Starr King View

Janaury 2007 Newsletter

Sunday Services-9:30 a.m.

January 7: "Changing with Grace"
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.

January 14: Worship and Music intergenerational service with the homily given by Valerie Cunningham.
Valerie Cunningham grew up in the close-knit African American community in Portsmouth, NH. Out of curiosity she began interviewing the elders of the community thirty years ago and began a quest to piece together the history of the African American presence in New Hampshire dating back to 1635. Valerie has co-authored the book Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African-American Heritage, conducted docent training for Portsmouth's historic house museums, and has lectured extensively on slavery, enslaved people, and the evolution of the African American experience in Portsmouth. Valerie is the Coordinator of Black Heritage Partnerships at UNH in the Department of American Studies.
An adult RE program led by Valerie will follow the service at 11:00 a.m.

January 21: "The Traveler's Dilemma"
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.

January 28: "Theodore Parker, Radical"
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.

Share-a Book

We conduct our Share-a-Book fundraising into January so that you can write a check at the time most convenient for you (and your tax situation). Michael Boudreau, the local field worker who has been helping us, writes that they are starting a small library for the people of their neighborhood. Money from this year's fundraising will help in this effort as well.

Write your check to SKUUF and be sure to note Share-a-book/Nicaragua in the legend.

Starr King View

Minister: Rev. Sarah Stewart
Email: stewart@starrkingfellowship.org
Office Administrator: Lindsey Santaniello
Office: (603) 536-8908
Email: admin@starrkingfellowship.org
Website: www.starrkingfellowship.org
President: Nancy Chaddock

In Fellowship - January 2007

Three years ago, I made a commitment not to sign marriage licenses in states which don't recognize gay marriage or civil unions, including New Hampshire. Like dozens of other Unitarian Universalist ministers who have made a similar pledge, I have been available to perform religious ceremonies for all committed couples, but I have not signed the license which makes the marriage legal. Since making this commitment, I have performed very few weddings. The best experience I had was marrying a heterosexual couple who especially wanted me to officiate at their wedding in Moultonborough because of my stand. I legally married them in a very small ceremony in their apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts (where gay marriage is legal) and then performed the religious ceremony for their family and friends a month later at the Castle in the Clouds.

As much as I care about gay marriage, I have come to see that this pledge is not the most effective way I could protest unfair marriage laws. Last winter I spoke before the New Hampshire House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment which would have defined the only permissible legal union in the state as one between a man and a woman. That two minute statement did more to communicate my support for gay marriage to our legislators and the public than the three years of my protest. I began to think of how I could stand up for this important issue more persuasively.

After much thought and reflection, I have decided to end this form of protest, and return to performing legal weddings. I will continue to speak out against unfair marriage laws, and to support the cause of equal marriage rights here in New Hampshire. I will donate a portion of every fee I collect for performing non-member weddings to New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, a non-profit organization working for equal marriage rights in New Hampshire. You can learn more about them at www.nhfreedomtomarry.org. I will also talk with couples I marry about this important issue, and encourage them to make a donation to NH Freedom to Marry or a similar organization in their home state.

One reason to make this change is to be more effective with my social ministry. Another is to deepen my pastoral ministry. I miss the pastoral connection I make with couples when I marry them. I miss the opportunity to share Unitarian Universalism with a wider audience during weddings. Weddings and funerals are often the only times that the unchurched come into contact with ministers and religious settings. I want to be able to provide that opportunity for people outside of our community. I also want to be available to you, my congregation, as your pastor when you or your children decide to get married. It feels good to me to take up an aspect of my pastoral ministry which I laid aside, even though I did so for the best of reasons, three years ago.

It is hard to admit that the protest I have been making for the past three years might not have been the right thing to do. It takes a certain amount of humility to change my course, and that humility doesn't come any more easily to me than to most of us. But I feel it is the right thing to make a change for the better now. Please, as always, let me know your thoughts and feelings on this matter.

In fellowship,
Sarah

Religious Education

It is hard to think of time after the holidays-I hope everyone had joyful and relaxing holidays.

What a busy time we have had in RE during December. The children prepared the snacks for coffee hour on December 3, as part of Stewardship of our Faith and our Church. December 10 was the annual gingerbread house construction party, and these creations were on display for a week downstairs at SKUUF. Thank you to the many parents who assisted that day. This event is always lots of fun for everyone, and we have some creative future architects! December 17 A Fellowship member shared a story about angels and then a craft project was done. December 24 included the children in the service, as Santa Lucia brought in the light during the 9:30 a.m. worship service. This ceremony of lights has not been done since 2002!

January starts a new segment for the RE program, and this "Winterim" will include working on a play in preparation for the intergenerational service in February. This intergenerational service coordinated by the RE program is scheduled for the second Sunday in February. A Fellowship member will be assisting one Sunday with a weaving project, as weaving ties in with the theme of the play. I will give the title of the play to at least peak your imagination-"Spreading the Sun." That's all I will say for now!

A hike to Rainbow Falls at the Walter-Newton Natural Center in Plymouth is planned for January 21. The falls are beautiful any time of the year, but the sound of the water under ice provides great background sounds for a brief chapel service surrounded by Nature. Adults are welcome to join us at any time in the many activities we do during the year. Come share some wonderful time with the children at the same time we can all enjoy the great outdoors by joining us on this hike!

There are still a few open dates for volunteers to share with the children. Checkout the schedule posted on the bulletin board in the foyer at SKUUF. I have plans you can follow, or better yet, share you special story with us. If you have questions anytime, please talk with me or any members of the RE committee. One of us is always in attendance at the morning worship services on Sunday!

Sincerely,
In joy, enjoy, Jane Clay - Director of Religious Education

It is midyear in the life of our congregation. A perfect time for reflection about our progress and where we want to go from here. Our Board has determined that we need to develop a five-year strategic plan based on input from the congregation. The input from the congregation will tell us what we want to be in five years; the Board will make sure we develop the steps, timelines, and working groups to get us there.

We won't be starting from scratch. Many of you may recall participating in a vision meeting in February, 2004, in which the District Executive Olav Nieuwejaar led us into a process of determining where we wanted to be in 2009. Fortunately, detailed minutes were kept from that meeting. They reveal our deep thoughts at that time, including our dreams, our specific needs and priorities, and other reflections that may not lead to goals but are important to hold up and remember. A review of the items determined to be important to our congregation almost three years ago reveals that we have made much progress, that we seem to be generally "on track" for further progress with the desires expressed at that meeting, and that much still needs to be done.

Planning is a never-ending process. It is time to "freshen it up" with what this congregation, at this point in time, determines to be important and necessary over the next five years. We are hoping that a good number of members and friends will participate in a meeting in January to revisit our vision. The elements of the meeting are being planned to engage your mind and inspire you to think about SKUUF in new ways. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details to follow. Please mark your calendar now. Sign up in the Foyer. We need you.

- Nancy Chaddock, President

Green Sanctuary

The Committee has resolved to complete a required audit of SKUUF through the distribution of a questionnaire to Committee Chairs and other leadership people within the Fellowship. The final survey will be distributed toward the end of January and folks will be asked to return them to us by mid February. Based on this information, previously completed individual questionnaires and educational activities, a report will be generated covering the last two years and our plan for "greening" our Fellowship will be developed to support our Green Sanctuary application in the Summer of 2007. The next meeting of the Green Sanctuary Committee is January 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at SKUUF. We welcome anyone interested in our work

Sunday, January 21, we will be hosting Jan Pendlebury, the director of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Environmental Trust and the New Hampshire Global Warming Campaign. The National Environmental Trust [www.net.org] is a Washington, D.C. environmental advocacy organization, focused on cutting edge issues that protect public health, the environment and natural resources. Through coalition building, legislative and media outreach, Jan has raised awareness to citizens of New Hampshire and the region on air quality, global warming, the protection of public lands, food safety, marine fisheries, sustainable energy and environmental health. Jan will present Global Warming is Affecting New Hampshire: Here and Now! from 11:00 a.m. until noon. Come and learn how global warming is affecting New Hampshire's economy, environment, public health and our community character.

A subscription to Organic Gardening has been donated to the SKUUF library. Materials such as books, magazines, DVDs and Videotapes are available to borrow from the SKUUF library. These can provide a helpful resource to our members and like the use of any library fits into the philosophy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

- The Green Sanctuary Committee

Social Justice

SKUUF Social Justice efforts are focused now on our Restorative Justice partnership with CADY (Communities for Alcohol and Drug-free Youth)

The towns targeted are Plymouth, Thornton and Campton because the police chiefs in each town have expressed their support for this program which assists juvenile offenders in repairing the harm done by the crimes they have committed. Community members interested in serving on a reparative panel will receive training in February. People interested in learning more about how to become involved are encouraged to stay for the adult education program January 7 which will be an opportunity to ask questions

Do you wonder about this new legislative session in Concord? We have Carol Estes representing Plymouth and Hebron in the New Hampshire House now, and she will be keeping us informed about bills with an emphasis on technology needs.

Many of us selected legislative priorities we hoped UU churches would pursue as we work with one another. We are part of the NH Faithful Democracy effort which will be described January 28 by Tess George, the new coordinator. She will be sharing her understanding of the goals the New Hampshire churches have prioritized. She wants our input as to how NH Faithful Democracy can be useful to SKUUF. Stay after the service to ask questions about legislation and how UU's can make a difference.

The January outreach collection selected will be Guest at Your Table. We will have boxes to take home to put at your table as a reminder of the needs of so many people around the world. On January 28, bring back your box with a check to support UUA work around the globe.

Have you wondered how much we have contributed in the past several months in our outreach collections? Here are the results!

September - Community Closet - $1205.00

October - Compas de Nicaragua - $ 674.00

November - Pemi-Bridge House - $ 951.50

Social Justice Committee

Earth Tip January 2007

The 7th principle "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part" leads us in many directions. For some this speaks to: a respect for animal life which requires a vegetarian diet, for others it means supporting local conservation efforts. The directions are many and complex. However, there does seem to be some common agreement that mankind is negatively effecting the natural rhythms of the earth to an extent that brings fear for the world in which future generations will have to reside. Let us all begin this New Year resolving to again look at our lives and see where we can Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. For it is in living in this manner that we can actually make some improvement in the lives of future generations.

- The Green Sanctuary Committee

Report from Carole Estes

Nancy Chaddock asked if I would write about my legislative experiences for the newsletter. Of course, there cannot be any overtly political musings, but I'm not an overtly political person, so that should be easy. Our Fellowship has a unique opportunity to share the inner workings of the start (and end) of a legislator's experience. I hope that you will find it rewarding, I certainly do.

November 28 to 30 - Orientation:

In two and a half days veteran legislators and employees in the Office of Legislative Services exposed 150 of us to the awesome responsibility of being a Representative. While most of us are freshmen, a significant number have had prior non-contiguous legislative service and attended the session as a refresher. We were separated into groups of 20-24 (the size of a committee) and assigned to one of the twenty committees for training. My group was assigned to the Education Committee. From January to March, time is primarily spent in the committee rooms reviewing, passing, or rejecting draft bills. In April, bills passed by the committees are sent to the House and presented to all Reps for review. Bills passed by the House are sent to the Senate, on "cross-over day" and those passed by the Senate committees are sent to the House for review.

Committee training involved pro and con discussions of an actual bill with testimony from bill sponsors to help us understand how the Reps interact with committee members and how the Committee Chair, Vice-chair, and Clerk perform their duties. We learned committee protocol, decorum, and began to synthesize the daunting tasks we must absorb to be effective. There were sessions on the roles of lobbyists, the media and its interactions with legislators, legislative professionalism, ethics, using the computer system, and sexual harassment. We toured the State House and the Legislative Office Building, and met the Governor, Secretary of State (a phenomenal State historian), Executive Council, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and other administrative employees that assist the legislature to function effectively.

On the final day, there was a mock House session, with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call by Clerk of the House, the Sergeant-at-Arms announcing the entrance of the Senate for a Joint Session and the Governor's welcome. I was filled with emotion (replete with tears) when I realized that since 1819, Representatives had performed these same rituals; now it was my turn. I was not alone there were many tissues and tears from others feeling the same emotions.

We also learned of legislative perquisites. You may have heard about the annual $100 salary, but Reps are also eligible for mileage, legislative plates or transponders that preclude paying in-state tolls and medical and dental insurance at the rates established for State employees.

Regarding the Office of Legislative Services, we can and should be extremely proud of the efficiency and competence of the employees. I'm certain you have heard the term "good enough for government work." That term cannot be applied to those assisting Senators and Representatives to develop and pass laws for the people of New Hampshire. From the first day's registration, to the last day's mock House session, the efficacy was impressive.

December 6 - Organization Day

All elected Representatives were sworn in. Members of my extended family attended the ceremony. I was able to have the Clerk of the House publicly announce them as guests (what a thrill!).

How a Bill Becomes a Law

During the November 28-30 legislative orientation, the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) and veteran representatives exposed us to the process of making laws. The procedure starts when citizens ask their Reps or Senators to address a concern. OLS is staffed with bill drafting attorneys, legal researchers, and clerks to insure the process is as seamless as possible for representatives and senators.
1. The Rep submits a Legislative Services Request (LSR) form to OLS and a drafting attorney is assigned.
2. The Rep discusses the bill's intent and its title with the drafting attorney and informs the attorney if the title should be kept confidential until the process is complete.
3. A title and an LSR temporary number are assigned and published on the House web site without any detail text.
4. The drafting attorney completes the bill's text, and researches other laws to determine any impact and to insure the proposal has substantive and technical integrity.
5. The research staff performs any required analyses of NH or other state laws.
6. When the research is complete, co-sponsors are added, the draft bill is typed, sent to the Rep for signature, and a new number with an "H" suffix is assigned.
7. The completed draft is sent to House leadership who assigns it to one of twenty committees with responsibility for the subject. The committee of 20-24 members discuss the draft, hears testimony from sponsors, co-sponsors, and/or the public before voting.
8. If over half of the committee approves, the draft is sent to the House for all reps to hear the bill in a General Session. The Clerk of the House schedules the bill on the House Calendar showing the bill number, sponsor, and approving committee.
If fifteen or more of the committee members approve the bill, it is placed on a Consent Calendar with all other bills meeting the criteria. About 150-200 bills are approved by voice vote without discussion. Any Rep can remove a bill from the Consent Calendar, or request a roll call vote, but we were cautioned that you will "lose lots of friends" if this route is frivolously exercised.
If the committee vote is close (11-9), sponsors discuss the draft with all House members and seek to persuade or dissuade them.
9. If 201 Reps approve, in mid-March on "cross-over day", approved drafts are sent to the requisite Senate committee, and the process restarts. Senate draft bills are also sent to the House for our review.
10. If twelve or more Senators approve, it is sent to the Governor for signing to become law.

While this is a simplistic flow, every bill undergoes the same process. At any point, it can be amended or stopped. Over 1,200 drafts per year are considered for law, and it all starts with a citizen requesting action to address a concern.

Words from Walter

The other day a friend and I were talking about words. I had introduced the subject because I wished to express my appreciation for her talent in this regard, the breadth of her vocabulary in her writing and speaking, her sure and apt selection of not only the appropriate, informative, and illuminating word for progressing the discussion but one that carried the overtones, the nuances, that that discussion seemed to require -- seemed to be calling for -- seemed to be longing for.

Predictably, our conversation turned to particular words, those with special weight and effect -- short abrupt and sharp, soft and gentle, deliberately vague; polysyllabic words long, complex, and musical, others short, deft and precise; then the intense, chilling, heartwarming, melancholy, deliberate, deliberately provocative, abstruse, mysterious, baffling words -- our speculations went on and on.

Inevitably, of course, our ruminations came face to face with our reactions as listeners to such words and phrases, those that flood us with warm, vibrant, and affectionate feelings, others that jolt our emotions and wrench our hearts.

A professor in English Lit., whom I was lucky to have back in my college days, had a lovely way of subtly calling to our attention especially evocative words and phrases in the writings of the long gone authors and poets we were studying at the time. And he gently and softly lingered on such words and phrases, repeating them with great feeling, letting them sink in upon us. He never over did it. In fact we sometimes found ourselves wishing he would indulge us in this more often, stop right there for longer digressions, let us think more deeply about these certain words and phrases and their many implications. And in my now wavy and uneasy memory I can see his face and figure, hear his moving voice, but, regretfully, I can't remember his name.

Perhaps you noted and questioned ( I really hope you did ) the appropriateness of the last two words in the very first paragraph of this article. I refer to the words, 'longing for.' The phrase, 'longing for,' is, I agree, perhaps a bit out of place, a bit over done. But I put it there, deliberately, because I wanted to evoke in you an unexpected reaction. I hoped you might say to yourself, "Hmmmm -- 'Longing for?' My goodness, that's a bit over the edge; 'longing for' is a sad and lonely phrase -- rather out of place in a discussion of linguistic semantics. That phrase suggests a heart-heavy loneliness, painfully missing or needing something or somebody. Oh, yes! of course! it's much more suitable for that picture I saw yesterday in Time magazine, that frail and pathetic little girl in Darfur! She was so plainly longing for something -- for safety, security, nourishment, peace, and love!"

All that is what I hoped you might be saying to yourself when you read those two words, "longing for," in paragraph one.

Back in my eighth grade in Chicago we had a wonderful teacher, a Mr. Paul Lehman, (I'll never forget his name) who -- much like my English Lit. prof. in college -- loved and doted on words. I remember his telling us about a "favorite words" contest going on at the time. Contemporary poets including Amy Lowell, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost, T.S.Eliot and a host of others had been asked to list some of their very favorite words -- favorites for any reason at all, no limits -- their sound, imagery, emotional associations, whatever. Amy Lowell came up with "cellar door;" she said she simply loved the sound of those two words when spoken together. Eliot, if I recall correctly, chose, "etherised." You may remember how in the first verse of his famous poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," he wrote: "Let us go, then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table."

Other poets chose other words -- "golden, melancholy, affection, desire, spiritual, transcendent "-- lots of words were listed. ( My wife loves the word, "serendipity," not only it's lovely, musical sound, the overtone suggestion of serenity, but also it's actual meaning -- positive, pleasurable, good fortune.)

Ring Lardner, in the 1920's America's best known and favorite sports writer and humorist -- at the same level of public acclaim Will Rogers achieved some years later -- was asked for his list of favorite words. He opined that all this was a bit out of his field, but he had always liked the word, "cuspidor," and as a close second, "spittoon."

And now, thanks to T. S. Eliot and his J. Alfred Prufrock, I remember my English Lit. Prof's name: David Worcester. He was a great teacher. Among the literary giants to whom he introduced us was Eliot, and we read together his famous "Love Song ---" the first three lines of which I quoted, above. I remember David observing that that third line -- "Like a patient etherized upon a table" -- abruptly ended the romantic era mood created by the gently rhyming first two lines and with a shock began our modern poetry.

I was still in college when David was invited to become the president of a small, prestigious university -- I think it was Haverford, and all this was back in the mid thirties. I very much hope that David did not miss out on the brilliant cartoon about T. S. Eliot that appeared in the New Yorker magazine a couple of years ago.

It's a sketch of J. Alfred Prufrock in white trousers, rolled up at the cuffs, walking on a long, sandy beach, his right hand before his face holding a small round object upon which his whole being seems to be intensely focused. Just off shore two rocks protrude from the sea; on each is perched a mermaid closely watching J. Alfred.

Of course, if you've read the poem, you immediately see in this drawing all the supporting circumstances described in Eliot's verse; individual lines relating to this scene come flooding back upon you in warm, gentle ocean waves:
"I grow old . . . I grow old . . .
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind?
Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers,
And walk upon the beach
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me."

And the caption under the drawing reads: "T.S. Eliot dares not eat the peach"

And above, in the drawing itself, one mermaid staring at him from her rock is saying:

"I'm not singing to that dude!"

And the second mermaid on her rock is saying:

"Me neither!"

You may very well be wondering where all this is leading. Am I trying to make a point? Well, yes -- and I should get on with it. Well, here it is, and I certainly don't claim it to be -- in any way shape or form -- original:

When you come to read or write -- and especially when you come to speak -- a really loaded, evocative word, treat it with special respect. Say it slowly and reverently. Linger a little upon it. The word, "linger", itself, has to be said slowly and melodiously; it is abused if spoken fast and furiously. The same goes for "longing for" for "passionately," for "heartfelt" for "love", for "serendipity," for so many -- so many more that we all know so well. To make them sound special -- even precious -- is not corny; it's not overdoing it; it's giving reverence and thanks for so enriching our lives.

And if they -- those rich, full, resonate words and phrases -- if they were suddenly wiped off the blackboard of our spoken and written language, oh! how bleak our world would have suddenly become.

Stewardship

As a young lad, I would occasionally go to church with my grandmother. She would chide me when I put my 25 cents into the collection basket, reminding me of all the gold stolen from Poland. Well, I have traveled far since then and put more than a quarter but less than gold into the collections at SKUUF.

Starr King is a comfortable place for me and I am comfortable giving monies for its support. Stewardship is important to me. When our family was given property in Dorchester by my aunt and uncle, we were entrusted to be stewards of that land, to maintain the land and care for it as they had done before us. None of this was explicit, but rather implied; a sense of responsibility that came with the territory and life style. When my uncle died, we took further responsibility in caring for my aunt until her death. Again nothing explicit was agreed upon or demanded, but it was just the right thing to do financially and otherwise.

And so, when it comes to stewardship for SKUUF, I feel a similar obligation. But stewardship, for me, constitutes more than a financial contribution. It is also involvement and caring in other ways to nourish and grow the Fellowship. It is also a responsibility. We are responsible for and to this marvelous entity we call SKUUF.

To me SKUUF is more than just a building and grounds. It is much wider extending into many communities and lives.

Ask yourself what SKUUF has done for you and where would you be without it. Then decide what you can do both financially and involvement-wise. Make a commitment, it is worth it.

By the way, I checked and the Polish gold is not at SKUUF. Bill