Calendar
Next Issue: June 3
Deadline: 3pm May 29
Wednesday, May 28
7:30pm FC Book Group. Lib.
7:45pm Member Database. cl7.
Thursday, May 29
6:45pm Nova Choir. Sanct.
Saturday, May 31
3:30pm A. Palm Ordination.
Sunday, June 1
8:15am Nova Choir. Sanct.
9:25am Sr. Choir. PH.
8:00pm Chamber Music Concert
Monday, June 2
9:30am Jobseekers. Library.
6:30pm Jr; 7 Chancel.
7:00pm Caring Conn. cl5.
7:30pm Adult Programs. CR.
8:00pm Meditation. Library.
Tuesday, June 3
7:30pm Membership Cte. cl5.
7:30pm Partner Church. CR.
7:30pm SGM. Library.
Wednesday, June 3
7:00pm Communications. cl5.
7:30pm Women's Gr. Library.
Looking Ahead
June 8: All-Church Picnic
June 13: Coffeehouse
Link to church calendar |
|
This Sunday
Music: June 1, 2014
Prelude: The Swallows
-R. Schumann (1810-1856)
Women's Ensemble "Canzona":
Ann Cordis, Jane Fischer, Jenni Edgerton, Eleanor Hobbs, Carolyn Howard, Jackie James, Vickie Livermore, Anne Selman, Pegeen Wright
Madrigal: Canzona: Up From the Cool Earth Welling
-Luca Marenzio (16th c.)
9:00 Service:
Nova Choir Offertory: Pues Si Vivimos (While We Are Living)
-Trad'l Spanish Folksong, arr. Alice Parker (contemp.)
Postlude: Mary Beekman, organ
11:00 Service:
Sr. Choir Offertory for Double Chorus: Psalm 103 Lobe den Herren, meine Seele (Praise be to God, my soul) H. Schütz (1585-1672)
Postlude: Song Without Words, Op.19 No.1 -F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Margaret Scharff, piano
The flowers this Sunday are given by Pat Paul in memory of her husband, Bill and her friend, Mary Harsch.
Ushers: Members of the New Connections Ministry
Welcome & Announcements: Jack Weis & Catherine Claypoole |
|
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 |
|
Social Action Corner
ACTION IS OUR PRAYER |
|
Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic!
Stock the Shelves for Summer!
Last Chance for Good Deeds!! Please remember to add something for the GROW CLINIC in your cart this week. You'll be glad you did.
FOOD: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDICINES |
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 astuart@uubelmont.org 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. |
|
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 jweiss@uubelmont.org or Will Cordis wcordis@uubelmont.org |
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
- sample@uubelmont.org for e-mails.
- avoid phone numbers unless their owners don't mind them being published on the FCB website. |
|
Quick Links
Newsletter Archive |
|
First Church Office
:: 617-484-1054 |
|
|
5 Things To Know This Week
- First Church Book Group, May 28
- Allison Palm's Ordination, May 31
- Annual Chamber Music Concert, June 1
- All-Church Picnic, June 8
- Second Friday Coffeehouse, June 13
|
Sunday, June 1
Your Summer Assignment
Rev. David M. Bryce
9:00 & 11:00 Church Service
Childcare for infants and young children
Unitarian Universalist ministers do not get to assign anything to anybody; but it is fun to try.
I will be speaking about my hopes for me for summer--and my hope for you. Those hopes are about spiritual development.
** Next Sunday, June 7 **
Multigenerational Service and Flower Communion
Rev. David M. Bryce preaching
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons
|
|
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
The Act of Ordination
In just a few days this congregation will ordain Allison Palm into the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
While some traditions believe in the importance of Apostolic Succession (each priest being ordained by the hands of a priest whose ordination ultimately goes back to the Apostles and therefore to the hands of Jesus), we have a very different idea.
Unitarian Universalism grew out of the radical wing of the Reformation. As one present day Reform Leader put it, "The minister is called by God through the congregation to lead worship by the authority of his office."
(Yes, it says "his." Times change.)
The important point is that having a congregation call and ordain ministers assumed that in some way God was guiding or speaking through the congregation in its decision.
While we UU's today have many different ideas about God--whether God exists, whether God takes an active role in the world, etc.--I hope that we can at least metaphorically understand the meaning of ordination to be that we, listening deeply within our hearts, have come to the assessment that the Ordinand (to the best of that person's ability) speaks to or points towards some sacred Truth(s) and that we have recognized within that person both a desire and an ability to speak these truths to us and to others.
Ordination is a deeply meaningful act. I hope you will join in the act and the celebration as The First Church in Belmont ordains Allison Palm to the ministry on May 31.
|
|
Music Notes from Alfa Radford
The ORDINATION CHOIR for Sat, May 31, will rehearse at 2:30 sharp.
MUSIC and SOCIAL ACTION this Sunday, June 1 at 8:00pm!
The 36th ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT will feature harpsichord, voice, flutes, piccolo, and bassoon. Be sure to join us when chamber music and social action combine in a delightfully varied concert for a most worthy beneficiary, the SPARK Pediatric Division of the Boston Medical Ctr. Admission by donation. Delicious Strawberries & Wine Reception. Come one, come all!
ROSES to Chuck Claus for his eloquent solo "Last Letter Home" on Memorial Day weekend.
REGISTRATION for YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS
and Bye Bye Birdie! To register ONLINE, go to First Church in Belmont website. 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 / alfajoy@uubelmont.org.
CALENDAR NOTES for CHILDREN'S CHOIRS:
FINAL REHEARSAL for this season will be on Monday, June 2.
JR. CHOIR sings at the 9:00 Service June 8. Arrive 8:30
CHANCEL CHOIR sings at 11:00 Service June 8. Arrive 10:15
SR. CHOIR sings at the 11:00 Service June 1 and 8.
NOVA CHOIR sings at the 9:00 Service June 1.
Spring, at last! -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).
Next year, the curriculum topics for grades 1 through 6 will be World Religions from September through January, followed by a combination of Social Action and Life's Journey lessons from February through June. Life's Journey includes topics on relationship challenges, loss, and coping strategies. Grade 7 will be spending the year exploring Neighboring Faiths, as will grade 8 during the fall. From January through June, grade 8 will switch to Our Whole Lives Lifespan Sexuality Education (OWL) classes on Sunday afternoons. We expect to again offer the grade 5 and 6 OWL curriculum during the spring term at 9 o'clock since this time best fits sports schedules.
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/
Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Children's Religious Education |
|
Among Us
Healing wishes to:
- Eloise and Bob McGaw's daughter-in-law Macey
- Edwin Taylor who is recovering from knee surgery |
A Note from Jeanne Widmer
At our Annual Meeting on May 18 the membership elected a new Parish Board and two new officers. As I step down from the presidency, I would like to thank some individuals who have been particularly supportive this year -- our minister David Bryce, vice president Carolyn Howard, who is the new president, and our outgoing treasurer Marilyn Yee. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Parish Board, Susan Street, staff, and committee members as well as the departing board members Leslie Kolterman, Martha Spaulding, Beth Westlund and Jonathan Wolf. Finally, I thank all of you who have entrusted to me the care of our church as we continue to work together to make it the wonderful place it is today and will continue to be for generations to come. Serving this church has been a great honor. − Jeanne Widmer |
| Welcome!
... to Meg Senuta who signed the Membership Book on Sunday, May 18! |
|
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 / alfajoy@uubelmont.org.
|
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.
Allison being Allison, she would like the reception fare to be hearty vegetarian hors d'oeuvres - with a locovore focus if possible. Recipes are available, or use your own. The dessert will be chalice-shaped sugar cookies - cookie cutters available to borrow. She would also prefer bouquets of locally grown flowers from people's home gardens. Please click here to sign up to contribute to this memorable day.
If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Whitehouse at lwhitehouse@uubelmont.org. |
36th ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT THIS SUNDAY, June 1 at 8:00pm
Music to Benefit the Pediatric Division at Boston Medical Ctr.
The concert, a benefit for children at the SPARK Center of the Boston Medical Pediatric Division, will feature superb vocal and instrumental music of many genres. As is our custom, it is a very entertaining and varied program which includes three beautiful Russian folksongs as well as Elizabethan airs sung by Irina Kareva, alto; an excerpt from Bach's harpsichord Goldberg Variations, played by Alfa Joy Radford; a unique flute duet by Anton Fuerstenau. Highlighting the program this year will be a beautiful Trio Sonata by Baroque composer, Georg Frideric Handel, performed by Susan Jackson and Terry D'Errico, flutes; Robin Hillyard, bassoon; with harpsichord continuo. Click here to see the flyer!
Concert attendees will also be treated to an amusing and brilliant finale excerpted from Gilbert & Sullivan, and featuring all the performing artists.
Admission is by donation. Those who can't attend but wish to contribute, may send a check to SPARK, Boston Medical Ctr, 670 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118 (SPARK = Supporting Parents and Resilient Kids).
Come, and bring a friend to this very special event - a perfect way to combine the arts with social action!
The delightful program is bound to entertain you, and there will be a delicious Strawberries and Wine Reception following the concert!
- Alfa Joy Radford, Minister of Music |
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 fellowship@uubelmont.org.
|
 AN EVENING WITH THE CSÁNGÓS
A Very Special Educational Benefit
June 8 in Parish Hall
Come join the Partner Church Committee for one last church event of the year! Finger food potluck at 6:30, singing, dancing, and information starting at 7:00. Look for the colorful posters around church for more information! |
SAVE THE DATE -- REGISTRATION STARTING SOON
10th Annual Sandy Island Retreat, September 12-14, 2014
The Fellowship Committee would like to invite you to join us for the popular First Church Sandy Island Retreat. This is a wonderful opportunity to kick back, relax, and meet new and old friends after a long summer. Sandy Island offers recreational opportunities for people of all interests and ages. Register online with this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1b0pmBWkQQ_SYz-K59wnluxHthfBOPRpcXPN9b9yTpaw/viewform?usp=send_form
or find registration link and more info here: uubelmont.org > Membership Services > Fellowship |
|
|
