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This Sunday
May 10, 2015
Music
9:00 Service
Prelude: Vienna
- Billy Joel (contemp.)
Eva Hill, Amelia Ickes, Allison Hughes, Valentine Ghaemi
Offertory: Ave Verum
- Edvard Grieg (1857-1934)
Combined Nova & Chancel Choirs: For the Earth Forever Turning
-Kim Oler (contemp.)
Postlude: Voluntary in B flat
- John Battishill (18c. English)
Mary Beekman, organ
11:00 Service
Sr. Choir Prelude: O Shenandoah
- Trad'l American Tune, arr. Donald Morse (contemp.)
Youth Choir Offertory: River of Freedom
- Larry Shackley (contemp.)
Sr. Choir: May the Road Rise to Meet You
-Trad'l. Gaelic blessing
Postlude: Fantasie b moll
- J. S. Bach
Alfa Joy Radford, organ
The flowers on the Chancel Table this Sunday are given by Ariane Frank
Ushers
9 a.m.: Bruce Logan & Marianne Leahy
11a.m.: Jen Deaderick & Felicity Lufkin
Lay Pastoral Care
9 a.m.: Devon Beckett
11 a.m.: Martha Spaulding
Welcome & Announcements
9 a.m.: Peter Guthrie
11 a.m.: Tom Neel
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Calendar
Next Issue: May 11
Deadline: May 7
Tuesday, May 5
Small Group Ministry(PS)- Classroom 3/4, 7:30 p.m.
Partner Church Comm. - Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6
Women's Group - Library, 7:30 p.m.
Men's Group - Classroom 5, 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 7
S: Nova Choir, 6:45 p.m.
Small Group Ministry (ES)-Lib, 7:30 p.m.
Knitting Circle - Cl. 4, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 8
COA/YG-Bridging Ceremony & YG Overnight-Parl/Lib/cl5, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
COA reh-Sanct, 4:00 p.m.
COA & Families potluck-PH, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 10
CRE-Library, 8:30 a.m.
Sunday Service, 9:00 a.m.
Senior Choir - Parish Hall, 9:25 a.m.
Sunday Service, 11:00 a.m.
ParentKidsw/Challenges-Lib, 2:00 p.m.
OWL-Lib, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 11
Jobseekers-Library, 9:30 a.m.
Yoga - Parish Hall, 9:30 a.m.
Childr's/Youth Choirs - Sanctuary, 6:30 p.m.
Parish Board - Library, 7:15 p.m.
Meditation-cl5, 8:00 p.m.
The complete church calendar
Where's my meeting?
Room assignments may change at the last minute -- please check online or "This Week's Calendar" on the easel in the Lower Hall for updates.
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Save the Date - May 31
Please join us on Sunday, May 31, in celebrating Alfa Radford's long tenure and service at First Church. Plans are underway for this festive event. Both services that day will have lots of music and reflections on the value and role music plays in the life of our church community.
The recognition for Alfa will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a brief ceremony in the Sanctuary, followed by a party in the Parish Hall with socializing and tributes. More details to come as plans are finalized. Hope you will be there to share with Alfa our thanks and best wishes.
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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 Janice at the Church, 617-484-1054, ext. 201.
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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, James Hencke, Abby Jacobs, Steve Saar, Martha Spaulding, and Tom Neel
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Social Action Corner
ACTION IS OUR PRAYER
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Note
Don't forget to visit the UUSC website to purchase sustainable and fair trade gifts, to sign petitions, and to read reports of worldwide initiatives. In the update section of "Our Work" read a fascinating partner profile of the Center for Human Rights and Environment in Argentina. Discover why and how UUSC is assisting in the protection of glaciers there -- just one of the reasons to celebrate its 75 years at the end of this month.
-- Alice Trexler for the UUSC Team
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Grow Clinic! Grow Clinic!
"Summertime....and the livin' is easy" except if your cupboards are bare and the meals your children have eaten at school all year are no longer available during the summer months. Please help to stock the shelves for summer.
Baby Foods (Stages 1 & 2). Enfamil with Iron. Vegetable or Corn Oil. Boxed Infant Cereals. Cheerios. Flintstone Chewable Vitamins. Parmalat Milk.
Food: One Of The Most Important Medicines
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The Unitarian Newsletter
Please submit items to Janice Zazinski:
- Photos as JPG files
- Attachments as PDF files
- Note that all listed e-mail addresses and phone numbers in The Unitarian are public on our Web site
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Social Media
 
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First Church Office
617-484-1054
Monday - Friday, 9 - 3
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Sunday, May 10 -- Coming of Age Service
The 9th graders and mentors warmly invite you to join them for the culmination of the Coming of Age program, where the 9th graders will present their personal credo statements.
- 9 & 11 church service
- Childcare for infants and young children
- For weather-related service and RE class cancellations, please call 617-484-1054, ext. 250
Sunday, May 17, 2015 -- Membership Sunday
Sermons in text and audio format can be found at uubelmont.org/sermons
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Two days ago (Saturday, April 25) Jim Staton and I represented The First Church in Belmont as delegates to the Mass Bay District annual meeting.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the Clara Barton District and the Ballou Channing District.
Given changes going on within the Unitarian Universalist Association, including combining staff from various Districts, one of the questions that has arisen for the Mass Bay District - and others - is: what is our purpose?
A second, related question is: If we have no purpose, shall we opt for dissolution?
Change is a constant. Sometimes change brings challenges to organizations and institutions that go beyond just asking what style of action works for today's world.
Organizations can and do "repurpose" themselves.
So in 1920 the National American Woman Suffrage Association, having reached its goal of an amendment to the US Constitution to recognize the right of women to vote, transformed itself into the League of Women Voters, giving itself a new purpose: to help women stay educated about voting rights and issues in elections.
Other organizations, failing to find renewed purpose, go defunct.
The questions for all organizations include whether the original purpose has lost its meaning and what, if anything, should take its place?
Setting aside nostalgia - and sometimes vested interests - the reason for being of any group may cease to be valid.
Sometimes things within us - our reactions to events or the emotions that accompany occurrences - may have lost their purpose or may arise at the wrong time. For example, when we feel personally threatened part of us prepares to respond somewhere along the flight-freeze-flight continuum. Usually those, natural though they may be, are not the best response. Instead, learning to respond out of love rather than fear and in hopes of gaining or restoring right relationship is the better approach.
Fear and anger are strong emotions, and they can often override the gentler aspects of our being.
But let us keep them in their place, and let us cultivate loving kindness wherever and whenever we can.
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Music Notes from Alfa Radford
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 10:
Chancel Choir (Gr.5-6) sings at the 9am Service. Arr. 8:15
Youth Choir (Gr.7-up) sings at the 11am Service. Arr.10:15
CALENDAR NOTES for CHOIR PARENTS:
REHEARSALS Monday Nights:
Jr. Choir: (K-Gr. 4) 6:30-7:00pm
Chancel Choir (Gr. 5-6) 7:00-7:45pm
Youth Choir (Gr.7-up) 7:45-8:30pm
CHOIRS SING in CHURCH:
May 10: Chancel Choir(Gr.5-6) sings at 9am. Arrive 8:15
May 10:Youth Choir(Gr.7-up) sings at 11am. Arrive 10:15
June 14: Multigenerational Services:
9am Jr Choir(K-Gr.4) Arrive 8:30.
11am Chancel Choir (Gr.5-6) Arrive 10:15.
NEWS from THE FIRST CHURCH MUSIC COMMITTEE
The Music Committee is very pleased that Ian Garvie, current Assistant Music Director will be assuming the role of Director of Music as of July 1. We are lucky to have such a talented and enthusiastic individual to lead the First Church music program. Last week, the Music Committee embarked on a search for an Assistant Music Director/Organist and plans to conduct interviews during the month of May. The job has been posted at numerous organizations throughout the Boston area.
NEXT FALL's YOUTH/CHILDREN'S CHOIRS MUSICAL:
THE WIZARD OF OZ, directed by Ian Garvie.
Performances Nov 12-15.
Interested Choristers should register online:
Church website: www.uubelmont.org
ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Sunday, June 7th at 8pm.
Harpsichord, flutes, voices, bassoon. Save the date!
Joyful blessings, -Alfa
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A CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING at THE FIRST CHURCH IN BELMONT
Sunday, May 17, 2015, 5 p.m.
Pursuant to a call by Carolyn Howard, President of the Parish Board, you are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of The First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. in the Parish Hall for the election of officers, status of next year's budget, committee highlights, and the transaction of such other businesses as may lawfully come before the meeting.
Hereof, fail not, and make due attendance at said meeting and time.
Only active adult members, who have had standing as such for not less than seven days prior to the meeting, may vote. No proxies will be accepted: you must attend the meeting in order to vote.
Anne Donohue, Parish Clerk
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Welcome to our visitor ... Catherine Scott
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Upcoming Events
All Church Rummage Sale May 9th Needs Your Help!
Saturday May 9th is our important public day. A male volunteer presence is especially welcome for the crowds we expect, but help from anyone allows the Sale to run smoothly. And packing up goes really quickly with a big crew. So please give some of your time on Saturday. By signing up beforehand at vols.pt/P1Evrp, or on the boards in the Upper Gathering Hall, the Committee is able to plan ahead. Volunteers for 2 hours at the Sale may find fantastic bargains for their own use at the pre-Sale! Thanks in advance!
Please bring your donations before 9 PM Wednesday, May 6th so the volunteers can process them.
The Rummage Sale not only supports the Window Fund, the work of the Partner Church Committee and Social Action Committee, but it also provides low-cost goods to the greater community both during the Sale and afterwards through Adopt-a-Non-Profit.
Knitting Circle - Eva Patalas
Thursday, May 7 and 21, 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.
Parenting Kids with Challenges - Andrea Prestwich
Sunday, May 10, 2:30pm, Library
Does your child have special challenges? Has he/she been diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, or sensory problems? We will offer support and share experience in a non-judgmental space. Childcare upon request. Snacks provided.
Living with Serious Illness- Kathy Lind
Thursday, May 14, 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.
Caring for Older Adults - Miriam Baker and Deborah Blumberg
Thursday, May 14, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
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.
The Second Friday Coffeehouse - Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The Second Friday Coffeehouse on May 15 features Paul Judge and Jim Wooster performing two sets. Their first set will be a duet focusing on the music of Neil Finn of Crowded House.
In the second set , they will be joined by Roger Brown, Richard Curzi, and Mark Caddell. The featured beneficiary is the
Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
Science and Spirituality - Ken Bernstein and Edwin Taylor
Thursday, May 21, 7:30pm, Conference Room
Tony Alcorn will lead a discussion on The China Study by T. Colin and Thomas M. Campbell. Do extensive statistics show that we can eliminate many diseases from the earth by proper diet? Is it our spiritual duty to try? The reading can be downloaded from eftaylor.com/sands
First Church Book Group - Karl Klasson and Anne Stuart
Wednesday, May 27, 7:30pm, Library
Our book for May is Marisa Silver's Mary Coin: A Novel. Here is a snippet about that book from the Booklist review:
"Inspired by Migrant Mother, the iconic Depression-era photograph snapped by Dorothea Lange in 1936, Silver reimagines the lives of both the photographer and the subject....this dual portrait investigates the depths of the human spirit, exposing the inner reserves of will and desire hidden in both women....The luminously written, heart-wrenching-yet never maudlin-plot moves back and forth through time, as history professor Walker Dodge unpeels the layers of the photograph's hidden truths." -Margaret Flanagan, Booklist
The Social Action Committee of First Church and Belmont against Racism invite you to Criminal Justice Reform, Thursday, May 28
What is being done in Massachusetts to address mass incarceration? With:
- State Senator Will Brownsberger, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee
- State Representative Dave Rogers
- Leslie Walker, Esq., Executive Director of Prisoners Legal Services
- Time: 7 PM - 9 PM
- Place: First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist, Parish Hall
- This event is free and open to the public.
- Light refreshments will be served from 6:30-7:00 pm.
Belmont Against Racism will have a brief presentation at 6:45 pm
SAVE THE DATE -- September 18 - 20
REGISTRATION STARTING SOON
11th Annual Sandy Island Retreat 18-20, 2015
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. Join us for a fabulous weekend of relaxing, kayaking, games, tennis, ping pong, shared meals, interesting conversation, bocce, swimming, volleyball, fun and fellowship. Questions, contact fellowship@uubelmont.org. |
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Volunteer Sign Up for 2015-2016 Church Year
What time and talent do you have to contribute to the mission of First Church? As we plan for another vibrant year of fellowship, worship, service and joy for the 2015-2016 year, we need your volunteer commitment to run the church and keep our congregation moving forward.
In May, the Membership Committee is distributing and collecting Volunteer Sign up forms for next year. These are due on May 17th and are available in the sanctuary, on the bulletin board and on the FCB website to download and print off. Please fill out your volunteer sign up sheet as soon as possible and make your interests and talents known so you can make a difference in keeping FCB strong! If you have questions, contact members of Membership committee whose names and contact information are listed on the form.
You may download the sign-up form as a Word or PDF document. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to First Church!
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Support the UUSC-UUA Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund
The loss of life and devastation in Nepal from the recent earthquake are truly staggering. UUSC and the UUA have activated emergency response efforts.
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