SOTSOL & UCNE

Unity Church of North Easton News
(Unitarian Universalist)
"We Pledge to Walk Together..."
Volume 2, No. 15, January 12, 2013
In This Issue
Solstice Inspiration
Caring CommUnity
Search Together
Warrant: SPC Meeting
Register for RE
MLK Remembered
Church Member List
Severe Weather Policy

 

Rainbow Flag

 

 

UCNE Arch Graphic
Winter SSolstice Dec 2012olstice Inspiration
by Kate Haven

On December 20, 2012, about 40 members and friends gathered in the Chaffin Room at Unity Church to celebrate the Winter Solstice. We welcomed the return of light with song, silence, letting go and plenty of loving, light-filled intentions. I was honored to bring this celebration together. Happy New Year!
Father Sun,
We humbly bow before your omnipotent light,
as your sons and daughters
in gratitude for your power and presence.
We thank you for informing us,
awakening us, illuminating within us
what needs to be seen.
We ask to be reinformed
by the wisdom of your light
so we may serve as beacons of light.
May our light shine the way to truth
from the deepest intentions of our soul.
As we learn to honor and respect
your light, Father Sun,
we learn to honor the light within
and see the light in each other
and all living things.
AHO! And Blessed Be!
Each one of us are responsible for writing our own stories. YOUR purpose, YOUR health YOUR prosperity are all within YOUR power to change. We embark upon writing a new book. It is full of empty pages for you to write upon. Intentions, dreams, visions are all waiting to be recorded in the lines of your pages.

This is the perfect time to go deep within yourself to remember and renew oneself. We have overcome many shadows both within and as humanity, this is a time to pause and reflect upon our journey and look forward to the new era to come - the return of light.

We do not have to continue to draw lines. It is possible to stand shoulder to shoulder with all our relations.  It is possible to become united as a human society. The collective Sacred Hoop of life does not exclude any, it does not exclude because of skin color, spiritual belief, or economic status.  It is all inclusive. Hold your own light. Bring it to the surface and shine it for all to see.

I honor the place in you that is of love, truth, light and of peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.

Church Office Hours   

 

Fellowship Logo
Caring CommUnity
Leads the Service this Sunday


Greetings on behalf of the Caring CommUnity's organizers, 


Unity Church's Caring CommUnity seeks to serve the needs of members and friends of the church. Many of us feel the call to serve our members and friends who so graciously and gratefully receive it. Everyone involved with Unity Church is directly involved in Caring CommUnity as we Walk the Ways of Truth and Affection.

 

We are very much looking forward to leading Sunday Service on January 13 at 10:30am! All in attendance will have the opportunity to share our own personal stories, both asking for and receiving support from a loving, spiritual community.  

 

After the service, please take a moment to fill out our survey of Gifts and Needs. This will serve as a guide to organize our efforts; in turn creating a connected community of individuals in a continuous feedback loop of giving and receiving.  

 

Imagine a CommUnity where needs are known, acknowledged, and supported. Where members and friends are Filled by their giving and appreciated in Love.  

 

To keep things up to date, we would like to survey both needs and the areas of gifting every six months. You're just about guaranteed to find one of us (below) during social hour, please say hello!

Caring Committee 2013
L to R: Andy Champage-Willis, Marie Pires, Edie Marsden, Walter Tramontano, Kate Haven.

As a gentle reminder, none of us are obligated at any given time to give when we are unable or it would be stressful to do so. Filling out the gifts portion of this survey simply shares with the organizers of the Caring CommUnity the potential for help and it is our goal to respect everyone's time and resources. Thank you for your Support!



UCAN Colorform Logo 03Dec2012
Our Unity Community continues to do its best to reach out to those in need. The final total of the donation made to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief was $900. Recently we also received thanks from the Easton Food Pantry for our donations to them last year. We collected $535 during our Christmas Eve services for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund sponsored by the United Way.

Finally, we received a written thank you from Erin Banner, Program Director at A New Day. Erin wrote:

 

Dear Unity Church,

  Thank you for your generous donation of gift cards, winter goods and other gifts for our clients. Because of you, survivors are reminded you are thinking of them on their healing journey.

  Thank you again.

  Erin Banner

 

A New Day provides free and confidential counseling and advocacy to all individuals impacted by sexual violence and/or relationship violence. Thanks to Jenn Gold's efficient organization of this Holiday Drive effort, we were able to collect $500 in gift cards, and donated winter wear, clothing, and 4 boxes of scarves, mittens, hats, etc. to this organization. Jenn solicited, gathered, and donated the items all on our behalf. Thank you Jenn!

 

And looking forward, Jenn and Frank Smith have already agreed to team up with Music Director Dick Hill to organize the annual Mother's Day weekend concert to benefit A New Day. This year's popular event will be on Saturday May 11, 2013.

 

It is not too early to put this on your calendar. Even more important - it is not too early to talk to Jenn and Frank about how you can help this event raise funds to support this important local resource. Look for their volunteer sign up sheets at church.

 

Let's keep this outreach going. Stay tuned for more opportunities to give aid to our neighbors and beyond in the coming months.



Illuminations App Searching Together
You recently received an email containing a summary of the three Congregational Conversations held last fall and the resulting plans for moving forward formulated by the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee's proposed plans are based squarely on congregational input received at these Congregational Conversations. To move forward together in confidence, the Executive Committee will be asking members for a formal vote of support of the plans at the Special Congregational Meeting scheduled for January 27, 2013

One important piece of the plan is hiring a Consulting Minister charged with helping us develop a vision and mission statement. This minister would start September 1, 2013. (As previously voted on, this will be a half-time position.)

The next step will be to put together a three-person Ministerial Search Committee. The congregation will vote on one member of this committee at the January 27th Special Congregational meeting, and then the Executive Committee will appoint two more members at their February meeting.

The Ministerial Search Committee position involves working with the Unitarian Universalist Association to write a Congregational Record comprised of information to help paint a picture of our church. The committee will also develop a page to be included on our website for potential ministers to use to evaluate Unity as a work destination.

When it comes to a potential candidate deciding whether they would accept a position at Unity, they not only depend on the website and Congregational Record, but also on input from each member of the Search Committee; in a real sense, they are interviewing you. You must be knowledgeable in the history of the Church, the inner workings of the administrative duties expected of a potential new part-time Consulting Minister, and the values held by our members in relation to us moving forward as a group. You may come to an understanding of these things as you go, but, the search process requires dedication. The committee may be meeting weekly from February through June 2013.

If you are interested in participating as a member of the Search Committee, please let Chris Pender ([email protected]) know by January 20th.   

Whether you want to serve on the Ministerial Search Committee or not, this will be a very important Special Congregational Meeting and we urge all to attend.   

Let's get together on January 27th and start our future together!

Respectfully, 

Executive Committee 

EC January 2013
L to R Back Row: Ellen Dehm (Clerk), Susanne Rogers (Treasurer), Brigitte von Weiss (At-Large), Ernie Cohen (At-Large), Melanie D'Aiello (At-Large), Mark Kunemund (At-Large) 
L to R Front: Chris Pender (President), David Olson (Vice President) 

(The EC in their natural habitat, the Holly House conference room)  



Warrant 
Special Congregational Meeting on January 27, 2013   
Please remember to attend the Special Congregational Meeting to be held at Noon on Sunday, January 27, 2013 in Parish Hall. Warrant articles are listed below. Childcare will be provided.   

 

Please review the pertinent documents before coming to the meeting. Click on any of the links below to download and/or view them:

Article I

To approve the minutes from the September 23, 2012 Special Congregational Meeting.

Article II

To discuss the Moving Forward Proposal and take any action related thereto.

Article III

Pending the outcome of Article I, to vote on the Congregation's Representative for the Search Committee for the 2013-2014 Consulting Minister.

Article IV

To discuss the Walking Together Proposal and take any action related thereto.

Article V

To introduce the Caring CommUnity plan and take any action related thereto.

Article VI

To hear an operating budget financial update and to take any action related thereto.



Still Time to Register for Winter Religious Education!
Hands & Flames The Children's Religious Education program at Unity Church of North Easton is still accepting registration forms for children who are interested in participating in the winter curriculum, which began on January 6, 2013.

This year, the winter session focuses on "The Golden Rule" and its 
roots in all religions. At the conclusion of the winter session, the children will share their learning with the congregation by independently creating and presenting an entire service. This Children's Chapel service will take place on April 7, 2013 at 10:30am.

All are welcome to attend and participate!

For more information, contact Deanna Greenstein, Coordinator of Religious Education, at [email protected] or 508-238-6373.


MLK, Jr. Remembrance on Sunday, January 20th
Join us for a service honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 10:30 am.
Audrey & ernie January 2013
Ernie Cohen & Audrey Davies

This inter-generational service will include a discussion of how the Civil Rights movement marked the beginning of a change in attitudes toward the acceptance of African Americans as equal members of American society at large.

Audrey Davies and Ernest Cohen will be our preachers for the day, recounting their individual experiences of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's, 60's and 70's. 

Looking for Unity Church Member Contact information?
You can find it on our web site under the Member Access menu,
after you log in as a member.

Click here to get to the Member Login.

If you have any trouble logging in, just send a note to the Web Administrator using the instructions on the Member Login page.

Hymnal Hmmm...Where are the Hymnals?
If you have borrowed a hymnal, please return it or let Jenn Gold know you have one. Jenn is on the Music Committee and will be doing a hymnal count to see if we need to purchase new copies. Several pews are missing them, and, to be welcoming, everyone should have easy access to a hymnal during the service.

So please check your bookshelves at home. Thank you!
 
When the Weather Outside is Frightful...
For the safety of our friends and members, in case of extreme weather conditions, please call the church office (508-238-6373) after 8 am on the day of the Service or church event for a message about whether the Service or event has been cancelled.

New England Folk Festival Dancers & Musicians are Coming Back!

The New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) has a festival in Mansfield each spring. Folk musicians and dancers come from around the world. Some (young adults, musicians) cannot afford hotel rates.

 

We can once again host them, April 19-21, 2013, for a nominal charge that goes directly to Unity Church.

 

This was a wonderful success last year, generating good will and funds for our community.

 

For more details about how you can participate,

click here to get to the Unity Church web site.

 

For more information  about being a host, please contact Anna Linzi at 781-727-7521 or [email protected].



New to Unity Church?
New to Unity Church or want to Join Our Mailing List? 
 


Holiday Snapshots 
UCNE Holiday 2012 Collage 1
UCNE Holidays 2012 Collage 2

Big THANK YOU to Our Sunday Helpers!
Thanks to our volunteers who recently helped to make our service an  d Social Hour wonderful: 
  • Jannelle Codiani, Chris Pender, Mark Kunemund, Brigitte von Weiss, the Executive Committee, the Fellowship Committee, Kate Haven,Andy & Bob Cropped Jason Gold, Carolyn McCafferty, Edie Marsdon, Michele Blake, Melanie and Mark D'Aiello, David Olson, Lori and Richard Freitas, Ellen Dehm, Nancy D'Uva and Tedd Messier, Cathy Adler, Scott and Cheryl Brigante, Jessica Chapman and Frank Gianonne, Susanne Rogers, MaryLu Love, Andy and Bob Champagne-Willis (shown right), and Susan Merow.  

 

Unity Church Aiding Neighbors (UCAN)

Click the link above to learn about Social Justice at Unity Church.   


The Fundraising Corner
Click the link above to see fundraising opportunities for Unity Church.

Upcoming Events

The Calendar

Circle Dinner January 26, 2013

Photo Credits for this Issue of the Unity News
Ellen Dehm, Ernie Cohen, and Cathy Adler


Unity News Contact Info
For questions or comments regarding this message, please contact Cathy Adler, Unity News Managing Editor & Web Administrator, at [email protected] .

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