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Unity Church of North Easton News
(Unitarian Universalist)
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"Welcoming people into community to grow in thought, spirit, and service to others."
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Volume 5, No. 17 April 9, 2016
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PLEDGE COMMUNION SUNDAY
APRIL 24TH, 2016
As we approach Pledge Communion Sunday on April 24th, 2016, we remember that Unity Church is a beloved community and in these challenging times we feel inspired to say, "Keep the Fire Burning!"
We worship together each Sunday, in our liberal religious community, for spiritual renewal, to listen to our diverse musical programming, for friendship, connecting with each other, and love. It renews our courage and hope. Our community celebrates and mourns the cycles of life through religious tradition. Birth and death become more meaningful for us when they are recognized spiritually. Unity Church lifts us and comforts us in need.
Our Religious Education program is vitally important. Our society needs religiously educated citizens, and the next generation of children who know the difference between inclusion and exclusion, Universal truth and sectarian truth, multiculturalism and prejudice. Unity Church cares for the lives of its members and the next generation.
As we talk about financial commitment to Unity Church, we recognize that generous giving can be an important expression of our UU values, values that stand against superstition and fear and point to what is best and noblest in human life.
We want to support Unity Church and Unitarian Universalism because it has a free pulpit, where the individual is the final authority in determining his or her own theology, because it stands for so many things, as outlined in our seven Principles.
What does the money that you pledge support?
-Minister's salary (1/4 time this year)
-Religious Education Director's salary
-Office Manager's salary
-Custodian's salary
-Heat and other utilities
-Grounds care including snow plowing and lawn up-keep
-Budget for all active committees
-Child care
-Religious Education programs
-UUA/BCD dues-Social Action out-reach
Please mark your calendars and plan to come to Church on April 24th. Breakfast will be served at 9:30 AM and the Worship service will begin at 10:30 AM with Bill Ames in the pulpit. As is our tradition in recent years, you will write out your pledge in the Sanctuary during a special time in the service. We will collect them in the Pledge Communion bowl as we walk to our closing circle.
Please, please join us for this special service and help to "Keep the Fire Burning!"
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 Religious Education Reminder
Spirit Play begins again this Sunday, April 10th in Holly House. Join us as we explore Creation Stories from around the world! Where did we come from? How did we get here? From darkness to stardust, from seeds to spirits, we are going to explore our way!
Volunteers are always welcome, please see Deanna for more information!
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Help Wanted
It's that time of year when the nominating committee will start seeking out volunteers for the slate to be voted on at annual meeting. There are other non-voted openings as well. Whether you're looking for a change or ready to try something new, there's something for everyone. Church is what we all put into it. Please consider volunteering for one of the open positions.
Webmaster - Want to learn how to manage a website? Already know how and want to put those skills to good use? Unity's long time webmaster, Cathy Adler, will be ready to hand over the reigns in June. No experience necessary.
LREC (Lifetime Religious Education Committee) - Do you want to work with Deanna to bolster the RE program for the kids? Would you like to bring adult RE back to Unity? Join the LREC!
Buildings and Grounds - Want to help take care of our beautiful and historic building and grounds? Join the B&G committee.
Trustee - Several seats will open up in June for Parish Hall and Memorial Fund Trustees.
Community Closet - The CommUnity Closet is primed and ready to go. Do you want to spread the UU message of "the inherent worth and dignity of every person" by providing free clothes to those in need. Lead the charge in this outreach effort.
Executive Committee - Want to help steer this wonderful ship we call Unity Church? The EC has open seats.
Money in and Money out - Want to help keep the cash flowing? We'll need a collector (money in) and an assistant treasurer (money out) next year.
Please contact me to learn more.
Yours in Service,
Jason
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Affirmations
The Executive Committee begins every EC meeting affirming the particularly noteworthy contributions of the previous month. 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.
They are included in our Unity News regularly! Here are the
recent affirmations:
- Deanna Greenstein and all of the religious education teachers for the service they provide.
Affirmations aren't reserved just for the Executive Committee! If there is somebody who you would like to affirm, please send your affirmation to theCheryl Brigante for inclusion in the newsletter. |
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 Stacy Hamalian, Custodian of Unity Church
We have a new part-time Custodian of Unity Church, Stacy Hamalian, since mid-February. Stacy is from West Bridgewater and she is also Girls Junior Varsity Basketball Coach at Oliver Ames High School. She will maintain the Unity Church Building and Holly House, doing interior cleaning, minor repairs, light grounds maintenance, and assisting Church volunteer groups and renters in building setups for events. Stacy has a full workload at Unity, so please refer all requests for assistance to the Buildings and Grounds Coordinator, Ernest Cohen.
When you see her, please welcome Stacy to Unity Church.
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 Expressing our Strengths
Are you passionate about Unity Church? Do you feel that we have many gifts and strengths? Please come and share your insights on this poster in Parish Hall. |
Editor's choice -
I am a member of the Emerson Covenant Group here at Unity. At our most recent gathering, we pondered the following quote as well as others about renewal. It feels like a good one to share - Cheryl Brigante
"The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists. How to support that possibility in others and in ourselves is the ultimate question." - Gabor Mate. |
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 Unity Band to perform at UU Advocacy Day in Boston, April 12, 2016
Join our annual UU Advocacy Day at the State House! This is an important opportunity for advocacy. The current legislative session ends July 31st. We will need to work hard to have our priority bills pass into law! Following the keynote address, participants will break into their issue groups and be briefed on the bills we will be advocating for at the State House.
Bring letters of support from those who cannot attend: Download letters and see list of Bills HERE
Lunch will be provided before we depart for the State House at 12:45 PM
Transportation to the State House will be available if you have mobility limitations.
Details: Tuesday April 12, 10 AM to 4:00 PM Where: Arlington St. Church, 351 Boylston St, Boston. The day will begin at 9:30 AM with registration and the program will begin at 10:00 sharp
Worship Leader: Rev Sarah Stewart, First Unitarian Worcester; Keynote Speaker: Senate President Stan Rosenberg D-Amherst
The Unity Band from Unity Church of North Easton will lead us in song and make this a celebration!
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 Memorial Service for Holly Bell
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Congregational Unitarian Society of Bernardston, 46 Church St.,
Bernardston, MA. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
Rev. Bell was ordained to the ministry in 1973 by the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Greenfield, MA. From 1973 to 1974, she served as Chaplain to the Franklin County Public Hospital of Greenfield, MA.
In 1974, she was called to serve as minister to Unity Church of North Easton, MA, and she held that position for the next 25 years. Upon her retirement from the ministry in 1999, she was voted Minister Emerita of Unity Church.
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 In Worship
April Theme: Renewal
April 10: "Beyond Partisan Division." Reverend Paul Sprecher, preaching. Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been described as "The Democratic Party at Prayer." Are we truly welcoming to people of every description - politically?
April 17: " Music Sunday."T he 5 Point Cluster is having a shared worship service at the Foxborough Universalist Church at 10 AM. Unity Church will be closed in support of this shared worship". Music Sunday will be led by Music Director, Krisanthi (Kris) Pappas.
Participants from the church will be performing live music on various instruments as well as a few congregants sharing recordings of songs that touch them. Each participant will share a few words of how music touches their lives. Foxborough Universalist Church is located at 6 Bird St., Foxborough, MA 02035.
April 24: Bill Ames, preaching.
For more detailed information,
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 Fellowship Spring Activities
Mark your calendars!
Stewardship Breakfast Sunday April 24, 2016 - Breakfast served at 9:30 am and Worship service at 10:30 am.
Take Me out to the BallGame - May 1, 2016 - Cookout and Wiffle Ball games (you'll be home in plenty of time before the Red Sox play the Yankees.)
June Jubilee - June 12, 2016 at Ames Estate, Sunday service and lunch. More details will be forthcoming. Questions can be directed to Audrey Davies at her email |
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Events at First Parish Universalist Church(Stoughton)
Monday evening from 7 to 8 pm, a Buddhist meditation group meets. Anyone interested in silent meditation is welcome. Contact Denise for more information. Cheryl Brigante has attended this.
2nd Friday of the month : 7 to 8:30 pm, Drumming Circle. Contact Kelley with questions 781-341-1213. There are extra drums to share. Cheryl Brigante has attended this if you have questions.
First Parish Universalist Church of Stoughton, 790 Washington St. Stoughton. Enter using the door in the parking lot behind the church.
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The CommUnity Closet is ready for a manager, or a head honcho, or an organizer, create your own title.
There is a room full of laundered clothes hanging in Holly House, just waiting for the CommUnity Closet to open. There are people who need this clothing, given freely without proof of need. The time is now to meld these two together. Before she headed west, Jannelle Codianni created a business plan to do just that. Now we need one or two people to review the plan and put it in place. There has been contact with a few organizations that are willing to bring people to the CommUnity Closet in a van. Volunteers are ready to help with the staffing.
Who is willing to step up to foster this service to people in our community?
Link Click here to see more details about this community outreach.
Click here to send an email to Jason Gold if you are interested. |
CommUnity Closet Needs
We need some folks to do the Laundry! Up in the White Room are pre-bagged loads of laundry, inside the bag you will find another bag for you to place the clean and folded clothes in and bring back to church. If you decide to take more than one (thank you!) please keep them separate, as the clothes have already been sorted into types.
- We need hangers!
- Mailing letters and following up with local businesses!
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Remember these important dates !
Unity Church Annual Meeting: Sunday, May 22, 2016 @ 12:00 - Parish Hall. This is one of the year's important meetings to attend. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
All Committee reports are due by Wednesday, May 4, 2016 to Gail Bruno, in the church office. These reports provide information for the Annual Meeting.
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"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." - Maya Angelou
We are grateful and say Thank You for all who contribute to our Unity Church community, those before us in a Sunday service and those unseen whose presence is a service for all.
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 Church Office Newsby Gail Bruno, Office Manager
April 2016 Office Hours
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Monday - Friday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
*Office will be closed on April 4, 2016
*Evening hours only on April 6, 7, 8 and the week of the 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Please contact the office at 508-238-6373 prior to visiting.
*If you plan to visit the office, please call ahead as Gail's schedule may change monthly.
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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.
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Photo/Graphics/Video Credits for this Issue of the Unity News
Ellen Dehm, Cathy Adler, and Deanna Greenstein
Unity News Contact Info
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