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The Unitarian - September 13, 2016
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Sunday Worship - September 13
Being Enough - Rev. David Bryce
Prelude: In dieser Morgenstund; M.G. Fischer (1773 - 1829)
Nova Choir Anthem: Come Down O Love Divine; Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872 - 1958), arr. Donald Busarow
Senior Choir Anthem: Antiphon, "Tota Pulchra Es Maria;" Anton Bruckner (1824 - 96)
Postlude: Choral Song; S.S. Wesley (1810 - 76)
The flowers on the Chancel table this Sunday are given by Heli and Bill Tomford to celebrate Autumn! - Services at 9 & 11 a.m.; childcare is provided.
- Sunday, September 25 - Andrea Spencer-Linzie
- Sermon archive: uubelmont.org/sermons
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Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
Keeping the Sabbath
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work... Exodus 20.8-9
In some religious traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) the observance of a Sabbath Day is enjoined upon the followers.
One can find many good reasons for keeping a Sabbath, and good values from doing so. For me part of the importance is that one has set aside a time for gratitude, celebration and thanksgiving for life. Whether one offers that thanks to Divinity or to the universe or to the mystery does not matter much to me; but the giving of thanks, the pause from the regular and mundane to be aware of the joys of living, these are important.
One can argue that every day is precious and therefore every day is a time for celebration. I agree. However, in the crush of making a living, of getting tasks and chores done and of arranging for the things of life the reminder to pause and celebrate, to stop and give thanks, to be grateful too often gets lost. And so it is important-and has always been important-to set aside a special time for this. Thus, the Sabbath.
In today's world, aside from some more orthodox religious followers, we are losing or have lost this time. We have lost the Sabbath.
Not so many years ago I remember when the laws of Connecticut required that most businesses close on Sunday. Sundays have become just another day of work or of sports. I do not recommend a return to Sunday closing laws because that was a matter of placing one religious tradition (Christian) above all others.
But I do think, we as individuals would benefit from having a Sabbath and from having special rituals or practices to mark that day.
For members of The First Church in Belmont Sunday is our worship day and so could easily be our Sabbath day. I would ask us each to consider the possibility that this be the case; that we consider doing on Sundays only those things that enhance and grow out of gratitude, celebration and thanksgiving.
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Reverend Bryce's Spring 2017 Sabbatical
This fall we begin preparations for our minister, David Bryce, to take a well-earned sabbatical leave, an established tradition for Unitarian Universalist clergy. The sabbatical is intended to offer an extended time for rest, renewal, reflection, and study for our minister. Please visit uubelmont.org/sabbatical for details about its purpose, the schedule of services, and both pulpit and pastoral coverage while David is away, from January to June 30, 2017. On Sunday we welcomed Andrea Spencer-Linzie as a student intern who will work with David over the next four months in preparation for covering many of David's responsibilities during his leave. As you many have already seen, Andrea comes to us with a wealth of wisdom and experience. Please address any questions you might have to Jackie James, jamesjc@bc.edu, chair of the sabbatical committee. We will keep you informed about the process as the year moves along.
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|  | | Nate Sellers & family | |
From Ana Hammock, Parish Board President
Please join me in welcoming Nate Sellers as the Acting Director of the Children's Religious Education program! Nate joins us from First Parish in Framingham where he served as the Director of Religious Exploration. Prior to Framingham, Nate served for four years as a Youth Director for a UCC congregation in Pennsylvania.
Nate has taught preschool, worked in Autistic support, lead teen programs for the Anti-Racism Institute, and served as a graduate lecturer at Lancaster Theological Seminary and at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern University, and more recently received a Master's Degree in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
Nate lives in Milford, New Hampshire with his wife, Typhany, and his six year-old daughter Auden. Nate is an avid coffee drinker, who loves silent-era films and the written works of Nietzsche, Camus and Dr. Seuss. If you know of a great apple-crisp recipe, please contact him ASAP!
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Music Notes, by Ian Garvie
Costumes and set pieces are being planned, music is being learned, and lines are being recited hundreds of times before bed. I'm truly excited to be working with such a wonderful group of children on this year's show, The Magic Flute. I also have to thank the small army of parent volunteers, without which the musical would not happen. But wait - it's not too late to join! If your children are not part of the choir program at First Church, and would be interested in a fun, vibrant music learning experience, please reach out to me at igarvie@uubelmont.org. There is a musical to start the year and four choral performances throughout the season, including a featured spot in one of the Christmas Eve services. More information about rehearsal times and performance dates can be found online.
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Among Us
Our deepest sympathy to Martha Read and Roger and Lynn Read and family on the recent, sudden death of their 16-year-old nephew, Charles Read.
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New Programs - Next Chapter Support/Discussion Group
- Defying the Nazis: the Sharps' War - Friday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Parish Hall
- Reflections from General Assembly - Sunday, Sept. 25, 10:15 a.m., Parlor
- Together We Walk: Reflections on a Summer Pilgrimage - Sunday, Sept. 25, 12:15 p.m., Parish Hall
Ongoing Programs - Meditation - Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Library
- Jobseeker Buddy Group - Tuesdays, 10 a.m., Library
- Facing Illness Together - Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m., Tinkham Room
- Science and Spirituality - Thursday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., conference room
- Fiber Arts Fellowship - Thursday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., Location TBD
- Men's Support Group - Sunday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m., conference room
- Belmont UU Alliance - Wed., Sept. 21, 12 noon
- Beyond Ferguson - Sunday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Library
- Hootenanny/Jam Session - Wed., Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
- First Church Book Group - Wed., Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., Library
- Women's Fall Potluck Supper - Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Upper Hall
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We made record distributions to our beneficiaries last year, approximately two thirds of which came from Season Tickets. So join your friends and colleagues in this major social action commitment and wonderful series of musical events and buy your Season Ticket as soon as you can!
You can leave cash or a check for $119 made out to First Church in Belmont, memo line noting "Coffeehouse," in the office drop box, in person at a Coffee Hour in September and October, or by mail to First Church in Belmont, 404 Concord Avenue, P.O. Box 113, Belmont, MA 02478. Click here to see this season's amazing schedule!!!
SAC to host benefit concert for asylum-seeking Central American Families: October 1
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Angelica Reyes and her son fled Honduras and were imprisoned in Texas for crossing the border.
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Bev Freeman, who has helped organized the benefit concert, says, "Our church is the first organization in Boston area to raise funds for these families. They have to live "under the radar" and thus most people here are not even aware they exist. Previously incarcerated in Texas for crossing the border, Central American families like those now in Boston have recently been released, thanks to successful litigation in their behalf. Other families are still being detained in Texas and in a prison in Pennsylvania for the same reason."
We are delighted to present The Loomers, The Blood Mountain Brothers and a special guest appearance by The Yellow Room (Jon Svetkey and Heather Quay). Tickets will be $25 at the door.
Donate online easily at: iiicenter.org/2016/02/case-manager/. For more information, email Bev Freeman at beverlyjfreeman@gmail.com.
First Church and Refugee Resettlement
First Church continues to be involved in partnering with the International Institute of New England, a State Department contracted resettlement agency, to assist resettling refugees. We have been joined by approximately 100 people from eight towns and many congregations, social service groups, and individuals. We have focused primarily on collecting bins of household goods, and assisting families-mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo-settle into their new homes. With 65.3 million refugees, we are seeking to do what we can to help make the transition into a new life a little easier. If you would like to be involved, let Sam James know, sjames@srjames.com.
Grow Clinic!
More than 200 children each year benefit from the Grow Clinic services; 90% of those fully recover; average treatment time is 19 months. "Many of these children would not be alive today were it not for the Grow Clinic" (The Boston Globe). Pick up a food list for shopping or bring a Special Request:
- September and October: Protein Power!!! (peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, canned stews, infant strained chicken/beef/turkey). Collection baskets are in the Lower Hall.
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
New Name Tags for All in September
The Membership Committee is pleased to announce the rollout of a new name tag system that began the very first Sunday of our Church year.
To help us with this large undertaking of transitioning the entire congregation to new name tags, we ask you to pick up your new name tag at the Membership table in the upper gathering hall either before you attend Sunday service or during coffee hour. Before you leave church, we then need you to hang up your name tag on your preferred alphabetized name tag peg located at either the front entrance to the sanctuary outside of David's office or on the pegs located in the upper gathering area.
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Parish Board
Information and board minutes are online at uubelmont.org/parish-board.
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