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The Unitarian - May 3, 2016
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Sunday Worship - May 8: Coming of Age Ceremony
The Coming of Age program creates a supportive environment where youth are able to explore big questions, reflect on their beliefs, and ultimately to have the confidence to make decisions based on their values. In this program, participants explore their UU roots alongside the personal beliefs and values that they are developing. Together with adult mentors, youth put their faith into action through community service projects, social action and by working to develop language to express their personal beliefs. The Coming of Age culminates when the youth share their personal credo statements with the congregation at the COA Ceremony. Welcome and Announcements: 9 a.m. Ana Hammock; 11 a.m. Deveaux Duckworth 9 a.m. Ushers: Ana Hammock 11 a.m. Ushers: Laurie Graham, Judy McSwain, Tilly Hamer & Ella Ciccolo
Lay Pastoral Care: 9 a.m. Devon Beckett; 11 a.m. Martha Spaulding
The flowers on the Chancel table this Mother's Day Sunday are given by Anne Selman in joyful celebration of the lives of her mother, Jean Savage, and her sister, Susan Pearce, and in gratitude and awe for the legions, across the years, of mothers, fathers, extended families, and so many others who nurture and support and care for each generation of new life!
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Our Religious Education
Most of you will be receiving this newsletter in the week bracketed by the Youth Sunday service and the Coming of Age Sunday service. These are each among the favorite services of this congregation and are a true celebration of our youth, of The First Church in Belmont and of Unitarian Universalism.
Our religious approach includes the individual search for truth - though within a community context - and the upholding of certain values, values of respect, inclusion and welcome to all people. This is sometimes termed a commitment to "radical welcome."
Those Unitarian Universalist values are taught in our "lifespan" religious education programs. That is, we teach them in our children and youth religious education programs, and seek to raise them up and honor them in our adult religious education programs.
And we seek to help people live these values both within the congregation and in the world.
We know that we do not and will not always succeed in living these values. They sound easy, but they are not.
Radical welcome means that we should welcome and be kind to even people who do things we dislike, no matter how justified that dislike may be.
It means extending respect to people who, in our view, do not "deserve" it.
It also includes smaller, simpler, uncontroversial acts.
Radical welcome involves actively reaching out to everyone. Truth be told, many of us arrive at our building on Sunday morning feeling somewhat worn and seeking comfort, quiet and a place to recharge and renew. And so, whether before services or during coffee hour, many of us turn to talk with friends; and that is great. But this can leave out the visitor and the newcomer. If we can each also make a commitment to talk (really talk) with someone (just one person) we do not know, that will build community. And that is a big part of what we are about.
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A Call to the Annual Meeting at The First Church In Belmont: Sunday, May 22, 2016, 4 p.m.
Pursuant to a call by Todd Schatzki, 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 22, 2016 at 4 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.
- Downing Cless, Parish Clerk
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Stewardship Drive - please pledge today
Have you made your pledge? Are you considering increasing your pledge, as some havealready done? You're just one click away at www.uubelmont.org/stewardship. The Parish Board is finalizing the budget right now, and we need pledges or responses from everyone to fund essential church programs for the coming church year. Questions? Please contact Roger Read ( rread@uubelmont.org) or Mark Thurber ( mthurber@uubelmont.org).
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Children's Religious Education: It Takes a Congregation
Endings. Beginnings. Next steps. These are what I am thinking about right now. They are often all mixed up together. Spring is here and new life is bursting forth. Yet we sense and are getting ready to wrap up the end of the church year, the budget is being finalized, the annual meeting is three weeks away; it won't be long before the Flower Communion and the annual picnic. Next fall there will be new staff members ... { click for more }
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Reminder: Rummage Sale Postponed to 2017
Just a reminder that, after 73 consecutive years, the annual First Church Rummage Sale is being postponed until May 2017.
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.
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 socialaction@uubelmont.org (617-866-9366). |
Second Friday Coffeehouse: May 13 at 7:30, to benefit
Renewal House
Colorado based singer-songwriter John Bunzli writes songs that explore the darker side of the human condition with compassion and sincerity. His rich voice, fraught with the emotion inherent in the tales he tells, flows over the hypnotic, melodic grooves he weaves with his guitar.
For as long as he can remember, John has been surrounded by music. As a child, he spent hours listening to his family's record collection. He bought every one of the Beatles' records with his hard earned paper route money. But it was a dream he had in high school that changed his life.
"I woke up the next morning and knew I had to have a guitar." He managed to wrangle his sister's old beat up nylon string and never looked back. That decision, which can be heard on his stunning, award winning debut CD, The Well, has earned him considerable acclaim throughout the Colorado music scene. www.johnbunzli.com Singer/autoharpist Gerri Strickler leads a quintet that plays broadly influenced folk-music revival favorites, with beautiful vocal harmonies. She is joined by Belmont friends, Lakshmi Nayak on vocals, Eve Patalas on recorder and penny whistle, Roger Miller on guitar and vocals, and Jim Sugarman on percussion and bass. Additional appearance by Webb Sandquist on guitar and vocals.
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- Salsa Sensation - Tuesday, May 3, 7-9 p.m., Parish Hall
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Men's Spring Potluck Supper - Friday, May 6, 7 p.m., Upper Hall
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Jimmy Tingle for President - Sat., May 7, 7:30 p.m., Belmont HS
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"Beneath the Surface" - Film fundraiser - Sat., May 14, 7 p.m., Parish Hall
- Meditation - Mondays, 8 p.m., Library
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Caring for Older Adults - Thursday, May 5, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
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Fiber Arts Fellowship - Thursday, May 5 & 19, 8 p.m., Location TBD
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UU Alliance - Wednesday, May 18, 12 noon, Upper Hall
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Science and Spirituality - Thursday, May 19, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
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Facing Illness Together, Thursday, May 19, 7 p.m., Tinkham Room
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First Church Book Group - Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m., Library
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Hootenanny/Jam Session- Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m., Parlor
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Program & Committee News
Urgent Campaign to Support Asylum-Seeking Families from Central America
FCB Social Action Committee has joined forces with our FCB member, Bev Freeman, who has established a link to RAICES, a Texas legal services nonprofit, to help asylum-seeking families who were once incarcerated there and have already migrated to Massachusetts. These are women and children who were imprisoned in Texas for seeking asylum in the US - and who are now being released due to U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee's court order and public pressure.
The goal is $35,000 to support a half-time case manager position at the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) in Boston. This professional would be a lifeline for the families, and would be sure they get needed services including legal help. To donate, go to http://www.iiicenter.org/2016/02/case-manager/ If you have questions, reach Bev Freeman who is organizing this fundraising campaign: beverlyjfreeman@gmail.com. The families are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala and they fled very dangerous conditions. 55 families have already arrived in Massachusetts; many of the family members have suffered trauma and the women spouse abuse. This effort to help the families now here will hopefully serve as a model for other states. Any amount is appreciated. Those who donate will receive a full report of progress in resettling these families and giving them a truly openhearted welcome to Massachusetts. Read a recent New York Times article concerning family detention in Texas:
Belmont Religious Council's Annual Meeting: Belmont a Partner in Refugee Resettlement
The Belmont Religious Council's Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 5, 2016 at the First Church of Belmont from 7 - 8:30 p.m. The theme is a kick-off for a potential consortium of faith and community groups to work together to help resettle refugees coming to Massachusetts. Organizers will provide information and open dialogue about the feasibility of Belmont's residents becoming a partner in the Resettle Together - Partners in Local Refugee Resettlement program led by the International Institute of New England (IINE).
IINE's Director of Partner Engagement, Cheryl Hamilton, will describe the resettlement process and discuss actions concerned Belmontians can take to help locally alleviate the consequences of the world refugee crisis. Cheryl and her staff will speak for 45-minutes, following the BRC's business meeting, and then there will be Q&A for an additional 30-minutes. At the conclusion, interested people can meet to explore getting to work, i.e., next steps. Participants do not need to be a Belmont citizen or a member of a faith-based organization in order to join in this discussion. ~ Sam James
Mother's Day Walk for Peace, May 8
Please join a group from Belmont that will be walking in the 20th Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace on Sunday, May 8 to support the work of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. To register for the 6.8-mile walk go to mothersdaywalk4peace.org. Belmont walkers will meet at the Alewife T station, in front of the entrance to Bertucci's, at 7 a.m. to take the T to Fields Corner. For more information or questions about walking with the Belmont group, contact Priscilla Cobb at prilcobb@gmail.com.
Can it be that we're already speeding toward the end of our church year? That also means that our GROW CLINIC families will be losing one of their supports (us!) to help feed their infants and toddlers over the long summer months. Join in to help STOCK THE SHELVES FOR SUMMER. Thanks!!!
May and June Special Request: Your favorite items from the shopping list
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
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Connect with UU actions, events & resources
- 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!
- From Rev. Hinds - Seeking Congregational Leaders
The UUUM would like to try forming a UU network of congregational leaders in Anti-Racism work. We imagine quarterly meetings that serve primarily as a way for UU's to gather around this important issues and figure out how to stand with organizations and groups run by and in support of people of color in Boston. It may be educational or oriented towards action. We will figure it out together. Either way, we hope by coming together lay leaders will create a resource network that will strengthen the capacity of each individual congregation and the movement towards racial justice.
Can you think of 1-2 people from your congregation that would be a good fit for this group? We are looking for strong, creative, and thoughtful anti-racism leaders from each congregation and I welcome your suggestions.
Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17th from 6-8pm. Contact rhinds@uuum.org for information.
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Parish Board
Information and board minutes are online at uubelmont.org/parish-board.
Contact Us
Please send your announcements, news, events, and other submissions to office@uubelmont.org by noon on Wednesday, May 4. Please note that announcements may be edited for space and clarity.
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