Final week of the Holiday Gift Program
This Sunday will be your last chance to participate in this year's holiday gift program! If you haven't already done so, please be sure and stop by and pick up gift giving information during one of the coffee hours on Sunday, December 6. Please remember that all gifts must be brought to church by Sunday, December 13.
The program benefits children and adults at four different organizations:
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Heading Home - serving homeless adults through housing and support services that lead to self-sufficiency
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Bristol Lodge - serving homeless in various sites
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We look forward to your participation and seeing those gifts piled high! Happy Holidays!
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The most current information about upcoming events is on our Facebook page - no account needed!
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Sunday Worship - December 6
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Sermon: "Hannukah"
Let us celebrate the joys of the miracle of Hannukah and the joys of the miracles of everyday. - Rev. David Bryce
Offertory duet: Milost' Mira, Chant from the Divine Liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church
Davron Monroe, tenor, and Chuck Claus, baritone
Welcome and Announcements
9 a.m.: Peter Guthrie; 11 a.m. Jack Weis - Services at 9 & 11 a.m.; childcare is provided.
- Next Sunday, December 13: Major Music Sunday; one service at 10:30 a.m.
- Sermon archive
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From the Senior Minister,
Rev. David Bryce
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This year, for the second year in a row, we will be having a food collection during the December multi-generational service, which this year is on Sunday, December 20.
We will be collecting food and money for the Grow Clinic at Boston medical Center.
The Grow Clinic, as you know, provides food for children suffering from failure to thrive. The primary cause of this is that their families lack the resources to provide food.
Because of the ages of the children involved, the food requests are fairly specific. Also, there is need for particular vitamins.
There are Grow Clinic displays on tables in both the upper foyer and the downstairs gathering hall where "shopping lists" are available.
I encourage each of us to do two things:
First, bring food for the Grow clinic, and do so not only at the December 20 service, but throughout the year;
Second, advocate for social change so that no child goes hungry.
As a nation we once set for ourselves the noble task of ending poverty in America. We have failed to do so.
Ending poverty is a two-pronged approach.
The first aim is to ensure that there are jobs for everyone - adequate jobs with adequate pay and benefits. Anyone working full-time should be able to support a family. That means (among other things) providing a minimum wage that is a living wage.
The second aim is to guarantee a decent living standard to those who cannot work or cannot find work. We have enough wealth in this nation that we can do that. We lack only the willingness.
I do not believe that individual and private efforts will ever meet the needs of the poor. The task is too large. Only proper government programs can do that.
But until such time that we as a nation again take up the task of meeting these goals individual efforts are necessary no matter how inadequate they may be. And so we must engage in efforts like collecting for the Grow Clinic.
Please join me in doing so on December 20.
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Music Notes
Prequel to Major Music - Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
Join First Church Music Director Ian Garvie as he helps us understand and appreciate the complexity of our Christmastime Major Music Service -The Magnificat, Wq 215, by C. P. E. Bach.
Unitarian Universalists have a long history of learning about the many faith traditions practiced by cultures around the world as well as service and witness to people in need regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, country of origin, and each of the many categories listed in non-discrimination statements.
Educating ourselves about issues related to difference is a necessary component of social justice work. Here at First Church, the CRE program for grades 1-6 includes a pillar that focuses on World Religions offering age appropriate lessons about major religious and philosophical traditions, specifically: Ba'hai, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. In alternate years, this being the year for these two pillars, children in CRE delve into our Judeo-Christian Heritage as well as Unitarian Universalism. Thus, over the course of six years, the kids are exposed twice to each of these three pillars ... { click here for more }
Enjoy a date night out or power through your holiday preparations and help our youth go on their biennial Service Learning trip:
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Wow!! Have you heard?
An anonymous Matching Funds Challenge Grant has just been offered to the Coffeehouse! If we can sell our last targeted 15 Season Tickets to reach our 65 total goal by Jan.1st, the mystery donor will match the income from those last 15 tickets! But ... ONLY if we can sell all 15! On Nov. 23, we had sold 4. That's 11 to go! Double your money: double your impact! This will have a truly meaningful effect on the support we can extend to our beneficiaries. This is a wonderful opportunity for a longstanding First Church social action program. Please jump at the chance and help us meet this generous challenge. NB: Fully tax deductible. Thanks so much!
Double your impact
If we reach our goal of 65 season tickets sold by January 1, the mystery donor will match the income from those last 15 tickets!
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How? At both Coffee Hours at our table, or see Jim Staton, Anne Selman, or Janice Zazinski, or by mail: mail your check for $99, written to First Church in Belmont, memo line marked Coffeehouse, to First Church in Belmont , 404 Concord Ave., P.O. Box 113, Belmont 02478, or drop it off with Janice from 9 til 3 weekdays.
P.S. Brain wave: Buy a Season Ticket as a gift; we have six great shows coming up and your ticket still gets two people in for less than the price at the door.
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Prequel to Major Music with Ian Garvie
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
- Join First Church Music Director Ian Garvie as he helps us understand and appreciate the complexity of our Christmastime Major Music Service: The Magnificat, Wq 215, by C.P.E. Bach.
Ongoing Programs
- Caring for Older Adults - Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
- Living with Serious Illness - Thursday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Library
- Belmont UU Alliance - Wed., Dec. 16, 12 noon, Upper Hall
- Science and Spirituality - Thursday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., Conference room
Social Action - Holiday Fair
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Parish Hall
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Ongoing Programs, Events & Announcements
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Welcoming ushers are needed to welcome our church community to the winter Sunday services and to light the way into the holidays. Find out more during Coffee Hour!
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This Sunday will be your last chance to participate in this year's holiday gift program! Please be sure and stop by and pick up gift giving information during one of the coffee hours on Sunday, December 6.
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"Start the Day Strong" at the Grow Clinic by picking up some hot and cold cereals or vitamins.
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