Calendar
Next Issue: July 29
Deadline: 9am July 22
Wednesday, June 11
7:00pm Children's RE. cl5.
7:30pm SGM facil. Library.
7:45pm Member Data. cl7.
Thursday, June 12
7:00pm Living w/Illness. Lib.
Friday, June 13
7:30pm Coffeehouse. PH.
Sunday, June 15
9:30am Lay-Led Service. PH.
Monday, June 16
9:30am Jobseekers. Lib.
7:30pm Stewardship Cte. CR.
8:00pm Meditation. Library.
Tuesday, June 17
7:30pm Program Council.CR.
7:30pm SGM. Library.
Wednesday, June 18
7:30pm Women's Gr. Library.
Thursday, June 19
7:30pm SGM. Library.
8:00pm Knitting Circle. cl4.
Link to church calendar |
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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.
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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 |
Socks Drive for Bristol Lodge
The First Church in Belmont Social Action Committee is having a drive of CLEAN NEW ADULT- SIZE SOCKS for the Bristol Lodge. The Bristol Lodge, one of the beneficiaries at the upcoming June 13 Coffeehouse, serves homeless men and women. We will have a basket in the Upper Hall to collect socks and we will give them to our beneficiary on the evening of June 13 during the Coffeehouse. Please make an effort to bring one or two packs of socks for this heartwarming cause. |
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Belmont Gun Buyback
Belmont's first gun buyback was held on May 31st, and yielded 62 weapons. The weapons were turned in by Belmont residents who were offered grocery gift cards in exchange. Many elected to donate the gift cards instead. A total of $5,000 was raised for the event and more than half of that money remained after the event and will be donated to the Belmont Food Pantry. The idea for the Belmont Gun Buyback originated with Jean Dickinson, a member of First Church's Social Action Committee. A gun buyback committee was formed, co-chaired by Jean and First Church SAC member Priscilla Cobb, and including representatives of seven other Belmont churches, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff's Office. Local businesses and individuals generously supported the effort with their donations. Names of the supporters are listed on the website: www.belmontgunbuyback.org. The firearms will be turned over to the state police for destruction in accordance with state law. |
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Help Roxbury Kids Have a Great Summer
Every summer, the UU Urban Ministry provides 5 weeks of summer camp adventures for 25 to 30 children (it gets discounted rates) and "earn and learn" summer employment for 12 to 15 teens. Your support enables The Urban Ministry to offer these safe, fun summer activities! Please send donations to: Summer Camp/Jobs, UU Urban Ministry, 10 Putnam St., Roxbury, MA 02119 |
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Men's Group Welcomes New Members
The newly formed diverse men's group welcomes both new and recent members to 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 Group is eager to welcome new members to its June meeting, Sunday, June 22 at 4pm in the Parlor. For more info contact Joe Weiss jweiss@uubelmont.org or Will Cordis wcordis@uubelmont.org. |
June 30, 2014 Year End
If you have not already done so, please submit your pledge payment as soon as possible for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 so we can close out the year. 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.
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A Reminder from the Treasurer
Expense reimbursement forms should be submitted before June 15 to allow us time to close the books for this fiscal year. Thank you.
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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
- Summer 2014 Worship Services
- Second Friday Coffeehouse, June 13
- Book Group Potluck, June 25
- Sandy Island Retreat, September 12-14
- Fall Adult Programs
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Summer 2014 Worship Services
The First Church in Belmont, UU
All services will be held at 9:30am in the Parish Hall. Childcare will be provided.
June 15 Betwixt and Between: Blazing a Faith-Filled Trail
- Amber Brown
June 22 Between the Bars - Tony Smith
June 29 Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness in Everyday Life
- Siobhan O'Neill + Karsten Küppenbender
July 6 Emergence - Ann + Will Cordis
July 13 Of Music and Relaxation - Valentin Frank
July 20 The Gift - Richard Waring
July 27 Living on the Edge - Edwin Taylor
Aug 3 What Is Your Moral Obligation Resulting from Climate
Change? - Tom Neel + John Kolterman
Aug 10 Still in Dialogue: UU and Secular Humanism - Bruce Dame
Aug 17 Social Action: Building Community; Buildng Friends
- Laurie Carter Noble + Patricia Garcia
Aug 24 Curve Balls - Doug Burden
Aug 31 Finding the Gift When Life Falls Apart - Judy Ashway |
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Summer Schedule
I will have regular office hours through the month of June.
I will be on vacation for the month of July and have arranged for other UU ministers to provide pastoral care coverage for that time. This list (summer pastoral care coverage) is being provided to the Parish Board, to members of the Worship Committee (one of whom will be at each of the summer Sunday services) and to Susan Street. You may contact any of them for the names.
During the month of August I will not have office hours (officially I am on Study Leave) but I will be on call for pastoral care concerns and for meetings if committees or other groups need my presence. August is my preparatory time when I plan out my work for the year -- e.g., sermon topics, including hymn and reading selections; thinking about the training programs that are needed in order to refresh different groups; and I do much of the studying and writing necessary for this. I also do more reading than usual, reading which may or may not find its way into sermons. And I take time for contemplation, for reflection and for being present to the natural world in ways that fill my spirit. The best way to contact me in August (as, indeed, at any time) is by email.
My regular office hours will resume right after Labor Day. I hope you all - each and every one of you - have the summer you dream of.
Remember that we are a year-round congregation and although they will be on a different schedule, we do have a wonderful array of lay-led services, one every Sunday throughout the summer.
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Music Notes from Alfa Radford
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS' FALL MUSICAL:
"Put On a Happy Face!" and other songs from "BYE BYE BIRDIE" are already floating in the air! The ever-popular Broadway show, presented by our Youth & Children's Choirs, is coming this Fall, with Performances Nov 6-9.This musical play is chock full of wonderful songs and great humor. We'll begin rehearsals on Monday evening, September 8, using the first few sessions to get acquainted with the delightful music. Be sure to REGISTER ONLINE for the Choirs! Church website: www.uubelmont.org. After the show, we'll begin rehearsing holiday music, so those who didn't participate in"Bye Bye Birdie" may re-join the Choirs at that time.
Watch for a mailing this summer which will contain lots more information about our production! Call or Email me with questions 781.646.2123; ALFAJOY@uubelmont.org.
ROSES & VIRTUAL APPLAUSE to all the Choirs, Soloists, and Vocal Ensembles, Youth, Chancel, Junior, Senior Choir, Nova Choir, Canzona, Linden Singers, and the First Church Gospel Band, for contributing beautiful music to our Sunday Worship.
And MORE ROSES to the many parishioners who played and/or sang service music throughout the past church year.
GRATEFUL BOUQUETS to JR & CHANCEL CHOIR SHEPHERDS last Sunday: Cliff Backman, Glynnis Doucette, Kathleen Kim, Fiona McCubbin, Jennifer Roderick, and Kate Searle.
BRIGHT HALOS on other Choir Parents (Angels, named and un-named) who assisted in various ways during the year: Cynthia Col, Wendy Conroy, Jen Deaderick, Hilary Donovan, Glynnis Doucette, Gabby Garschina, Jess Hicks, Carolyn Howard, Robin Hughes, Jenn Leigh, Jon Svetkey, Vickie Livermore, Diane Lopez, Veera Mylapore, Theresa O'Connor, David Searls, Holly Talanian, and Leslie Wolf.
REGISTER ONLINE for Youth & Children's Choirs! Church website: www.uubelmont.org.
And now to this Summer: In early July, I'll be on a week's vacation in Montreat, NC. Then in late August, I'll take a tour which includes the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. Both of these are "uncharted" territory for me, and I am looking forward to great adventures! The rest of the summer will be spent relaxing, reading, preparing for Bye Bye Birdie, our Fall play, and planning the music for the next church year.
Wishing everyone a restorative Summer! Alfa |
| Children's Religious Education Information
Heartfelt Thanks
As I leave FCB, I want to express my deep and ongoing thanks to so many people who have helped the program thrive these past five years!
· Susan Street, for her extraordinary support and institutional knowledge
· Denise Azar, for her 27 years of competent and warmhearted nursery care
· Luis Carrion, who has tirelessly moved chairs and tables, constantly cleaned and moved yet more chairs, all with grace and good humor
· The teachers, both those who taught this current winter to spring and those who have taught throughout, for sharing their time, talents and presence with the children of FCB
· The team of outstanding OWL facilitators, coordinated by Wendy Conroy, who provide Our Whole Lives sexuality education to our 5th, 6th and 8th graders
· The members of the Children's RE Committee for their help and support
· Donna Ruvolo, for her extraordinary championing of the program and her recruiting excellence
· Jennie Staples and Tony Fitzpatrick, the current CRE Committee co-chairs, for their help and support over the past two years
· ML Landfried, for her unparalleled devotion to the cause of RE storage
· Karl Klasson and Tim Anderson, for their carpentry skills in repairing cabinets and table legs
· Countless others who have donated craft materials, helped with Neighboring Faiths lessons and visits, contributed to the CRE Fundraiser, and assisted in so many ways
Many of you have asked what my future plans are. I will be the Director of Religious Education at the First Parish of Sudbury next fall. I look forward to a new challenge, but leave FCB with many happy memories. I have a deep affection for the families here and will long remember the faces of the children and the amusing, insightful and inspirational things they have said and done.
Register now for 2014-2015 Children's RE and 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 12thgrade 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 |
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Among Us
Our love and sympathy to Isabel, Jack, Cynthia and Dan Freeman on the death of their daughter and sister, Abby on June 1, 2014.
Healing wishes to Doris Hunter who is recuperating after surgery. |
Remember to Bring Back Water
Our opening service for the fall on September 7 will be a Multigenerational Water Ingathering. We will celebrate the opening of the church year with a ceremony in which we each pour a small amount of water into a common vessel. The water we bring represents some piece of our summer that we are bringing back into the new year. Whether you go on exotic travels or stay home in your own backyard, remember to bring some water on Sunday, September 7 to represent your spiritual journeys during the summer months. (Empty film canisters are just right.)
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To Our Office Volunteers
Many thanks to the band of folders who come on Friday mornings to prepare our church newsletter mailing and the order of service. This year's regulars were Ilse Kaprielian, Carla Kirmani-Taylor, Mary Louise Landfried, Joan Macey, Pat Paul, Penny Schafer, and Heli Tomford. See you next year! |
72nd Annual All-Church Rummage Sale a Success!
Just when we don't think it's possible for the cold winds to stop, and the trees and plants to bloom, spring arrives. In much the same way, just when we think we can never duplicate last year's success, cannot again have such a great selection of donations and a force of volunteers, the Rummage Sale happens again.Thanks to all 130+ volunteers of time and goods!
Each of the three beneficiaries - The Social Action Committee, Partner Church Committee, and the Window Fund - will receive over $2,000 this year. The net was just under $7,000. The Social Action Committee will in turn give grants to some non-profits, including our own UU Urban Ministry and the UU Service Committee.
Rummage Team providing strong "departmental" leadership: Kathy C., Marion W., Patricia G., Bill Z., Dianthe E., Evelyn C., Priscilla C., Sherry J., Caroline S., Carolyn M., Mary B., Marilyn Y., Teresa H., Roger M., Ed Y., Lauraine D., Bev G., Sara O., and Eva P.
The large crew of volunteers were: Diane L., Laurie N., David W., Jeanne O., Carla K-T., Jocelyn M., Fiona M., Brian K., Martha S., Livia R., Leslie Wa., Melissa M., Penelope R., Bea de M.K., Lynn R., Andrea P., Sarah C., Mark D., Catherine S., Nicole G., Alice T., Nicole B., Ralph J., Ken B., Sara O., Monte A.,Deveaux D.,Jim Su., Tom D., Vickie L., Greg D., Barbara T., Harriet G., Justine U., Laurie G., Siobhan O., Paula D., Rachel B-F., Evelyn A., Jean L., Richard S., Beth W., Deborah B., Betsy P., Leslie T., Laura H., Eleanor H., Joanne A., Sean W., Katie S., Kristin P., Abigail J., Kennady J., Jamison J., Jackie L., Devon B., Jennifer D., Nancy G., Bob M., Lillian A., Marcia M., Melanie S., Jim St., Nathaniel S., Warton W., Melina S., Marian M., Gerri S., Alan C., Jane F., Lanier S., Gladys P., Jen D., Julliette C., Rosie L., Jen M., Debbie P., Pam A., Martha H-C, Dave W., Cheryl B., Jean D., Louise B., John L., Gabrielle G-B, Debora H., Jeremy E., Jack D., Devon B., Tilly H., Eloise McG., Gladys U., Rowan W., Mia A., Kathy L., Emily D., Sonia I., Ann D., Theo I., Margaret M., Peter W., Melissa I., Emily B., Penny E., Sheela A., Kevin G., Deb D., Martin P., Ann C., Amelia I., Eleanor S., Frederica F. and Julie G.
Remainders were gratefully accepted by the Boston Building Resource Center, N.E. Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Grow Clinic, More Than Words, Arlington Little Fox fundraising, Chatham Thrift Store, Cradles to Crayons, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Women's Lunch Place, Rosie's Place, Goodwill Industries, On the Rise, and Solutions at Work.
Once again, the help of staff members Luis C., Susan S., and Alfa R. was invaluable.
Thanks everyone for your time and energy! On behalf of the SAC, Nancy D. and Deb L. |
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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 the link at the First Church website 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
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LIVING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS
Thursday, June 11, 7pm, Library
Nanny Almquist and Kathy Lind
Our lives are constantly changing and facing changes that involve illness makes us feel vulnerable. This ongoing support group provides a space and time to understand and process feelings and circumstances related to dealing with serious illness, both for caregivers and people in all stages of discovery and recovery. |
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AN EVENING WITH RICHARD CURZI & POSITIVE ENERGY - UNPLUGGED
Don't miss this final show of the Second Friday Coffeehouse season this coming Friday, June 13, at 7:30. As is usually the case with Positive Energy, this year's concert will be a wide-ranging variety show, with musical configurations and collaborations covering a number of musical genres, but in contrast with years past, this year's show will feature an all "unplugged" acoustic style throughout the evening. The spotlight this year will also fall on three young musical virtuosi who are all products of The First Church and Belmont Public Schools. Hannah Read, just completing her sophomore year at BHS, will be featured on flute and Rowan Wolf, a Belmont High junior, will show off his skill on the Tenor Saxophone. Finally, Richard's daughter, Bridget, a BHS graduate who now teaches music, will debut some of her original songs. Also featured this year are two Berklee College of Music students. Angelina Mbulo, from Mozambique, Africa (who lives in Belmont), will share her angelic voice. And hailing from Egypt will be Ahmad El Haggar, a vocalist and player of the Oud (a Middle Eastern string instrument), who recently had guest appearances with Carole King and the Boston Pops. Rounding out the group are Paul Judge, Roger Read, Mark Kohler, Rick Dimino, and Jerry Twomey. Positive Energy is known for their uplifting renditions of original songs and nostalgic pop, always played with an original twist that has audiences saying "We were in a frenzy of delight - I can't remember smiling so much!" Admission is $10 ($5 for students and seniors). Featured beneficiaries are Bristol Lodge Shelters and UU Urban Ministry. |
FIRST CHURCH BOOK GROUP
Wednesday, June 25, 7pm, Upper Hall
The Book Group will be hosting its Third Annual Potluck Supper on June 25 at 7pm. We will enjoy summer salads and desserts, talk about books, and plan for the coming year. Please feel free to come (& bring a friend) -- even if you have not participated in the group during the past church year. All are welcome. Please bring a salad, cold entree, or dessert. RSVP astuart@uubelmont.org or kklasson@uubelmont.org if you plan to attend. |
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
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LOOKING AHEAD TO OUR FALL ADULT PROGRAMS
The Adult Programs Committee is currently working on finalizing our plans for some very exciting fall programs. Our program brochure will be available early in September and we'll have a preview of some of the programs in the summer Unitarian. Be sure and save the date for the Women's potluck supper on September 26 and the Men's potluck supper on October 3. |
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