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Ingathering Water Transformation service, 10:30

As I write, I'm completing my first day at our annual General Assembly gathering of Unitarian Universalists from all around the country (and some from several overseas UU congregations and interfaith allies.) I've already been able to share with several colleagues many of the highlights of our great year in Kingston - they're envious of our progress together!

You have much to be proud of, and so Nina and I feel very fortunate to be able to share in some of your reflected "glory." And thanks to your engagement with the processes already initiated, we can say we are all standing on the edge of some really important steps forward together.

You may not have heard our most recent news: Nina and I have become proud grandparents for the second time. On Lucky Friday the 13th, little Oscar Yadave King was delivered, weighing in at 6 pounds 13 ounces. Mother, baby, and family are all adjusting well. Especially with this new "development" in our lives, Nina and I are planning to be staying near Kingston throughout the summer.

You also may not yet have learned of the plans around our "campus" for what used to be the summer "rest period" for our congregation: the Second Annual Kingston Art Festival on June 28 will be followed by the July 11-13 Renewal House Family Fun Day at the Pinewood Campgrounds, the July 19 Book Fair, the July 26 painting prep party for Sampson Hall. We hope you will want to participate in as many of these as you can fit in your own schedule for what could be a quite enjoyable "stay-cation" on the South Shore.

How about worship? Our established church calendar plan calls for us to suspend services during the summer, with an Intergenerational Ingathering on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This year, that will be a Water Transformation event on September 7.

However, from my experience in several other UU congregations in California and in the South, I'm convinced that it is important to provide services in late summer which welcome new folks as they are getting ready for their school-age children to go back to school. I have presented this recommendation to the Worship Committee, the Committee on Ministry, and the Membership Committee, and recently, to the Parish Committee, which has authorized me to offer several modified worship opportunities for most Sundays during August.

With the assent of the Building & Grounds committee, we plan to install a temporary window AC unit in the Beal House (the smaller meeting space, next to the kitchen area) which should ensure at least minimal comfort for those of us who want to gather together for informal "Evensong" worship and/or meditation services from 6:00pm until 6:30 pm on Sunday, August 3, 10, 17, and 24. (This would be in addition to the special Cranberry Cluster outdoor worship event I've already committed to lead at the Cedar Hill retreat center on August 24 at 11:00am.)

Although I do not expect that large crowds will gather for every service, I think there's a reasonable chance that a dozen or more of us may find that a small gathering could provide needed spiritual sustenance on any given Sunday evening. I intend to generate some publicity to draw attention to this plan so that there may be a higher probability for new folks to try us out.

This is just one of the ways that I believe we can make constructive changes in what and how we "do religion" together so that we can improve our chances to extend and improve our public profile. For example, I understand that the Music Committee is quite excited about the applicants for the Music Director position, and they say that they are confident that there will be some amazing new energy in all of our musical programs.

I hope you will take advantage of at least a few of these opportunities for "refueling" your own spiritual consciousness, and those you care for, in the company of your religious community at First Parish. But, in any case, please don't hesitate to call or come by if you have any reason for conversation - or for no reason at all!

We'll keep you updated on these plans as they become finalized.
Please be careful in your travels, AND have a great summer!

Your minister, Rev. Dan
Parsonage phone 781-936-8099
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