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An update from the Rev. Don Remick, co-chair, Disaster Resource Team of the MA Conference, UCC
We are approaching the first year anniversary of the devastating tornado that tore a scar through the center of our state. Long term recovery often takes at least two years just to get folks back into homes, though the scar in the psyche and soul lasts much longer. Long Term Recovery Groups have been evolving since the earliest days following the storm. We are continuing to support their efforts.
You have helped. We received over $115,000 in gifts from our MACUCC churches.
We have allocated nearly two-thirds of that ($74,932.58) to help the Long Term Recovery Groups as they seek to help with the unmet needs of our most vulnerable populations. We have allocated $2,000 of that to assist a Conference sponsored youth mission trip this summer. We are working with FEMA and the LTRG's as they continue to budget their needs and their existing sources of funding.
We have allocated another quarter of the donations($28,819.84) for local church recovery. So far we have disbursed $16,500 for trauma and spiritual care training to help our churches serve and support their own congregation and their communities.
The remaining funds (approx 10%, or $11,527.94) have been allocated to support our pastors who have been at the core of the damage as well as the recovery efforts. Many of them have been caring for their own churches and congregations while also overseeing long term recovery efforts. So far we have disbursed $4,000 for renewal, rest and recovery programs.
The thanks of many, many folks go out to all of you who are bringing the love of God to those who are traveling a long road.
NOTE: The clean-up effort in Brimfield continues, and volunteers are needed. Please read this Mission & Justice blog post for more information.
One in an occasional series of articles about the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Endowment Campaign.
Rev. Dr. Karin A. Case, who currently serves as interim pastor at the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, has a deep commitment to offering “the best ministry I can” to her congregation. An experienced interim minister, she has ministered to and with the church to help them move through several complicated transitions. Case, who leads a Clergy Community of Practice (CCOP) and participates in one as well, says that having “the wisdom of colleagues, their strategies, [and the ability to] talk through complex dynamics, has been very important in the last few months.”
Why are Clergy Communities of Practice so important? Case says, “I think this program is the hope for the future of the church. Clergy Communities of Practice support, sustain and mentor clergy. They are an ideal context for sharing best practices, a great source of new ideas, and a place to strategize about how to solve thorny issues. Things you encounter daily in the parish are not things you could ever imagine sitting in a seminary class. To become better equipped to deal with the human complexities, complexities of building and staff management, of how to be the church as it is transforming for the 21st century…Clergy Communities of Practice are a proving ground for new ideas.”You can join other lay leaders, pastors and congregations by making a pledge of support, payable over three to five years, or taking a special offering. Pleaes contact MACUCC Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship and Financial Development Andrew Gustafson: (508) 875-5233, ext.231 (email: gustafsona@macucc.org), or Associate Conference Minister for Leadership Development Sue Dickerman: ext.233 email: dickermans@macucc.org).
Church treasurers may now make their church’s contributions online via the Massachusetts Conference website, including gifts to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support (OCWM), special offeirngs, designated giving and disaster relief. Hampden Association churches may also pay their Fellowship Dues online.
"Electronic banking is a regular part of the lives of many people today. The papr check may be going the way of the cassette tape," said Associate Conference Minister Andy Gustafson.. "Keeping up with today’s technology, we are very excited to be able to offer the opportunity for church treasurers to make online contributions on behalf of their congregations, in addition to the electronic giving option we have had for individual donations."
Seafarer’s Friend is celebrating 185 years of ministry in the Port of Boston, and will host a fund-raising celebration at the New England Aquarium in Boston on Friday, May 4, at 7:00 PM. The cost is $50 per person until April 30; $60 thereafter. To receive a formal invitation and register, go here.
As port chaplain, Seafarer's Friend is an important humanitarian and supportive part of the port community, providing emotional, spiritual and practical assistance to the port community as well as to seafarers. Ship visitors aid in calling families, offer transport to area stores, and help address issues of life in a dangerous and lonely environment. Seafarer's Friend has long been a recognized ministry partner of the Massachusetts Conference, and is supported by many MACUCC congregations.
Seven months after Tropical Storm Irene devastated portions of Northwest Massachusetts and Vermont, the situation remains difficult for many victims in Williamstown, Mass. (Read more about the struggles in a recent Boston Globe article.)
Thanks to a gift from Adams Square Congregational Church in Worcester, which closed last year, the Massachusetts Conference has been able to make a $7,000 grant to Higher Ground, a non-profit led by First Congregational Church, Williamstown. Our UCC pastor Carrie Bail, is leading a Long Term Recovery Group to assist in the continuing recovery efforts. Nearly 200 folks lost their housing as the flood waters rose and swept through a mobil home village. This grant will fund a case manager who will assist the low income families and individuals who have been displaced from their homes.
FEMA News photo: taken September 7, 2011. The Spruces Mobile Park in Williamstown, MA was severely flooded during Tropical Storm Irene August 27-29, which left over 250 homes affected in the western part of Massachusetts. Photo by Alberto Pillot/FEMA
In 2011, 40 churches in the Massachusetts Conference were recognized as “5 for 5 Churches”. This means that in the calendar year 2011 they have contributed to Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support and all four of the Special Offerings:
"These churches exemplify excellence in Christian mission by supporting all the ways the United Church of Christ is changing lives, whether through disaster assistance, hunger programs, justice work, church vitality, leadership development, youth and children’s ministries, new church starts, or assistance to low income retired clergy," said Associate Conference Minister Andy Gustafson.
"We thank them for their comprehensive support of God's work through the United Church of Christ," he added.
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First Congregational Church, Amherst, UCC |
The Second Church in Newton, UCC |
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Binghamton, NY was flooded as the result of Tropical Storm Lee, following Hurricane Irene, in September 2011. Over 9,000 properties were damaged in Broome County of which Binghamton is part - many in areas that have never flooded before. The adjacent counties of Chenango and Tioga also received significant flood damage.
This up-state New York valley has lots of dykes and flood walls that have worked well in the past. In September 2011 water went over them for the first time. These 2011 floods follow another serious flood in 2006.
Volunteer groups are needed to help with the damage caused by this flooding. Please
link to web information and registration here: http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/disaster-recovery-volunteers/binghamton-new-york.html Your group can help people rebuild lives and properties.
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Gina M. Lynch, the director of the Brimfield Disaster Relief Center and Mission Outreach Chair of the First Congregational Church, Brimfield, reports that there is a desperate need for volunteers to help in tornado recovery work. Gina says that one of the goals is to make properties safer from fires. To achieve that end, they need help with raking, chain sawing, chipping, etc.
They are looking for individuals and/or groups who can help any day of the week. For more information you can call Gina at 508-932-1312 or the church at 413-245-7162. Even if you are not available, please spread the word.
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The ONA Task Team and the Commission for Mission & Justice invite you to register today for this historic event: a special National Gathering of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns to celebrate 40 years of LGBT ministry in our church and to welcome our newest Open and Affirming congregations—including ONA church number 1,000!
The gathering will take place at Elmhurst College near Chicago for inspiring worship, powerful preaching, joyful music, and workshops that will feed your mind and your soul. Preachers are the Rev. Da Vita McCallister and Bishop Yvette Flunder. Keynoter is the Rev. J. Bennett Guess.
Don’t miss a National Gathering that will be unlike any other! Join in and renew your ONA ministry, and bring friends and family from your church.
Registration and more info are at www.ucccoalition.org.
Dear UCC Members, Colleagues and Friends,
Two features from this morning’s news are deeply connected to the bold leadership which our Conference of churches - the Mass Conference UCC - has shown over the past 30 years.
The dominant news story this morning is President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage. Click here for the link to the NY Times story. This will remain a story of critical importance at least through the November election. While Obama cited being a Christian as one motivation for his position, all the news coverage I have heard suggests that Christianity opposes same-sex marriage.
Obama is a Christian because he discovered that Trinity UCC in Chicago was changing lives as much as any institution in the city. After learning more about Christianity from worshiping and participating at Trinity, Obama became a Christian and a UCC member. So it’s no wonder that in announcing his endorsement of same-sex marriage, Obama would cite his Christian faith as a basis.
As most of you know, our Massachusetts Conference led the United Church of Christ by voting in 1984 to become an Open and Affirming Conference. Today – that story of courage and leadership needs to be told. Click here to learn more about LGBT resources from the Mass Conference and the UCC.
And that story leads to a broader message that we – all 70,000+ UCC members in Massachusetts – need to articulate: One of the most distinctive features of Jesus’ life is his profound testimony and witness to God’s inclusive love. Today and in the coming months, I hope that each of us will find ways to speak out on behalf of Jesus – a Savior whose inclusive love we seek to affirm. Now is the moment to take Christianity back from the media’s misguided assumptions about what Christians think.
The other news feature is climate scientist James Hansen’s Op Ed piece in today’s NY Times, “Game Over for the Climate.” At our Annual Meeting in 2009, our Conference became the first church body in America to pass a resolution calling upon our elected leaders to commit to policies that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to below 350ppm. Click here for the resolution. In contrast with the national media, who continue to feature politicians and others who claim that because they are Christians, they believe Global warming is a farce (Click here to read about Congressman Shimkus), the Mass Conference continues to lead a religious witness urging the adoption of new laws to protect the earth.
As UCC members – and particularly as members of the Mass. Conference – we have two stories that need to be told in the public square…. today, tomorrow, and persistently in the months (and years) ahead. Leave your comment below and join the discussion.
God’s blessing upon all the ways you minister in Christ’s name,
Jim Antal
Minister & President
Massachusetts Conference, UCC
Additional Note from Jim Antal - May 11, 2012:
The same day as this blog, an MACUCC pastor shared the following excerpt from Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail – written almost 50 years ago. It’s as true today as it was then – and as applicable to same-sex marriage and climate change as it was to the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s.
http://www.inwardoutward.org/2011/05/07/call-church
WAYS, in partnership with The Haitian Baptist Convention, invites you to join them on Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 2012 to help with construction of a chicken farm to help feed children living in an orphanage, or to help with programs and activities for the children. Those with pediatric therapy or teaching skills are also welcome to provide services to the children.
From April 6-13, 2013, WAYS will return to Haiti with a medical team to provide services to children in five schools/orphanages and churches in Port au Prince and surrounding areas. Those with pediatric therapy skills with physically handicapped children and those who are qualified to offer a workshop to teachers in the day school or nurses in the school of nursing, are very welcome.
Last year, the Haitian Baptist Convention, with the help of aid from around the world, built a school that offers an orphanage, a day school, a sewing/tailoring class, a computer class, a class in tiling, and a center providing physical and occupational therapy for physically handicapped children. They are about to open a nursing school. In addition, a healthcare pilot program has begun in five churches, each headed by a parish nurse. Now the Haitian Baptist Convention wants to build a chicken farm to provide food for children living in the orphanage. A consultant trained by Heifer Project will oversee the project to insure its success.
The cost of the trip is $1300 (which includes room, board, translators, local coordination, ground transportation, leadership costs and a contribution toward needed medicines and material costs). The cost of airfare is about $600.
Click here for the WAYS blog, with much more information and a downloadable flyer and application.
If you would like more information about either trip, or if would like Shantia to visit your church and speak about the Haiti projects, contact coordinator Shantia Wright Gray at 508-450-2001, shantiawg@gmail.com.
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MACUCC Associate Conference Minister Peter Wells joined 50 other demonstrators at Stop & Shop corporate headquarters in Quincy last week in support of fair wages for Florida farmworkers.
Stop & Shop has refused to sign an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), which asks that supermarkets and restaurants agree to pay one penny more per pound for Florida tomatoes - a penny that goes directly into the pockets of the farmworkers and can substantially increase their standard of living. Stop & Shop officials maintain that they deal fairly with Florida farmworkers.
CIW has signed agreements with Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and McDonald's, among others.
According to a recent story about the Quincy protest in the Patriot Ledger, Rev. Dr. Wells stated that “It’s ironic that we are here where John Quincy Adams was born. He started a revolution, and that’s what’s going on here.”
Read more about the CIW, and how paying a penny a pound more can impact lives.
The First Church of Monson, Congregational/UCC, 5 High Street, Monson will welcome Laura Mushenko from The Garden of Om for 6 weeks of Kripalu Yoga classes, May 16 - June 20, 5:15-6:15 pm. There is no cost for the class free will offering only, with 50% of donations going toward the replanting of Monson. Join us for one class or all six. All are welcome, ages 15 and up. Bring your own mat. For more information please call Lisa Borlen at 267-3990 or visit www.gardenofom.com
Regular meeting of the Commission for Leadership Development. Guests are welcome. Please notify Susan Dickerman at dickermans@macucc.org one week prior to the meeting if you wish to attend.
Directions can be found here.
A Patriotic Concert in honor of Memorial Day featuring "Richie Mitnick & Friends"
Sunday, May 27 at 3:00 p.m.
Agawam Congregational Church
745 Main Street
Agawam MA 01001
Tickets: Adults $10.00 Children under 6 $5.00
Call the church office at (413) 786-711 for more information.
Our fabulous, fun, progressive, growing and arts-friendly spiritual community is looking for an organizational powerhouse! The job involves mostly left-brain administrative tasks: scheduling, executing contracts, tenant relations, website maintenance, editing and general office procedure with some right-brain writing, cheerleading team playing, and design work. A large part of this job is to oversee the day-to-day operation of our busy building.
Under the general direction of the Associate Minister, the Administrator runs the building, supports the staff and congregation, communicates constantly, and is often the first face that people meet at First Church.
Flexible schedule (20 hours a week) and paid vacation (hidden spiritual benefits TBD by the candidate).
Walking distance from Davis Square T. On-site (non-staffed) nursery.
Some experience in a church or not-for profit organization is helpful. LGBT and minorities especially encouraged to apply to our Open and Affirming congregation.
Required skills: demonstrated competency in MS Word, MS Publisher and MS Excel or comparable; Internet and website skills; excellent writing and editing skills, responsible, self-directing, sensitive phone manner, creativity and a sense of enthusiasm and warmth. Natural authority of person necessary, as the administrator is responsible for keeping the building running smoothly, including relationships with a wide variety of tenants and visitors.
We are looking for someone who can make at least a 2-year commitment to the position. Send resume and cover letter to personnel@firstchurchsomerville.org.
Christ Church United, UCC, in Lowell, Massachusetts (WeWelcomeAll.org) is a socially progressive, culturally diverse, Christian church welcoming people from all religious backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles. The church is actively involved in the local community and offers a comprehensive Sunday school program to those with school-age children.
At this time, we are seeking a progressive Christian to lead our Christian Education program and to develop and oversee the programs to grow the spiritual life of our children and youth. This is a part-time 10-15 hour a week paid position.
Please send your resume and letter of interest to: revlovett@cculowell.org
Roslindale Congregational Church, UCC
2.5 Units per week (up to 10 hours)
Roslindale Congregational Church is seeking a Minister of Music. We are looking for someone with a heart for Jesus, love for people and a desire to do ministry through music. Music is an integral part of the worship life of RCC, a smaller urban congregation where a variety of traditions and styles in pipe organ, piano, and choral music are encouraged. In a single blended service we sing both new and old songs and hymns, some accompanied by pipe organ or piano and others by volunteer members who play guitar, flute, & clarinet. We also utilize a volunteer choir and special music pieces in our worship. We value the diversity we have and the diversity of musical taste that comes with it. At the same time we work hard to shape the musical aspect of our service to reflect that diversity. While continuing to use and appreciate traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs we have a unique opportunity to creatively shape our services and connect the gospel of Jesus musically to a diverse group of people. Duties include playing and directing for one 10:30AM Sunday service, directing weekly choir rehearsals prior to the service, playing for additional special worship services within the liturgical calendar and providing music for weddings and funerals (additional compensation).
The requirements for this position are:
Please send a letter of interest and resume to the Roslindale Congregational Church either by U.S. Mail or email to the above mentioned addresses.
Old South Church in Boston, seeks a Youth Group Leader for grades 9 - 12 to begin September, 2012. We are looking for a warm, compassionate self-starter with experience leading teens in faith-centered activities (retreats, mission and service projects and community-building activities). Knowledge and experience of the UCC a plus. Responsibilities include coordinating and leading weekly youth meetings, planning and executing community service activities, communicating with our Church School Director, attending monthly Christian Education meetings, and working with the youth to plan and lead the annual Youth Sunday Worship Service. Compensation of $10,000 annually, approximately 10 hours per week, September through June. Send resume with references and cover letter sharing a brief faith statement and highlighting relevant youth ministry experience to Tricia at churchschool@oldsouth.org.
Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA is a progressive faith community with the United Church of Christ. We are searching for an energetic and creative Sunday School Coordinator for our growing Church School. This is a great opportunity to explore and share your faith while having fun with children. Our dedicated team of volunteers is waiting for your leadership as you guide school aged youth to help them discover the many ways to discover the still speaking God in scripture and in their everyday lives. This 10 month position includes summers off. Specific days and hours (10-15 per week) are flexible but must include Sunday mornings. MCC has an open and affirming ministry to all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability or financial situation. All areas of the building are universally accessible.
Adult Ivory Robes
16 Women's sizes
12 Men's sizes
Stoles
34 Green/White reversible
32 Purple/Red reversible
29 Maroon
Junior Choir Robes - Pastel Blue
with royal blue pennants
23 various sizes child to junior to teen
2 adult size with cuffs
An obituary follows the letter below.
Dear Friends in Christ,
I write with the sad news of the death of Rev. Scott Raeburn early Sunday morning.
Scott served Forest Street Union Church in Methuen and on the Andover Committee on Ministry and Periodic Support Consultation Committee. Additionally, he convened the Andover Clergy fellowship on a monthly basis. As you can tell, Scott was a leader and a gift to the Andover Association. He will be greatly missed.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, May 18 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at West Parish Church in Andover. The service will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception.
For information about the church you can go to www.westparishchurch.org
In the meanwhile, let us give thanks for Scott’s service through the church and for the blessing of his life to us all. Our prayers of resurrection power go with him and to his son Craig.
Peace,
Rev. Wendy Vander Hart
Associate Conference Minister
MA Conference, United Church of Christ
230 Second Ave. #110
Waltham, MA 02451
781-890-1444
vanderhartw@macucc.org
Rev. Craig “Scott” N. Raeburn, 74, of North Andover, passed away on Saturday May 12th.
Scott was born, raised and educated in Waterbury, CT. He received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Connecticut and went on to graduate from Hartford Seminary.
Early in his career he served in Glastonbury, CT at Buckingham Congregational Church for over 10 years. He went on to serve the community of Norwich, CT at Taftville Congregational Church and then in New London, CT at the Second Congregational Church prior to his retirement.
Most recently, Rev. Raeburn returned to serve as interim pastor at Forest Street Church in Methuen, prior to his final retirement in August of 2011. He was recently attending West Parish Church in Andover, MA.
Over the course of his career he was a devoted volunteer with various hospice organizations.
Scott is predeceased by his wife, Joy E. (Reese) Raeburn and a daughter, Traci McNulty. He leaves his sons, Craig N. Raeburn Jr. and his wife Maura of Farmington, CT and Geoff Baron of Niantic, CT and a son-in-law, Joseph McNulty of Andover, 8 grandchildren, Rose, Dylan and Cody Raeburn, Nicholas, A Lillian McNulty and Gill and Katie Baron. He is also predeceased by a sister, Patricia Peterson.
Though Gary did not serve a Massachusetts Conference Church, as the pastor of Good Shepherd UCC in Metrarie, LA he was an active partner with numerous teams from Massachusetts Conference churches in their efforts to contribute to the rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Gary was a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary and served as a UCC Pastor for 35 years in Southern Illinois, Nebraska and Louisiana.
A spritual director known for his sense of humor, Gary was instrumental in encouraging his parish to create safe, hospitable space for groups traveling to help in Recovery efforts. Gary helped us to see the spiritual and emotional impact of the trauma, touring the city with mission groups and providing the background to the causes of the flooding, the needs of the city and some of the ways we could be of support. After retirement he continued his recovery ministry as an outreach coordinator for a locally based trucking company and continued to organize volunteers to work in the schools and serve the needs of the community.
Through his connection with WAMS,UCC and WAYS recovery trips he inspired many Massachusetts Conference churches to engage in further mission and helped weave threads between our congregations that drew us into relationship with each other - sharing in worship, prayer, celebration and of course, fundraising and book collections for the work of the Good Shepherd UCC.
After a long battle with Leukemia, Gary died at home in the arms of his beloved wife and daughters.
Holly G. Reed, 56, of West Lebanon, NH, previously of Littleton Mass., passed away on April 25, 2012 at her home.
Born in Seattle, Wash., she was the daughter of the late William and Jean Reed Scheibe. Holly was Pastor at the Richmond Congregational Church in Richmond. Holly earned a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Religion at the University of Washington, a Master's of Divinity from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and a PhD in Practical Theology at Boston University.
She loved academia, reading books and traveling, especially her travels to Iceland. She also enjoyed all the time she was able to spend with her three dogs. She is survived by two daughters; Alison J. Koegler of Somerville, Mass., and Cynthia R. Koegler of Littleton, Mass., Son, Eric D. Koegler of Littleton Mass., and a sister; Robin K. Reed of Las Vegas, Nev.
A memorial service was held at the Richmond Congregational Church, 1515 State Road, Richmond MA 01254 on Sunday April 29, 2012 at 1 p.m. In lieu of Flowers the family would like donations to be made to the Richmond Congregational Church Attn: Scott Phelps.
The Rev. Greg Tweed died on March 20, 2012. He served as pastor of Edwards Church in Northampton from 1975-1979. The following obituary appeared in the Miami Herald on March 29, 2012.
BY ELINOR J. BRECHER
ebrecher@miamiherald.com
The Rev. John Gregory Tweed, whose calling led him from the pulpits of historic Northeastern churches to the bedsides of desperate South Florida AIDS patients when HIV was still a death sentence, died of heart disease March 20 at his home in New Mexico. He was 72.
Once a disciple of the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, whose The Power of Positive Thinking became a 1950s self-help blockbuster, Tweed later accused Peale of occult-inspired plagiarism in a controversial article for the Lutheran Quarterly.
A Lutheran minister’s son, “Greg’’ Tweed descended from a founding family of New York City. Born in Yankton, S.D., on Jan. 16, 1940, he grew up in Denver, rural Minnesota and Chicago. He earned an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, and a doctorate of divinity from Yale University.
In rich, erudite tones, with the precise diction of a Broadway actor, Greg Tweed preached at Congregational Churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York before joining Peale as co-pastor at New York’s venerable Marble Collegiate Church.
After a falling out with Collegiate over his unconventional ministries — to sufferers of what was initially called the “gay plague,’’ street people and addicts — and a devastating emotional collapse, Tweed came to South Florida in 1988.
He settled in east Fort Lauderdale’s Sailboat Bend when drug dealers outnumbered the preservationists who’d ultimately reclaim the neighborhood’s charming frame cottages.
After his life partner succumbed to complications of HIV at age 32, Tweed became an AIDS chaplain for Outreach, a public/private program run by Hospice Inc.
The program offered free services, including Tweed’s deeply personal ministry, to the sick men and women he found all over Broward County, from Fort Lauderdale’s fashionable gay enclaves to dismal Pompano Beach housing projects.
“The most important thing is to show you’re not afraid of them,” Tweed told The Miami Herald in 1990. “You must be afraid of nothing about them.”
He described his mission as “not about death. It’s about trying to make each day as good as it can be for as long as there is life. Our whole deal is quality of life, and that means comfort, companionship and just plain love . . . Patients want us to help them live. They don’t want to talk about ‘ain’t it awful.’ "
But it was awful for Tweed, who cradled scores of patients in his arms as they passed away.
“If I didn’t pray a lot, I’d go crazy,” he said. “You have to live by prayer when you’re in the trenches.”
In 1995, Tweed and fellow minister George D. Exoo, now of West Virginia, published “Peale’s Secret Source” in the juried academic journal Lutheran Quarterly. They charged that Peale plagiarized the work of Florence Scovel Shinn, a 20th Century occult practitioner and teacher.
Tweed began investigating the matter in 1990, after reading Shinn’s book, The Game of Life and How to Play It, and noting several familiar phrases.
“I came across the phrase ‘When one door shuts, another door opens,’ one of the great Peale battle cries,” Tweed told The Herald.
He and Exoo contended that by glomming onto Shinn, Peale, who died in 1993, had insinuated “ungodly’’ New Age spiritualism into fundamentalist Christianity.
John Allen, Peale’s son-in-law, called the similarities “coincidence. They happened to be dealing with the same subject: the art of living.’’
Witty and sophisticated, Tweed had a prodigious intellect, a sprawling vocabulary and a naughty streak. He was a gifted, theatrical raconteur with ice-blue eyes that pierced when he was serious, twinkled when he wasn’t — which was often.
He spoke with passion about his history of human rights crusading, and with knowing amusement about New York’s art and music counterculture in the 1960s. He was briefly married in the 1970s.
An accomplished primitive-style painter, Tweed left South Florida in 2002 for Santa Fe, N.M., where he became an artist-in-residence at El Zaguan, an artist colony run by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.
Chatty and charming, he became the colony’s unofficial docent, said Foundation Executive Director Elaine Bergman.
A posting on its Facebook page says that at El Zaguan, “his life was lifted by the presence, not just of this great historic place, but of the young artists who lived there with him. They enriched his life, just as knowing him touched their lives. Descanse en paz Reverend Tweed.’’
In addition to brother Stephen, of Fargo, N.D., Greg Tweed is survived by his dog, Rochester, a terrier mix that will live with friends in Santa Fe.
The Rev. Harold F. Cooper, known to all as Hal, died on the morning of March 6, 2012. Hal was Minister Emeritus at West Yarmouth Congregational Church, having been the pastor there for 19 years. He retired in 2001 but returned in 2009 to serve as Transitional Pastor. Hal fought a valient, two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He died in the same manner that he lived his life, with great dignity and strength. From capecodonline.com:
YARMOUTHPORT — Rev. Dr. Harold Frederic Cooper, of Yarmouthport, died peacefully on March 6 at his home surrounded by his loving family and his pastor. This followed a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer through which he demonstrated his deep faith, courage and continuing hope.
He was the loving and devoted husband of Phyllis G. (Viall) Cooper for 36 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Amy Sophia (Peterson) and Harold Cooper and his sister Corrine Dodge.
Born in Worcester on Feb. 11, 1938, his home was for many years in East Princeton, MA. Rev. Cooper graduated from Holden High School in 1954 and went on to U. Mass Amherst, graduating in 1957 with a degree in psychology. Continuing at U. Mass he earned his masters and doctorate in sociology. Rev. Cooper went on to receive his theological degree from Andover-Newton Theological School.
He spent a year at Mount Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, Mass., as chaplain, teacher of religious studies, coach and counselor. He returned to U. Mass as campus chaplain and during this time he was active in promoting peace during the Vietnam War and a civil rights activist, speaking out for human rights that included trips south and the Selma March.
Rev. Cooper was instrumental in developing the first black women's studies program at Mount Holyoke College and taught sociology at St. Francis College in Biddeford, ME. He continued his teaching of sociology at Cape Cod Community College and went on to become co-chairman of the Sociology Department while he taught at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.
Rev. Cooper left teaching to pursue a new calling and became an active associate pastor of the First Congregational Church in Fall River. Eventually retiring to Cape Cod, he became the beloved pastor of the West Yarmouth Congregational Church for nineteen years before retiring in 2000 and being named Minister Emeritus upon his retirement.
During his Cape Cod ministry Rev. Cooper was continually active in the Barnstable Association Committee on Church Ministry, Mayflower Place advisory board, Cape Cod Times Needy Fund board and served as Moderator of the Massachusetts Conference of United Church of Christ as well as serving in other capacities for the Conference. While living on Cape Cod he was very active in the community and was proud of the fact he was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Yarmouth where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of helping to bring "A better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."
After retirement, most important to Rev. Cooper was spending more time with family and friends. He loved the 4 - 5 months at his cottage in PEI, mowing, trimming and devouring lobster, mussels and oysters, watching the sunset from the deck, collecting sea glass with Phyllis on their many beach walks and kayaking on New London Bay. In between, being an avid reader, you would always find him with a book in his hand. At home, being able to donate blood to the Red Cross for over nineteen years was a source of pride. He loved watching the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, college basketball and football, making his "picks" every week.
Phyllis' Uncle Israel called and respected Hal as the family "Rabbi," a source of pride for him.
In addition to his wife Phyllis, survivors include two children, Diana Rowe and her husband George of Yarmouthport, David Cooper and his wife Debbie of West Yarmouth, grandchildren Amy and Travis Rowe, Brandy Cooper Bragaw and her husband Brad and Adam Cooper both of Virginia, two great-grandchildren, Cooper and Carson Bragaw of Virginia, sisters Carolyn Slongwhite and her husband Donald of Charlton, Mass., and Elaine Ives of Suffield, Conn., a brother-in-law James R. Viall and his wife Lynn of Southern California, and many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
NORTHAMPTON - The Rev. Margaret L. Frerichs died March 4, 2012, at the Overlook at Northampton at age 89 after a long illness.
Margaret (Margie) was born Dec. 27, 1922, in McMinnville, Ore., to the Rev. Dr. William Frerichs and Carrie (Thomson) Frerichs. She graduated cum laude from Linfield College in Oregon, attended the University of Washington and the Berkley Baptist Divinity School prior to receiving a master's degree in divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Margie was ordained to the ministry in 1948. She also earned a master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts.
Margie was minister of education at Genessee Baptist Church in Rochester, N.Y., from 1945 to 1948. From 1948 to 1952 she was minister of education at the First Baptist Church in Oak Park, Ill. She was an administrative assistant in field work and research at Colgate Rochester Divinity School and then became associate minister of the United Congregational Church in Rochester.
Margie always longed for a pastorate of her own, but that was hard to come by because she was a pioneer in the field of women in the ministry. In 1958 she became pastor of the Lyme Congregational Church in New Hampshire, where she served as a beloved pastor until 1967, at which time she decided to change fields and study to work with dyslexic children.
Margie found she missed the ministry and, prompted by her love of people, returned to pastoral ministry, serving as an interim pastor (a new concept at that time), in 12 different churches. Margie also served as a supply minister in 35 churches in western Massachusetts. Margie was a member of the First Congregational Church of Hadley (UCC) and served on many committees there.
While Margie was a pastor in Lyme she met and befriended Katharine (Kay) Reichert, who became her companion of 50 plus years. Together they traveled in the United States, Canada, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. They particularly loved Austria and Switzerland and spent long periods of time hiking in the Alps in those countries. Margie and Kay also enjoyed hiking near home as members of the Senior Hiking Group.
Margie loved playing the piano and pipe organ (she paid her way through Colgate Rochester Divinity School playing the organ for church services). Margie also enjoyed trout fishing, cooking, crosswords and reading. Sadly, as she lost her vision, she was unable to enjoy her hobbies.
Margie leaves her beloved Kay, with whom she lived for those 50-plus years. She also leaves Ken and Judy Parker and their families, who were devoted friends and "family." She leaves Kay's brother, Thomas, and his wife, Melva, whom she considered family. Also surviving are nieces and nephews.
Two brothers and a sister predeceased her.
As was so typical of Margie's giving nature, she donated her body to the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.
A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Hadley at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Margie's memory may be made to the First Congregational Church of Hadley, 102 Middle St., Hadley, MA 01035 and/or, as Margie would say, "Smile at someone, especially a stranger, and you are almost guaranteed a smile in return."
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