Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting this week is donated by Melanie LaRocca in memory of her deeply missed father, Michael A. LaRocca.

Child Dedication: During worship service - Sheehy
                           After worship service - Goldsmith

Chalice Lighter: Jack Dyer.

Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting this week is donated by the families of Priscilla Coffin and Dick and Lucia Luce in memory of son Robert Luce, John J. C. Coffin, and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert C. Corduan.

Chalice Lighters: Celeste Royce and Stephen Parker.

Heifer Project (grades 4-8) Participants will learn about world hunger and the work of Heifer International. They will plan the second annual FRS Heifer Hooha fundraiser to be held after church on June 19. An optional field trip to Heifer International's Overlook Farm in Rutland, Vermont, is scheduled for Saturday, May 28.

Animal Welfare I (grades 1-6) What's my relationship to animals? How do I view animals, and how do other people? How can our society and world show better respect for animals? This module includes two field trips: to Wheelerbrook Farm in Georgetown on June 5 and to the Stone Zoo in Stoneham on June 19. Both fieldtrips will extend beyond the usual meeting time.

Animal Welfare II (grades p/k-1) Children will explore the differences between wild and domesticated animals, what it means to be a responsible pet owner, how to be safe around strange animals, and how animals communicate.

Lakota Coat Drive (grades K-8) Participants will learn about the people of the Lakota Nation (a people considered the second most impoverished in the Western Hemisphere) and will organize a coat drive.

It's tough to forge against the marketers and commercial culture telling us that buying more will make us happier; buying bigger will make life better. That's why finding a community of people that wants more of what matters, rather than more stuff is so important,' says Liss Campbell of Newburyport. The advertising inundation of 'more is better' isn't just hurting us, it's hurting our kids. According to a recent poll by the Center for a New American Dream, '87% of parents of children aged two to 17 feel that advertising and marketing aimed at children makes kids too materialistic.'

Betsy Taylor, President of the Center for a New American Dream cites the poll, noting, 'Parents say that advertising and marketing aimed at kids hurts their self-esteem, has a negative effect on their values and world view, and is even causing many parents to work longer hours just to pay for the things their children feel they need. It's getting harder and harder to raise non-commercial kids. In fact, almost half of all parents admitted that their child would rather go to a shopping mall than go hiking in the woods for a family outing.'

The New American Dream poll also showed that '58% of Americans say they would be willing to give up one day of pay per week in exchange for one day off per week to spend more time with family and friends.' In an age of digital communication 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it's no wonder many Americans are feeling time-strapped and stressed.

One local social action group is doing something about it. 'We have discovered an amazing resource in the Center for a New American Dream, (CNAD), a national non-profit organization that helps Americans consume wisely, and we feel compelled to share it with our community.' says committee member Gen Gootkind of Newburyport. On Saturday, May 21 at 6:00 pm, CNAD Outreach Director Sean Sheehan will be speaking at the First Religious Society on Pleasant Street in Newburyport. His topic, 'Simplify... and Make a Difference' is what people in this community are thirsty for. Committee chair Liss Campbell says, 'All the feedback we get as a social action committee is that people want to do the right thing and make the right choices, but don't have the time. We are all overcommitted. What the Center does is boil it down to actions we can take every day that help the planet and reflect our values. After all, how can we expect our children to treat the planet and each other well unless we are modeling good behavior?'

For The Social Action Committee of the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Sean Sheehan will be the fourth in a string of Annual Spring Speakers. Other speakers in the past have included environmentalist Fred Small, economic scholar Ward Morehouse, and Quaker Delegate to the U.N Lori Heninger. The social action group is active in raising funds for local charities, promoting environmental responsibility, advocating for political causes and encouraging responsible purchasing. The group sells fairly traded coffee after church on Sundays, and has held sales of fairly traded handcrafts from Latin America to create awareness and raise money. 'The response to our efforts has been amazing,' says Gootkind. 'People in our church and our community like to see people making a difference.' 'One of our biggest challenges,' says Campbell, 'is that there are so many worthy issues and never enough time to act on them. That's why the work of the Center for a New American Dream is so important. It encourages everyday action, in small, manageable bytes.'

If you're looking for more time, more nature, more fairness, more fun, or deeper connections with others who strive to live consciously, buy wisely, and make a difference . . . you're not alone. Go to www.newdream.org to learn more for ways to get involved in your local community.

"In 1994-1995, the year before I arrived, our total expenditures were $186,375. In 2004-2005, our expenditures are $386,555. Pledge income has grown from $70,553 to $231,000. The Endowment has grown from $1,007,442 to $1,596,237 (actually more today, I think). We have rented steeple space to two cellular phone companies. Our adult membership has grown from 246 to 332. Our church school enrollment has grown from 110 to over 160. In 1995 our staff included the minister, part-time music director, part-time DRE, part-time secretary, and part-time sexton. Only the minister, I believe, received benefits. In 2005 our staff includes the minister, half-time music director, half-time administrator, part-time administrative assistant, part-time DRE, part-time sexton, and Young Church choirs director. We have stretched to achieve UUA Fair Compensation Guidelines and offer a full benefit package, including retirement (which we are required to do for all half-time employees by the rules of the UUA Pension Plan). Meanwhile, health insurance costs have skyrocketed in the last ten years. We are also required to abide by the guidelines of the American Guild of Organists in our compensation to our Music Director. We have remained a Fair Share contributor to both the UUA and the Mass Bay District. We hire the services of an accounting firm. We have doubled our space after conducting a successful capital campaign, but must meet the remaining costs of the renovation project beginning in 2005 - 2006. Taking all of this into consideration, we have done remarkably well to keep our budget from doubling."

Two Brown Baggers at Work (note cookies)