BCD In-Brief News and Announcements

January, 2011  *  Volume 4, No. 6

In This Issue
Asking the Big Question
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Sermon and Service Awards Deadlines
Request for Information
Oregon UU Church Fire
District Calendar
Quick Links

Dear Congregation Leaders:

 

On behalf of the BCD Board of Directors and staff I wish you all a Happy New Year.  May this year be filled with success and fun. 

 

The start of the new year brings new things to the district. As you can see we are starting the new year with a new look to the BCD-in Brief.  We will also be launching a new leadership newsletter, which we anticipate will come out each quarter with articles about congregation growth, faith development, religious education, and church operations.  Look for the first issue in a few weeks. With our new staffing arrangement we anticipate that we will be able to provide expanded congregational support and training opportunities. Finally, watch for information that will be coming out soon about new workshops, both live and recorded, which are being developed to provide support and assistance to congregation leaderships. 

 

If I or the staff can be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact us.  

 

Rev Bill Zelazny

District Executive

Asking the Big Question -- the BCD Spring Conference

 

The BCD 2011 Spring Conference and Annual Meeting will be held on April 30 at the Unitarian Church of Sharon.  The theme is "The Big Question for Moving Forward."  Participants will think about what we need to do as individual UUs, as congregations and as an Association in order to adapt and reenergize our faith as we move into this new decade.  This is bringing the conversations we have had at the last two conferences about changes in demographic and religious practices in our country down to our faith and us personally.

 

And the planning team is inviting you to help develop the discussions for this conference.  You are invited to submit the one BIG QUESTION (Powerful Question or the Jugular Question) that you think we Unitarian Universalists must ask ourselves as we go forward.  Albert Einstein said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes." We need to ask ourselves now what is the proper question to be a vital faith.

 

The team will select the one question that we feel is most significant and will send that out for anyone who wishes to state their opinion to submit their answer.  The answers we receive will be assembled into a booklet and given to conference participants and will be basis for one of the workshops.

 

Submit your One Big Question by February 10 by going to 

and completing the form, or by emailing your question along with your name, congregation and a short statement explaining why you think this is an important question  to bcdoffice@verizon.net with "Big Question" in the subject line. 

 

* * * * * *

For more information about asking the Big Question/Powerful Question check out: The Art of Powerful Questions, Catalyzing Insight, Innovation and Action by Erik Vogt, Juanita Brown and David Isaac at http://www.theworldcafe.com/articles/aopq.pdf or Google "Powerful Questions" to get a host of articles

 

More conference information will be forth coming in this newsletter and via brochures in the weeks ahead. 

 

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

·         Developing Congregations of Generosity.  Aworkshop to help congregation leaders develop strategies for stewardship and generosity. Workshop presenters: Laurel Amibile and Rev Bob Thayer are the workshop presenters.

Date: January 29, 2011           9:30 a.m. -- 3:30 p.m. at (Check-in and at 9:00 a.m.)

Location:  Second Parish in Hingham, Hingham, MA

Fee:  $10 per person including lunch and materials payable at the door. 

Registration:  on line at http://bcduua2011generosity.eventbrite.com/ using credit card, or by mail with check to the BCD Office, 325 West Elm St, Brockton, MA 02301 by Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Include name, address, phone number and email address.  

 

·         Creating the Beloved Community for all Children.  A workshop for religious educators, ministers, youth advisors, teachers, religious education committees, and congregation leaders to develop an understanding on how to create a church that is welcoming to all children, regardless of their ways of learning, being, communicating and moving.

Date:  February 12                  9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location:  First Unitarian Society of Middleboro, Middleboro, MA

Fee:  No fee, but advanced registration required. 

Registration: on line at http://bcduua2011sallypatton.eventbrite.com/, orby calling the BCD Office at 508-559-6650 by Wednesday, February 9, 2011 and giving name phone numbers and email address.

 

·         Music Conference.  A conference for music directors, choir members, worship and music committee members, ministers, religious education directors, and all individuals interested in music in their church with workshops covering a wide range of topics and the ever-popular "choral repertoire" where participants will have the opportunity, and fun, of singing through several anthems that are currently available from publishing houses. 

Date:  March 5                         8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:  Murray UU Church, Attleboro, MA

      Fee:  $30 pre-conference/$35 at door

Registration:  on line at http://bcduuamusicconference2011.eventbrite.com/ 

Conference brochures have been sent to congregation offices.  When registering please include email address for contact in the event of snow that may require cancellation.

 

Sermon and Service Awards Deadlines Approaching

 

·         Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action

Instituted in 1999 by James Bennett the award honors the congregation that has done exemplary work in social justice,

Nominations deadline: March 1st, 2011. 

More information: 

http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/bennettaward/index.shtml

 

·         Greeley Award Sermon Deadline: February 1, 2011

Offered by the UU-United Nations Office, the award is for sermons highlighting the work of the United Nations.  The 2011 topic should address "Ethical Aspects of Climate Change." Submit to:

greeleysermon@uu-uno.org

Submission deadline: February 1, 2011.

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships.shtml   

 

 

·         Holmes-Weatherly Award

The Holmes-Weatherly Award is given to an individual or organization, not necessarily a Unitarian Universalist, whose life-long commitment to faith-based social justice is reflected in societal transformation.

Nominations deadline: March 1

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/holmes-weatherlyaward/index.shtml 

 

·         O. Eugene Pickett Award

The O. Eugene Pickett Award is given annually to the congregation that has made an outstanding contribution to the growth of Unitarian Universalism.

Nomination Deadline: March 1

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/o.eugene/index.shtml

 

·         Skinner Sermon Award

Presented annually to the preacher of the sermon best expressing Unitarian Universalism's social principles.

Nomination Deadline: March 1

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/skinnersermon/index.shtml

 

·         Stewardship Sermon Award

The Stewardship Sermon Award is given annually for the sermon judged most effective in exploring and promoting financial support of our Unitarian Universalist faith.

Submission Deadline:  February 15

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/stewardshipsermon/index.shtml 

 

·         Social Witness Sermon Contest

This award recognized a sermon on any dimension of these current Congregational Study/Action Issues, adopted by the delegates of General Assemblies 2008 and 2010 respectively -- Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice OR Immigration as A Moral Issue

Submission Deadline:  February 15 March 1

More information http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/socialwitness/index.shtml 

 

·         Wilton Peace Prize

The Wilton Peace Prize is given to individuals or groups in recognition of their contribution to "peace and human progress." Questions may be directed to the UUA Washington Office Manager at (202) 393-2255, ext. 10.

Nominations  deadline:  March 1

More information: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/wiltonpeace/index.shtml 

 

·         Youth Advisor of the Year Award

This award is giving to an advisor who displays exemplary work with Unitarian Universalist youth.

Nominations deadline: March 15

More information: 

http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/youthadvisor/index.shtml

 

 

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

UU Church Destroyed by Fire

 

The UU Fellowship of Klamath County in Klamath Falls, OR, suffered the loss of their building by fire the morning of January 4. The Pacific Northwest District office has established an emergency fund for UUFKC. Congregations wishing to send a donation should send a check, made out to PNWD-UUA with a note in the memo line "Klamath to UUA District Office, 12700 SE 32nd St, Suite E-101, Bellevue, WA 98005-4317. Cards of sympathy and encouragement with no checks enclosed would also be very helpful, and these may be sent directly to the UU Fellowship of Klamath County, P.O. Box 391, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

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:

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District Calendar

For an interactive long range calendar visit the calendar page our website.

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