New Facebook Page for BCD Chalice Lighter Program

The BCD Chalice Lighter Program has been revised with new, simpler guidelines. People can learn about the Chalice Lighter Program on a new Facebook page called "I-am-a-chalice-lighter" at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-am-a-Chalice-Lighter/370429466368387?ref=ts&fref=ts

and on the District Website - www.bcduua.org. Check out the information about this program including application forms.

The Chalice Lighter Program provides grants to congregations for growth related projects. The grants a funded by Chalice Lighters - individuals who pledge to make up to three $10 contributions a year when a Call goes out asking for the donations for a specific project.

Enroll as a Chalice Lighter by printing the form below and mailing it to BCD Office, 325 West Elm St, Brockton, MA 02301.

A New Welcoming Congregation in the BCD

Second Parish Church in Hingham was recently recognized as a Welcoming Congregation by the Unitarian Universalist Office of LGBTQ Ministries. Second Parish joins 30 other congregations in the District with that designation. According to the LBGTQ Ministries records the first congregation to receive the designation was First Parish Brewster in 1991.

The office of LGBTQ Ministries recently started offering congregations the opportunity to officially renew their Welcoming Congregation designation. The department recommends that congregations go through Welcoming Congregation programming every 5 years to involve new members and remind longer-term members about the initiative and its importance for our faith and connection to the local communities. Find out more about the Welcoming Congregation program at www.uua.org/lgbtq/welcoming/program/208979.shtml.

BCD Minister Featured in uuworld.com Issue

The Rev. Judith Campbell is featured in the September 24 issue of uuworldweekly. The article introduces Rev Campbell, a community minister in the district, in her new endeavor as the author of mystery novels, The Olymbia Brown Mysteries. Three novels are now on store shelves with the fourth to be released in October. Read about Rev. Campbell's writing, her current community ministry work and teaching activities at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/277058.shtml. Her books are available through the UUA Bookstore. She serves as the BCD Ministerial Settlement Representative, working with congregations engaged in search for a full-time settled minister.

2012-13 District Directory Available

Copies of the BCD District Directory have been mailed to church offices.   Additional or individual copies can be purchased for $5.40. To order contact the BCD Office - 508-559-6650 /BallouChanning@verizon.net

News from the Lager UU World

• UU Media Collaborative Works

http://www.facebook.com/UUMedia is a new Facebook page by the UU Media Collaborative Works for sharing art work and graphics that can be used for marketing and creating inspirational UU posters and other materials. The graphic material on the site is free to the public and encouraged to be widely shared.

• New resource for assessing congregation sexual health

Assessing Sexual Health: An Online Guide for UUA Congregations (http://www.uua.org/safe/healthy/assessing/index.shtml) is now available. The Guide was created by Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Debra W. Haffner, President of Religious Institute, Inc. It is an assessment tool for congregations to use to discern ways for them to better promote the integration of sexuality and spirituality in worship, preaching, pastoral care, children, youth, and adult religious education, and social action programs in the community.

Designed for clergy and lay leaders, the guide consists of nine "building block" check lists. A church could use all or part of the building blocks depending on their size and capabilities and where they are in the Safe Congregation process. Go to www.UUA.org/safe for more information on this and other resources available through the Unitarian Universalist Association

• Ware Lecturer for 2013 General Assembly Announced

Planning for the 2013 General Assembly to be held on Louisville, KY, June 19 - 23, 2013) is underway. UUA President Peter Morales and the General Assembly Planning Committee recently announced that Beacon Press author Eboo Patel will be the 2013 Ware Lecturer. Dr. Patel is founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, an international nonprofit building the interfaith youth movement. He was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and serves on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations. 
 

• Propose a Program for General Assembly 

Proposals are currently being accepted for the 80 program slots for the 2013 General Assembly. Submission is open to anyone interested in offering a program proposal. This year's theme is "From Promise to Commitment." Program proposals should explore the kinds of promises our religious communities are called to make as we seek to live out our UU values -- how we make them, with whom, how we hold ourselves and each other accountable and how might we move from the act of promise-making into the journey of long-term commitment.

Information about submitting a program proposal is available at http://www.uua.org/ga/programming/12741.shtml.

• Clara Barton/Mass Bay District Presenting Several Congregation Leader Workshops

BCD congregation leaders are invited to attend the CBD/MBD Learning Congregation Workshops. This year's workshops are:

• Revitalizing Your Congregation -- Saturday, November 10, 2012
• Creating and Supporting Lay Pastoral Care Teams - Saturday December 1, 2012
• Creating and Leading Dynamic Lay-Led Worship - Saturday, June 8, 2013

Congregations are encouraged to send teams. Programs are held on Saturdays 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. For more information go to: http://www.cbd-mbd-uua.org/drupal/content/saturday-workshops 

Calendar

Oct 20             BCD Fall Conference                                                           8:30 a - 12:45 p

First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Canton

Oct 24^@       BCD UUMA Chapter Fall Retreat                                     9:00 a - 3:00 p

First Parish Church Brewster, MA

Oct 26-27        Turn Around and Growth Church Conference

First Parish, Taunton

Nov 4              Ellen Quaadgras ordination and installation                         3:00 p^#

                        Westminster Unitarian Church, East Greenwich, RI

Nov 4              Rev. Kate Sullivan installation                                             5:00 p

                        Universalist Meeting House, Provincetown, MA

Nov 4               Rev. Jill Cowie installation                                                   4:00 p^#

First Parish Church, Cohasset, MA

Nov 21-26       BCD Office closed - Thanksgiving

Dec 1-2           Senior Hi Con                                                                        TBA

Unitarian Church of Sharon, Sharon, MA

Dec 20-31       BCD Office closed - Holiday

2013

Jan 1               BCD Office closed - Holiday

Jan 12             BCD Board of Directors Winter Retreat & meeting          9:00 a- 2:00 p

First Parish Church, Cohasset, MA

Jan 28-31^@    UUMA Center Institute for Excellence in Ministry

Tampa, FL

Feb 22             Senior Hi Con                                                                        TBA

First Unitarian Church, Providence, MA

Mar 2              Music Conference                                                                 TBA

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro, MA

Mar 3^@           Senior Hi Con

First Parish Church, Brewster, MA

Mar 18            BCD Board of Directors meeting                                        6:30 - 9:00 p

First Parish Church, Plymouth, MA

Mar 29-30         New England Region Boards Gathering 

Nashua, NH

Apr 6-7            Senior High Con

First Parish Duxbury, Duxbury, MA

Apr 27             Spring Conference & Annual Meeting                               9:00 a - 1:00 p

First Congregational Parish, Kingston, MA

Apr 28             Rev Paul Langston-Daly installation                                   TBA

First Unitarian Church, New Bedford, MA

May 11           Junior High Con      

First Parish Duxbury, Duxbury, MA

May 20           BCD Board of Directors meeting                                        6:30 - 9:00 p

First Congregational Parish, Kingston, MA

Jun 19-23        General Assembly

Louisville, KY

^# Change of information from last BCD in Brief

^@ New from last BCD in Brief