, are charged with overseeing the spiritual life of the church and the weekly Sunday services. We insure that each service runs smoothly so that the congregation can worship in our sacred space with peace of mind. That one special hour on Sunday allows us all to take a deep breath and relax into the quiet and beauty of our little sanctuary. The Deacons listen to what our congregation has to say about the services and are open to suggestions for change.
This year has been one of stability and amity for the First Parish. While our membership is growing, we are welcoming our newest parishioners with open arms and inclusion in all facets of our rich spiritual community.
This is the second year that we have had a full complement of ten Deacons (up from nine), and each one of us was kept busy during the year, serving as Deacon of the Month, as well as helping out with special services, Winter Solstice, New Member Sunday, the three Christmas and three Easter services, as well as other responsibilities. As our congregation grows in numbers, we try to keep pace by offering additional services, so no one feels cramped in our small sanctuary. For the first time, it was noted that all three Christmas services were full and the three Easter services were as well attended.
The Deacons this year were: Janet Boynton, Frances Clark, Dwight Gertz, Peter Pease, Dana Robbat, Kirsten Spille, Stephen Johnson, Marnie Wengren, Carolyn Montie and your Chair, Susan Welsh. I would like to thank all the Deacons for their thoughtful care and commitment to the First Parish. We discuss many issues over the course of a year, and no Deacon takes his or her role lightly. If a change in the service or a procedure does occur, it has been carefully considered by each and every Deacon with great concern to preserving the spirit and integrity of our church services.
One of the changes that we made this year was to limit our summer Sunday services to the last two weeks in June and the month of July, with no services to be held in August, effective this summer 2004. August services often saw fewer than five people in attendance and it was becoming increasingly difficult, in these busy times, to find a speaker to lead each service. Many UU churches take the whole summer off, but we were not ready to take that step yet. This is a trial year, and if a majority of the congregation misses these services, then there is the opportunity for them to be revived.
It was wonderful year for inspiration from the pulpit. Roger’s sermons were insightful and thought provoking, encouraging conversation after the service and later in small groups. His confident leadership allowed us to enjoy a number of truly outstanding guest speakers including: David Scadden, E.O. Wilson, Don Bienfang, Rev. Mark Glovin, and Annie Robinson. We were blessed again this year to have Rosemary Lloyd as our Student Minister. She continued to impress us with her sermons and heartfelt pastoral care. We celebrated her ordination on May 23 and sent her out, a bit begrudgingly, into the world of ministry. Lay leaders, drawn from our congregation, also contributed truly remarkable prayers. This year’s Lay Leaders were: Sarah Andrysiak, Rainier Frost, Peter Watkinson, Adam Bailey, Eliza O’Neil, Tom Haslett and Susanna Bedell.
Last year one of our goals was to incorporate our youth more fully into the services. Our Director of Religious Education, Barbara O’Neill has provided many delightful ‘Children’ Messages’ during the service, as well as orchestrated a youth-oriented “Earth Day’ service and a family pot luck Sunday brunch. She honors the hard work of the devoted Sunday school teachers every year. Barbara created and led the lovely Children’s Christmas Eve service as well as the always-wonderful Christmas pageant. For the later Christmas Eve services, Roger invites our high school and college students to take part in the traditional Christmas story readings.
Aside from the Sunday and special services, the Deacons are responsible for several other activities that make the First Parish a spiritually rich and active church. The Deacons host a New Members dinner on a Friday night in December, inviting everyone who has expressed an interest in joining the church. On behalf of the Deacons, this year Dwight Gertz and Dana Robbat hosted the evening with Roger and Rosemary welcoming about 40 guests. The following Sunday, everyone is invited (attendance at the dinner not required) to officially join the church. This year twenty-nine signed the book and became part of the First Parish. New members received their carnations, shook hands with Roger and several attending Deacons.
The creation of the Lenten Booklet is another Deacon responsibility that is enjoyed immensely by the whole congregation. This year’s masterful editors were Peter Pease and Marnie Wengren. The topic this year was ‘Closed Doors, Open Windows,’ reflections on those times in our lives when something seemingly went awry but ultimately led to a new beginning. It never ceases to amaze us the depth and breadth of the experiences of our congregation and their willingness to open their hearts to share a trying or special moment in their lives. Many thanks to Gert McDermott, our indispensable publisher and production manager, who always keeps us on schedule and on deadline. We would also like to thank Jane Cooper who created the lovely drawing for the cover of the Lenten Book.
This year’s Winter Solstice was conceived and expertly produced by Deacons Carolyn Montie, Steve Johnson and Kirsten Spille, with support from a talented cast of readers and musicians. Kirsten also created the meditation spiral in the Flint’s field behind the church. It was magical to walk among the bales of hay and fluttering candle light with pagan spirits dancing about in the frosty air.
The Easter sunrise service was attended by almost seventy people (and several well-behaved dogs)--- and the sun was actually seen to rise this year—with Roger leading the service. Bob Green and Charlotte Perkins welcomed the dawning of this sacred day with guitars and beautiful singing.
This year also saw the creation of a much-needed and highly lauded Deacon’s Handbook. Marnie Wengren and Janet Boynton took on this time-consuming task and we were rewarded with the most comprehensive and detailed guide to the Deacon’s roles and responsibilities to date. Marnie researched and wrote a detailed and fascinating history of the First Parish Deacons. We highly recommend that everyone take a few minutes to read this wonderful history. Copies are available in Gert’s office and the FP library. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to both Marnie and Janet for their hard work and passion for the project.
Other activities that support our spiritual life in the church include eleven active and on-going “Small Ministry Groups” that meet at least once a month. Three of these groups have been meeting for several years; four have been meeting for over three years and four were just begun this year, including a group for Parents of Teenagers, led by Roger. The 9th grade Minister’s class was also led by Roger and Rosemary met with the 8th grade Breakfast Club this spring.
Spurred by popular culture, congregational interest, current events and sermons, Rosemary and Roger created and led some short-term adult educational classes. Classes included discussions on Elaine Pagel’s books and Dan Brown’s, “The Da Vinci Code.” Rosemary led a three- session class on ‘Dealing with Grief and Loss’ and both she and Roger led a class called ‘Reading the Bible Again for the First Time’. All the classes proved to be very popular and were fully attended. There is clamor for more in the future.
The Deacons could not do their jobs well without the incredible support of our First Parish administrator, Gert McDermott. She handles every request, big or small, with great humor and skill. I personally can attest that she has saved me on a number of occasions, when something important has slipped my mind. She is unfailing calm and always in the know. Gert, many thanks from all the Deacons.
We are also grateful to all those who make our worship services so special—Choir Director, Malcolm Hawkins, who creates ethereal magic every Sunday in the choir loft; Alice Daisy, our organist; the Hand Bell Choir and our gifted and dedicated choir members; guest musicians; and soloists. Many thanks are due also to the Flower and Hospitality Committees who create beauty and warmth each Sunday. Thanks also to all the members of our congregation who have served as ushers throughout the year and to the Stewardship Committee that insures we will always have a place to worship.
On a personal note, this year marks the end of my sixth year as a Deacon, the last two as Chair. To say it has been a remarkable and rewarding journey is an understatement. It has been a privilege to serve the First Parish and I will always be grateful for the guidance and wisdom of Roger, from whom I have learned so much, and to all of you, who have enriched my life more than you will ever know. I turn the reins over to your new Chair, Frances Clark, with a twinge of sadness at letting go, but with great joy that I now can enjoy every service without a checklist!
Respectfully submitted by,
Susan Welsh, Chair
Deacons: Janet Boynton, Frances Clark, Martha DeNormandie, Dwight Gertz, Steve Johnson, Carolyn Montie, Peter Pease, Dana Robbat, Kirsten Spille, Marnie Wengren