Second Congregational Meeting House Society

Unitarian Universalist11 Orange St. ~ P.O. Box 1023

Nantucket, MA 02554(508) 228-5466

Nantucket Unitarian Universalist Newsletter ~ September 2012

WHERE LAND AND SEA MEETReflections on the life and lives of a religious community

by Rev. David M. Horst

In the March Weathervane, I commended you, members and friends of the Nantucket congregation, for all you had accomplished in the seven short months of your first transitional year. At that time I asked you two questions: Who are you now? What do you want to be? Conversations around these two questions continue. A more detailed assessment is in the offing and a clearer vision is beginning to emerge among the Board and leadership of the congregation. Regular congregational meetings ensure that all points of views are being heard.

Having completed 13 months of service as your Interim Minister, I’m taking some time now to identify what I see as the key transitional tasks to be completed before my departure at the end of July 2013. Here are my plans to date:

•Assistyouinclarifyingyouridentityandenvisioningyourlong-termfuture. •ProvideideasanddirectionforyourthirdyearoftransitionbeginninginAugust2013. •Prepareyouforyourfutureministerialleadership,bothtransitionalandsettled. •Determinethelevelofvolunteerandstaffresourcesneededtosustainandgrowthemusic,religiouseducation, and social justice programs. •Restructuretheyouthgroupprogramfocusingonprograms,leadership,UnitarianUniversalistidentity,and connections with other Unitarian Universalist youth. •Identifyleadershiptrainingopportunitiesororganizeleadershiptrainingworkshops. •Helpcreateandpromotethe2013“SummerattheMeetingHouse”programofmusicandworshipservices,the NoondayConcertSeries,MeetingHousedocenttours,theWhat’sNow!series,andotherspecialsummerpro- grams and activities. •Supportyoureffortstobroadenthepledgebaseandincreasetheaveragepledgeperindividual,couple,or family. •Offerideasanddirectiontobetterorganizeandintegratethefinancialmanagement,investment,facilityrental, and bookkeeping functions. •Bringconsistencytostaffcompensationandbenefitlevels,updatejobdescriptionsandworkhours,andestab- lish communication procedures. •ConnectyouwiththeresourcesoftheUnitarianUniversalistAssociationandtheBallouChanningDistrictand urgeyoutopayyour“fairshare”ofannualdues.

I’ll continue with my regular ministerial duties as well: Leading Sunday morning worship, preaching, providing pastoral care,staffsupervision,andleadershipsupport.

I continue to find my ministry with you to be greatly rewarding and delightfully challenging. I‘m feeling positive about the future direction of the congregation as much as you are. Keep your spirits high and your focus sharp as you address the challenges that lay before you, I’m here to help.

“Where land and sea meet” is my Nantucket analogy for congregational life. A church lives in a tidal zone where our private and public lives meet and converge like the meeting place of the land and sea.

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SCPF President Mary Beth Splaine accepts a check for $10,000 from the David Stewart, executor for the estate of Ray Dawson. A check for $10,000 was also presented to congregation president Bob Hall.

TheSouthChurchPreservationFund(SCPF),withpermission of the Board of Trustees of the congrega-tion, has scheduled repairs of a minor leak in the dome to be completed in September.

WeexpressourgratitudeandappreciationtoSCPFTreasurer Jim Sutherland, who retires September 1 and passes the books on to newly elected Treasurer, LibbyOldham.Wealsoaregratefultothecongrega-tionfordedicatingapermanentspace(theclosetinthe hallway between Hendrix Hall and the Activities Room)asaplaceforthestorageoftherecordsofSCPF.

ArchivistJoannePolsterhasbeeninstrumentalinassisting with the transfer of files from the parsonage. ThenextSCPFmeetingisonMonday,September11at4:15p.m.Ourmeetingsareopentoanymemberof the congregation interested in keeping abreast of the plans for ongoing work in the preservation of the Meeting House.

SOUTHCHURCHPRESERVATIONFUNDNEWSbyMaryBethSplaine,SCPFPresident

JOIN US FOR

“SEPTEMBER SONGS AND STORIES”Mondays from Noon to 12:30 p.m.Part of the Noonday Concert Series

September 10 Cynthia Csabay

Broadway Songstress

September 17Jessie LambrechtOperatic Soprano

September 24Meeting House Barbershop Quartet

(BobLehman,CraigSpery,ChrisLohmannandAlFuller)American Classics

October 1Bob Lehman

Yours for a Song

Admission is free. Donations accepted.

YOUTHGROUPBEGINS“NEIGHBORINGFAITHS”

The youth group is being restructured and refo-cused this fall. Neighboring Faiths: Introducing the Religions of the World, published by the Unitarian Universalist Association, is the curriculum for this high school program.

Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Thursdaysofthemonthfrom6-7:30p.m.intheActivities Room from September 13 through next June. Eighteen meetings are planned plus visits to avarietyofhousesofworshipbothon-andoff-island.

David Horst and Yve Shevalier are the youth advi-sors and teachers. Register for the youth program on Sunday, September 9.

THANKYOUTOOUR2012SUMMERDOCENTS!Jack ReindelPeterRichardsAlysonGaylord-Loy

Bob HallValHallKarinGockel

David HorstBrianGirard(Emeritus)JohnRivera(Coordinator)

Mary Beth SplaineJack WeinholdChristine Sanford

PaulLancasterSusan LancasterDebby Merritt

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FROMSUMMERTOAUTUMNWITHTHERELIGIOUSEDUCATIONPROGRAMbySusanRichards,RECommitteeCo-Chairwoman

September is a transitional time as we say farewell to our summer friends and activities and move into an exciting new fall program!

Speakingofexciting....Augustwasfullofnewexperiencesforourfieldtrip-happyREclassparticipants!Ourtravelsin-cludedatriptoGreaterLightwhereweexploredthebeautifulgrounds,marveledoverthelovelyarchitectureofthebuild-ing,andenjoyedoursnackunderthespreadingbirchtree...ThankstoGeorgenCharnesforcoordinatingthistrip!

AlsoinAugust,ValHallcoordinatedatriptotheBrantPointMarineLab.Marine Biologist Tara Riley gave us a tour complete with scallops, oysters, and algae! A trip to the Atheneum garden with a story followed by a scavenger hunt was also a part of August’s activities.QuiteafewofuswerealsopartofaSketchingFairStreettripwheresubjects like the Unitarian Meeting House dome, an arbor, the parsonage and more were captured by our young participants under the artistic leadership of Anne Sutherland.

OurfinalactivityofthemonthwasatriptheOldSouthRd.Labyrinth.Therewelearnedaboutthedifferencebetweenmazesandlabyrinths,coloredourownlabyrinths,madeamini-labyrinthoutofstones,and,ofcourse,walkedandexperi-enced the sacred labyrinth itself!

ForourFallcurriculumtheREcommittee--AnneSutherlandandSusanRichards-CommitteeChairwomen,CaseyBokus,YveShevallierandSissyGirard--haschosenthetheme“CreatingHome.”

This curriculum will: • Guideparticipantstoidentifythecharacteristicsofahomeandthefunctionshomeserves• Help participants articulate and affirm the location and the members of their individual family homes. • Provideopportunitiesforparticipantstoobservehomesinnatureandinvestigatehowdifferentkindsofanimalhomes

provide security and sustenance for their inhabitants• Build participants’ vocabulary of faith and religious language• Draw connections between participants’ family home experiences and the roles, responsibilities, and rewards of be-

longingtoa“faithhome”• Help develop participants’ sense of belonging in their Creating Home group and in the larger congregation• Introduce practices from Unitarian Universalist heritage – such as the spiritual rituals of hospitality, saying grace, light-

ing a chalice, and sharing stories – and invite participants and their families to consider using these on their own • Providemultipleopportunitiesforparticipantstopracticeartisticself-expressionandhavefun.

Sunday, September 9 after the service will be our Religious Education fall registra-tion and program kick-off date. We look forward to seeing you and your children!

In the meantime, if you have any questions at all about our fall program, please don’t hesitate to contact a Religous Education

Committee member or David Horst.

OurannualHungarian Dinner will be held Saturday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit our

partner church in Transylvania, Ro-mania. Cost is $25 per person. The dinner includes an authentic main

meal, accompanied by wine and des-sert. Seating is limited. Call the church on weekday mornings for reservations

or sign up at Sunday Service.

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Sunday,Sept.2•10:45a.m.“HonoringtheWorkers”

OnthisLaborDayholidayweekend,wetaketimetohonortheworkerswhomaketheproducts,farmthefields,mine the earth, fight the fires, patrol the streets, provide the transportation, build the buildings, attend to the sick and injured, teach the children, and do all the things to make ours a safe, healthy, and prosperous society. We welcome musical guests The Shepcats, the island’s popular guitar, bass, and mandolin trio. David Horst, Interim Minister, leads the service with music by Diane Lehman, Acting Director of Music, and the Meeting House Choir.

Sunday,Sept.9•10:45a.m.“ParentingasaReligiousJourney”

With the start of the new school year, children take the next steps in their journey of growth and learning. Parentsgrowandlearneveryyear,too,withtheloveandsupporttheygivetheirchildren.Todaywe’lllookatparenting as a religious journey, one fraught with hopes and fears, expectations and doubts. How does parenting change and transform us? What religious resources can parents draw from to keep themselves grounded and whole? David Horst leads the service with music by Diane Lehman and the Meeting House Choir.

Sunday,Sept.16•10:45a.m.“MutualCare:UnitarianUniversalistsinAssociation”

TheCambridgePlatformof1648establishednon-hierarchicalcongregationalpolityinAmerica,meaningthatchurcheswouldbeindependentofoutsideauthority.Thedocumentalsoputintoplacetheideaofthe“commu-nionofchurches”toprovide“mutualcare.”Thisisthephilosophicalbasisofthemorethan1,000independentUnitarian Universalist congregations that care and support each other through the Unitarian Universalist As-sociation of Congregations. Come learn more about the association of which our congregation is a part. David Horst leads the service with music by Diane Lehman and the Meeting House Choir.

Sunday,Sept.23•10:45a.m.“HonoringtheHighHolyDays”

We welcome special guest Rabbi Judith Edelstein of Congregation Shirat Ha Yam on this occasion when we join ourJewishneighborsincelebratingRoshHoshanah,theJewishNewYear(5773)andbyhonoringthemeaningofYomKippur,theDayofAtonement,whenJewsaskforgivenessofoneanotherandtheforgivenessofGod.Come learn about the holiest of Jewish holy days and how they can inform your own religious beliefs and faith commitments. David Horst leads the service with music by Diane Lehman and the Meeting House Choir.

Sunday,Sept.30•10:45a.m.“FundingtheDream”

Spirits are high, hopes are renewed, and the future of Nantucket’s historic Unitarian Universalist congregation looks bright. Members and friends have recommitted themselves to sustaining and growing the congregation withtheirsupportofafull-timeminister,expandedmusicandeducationprograms,andgreatercommunityengagement. Nantucket Unitarian Universalists have a dream, and now is the time to fund the dream through increased participation and financial support. David Horst leads the service with music by Diane Lehman and theMeetingHouseChoir.Pledge“LaunchLunch”followstheservice.

SEPTEMBERWORSHIP,MUSIC&RELIGIOUSEDUCATION

Each Sunday, start the day with Morning Meditation at 9 in Hendrix Hall. Infant and toddler care pro-vided by Jen Dunbar beginning at 10:30. Enjoy coffee and conversation following the programs. Bring

brunch food to share except for the Pledge “Lunch Launch” on Sunday, September 30.

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PRESIDENT’SREPORTbyBobHall,BoardofTrusteesPresidentWhat kind of congregation do you want? What do you want for the future of our church? The time for decisions is approaching.AttheAugust14meetingoftheBoardofTrusteesmadethefollowingvote:“TheBoardiscommittedtocallingafull-timeministertostartinAugust2014whichwillrequireathirdyearoftransitionalministry.”Therearethreereasonswecannotcallasettled,permanentminister.First,wehavenotcompletedourcongregationalprofile,justthefirststepinthesearchprocess.Wewouldhavetohavethefullcongregationalpacketpreparedbymid-September.Second, we do not feel we have the leadership and energy to form a search committee. Third, we project that our fi-nanceswillnotallowustoofferafinancialpackageforafulltimeministerin2014.

By far, the need for a third transitional year was driven by financial concerns. Most congregations support themselves throughindividualannualpledges.Therealityisthatourpledgerevenueis27percent,lessthanathirdofourbudget.Wearefartoodependentuponourendowment.Ourendowmentcurrentlysupportsabout34percentofourbudget,just over a third. Not only are we taking funds from the principal, we are using all of the interest and dividends. Both of these withdrawals are imprudent. The congregation voted in July of 2010 to stop using the principal from our en-dowmenttofundtheoperatingbudget.Thisisanencouraging(andveryimportant)firststep.Theconsequenceofthatsound decision is that we need to increase revenues from other sources.

We could be a fundraising congregation. That is, we could spend most of our volunteer time and energy raising funds tosupportourprograms.Fundraisingcanbehardworkwiththeheavyburdenfallingonafewindividualswhomaysoontireor“burnout.”Buttherealquestionisthis:didyoujoinourcongregationtospendyourtimeraisingfunds?I suggest the answer is no. We come to services and events for inspiration, to feel spiritually refreshed at least once a week.

We have just over 100 active regular members with an additional 40 associate members. It is reasonable to suggest that weraisetheadditionalfundsweneedtosupportourselvesfrompledging.Ourcongregationmustsupportitself.

Jack Weinhold has prepared an excellent report that describes exactly what we can expect from our pledges. Note thattheleftcolumngivesthe“worstcase”scenario,nopledges.Althoughthisseemsimprobablenow,inthepasttheSecond Congregational Meeting House Society has fallen on hard times. In fact, at one time our beautiful building was up for sale. Had it sold our congregation would not exist. Can you imagine Nantucket without the voice of liberal religion?CanyouimagineNantucketwithoutaplaceforusliberalstocometogetherinmutualsupport?Ourvoiceisneedednowasmuchasithaseverbeenneeded.Overthepast203yearsourcongregationhasweatheredhardfinan-cial times as well as internal conflict many times. We are doing so now, and I feel quite successfully. I hope you agree.

FOUR TABLES DESCRIBING OUR 2012 PLEDGING

PledgesOthercontributionsRentalsFundraisingInterest&dividendsPrincipalTOTAL:

2012 Budget Revenue SourcesAmount$68,000$17,500$58,000$23,600$49,010$37,500$253,610

Percent277

239

1915

100

Total Pledge UnitsTotalMemberswhoPledgeTotal Regular + Associate MembersPercentwhopledge

9014064.3

Number of 2-Member Pledge UnitsPledginglessthan$1000Pledging$1000-$2000Pledging$2000oroverTotal2-MemberPledgeUnits

1066

22Amount of PledgeLess than $500$500-$1000$1000-$2000Over$2000Total pledge units

Number1824141268

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SCENESOFSUMMERAT11ORANGESTREET

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Second Congregational Meeting House Society11OrangeSt.~P.O.Box1023Nantucket, MA 02554

NONPROFITORG.USPOSTAGE

PAIDNANTUCKET, MA

02554PERMITNO.5

Second Congregational Meeting House SocietyUnitarian Universalist

11 Orange St. ~ P.O. Box 1023Nantucket, MA 02554

(508) 228-5466 (Office)www.unitarianchurchnantucket.org

uuchurchnantucket@verizon.net

Church StaffDavid M. Horst, Interim Minister ~ Edward B. Anderson, Minister Emeritus Diane Lehman, Acting Music Director ~ Kim N. LaRue, Office Administrator

Mimi Jones and Dennis Santangelo, Sextons

Board of TrusteesBobHall(President),ChristineSanford(VicePresident),SusanRichards(Clerk),JackWeinhold

(Treasurer),BrianGirard,DavidHall,JohnRivera,LindaSpery,MarinaSutro

Church Office HoursMonday - Friday ~ 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Minister’s Office HoursTuesday (10 a.m. - noon) and Friday (noon - 2 p.m.)