Calendar
Next Issue: January 7, 2014
Deadline: 3pm January 2
Wednesday, December 18
12:00pm Unit. Alliance. UH.
7:30pm Women's Gr. Lib.
7:30pm Youth Cte. CR.
Thursday, December 19
6:45pm Nova Choir. Sanct.
7:30pm Grandparenting. cl5.
7:30pm Sci & Spirituality. CR.
7:30pm SGM. Library.
Sunday, December 22
9:25am Sr. Choir. Parish Hall.
4:30pm COA. Parlor.
6/7pm YAC/YG. Parlor/UH.
Monday, December 23
9:30am Jobseekers. Library.
6:30pm Pageant rehs. Sanct.
7:00pm SAC. cl5.
7:30pm Min Prog Subcte. CR.
8:00pm Meditation. Library.
Tuesday, December 24
11:00am Alumni Ch. Sanct.
4 Services: 2, 4, 6 & 11pm
Wednesday, December 25
10:30am Worship & Brunch.
December 25 - January 1
Office Closed.
Looking Ahead
December 29: Lay-Led Service
January 3: Coffeehouse
Link to church calendar |
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This Sunday
Music: December 22, 2013
9:00 & 11am Services:
Prelude: Solstice Song
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
Offertory Solo: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion (Messiah) -G. F. Handel (1685-1759) Irina Kareva, alto
Musical Interlude: Chant for the Seasons -Czech Folksong
Postlude: In Dulci Jubilo
-J. S. Bach
The Christmas greens and poinsettias that decorate our Church are given by the Farnham Memorial Fund.
Ushers: Members of the New Connections Ministry
Welcome & Announcements:
Anne Donohue & Martha Spaulding
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Lay Pastoral Care Team
As members of the lay pastoral care team we are called to be present with you, members and friends, when you wish a compassionate listening ear during times of transition and stress whatever form it might take. We support those who are adjusting to change, loss, illness or death. We share in moments of celebration and happiness. We reach out to those who are unable to get out and who would like a visit. We share in situations that require a special touch of human kindness and an open ear. Please contact us if we might be of help or comfort. We count on the congregation to keep us in touch with pastoral needs of our community. - Janet Amphlett, Devon Beckett, Nancy Davis, Steve Saar, and Martha Spaulding |
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Social Action Corner
ACTION IS OUR PRAYER |
Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic!
We are often asked about monetary donations to the Grow Clinic. What a welcomed holiday gift! The Grow Clinic's critical services of home visits, nutritional supplements and multilingual outreach cannot be billed to insurance. The Clinic relies completely on philanthropic care for these services. Grow Clinic for Children Boston Medical Center, 771 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118
FOOD: ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT MEDICINES |
Look What the New Year Will Bring!
Race in the Eye of the Beholder
Jan 12, 12:30-2pm, Library
Jeff Speller with Edwin Taylor
A discussion about the nature of racial bias and prejudice and its impact on our lives. Members of First Church will discuss their experiences of being the target of racial bias and prejudice which will be followed by a general discussion about race, racism and what to do about it. Refreshments provided. |
Paint the Change You Want to See: Tapping your Creativity to Ease Transitions
Jan 12, 2-4pm, Parlor
Sheri Kennedy Creativity and Innovation have recently become buzz words. However, creativity is not just for artists and experts. In this workshop, a brief history and discussion of creativity will lead to experiential activities designed to make creative expression fun and practical for solving a tough challenge or easing a difficult transition. |
And Our Ongoing Program:
Caring for Older Adults
Thursday, Jan 2, 7:30pm, CR
Miriam Baker and Deborah Blumberg
This is a drop-in group for anyone needing advice, support or information about the complexities of meeting the needs of the elderly while still maintaining balance in your own life. |
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The ComCom Corner
The First Church Communications Committee is posting a short list each week on how to find out more on what is going on. Look for the "ComCom Corner" article. Send any questions or ideas to Ed Yee, eyee@uubelmont.org.
"Did you know?" ...how to find who chairs a committee? Go on website upper gray rail to "Contact Us," then click "Program Council" committees. |
Belmont Open Sings
Join Mary Beekman, Director, as she leads the Belmont Open Sings in an open sight sing of Handel's "Messiah" this Sunday, December 22 at 7:30pm at All Saints' Church, 17 Clark St. You get to sing Handel's beloved oratorio accompanied by a professional caliber orchestra while hearing some of Boston's up and coming singers sing Handel's familiar and dramatic arias to this holiday classic! Tickets are $10 (all ages); scores are provided. |
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The Unitarian Newsletter
Submission Guidelines
Please submit articles for the newsletter to Susan Street in the following format:
- Times New Roman font, 10 point.
- jpeg for photos
- pdf for attached documents
- sample@uubelmont.org for e-mails.
- avoid phone numbers unless their owners don't mind them being published on the FCB website.
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First Church Office
:: 617-484-1054 |
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5 Things To Know This Week
- First Church Christmas Services
- Congratulations to our 8th Graders!
- Note from the President
- Picturing Our Church Community: 2014 Photo Directory
- Winter Brochure is Here!
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Sunday, December 22
Multigenerational Christmas Services
Festival of Lights
Rev. David M. Bryce
Services with Children's & Youth Choirs
9:00 & 11:00 Church Service
Childcare for infants and young children
Today, in many manifestations, we celebrate the victory of goodness over evil, of life over death, of light over darkness. We will light Kwanzaa, Advent, Hanukkah and Solstice candles.
** Tuesday, December 24 **
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 11pm
** Wednesday, December 25 **
10:30am Worship Service & Brunch
Rev. David M. Bryce
** Sunday, December 29 **
10:30am Lay-Led Service, Library
Sam and Jackie James, Shed the Dread: Appreciating Winter's Gifts
No childcare or Sunday School classes
** Sunday, January 5 **
9:00 & 11:00am Worship Services
Rev. David M. Bryce
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons
(For weather-related Service and Children RE class cancellations, please check 617.484.1054 x250.) |
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Happy holidays to all.
May you have a happy solstice, a merry Christmas, a joy filled New Year and the warmth of home and family.
May you have friendly, jostling crowds; packed parties; intimate conversations with loved ones; and quiet time alone.
May you have active fun and excitement, and also peace of heart and spirit.
May you receive that special gift you have so looked forward to, and also share the gift of love with friends and family.
And may this season be the perfect blend of comforting darkness, bright lights and renewal of the spirit. |
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Music Notes from Alfa Radford
IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL SEASON OF THE YEAR - FULL OF MUSIC AND OTHER DELIGHTS! Although it is a whirlwind of rehearsals and events, I love every minute of it... Here are some dates for your mighty Calendars:
CALENDAR NOTES for ALL CHOIRS:
Mon, Dec 16: All regular Choir Rehearsals!
Sun, Dec 22: 9:00 & 11:00am
Solos & Instrumental Music (No Choirs)
Monday Night Dec 23: Pageant Rehearsals:6:30 & 7:15.
Tuesday, Dec 24 at 11am: Alumni Choir Rehearsal
Christmas Eve:
11:00am Alumni Choir Rehearsal
2:00pm Jr Choir & Bells Arrive 1:30
4:00pm Chancel Choir Arrive 3:15
6:00pm Youth Choir Arrive 5:15
11:00pm Alumni Choir Arrive 10:15 for Warmups
LOOKING AHEAD:
Sr. Choir resumes Sunday, January 5
Nova Choir resumes Thurs, January 2
Youth/Children's Choirs resume Monday, Jan 20 (MLK)
Wishing everyone a joyful, blessed Christmas! -Alfa |
| Children's Religious Education Information
Congratulations to Our 8th Graders!
The 8th grade class has just finished its final Sunday morning session of religious education. Beginning in January, they will switch to Sunday afternoons for Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Education classes.
Each 8th grade student received an FCB keychain to mark this milestone in their spiritual development. Along with the blessing of grades 1 through 7, we wished them a caring heart, an informed mind and a deep and satisfying spiritual life.
Some of the topics we explored during their 10 years in Children's RE included:
· Building community
· Having fun
· Understanding the 7 UU Principles
· Discovering UU values
· Developing a sense of UU identity
· Exploring the meaning of stories
· Making crafts
· Defining justice and injustice
· Affirming the worth of self and others
· Social action projects
· Ideas of God
· Explanations for why bad things happen
· Salvation and reincarnation
· World religions
· Our Judeo-Christian heritage
· Earth-centered traditions
· Discussing the ethics and values raised in powerful movie
scenes
· Neighboring Faiths visits to other communities of worship
We hope these experiences and opportunities helped prepare our 8th graders for further learning and exploration of what is true and right in life. -Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Children's Religious Education |
Note from the President
On behalf of the Parish Board, I would like to send holiday wishes to all of you: our minister, staff and members of our congregation. In this season we can be especially grateful for being part of this community and for being fortunate enough to live with the comforts we do have when so many have so little. Even appreciating that reality, we extend our sincere sympathy to all those who are suffering because of health, loss or other issues which can test strength and hope, understanding that for those individuals, coping with challenges during the holidays can be complex and difficult.
One of the highlights of the fall was the visit of eight of our Transylvanian church members in September. The Partner Church Committee did an outstanding job of planning a range of activities and collaborating with many other committees to produce a wonderfully rich week for everyone who participated. The culmination on the final Sunday was the presentation to our church of the hand-carved Kopjafa, which has recently been installed beautifully in a small garden outside the church facing the Town Green. It can be easily viewed from the Upper and Lower Gathering Halls.
On a less festive note, the Parish Board has been working hard on your behalf again this year. Together with the Program Council we have been tackling the recurring issue of obtaining sufficient numbers of volunteers to assist in all the varied programs which have expanded in recent years. These programs are an important part of our church, but in too many cases the committees are relying on long-time volunteers and are struggling to find new members. In particular, our RE program, developed as a cooperative, is feeling the crunch of too few teachers. This is a serious issue for our church which we will address in 2014.
Finally, as we approach next year's budget, we are working with staff, committees, and the Finance Committee to have a greater understanding of our long-term goals and needs in staffing, programs, and facilities. With this broader perspective, we can make better short-term decisions which will strengthen our church for the years ahead.
With best wishes for a peaceful 2014, Jeanne Widmer, President |
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Among Us
Our love and sympathy to Stephen, Elizabeth, Elianna, Christian and Olivia Knight on the death of Stephen's mother on December 9.
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Sharing and Reflection
Sunday, December 29, 10:30am, Library
Shed the Dread: Appreciating Winter's Gifts
Sam and Jackie James
Perhaps you are one of those who delights in the quiet beauty of winter. Or you may be more like those of us who look upon the winter months as something to endure on the way to spring. We will draw from both of these perspectives to identify and claim winter's gifts as we look toward the New Year. Please join us for a morning of informal sharing and reflection, food and coffee in the Church Library. |
Picturing Our Church Community: 2014 Photo Directory
Life Touch Photography will take portraits for our 2014 directory during Thursday to Saturday periods of January 2, 3, 4 & 16, 17, 18 in the Church Library. This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire professional photos of either a formal or more spontaneous nature, and every person/family who attends a photo session receives a free directory and 8 x 10 portrait. So, bring your musical instruments, hobbies, or pets for unique individual or family images. Click http://www.securedata-trans14.com/ap/firstchurch1/index.php?page=10 to self-schedule (or later change) your portrait session. In the coming weeks, you can also schedule at the photo table during coffee hour.
Our church directory is an essential tool for communications and community building, so we ask everyone to make a photo appointment right away. Special offers: members age 60+ receive 20% discounts; those who furnish a phone number when scheduling on the website (used for reminder calls) receive $10 off; and those who bring a food item(s) for The Grow Clinic to their session receive another $5 off their purchase. Remember that you will receive a free directory and 8 x 10 if you sit for a photo, and you will reduce our workload if you schedule now. It's so easy!
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Upcoming Events:
ALLIANCE LUNCH & PROGRAM at FIRST CHURCH
Wed, December 18, 12:00 noon
All Women and Men Welcome!
Our December lunch and program at The First Church in Belmont begins at 12pm. Our program at 1pm will be piano music performed by Mike Serio playing some of his favorites by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Schumann, Debussy, Albeniz, and Granados. Please contact Susan Street at 617.484.1054 x201 and let her know that you will attend and the number of guests you will bring. Bring your own sandwich; we will provide soup, beverage, and dessert. The suggested lunch donation is $0.75 per person. |
First Church Christmas Services December 2013
Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Rev. David Bryce, Rev. Alfa Radford
2:00pm Junior Choir; Lessons and Carols
4:00pm Chancel Choir; Lessons and Carols
6:00pm Youth Choir; Lessons and Carols
11:00pm Alumni Choir; Lessons and Carols
Please note that the doors will not open for these Services until 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 10:30. No seats are to be "saved," other than those labeled for Service readers.
Christmas Offering - We invite you to consider two special gifts for the Christmas offering: A Christmas gift to the Charitable Projects of The First Church ("Xmas Charities") or to The First Church ("gift"). The charitable projects include the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee special crisis relief fund for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, Grow Clinic which serves infants and toddlers diagnosed with Failure to Thrive, and The St. Bernard Project which rebuilds Homes for Katrina Survivors - senior citizens, people with disabilities, and families with children who cannot afford to have their homes rebuilt by contractors. Please note on the memo line of your check "Xmas Charities" or "gift."
Wednesday, December 25
10:30am Worship Service & Brunch
Rev. David Bryce
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