The First Church in Belmont

THE UNITARIAN  May 20, 2014

In This Issue
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce
Music Notes from Alfa Radford
Upcoming Events
Calendar 

Next Issue: May 27 

Deadline: 3pm May 22 

 

Wednesday, May 21 

7:00pm   Youth Cte. CR. 

7:30pm   Women's Group. Lib.

Thursday, May 22 

6:45pm   Nova Choir. Sanct.

7:30pm   Grandparenting. Lib.  

Friday, May 23

4:00pm   SGM. Library. 

Monday, May 26  

Church office closed. 

Tuesday, May 27

7:30pm   Worship Cte. CR.

Wednesday, May 28

7:30pm   FC Book Group. Lib. 

7:45pm   Member Database. cl7. 

 

Looking Ahead

May 31: A. Palm Ordination

June 1: Chamber Music Concert 

June 8: All-Church Picnic 

June 13: Coffeehouse

 

Link to church calendar 

 
This Sunday
Music: May 25, 2014 

Prelude: Improvisations on "Materna"

Samuel Ward (1848-1903) arr. AJR 

Alfa Joy Radford, organ

Offertory Solo: Last Letter Home -Lee Hoiby (2006)

Chuck Claus, baritone

Postlude: Theme and Variations on "America"

-Janet Linker (contemp.)

Alfa Joy Radford, organ 

 

The flowers this Sunday are given by Janet and Godfrey Amphlett. 
  
Ushers: Members of the New Connections Ministry
  
Welcome & Announcements: Betsy George & Beth Westlund 

 

Social Action Corner

ACTION IS OUR PRAYER

Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic! 

Stock the Shelves for Summer! Polysol with Iron Liquid Vitamins. Canned Fruits Packed in Syrup. Canned Vegetables. Carnation Instant Breakfast. Peanut Butter.

Thanks for your generosity!
FOOD: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDICINES
 
Men's Group Welcomes New Members

The newly formed diverse men's group welcomes both new and recent members to The First Church as well as those who wanted to but never joined such a group. We share personal and professional concerns, aspirations, and experiences along with some community service activities.  

     The First Church Men's Group facilitated by Will Cordis and Joe Weiss is eager to welcome new members to its June meetings, Sunday, June 8 and 22 at 4pm in the Parlor. For more information contact Joe Weiss

  
Pledge Reminders
Pledge reminders were sent out last week to those who have not completed this year's pledge (July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014). Please keep in mind that many of our church expenses (including payroll) continue through summer. It is helpful if people complete this year's pledge as soon as possible and continue to make pledge payments over the summer in order to ease the cash flow during those months.
Thank you.

 

A Reminder from the Treasurer

Our church fiscal year ends June 30. Expense reimbursement forms should be submitted before June 15 to allow us time to close the books for this fiscal year. Thank you.

 

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 

- [email protected] 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
5 Things To Know This Week
  • First Church Book Group, May 28 
  • Allison's Palm Ordination, May 31 
  • Annual Chamber Music Concert, June 1
  • All-Church Picnic, June 8
  • Second Friday Coffeehouse, June 13  
Sunday, May 25
What Is a Hero? 

Amber Brown, Ministry Student 

 

9:00 & 11:00 Church Service                           

Childcare for infants and young children

 

Heroes are easy to spot! They fight fires, rescue people from drowning, and defend their country with acts of valor and bravery. It is easy to be impressed by these people. However, we will take a chance to consider more deeply the question, "What is a hero?" What does a hero look like? What does a hero do? The answer may not be quite what you expect.

 

** Next Sunday, June 1 **

Rev. David M. Bryce preaching

 

Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons

Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior MinisterRev. David Bryce
You will receive this column on the Monday before the Memorial Day weekend.     
     For many of us (me included) this is a time of barbecues and gathering with friends and family.

     Officially, Memorial Day is a time set aside to remember those military service people who died during time of war.

     I always have mixed emotions about holidays that celebrate war or warriors because my assessment of war is that it is so tragically wasteful.

     And because of that I recoil somewhat from celebrations and avowals that are "overly patriotic" because blind patriotism can allow us to enter into war too readily.

     And I try to think of myself as a world citizen first--a fellow citizen with all other people--and an American only secondly.

     Yet I do love my country. I love it more for its proclaimed values than for its lived values, because we too often fall short.  

     I do not want the overly zealous to steal from me a healthy patriotism, a loyalty to the values which our flag represents, a loyalty to ideals of human freedom and equality.

     And so I choose to celebrate Memorial Day and to acknowledge all of those--whether military or civilian, whether American or otherwise--who have died in war. I especially honor those who died in the belief that they were fighting for freedom and justice.

Alfa Radford
Music Notes from Alfa Radford

BRIGHT BOUQUETS to the combined NOVA & SR. CHOIRS for their stirring rendition of Verdi's famous "Va Pensiero" last Sunday. And warm thanks for singing at both Services! 

AND MORE BLOSSOMS to our Quartet of soloists. The Finzi song was so uplifting.

REGISTRATION for YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS

Welcome to all children and youth who enjoy singing! Gr. K thru High School. Please see article elsewhere in this newsletter.

NOTE: Current choristers also need to register for the Fall programs.

QUESTIONS? Call or email Alfa Radford 781.646.2123 / [email protected].

CALENDAR ITEMS for CHOIR PARENTS!

June 8: Multigenerational Services:

June 8: Junior Choir (K-Gr.4) sings at 9am. Arrive 8:15

June 8: Chancel Choir (Gr.5-6) sings at 11am. Arrive 10:15

DATES for FUTURE PLANNING:

November 6, 7, 8, 9 are the dates for the Youth/Children's Choirs Fall Musical. It's BYE BYE BIRDIE, a very popular Broadway show. Mark your calendars!

MUSIC and SOCIAL ACTION:CHAMBER MUSIC BENEFIT CONCERT: Sunday, June 1, at 8:00pm for the benefit of children at the Pediatric Division of Boston Medical Ctr.Concert attendees will enjoy a special evening of music for harpsichord, voice, flutes, and bassoon. Admission is by donation, and there will be a delicious Strawberries and Wine Reception. Yum! Come, and bring a friend! 

QUOTABLE: "The most dangerous part about playing the cymbals is near the nose." - excerpt from ...Children's first exposure to classical music.

Joyfully, Alfa

Children's Religious Education Information

REGISTER NOW for 2014-2015 Children's RE & Youth Programs

Families, please register now for next year's children's religious education classes and high school youth programs.

     Our children's religious education program for preschool through grade 8 is a cooperative effort. Once you have been attending at FCB for more than a year, we ask that each family teach children's RE for eight weeks (you need not teach on consecutive Sundays). If you are unable to teach, we have other opportunities to help out the program (for a total of 16 hours per year per family).

     The registration link will allow you to register children from birth through 12th grade and can be found on the Children's Religious Education page of the FCB website, or use this link: www.uubelmont.org/childrens-re/

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 [email protected] or Susan at the Church, 617.484.1054 x201.

Among Us
Healing wishes to:
  - Jill Coelho who is recovering from a fall
  - Laura Miller who is at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, 1200 Centre Street, Room 222D, Roslindale, MA 02131

Congratulations to Miriam and Clark Baker on the birth of granddaughter, Layla Baker Placke on May 10. 
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

Upcoming Events: 
NOW OPEN! REGISTRATION for YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS

Welcome to all children and youth who enjoy singing!

We are now taking registrations for all the YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS for the upcoming church year, Sept 2014-June 2015; and for the Fall musical "Bye Bye Birdie."
You may register ONLINE by clicking on this link at the First Church website: http://bit.ly/1mvoyMQ or you may register by filling out a paper Registration Form found in various places around the church. 
NOTE: Current choristers also need to register for the Fall programs.

QUESTIONS? Call or email Alfa Radford 781.646.2123 / [email protected].

GRANDPARENTING NEAR AND FAR

Thursday, May 22, 7:30pm, Library - Lillian Anderson

Share stories, joys, fears and concerns about the challenges of grandparenting. We'll look at the changing role of grandparents this month. Bring pictures to share.

FIRST CHURCH BOOK GROUP
Wed, May 28, 7:30pm, Library -Karl Klasson and Anne Stuart 
The Book Group will discuss The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. "Elizabeth Strout's first two books, Abide with Me and Amy and Isabelle, were highly thought of, and her third, Olive Kitteridge, won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. The Book Group is always open to new members with no continuing commitment required. Please contact Anne Stuart [email protected] to confirm attendance if you are interested in participating. 
     Looking ahead
: June 25, the Book Group will hold its third annual Potluck Supper and welcomes recommendations for books for the upcoming church year.
harpsichord
ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC BENEFIT CONCERT: Sunday, June 1 at 8pm

This very special occasion combines music with social action! A wonderful concert is planned, as we once again celebrate the handsome harpsichord built and given to The First Church in 1979 by Harry Radford; a gift which marked the origin of this annual event. The exciting and eclectic program will include music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and Contemporary periods, performed by Susan Jackson and Terry D'Errico, flutes; Robin Hillyard, bassoon; and Alfa Radford, harpsichord. Irina Kareva, alto, will sing Russian folk music and Elizabethan songs.

     Admission is by donation, and all proceeds will benefit children at the SPARK Center of the Boston Medical Center's Pediatric Division. We hope you'll join us for this delightful event!    -The Music Committee

ALL-CHURCH PICNIC - Sunday, June 8

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the annual All-Church Picnic immediately following the 11:00 service on Sunday, June 8. There will be delicious food including burgers, chicken, hot dogs and vegetarian options, lots of yummy salads for the salad contest, and of course, dessert. The cost is $5/adults, $5/children 4-12 yr, $20/families.

Salad Contest - Don't miss the annual First Church Salad Contest! Bring your favorite salad to share at the picnic - green salads, pasta salads, fruit salads, all types are welcome. Please bring your salad to the kitchen the day of the picnic and enter your name on the list to be part of the contest. Then at the picnic everyone will vote for their favorite. We serve over 200 people at the picnic, so the more salads the better!   

Volunteers NEEDED! We will have a sign-up sheet at coffee hour listing different opportunities for people to help with this fun annual event - volunteers needed to run games for kids, grill, sell tickets, set-up, clean-up, shop, etc. If you have any questions, or would like to help out, please e-mail [email protected].


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for ALLISON PALM'S ORDINATION here at FCB on May 31st!

Allison's ordination service will be held in the Sanctuary from 3:30-5:00pm on Saturday, May 31st, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall until 6:30pm.

     There are many ways that you can help to make this day even more special for Allison! We will need bakers, cooks, flower bouquet makers, set-up crew members and clean-up crew members. Please click here to sign up to contribute to this memorable day.  

     If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Whitehouse at [email protected].

AN EVENING WITH THE CS�NG�S

A Very Special Educational Benefit

Did you enjoy the visit from our Partner Church this past fall? Do you support our Partner Church scholarship program? Would you like to learn more about our connection with Transylvania? Do you think you're going to overeat at the church picnic? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, please join the Partner Church Committee in sponsoring the Cs�ng�-Hungarian Education Program: a very special organization targeted at preserving the language, music, culture, and religion of the most isolated Hungarian villages in Transylvania. 

When and Where: Sunday June 8, 6:30-9:30, in the Parish Hall

What: 6:30-7:00 Mingling and information. Contributions of finger food gratefully accepted.

   7:00-7:15 A brief presentation about the Cs�ng� Transylvanian villages, their challenges, and the mission of the education program

   7:15-7:30 A bouquet of Cs�ng� songs. Livia Racz, soprano, and Dora Fozer, Cs�ng� pipe

   7:30-9:30 Singing, singing instruction, dancing, and dance instruction, led by Dora Fozer, folk artist, college student, and teacher, with live music on traditional instruments.

Admission: Suggested donation $20.

Come for part or all of the evening and work off that picnic food!