Rev. Ann C. Fox
(508) 992-7081
UFairhaven@aol.com
Unitarian
Universalist
Society of Fairhaven
Minister’s Views
Peacemaking: Israeli and Palestinian Youth in Fairhaven in August
International youth at our services in August: We are fortunate indeed to be invited by the North-East Maritime Institute in Fairhaven to create worship services on Sundays, August 10 and 17 that will include three Israeli and three Palestinian youths, ages 15, 16, and 17, male and female. The youth will be here as a three-week pilot program extension of the two Seeds of Peace camps that have operated for many years, hosted by the U.S. government State Department. Angela and Eric Dawicki are the owners of the Institute and the designers of the program they have called the “Fair Haven Project,” with the peace aspect in the “Haven” part, of course.
The youth, who are fluent in English, will spend all three weeks here, experiencing all the maritime activities our area offers while coexisting together and developing relationships amongst themselves. I will invite other area clergy to participate in the services. I hope you will make an effort to come to services in August while these youth are here.
What we will need: For the August 10 and 17 services, we will need some help for ushering and lunch arrangements. A light lunch will be catered but some assistance will be needed. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks so much.
An “alternative” Sunday summer service: The first Sunday in August will be a “Spiritual Circle.” It will have candles of joy and concern, one or more readings on a particular topic, meditation, discussion, chanting, and the like. The other services in August will be regular services for our foreign guests and for parents who are “church shopping” so that they will experience our usual grand tradition.
Summer is upon us, in spirit if not officially. I hope you will poke around the wonderful towns, beaches, and parks in our beautiful area this summer. Even if you’ve been to a place before, you’ll bring new eyes to it for you are different now—every day, you are different.
Blessings, Ann
“Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?”
Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean . . . .
Doesn’t everything die at last and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
--Mary Oliver, modern American poet