Calendar
Next Issue: February 17
Deadline: 3pm February 12
Wednesday, February 11
7:00pm CRE Cte. cl5.
7:30pm Facilitators. Lib.
7:30pm Youth Cte. cl7.
8:30pm LPC. Study.
Thursday, February 12
6:45pm Nova Choir. Sanct.
7:00pm Living w/Illness. Lib.
7:00pm AED/CPR UH.
Friday, February 13
7:30pm Coffeehouse. PH.
Saturday, February 14
Youth Group Service Trip.
1:00pm Mindful Yoga. PH.
Sunday, February 15
9:25am Sr. Choir. Parish Hall.
12:30pm Predicting the
Future. Library.
2:00pm Parents w/Kids. Lib.
4:00pm Memoir Writing. cl5.
Monday, February 16
Church office closed.
8:00pm Meditation. Lib.
Tuesday, February 17
7:30pm ProgramCoun.Parlor.
7:30pm SGM. Library.
Wednesday, February 18
12:00pm BelUnitAlliance.UH.
7:00pm Stewardship. cl4.
7:30pm Women's Gr. Lib.
Looking Ahead
Feb 25: FC Book Group
Link to church calendar
|
This Sunday
Music: February 15, 2015
Prelude:
Ian Garvie, organ
Offertory Solo:
The Sky Above the Roof
-R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Irina Kareva, alto
9:00 Postlude:
Mary Beekman, organ
11:00 Sr. Choir:
Tantum ergo in E-Flat Major
-Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
11:00 Postlude:
Ian Garvie, organ
The flowers this Sunday are given by Jill Young Coelho in joyful memory of her parents, Phyllis and Edwin Young, and in gratitude for her sisters and brothers, John, Dorothy, Nathan and Barbara.
Ushers: Eva Patalas & David Warner; Margaret Marks & Debbie Dobbins
Welcome & Announcements:
Penny Schafer & Doug Burden
|
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.
|
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, James Hencke, Abby Jacobs, Steve Saar, Martha Spaulding, and Tom Neel
|
Social Action Corner
ACTION IS OUR PRAYER |
First Church Holiday Fair December 7, 2014
First Church held a very successful annual Holiday Fair on December 7. Eighteen different groups raised funds for social welfare causes both near (Grow Clinic, Urban Ministry) and far (Save the Children, Ebola Orphans, Izotalillo Village, El Salvador). Profits raised for these causes totaled $6,830.00. Thank you to the many church members who helped to recruit organizations, decorate and staff the tables, and set up the Parish Hall for this lively and fun event.
Fund Recipients: Alternative Gifts, Amnesty International, Boston Center Refugee Health & Human Rights, Eastern Service Workers Assn, Elizabeth Seton Center, Grow Clinic, Izotalillo Village/El Salvador, More Than Words, Religious Education Group, Save the Children/Ebola Orphans, Sharing Foundation, Social Action Committee First Church, Transylvania Partner Church, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Urban Ministry, YouthBuild, Youth Group - Himalayan Health Care, Youth Group - Trip, Zienzele Foundation
|
Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic!
Wouldn't you like to add some LOVE to your cart this Valentine Holiday with a few extras for the infants and toddlers at the Grow Clinic?
FOOD: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDICINES
|
A Note from The Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry
Bethany House, our transformational living community for young adult women, is in high need of furniture right now. Desks, desk chairs, beds, bedside tables, and dressers. If you know anyone in your congregation who might be able to donate one of these items please help us out by spreading the word.
In addition, the Bethany House residents are planning a Spread the Love event for February 14th. They will be filling backpacks with necessities and distributing them to the homeless on the streets of Boston. We are collecting winter hats and gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, wipes, candy, granola bars, socks, etc. If you or a group from your congregation would like to collect and donate some of these items we would greatly appreciate it!
Finally, our Roxbury Youth Program is going on a series of college visits over February School Vacation again this year. We are looking for congregations to donate bagged lunches for the youth on one or more of the following days: April 17, 18, or 19. If you or a group from your congregation would like to prepare bag lunches for the youth please let me know asap!
Thank you all so much! Rev. Rebecca Hinds, Director of Congregational and Volunteer Engagement 617-318-6010 x214 / www.uuum.org
|
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.
|
First Church Office
:: 617-484-1054 |
|
5 Things To Know This Week
- Stewardship Drive Update
- Winter Clothing Drive NOW through March 15
- A Path Appears, February 12
- Second Friday Coffeehouse, February 13
- Belmont Unitarian Alliance Lunch & Program, February 18
|
Sunday, February 15
This Beautiful Moon
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.)
We receive messages continuously, whether from life, the world, some divine source or our own inner being. How well do we listen?
** Next Sunday, February 22**
Laura Wagner, UU Mass Action, The Power of Being a Faith Community
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons
|
|
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
On the pagan calendar, today (Feb 02) is Imbolc, a "cross-day" halfway between a solstice and an equinox, in the case of Imbolc, halfway between winter and spring. Yes, despite the late January blizzard and the early February snow, spring is on its way.
Some gardeners have already begun to sow seeds indoors for spring planting, a reminder that tending a garden is a year round project that involves many different kinds of activities.
Tending the garden of our congregation is also a year round project, though certain bring with them more intensity.
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word "husband" used to mean "peasant farmer" and so to speak of "husbandry" is to speak of caring for or tending to. Given modern sensibilities, let us use the term "steward" instead.
We are stewards of our congregation and so we have various tasks to do to tend it. It needs enough volunteerism, enough personal interaction and, yes, enough money, to be a truly healthy place.
We cannot all provide an abundance of each of these, but most of us can all provide an abundance of at least one of these and some small amounts of the others.
May we each feel responsible for the health of our community, may we each give what we can in all areas of congregational life, and may we each feel that we are a part of this place and of all that it does.
|
Music Notes from Alfa Radford
VALENTINE HEARTS to the Nova and Sr. Choirs for beautiful anthems last Sunday, meant to bring attention to Rev. Bryce's stewardship sermon; and to Chuck Claus, Ian Garvie, and Livia Racz, for their unique and exotic "Dharmasong."
For PARENTS of CHORISTERS:
CHANCEL & JR. CHOIRS sing in church:
March 8 Multigenerational Services:
9:00am Jr (K-Gr4) Arrive 8:30
11:00am Chancel (Gr5-6) Arrive 10:15
REGULAR MONDAY EVENING REHEARSALS:
JR. CHOIR (K-Gr4) Mons 6:30-7:00pm. Sing in church Mar 8 & Jun 14.
CHANCEL CHOIR (Gr5-6) Mons 7:00-7:45pm. Sing in church Mar 8, May 10, Jun 14.
YOUTH CHOIR (Gr. 7-High Sch) Mondays 7:45-8:30 pm. Sing in church March 22, May 10.
NOTE regarding Monday Holidays henceforth:
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIRS: (No Childr/Youth rehearsals on 2/16, 4/20, 5/25)
QUOTABLE: (Because it amuses me so, this is a repeat, yet again!)
"For those who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs."
Joyful blessings, Alfa
|
Stewardship Update: Learn - Reflect - Decide - Respond
Stewardship Season is underway! Please take this time to LEARN about The First Church's finances and REFLECT on David Bryce's stewardship sermon delivered on February 8. This year's letter, brochure with details of church finances, stewardship sermon text, and a chart of recommended pledging levels are all available online at www.uubelmont.org/stewardship. You will receive your pledge form and reply envelope in the mail in late February, at which time we will hope you will be ready to DECIDE on your level of pledge support for 2015-16. This year, we will once again kick off our RESPOND phase with a celebratory service on Sunday March 1, at which all parishioners are invited and encouraged to return their signed pledge cards. Thank you, as always, for your consideration and for your support of the church we all love. - The First Church Stewardship Committee
|
Winter Clothing Drive
Now through March 15th
DONATION BOXES in Lower Hall.
The 9th grade COA group will be volunteering with homeless people in the Boston area and learning about poverty and homelessness next month. Please help us with a clothing drive in advance!
USED items (for men or unisex), including:
* Winter coats
* Sweatshirts and sweat pants (especially hooded sweatshirts)
* Sweaters, Long-sleeve shirts, T-shirts
* Jeans, khakis, other casual pants and belts
* Waterproof boots, comfortable shoes and sneakers
* Hats, waterproof gloves, scarves
* All kinds of carrying cases such as backpacks, tote bags, fanny packs and small suitcases with wheels (in good condition)
* Sleeping bags and blankets (clean & in good condition)
NEW items, including:
* New white socks
* New underwear - size L, XL, XXL
TRAVEL-SIZE Toiletries, including:
* Soap, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, Chapstick, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream and razors. (Please no aftershave or mouthwash containing alcohol.)
*Please NO children's clothes, dress clothes, slippers, bathrobes, pajamas or out-of-season clothing. For questions, please contact Julie Ennis at [email protected]
|
If you've been to the Bidding for Good website, at www.biddingforgood.com/uubelmont, you know that the Silent Auction is going strong. You still have a few days to outwit the competition and emerge victorious with the items you want. But hurry--the bidding closes on Saturday, February 14 at 10:00pm. Be sure to place your final bids by then.
And please pick up your winnings (if they're portable) on Sunday, February 15 after either of the worship services.
Haven't done any bidding yet? Go to the website, where you'll find more than 200 wonderful items in every price range. You can buy a place at the table for Lanier Smythe's exquisite Moroccan dinner, the Partner Church Committee's delectable Hungarian feast, Sandy Nayak's superb South Indian vegetarian food, Kathy Crawley and John & Teresa Howe's delicious lobster dinner or Michael Griffin's scrumptious gourmet vegetarian/vegan patio meal.
And those are just the dinners! You'll find excursions, services, gift certificates, sports and entertainment tickets, art objects, and much more on the Bidding for Good website. But hurry--the bidding closes on Saturday, February 14 at 10:00pm. Maybe you'll find something for your special Valentine.
|
THE BREAST CANCER JOURNEY
Melanie Deveikas - Tue, Feb 10 (Parlor), 24, Mar 10, 7:30pm, Lib
An educational series focusing on life & wellness during and after breast cancer treatment. Each week there will be a wellness education topic for discussion. There will also be an opportunity for sharing your breast cancer journey and related concerns through and beyond treatment. Melanie Deveikas, PT, MHA is a physical therapy graduate of the University of Vermont. For more information or to sign up, please contact Melanie at [email protected].
|
THE CONVERSATION PROJECT - Part II
Tuesday, February 10, 7:30pm, Library
Please join the Rev. Rosemary Lloyd in this continuing discussion. If you weren't able to attend Part I, please contact Lillian ([email protected]) to receive the distributed materials. The Rev. Rosemary Lloyd has a life-long interest in end of life care and ethics. An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Rosemary has led courses in congregational settings on aging and end of life choices for more than 10 years.
|
A PATH APPEARS IN BELMONT - A Campaign to Make a Difference, Thursday, Feb 12, 7pm at Temple Beth El, 2 Concord Ave, Belmont. Part Three of the Three Part PBS Series based on the book A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This film series is about tough issues facing women and girls around the world and here in the United States. There will be a follow-up discussion moderated by Janet Domenitz, Executive Director of MASSPIRG.
|
AED/CPR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION!
Thursday, Feb 12, 7-9pm, UH (snowdate, Feb 14, 3-5pm)
First church has arranged to have Maureen Zuccaro, a certified American Heart Association (AHA) CPR trainer return to provide certification or re-certification in CPR and the use of the AED machine for those who would like to participate. The Heartsaver AED course is designed for Lay Rescuers by the AHA. It includes Adult child and infant CPR/AED and choking using individual mannequins with plastic barrier protection. The cost is $40 per person. Registration is required and space is limited to 10 people. If you are interested, please contact Lillian at [email protected].
|
LIVING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS
Kathy Lind - Thursday, Feb 12, 7pm, Library
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.
|
2nd FRIDAY COFFEEHOUSE
Friday, February 13
This week the 2nd Friday Coffeehouse is proud to welcome two veteran performers to our stage. Eric Kilburn writes and performs songs about "what I see..." and displays a gift for finding gentle humor in our human condition. The Kenny Selcer Band is a quartet featuring guitar, bass, percussion, and vocals, performing a variety of upbeat tunes guaranteed to "get your toes tappin'..." So join us to make Friday the 13th Lucky at First Church and support our featured beneficiary and long-time associate Bristol Lodge. Check out the flyer!
|
MINDFUL YOGA
Jessica Hicks - Sat, Feb 14, 1-2:30pm, Parish Hall
Due to popular demand Jess has offered to continue the class on the second Saturday of each month. Please note the time change. Slow flow, mindful yoga for adults of all ages, abilities, and experience levels. Come experience embodied awareness in motion while stretching and strengthening your body in a supportive community. Jess is a registered yoga instructor with a lifetime of practice and a love of both the movement and still aspects of yoga practice to share. Drop-in.
|
3 SCIENTISTS PREDICT THE FUTURE
Jack Dennis, Jon Graves and Edwin Taylor
Sunday, Feb 15, 12:30pm, Library
People who predict the distant future have a bad record. H. G. Wells expected that television would appear in the twenty-third century. Who would have predicted that by 2014 a young couple could eliminate more than 500 genetic diseases forever from their children's bloodlines? Jack Dennis (a computer specialist), Jon Graves (a molecular biologist), and Edwin Taylor will make modest predictions about developments in the next five years and join you in thinking about the coming decade. Refreshments served.
|
Article Headline
Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing. Drive traffic to your website by entering teaser text for the article with a link to your website for readers to view the full text.
|
|
ALLIANCE LUNCH & PROGRAM AT FIRST CHURCH
Wed, Feb 18, 12:00 noon - All Women and Men Welcome
Alice Trexler, a retired Tufts University performing arts professor, will discuss "Viewing Dance" using selected video excerpts from Swan Lake and other classic and recent choreographic examples. This session follows an Alliance arts program on How to View Art and an outing to the Tufts University Art Gallery. The Alliance lunch begins at 12:00 and the program at 1:00pm. To help us prepare for the number of attendees, please contact Susan Street (617.484.1054 x201) and let her know that you will attend and the number of your guests. Bring your own sandwich and we will provide soup, beverage, and dessert. Suggested lunch donation: $1.00 per person.
|
SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY
Ken Bernstein and Edwin Taylor - Thu, Feb 19, 7:30pm, CR
Alice Trexler will lead us in a discussion of E. O. Wilson's latestbook, The Meaning of Human Existence. Wilson is known as the father of sociobiology and a major exponent of biodiversity. The reading is available for download at eftaylor.com/sands
|
THE FIRST CHURCH BOOK GROUP
We will meet on Wed, Feb 25, at 7:30pm in the Library to discuss the 2012 National Book Award winner, Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Amartya Sen, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, described Behind the Beautiful Forevers as "A beautiful account, told through real-life stories, of the sorrows and joys, the anxieties and stamina, in the lives of the precarious and powerless in urban India whom a booming country has failed to absorb and integrate. A brilliant book that simultaneously informs, agitates, angers, inspires, and instigates." The Book Group is always open to new members and does not require a commitment to attend future meetings. Please contact Anne Stuart at [email protected] if you are interested in participating.
|
|
|