Unity Church of North Easton News

(Unitarian Universalist)

"Welcoming people into community to grow in thought, spirit, and service to others."

Volume 4, No. 16, June 12, 2015

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Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

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In Faith and Thanks

Dear members and friends,

As most of you are aware by now, my time with and among you will draw to a close at the end of this month. Just last week Christian and I accepted an offer to serve as the Interim Co-Ministers for the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. We are excited about this new opportunity to work together and to live closer to my family. However, preparing to leave Unity Church holds sadness for me, and perhaps for you.

As a minister, I have made an ethical commitment to release my relationships with all of you when my ministry here ends. Now, this doesn't mean we have to duck for cover if we happen to see one another at a future General Assembly or other denominational function. I will be glad to greet you and show you pictures of my children. But it does mean that I can't continue to act in any way as your minister or discuss Unity Church matters after June 30.

Of course, mine is not the only transition this congregation will experience this year. As most of you know, Music Director and Organist, Dick Hill, will be retiring at the end of June. This is a significant and emotional transition in part because of Dick's long and devoted 37-year tenure, but also because he has made a commitment to abstain from Unity Church activities for a two-year period. While Dick may of course continue his long friendships with church members during this time, as a professional he has agreed that it will be best for the congregation if he abstains from discussing church matters or attending church functions for these two years.

Whenever a new leader steps into an established role, any changes they make to "the way we've always done it" or even "the way we've done it recently" can raise strong feelings for their predecessor. Your new minister may choose to do away with something I've felt was critical. Your new music director may choose to take the music program in a new direction. As such, the two years Dick will spend apart from the church will give him time to process this transition. It will also give the congregation space as it discerns what kind of music staff will best help Unity Church serve out its mission and reach its vision in the 21st century.

Just like every other profession, no ministry and no music director position can last forever. It is natural and expected for different forms of ministry to conclude as others take root. But before that happens, it is important for us all to say goodbye well. While Dick did not wish to lead a final concert or music service, we will be recognizing him in several ways during the service on June 21st. He will offer an expanded Prelude, Offertory, and Postlude, and I will lead the congregation in blessing him. After that service, everyone will be encouraged to write your favorite music memory in a book I'm pulling together for Dick. If you know you will not be able to make it to that service, I will be happy to add a message for you. Please email me at klgrassel@gmail.com no later than Saturday, June 20 with your inscription.

The 21st will be my final service with this congregation, so I, too, look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it. Though my ministry here has been brief, it has also been full, and my affection and respect for this congregation has grown throughout my two years among you. I will miss Unity Church of North Easton, and I look forward to watching from afar as your new ministry - in whatever shape it takes - unfolds.

In faith and thanks.
Rev. Kristin

Special Congregational Meeting Warrant

Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.

Governor Ames Estate

Article 1. To accept the warrant with times for discussion (5 minutes)

Article II. To hear a presentation of the candidates for the Minister Search Committee from the Nominating Committee, and to vote on the nominees for the Minister Search Committee (10 minutes)

The nominees from the Nominating Committee for the Minister Search Committee are Katelyn Haven and Marcia Tims.

The View From The First Cottage Meeting

by Jannelle Codianni, Executive Committee Member At-Large

Members of the Executive Committee and an enthusiastic group of around 20 congregants gathered in the Parish Hall Sunday June 7th for the first of a series of cottage meetings. The meetings are designed to give the Executive Committee and the (soon to be voted in) Search Committee information on the options the congregation would like to explore for the future of Unity Church's Worship and Ministry.

This first meeting's brainstorming was guided by three questions:

Where have we come from?
Where are we now?
Where are we being called to go?

Some of the information about where we have come from surprised us. For instance, did you know that Unity Church has a longer history of hiring part-time Pastors than full time? Or that the Ministers of Unity have often spearheaded an effort for interfaith connection in our community? Some of the places we've come from can still be witnessed today, like our involvement in the community, whether it be with A New Day (formerly Women's Place) or the more current involvement with School on Wheels of MA.

We also discussed what seems to be a long-time habit of looking to the past or the future without acknowledging where we are as a community in the present. In looking at where we are now, we discussed the possible need to update the way our church communicates with each other and the broader community, and the way we facilitate involvement within our church members.

We talked about our families with young children, and felt that our Sunday school program is working well for the younger children.

Right now, and in the recent past our lay leaders have put together many amazing worship services that make us feel proud of our community, as does the work and thought we put into crafting our vision and mission last year.

Where are we being called to go?

We have a lot of ideas: building on serving our families, discovering our musical needs and wants, growing our Lifespan Religious Education programs, working and playing more with other UU churches, and finding a well-rounded ministry that can serve Unity's needs while living within our means.

During our next meeting (date TBA), we will be discussing what our ministerial and administrative needs are and where we want to focus our financial and volunteer assets.

We hope you will stay tuned for the date and join us for the next part of this very important discussion.

New Editor at Unity News

by Cathy Adler, Newsletter Editor & Web Administrator

The new fiscal year will bring us a new newsletter editor! As you recall, four years ago I updated our messaging and also web site tools to use Constant Contact (CC) and Squarespace respectively. Now we have several people who can use CC for messaging, and we are very fortunate that Cheryl Brigante is one of these people!

New Editor, Cheryl Brigante

When she heard that I was looking to give someone else the opportunity to do this important "messaging ministry", Cheryl offered to take on newsletter creation and production beginning on July 1st. Thank you Cheryl! What you might not know is that Cheryl has been a regular reviewer for the newsletter for several years already.

Everyone remember to be especially nice to Cheryl while she gets her feet under her this summer. And also remember to help her by getting your articles in to her with plenty of lead time!

The process for getting articles in the newsletter will remain the same as always. You can send your articles to the welcome2ucne@gmail.com email address, and Cheryl will be sure to get it.

Also, remember, you can always find newsletter publishing dates, and all other events scheduled at the church, on our online CALENDAR on our website.

In the meantime, I will have more focused atention on the web site, but Cheryl and I (and Gail in the office) will be sure to coordinate all our messaging to you.

Looking for Executive Committee and Church Meeting Agendas, Warrants, Minutes, or Member Contact information?

You can find it all on our web site under the Member Access menu, after you log in as a member.

Here is 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.

Upcoming Fellowship Events

June 13: Circle Dinner at Ken and MaryLu Love's Please sign up on sign-up sheet in Parish Hall if you plan to attend.

June 14: June Jubilee: Please bring your lunch and a dessert to share. Fellowship will provide beverages. See the article below for more detail.

June 21: Farewell Luncheon for Rev. Kristen. This will be a pot-luck salad and sandwich luncheon with our traditional sundaes for dessert. Please sign up on the sign up sheet in Parish Hall.

June 26: Theater Night at the Black Box Theater in Mansfield. The musical 1776 will be performed. Since this is our first attempt at a group theater event, we would like to know in advance how many are interested. For those who would like to join us, we will have dinner at McGuire's Bar & Grill which is on the way. However, that is optional.

Please RSVP. The theater is very small and we will need to purchase tickets ahead of time. The ticket price is $29. RSVP to Audrey Davies by email or call at 508-238-3516.

The Fellowship Committee

Audrey Davies, Chair

Cheryl Brigante, Donna Hobart, Carol Heap, Edie Marsden,

Anne Fredericks, and Susanne Rogers

In Worship

Come to June Jubilee!

On Sunday, June 14, we will hold our annual June Jubilee service at the Governor Ames Estate at 35 Oliver St. in North Easton (directions and a downloadable map below), outdoors, weather permitting.

If weather does not cooperate, the service will be as usual at the church sanctuary. This is a casual and celebratory service, with music provided by the Unity Church Band.

Until recently, the Governor Ames Estate was the home of Unity Church member Elizabeth Ames. For many years the Ames family graciously invited us to enjoy an outdoor Spring service on the beautiful estate grounds. The property is now owned by the Trustees of Reservations and we are once again able to hold June Jubilee at the estate.

The service begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch and time to enjoy the 36-acre surroundings. Please dress casually and bring lawn chairs, your lunch, and a dessert to share.

Volunteers will be needed at the church at 9:30 a.m. to help bring supplies: card tables, music stands, podium, audio equipment, trash buckets, etc. Please contact Dick Hill if you can be a Unity "roadie".

Directions (click here to download a map)

Approaching Unity Church from Main Street, take the right turn onto Oliver Street before the church driveway. Follow Oliver St. to a 90-degree left turn. At the turn, go straight onto the driveway into the Gov. Ames Estate. If approaching the church from Elm Street, take a left onto Oliver Street before the YMCA and go left into the Estate when the street turns right. On-site parking is available.

Richard Hill Remembers June Jubilee

June Jubilee is a Unity Church tradition. The idea of an outdoor Sunday service arose before I became organist in 1978. My predecessor, Carl Grabau, told me of the service Unity Church held on the banks of the Queset River in Mr. and Mrs. William Parker's backyard at Unity Close. In those days, two flute players provided the music.

David Ames began to host the event in 1978. The David Ames home at 35 Oliver Street is the site of the original house of Governor Oliver Ames (1831-1895), which was designed in the French Second Empire Style by the architectural firm, Snell and Gregorson in 1867. The house was demolished in 1931 and some of its interior woodwork was installed and can be seen in the Poquanticut Avenue house now owned by the Landry family. The barn, also in the Second Empire style remains.

This estate was landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York City's Central Park, the Boston Public Garden, and Boston's "Green Belt." David Ames had a map of the landscape plan that included the location and name of every tree and bush introduced by Olmsted.