Each year, when Roger and Kay Paine return to Lincoln in September, they bring with them the insights and ideas that “time away” affords. Roger, for example, attended a ten-day “Clergy Development Institute” in Colorado, a signature program that the Alban Institute has run for forty years. As reported by Roger, thirty-eight ministers and one rabbi from all over the country — some as young as thirty, others in their sixties — worked with skilled trainers who outlined the theological characteristics of a “postmodern” church. Two-thirds of the ministers present already had shifted to two services, one of which definitely was “postmodern” — and the better attended.
But it was clear, as our church year began, that attendance was not a problem for us. Indeed our stalwart ministers and thoughtful Deacons arranged three services on Christmas Eve, and several at Easter, but the overwhelming sentiment favored the intimacy of one service in our lovely Sanctuary on ordinary Sundays. From that space radiated the hustle and bustle of Committees and groups whose blend of new participants and seasoned volunteers very often brought forth a happy innovation that was “just right.” For example, Barbara O’Neil, now completing her second year as our gifted Director of Religious Education, helped marshal our eighth-graders for an exuberant contribution to Earth Day Sunday. Who was not moved by the Choir’s rendition of “The Dance of Life,” composed by Malcolm Hawkins in memory of Lina Risser. A very snowy Saturday did not deter the Touch of Christmas volunteers — scores of them, seamlessly orchestrated by Sarah Andrysiak. E. O. Wilson came memorably to our pulpit, himself deterred by snow for a week.
The tantalizing dream of an Assistant Minister
As the year began, the Parish Committee was giddy with the thought that Rosemary Lloyd would be with us for a whole second year. And what a wonderful year it was. She and Roger hosted a series of Stearns Room social hours in the fall; she and Roger followed up on The Da Vinci Code and Beyond Belief with a very enthusiastically received class on Marcus Borg’s book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. In preparation for our annual Stewardship campaign, Rosemary preached a sermon (“The Soul of Money”) that few will soon forget. There was more. “As Roger pointed out, we have come as close as ever to having an Assistant Minister in Rosemary this year, and all Parish Committee members have sensed the significant added value of her presence.” (Meeting Minutes, 11/19/03.) Rosemary brought a smile to our doorstep even as the headlines growled.
But Roger has also pointed out that we are an “in-between” church (Parish News, 3/17/04), which means while we are not quite large enough to need a full time Assistant Minister, we are too large for the Senior Minister to “be there” in every possible way. An exceptional student minister helps enormously, but national church rules prevent us from offering our student interns (Rosemary, for example) a permanent position for a certain number of years following their internship. And, speaking starkly, we simply do not have the financial resources to do so — at present.
Stewardship
Besides her brilliant sermon, Rosemary helped Stewardship in other important ways. As this year’s Committee was gathering for the first time, who should volunteer at our door but Rosemary — quietly presenting for our consideration some extremely helpful literature relating to Stewardship in other churches and in faith communities in general. Bob Green, who generously agreed to serve a second year, and Deb French co-chaired this year’s effort with efficiency, éclat and pizzazz. (Also on the Committee were Don Bienfang, Jeff Eaton, Diana Smith and Denise Trapani). With the Parish Committee, their number one goal was (is) a moderate pay increase for our dedicated Staff, followed by funding for Outreach at a slightly higher level than last year, followed by an absolutely firm commitment to support an enhanced Capital Reserve Fund (see below), as well as level funding for all our Committees, at the very least. This is a tall order, but “standing tall” is better understood if we use as a yardstick what other, comparable churches in similar circumstances are doing. Alas, by several measures, our per household support tends to be below national and regional averages. Notwithstanding, we do recognize that other passions — sometimes conflicting — are important. As one committed parishioner lamented recently: “I was shocked to find that I support 91 different causes….”
Capital Reserve Fund,
Master Plan Committee, new septic system,
and the Lincoln Nursery School
What, you ask, are the common elements among these topics?
Certainly one of them is Chris Andrysiak, who is completing his second year as Treasurer exemplar. With strong Parish Committee endorsement, Chris has pointed us toward a discipline that requires us each year to set aside from Stewardship a significant sum toward a Capital Reserve Fund to help anticipate inevitable upcoming capital expenditures. The incredibly hard-working Master Plan Committee (see below) has identified many tens of thousands of dollars worth of projects that have been neglected (because of lack of funds) and/or will be upcoming, inexorably, in the foreseeable future.
The new septic system, which needed to be built last summer under considerable duress, was paid for, in part, by depleting left-over capital from a steeple repair project many years ago. As you know, this new system is used, in part, by the Lincoln Nursery School (“LNS”). In the course of negotiating a new seven-year agreement with Nancy Fincke, LNS’s outstanding Director, and a cadre of astute Board members, all sides readily agreed that a portion of LNS’s payments to the church each year would be set aside to help fund the next major capital expense. (For example, the roof over the Parish House wing is beginning to go.) Adopting this discipline, church-wide, is essential and will require a “vote” with our dollars each year when all of us fill out our pledge cards.
Master Plan Committee recommendations for more efficient parking
Mary Helen Lorenz, who as Chair of the Master Plan Committee is truly an “energizer bunny who never stops working,” has led a group of four parishioner-architects through the development of seven or eight schemes that have as their goal the creation of about 20 new parking spaces around the Parish House. Though a few approvals are still needed, the Parish Committee has endorsed a scheme that seeks to make more efficient use of existing layouts, with minimal increase in blacktop. We have been grateful for input from the Environmental Faith-in-Action Group, the immediate neighbors, and an ad hoc Lincoln Historic Center Coordinating Committee which has comprised Selectmen, Library Trustees, Bemis Hall reps (Council on Aging), and other stakeholders near the Center.
Surveys of parking on “ordinary” Sundays have indicated a somewhat helter-skelter pattern, which has put ill-parked vehicles at risk for towing or ticketing. Memorial services and weddings in the Sanctuary, or events at the Library or Bemis, also put pressure on the surrounds, which often are crowded to a maximum with vehicles. Parish Administrator Gert McDermott now communicates, as needed with Karen Santucci (COA) and Barbara Myles, the new Director of the Library, concerning events that may plug things up. Thoughtful management of the 20 new spaces, if built, is expected to help us be less diverted by the “parking topic,” which, for sure, has become a bit old.
On a happy note
As I write this, all of us eagerly await Rosemary’s ordination, which comes quick upon announcement of her new position next year as Assistant Minister of the First and Second Church in Boston, Unitarian-Universalist, on Marlboro Street. And the Welcoming Committee is putting the finishing touches on a wonderful “primer” for those who want to learn about us. Finally, as I rotate off the Parish Committee, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the steadfast efforts of Committee members who gracefully endured at least a couple of really long meetings, offering superb counsel each and every step of the way. Mimsy Beckwith, pending action by the Annual Meeting, moves on to a higher calling, as Deacon, having not missed a meeting as Clerk in more than three years, always providing the most elegant, poised and discreet Minutes imaginable. Buzz Constable, who would be drafted for life-long service were there not a By-law that limits him to a six year term, now is retiring from the Parish Committee. Buzz has served with tact, quickness and clarity, on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Personnel Committee, which also has benefited from the wisdom of retiring member Stephen Brand. And no person has worked harder this year than Barbara Sampson, as Vice-Chair, who with Roger and Gert McDermott has struggled mightily to keep me out of the prickles, brambles and weeds. Gert just about got me trained … and now I disappear … with thanks to you all.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Eaton, Chair
Members of the Parish Committee: Stephen Brand, Buzz Constable, Nancy Donaldson, Jeff Eaton, Sarah Cannon Holden, Linda McMillan, Kevin Mundt, Barbara Sampson, and Denise Trapani. Ex officio: Chris Andrysiak (Treasurer), Mimsy Beckwith (Clerk), and Roger Paine (Senior Minister).