The Sunday morning ritual of ushers passing of the collection boxes while the choir sings is about to take on new meaning at First Religious Society.

Starting next fall, as a result of unanimous votes of the Parish Committee and of the Annual Meeting, one third of the loose cash from each Sunday's collection will be given to support organizations that help the underprivileged in the Merrimack Valley or work for social change. FRS members are invited to suggest organizations we might support, either by e-mailing the church administrator at frsuu@netway.com or by filling out a form that will be distributed in Sunday services in June. It is anticipated that we will support ten organizations a year, one for each month of the church year.

We are joining a growing list of Unitarian Universalist congregations around the country that have adopted this charitable practice, including the nearest UU church north of us, South Church in Portsmouth. Its co-minister Will Saunders reports that half of each Sunday's loose plate has been given to charities for the last four months-and that giving, spurred by members' charitable impulses, has doubled. This means the church treasury is keeping almost exactly the same amount as it did in the corresponding month a year earlier. Some churches report even greater increases in cash giving. Pledge checks and cash payments in pledge envelopes, as always, will go entirely to the FRS budget.

The FRS Social Action Committee, which proposed this new program, expects several benefits, in addition to the obvious fact that our dollars will be doing good in the world:

• Increasing FRS's connections to the community as an institution.
• Providing busy FRS members and friends with an opportunity to live out UU values within their worship experience.
• Emphasizing the religious nature of generosity and acting to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Before joining the First Religious Society, I participated on several occasions in anti-war vigils in Amesbury on Sunday mornings.

Since joining the FRS, I have considered other opportunities for raising awareness about the war in Iraq. Recently, on Saturday May 1st, the first anniversary of President Bushıs flight onto an aircraft carrier when he proclaimed, "Mission Accomplished," I decided to hold a sole vigil in Amesbury's Market Square holding a sign that asked a simple question: "Mission Accomplished?" In contrast to my experience a year ago last March at the war's outbreak when some opponents hurled all manner of vitriol at me for protesting, I sensed that the tide may have turned in local support for the war. A couple veterans stopped to applaud me, and only one person berated me. To that end, I invited friends in both the FRS and larger community to join this past Saturday in Amesbury to visibly raise questions about the war. I am pleased to report that eight people, including FRS parishioners Pat and Phil Hurzeler and Sandra Thaxter, stood in the cold rain for nearly two hours with signs that asked questions such as "Bring 'em on?" and "Mission Accomplished?"

If you are concerned about the war and either are fearful or do not quite know how to channel your opposition, please consider joining the Saturday morning vigils in Amesburyıs Market Square.

You will find common cause and support for your concerns. One reason for choosing Amesbury is because a significant proportion of the cars that drive through town from South Hampton Road do bear NH license plates, and therefore, you have an opportunity to influence actual 'swing' voters in this year's upcoming election. On Saturday June 5th, another vigil will be held from 9:30 ­ 11:30 in downtown Amesbury. Please consider visibly lending your support to help end this war. If you have any questions, please e-mail Chris Hyde at triskell@naisp.net.