The Unitarian - March 15, 2016



Sunday Worship - March 20, 2016

 

Major Music Sunday presents Requiem K626, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

 

This requiem is Mozart's last, unfinished composition. It is, perhaps, one of the greatest and most mysterious works in Western music. Because Mozart died so young while working on a mass for the dead, this music has attracted an unfair, though inevitable, amount of myth and popular drama. Join the Senior Choir and a professional orchestra for this truly incredible piece!

 

One service at 10:30 a.m. Childcare is provided.

 

Welcome and Announcements: Penny Schafer

 

Ushers: David Warner, Lauraine Dalton, and Hanspeter Pfister

 

The flowers on the Chancel table this Sunday are given by Anjali Kumar and Anthony Vagnucci to celebrate escaping winter's wrath and the many spring birthdays in their family.

forest_landscape_tree.jpg
Easter Sunrise Service - March 27
Come join our ritual of creating sacred space at sunrise at Habitat in Belmont. Meet in FCB parking lot at 5:45 or meet at the Habitat parking lot (10 Juniper Road, Belmont) at 6 a.m.
     Breakfast will be served at church following the service. All are warmly welcomed to be in fellowship with us. Questions: contact Kathy Crawley at [email protected] or Kristin Phillips at [email protected].
Rev. David Bryce
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
I am in the midst of reading a Charles Dickens novel called The Pickwick Papers. Many of you probably read it long ago.
     I cannot really tell you how far into I am other than to say somewhere near half way.
     Since I am reading it on an e-reader, I do not know how many pages it has or what page I am on, but I can tell you that I have about 6,000 locations more to read.
     The experience of reading this is interesting - not the book so much as my response. Clearly it is meant to be humorous, witty, etc. I have not laughed once; some of the references escape me as they are to early nineteenth century life, and I find myself to be mostly blas� about the story. If I were to be asked to write a review of the story - or to give my opinion of it to someone - I would be quite non-committal in my comments.
     And yet, each evening I look forward to picking it up and reading more. Odd. It is as if two very different portions of my brain are responding in different ways to what I am reading.
I began to wonder about how often in the lived events of our life we think or feel in similar ways: speaking or consciously thinking of things as blas�, or having at best tepid words to say in reaction to them, and yet really liking them or finding them fascinating.
     Perhaps this does not apply to you. Well and good.
     But if it does, what is it that is happening? And how does it apply to such things as our spiritual paths?
     We know, of course, that the human brain is quite complex. We know, for example, that the frontal lobes are awash with emotions and "choose" which one or ones to respond to. (This seems to be a non-conscious choice; from the subjective perspective, it just happens. We feel what we feel because our frontal lobes have decided what we will feel. Perhaps some learn to "train" their lobes to respond in particular ways.)
     But this disconnect between competing feelings about events is something more than that - it is as if there are two choice centers in the brain each making a different assessment.
     Speaking in general terms, might this be why some people who say they are not spiritual or religious regularly attend worship services?
     Might that be why some who say they are deeply spiritual and desirous of community never attend worship services? (Note: I said "some".)
     Might this be why some who claim no spirituality at all seem deeply connected to life, to the universe and to other people; while some who claim deep spirituality seem quite detached from all of that?
     In your spiritual search, is there unity and wholeness or is there this kind of separation? And if that separation exists, is it conflictual or complementary?
     Meanwhile, I look forward to reading the next chapter of The Pickwick Papers.
Stewardship Drive - Mind The Gap!  Still $95,000 to go!
If you have not yet made a pledge to the 2016 March Stewardship Drive, we need to hear from you now.  Thus far, 209 pledges from First Church families and individuals have raised $506,694, over 84% of our goal! But now is the hardest part, and we still need $95,000 to reach our $601,000 pledge target. Many have already responded to the call to increase their pledge amounts over last year's levels. Will you join them? Our total pledge dollars have actually dipped slightly during the past two years due to the loss of several generous long-time donors, so it takes increases from the rest of us, including new members and friends, to make up that difference and meet the increased budgetary demands for the 2016-17 church year. If your circumstances are such that you are not able to make a financial commitment to First Church for the coming year, please let us know; as long as we hear from you, we can count you as participating in this year's drive. Either way, please try to send us your pledge or response no later than this Sunday, March 20.
 
Pledging is easy!
With thanks,
The First Church Stewardship Committee - Roger Read, Chair
Children's Religious Education: It Takes a Congregation
The presidential primary season always leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth due to the rancorous debates and the negative/attack ads, but this year is the worst one I can remember in my adult life. The rallies filled with histrionics and slurs raise feelings in me of great concern for our society. As some dear friends of mine always used to say, "I love our country, but fear our government." I'll admit that I am more afraid of possible future leadership of our country now than I have ever been ... { click for more }
Youth Group News
UU College of Social Justice trainings
The UU College of Social Justice is offering three Activate youth justice trainings this summer! Generous financial aid is available for those who need it. 

UU Urban Ministry hosts Youth Week in April - "Making Friends, Doing Justice"
Come learn about urban social justice issues, challenge oppression, roll up your sleeves and volunteer in the City of Boston! ... { click for more }
Upcoming Adult Programs


New Programs
  • Five Wishes - Tuesday, March 22, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
  • Muslims in America - Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Temple Beth El
  • UUA Tour - Sunday, April 3, 12:30 p.m., Library
  • UU Purposes and Principles - Sunday, April 10, 12:30 p.m., Library
  • Theatre Discussion - Sunday, April 10, 3 p.m., Library
Ongoing Programs
  • Meditation - Mondays, 8 p.m., Library
  • Facing Illness Together - Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m., Tinkham Room
  • Science and Spirituality - Thursday, March 17, 7:30 p.m., Conf. Rm.
  • Fiber Arts Fellowship - Thursday, March 17, 8 p.m., Location TBD
  • First Church Book Group - Wed., March 23, 7:30 p.m., Library
  • Breast Cancer Wellness Journey - Wed., March 23, 7:30 p.m., Parlor
  • Hootenanny - Wed., March 30, 7:30 p.m., Library
Program & Committee News

Rummage Sale Postponed to 2017
The Social Action Committee would like to inform our beloved community that, after 73 consecutive years, the annual First Church Rummage Sale is being postponed until May 2017. This decision was made due to the fact that we were unable to fill key leadership positions, without which we cannot host this dynamic and complicated fundraiser.
     But fear not! We have the leadership in place for a rummage sale in May of 2017 and are already looking forward to next year's sale brimming with two years' worth of amazing deals.
     At this time, we would like to acknowledge the many people who have provided outstanding leadership and countless hours of energy to make past rummage sales so successful. The First Church Rummage Sale has generated more than $65,000 in the last 14 years, providing much needed money for the Window Fund, for our Partner Church, and for social action project grants.
     We are beginning to formulate plans for an alternative fundraiser for these three beneficiaries and would love to hear your ideas. Please send them to Patricia Garcia at [email protected] (617-866-9366). Thank you for your past support and stay tuned for news of how you can participate and help ensure that these important First Church initiatives continue to thrive.

Boost Your Children's Brain Power: Children's Choir Openings starting March 21st!
Did you know that singing stimulates activity across the two hemispheres? Singing in a choir also provides excellent ear training for any instrument you play. Children can try out Choir for the rest of the year by joining the weekly rehearsals on Monday, March 21st.
     E-mail Ian Garvie at [email protected], or speak to him after the choirs perform on March 13.
~ Catherine Stalberg, on behalf of the Music Committee

Ushers needed for the spring term (3/20-6/12) for both the 9 and 11 services
Please consider signing up to usher. This key volunteer responsibility is a tremendous contribution to the smooth operation of our worship services. To select your dates now, sign up to usher on the bulletin board in the upper gathering area or on the church website. Visit uubelmont.org/membership-committee/ for information on being an usher and to sign up online.

Grow Clinic!
Only a couple of weeks left to cap off a great campaign to make this an extra bountiful drive. Please remember to toss some MAC & CHEESE boxes into your shopping cart this week - leave the boxes in your car - then bring them to church this Sunday. Think MAC & CHEESE. Thanks so much! There are collection baskets in the Lower Hall and the vestibule outside the Sanctuary.

Caring Connection
The Caring Connection provides support to members of our community who need short-term help: uubelmont.org/caring-connection.

Lay Pastoral Care Team
The 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: uubelmont.org/lay-ministry

Connect with UU actions, events & resources
Contact Us
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 - 3

404 Concord Avenue | PO Box 113 | Belmont, Mass. 02478

Job Opportunities at The First Church
The church is looking to fill the following vacant positions; please share with any suitable candidates you may know:
  • Director of Youth Programs
  • Director of Children's Religious Education
  • Part-time Nursery Assistant
  • Part-time Office Assistant - a good fit for a stay-at-home parent, as the hours are flexible and the summers are free
Descriptions of all the positions are online, at uubelmont.org/jobs/

Next issue: March 22
The next issue of The Unitarian is Tuesday, March 22. Please send your announcements, news, events, and other submissions to [email protected] by noon on Wednesday, March 16. Please note that announcements may be edited for space and clarity.

Earlier deadlines for the March 27 Order of Service & the March 29 Unitarian - please click here to view these deadlines.

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The First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist | 404 Concord Avenue | Belmont | MA | 02478