Dear Friends,

May 10, 2010 will mark the 208th anniversary of the First Universalist Society of Hartland.  On that date in 1802 a few brave souls gathered in the town meetinghouse on Center of Town Road and put their signatures to the charter which created our congregation.

Our existence as a religious community now is the result of a direct and unbroken line descending from those early settlers, through thousands of faithful and hard-working members and friends over the years.  That path from 1802 to 2010, however, hasn’t always been smooth.  In fact, on several occasions it would have been very easy for our congregation to have disappeared altogether.

In the mid-1800’s for instance, the population of Hartland and our surrounding area decreased significantly as those who farmed in Northern New England headed west in search, literally, of greener pastures.  Not long after our present meetinghouse was built in 1853 our congregation found itself so diminished that there was no money to employ a minister, and for many years there was no regular worship in our church.  A few members held an annual meeting each year to make sure the charter of the society remained current, but there was no money, no energy, and only the merest hint that our congregation even existed.

In the 1870’s the population recovered a bit, and with the assistance of a retired Universalist minister who settled in town, things began to pick up.  By the turn of the century there was a thriving congregation again in Hartland Four Corners.  Many of the names on our memorial windows are those who led in the revival of our church.

One of the beneficiaries of the return of Universalism to Hartland was a young man named Stanley Gates Spear.  A descendant of some of the founders of Hartland and our Society, Stanley Gates Spear felt a call to the Universalist ministry early on in his life.  Working hard, he left Hartland for Tufts University, earned his BA and a ministry degree, and then returned to be ordained here in our sanctuary on August 15, 1900.

For more than 45 years, Stanley Gates Spear served Universalist churches in Massachusetts and Maine.  He never directly served our congregation as its minister, but when the Great Depression came, and the resources and numbers of our society diminished again to dangerous levels, Rev. Spear made sure that our congregation could continue faithfully, even through the hard times.

In the mid-1930’s, at the suggestion of Rev. Spear, our congregation joined forces with the Hartland Congregational Church.  From that time until the late 1950’s, the two churches shared a minister, worshipped together, and combined resources so that the two congregations could both survive.

Through all those years, when the pulpit was largely filled by Congregationalist ministers, Rev. Spear returned every summer to his family home on Spear Road in Hartland, convened the annual meeting of the Universalist Society, and served as its moderator.  He also preached on occasion, and performed baptisms, weddings, funerals, and whatever else needed doing, ensuring that the Universalists in Hartland were served in important moments by someone who shared their faith.  As far as I can tell, Rev. Spear was never paid for these services, though I’d bet that he accepted a fine meal or two at the homes of families in the church from  time to time.  Still, it appears that the driving force behind all that Rev. Spear accomplished in Hartland was nothing more and nothing less than his own faith and his own love.

If you ask folks who grew up in those days as a Universalist in Hartland, they can tell you how important Stanley Gates Spear was to them.  It seems clear to me that we probably wouldn’t have a congregation here in Hartland if not for Rev. Spear and the love he gave freely to our church community.  

Most ministers leave behind more than their fair share of documents and mementos.  The Harvard library archives are filled with boxes upon boxes of sermons, letters, photos, and other collections of ministers’ lives.  Unfortunately, Stanley Gates Spear seems to be the exception to this rule.  I have looked all over, and I can’t find much documentation of anything that he wrote or said or did.  I have a few more ideas of places to look, but I also hope that you who knew Rev. Spear might be willing to share your stories or to let me copy any letters or documents you might have from his life.

I am privileged, currently, to be working on a book project with the Universalist Heritage Foundation, collecting stories that fit under the banner “Love Saves”.  I believe Stanley Gates Spear’s love was a saving force for our congregation, and for many of the people whose lives he touched.  And there are hints that love was a particular kind of saving force for him in his own life as well.  I’d love to document some of his life for our congregation and others to be able to know, and to include a story or two about Rev. Spear in our upcoming book.

Stanley Gates Spear died in November of 1961 in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he was the minister for many years, and the director of the Beverly YMCA as well.  He was memorialized in his church there, but he was buried here in the Spear family plot in the village cemetery in Hartland.  His grave is marked only by a simple footstone, mostly hidden these days by the grass. 

I’ll let you in on a secret.  On the days when I find myself wondering what the best path is for our congregation, or what it is I should do as your minister, I often find myself standing next to that footstone, reflecting on his love and his long stable ministry in our community—and asking questions of Stanley Gates Spear.  It’s not that I think he’s actually right there, or that he’ll answer me directly, but somehow, I find that closeness inspirational.

I think that every long-standing organization that does good hard work in the world occasionally has to rely on a few dedicated souls to help it survive and thrive.  That’s certainly been the case in the history of our church, and it’s true now—though we are fortunate to be a growing and energetic congregation, with many hands to share the work and many hearts to offer love. 

Happy 208th birthday, First Universalist Society of Hartland Four Corners.  On this day, I give thanks for Stanley Gates Spear and for all our ancestors.  And I give thanks for you, and for the work of your hearts, minds, and hands, keeping saving love alive in Hartland Four Corners, now and for years to come.

With love,

Paul

In Celebration of the 40th Anniversary
of Earth Day

First Universalist Society of Hartland, Vermont

Saturday, April 17, 7:30 PM

Prolific songwriter and former Paul Winter Consort guitarist Jim Scott will bring a musical celebration of Earth Day to a benefit concert on Saturday, April 17, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley (Norwich), and the First Universalist Society of Hartland, which is hosting the benefit.

Tickets available at the door
Adults $15, Children $5
A limited number of priority seats are available.
For reservations or information, call 802-698-0257.

Known to many as the co-composer of the celebrated Missa Gaia/Earth Mass with the Paul Winter consort, Jim Scott has recorded 7 albums of original music. A tireless activist for the earth, he addresses ecology, justice and peace with insight and gentle wit in songs, poetry, and short stories. A virtuoso guitarist, Jim's lyrical songs remain his greatest offering. He transforms any size audience into an intimate gathering with a fluid guitar and disarming presence.

In recent years Jim has turned more attention to writing choral music, compiling the “Earth and Spirit Songbook,” an anthology of 110 songs that feature writers who share his passion for the Earth. In the PBS series Body and Soul, he has made music with a depth of artistry and craft that separates his art from that of many other singer songwriters. His musical “The Tree and Me” has been presented in Jamestown NY and Albion MI. More information on Jim's work can be found at www.Jimscottmusic.com.

As we present this benefit concert for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. Climate change, perhaps the greatest challenge of our time, presents an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now. Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. After Jim Scott’s concert, you can join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day. www.earthday.net.

 September’s theme for Children’s Chapel focused on flowers and gardens.  Lyndsie Rice chose to bring in The Lupine Lady to read for the “liturgy.”  It was the ideal story to demonstrate faith in action.  It is fulfilling to observe the children take ownership of their RE rituals and spiritual exploration.  In our third year using a similar RE format, Todd and I were able to assume a supportive role as the children comfortably led the Children’s Chapel.  It was a great segue for their Faith in Action class.  Nine children demonstrated stewardship of the church.  With the guidance of Pattie Russell and me, they weeded the flower gardens, dug up the dahlias to store over the winter and raked the lawns.  After the service Karen Leister, four children and I headed to Riverview Farms in Plainfield to explore the corn maze and to pick apples.  Karen and I got our exercise trying to find our way out of the maze.  The children eventually came to our rescue and led us out of it!

October 18 was the first child-led Intergenerational service of the year, called Stories of Community, Stories of Service.  As we commenced our annual fundraiser turkey suppers, it was a great opportunity for us to reflect upon and share stories about the service work we do, and the ways it nourishes us.  Some of our youth and children spoke to the congregation about their experiences doing volunteer work.  They pointed out with clarity the essence of joy volunteering can bring when it comes from the heart, and shared through a common connection or a smile of gratitude.  When I open myself to hear the authentic wisdom of youth and children, it fills me with warmth and pride.  

In Joyful Spirit,

Jill Lloyd, DRE