|
|
|
Unity Church of North Easton News
(Unitarian Universalist)
|
|
"We Pledge to Walk Together..."
|
Volume 3, No. 19, April 3, 2014
|
|
|
|
You and your guests are cordially invited
to a Service and Reception
on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m.
in celebration of
10 Years of Marriage Equality
(Details to be provided soon!)
|
|
BCD Scholarships for GA Available NOW!
The Ballou Channing District (BCD) - that's our district - has fifteen $250 scholarships to assist with General Assembly Registration. The scholarship will be given by lottery.
Submission deadline is April 15.
If you would like to go to General Assembly this year in Providence, R.I., but need a little help with funding your Registration:
- download and complete this form and call the BCD office at 508-559-6650 with this information
OR
|
The Average Age
of a Homeless Person
in Massachusetts
Whether you want to power walk, or run, or take a meditative or casual stroll, or cheer on those who do, come help
 | |
2013 Event T-shirt!
|
Join the Unity Church Team at the 4th Annual Outrunning Homelessness 5K Run / 2.6 Mile Fun Walk being held at DCRs Borderland State Park on Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Bring your family and friends out for a morning of fun and fellowship in a beautiful setting. There will be kids' activities and music, along with the main event.
If you would like to be part of Team Unity, please contact Melanie D'Aiello.  Last year, UCAN raised enough funds to be a t-shirt sponsor (see above). This year, because of an open-hearted donation of $750 by Michael Achey, UCAN will once again be a t-shirt sponsor for this important event to help children impacted by homelessness. Give Michael a big hug when you see him.
|
|
A Letter From the Nominating Committee
Dear Unity Church Members, The Nominating Committee is charged with giving Voting Members information about:
- what positions are voted on every year by the congregation
- where to find those positions described in our bylaws
- which positions are vacant in an upcoming year
- what is the skill set required for a particular position
The Nominating Committee also communicates to the congregation the timeline for accepting nominations. How are Candidates Nominated for Open Positions?Unity Church has an open nominations period in which any Voting Member may nominate another Voting Member for an open position. Voting Members may also nominate themselves as candidates for open positions. When all the nominations are in at the end of the open nomination period, and candidates have been interviewed by one or more members of the Nominating Committee, the Nominating Committee will make recommendations for the slate of candidates to be voted on at the Annual Congregational Meeting. Please note that although the Nominating Committee makes recommendations for candidates on the slate, any other person nominated, who is a Voting Member and who meets the requirements for a position, can request to be placed on the slate and voted on at the Annual Congregational Meeting. What is an Open Position?An open position is one for which either a term is ending, or the position is being vacated early by the person already in it. Open positions for this next Fiscal Year, which begins on July 1, 2014, and candidates to date for those positions, are listed in the table below: |
Position
|
Candidate(s) to Date
|
Term
| |
President
|
Jason Gold
|
1st Term (limit 3)
| |
Vice President
|
OPEN
|
1st term (limit 3)
| |
Treasurer
|
OPEN
|
1st term (limit 3)
| |
Clerk
|
Melanie D'Aiello
|
1st term (limit 3)
| |
At-Large
|
OPEN
|
Vacated Term, Expires 2015
| |
At-Large
|
OPEN
|
Term Expires 2017
| |
At-Large
|
OPEN
|
Term Expires 2017
| |
At-Large
|
J Haven
|
Term Expires 2016
| |
At-Large
|
Walter Tramontano
|
Term Expires 2017
| |
Assistant Treasurer
|
Mark D'Aiello
|
2nd term (unlimited)
| |
Collector
|
Ken Love
|
5th term (unlimited)
| |
Nominating Committee
|
Frank Smith
|
3rd (limit 3)
| |
Nominating Committee
|
Jennifer Gold
|
2nd term (limit 3)
| |
Nominating Committee
|
Chris Pender
|
1st term (limit 3)
| |
Parish Hall Association
|
Ken Love
|
8th term (unlimited)
| |
Parish Hall Association
|
Ernie Cohen
|
7th term (unlimited)
| |
Parish Hall Association
|
Sandra Hill
|
7th term (unlimited)
| |
Memorial Fund
|
Anne Fredericks
|
?th term (unlimited)
| |
Memorial Fund
|
Greg Wolfe
|
2nd term (unlimited)
| |
Memorial Fund
|
Walter
|
2nd term (unlimited)
|
What is the Timeline for Nominations?- Nominations are open from now until April 15, 2014.
After April 15, 2014, no additional nominations will be accepted. Please also remember that nominations are not accepted from the floor at the Annual Congregational Meeting. This decision was made so that the nominating process can be as transparent as possible to the congregation, but also to ensure that due diligence is done around the election of our church leadership. - Annual Congregational Meeting is to be held on Sunday, May 18, 2014, after Social Hour.
Just as with civic voting, it is important for church members to be present and to participate in our governance process by attending the Annual Congregational Meeting, hearing updates on the health of our operations, and voting on these leadership positions. How Do I Nominate Myself or Someone Else?If you would like to nominate yourself or some other Voting Member of the congregation for one of the positions in the table above, or just have questions about positions or the nominating process, please don't hesitate to contact us at welcome2ucne@gmail.com. Respectfully, UCNE Nominating Committee: Jennifer Gold & Frank Smith Congregational President: Chris Pender
|
Affirmations
At the beginning of every Executive Committee meeting, we go around the table and ask if there are any special affirmations anyone would like to make. Though they do make it into the EC meeting minutes every month, we thought it would be nice to express this appreciation in a more public way. So, they are included in our Unity News regularly! Here are the
recent affirmations:
- All who participated in the March Visioning Session
- Susanne Rogers and Chris Pender for following through with the minister compensation review
- All who organized the Family Potluck especially Deanna Greenstein and the Fellowship Committee
- Girl Scout Sunday was a great success - thanks to all who organized and participated.
- Mary Lu Love for her work as Clerk, VP and (soon-to-be) President of the Ballou Channing District.
- All on Stewardship and the Finance Committees for their continued dedication to financial essentials
- Ellen Dehm and Brigitte von Weiss for their careful review of the Safe Congregation Policy.
|
 Upcoming Musical Offerings
by Richard Hill, Music Director & Organist at Unity Church
Organ Recital: Spring Fling
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 - 12:15 p.m.Admission Free
Ruth Ashley Memorial Handbell Concert
The Annual Ruth Ashley Memorial Handbell Concert will be held at Unity Church, Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 3:00 p.m.  The annual spring ring is upon us. Back in 2003, we began a series of handbell concerts with St. Mark Congregational Church in Roxbury. Most Novembers, our choir travels to St. Mark and in April, their choir comes here. The series was the brainchild of Ruth Ashley and me. Ruth was directing the bells in Roxbury at the time. She had been the Supervisor of Music in the Easton Public Schools for several years, and also coached tennis. A dear friend, Ruth had sung in my choir when I was organist in West Bridgewater, where the Ashleys lived. Louis, her husband, sang bass. In 1964, Ruth was the soprano soloist at Sandra's and my wedding in Middleboro. In 1968, Ruth left Easton to teach at Lowell State. After her retirement, in the late 1980's she revived the Handbell Choir at her sister's church in Roxbury and we began this collaboration. Ruth and Louis died several years ago, and she was replaced at St. the current Handbell Choir Director, Rosebud Holland - so, the music goes on. These concerts are much more than handbell music. They are a prime example of what our church is all about. We are a welcoming congregation. St. Mark is a welcoming congregation. Here are two choirs, from different traditions, ages, and backgrounds - and we fit together like old gloves. So come and feel welcomed. Following our concerts we have a nice supper and a chance to interact. This is a wonderful time. Come enjoy the music and the food, and the Fellowship. You'll be glad you did. Annual Benefit Concert for A New Day
Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 7:00 p.m. Unity Church of North Easton has held a concert annually on Mother's Day weekend, for over 11 years, to benefit A New Day (formerly Womansplace Crisis Center). A New Day provides free and confidential counseling and advocacy to all individuals impacted by sexual violence and/or relationship violence. The music program will include the Choirs of Unity Church and some wonderful soloists. Donations gladly accepted and all go directly to A New Day. Join us this evening - bring your Mom!
|
|
Unity Church Kids Movie Night this Friday!
Friday, April 4th at 6 - 9 p.m.For ages 3 years and older. Parents are welcome to stay....or take time for yourself The Plan- Games to start the night
- Pizza & Ice Cream for Dinner*
- Movie & Popcorn
What to Bring- Pillow, sleeping bag or blanket
- PJ's or comfy clothes
- Beverage your child will drink
- *Special diet food(s)
Nitty-Gritty Details- Movie ends by 8:30pm, pick-up by 9pm
- Kids can bring a friend if a parent stays
- Email: deanna.greenstein@gmail.com
- Please include child(ren)'s name(s), age, special *diet needs and if you plan to stay with your child or leave
|
|
Many Gifts; One Voice
Just as we join together in our closing circle each Sunday and sing  about the gifts we each give and receive, we realize it is the combination of all of our gifts, tallied together, that empowers the members of our community to do more in unison than we can accomplish apart. In this circle, we reach out, join hands and feel the connection to each other and the strength of this community.
We began our Stewardship campaign on Sunday, March 30th, reflecting, as we do each year, on why we support Unity Church as OUR church, and Unitarian Universalism as OUR faith.
Our Stewardship campaign, Many Gifts; One Voice, ends on April 13, 2014 with Pledge Communion Sunday. Our goal this year is for every person in our circle to make a financial pledge. No amount is too small.
So, come to church that Sunday, join the circle, make a pledge, and make that pledge Your Gift, Your Voice in the amazing chorus that is Unity Church.
Respectfully,
The Stewardship Committee: Audrey Davies, Susanne Rogers, and Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt
|
 Upcoming Fellowship Events
The Fellowship Committee has been busy scheduling some fun events in the upcoming months. Please put these on your calendar now, and be sure to bring your friends and families too!
- April 2014 - Earth Day Events
- May 2014 - Theater Event
- June 2014 - Circle Dinner
For more information about Fellowship events, please contact Cheryl Brigante, at cherylbrigante at hotmail.com.
|
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.
|
|
|
New to Unity Church?
New to Unity Church or want to Join Our Mailing List?
|
|
Photo Credits for this Issue of the Unity News
Deanna Greenstein, Ellen Dehm, 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 welcome2ucne@gmail.com . |
|
|
