West Village Voice
All Souls Church, Unitarian Universalist
West Village Meeting House
West
Brattleboro, Vermont
A
Welcoming Congregation and Green Sanctuary
Sunday worship services (in bold type below) begin at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, December 4: All Souls Cares provides the meal at the Overflow Shelter.
Sunday, December 7: Candles of Joys and Sorrows in the Chapel. Andrea McAuslan will inaugurate our once-a-month service of spoken candles from 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. This is a meditative time when we can share our joys and sorrows in warmth and dignity. We hope to see you there.
Sunday, December 7:
“Hope Springs Eternal”
These words from Alexander Pope's "An Essay On Man,” suggest that
even in the face of great adversity, people hope for the best. As December
envelops us in winter’s darkness and the U.S. economy continues to falter, our
Minister will speak about the meaning of faithful hope, the imperative to do
church life well and the value of faith communities.
Greeter/Usher – Charles Henderson
First Sunday Offering
Sunday, December 14:
“Smörgåsbord of Sources”
Continuing the sermon series on the sources from which Unitarian
Universalism draws wisdom and insights, our Minister will explore “Words and
deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront structures of
evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.”
Greeter/Usher – Barb Smith
Thursday, December 18: All Souls Cares provides the meal at the Overflow Shelter.
Sunday, December 21:
"Carols and Stories"
Calm your mind and warm your heart by coming to our traditional holiday
Sunday. Ede Thomas will lead great seasonal carols and Christina Gibbons will
introduce some wonderful stories.
Greeter/Usher – Linda Hay
Wednesday , December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Vespers, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
This year, our Christmas Eve service will feature the “Nativity” from the Gospel According to Luke as well as stories about holy births from various religious traditions. The offering again will benefit the Morningside Homeless Shelter and the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center’s Overflow Shelter.
Thursday, December 25: All Souls Cares and others provide the meal at the Overflow Shelter.
Sunday, December 28:
“An Old Door Closes”
This Sunday, our Minister leads a service in which we reflect on the past
and collectively bid farewell to the old year before turning toward 2009 and
the future it holds.
Greeter/Usher – Esta Smith
Thursday, January 1: All Souls Cares and others provide the meal at the Overflow Shelter.
Sunday, January 4:
“And a New Door Opens”
First Sunday Offering
Minister's MUUsings
Dear All Souls,
And so we enter again the darkest time of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere. All around us light is less. We yearn for light to return. It is no accident that December is when festivals of light abound. As people who are anchored in nature, we recognize the Winter Solstice as a significant and joyful highlight in the ongoing cycle of the seasons. As Westerners and Unitarian Universalists, we stand in the Judeo-Christian tradition which brings both Hanukkah and Christmas.
For the Hebrews, the Miracle of Light Story at the heart of Hanukkah
tells how the Maccabees in 165 B.C.E. defeated the Syrian armies against
insurmountable odds. As a result of their victory, the Hebrews were able to
re-dedicate their desecrated Temple in Jerusalem. Not only that, but the last
few drops of consecrated oil left to fuel the eternal flame lasted eight whole
days, long enough for more oil to arrive. For Christians, the Four Weeks of
Advent represent the anticipation of Jesus' birth on December 25. Surrounded by
mystery and miracles, the birth of Jesus brings the gift of a new faith.
Yes, I believe in miracles, the kind that come about from human action and
participation. I am so grateful to serve a church where people care about their
faith community and show it by investing time, talent and money. Some people
invest time and talent by supporting the All Souls ministry and mission through
involvement in groups and committees. Some people invest in All Souls by
placing money in the collection plate on Sunday mornings. Some invest by making
an annual pledge promise in support of church life. Annual pledge promises
allow the Board and Finance Committee to create a budget that makes real our
church's mission and ministry and allows All Souls to meet its financial
obligations.
Whether anonymous offerings in the collection plate, identifiable payments on pledge promises, committee service, or fundraising efforts, gifts of money, time and talent, are essential investments for a healthy and vibrant church. Without your investments of time, All Souls Church would stand empty. Without your investments of talent, church life would be dead. Without your investments of money, there would be no building and no staff or minister to serve you and the mission of the church. Your gifts of time, talent and money represent even more than that, for by investing in All Souls Church, you also invest in people of all ages, in a liberal religious faith with deep roots and in the ministry of reaching out, in being good neighbors here in the Brattleboro area and around the world and in spiritual meaning-making.
In the midst of this wondrous mix of investments, miracles, small and
large, happen every day. When the Legacy Gift from the Estate of Jean Gorsuch
arrived at the end of November, along with a check for the amount of her Fiscal
Year 2008 Pledge promise, it seemed like a miracle. Jean, who signed the
Membership Book in 1956, was what we call a Matriarch, a pillar without whom
All Souls Church would not be the great congregation it is.
Everyone can be a pillar of All Souls Church. With each gift you bring and
investment you make, you provide miracles of faith, hope and love that enrich
and strengthen this great faith community. In this month of deepening darkness,
may you know the blessings of miracles and may your Holy Days be bright and
filled with meaning.
With warm affection and much love,
Barbro
New Entrance to
Minister's Study
I hope you notice the new signs (by John Spicer) pointing the way to the Minister's Study. The new entry is located in the chapel. Try it out! Those who prefer can still go through the church office.
Minister's 2nd Reading Week Ends December 2
New Office Hours Begin
Beginning on Wednesday, December 3, I will read, reflect and write quietly
behind closed doors until noon every day that I am in the Minister's Study. In
the afternoons, my door will be wide open, unless, of course, I am in a
meeting. I welcome drop-ins to stop by for visits whenever my door is open.
Minister's Open
Office Hours
Mondays 12:00 noon- 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays Minister's Sabbath Day
Wednesdays 12:00 noon - 5 p.m.
Thursdays 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fridays Sermon Crafting Day
Saturdays By appointment
Sundays Worship Service, Meetings
The Minister is available at other times and should be contacted in a pastoral or spiritual emergency.
Life Span
Religious Education and Adult Exploration
From the Director of Religious Education
Although my job description limits me to supporting a “religious education program that stimulates and nurtures children and youth,” I wanted to take this opportunity to remind us all that our religious education program is a lifespan program that is not restricted to our school-age souls. The UU minister Rev. Tom Owen Towle says it well:
Unitarian Universalist religious education is neither book nor guru centered. It is not adult or even child centered. It is congregation centered, wherein all ages cooperatively engage in what Starr Williams called 'a cycle of nurturing.' Hence, our educational perspective must be grounded in sound ecclesiology and focus on all members being religious, remembering, re-creative, responsible, respectful, renewable and reverent pilgrims.
This means that to live our mission we need to take communal responsibility for living in a spirit of Unitarian Universalism that reflects our belief that religious education is at the core of a strong religious tradition. In that same vein, I ask that we recognize the importance of connecting our Sunday morning religious experience to our daily routine during the week. In the 2007 Sophia Lyon Fahs Lecture (an annual lecture on Liberal Religious Education), William Doherty reminds us that “religion is caught more than taught, and it’s caught most fully in the family.” Therefore, I challenge each family to welcome discussion about church experience and religious tradition at home as well as at ASC.
In an effort to foster such discussion, I would
like to provide you and your families with a few questions about one of the
seven sources from which Unitarian Universalists build their religious meaning
and traditions. During the month of December, we will address the women and men
of long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind, fair, and
understanding. I ask you as children, youth, parents, elders, members, or
friends of All Souls to think about the history from which Unitarian
Universalism draws. Here are a few questions to spark curiosity and discussion
in your home.
* From what two traditions does Unitarian Universalism draw? Where and when did
these traditions begin?
* Can you name the six UU American Presidents? How did their beliefs shape
their policy?
* Did well-known UUs of the past follow the same religious traditions as UUs
follow today?
Check out these websites for more information on
famous Unitarian Universalistshj and how they affected our country and
Unitarian Universalism.
www.famousuus.com
www.emersonhouston.org/what/uuFamous.html
harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/
News from RE
Pick up a new and updated RE Calendar outside my office. I want to bring special attention to the first Children’s Chapel Sunday coming up on December 7!
Nursery Care
Update
There are some changes happening in the Nursery at All Souls Church.
Namely, Tonya Coulter has decided that her life is too full to continue her
work in the nursery. Because of the financial restrictions that the church is
experiencing, the Board has decided that we should look to volunteers to care
for our youngest souls each Sunday morning. That is where you come in. In order
to provide some continuity for both parents and children I hope to put together
a team of rotating volunteers, to be present in the nursery each Sunday. If you
feel called to participate in this role, please contact me.
Your D.R.E., Jesse deVries
Pizza and games night - December 12th, 6-9PM.
November's gathering of pizza and games enthusiasts was such a hit let's
do it again. You are invited to join souls of all ages for this casual and fun
evening. Come at 6:00 p.m. to share in dinner (pizza and beverages will be
provided, bring a light dish to share or a dessert or just yourself!). A
variety of games will be provided but feel free to bring along your favorite
games from home too.
Brought to you by your game-loving RE Committee:
Bob Parks, Kathryn Turnas II, Jennifer Jacobs
How to Reach the DRE
Office Hours:
Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-12 noon
Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Phone: jessedevries@gmail.com and
uudre@sover.net
News from the Board and Parish Council
From the President of All Souls
While we are in a financially challenging moment at All Souls, it is also a time that invites us to richly reconnect with our reasons for being part of this community, and to share – and then build on -- those stories. Indeed, if we do not revisit and remember our personal and organizational missions on a regular basis, we lose sight of who we are, and all the operational quandaries overpower us.
As just one individual, I came here to be part of a community that honors many spiritual paths, a place where our son can find his own faith and learn to celebrate the diverse understandings of others. In the day-to-day operations of this congregation, it is too easy for me to forget this personal vision, and yet, I believe, it should ground everything I do. As a UU congregation, we bring so many rich perspectives to our communal table. Our personal stories vary widely -- theist or atheist, Christian or Buddhist, earth-centered or new age – and here we can be in spiritual companionship with those who honor our diversities as we share our commitment to our mission to “create and sustain an open and caring community.”
Let us remember these roots as we come together to “fix our finances.” Let us take this opportunity to reground ourselves. In his “Blessing,” John O’Donohue writes: “May the nourishment of the earth be yours; may the clarity of light be yours; may the fluency of the ocean be yours; may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.” As we mind our communal life, let us do this out of love and with the nourishment and clarity with which we are blessed.
Board Highlights
At its November meeting, the Board continued discussion of priorities for
the year. DRE Jesse deVries attended to help Board members understand ways we
can support the R.E. Program and her role. An ongoing goal is strengthening
both the RE committee and the core of adult volunteers. We learned that the
communication Jesse needs with R.E. teachers and other resources is hindered by
the absence of a dedicated phone line and by a very slow dial-up computer
connection, so we are asking the Finance Committee to continue investigating
the cost of other options. Training resources and background information from
the RE congregational survey and previous committee members will also help
ground Jesse and the R.E. committee in their work.
Steve Squires also attended to present, together with Treasurer John Greene, a
realistic assessment of our current financial situation. The Finance Committee
will need guidance as well as ideas from the Board and the congregation to help
us all deal with the projected shortfall in pledging income in these difficult
times. One short-term outcome is that we have adopted a temporary hiring freeze
and halted the search for a new nursery care provider. We look to volunteers to
fill that role. A congregational meeting is planned for December 7 to update us
all on our church finances and how we can help.
The Board also endorsed the church’s participation in supporting the Overflow
Homeless Shelter and voted to divide the Christmas Eve offering between the
Drop In Center, Overflow Shelter, and Morningside Shelter.
Shirley Ridgway, Clerk
November Parish Council Summary
The Parish Council plays an important role in the life of the church. The three C’s describe it well: Communicate, Calendar, Collaborate. It is the skeleton, the structure of the church. This is where certain ideas come to be vetted and where we can gain an understanding of the support that may or may not exist for a particular effort, a new group or just an idea in the making. These are the words of Parish Council participants at our most recent meeting where we reviewed our purpose and place in the life of the church.
We acknowledged that when a committee is not represented it is hard for us to fully realize our mission. We want to make a greater effort to get full committee participation and to make sure that everyone knows that it is an open meeting.
Our familiarity with church activity was brought to new heights as we learned of the current efforts of the following groups present at the meeting: Social Action, RE, All Souls Cares, UUWF, Building and Grounds, Finance, Pastoral Care, Nominating, Membership, Board, and Committee on Ministry.
Here are a few of the things that happened at the
meeting:
Janet Schwarz described why the Social Responsibility committee has changed its
name to the Social Action
Committee. After questions and a lively discussion, there was full support for
this change.
Jesse deVries spoke for the RE Committee, and shared its goals for the year: To support the DRE; to carry out one big project – the Heifer project; and to organize intergenerational events. Jesse learned that she can ask the Nominating Committee for support in finding additional R.E Committee members.
Sue Graff garnered full support from all present to get their committee members to fill out the Community of Gifts form by the November 15 deadline.
We supported the Building and Grounds recommendation that the spring and fall work bees be moved back to Sundays since there has not been as much support on Saturdays.
John Greene and Steve Squires laid the ground work for a thorough understanding of the appeal letter mailed in early November. We received a clear overview of the current church finances. We shared ideas for effective canvassing that will broaden everyone’s understanding of the important role pledging plays in the healthy and dynamic life of our church community.
Our Minister, Barbro sought input on the Christmas Eve Candlelight Vespers service. Together we confirmed our commitment for membership in Vermont Interfaith Power and Light. We gained a better understanding of the important role that All Souls will be playing in the Overflow Homeless Shelter efforts.
It was a full meeting with much food for thought! Our next meeting will occur on January 8, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. Please put it on your calendar, especially if you are a committee chair or involved in any church effort.
Jerelyn Wilson
Principles into Practice: AS Cares
All Souls Church has a wonderful opportunity to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person by serving the vulnerable men, women, and children of our community by supporting the Overflow Shelter for the homeless at First Baptist Church. We, along with dozens of other faith and community organizations, will provide a nutritious dinner to all the guests of the Overflow Shelter each night from December 1 through March 31. All Souls will provide a meal to approximately 30 guests on the following Thursdays: December 4, 18, 25 (in support of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community); January 1, 15, 29; February 12, 26; and March 12, 26. If you would like to help prepare the meal and/or serve (and eat) with the Overflow Shelter’s guests, please sign up on the foyer kiosk. Recipes and all ingredients will be provided. There are many ways to support this project, including donating food and/or supplies. Families are welcome to volunteer together. Training for all volunteers will be available at First Baptist Church on Sunday, December 7 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. It is not mandatory, but recommended. Please contact the minister, Sue Graff at graffsue@hotmail.com, 246-2553 or Andrea McAuslan at andiemca@sover.net or 254-2421 for more information. We look forward to your involvement!
Winter Weather Cancellations
When winter weather and snowstorms arrive and you want to find out if the Sunday morning service and R.E. classes have been canceled, here is what to do:
Tune to local Brattleboro radio station WTSA FM
96.7 and listen for cancellation notices.
Call the church office, 254-9377, and listen to the outgoing message.
Check your email for last-minute cancellations from the Minister.
Call the Minister’s Study, 257-5186, and listen to the outgoing message.
Rev. Barbro Hansson, Minister
Committees and All Souls News
Holiday Bazaar
It’s almost here. There are just a few days to go until our Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 6, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. You may still have time to bake something for the Bake Table. Call Kathy Squires if you can help out at the bazaar especially with the final cleanup. If you cannot help, please come to enjoy the spirit of the day: Buy a wreath, have some coffee, stay for quiche or soup, let the kids make a craft, buy a wreath, visit with Santa, bid at the Silent Auction; buy a holiday plant, some baked goodies or some Fair Trade coffee; buy a bag, listen to the holiday music and buy another wreath. Come see our church overflowing with the creativity of All Souls hands and brimming with the excitement of the holiday season. Bring your friends too!
Facilities Update
John Spicer, Bob Parks, Alex and Jerelyn Wilson, and Walter Schwarz met in November to tour the building’s heating system with Bill Huestis, a local heating contractor. He recommended that one way we can use the fuel we purchase more efficiently is to heat only the spaces being used. Since the offices are used all week, we are exploring the option of installing a pump that would separate the offices from the rest of the heating loop. Currently, hot water, heated by our furnace, circulates through the entire building when heat is called for, i.e., when a thermostat is turned up in any one room. People who want to understand the ins and outs of the building’s system can speak to either Bob Parks or John Spicer.) We also plan to test all the thermostatic valves and should be able to replace any malfunctioning ones ourselves.
We are exploring our options for installing inside storm panels on our many, many single-paned windows. A number of us met with company representatives from WindowTherm, a company in New York. Of most immediate concern are the highest single-glazed windows. John has calculated the cost for making our own interior storms for first floor windows at about $900, which includes film and cedar trim. He needs to research the film a bit more. We are researching ceiling fans as well.
Walter is going to ask his son-in-law Denis Hawthorne to look at the water heater and make a recommendation on a tankless water heater to meet the needs for hot water in the bathrooms without necessitating effort from the boiler.
We may recommend that the main hall blowers be removed. We are working on understanding fully why they were installed initially and the probable consequences of having them removed. Removal of the blowers would likely occur in concert with reductions of heat loss through the windows. This would enable the space to warm up more quickly.
Meanwhile, we have provided consultant Marc Rosenbaum, P.E., with detailed measurements of the building envelope that will allow him to create a computer model of the building. With this model, we can evaluate the energy impact of various possible improvements. The ad hoc building group’s next meeting is December 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Jerelyn Wilson
Building and Grounds
We learned a lot from Em Richards, who spearheaded the completion of the driveway and rain garden work. We thank her and all the volunteers who assisted in making this project become a reality. We can now await next summer’s beautiful array of flowers.
We have more energy efficient kitchen windows which were installed by Benjamin Price and subsidized by a grant from the Remembrance Fund. We thank Jesse deVries, Ede Thomas, and Ed Burke for painting the choir room. We also thank the UU Women’s Fellowship for financing the cleaning of the parlor rugs. The work of all those who raked leaves is also greatly appreciated.
Ruth Lane and John Spicer, Co-chairs
Worship Associates Meeting
On Thursday, December 4, at 4:00 p.m., the Worship Associates will meet to discuss the fall services and to make plans for the winter. If you would like to join this group, which helps our Minister with readings and preparations for the Sunday service, please contact Christina Gibbons, Worship Coordinator, at gbbn@mac.com or 257-0115.
Committee on Ministry
We have started our review of right relations at All Souls Church, and we are excited about the possibilities for strengthening our community by creating a document which will support a climate of strong, healthy and “right” relationships.
Our current policy evolved out of a crisis situation in the church and is limited to conflict and grievances. Over time, people have referred to the policy as if it addressed how we treat each other in all ways, thus imbuing it with significance much greater than conflict resolution.
This time we begin proactively with a number of questions. How do we want to be treated and how do we not want to be treated? What constitutes inappropriate behavior? What behaviors create a safe community? How do we express compassionate care for those who are ill or impaired in some way? How do we react responsibly to distressed, disturbed or disruptive behavior?
As you can see, we are open to a variety of “right relations.” We are looking at a number of documents and policies for guidance, however, please be sure to share with us any thoughts, suggestions or concerns you may have. We will keep you posted.
Mary Jane Goodloe
Charles Butterfield
Orion Barber
Ed Burke
Chris Greene
Reasons to Serve
Does the word “committee” activate your instinct for flight? We hope not and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to consider some of the reasons that people serve on church committees. If the word “committee” remains a stumbling block, just think of it as a “group.”
- Committee work is social; it can be an
opportunity to get acquainted and feel connected with others who share similar
values.
- Committee work can be task-oriented and satisfy a wish to work for the church
community in a tangible way.
- Committee work can be a way to develop new skills or explore a different side
of yourself.
- Committee work can be an opportunity for spiritual growth, a chance to deepen
your understanding of your own spirituality and a way to derive a sense of
meaning.
- Committee work can be part of a search for meaning and an opportunity to
actively engage in ministry to others.
Your Nominating Committee works to identify and
nominate candidates for elected positions, such as Board members, and we also
assist in recruiting people to serve on church committees. We are thoughtful in
our work and strive to make good connections between people and opportunities
to serve. We look forward to meeting new members of the congregation and to
keeping up-to-date with those we already know. When one of us approaches you at
coffee hour, please don’t run. Help us get to know or catch up with you, to
learn why All Souls Church is important to you and how you hope to be involved
in our ministry.
Mary Lou Treat, John Spicer, Mary Henderson
New Year’s Pancake Breakfast
Come to the Seventh Annual Pancake Breakfast Thursday, January 1, at 8:30 a.m. or so, Don’t dawdle too late as we previously run out of pancakes by 9:30 a.m. in years past. Everyone is welcome. The event is free but we will accept donations gladly to pay for our Fair Trade Coffee. We usually play board games, so bring along your favorites. If you have questions, call Kathy Squires, 365-7388.
Members and Friends Directory
The new church directory is available on the Greeters Table. If you picked up your copy “hot off the presses,” please be aware that a bizarre glitch in FileMaker Pro caused Justine Trowbridge’s telephone number to print both under Justine’s listing and under Kathryn Turnas II’s listing. Kathryn’s true phone number is 603-209-0806. As of November 19, all copies at All Souls have been corrected. If you have one of the earlier copies (soon to be a collector’s item), please make the necessary change.
Jane Goodale Death
Maisie Crowther's sister, Jane C. Goodale, anthropologist, died November 5 in Bedford, MA. She enjoyed visiting All Souls Church and especially singing in our choir.
Guest at Your Table Boxes: Building a Fairer World
The Guest at Your Table project is a wonderful way to support Unitarian Universalist values and the work of human rights and justice around the world. To participate, simply place a Guest at Your Table box where you eat your meals, and as often as you can, insert coins or bills in the box. A good guideline is to place at least $1.00 each day or even each meal in the box, so that at the end of the month-long project, your box contains at least $30. If you do not have a GAYT box, pick one up the next time you visit All Souls. There are also special envelopes available at church in which to send a contribution directly to the U.U. Service Committee.
Our Christmas Eve Vespers service on December 24 will include a time for collecting all of the Guest at Your Table boxes. Before bringing your box to church, please fill out the requested information on the box, count the contents and write a check for that amount to the UUSC. Pay special attention to the available contribution and membership categories. If you cannot attend the Christmas Eve service, please bring your GAYT box and contribution check to the church on Sunday, December 21; Sunday, December 28; or during regular office hours before the end of December.
Together, All Souls members and friends of all ages can participate in this vitally important project and make a significant contribution that helps the U.U. Service Committee carry out its mission in the world. This is one way in which our shared values are transformed into faith in action that helps build a better world for all.
Thank you for participating1
Rev. Barbro Hansson
Sunday Messages Available in Print
Homilies offered by our Minister and messages given by All Souls members and guests this fall are available in booklet form at church. Look for them on the pamphlet rack in the foyer.
National Homeless Persons Memorial Day
The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association is joining the Drop In Center and Morningside Shelter for a special interfaith service for the homeless on Sunday, December 21, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at First Baptist Church.
Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless friends who pay the price for our nation's failure to end homelessness.
Here in Brattleboro, we ask people to bring donations of blankets and warm clothing for the homeless to the special service on December 21. Hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters and coats are gratefully accepted. The items can be new or used. Please make sure items are clean. With the Christmas Stocking project benefiting children in the Brattleboro area, our focus is on meeting the needs of adults. The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association, the Drop In Center and Morningside Shelter hope that our individual efforts, when pooled, will make a big difference.
Rev. Barbro Hansson
New to the World
Avah Margaret Gibbons, born October 25th to Robin MacArthur and Tyler Gibbons of Marlboro, granddaughter of Christina and Peter Gibbons and Gail and Dan MacArthur, great granddaughter of John MacArthur. Plump, pink, and, mercifully, born into a more promising political landscape.
Arrin Fancher's "Horse Leg Series" Exhibit at All Souls through January
The December-January exhibit in our gallery spaces at ASC features the third in series of exhibits by Arrin Fancher focusing on her relationship with horses. In her artist's statement for this show, Arrin states:
"Horses have had great meaning for me
throughout my life. In recent years, painting their shapes has become a
recurring theme in my work. I have been continuing my exploration of horses in
motion by focusing especially on their legs, hence the title of this show,
'Horse Leg
Series.' It is the leg shapes and the negative spaces around them that have
captured my artistic eye. The rhythmic quality of these horse legs juxtaposing
each other in their dash across the field has interested me to a point at which
I can almost hear the sound of their hooves pounding the soil. Gleeful, dusty,
satisfying."
A native of Syracuse, New York, Arrin Fancher has lived in Vermont for more than 40 years, residing in Putney, Enosburg Falls, and Saxtons River before settling into her current home in Dummerston. She received her bachelor's degree in fine arts cum laude from Windham College in 1970. She has also studied at the Gotze Studio Workshop (Paris, France) and at the 212 Media Workshop (Saugerties, New York). Arrin Fancher has continued independent study of painting through professional workshops and has received grants for creation of the Fancher Studio website www.fancherstudio.com) and a residency at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson. She is an ongoing member of Artist's Seminar, an educational critique group of working artists, and has been a member of the Women's Caucus for the Arts. A founding member of the Windham Art Gallery, Arrin served as chair of the Exhibition Committee during her years there.
Arrin’s work has been featured in numerous regional galleries and juried shows, including the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and Stratton Arts Festival. Her work can be found in such collections as Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA); the U.S. Department of State (Washington, D.C.); the University of Vermont (Burlington); and many private collections.
Arrin currently teaches classes in Drawing and Painting in her studio. She has taught art courses at Adult Continuing Education and Community College of Vermont in Bellows Falls and Brattleboro.
She has taught in public schools, at both the secondary and elementary levels.
All Souls members and friends, and the general public are invited to an opening reception on Saturday, December 13, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Stop by to talk with the artist about her work and enjoy bountiful refreshments provided by the ASC Arts Committee.
The church is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as during worship services and other public events.
Annual ASC Holiday Open House
Please save the date of Saturday, December 13, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. for our annual All Souls Holiday Open House. Flyers with details, directions and this year’s rhyming invite may be picked up at the church in early December. All are welcome.
All Souls Nuts and Bolts
Newsletter Information and Deadlines
The deadline for the newsletter is the 15th of each month. Submissions may be sent via email (preferred) to ascnews@comcast.net or mailed to the editor, David Olle, at 3296 Sweet Pond Road, Guilford, VT 05301. Please put the author's name and contact information on submissions. Please submit complete articles and information to the West Village Voice (i.e., proofread, no fill-in-the-blanks or "final details to come").
Submissions to the newsletter will be edited for grammar, syntax, accuracy, clarity and/or length. In addition, we strive to follow AP style guidelines and to increase church or denominational relevance. Any changes made are motivated by a desire to send out the most accurate information about All Souls Church and the wider Unitarian Universalist community.
If you have any concerns about changes made to something you submit, please feel free to contact David Olle at 802-254-3899 or ascnews@comcast.net. The West Village Voice is a monthly newsletter published by All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist, located at 29 South Street in West Brattleboro, Vermont.
A.S.C. Board of
Trustees
President David Shallenberger '10
Vice President Jerelyn Wilson '10
Treasurer John Greene '09
Clerk Shirley Ridgway '09
Harald Holm '09 Walter Schwarz '09
Bradford Greene '10 Kathryn Turnas '10
A.S.C. Committee on
Ministry
Mary Jane Goodloe '09
Charles Butterfield '10
Orion Barber '11
A.S.C. Minister and Staff
Minister Rev. Barbro Hansson
Church Administrator Marianne Rigatti
Director of R.E. Jesse deVries
Director of Music/Choir Ede Thomas
Child Care Provider Tonya Coulter
Housekeeper Karen Cretelle
Office Hours
Mondays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
When the office is closed, phone messages left on the answering machine will be answered the next working day.
Telephone Numbers and Email
Office Telephone 802-254-9377
Office Email allsouls@sover.net
Minister's Study 802-257-5186
Minister's Cellphone 802-275-6093
Minister's Email uurev@sover.net
D. R. E.'s Telephone (802) 254-9377
D. R. E.'s Email uudre@sover.net
A.S.C. Web Site
www.allsouls.brattleboro.uua.org