The Unitarian - March 29, 2016



Sunday Worship - April 3, 2016

Sermon: Good and Evil - Rev. David Bryce

Welcome and Announcements: 9 a.m. Betsy George; 11 a.m. Downing Cless

9 a.m. Ushers: Thomas Schieber & Margaret Eklind
11 a.m. Ushers: Connie DiCocco & Katharine Canfield

Lay Pastoral Care: 9 a.m. Steve Saar; 11 a.m. Martha Spaulding

The flowers on the Chancel table this Sunday are given by Rebecca & James Hencke in celebration of their 44th anniversary.
Rev. David Bryce
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Note: On Sunday, April 3 we will have a brief visit during each service from Rev. Mary Margaret Earl of the UU Urban Ministry who will update us on their efforts -and ours - to rebuild their kitchen.]

There are events that happen over a brief period of time which are avidly watched by some folk.
     March Madness in basketball, the NFL draft in April and--somewhat more extended-the quadrennial four-month long Presidential primary process.
     Each of these has its partisans, its fascinated viewers.
     I have long been interested in politics--and not just as a "partisan". The process is engrossing for me. Once, when talking with my brother, I mentioned a congressional election taking place somewhere in America and spoke of the two candidates. My brother was surprised that I would know anything about them since they did not represent my district. I pointed out that he, as a NASCAR fan, knows many of the drivers besides his favorite.
     This is the time of year when I watch the unfolding of Unitarian Universalist congregational search committee announcements about their selection for ministerial Candidates to be presented to their congregations. I watch in part because I know some of the congregations, but also--more importantly-because I know some of the ministers.
     I watch as ministers leave their congregations, as some take interim positions and as some are called to be the new settled ministers.
     Over the past two years I have served as a professional reference for a few of my colleagues. This means that although the search process is "secret", I sometimes know of a minister who is up for consideration at certain congregations-and therefore know at least one person who has been selected by those congregations, or who has not.
     In some cases, therefore, I am "pulling' for one person to be chosen; in all cases I watch with fascinated interest to see who is going where and who is moving on.
     While I do not want or intend to compare the ministerial search process to a sporting event, there is a certain similarity in the emotional interest that each evokes in its "followers": interest, surprise, happiness, and sometimes disappointment.
     Though these really are "minor" events for the observers (well, that does not apply to the Presidential race), they do fill an important place in our lives, a place of intellectual and emotional interest. And they do lift us out of our daily lives in ways that give us a kind of vicarious excitement. While we are not directly involved, somehow we are filled with emotional reactions to them. And I think that's great. 
Wrapping up the March Stewardship Drive - Have you responded?
Our 2016 March Stewardship Drive is wrapping up this week. If you have not yet responded, we need to hear from you now, as this will save us from having to make follow-up phone calls and emails. Although we have raised more than $500,000 in pledges toward our $601,000 goal, closing the gap is the hardest part.  To reach our goal, we need to hear from all members and friends. If you are newer to the church, please join us with a pledge now. And if you pledged last year, please consider increasing your pledge this time. We hope you can consider First Church as your top charitable priority. 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 Thursday, March 31.
 
Pledging is easy!
With thanks,
The First Church Stewardship Committee - Roger Read, Chair
Children's Religious Education: It Takes a Congregation
It was with regret that I accepted Alex Nichipor's resignation from the position of Pre-school/Kindergarten Lead Teacher week before last. Alex has been a wonderful asset to the CRE program since October. She has provided the consistency that our very youngest children require to be comfortable in the classroom each week. Alex recently accepted a full-time position with a non-profit in Wellesley and, although she very much wanted to keep teaching our pre-k/k classes, it soon became apparent that it didn't allow her much needed time for adjusting to several concurrent changes in her life. Alex's last Sunday on the job will be April 3rd, please stop in and thank her for her service to our community and wish her well that day ... { 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
  • 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., Parlor
  • Potluck Supper and Program - Friday, April 15
    • 7 p.m.; Potluck, Upper Hall
    • 8 p.m.- Program, Parish Hall 
Ongoing Programs
  • Meditation - Mondays, 8 p.m., Library
  • Hootenanny - Wed., March 30, 7:30 p.m., Library
  • Breast Cancer Wellness Journey - Wed., April 6, 7:30 p.m., Parlor
  • Caring for Older Adults - Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m., conference room
  • Fiber Arts Fellowship - Thursday, April 7, 8 p.m., Location TBD
  • Parenting Kids with Challenges, Sunday, April 10, 2:30 p.m., Library
Program & Committee News

Ushers Still Needed for Sundays from 4/10 to 6/12 for 9:00 services and 5/1-6/10 for 11:00 services
Please consider signing up to usher at one or more of these services. To select your dates now, sign up to usher on the bulletin board in the upper gathering area, sign up on the church website or contact:
Visit uubelmont.org/membership-committee/ for information on being an usher and to sign up online. Thank you for your service to First Church!

STEREOTYPES: A Conscious Look at Race, Faith, Gender and Sexual Identity; cosponsored by SAC
"Stereotypes: A Conscious Look at Race, Faith, Gender and Sexual Identity," an exhibit of 15 photos by Kevin Briggs, is now on view at the Arlington Center for the Arts Gibbs Gallery. The show is open Monday -Friday from 9 - 6 p.m. and on Saturday, April 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. with an artist talk at 2 p.m. Reception with the artist is Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m. ACA is at 41 Foster Street in Arlington. Learn more at www.acarts.org; click on Gallery.

Second Friday Coffeehouse with Heather Quay & Jon Svetkey, April 8
Second Friday favorites Heather Quay and Jon Svetkey - now using the folk-friendly name "The Yellow Room" - have been singing and strumming together for almost twenty years. Their original songs combine elements of classic pop, folk, and country music while showcasing their love of two-part harmony and fun.
     Opening act: Tammy Patrick and The Merkin Wranglers, roots music. Proceeds will benefit the Unitarian Transylvania Archives Project: archives.unitarian.ro

Grow Clinic!
Boxes and boxes of thanks to all of you who made this year's MAC AND CHEESE MADNESS such a great success. Thanks!!! 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

UU Urban Ministry, uuum.org

  • Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. We have moved this important event to Sunday in the hope that more of our friends will be able to join us. Same great gathering, different day! We'll see you there!
  • The Jericho Road Roxbury matches skilled volunteers (especially in grant-writing, administration support, 501(c)3 assistance, and website development/IT support) with Roxbury-based non-profits. Please contact Rev. Rebecca Hinds if you would like to volunteer and for more information: 617-318-6010 x214 or [email protected]
  • Hope Out Loud 5: Open Doors, Open Hearts, Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. This annual concert will feature members of the UUUM Roxbury Youth Programs, Mssng Lnks and the Hope Out Loud Festival Chorus, and special guests musiConnects and the South Boston Training Choir of the Boston Children's Chorus
Join our annual gathering at the State House
  • Where: Arlington Street Church, 351 Arlington St., Boston
  • When: Tuesday April 12
  • The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration and the program will begin at 10:00 a.m. sharp! We will gather at the Arlington Street Church in Boston for our program and then head to the State House together after lunch.
  • Worship Leader: Rev. Sarah Stewart, First Unitarian Worcester
  • Keynote speaker: Senate President Stan Rosenberg
  • Information and registration at uumassaction.org/events-2/
Contact Us
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 - 3

Please note: Janice Zazinski, church administrator, will be out of the office from March 23 - 29.

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: April 5
The next issue of The Unitarian is Tuesday, April 5. Please send your announcements, news, events, and other submissions to [email protected] by noon on Wednesday, March 30. Please note that announcements may be edited for space and clarity.

Bookmark this link
to support the First Church when you shop at Amazon.


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