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Sunday Worship - January 31, 2016
Sermon: Why This Community is Needed - Rev. David Bryce
We have something special here; really, we have many special things here. And this is important for us, for our children and for the future.
Prelude: Berceuse by Louis Vierne (1870-1937); Dylan Sauerwald, organ Postlude: Ricercar in C major by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706); Dylan Sauerwald, organ Welcome and Announcements: 9 a.m. Ana Hammock; 11 a.m. Jackie Neel
Ushers: 9 a.m.: Sara Oaklander & Debora Hoffman; 11 a.m.: Martin Plass & Milo Plass
Lay Pastoral Care: 9 a.m. Devon Beckett; 11 a.m. James Hencke
The flowers on the Chancel table this Sunday are given by Laurie Graham.
- Services 9 & 11 a.m.; childcare is provided.
- Sunday, February 7: Social Justice as a Spiritual Practice - Laura Wagner, LICSW and Executive Director, UU Mass Action
- Sermon archive: uubelmont.org/sermons
- Directions & parking
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
If you want to give God a good laugh, make plans.
Planning is a fascinating thing: quite important and yet often irrelevant.
The Program Council met a few weeks ago to plan the major events for the 2016 to 2017 program year. Yes, they were looking a year and a half into the future.
I am already "late" in planning the Sunday service schedule (just the schedule, not the topics) for the 2017 to 2018 year. It sounds odd to be thinking that far ahead, but it is important to do so in order to allow many different services to fit into the calendar. We have a multigenerational spring service, the Coming of Age and Youth Group services, the annual celebration of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the New Member service to schedule.
And we have to build that schedule round the "floating" service for Easter which also means that the Music service on Palm Sunday changes dates from year to year. Add in Earth Day and Stewardship Celebration Sunday and the scheduling process becomes quite an intricate task.
Please note, I am not complaining or moaning about the "difficulties" I face; I am merely reporting what we all know about the process of scheduling and how complex it can be. We all do it, we all work through competing needs and priorities to finally develop a schedule and a plan for the future.
And God laughs.
Because no matter how carefully we plan, circumstances change, life changes, we change. And that means that so many of our plans and schedules need to be modified or even become irrelevant.
Yet planning is a necessity, because some things will come to pass as expected and if we have not planned and prepared for them, we will be scrabbling to catch up with events.
So in our lives, let us plan, but let us do so with some level of humility-and with some sense of humor about our efforts. Because if we develop a sense of humor, we can sometimes laugh with God.
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Opportunity to Lead Summer Worship Services
Summer Lay-Led Services have become an important aspect of our shared ministry. These are important touchstones during the summer months, when travel and vacation separate us as a community. They provide opportunities to gather in less formal ways and smaller numbers to engage in worship led by members and friends of First Church.
Have you ever thought to yourself "This would make a great worship service" or "This aspect of spirituality is rich and intriguing for a lay led theme"? Do you have a personal or professional interest that would enrich us?
The Worship Committee welcomes inquiries about leading a service this summer from June 19- September 4. Committee members will be available for support, resources, and brainstorming themes/ideas for services.
Recent themes have included Ethical Eating, Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness in Everyday Live, Tolerating Intolerance, Lughnasadh Ritual Celebrating First Fruits and many others.
If you would like to consider leading a service this summer or partnering with someone else to develop a meaningful experience for fellow parishioners, please contact Ariane Frank at 617-484-2149 or ariane.frank@gmail.com. Although it's hard to imagine with storm and freezing temperatures outside, summer will come to lighten our hearts again!
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All-Church Potluck/Game Night
Saturday,Feb.6, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Parish Hall
Brush off the winter blues and come to the All-Church Potluck and Game Night. This will be a wonderful opportunity to kick back, relax, and have fun.
Savor a diversity of cuisines as varied as our congregation. Bring your favorite dish and bottle of wine to share, and a healthy appetite. Show off your culinary talents, secret recipe, or bring a pizza. Enjoy an evening of fine food and conversation at this fun evening together!
There will also be games for all ages - cards, board games, poker, Twister. Bring along a favorite game you'd like to play!
Potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. and games begin at 6:30 p.m.
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Children's Religious Education: It Takes a Congregation
The CRE classes are wrapping up their exploration of Unitarian Universalism - the values, actions and people that exemplify the meaning of our 7 UU Principles - at the end of this month. You could check out the favorite principle of some of them or read the "footstep" and "wheel-chair" messages left by the 3rd and 4th graders on the path of their "Faithful Journey" over the past four months. Wander down the hall of the CRE Wing to appreciate these visual reminders of who we are as UUs ... { click here for more }
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| | The complete calendar of church events is online. |
Upcoming Adult Programs
New Programs
- Small Group Ministry welcomes new members - Wed., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., Library and Parlor
- Parenting Concerns - "Children and Technology" - Sunday, Jan. 31, 10:15 - 11 a.m., Classroom 5
- Theatre Discussion Series - "Waiting for Godot" - Sunday, Jan. 31, 12:30 p.m., Library
- Spiritual Renewal Through Poetry - Sundays, Jan. 31, Feb.7; 3 p.m., Parlor
- Making Italian Wedding Soup - Sunday, Feb. 7, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Kitchen
Ongoing Programs
- Hootenanny/Jam Session - Wed., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., Library
- Caring for Older Adults - Thursday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
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Program & Committee News
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Team of First Church
Monthly Note (Jan. 2016)
At the UUSC Guest at Your Table Sunday in November, contribution boxes and Stories of Hope were distributed to the congregation. We trust that these stories promoted conversation and reflection and that your box has become fuller and fuller over these weeks. As you remember, this year's funds are going to refugees and displaced persons. Please send your donation by the end of January. { click for more }
Grow Clinic!
January: The Great Jar Race -- Baby Foods of All Kinds! Collection baskets in the Lower Hall.
Caring Connection
The Caring Connection provides support to members of our community who need short-term help.
Lay Pastoral Care TeamThe Lay Pastoral Care Team works with and supports the senior minister in reaching out to members and friends of the First Church who are adjusting to change, loss, illness or death. |
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Connect with UU actions, events & resources
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Contact Usontact Us
617-484-1054 ~ office@uubelmont.org ~ Staff Directory
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Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 - 3.
| 404 Concord Avenue | PO Box 113 | Belmont, Mass. 02478
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In Case of Severe Weather
If a Sunday service is to be cancelled due to inclement weather, a message will be put on the church voicemail system. We will also post a message on our Facebook page, the church's web page, and send a church-wide e-mail. Please use your judgment as to whether you can safely get to services or programming.
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Next Issue
The next issue of The Unitarian is Tuesday, February 2. Please send your submissions to office@uubelmont.org by noon on Wednesday, January 27 for the February 2 issue.
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