The Unitarian - November 15, 2016

Sunday Worship - November 20

Called To Give - Rev. David Bryce
Many religious traditions call upon their adherents to give to others, to do so as if giving to God, to give out of abundance, and to give with gratitude. As we enter into the season of thanksgiving, and of gift giving, let us count our blessings and heed the call of love.

Prelude: A Voluntary, John James (d. 1745); Simon Andrews, organ

11 a.m. Senior Choir Anthem:  Let All Things Now Living, a traditional Welsh melody, arr. Katharine Davis

Postlude:  St. Anne Fugue (Part 3), J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750); Simon Andrews, organ

The flowers on the Chancel Table this Sunday are given by Jen Roderick in memory of her mother, Barbara.
  • Services at 9 & 11 a.m.; childcare is provided.
  • Sunday, November 27: Joy - Andrea Spencer-Linzie, Ministerial Intern
  • Directions and parking information at uubelmont.org
  • Sermon archive: uubelmont.org/sermons
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, November 20
All are invited to an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, co-sponsored by the Belmont Religious Council and the Belmont Clergy Association:
  • Sunday, November 20, 7 p.m.
  • Hosted by the Plymouth Congregational Church, 582 Pleasant Street, Belmont
  • Come join a special interfaith choir led by our Minister of Music Emerita, Rev. Alfa Joy Radford; rehearsal is at 5:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Congregational Church.
Rev. David Bryce
Reflections from Rev. David Bryce, Senior Minister
I am writing this column on the morning of Election Day, 2016.
     I have no idea who will win, though by the time you read this we should know.
     My column this morning is about democracy, which in America arose out of the Puritan churches (our direct religious forebears) and which is part of our Unitarian Universalist Principles: 
Principle 5: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
     For us, democracy is a religious principle. It rests in a belief about human nature, a belief that the individual can hear the voice of truth within. It rests in a liberal religious belief that individuals are not innately saturated with sin; rather, however broken any individual may be, goodness and worthiness lie within-and therefore the will of the people is to be trusted.
     Now the Puritans were not always the best of people, and did not always behave with respect for others. Most of us know that Quakers, for example, were driven from the Massachusetts Bay colony or-in particularly obstinate cases-were hanged. Not an act of tolerance, justice or love.
     And so while we can thank those Puritans for the democracy that evolved from their congregational practices, we can also be thankful that we have moved beyond their intolerances.
     And we all know that the United States did not begin with the level of democracy we have now. Originally only white, male landowners could vote. But little by little-though far too slowly-we have extended the right to vote. Or, more properly, we have recognized that this right extends to greater numbers of people. 
     I often refer to the Doctrine of Human Rights, a rather amorphous thing. Even the Bill of Rights in our Constitution is somewhat unspecific: Article 9 "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Generally, I agree with the more expansive version of human rights as described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations.
     But my point in this column is the religious one: that we recognize the inherent God-given or Goddess-given or Cosmos-given capabilities and rights of each person. And it is based upon this belief that we work to build a society of inclusion and justice for all.
Collection for the Belmont Food Pantry
The paper turkeys you see scattered about the pews this coming Sunday are designed to hold your donation to support the Belmont Food Pantry's holiday meal effort. The donations we make today will enable The First Church to contribute to the Food Pantry's Thanksgiving holiday meal program by purchasing Star Market gift cards. You can tuck your special donation into one of the turkeys and put it in the offering plates along with your regular weekly contribution to the work of the church. Checks made payable to The First Church in Belmont are welcome - please write "Belmont Food Pantry" on your check. Thank you for your generosity!

Social Action Holiday Gift Fair - Sunday, December 4, 10:15 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Do your holiday shopping...and help others. Items for sale will include crafts, clothing and accessories, bags, baskets, children's items, jewelry, coffee, note cards, calendars, photography, specialty food items, and more. This year's Social Action Gift Fair has been expanded to include a bigger selection of gift items and will benefit a greater number of charitable causes, including the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Amnesty International, the Coral Reef Alliance ... click for more
Worship Committee Seeking Leaders for Lay-Led Services on Christmas and New Year's Day ...   click for more
Music Notes, by Ian Garvie
Last call! The First Church Children's Choirs will be presenting Mozart's Magic Flute  on:
  • Thursday, 11/17 at 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday, 11/18 and Saturday, 11/19 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, 11/20 at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets have been selling out fast, but any seats available can be purchased online, or at the door.  Click here for tickets; must be purchased online by midnight on 11/15.
Among Us
As reported in a recent Unitarian , former FCB member Christine Sullivan died suddenly on October 25.  A public celebration of Christine's life will take place on January 7, 2017 in Salem. Location and time TBA ... click for more
Adult Programs News
 
New Programs
  • Theatre Discussion Series - The Scottsboro Boys - Tues., Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.
  • Prequel to Major Music with Ian Garvie - Wednesday, November 30 (back to its original date), 8:00 p.m., Parish Hall 
Ongoing Programs
  • Meditation - Mondays, 8:00 p.m., Library
  • Belmont UU Alliance and Documentary - Wed., Nov. 16, 12 noon, Upper Hall
  • Facing Illness Together - Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m., Kathy Lind's house
  • Fiber Arts Fellowship - Thursday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m., Location TBD
  • Hootenanny - Wed., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
  • First Church Book Group - Wed., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., Library
  • Parenting Kids with Challenges - Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Library
Social Action News in Brief ...  click for more

Coffeehouse Season Tickets - still available
Tickets can be purchased by mail, by drop-off at church, and in person to any Coffeehouse Committee member.

Panel Discussion: Being a Muslim in the United States These Days
Thursday, November 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Follen Church, Lexington
Come learn how three Muslim Americans have experienced the past several months of political discourse. Sponsored by UUMass Action.

VDAY 2017
The Social Action Committee will be presenting our 2nd VDay event and are currently forming the Planning Committee; contact Jackie Neel at  jneel@uubelmont.org. Both men and women are welcome.

Grow Clinic!
November and December: Start the Day Strong  (Infant rice cereal, cold and hot non-sugared cereals, Flintstone chewable vitamins, Polyvisol with Iron liquid vitamins); collection baskets are in the Lower Hall and Sanctuary vestibule.
 
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Team Monthly Note (November 2016)
Go to  UUSC.org  to read about Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew and the organization's actions to aid those who are most likely to be overlooked by traditional relief efforts. 
Committee News & Updates

Space at My Table
If you're celebrating Thanksgiving at home and have space at your table, the Fellowship Committee asks if you would be interested in hosting other members of the church? Or perhaps you'd love to join your fellow Unitarians on the holiday? Sign up at the coffee hour after services, or email fellowship@uubelmont.org.

Volunteer Sign-Up Form
Share your time, talent and interest with our church community. Click to complete a short survey so the Membership Committee can match your interests and talents with volunteer opportunities at the church. 

Caring Connection
The Caring Connection provides support to members of our community who need short-term help:  uubelmont.org/caring-connection.

Lay Pastoral Care Team
The Lay Pastoral Care Team works with and supports the senior minister in reaching out to members and friends of the First Church who are adjusting to change, loss, illness or death:  uubelmont.org/lay-ministry

Kitchen Update from the UU Urban Ministry
Dear Belmont members; 
Last year, several of our friends from Belmont approached the UU Urban Ministry with an ambitious idea: raise $25,000 from members of The First Church in Belmont, UU, in support of important renovations to our kitchen. Within six months that goal was met and surpassed, and one year later the total amount raised stands at more than $35,000 ... click for more.
Connect with UU actions, events & resources
Parish Board
Information and board minutes are online at uubelmont.org/parish-board.

Contact Us
Next issue: November 22
The next issue of The Unitarian is Tuesday, November 22. Please send submissions to office@uubelmont.org by Wednesday, November 16.  Submissions may be edited for space and clarity.
     Because the church office will be closed November 24 and 25, the deadline for the November 29 issue of The Unitarian and Order of Service announcements is Friday, November 18.

New Publication Schedule for The Unitarian
Recently, the Program Council voted to distribute The Unitarian only by e-mail, beginning with the January 6, 2017 issue. This e-mail will now be sent on Fridays, rather than Tuesdays. Print copies of The Unitarian will still be available in the church and a printable version will continue to be online ... click here for more.
Reverend Bryce's Spring 2017 Sabbatical
Please visit uubelmont.org/sabbatical for details about pulpit and pastoral coverage while Rev. Bryce is away, from January to June 30, 2017.



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