April, 2008 Volume 1, No. 8
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Explore Faith and UU Spirituality at the UU
Revival Festival
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The district staff and leaders have been told for several
years that UUs in the district want more opportunities
to explore UU faith and their spirituality. We have heard
the request and are providing that opportunity with the
UU Revival Festival, May 17, 2008 from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Parish UU, Canton. Rather
than a conference we decided to do this in the form of
old-fashioned revival. There will be though provoking
sermons on faith, small discussion groups for sharing
and talking with other Unitarian Universalists about
faith and our personal spirituality. Children will have
an opportunity learn about their faith tradition in an
experiential setting. Set a day aside to hear about,
think about, talk about your Unitarian Universalist faith.
Tell others in your church, or your family and friends
about this unique event.
Bill Zelazny, BCD District Executive
Information
and registration fliers have been sent to congregation
offices, ministers, religious education directors and
congregation presidents and are available at www.bcduua.org
This event is co-sponsored by the Ballou Channing and
Mass Bay Districts.
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Events
and Programs for UUs
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Womensphere
Spring Gathering
April 19, First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA 9:30
- 3:00
A sacred circle gathering for women. For information
contact Kate Gillis, ksgillis@netzero.net.
Adult
Youth Program Advisor Conclave
April 30,.,Westminster Unitarian Church, 119 Kenyon Ave.
East Greenwich, RI 7:00 p.m.
A gathering for adult youth program advisors to share
their joys, get new ideas, ask questions, and share concerns,
and re-energize. Contact Sue Bollens ( Sblns@aol.com
/ 401-295-7549) for additional information. Directions
at www.westminsteruu.org/directions.
Universalist
Convocation "Being of Service:
Path to Fulfillment."
May 2-4, Barton Center, Oxford, MA
The program will explore the Universalist concept that
doing good is the key to a fulfilling life.
Complete information is at http://nmuc.org/Convo/2008Convo.htm.
North
Atlantic Chapter of LREDA Annual Meeting
May 8, UnitarianUniversity Society of Wellesley Hills.
9:30 - 1:30.
"Majority
Speaks: Global Perspectives in Mission" Conference
May 10, Andover Newton Theological School
An interfaith conference for religious leaders to reflect
upon and explore practical ways for international engagement
and global partnerships. Information at http://www.ants.edu/calendar/event/majority-speaks-08.
Unitarian
Universalist Urban Ministry Annual Meeting
May 15, First Church in Roxbury, MA, 11:00 - 1:30.
Minns,
Lecture Series - Unitarian Universalism and Class: A
Faith for a Few? (article below)
Various dates and locations
Leadership for Change
First Parish in Duxbury will be hosting a Middle
School youth Conference
"We Can Do It". The
church offered $2000 to bring five members of the group
RETHINKERS from New Orleans. The group is comprised of
middle school youth who decided that that their school
systems needed to be evaluated post-Katrina regarding
the quality of their education. They offer insight, hope,
promise and vision. Please visit this website: http://www.therethinkers.com/team-and-history/ to
learn more about about RETHINK Along with RETHINK there
will be a local Boston Group called PEACE GAMES http://www.peacegames.org
who went to New Orleans, and they will present activities
focused on non-violence and leadership for the conference. The
Theme talk is open to the intergenerational public, May
10th from 1:00 to 2:30 pm at the First ParishDuxbury. Email
- Nan Moore nanmo5@comcast.net
or phone 508-420-3604 with any questions you may have
regarding this event.
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New
E-Mail Addresses
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Planning
and Research Started on Forming a New BCD Congregation
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The district has engaged Peter Bowden as a New Congregation
Start Consultant to bring demographic research on two
areas identified as possible sites to initiate a new
congregation start. He will also work with District Executive,
Bill Zelazny, to plan the outreach program to introduce
residents to Unitarian Universalism in the area finally
identified.
Initial plans are for a cell church, sometimes known
as a home-church congregation to be formed in either
the Wareham/Bourne or Westport/Tiverton area. A cell
church is a congregation formed from several home-based
small groups. While the members may join in communal
worship and engage a chaplain/minister, the focus of
ministry is the small group, that remains even after
a congregation is chartered. Funds for this study phase
came from the Winter 2008 Chalice Lighter Call. An additional
Call will be issued to fund the 2nd phase which will
be to establish one or more small groups. Donations are
still being received to support this new congregation
start initiative. A tax deductible $10 contribution check
may be sent to BCD Office, 325 West Elm Street, Brockton,
MA.
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Around
the District
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- Halcyon Westall, Director of Religious
Education at Channing Memorial Church, Newport, completed
her 5th Renaissance module and will be presented her
Renaissance pin June 8 by Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, BCD
Religious Education Consultant
- On Sunday, March 30th, First Parish
Unitarian Universalist of Scituate celebrated
becoming the newest "Welcoming Congregation"
in the District. A new rainbow flag and rainbow banner
that spanned the front of the church were displayed
to mark this achievement.
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UUA
& Time magazine - New Ads
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The UUA's national marketing campaign has begun a
second phase with two more ads in TIME Magazine - April
14 (on newsstands April 4) and May 12 issue of TIME (available
on newsstands May 2). The UUA's national advertising
campaign is supported from funds raised by congregations
for Association Sunday. Funds are also being used for
the Google Adwords program which in Fall 2007 attracted
thousands of new visitors to UUA's "Find a Congregation"
page.
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2008
General Assembly
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Registration housing reservations, program and local
tourist information is available at www.uua.org/ga.
Early registration rates end April 30.
A C*UUYAN, the UUA Young Adult Network, will conduct
a visioning and business meeting prior to GA on June
24 - 25. Participants will engage in large and small
group reflection to discern purposes, goals, and priorities.
Limited financial assistance is available. Registration
at www.connectuu.com.
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UUA
Presidential Campaign Begins
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The election campaign for UUA President is underway.
The Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman and the
Rev. Peter Morales have announced their
candidacies for the office. Profile of Laurel Hallman,
currently, senior minister of the First Unitarian Church
Dallas is at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/102213.shtml?n
and of Peter Morales, current senior minister of Jefferson
Unitarian Church in Golden, Colo. is at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/102214.shtml?n
The UUA's Elections webpage, www.uua.org/elections will
have campaign-related materials posted the next 15 months.
The UUA president is the chief executive officer of
the Association and is its primary spokesperson. The
president is elected by the delegates to the 2009 General
Assembly and assumes office following General Assembly.
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Small
Group Ministry Information
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Several resources are available to help plan to start,
renew or re-energize a small group ministry program:
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New
Orleans Congregations Launch Fund Raising
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The congregations in New Orleans are launching a fund-raiser
to help get them back on their feet. It might be a good
option for a Sunday shared offering. The news about the
fund-raising is at http://www.uuworld.org/news/
articles/104275.shtml
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2008 Minns Lectures
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The topic "Unitarian Universalism and
Class : A Faith for a Few?" will
be explored by the Rev. Mark W. Harris, Minister,
First Parish of Watertown, Unitarian Universalist.
Rev. Harris is the author of the Historical Dictionary
of Unitarian Universalism and of the UUA pamphlet "UU
Origins: Our Historic Faith." He is also an adjunct
professor at AndoverNewtonTheologicalSchool and StarrKingSchool
for the Ministry. Lectures are free and open to the public.
Lecture 1: A Class-bound Faith? (Wednesday,
April 30, 2008, 7:00 pm First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough
St., Boston.) Why have Unitarian Universalists historically
been associated with upper or upper middle classes?
Lecture 2: Brahmin Culture for the Masses.
(Thursday, May 1, 2008, 7:00 p.m.HarvardDivinitySchool,
45 Francis Ave., Cambridge.) How did class determine
our history and who became involved with the Unitarian
movement?
Lecture 3: Universalist Piety and a Classless
Heaven (Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 7:00 pm, King's
Chapel Parish House, 64 Beacon St., Boston.) An examination
of the Universalist faith and its appeal to a broader
number of classes in society
Lecture 4: The Science of Salvation
(Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 7:00 pm First Parish of Watertown,
35 Church St., Watertown). A look at the relationship
between liberal religion and the eugenics movement.
http://www.uuworld.org/news/ articles/104275.shtml
(UUA General Assembly, Fort Lauderdale, FL)
How are class differences reflected in our faith today?
Complete lecture information at http://minnslectures.org/2008_seriesPg1.html
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Employment Opportunities
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- Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development,
Joseph Priestley District, Wilmington, DE.
- Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director.
UUA, Boston.
- Director of the Office of Church Staff Finances,
UUA Boston
Job description at http://www.uua.org/aboutus/careeropportunities/index.shtml.
And young adult employment opportunities at:
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Calendar
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Apr 19 Womensphere * 9:30 a.m.
- 3:00 p.m.
First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA
Apr 27 BCD Annual Meeting 2:00
- 3:30 p.m.
Channing Memorial Church, Newport, RI
Apr 30 Adult Youth Program Advisor Conclave
* 7:00 p.m.
Westminster Unitarian Church, East Greenwich, RI
May 2-4 Universalist Convocation 2008 "Being
of Service: Path to Fulfillment"
Barton Center for Diabetes Education, North OxfordMA
May 10 Majority Speaks: Global Perspectives
in Mission Conference * Andover Newton Theological
School, Newton, MA
May 10 "We Can Do It" Youth
Conference 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
First Parish, Duxbury
May 12-14 BCD UUMA Chapter retreat
Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, Wareham, MA
May 17 UU Revival Festival
10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
First Parish Canton, UU
May 19 BCD Board meeting 6:30
- 9:00 p.m.
First Unitarian Church, Middleboro
Jun 2 New Congregation Presidents & Officer
Workshop 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Universalist Unitarian Church, Brockton, MA
Jun 24-25 UU University
Ft Lauderdale, FL
Jun 25-29 General Assembly
Ft Lauderdale. FL
Aug 5 - 10 UU Musicians Network Conference
*
First Church, Boston
Sep 27 BCD Congregation Presidents Council
Gathering*
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
TBA
Oct 17-18 New England Regional Leadership
Conference
DCU Center, Worcester, MA
Oct 24-27 Liberal Religious Educators Association
(LREDA) Fall 2008 Conference
Albuquerque, NM
Oct 25 Stewardship Conference 9:15
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven
* new this issue
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District Office:
325 West Elm Street, Brockton, MA 02301 - 508-559-6650
e-mail: BCDOffice@uua.org
e-mail list: BCDist-L@lists.uua.org
Website: http://www.bcduua.org
District Executive:
William Zelazny, wzelazny@uua.org,
401 353-5334 (HO)
UUA Trustee:
Eva Marx, emarx@uua.org
President: Rosemary Donahoe, rdonahoe@uua.org
Office Administrator and BCD In-Brief Editor:
Jack McGilvray jmcgilvray@uua.org,
508-559-6650
BCD Webmaster: Robert B. Kelley BCDwebmaster@uua.org
Join Our Mailing List: e-mail us at: BCDoffice@verizon.net
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