Sermon and Service Awards Deadlines Approaching

Request for Information

·         Smalltalk

Smalltalk is an electronic newsletter for small(er) congregations.  The editor, Jane Dwinell, would like to do a future issue of Small Talk on how congregations are using Facebook and other social media.  Send stories, good and bad, to  sky@vtlink.net.  Be sure to tell me the name and location of your congregation, how many members you have, and if you have any professional staff.

·         Interconnections

InterConnections, the UUA on-line newsletter, would like to develop a general primer about what congregations need to know about liability and insurance when renting their buildings. Editor, Don Skinner, would like to hear from congregations that have developed policies they feel have been effective. Send information to dskinner@uua.org. Sign up for the InterConnections at

National Gathering of UUs for Jewish

Awareness to be held Feb.18-20th 
 
 The first national gathering of Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness in more than 20 years, Let us Be Counted, will be held February 18-20, 2011 at the UU Church of Atlanta.  This promises to be and exciting, engaging, and enjoyable weekend of presentations, workshops, worship, including a Shabbat service and Oneg, small groups ( Havurah), and shared meals. Participants will also be entertained by the Atlanta-based Afro-Klezmer Band in an open concert.

Speakers and workshops will address Jewish identity and concerns within UU congregations, every day Jewish practices for UUs, the history of Judaism and Jewish culture within Unitarian Universalism, how to talk about current Israeli issues within our congregation in an inclusive way, how to sing the Jewish songs from our hymnals,and more.

Registration fees are sliding scale, according to ability to pay, and there will be the option to pay a one day only  registration on Saturday. Early registration discounts have been extended. For more information and registration instructions, go to:

2011

Jan  28            BCD Board Mid-year Retreat                                             11:00a-5:00p

                        First Parish Church, Nashua, NH*

Jan 29             New England Region Board Workshop*                           9:00a-3:00p

                        First Parish Church, Nashua, NH

Jan 29             Stewardship Workshop                                                        9:30a-3:00p

                        Second Parish, Hingham

Jan 29             Creating and Revitalizing Lay Pastoral Care Teams Training*

                        (Mass Bay/Clara Barton Districts workshop)                        9:00a-2:00p

          Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, Springfield, MA

Feb 3               Cranberry Cluster Social Gathering                                   6:30p

                        First Congregational Parish UU Kingston, MA

Feb 7-11         UUMA CENTER Institute for Excellence in Ministry 

                        Pacific Grove, CA  

Feb 12             Creating the Beloved Community for all Children            9:30a-12:30p

                        First Unitarian Society, Middleboro, MA*

Feb 21             BCD Board meeting                                                             6:30p- 9:00p

                        First Parish Bridgewater

Feb 25-26       Renaissance Module: Multicultural Religious Education*

                        (Mass Bay/Clara Barton Districts sponsored event)                                      

                        Walker Center, Auburndale, MA

Mar 5              UUMN Music Conference

                        Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro, MA

Mar 6              Ordination: Katie Lawson

                         Foxborough Universalist Church, Foxboro, MA

Mar 17-20      8th National Large Congregations Conference 

                        Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN

Mar 17            BCD Board - BCD UUMA Chapter Roundtable             9:00a-11:00a

                        Location: TBA

Mar 19            Inland Cluster President's Gathering                                 9:30a-11:30a,

            The Unitarian Church of Sharon

Mar 20            Installation - Rev Jay Libby*                                              4:00*

                        First Parish in Plymouth. Plymouth, MA

Mar 21            BCD Board meeting                                                             6:30p-9:00p

                        Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Apr 3              Installation:  Revs Mary Ganz & JD Benson

                        First Parish Brewster, Brewster, MA

Apr 16            Cape & Islands Water Justice Conference

                        Unitarian Church of Barnstable

Apr 18            BCD Board meeting                                                             6:30p -9:00p

                        Channing Memorial Church, Newport

Apr 30            BCD 2011 Spring Conference & Annual Meeting                 8:15a-.3:30p

                        Unitarian Church of Sharon

May 16           BCD Board meeting                                                             6:30p - 9:00p

                        Second Parish Hingham

May 29           Installation - Rev. Jill Cowie

                        UU Society of Martha's Vineyard,Vineyard Haven, MA

Jun 22-26       General Assembly (GA),

Charlotte, North Carolina

*New since last month's calendar