Calendar
Next Issue: April 22, 2014
Deadline: 3pm April 17
Wednesday, April 16
12:00pm BelUnitAlliance. UH.
5:30pm Seder. Parish Hall.
7:30pm GunBuyBackCte. cl5.
7:30pm Women's Group. Lib.
7:30pm Youth Cte. CR.
Thursday, April 17
6:30pm Nova Choir. Sanct.
7:30pm Sci&Spirituality. CR.
7:30pm SGM. Library
8:00pm Knitting. cl4.
Friday, April 18
12 noon Church Office closed.
Sunday, April 20
6:00am Sunrise Serv. Habitat.
8:15am Nova Choir. Sanct.
9:25am Sr Choir. PH.
Monday, April 21
Church Office closed.
7:30pm Stewardship Cte. CR.
8:00pm Meditation. Lib.
Tuesday, April 22
7:30pm Worship Cte. CR.
Wednesday, April 23
7:30pm FC Book Group. Lib.
7:45pm Member Database. cl7.
Looking Ahead
April 25: Men's Potluck
April 26: Two Who Dared,
film and presentation
Link to church calendar |
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This Sunday
Easter Music: April 20, 2014
Prelude: Regina Coeli
(from Gregorian chant)
-Everett Titcomb (1833-1968)
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
Offertory Duet: Panis Angelicus (Bread of angels)
-César Franck (1822-1890)
Davron Monroe, tenor;
Chuck Claus, baritone
9:00 Service:
Nova Choir: For the Beauty of the Earth -John Rutter (b. 1945)
Postlude: Freu dich sehr, O meine Seele -G. Böhm (18th c.)
Mary Beekman, organ
11:00 Service:
Sr. Choir: Honor and Glory (from Magnificat) -J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Choral Benediction: Communion for the Heart
Music: J. Brahms (1833-1897)
Text: Rev. Mark Belletini (contemp. UU)
Postlude: Toccata in d minor
-J. S. Bach
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
The Easter plants this Sunday are given by the Belmont Unitarian Alliance.
Ushers: Members of the New Connections Ministry
Welcome & Announcements:
Jack Weis and Martha Spaulding |
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Easter Offering
At this time of the year, it has been our custom to remember the church with a special gift. The Easter gift envelope can be placed in the collection plate or mailed to the church.
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Caring Connection
The Caring Connection is a group of Church members and friends who provide support to members of our community who find themselves in some difficulty and need short-term help. Please let us know if you could use some assistance, or know of someone who would benefit from our support. You may fill out a Caring Connection card, available in the hymnal holders and drop it in the collection basket, or contact Laurie Graham at caring@uubelmont.org or Susan at the Church, 617.484.1054 x201. |
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!
It's Spring. Flowers and Children should grow. Won't you help them by buying vitamins this month? Flintstone Chewables and Polysol with Iron Liquid Vitamins. Thanks for helping the Grow Clinic children to blossom! |
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Knitting Circle
Thursday, April 17, 8pm, cl4
Nancy Davis & Eva Patalas
Come join us in the fun and fellowship of knitting with a genial group. Projects could include knitting for non-profit organizations such as Caps for Kids, making small gifts for the Holiday Fair or working on personal projects. Everyone is welcome and no commitment is necessary. Questions contact Eva.
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UU Urban Ministry
Roxbury Patriots Day
Monday April 21, 8:00am ♦ All Events Are Free - Free Buffet Breakfast; Unsung Heroes Awards; Warren I. Brown Memorial Scholarship Presentations; William Dawes Ride; Trolley Tours
Volunteer Opportunities at the UU Urban Ministry: English Language Tutors - A Monday or Wednesday morning each week, 10am-noon, teaching women English. Speak with Nancy Davis or Lanier Smythe.
High School Tutors - after school, May 1 through the remainder of the current school year, 3:30-6pm with occasional evenings until 7:30pm. For more info contact Rev. Roger Peltier at 617.318.6010 or rpeltier@uuum.org
Gardeners - Work around this historic site and/or prepare and maintain raised gardens beds with other adults and teens. Email nhdavis3@gmail.com.
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Lost & Found Alert
It's time to clean up the articles of clothing that have been left at the church. Starting on Easter Sunday, April 20, all items that have been unclaimed, including several coats found in the coat room off the Parlor, will be on display in the Lower Gathering Hall. Take a look! Anything remaining after Sunday, April 27, will be given to the Rummage Sale or otherwise donated. |
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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
- Update from the Parish Board
- The New Chairs Have Arrived!
- First Church Seder, April 16
- Alliance Lunch and Program, April 16
- First Church Book Group, April 23
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Easter Sunday, April 20
Do Not Be Amazed: the Joy of the Impossible
Rev. David M. Bryce
9:00 & 11:00 Church Service
Childcare for infants and young children
On the original Easter Sunday three women went to the tomb of Jesus and were amazed. Joy filled amazement should be our reaction to this story. But also, joy filled amazement should be our reaction to life.
6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service at Habitat (See article)
** Next Sunday, April 27 **
Rev. David M. Bryce preaching
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons |
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
The Congregation of Possibilities; Place of Yes
I have several times quoted the person who described The First Church in Belmont as the "Church of Possibilities" (I am sorry that I forget who to attribute this to).
I love that phrase. I want for us to be seen by both others and ourselves as exactly that. And in many ways we are.
I mentioned in a recent sermon that our congregation has been the home of many wonderful things over the years: The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; the Belmont Gun Buyback program, the V-Day event and many more.
That is what happens in a "place of Yes", in a place where there is energy and optimism. Ideas are supported, encouraged and given life.
But not every idea is of the same worth. And there are too many good ideas for us to do everything. So how does a congregation decide where to put its energy?
That begins with Mission. What is it that we exist for? If ideas for programs or projects enhance and serve the Mission, they should be encouraged; if they do not, we should not put too many resources into them.
But even within the parameters of our Mission we can do more than we have yet dreamed of.
Guided by our Vision and Mission, let us be a place of Yes. |
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Music Notes from Alfa Radford
ROSES GALORE to the Choir and Soloists, Shannon Rose Garvie, Irina Kareva, Davron Monroe, Chuck Claus, and all the enchanting Haiku Ensembles for a very beautiful rendition of Karl Jenkins' REQUIEM at our Palm Sunday Music Service.
BRILLIANT DAFFODILS to Ken Stalberg, Concertmaster extraordinaire, of the Orchestra; and to Rev. David Bryce for his timely and appropriate homily on "Good Friday." I shall continue to float on Cloud Nine with those lovely melodies - along with thrilling episodes and exciting percussion...
BOUQUETS of LOVE to Mark and Martha Moore for hosting a convivial lunch/party after the Music Service for the Choir and Guests.
A THOUSAND THANKS for behind-the-scenes work by Charles Yee, recording engineer; and to Karl Klasson & Luis Carrion, who re-arranged the Sanctuary - thus accommodating the Choir and Orchestra for the annual Spring Music Service.
MORE ROSES to Ian and Shannon Rose Garvie for their wonderfully informative and entertaining "Prequel to Music Sunday" - thereby helping attendees fully appreciate this unusual choral work. Wishing everyone a joyous Eastertide, Alfa |
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Youth Group
Spring has arrived. Signs of it abound and everyone has their own favorite harbinger of the new season. The days are longer. The weather is warmer. The snow has (finally) melted. The crocuses have appeared and the daffodils are starting to sprout out of the ground. Birds are beginning to chirp in the morning. The Red Sox are back in action.
Within our own First Church community, we, too, have our own harbingers of spring. And one of those is the annual high school-led Sunday services - the Youth Group service organized by the sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and the Coming of Age service led by the freshmen. Both services represent a sort of culmination of the year-long programs for those two groups. The Youth Group service took place on Sunday, March 23rd. In addition to organizing the service itself, that service featured the traditional reflections by the group's seniors, sharing their thoughts with the congregation about what the Youth Group and First Church has meant to them as they prepare to embark on a new chapter of their lives. The Coming of Age service will take place on Sunday, May 12th. That service will feature the 9th graders sharing their "credos" with the congregation - their own individual statement as to what they believe as they transition into young adulthood. Those credos are invariably poignant, insightful, profound, personal, and thought-provoking statements, ones that I suspect would be challenging for many adults to articulate and share.
While both services are an important element of our youth programs for the youth themselves, for many adults in the congregation, they represent two of their favorite services of the year. I think, in part, that is because those two services showcase the vibrancy of our youth programs and represent an embodiment and reflection of what our UU religion offers. Those services help illustrate that, at a time in life when many teens are rejecting organized religion, our denomination draws them in. As teens begin a phase in their lives where they naturally question and challenge many things, the fact that our religion embraces such questioning, rather than discourages such thinking, creates an open and accepting environment for them to ponder some of the important humanistic and spiritual aspects of their lives, with no judgmental right and wrong way for addressing those topics.
So, as we welcome spring, with all of the attendant examples of re-awakening life, let us also celebrate our church's youth programs and acknowledge the special role that those programs play (and that our church and UU religion play) in supporting our teenage youth as they continue their own journey of blossoming into adulthood. − Jack Weis |
Update from the Parish Board
We on the Parish Board are thrilled by the enthusiastic response to our annual Stewardship Drive. Thank you to all who have responded. We applaud the dedication and diligence of John Howe and the Stewardship Committee, who are working for our entire congregation to provide enough FY '15 pledge funds to support our staff, programs, and facilities. To date we have received $538,000 or 89% towards our goal of $605,000. While that is very encouraging, it is critical that we receive the remaining pledges as soon as possible because, according to our by-laws, we have to base our annual budget on the amount we have received by the time of the church's Annual Meeting on May 18. We appreciate any pledges at any time but for planning purposes the sooner we receive your pledges the better.
I also want to emphasize that even if we reach our goal, we will still have a very tight budget, with only modest increases to support our wonderful staff, programs, and facility. As elsewhere, modest salary increases, rising benefits costs, church maintenance expenses, and the backlog of facilities needs consume our additional funds. If we exceed our pledge goal, we would be able to respond to some of the important additional requests for funding.
For those who have not replied, we appreciate your prompt response one way or the other. We are grateful for all pledge increases but we ask no minimum pledge and no immediate gift -- simply a pledge of future support that is feasible and feels generous within each individual's circumstances.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Jeanne Widmer, President
jwidmer@uubelmont.org |
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Among Us
Healing wishes to Sarah Gillespie who is recovering from surgery. |
Welcome!
...to Peter Whitmer who signed the Membership Book on Sunday, April 6! |
Easter Sunrise Service
Come celebrate the cycle of rebirth at our Easter Sunrise Service. Our service will take place at dawn, surrounded by the interdependent web of all existence in the Highland Farms meadow of the Habitat grounds in Belmont. We'll meet in the Church parking lot Easter morning, leaving at 5:45am for the brief drive to Habitat. Or, you can meet us in the Habitat parking lot at 6:00am. (Sunrise is at 5:55am.) After the short service, all are invited back to church for a community breakfast. Please contact Richard Waring, 617. 962.1630, rwaring@uubelmont.org or Kristin Phillips, 781.929.9638, kphillips@uubelmont.org if you have questions. |
Ushers Still Needed for Church Services April 27-June 8
Please consider volunteering for one or more of the dates still needing ushers. The dates still available are:
9:00 service on April 27, May 4, May 18, May 25, June 8
11:00 service on April 20, April 27, May 11, May 18, June 1, June 8
To volunteer, see the Sign-Up board at community hour or contact David Warner dwarner@uubelmont.org. |
 The New Chairs Have Arrived!The long-awaited new chairs arrived on Thursday. You can see them in the Parish Hall, the Library and the Upper Hall. Thanks to Ed Bing, Penny Schafer, Lanier Smythe, Jim Staton, Jeanne Widmer and Luis Carrion for helping to inspect the new chairs and unwrap them. And a big thank you to the Santos Family Foundation and an anonymous donor for funding the purchase. |
Volunteers Are Needed...
Can you spare an hour or two? Help is needed in the Church Office from April 25 through May 2. If you have a free morning or afternoon, please call Susan Street, 617.484.1054 x201. |
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SPRING BROCHURE IS HERE!
Find out about our new programs, as well as our ongoing educational and support groups, by clicking here. |
ALLIANCE LUNCH & PROGRAM
Wed, April 16, 12:00 Noon
All Men and Women Welcome!
Our Wednesday, April 19 lunch and program will be at The First Church in Belmont. Lunch is at 12:00 noon in the 2nd floor gathering hall. The program starts at 12:45pm in the Library. We will watch the final half of our March movie, "THE STRAIGHT STORY" based on the true story of an elderly man's 260-mile journey across Iowa to Wisconsin to visit his estranged brother, who is in poor health. Impaired eyesight prevents the elderly man from driving a car, so he uses a riding lawnmower towing a trailer. You can enjoy the second half of the movie without having watched the first half. Please let Susan Street know 617.484.1054 x201 that you will attend and the number of your guests. Bring your own sandwich; we provide soup, beverage, and dessert. To help pay the food costs, the suggested lunch donation is $1. |
FIRST CHURCH SEDER, Wednesday, April 16
Please join us in a simplified Haggadah (readings and blessings) and meal in celebration of Passover. A Passover Seder is a retelling and celebration of the story of Exodus and reminds us all of ongoing global struggles for freedom.
We are hosting a potluck Seder on Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall. This is a very kid-friendly (and delicious) event. We ask $3 child, $5 adult, $12 family donation, and we are looking for help with set up and clean up.
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SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY
Thur, April 17, 7:30pm, CR - Ken Bernstein and Edwin Taylor
Nicole Bernstein will lead a discussion of Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions published in 1883 by the English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott (not a misprint!). Long before special relativity's four space time dimensions, Abbott examined the challenges of living in one (!), two, three, and many dimensions. No spirituality? Consider the three-dimensional sphere from Spaceland, who visits two-dimensional Flatland once every millennium to convert its inhabitants to belief in his (His?) existence. As the sphere passes through, he appears to flatlanders as a point that grows to a circle, then shrinks again to a point. Those who join him are considered heretics and persecuted. Flatlanders is posted on our website eftaylor.com/sands. All 63 pages are worth reading for insights into the limited understanding we have of our world. |
FIRST CHURCH BOOK GROUP
Wed, April 23, 7:30pm, Library - Karl Klasson & Anne Stuart
The Book Group will meet to discuss Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick. Bunker Hill is also this year's selection for One Book, One Belmont, which will be presenting a series of events related to the book in April and May, including a talk by the author on Tuesday, May 6. You can read information about these activities by going to: http://www.belmont.lib.ma.us/one-book-one-belmont. In Bunker Hill Philbrick retells the story of the run-up to revolution in Boston and New England, providing a stirring narrative, memorable detail, and fresh perspective to this important passage in our nation's birth. The Book Group is always open to new members with no continuing commitment required. Please contact Anne Stuart at: astuart@uubelmont.org to confirm attendance if you are interested in participating.
Looking ahead: May 28, the Book Group will be discussing The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. |
GRANDPARENTING NEAR AND FAR
Thursday, April 24, 7:30pm, Library
Nancy Davis will facilitate as we explore our changing roles and we will look at how grandparenting has changed during the past century. Bring pictures to share. |
MEN'S SPRING POTLUCK SUPPER
Friday, April 25, 7pm, Upper Hall
Come together for fun, food and fellowship. Bring an appetizer, main dish, salad or dessert AND a beverage of your choice. For more information or to sign up contact Jim Staton, jstaton@uubelmont.org. |
TWO WHO DARED
Saturday, April 26, 7:30pm, Parish Hall
The Belmont premiere of a film by Artemis Joukowsky followed by a performance and audience conversation with True Story Theatre. Co-sponsored by the Social Action and the Adult Programs Committee. Voluntary Donation. |
ALL-CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE, Saturday, May 3, 9-2pm
The volunteer boards are filling up! NEW - online signups at http://vols.pt/yG1e22. The Sale still needs your help especially for set up on Sunday, April 27 and for Sale day and cleanup Saturday, May 3. Church members and friends who work for 2 hours are invited to shop for themselves at the pre-Sale on Friday evening May 2, 6:30 to 8:30. Many great bargains to be found!
The third beneficiary of the Rummage Sale is the Stained-Glass Window Fund. While The First Church is fortunate to have such beautiful stained-glass windows, including The Pilgrim by Tiffany Studios, as well as many leaded-glass windows, we also are responsible for their preservation. The Fund helps to cover our considerable costs involved in their upkeep. By setting aside proceeds from its Rummage Sales each year, the Belmont Unitarian Alliance was able to renovate the Madonna Window in the early1990's. Rummage funds also provided more than half of the cost to renovate the Pilgrim Window. And more windows, the same age as our sanctuary, will be renovated in the next few years, again with Rummage proceeds.
See the flyer for more Rummage donations information or email fcb404@gmail.com
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