Calendar
Next Issue: December 2
Deadline: 9am Wed Nov 26
Thursday, November 27
Church office closed.
Friday, November 28
Church office closed.
Sunday, November 30
9:25am Sr. Choir. Parish Hall.
4:00pm Men's Group. Library.
Monday, December 1
6:00pm Bellringers. Sanctuary.
6:30pm Jr; 7 Chan; 7:45 Youth.
7:30pm Adult Programs. CR.
7:30pm Caring Conn. cl5.
8:00pm Meditation. Library.
Tuesday, December 2
7:00pm Human Rts Subcte. cl5.
7:30pm Partner Church Cte.CR.
7:30pm SGM. Library.
7:30pm Worship Cte. Parlor.
Wednesday, December 3
7:30pm Prequel to Major
Music. Parish Hall.
7:30pm Women's Gr. Lib.
Looking Ahead
Dec 5: COA Late Night
Dec 6: Hanging of the Greens
Dec 7: Holiday Fair
Wednesday, December 24:
Christmas Eve Services:
2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 11pm
Link to church calendar |
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This Sunday
Music: November 30, 2014
Prelude: Thanksgiving
-C. Demarest (late 19th c.)
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
Offertory Solo:
Melanie Bacaling, soprano
9:00 Postlude: Ian Garvie
11:00 Sr Choir: Season of the Grateful Heart
-Jim Scott (contemp UU composer)
11:00 Postlude: Nun danket alle Gott -S. Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
The flowers this Sunday are given by Debbie Dobbins in honor of her parents' 61st wedding anniversary on November 28, and although Iona Dobbins passed away in 2012, Richard Dobbins now lives in the town of his childhood, outside Boston and is visited by family and friends frequently. They gave their two daughters and three grandchildren childhoods rich with experiences and a love of culture, among other things.
Ushers:
Evelyn Corsini and Marion Westgate; Cheryl Brown and John Hughes
Welcome & Announcements:
Penny Schafer and Doug Burden |
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Social Action Corner
ACTION IS OUR PRAYER |
Thank You! Members and friends of The First Church have done it again! Your generosity on one single Sunday resulted in those paper turkeys gobbling up contributions to the Belmont Food Pantry's holiday meal effort! This money will be used to provide Star Market holiday gift cards to families and individuals served by the Belmont Food Pantry, and to meet the needs of those they serve beyond the holidays, as well. If you haven't yet contributed to this effort and would like to, please send in a check to First Church - with "Belmont Food Pantry" on the memo line - and your donation will be forwarded on to the Food Pantry. Many, many thanks to all of you for your participation in this annual social action tradition! |
Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic!
Reminder: We have a year-round collection of books for the Grow Clinic staff to send home with their families. Gently-used Board Books, Picture Books and "I Can Read" Books are very much appreciated. The Grow Library--downstairs next to our giraffe Gloria Stretch Growie! |
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Oh, Glorioski!
We're really in the home stretch! It's happening! We are within five (5!) tickets of our sales goal for Second Friday Coffeehouse Season Tickets! Run, don't walk, to your checkbook! Bring it to the Coffeehouse table at the next coffee hour and get your ticket. Or send your check for $99 made out to First Church in Belmont (memo line marked Coffeehouse) to First Church in Belmont, P.O. Box 113, Belmont 02478. Help your First Church friends to bring truly meaningful change to the lives of the grateful clients of our worthy beneficiaries, and enjoy the warm and wonderful music and fellowship of the Coffeehouse shows. Together we'll have made it a real Thanksgiving! Blessings on you all! |
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Best UUSC Holiday Cards Ever!
If you purchase UUSC Holiday Cards this year, you will receive these benefits:
· A selection of beautiful cards with cross-cultural designs and UU appropriate text.
· You will be helping the UU Service Committee - that works with over 50 international partners to defend human rights and promote justice.
The cards will be on sale in the Upper Gathering Hall each Sunday and then at the First Church Holiday Fair on Sunday, December 7th. You can also practice "Compassionate Consumption" by purchasing UUSC Holiday Cards and sustainable holiday gifts online at www.thegoodbuy.com. |
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Pledge Payments
The office is closed between Christmas and New Year's - anyone wishing their pledge payments to be credited to 2014 should be sure to make payments by 12.15.14.
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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
- Prequel to Major Music Service, December 3
- Holiday Gift Program
- Hanging of the Greens, December 6
- Holiday Fair, December 7
- Looking for Christmas Eve Ushers
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Sunday, November 30
Expressing Our Gratitude
Rev. David M. Bryce
9:00 & 11:00 Church Service
Childcare for infants and young children
(For weather-related Service and Children RE class cancellations, please check 617.484.1054 x250.)
Our Thanksgiving service last week was about finding gratitude. Today's service is about expressing that gratitude.
** Next Sunday, December 7 **
Rev. David M. Bryce preaching, What Are the Rules About the Rules?
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons |
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
As we enter into the season of holidays I hope that this will be a time of blessing for all of us.
May we be blessed by the love we receive, both expected and unexpected;
May we be blessed by the love we give, to family and friends and strangers;
May the person we most want to see show up on our doorstep;
May the person we most want to be show up in our words and acts;
May our bellies be filled with the right amount of food;
May our hearts be filled to overflowing with gratitude, peace and joy;
May the gift we receive be just what we wanted, just perfect, just right;
May the real gift we receive, the true gift, be that of a deeper connection to all that we are, to all whom we know, to all that is;
May our holidays, every one of them, be times of restoration, re-creation and recommitment to all that is good.
Peace and happiness to all. |
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Music Notes from Alfa Radford
IMPORTANT CALENDAR Items for Alumni, Nova, and Youth/Children's Choirs: Youth, Chancel, and Jr. Choirs will sing in church on Sunday, Dec 21, and on Christmas Eve.
Holiday Music Rehearsals continue every Monday night. New singers welcome!
JR. CHOIR (K-Gr4) reh Mon, Nov 17 6:30-7:00
CHANCEL CHOIR (Gr5-6) reh Mon, Nov 17 7:00-7:45
YOUTH CHOIR (Gr7-High Sch) reh Mon, Nov 17 7:45-8:30
ALUMNI CHOIR (former Youth Ch singers) Reh Dec 24 11:00am
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| Children's Religious Education Information: It Takes a Congregation
You might have noticed that the Winter 2014 issue of the UU World has three articles that remind us of the importance of creating and following Safe Congregations policies. Our congregation has a number of core practices that are part of every Safe Congregation policy - we do background checks on all employees and volunteers who work with minors, we have a code of ethics that our teacher-volunteers sign, our registration process provides us with emergency contact and medical information, a minimum of two teacher-volunteers are in each classroom or with each group, and so on. Safe Congregations policies also include such things as making sure that fire drills are done each year for the entire congregation, classroom doors have windows in them or are left open, and the location of first aid boxes, fire extinguishers, and defibrillators.
Practices such as these are in alignment with the policies and procedures in our communities, schools, recreation programs, and the expectations of insurance companies. They are not outside the norm in the 21st century. First Church has many of the basics covered in terms of best practices, but it does not have a written Safe Congregations policy. The next step is to see that our best practices are formalized into a written policy for First Church in Belmont.
Highlights from Our Religious Education Wing
Parents of 8th graders are reminded that Our Whole Lives (OWL) registrations are due. The mandatory Parent Orientation session will take place on Sunday, December 7th at 7pm in the Library. Please e-mail FCBOWL@gmail.com for details or if you have questions. The program is filling up; make sure your 8th grader has a spot in this valuable part of our children's religious education programming.
A couple of people asked about a giving guide that has been used in the past in conjunction with the UUSC Guest-At-Your-Table (GAYT) program that takes place each year starting near Thanksgiving and ending around New Year's Day. We encourage you to place a special container you have designated for your GAYT contributions at the empty place setting at your table. The idea is to make monetary donations into the container based on the material stuff that we (who have more than enough) take for granted, like "10-cents for every flush toilet in your home." I have tracked down a couple of versions of this and have posted links on the CRE page of our website (http://uubelmont.org/religious-education/). No matter how you choose to participate, be sure to make GAYT a spiritual practice that each member of the family engages in at every meal. Materials about the UUSC GAYT program can be found in the Upper Gathering Hall.
~Charlotte Lehmann, Acting Director of Children's Religious Education
Office hours (generally): Sundays 8 am-1pm; Tue/Wed/Thu 10am-6pm
E-mail: clehmann@uubelmont.org. |
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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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Among Us
Our love and sympathy to Pam Andrews on the death of her mother on November 15.
Healing wishes to Ed Bing in his recovery. |
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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, Martha Spaulding, and Tom Neel |
In the Spirit of the Season, Please Join in the Holiday Gift Program...
First Church's holiday gift program is underway and you can pick up gift giving information at both coffee hours on Sunday, November 30. The program benefits children and adults at four different organizations: Heading Home - serving homeless adults through housing and support services that lead to self-sufficiency; Bristol Lodge - serving homeless in various sites; Mary's House - serving homeless families with children; and the Grow Clinic - serving failure to thrive kids and their families at Boston Medical Center. Gift-giving information will also be available during the Holiday Gift Fair on December 7, with the gifts due on Sunday, December 14. Don't miss this chance to involve your kids in giving to other kids! For more information, contact Sara Oaklander at 617.504.3369 or saraoaklander@gmail.com, Joan Stoddard at 617.484.5778 or jstoddard@partners.org, or Sherry Mulloy at symulloy71@aol.com. We look forward to your participation and seeing those gifts piled high! Happy Holidays! |
Looking for Christmas Eve Ushers
We need MANY volunteers to help usher at our four Christmas Eve Services on Wednesday, December 24.
· At 2pm, we need 8 ushers
· At 4pm, we need 8 ushers
· At 6pm, we need 8 ushers
· At 11pm, we need 4 ushers
Please consider this two-hour commitment to a treasured event in our church year. Look for the Christmas Eve Usher sign-up board at coffee hour, or contact David Warner, dwarner@uubelmont.org. |
CASTING CALL
Actors needed to start rehearsals right away for the FCB Auction, "A Night at the Oscars." Choose the role that's right for you, and it will magnify your enjoyment of The Big Night-Saturday, February 7-when it finally arrives. Does your talent lie in soliciting donations? Set design? Waiting tables until your big break comes along? Selling tickets to the show? Join one of the committee members listed below and help make this an award-winning event.
Rolling credits: Beverages & Bar, Charlie Hubbard. Decorations, Melanie Salisbury. Design, Lyn Hamer. Finance, Penny Shafer. Lights & Sound, Guy Parsons. Music, Jim Wooster. Communications, Martha Spaulding. Tickets & Registration, Eva Patalas. Silent & Live Auction, Ana Hammock. Food, TBD.
For questions, suggestions, or to volunteer, write to Executive Producer Marion Westgate at UU.Belmont.Auction@gmail.com. Let's put on a show! |
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PREQUEL TO MAJOR MUSIC SUNDAY - Ian Garvie
Wednesday, December 3, 7:30pm, Parish Hall
Ian will help us to understand the intricacies of what we know and love about G. F. Handel's Messiah Part I. The music includes exuberant choruses, poignant solos and mystical recitatives which tell the Nativity story.
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CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS
Miriam Baker and Deborah Blumberg - Thur, Dec 4, 7:30pm, CR
Many people are juggling jobs, families and their parents' or other family members' increasing medical needs, frequent emergencies and ongoing need for care. How do we cope with the needs of our loved ones and find some balance in our own lives? What do we need to learn as we take on this task? How do we find information and community? If you find yourself in this position, you are welcome at this group for discussion and support. This is a drop-in group so please attend when it is convenient for you.
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KNITTING CIRCLE
Eva Patalas - Thursday, Dec 4, 8pm, Classroom 4
Come join us in the fun and fellowship of knitting with a genial group on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. 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. Contact Eva with any questions.
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HANGING of the GREENS - Dec 6, 10am-1pm
Please come and help us decorate the church for the holidays. Eleanor Sugarman has ordered 23 wreaths (small, large and gigantic), and we will be hanging them all around the church. Tasks range from tidying up the bows to climbing ladders and there will be hot cider and donuts to fuel the work. No need to sign up ahead, but if you have questions, please contact Carolyn Mieth at 617.864.6751.
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HOLIDAY FAIR - Sunday, Dec 7, 10am-2:00pm, Parish Hall
Social Action Committee - Come One, Come All to the 6th Annual Holiday Gift Fair sponsored by the Social Action Committee. Does your Holiday shopping need a shot in the arm? Looking for a unique gift that will indisputably receive ooohs and ahhhs? Trying desperately to spend your hard earned money on gifts that benefit something other than large corporations? Come to the Holiday Gift Fair and buy gifts that give twice. Experience the pleasure of knowing your purchasing power is really working to help people in so many ways. Discover unique gifts that support fragile situations and worthy causes. There are wonderful gifts for everyone on your list, so please join us at this festive occasion. Open to the public from 12-2pm - please invite your friends and neighbors!
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