Unity Church of North Easton News
(Unitarian Universalist)
"We Pledge to Walk Together..."
Volume 3, No. 8, October 11, 2013

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In This Issue
Message from Our Minister
Tailgate Social Hour
New Ministry Start-Up
Church Office Hours
Halloween Party
Upcoming Music Programs
Book Group
Name Tags
Circle Dinner
GA at Unity
NEFFA is Back!



 

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Rev. Kristin Schmidt

Message from Our Minister

Dear Friends,

This month at Unity Church we are exploring the theme of "Calling" in worship. Last Sunday we began by considering how to discover our own personal callings. We heard the miracle story of how John Murray was called across the Atlantic to spread the good news of Universalism. While not everyone's calling will be as high in profile as his was, all of us can bring goodness and love into the world by serving in the places where, as Fredrick Buechner put it, "our deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

I believe the purpose of church is to be a community where people are intentional about discovering their life calling, a place that provides people with opportunities to deepen their awareness of the still, small, guiding voice inside of themselves. As the month unfolds, we will broaden our exploration of this theme, and begin to consider not only our own callings but how and where and to what this religious community is called next. In other words, this is the beginning of our visioning process.

We will kick off the official process to discover the future vision to which Unity Church is called with the Ministry Start-up Retreat on Saturday, November 9 from 8:30 am to 2:15 pm. Our District Executive, the Rev. Bill Zelazny, will lead us in a day of exploring where Unity Church has been in its recent past, where we are now, and how lay leadership and I can best partner together in our work to discover the congregation's future course.

While all members of the Executive Committee and committee chairs have been asked to participate, all who are interested are welcome. Childcare will be available in Holly House and coffee and light refreshments will be provided in the morning. Just make sure to let Jason Gold know if you need childcare (jgold.nec at comcast.net), and bring a bag lunch for yourself and any kids coming with you. I look forward to seeing all who can make it!

In faith,
Rev. Kristin
Stole Detail

Church Office Hours    

Unity Church Tailgate Social Hour This Sunday! 
(or, really, just an excuse to have a cookout with those new grills)

When?
  • After Services October 13, Rain or Shine (You'll be home in time for the 4:25pm Patriots Kickoff)
What will we eat?
  • Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Garden Burgers, Drinks and everyone's contributions. 
What do I bring?
  • Your favorite snack, side dish, or dessert to share. No alcohol, please.
  • Lawn Chairs
What if I don't like football?
What if I'm visiting or forgot to bring something to share?
Come anyway and have some fun and food with us!
Questions? Ask Ellen Dehm
 


NMRetreatNew Ministry Start-Up Fall Retreat

Mark Your Calendars for November 9th
 

The Executive Committee invites all members and friends to our Fall Retreat, Saturday, November 9, 8:30am - 2:15pm in Parish Hall.

This will be one of our most important Fall Retreats ever. Ballou Channing District (BCD) Executive Rev. Bill Zelazny will lead the workshop. This year the theme will be "New Ministry Start-Up." Rev. Bill will guide us through a series of discussions and exercises designed to help Rev. Kristin and church members get to know each other better and to help set mutual expectations for the coming year.

The Executive Committee and Rev. Kristin ask all committee chairpersons to participate so that we can develop the foundation for our exciting year of visioning together.

While the retreat will be focused on leadership topics, anyone who is interested in what our new half-time ministry will look like is encouraged to attend - whether or not you consider yourself a present, past, or future leader.

The Executive Committee is putting the finishing touches on the agenda and will make it available shortly.

Won't you please put this event on your calendar right now?

Beverages and coffee break snacks will be provided. Please bring your own bagged lunch. Contact Executive Committee Vice-President Jason Gold, jgold.nec at comcast.net, to sign up for childcare. And contact Jason or Executive Committee Clerk Ellen Dehm, edehm at comcast.net, with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you there!
The Executive Committee and Rev. Kristin


Church Office Hours Reminder 
null by Gail Bruno, Office Manager

Just a reminder that though our pastoral door is always open, our administration office has regular hours. Please put this on your refrigerator:
The church office is:
  • Closed on Mondays
  • Open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 am  to 1:00 pm*

Remember, you can always leave a message at the church office, 508-238-6373, or email Gail directly at office at unity-church.com. She will return your call when she is back in the office. 

 

*If you plan to visit the office, please call ahead, or check the Contact Us page of the web site, since Gail's schedule may change seasonally. For example, she will be out of the office on October 23.

Also, keep in mind that even when the administrative office is closed, others may be using it for meetings or events. So, again, please be sure to check the online Calendar and/or Gail for building use availability.


8th Annual Halloween Party - Children of ALL AgesHalloweenPrty

Come join the fun!



October 19th
Parish Hall
5pm to 8pm



Activities include:
  • Pi�ata
  • Dance contests
  • Halloween cards and kits
  • Cupcake decorating
  • Costume contests
  • Bobbing for eyeballs
  • Pizza and treats
Volunteers and donations appreciated.
Some of the items needed are:
  • Candy for the pi�atas
  • Cupcakes, frosting and sprinkles
  • Side dishes
  • Snacks
  • Halloween inspired treats
  • Plastic bats for hitting pi�atas, and
  • Rope to hang them in Parish Hall
  • $$ to help defray the cost of Pizza and other items 
Don't miss this great event which promises
fun, fun, fun for all!!


                 
Please RSVP to Sally MacIsaac at 508-685-7078 or alexdanmac at yahoo.com


Upcoming Music Programs

Organ Concert at Unity Church
  • Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 12:15pm
  • Richard W. Hill, Organist plays  "Autumn Airs", with works of Busser, Jenkins, MacDowell, and Bach.
  • Open to All
  • Unity Church is Handicapped Accessible
Handbell Choir
The Unity Church Handbell Choir will join musicians at
Christ Congregational Church for a concert on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 2pm. 

For more information, please contact Richard Hill at


Unity Church Book Group
null The Unity Church Book Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month.

The meetings will be held on at Noon at the home of Walter Tramontano. All are welcome! The  book selection for our meeting on November 13th is Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

For information about the book selection or directions please contact Michele Blake at 508-230-2839 or mfblake at comcast.net.


Hello! My Name Is...

Our Minister needs your help. Please wear your Name Tag!

We are asking EVERYONE to wear their name tags at Unity Church so that Rev. Kristin can more easily earn our names.

On Sunday mornings name tags will be in the back of the sanctuary. please also wear your name tag to Social Hour.

Before you leave, return your name tag to the basket in Parish Hall and they will be magically transported back to the sanctuary, ready to be worn again on the next Sunday morning.

If you forget and take your name tag home, and then forget to bring it back on Sunday, there will be temporary name tags available, please use them.

Wearing your name tag also helps new visitors to feel more comfortable.


Want to Host a Circle Dinner on October 19th?

What is a Circle Dinner?
One or more groups of ten people, or less, who want an excuse to share a potluck meal and some conversation at someone's home.

How does it work?
The Fellowship Committee finds one or more people willing to host the meal. Hosts offer their homes but are not responsible for providing the meal.

The host receives the names and contact information of the people who will attend from the Fellowship Committee, and then attendees choose what to bring to the potluck. Hosts usually provide beverages and/or snacks, but this is really the host's decision.

These dinners have always been a popular way for small groups of new and veteran Unity friends and members to share some low key, non-committee work... time together.

Do I have to travel from house to house?
No! Contrary to popular myth, you do NOT go from house to house. Groups of ten or fewer people go to one home and spend their entire time there  :-)

If you have any other questions, would like to host on October 19th or any other time, or attend a dinner, please contact Audrey Davies  at audreyrnretired2 at verizon.net.


Chalice w/Border
General Assembly Comes to Unity Church

A piece of General Assembly will be visiting Unity Church. Annually, Unitarian Universalists (UU) from across the country gather at General Assembly (GA) to conduct business, share information, and to worship together. It's powerful to hear the combined voices of thousand of UU's raised in song and see the traditions of our larger faith. 

One of the traditions is the lighting of the Chalice. GA Chalice is oversized, to be in proportion to the gathering. With GA in Providence RI this year, June 25-29, 2014, Unity Church will be hosting the GA chalice on Dec 15, 2013. Be sure to come on that Sunday, just to get fired up about GA!


** Teaser Alert ** 
UUA Book Fair coming to Unity Church soon! 
Contact Cheryl Brigante or Anna Linzi for more details.



NEFFA Logo
Unity Church 3rd Annual
Bed & Breakfast Fundraiser is Back! 

Host friendly, interesting dancers and musicians while raising money for Unity Church!
 
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.

 

You can help them and raise some funds for Unity Church by providing a bed or even just floor space to participants during the fair on April 25-27, 2014.  

 

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

  

Here's How it Works 

  • Church members register to provide a bed and/or floor space, a shower, and a continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
  • Anna Linzi matches hosts with guests. Please contact Anna at 781-727-7521, or emaill her at annatl124 at gmail.com.
  • Hosts and guests email each other to finalize details, like check-in and check-out times. Guests send the checks to the church. This year there are weekend rates at $60 per person for floor space, $75 per person for single bed space, and $150 per bed for a double/queen/king.

What Hosts Need to Know 

  • The festival starts on Friday, April 25, 2014,  at 7 pm and ends at 11:30pm each night, so many of the guests will be coming to your house late. It starts at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday.  You can specify quiet hours that work for you.
  • The festival has a lot of activities, dances, performances, workshops, and more! Click here for more information about the schedule of events.

Host Application Form 

For continuously updated details about how you can help,

click here to get to the Unity Church NEFFA web page. 

 

You can also directly contact Anna Linzi at 781-727-7521 or ANNATL124 at gmail.com. Anna is leading this event for Unity Church. 


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.

Now in a more eco-friendly format of 6 (or 3, 2-sided) printable pages!

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.

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

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


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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