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Unity Church of North Easton News
(Unitarian Universalist)
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"We Pledge to Walk Together..."
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Volume 3, No. 10, November 8, 2013
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Minister Message
Operation Generosity
Dear Friends,
This month in worship we are exploring the theme of "generosity" and I could think of no better way to start things off than by giving gifts to the congregation. Last Sunday, in a reverse offering, I gave each person who attended worship an envelope containing $2, $5, or $10 along with the charge simply to be generous with it in the name of Unity Church. The gifts for the reverse offering came from the Minister's Discretionary Fund, a relatively modest fund that the church provides the minister for the purpose of responding to urgent financial needs among members and friends of the congregation and beyond. Though the fund is not huge, this is one small way the ministry of Unity Church extends inside and outside of our walls to support the needy in our communities. I entrusted the congregation with gifts from this Fund because I wanted to show you how important I think YOUR ministry is in the life of Unity Church. I want you all to participate in spreading wide the reach of Unity Church's ministry to the world. I've already heard from some members and friends about how they have been generous with what they received. Some have chosen to add their gifts to larger donations to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Churches across the country have done similar reverse offerings, and some of their members got pretty inventive with how they used their gifts generously. - At a church in New Jersey, some members who had lost jobs in the recession used what they received to enhance their grocery budgets and then invited friends over who were in need to share a meal.
- A Mennonite youth group chose to pool the money they had received, purchase ingredients, and bake snacks. They sold those snacks at their church during coffee hour and later gave the profits back to the church to support its ongoing ministries.
- A woman from a church in Michigan used the $5 she received to buy materials to make yard sale signs. She then donated $400 she made from her yard sale to a local charity.
If you were not present on Sunday I hope you will still participate in what I've begun calling Operation Generosity! There are a few envelopes left over from Sunday, and I will be happy to give or mail you one. Just email me so we can figure out the details. I also hope you will let me know how you were generous before November 24, so that we can celebrate the reaches of our shared ministry together on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. With affection and excitement, Rev. Kristin Donations to the Minister's Discretionary Fund are always welcome. It is through such gifts that the minister is able to respond confidentially with one-time gifts to members, friends, and people in Unity Church's wider community who are in urgent financial need. If you would like to make a donation to support this generosity please write a check to "Unity Church Minister's Discretionary Fund" and either mail it to the church or drop it in the offering plate any Sunday morning. Thanks!
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It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for the Fall Retreat!
Or just show up on November 9th.
All members and friends are invited!
Saturday, November 9, 8:30am - 1:00pm in Parish Hall.
If you have any questions, contact Executive Committee Vice President, Jason Gold, or Executive Committee Clerk, Ellen Dehm.
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Want to Listen to a Sermon?
Thanks to our wonderful AV volunteers, Ernie Cohen, Greg Wolfe, and Jason Gold, sermon recordings are once again available for anyone who might have missed a service, or anyone would just like to listen again.
Recorded Sermons, since the beginning of this church year, can be found on our web site under the Worship, Ministry, and Music menu.
If you have any trouble finding them, or listening to them, please contact our Web Administrator, Cathy Adler at welcome2ucne at gmail.com.
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3rd Annual Fellowship Luncheon
November 24 at 11:30am
Our 3rd Annual Fellowship Luncheon is coming up on Sunday November 24. During Social Hour after the service, gather in Parish Hall for a Seasonal Luncheon! Turkeys will be prepared for us and we all will bring the side dishes.
Look for a sign-up sheet in Parish Hall and start thinking now about what dish you would like to bring. Choices include:
- mashed potatoes
- stuffing
- gravy
- cranberry sauce
- vegetables, including green beans, corn, carrots, or your favorite
- rolls or cornbread
- pumpkin or apple pie, or your favorite pie
- cookies or a cake
For more information contact Audrey Davies 508-238-3516.
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Upcoming Music Programs
 22nd Annual Handbell Concert at St. Mark
On Sunday, November 10, another fine concert will be performed by the remarkable union of two handbell choirs, Unity Church and St. Mark, who have joined together in love, twice a year, for the last 22 years.
The concert will be held at 3:00 pm at St. Mark Congregational Church, 200 Townsend Street (and Humboldt Avenue) Dorchester, MA 02121. Donations accepted at the door.
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Help Easton Plan its Future - Come to the Second Summit on November 13
The public is invited to attend the Envision Easton Second Summit on Wednesday, November 13 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Oliver Ames High School cafeteria, 100 Lothrop Street.
The Master Plan Steering Committee and five working groups have been hard at work collecting data and identifying key challenges, opportunities and issues Easton will be facing over the next 10-20 years.
Summit participants will have the opportunity to hear about the work to date, and to provide ideas and input on these topics:
- Housing and Neighborhoods
- Economic Development
- Recreation and Natural Resources
- Arts, Culture, and Education
- Transportation, Mobility, and Access
All members of the Easton community are welcome to attend and all ideas will be heard!Envision Easton is a master planning process that asks what Easton should be like in the future and lays out a path to achieve that vision. For more information please visit www.envisioneaston.com, or contact Cathy Adler, Co-Chair Easton Master Planning Steering Committee.
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 General Assembly News!
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! Want more GA information? Stay tuned to www.uua.org/ga. You might want to bookmark that address as a favorite so you can go to it quickly whenever you're looking for GA information. Check it now to see the GA schedule, learn all about this year's Ware Lecture, get the basics about Youth Caucus, day camp, and child care, or even learn a bit about Providence and the many things the city has to offer. You might also want to join the UUA's GA listserv, a place where participants exchange information, ideas, and tips about GA, set up carpools or joint child care, look for GA roommates, etc. To sign up, go to http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uua-ga.
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Church Office Memos
 from Gail Bruno, Office Manager Did you Find Your Name Tag?  As you've heard, we are using a brand new process to make sure name tags are available for members and friends. On Sunday mornings, name tags are on a board in the back of the sanctuary. Please put yours on when you enter, and keep it on during Social Hour. If you can't find your name tag, please contact Gail at the church office (bound to be a few bumps in the road as we start this...) 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 help everyone feel welcome by wearing a name tag.
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Unity Church Book Group
 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.
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Unity Church 3rd Annual Bed & Breakfast Fundraiser is Back!
Host friendly, interesting dancers and musicians while raising money 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!
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New to Unity Church?
New to Unity Church or want to Join Our Mailing List?
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Photo Credits for this Issue of the Unity News
Cathy Adler, Cheryl Brigante, and Ellen Dehm
Unity News Contact Info
For questions or comments regarding this message, please contact Cathy Adler, Unity News Managing Editor & Web Administrator , at welcome2ucne@gmail.com . |
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