Now through February 14  

DONATION BOXES in the Lower Hall  

The Youth Group will be volunteering with homeless people in the Boston area over their February vacation. Please help us with a clothing drive in advance! 

USED items (for men or unisex), including:

  * Winter coats

  * Sweat shirts and sweat pants (especially hooded sweatshirts)

  * Sweaters, Long-sleeve shirts, T-shirts

  * Jeans, khakis, other casual pants and belts

  * Waterproof boots, comfortable shoes and sneakers

  * Hats, waterproof gloves, scarves

  * All kinds of carrying cases such as backpacks, tote bags, fanny packs

     and small suitcases with wheels (in good condition)

  * Sleeping bags and blankets (clean & in good condition)

NEW items, including:

  * New white socks

  * New underwear - size L, XL, XXL

*Please NO children's clothes, dress clothes, slippers, bathrobes, pajamas or out-of-season clothing.

For questions, please contact Julie Ennis at jennis@uubelmont.org

Parish Board Update

At its January 13 meeting the Parish Board voted to move forward with a new Membership Database solution for the church. This initiative, which has been nearly three years in the planning, will provide a valuable new tool for our congregation, staff and committee work. The new solution will be implemented over the spring and summer. We wish to thank the committee members who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to fruition: Beth Westlund, Eva Patalas, James Hencke, Lauren Corning, Lauren Crocker (chair), Miriam Baker, Robin Hughes, and Rosalie Kerr.

     The Parish Board is beginning its budget deliberations and will devote most of February meeting to discussing priorities for next year's budget as well as over the next five years. We will present a final budget at the annual meeting in May.

     The Parish Board has invested considerable time in addressing a growing problem of obtaining sufficient volunteer teachers for our RE program. Despite repeated appeals, many classroom slots remain open for the spring. In a separate part of this newsletter, Laurel has appealed for substitute teachers. The board is working closely with the RE Committee to review the program and make whatever changes we need to put it on a more sustainable basis.

     The Parish Board has posted its December approved minutes on the downstairs bulletin board next to the elevator. January minutes will be posted next month.

     Our church would not be able to function without so many hard working staff and volunteers. Thank you. Jeanne Widmer, President

Ushers Needed for Church Services January thru March

Please consider volunteering for one of our teams for this period. Team members commit to ushering about once a month at one service. Ushering offers a wonderful opportunity to interact with members and visitors and to provide a valuable (yet time-limited) service to our community. If you would like to usher occasionally but feel uneasy about signing up for specific dates, you may indicate that preference and we will contact you as needs arise to see you if you are available. Here are the dates for each team that still have openings:             

       Team 1B   9:00 service on Feb 16, March 16

       Team 1D   9:00 service on Feb 2, March 2, March 30

                Team 2A  11:00 service on Feb 9, March  9

                Team 2C  11:00 service on Jan 26, Feb 23, March 23

                Team 2D  11:00 service on Feb 2, March 2, March 30

To volunteer, see the Sign-Up board at community hour or contact David Warner (617-484-2002 or dwarner@uubelmont.org). 

Yes, the time for our Nineteenth Annual Piano-Organ Celebration Concert is upon us! This Saturday, January 25 at 8pm, there will be a delightfully eclectic program, including genres such as classical, jazz, ethnic, popular, swing, and some surprises. (Hold on to your hats!!) Attendees will hear music of Bach, Beethoven, Granados, Joplin, Schubert, Satie, Ravel, Herbie Hancock, David "Fathead" Newman, and Larry Melnick, among others. Click here to see flyer!

     Pianists are Cary Bullock, Richard Curzi, Ian Garvie, Mariko Findell & her mom, Vickie Livermore, Eddie Hutchison, Larry Melnick, and Michael Serio. Joining them are Mary Beekman, organ and Serge Paul-Emile, flutes. Proceeds will be used to carry on the restoration and maintenance of our grand pianos, and extraordinary pipe organ.

Come to the concert - come one and all,

Bring friends to the party, and let's have a ball!

FIRST CHURCH BOOK GROUP - Wed, Jan 22, Library

On Wednesday, January 22, the Book Group will discuss The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Following our tradition of watching a movie each January, we will meet at 6:30 to watch one of the film versions of this American classic. The Book Group is always open to new members and does not require a long term commitment.  Please contact Karl Klasson at kklasson@uubelmont.org to confirm attendance if you are interested in participating. 

GRANDPARENTING NEAR & FAR - Thu, Jan 23, 7:30pm, Lib

Whether you are new to being a grandparent or have lots of experience you'll want to share your stories with others at First Church.  Challenges include your changing relationship with your children, sharing the role with in-laws, control issues, etc. And it's fun to see the pictures!

TRANSCENDENTALIST SERIES: Wed, Jan 29, 7:30pm, PH

"My Search for Margaret Fuller"-- Megan Marshall, the prize-winning author of The Peabody Sisters, will speak about researching and writing her second biography of a Transcendentalist heroine, entitled Margaret Fuller: A New American Life. Margaret Fuller was a woman of many firsts--first woman to research and write a book in Harvard's library, first editor of The Dial, first American woman foreign correspondent. But Marshall was not the first to write her biography--what choices did she make in telling this life, what did she learn, why another "Margaret Fuller?" Come and find out! Refreshments and book signing.