Bird’s Eye View
Newsletter of Foxborough Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association
6 Bird Street * On The Common * Foxborough, MA 02035-2301 * 508-543-4002
Worship Service & Religious Education Classes, Sundays at 10:00 A.M.
Katie Lawson, Minister * www.uufoxborough.org * All Are Welcome!
A UUA Welcoming Congregation

The Foxborough Universalist Church is a vibrant and caring congregation that welcomes all. Our mission is to nurture each other along our spiritual paths while working together for the betterment of our community and the world.

Minister’s Message
Dear Friends,
Last week, a group of us met after worship for a productive two hours of strategic planning. The goal of the day was to take the three categories of the strategic plans and their goals and to create a concrete plan for achieving those goals in the next three years. I was impressed by the level of enthusiasm and the creativity of people’s thinking. I was struck with how simple many of the ideas were and how they mostly involved an effort to get organized in a certain direction. It’s true that some of what we needed to talk about are what we might call “big ticket” items (making the building accessible, for one), but truly so much of it revolved around limited but focused attention: organizing a book group every now and then, creating a good format for an orientation meeting for newcomers, getting together eight people who could perform as a vocal ensemble once every two or three months…These are things that will not only bring us closer to reaching the goal of the strategic plan (to increase the church’s ability to fulfill its mission by growing our membership and our programming and to become more relevant in the community), but that will be enriching for those involved as well. I hope everyone will find at least a small way to become involved in the larger effort to take the church into its next phase.
Following through on any strategic plan requires commitment, focus, and patience, and I hope that we will all balance our ambitions for the church with enjoying the beautiful place it is currently. As we mobilize our efforts to complete the tasks decided upon last week, let’s also be present to the opportunities for fun, advocacy, and spiritual growth that present themselves along the way.

If you were unable to be a part of the strategic planning round-up, but have an idea that would help to accomplish one of the goals put forth in the basic description for the strategic plan, be sure to contact me or a Board member.
Faithfully,
Katie

Chairman’s Ramblings
Thank you to everyone who participated in the after church planning sessions. We are now putting these detail items together in a presentable format for all to review. Like any other long term plan, this is a ‘living’ document, meant to be reviewed at least once each year to measure progress, and add or delete items that seem appropriate and that fit current member objectives. Some churches do this at an annual retreat, some do it ‘in-house’ so to speak. Either way it provides a path forward to ensure a commonality of purpose and direction. As soon as the draft is ready, we will have it available for all to review.

This is the time of year when we ask you to consider becoming a member of the Board Of Trustees. As you know, it is this group that provides governance for the church. Each year several members end their term, requiring us to request people to fill the open positions. We have a nominating committee to help in this process, but any member of the Board would be willing to discuss the participation and commitment needed. Meetings are once a month for the whole Board, at members convenience, and an additional meeting may be needed for an active committee with a program to plan. There are no outside members from either the District or from the UUA headquarters, everything we do is done by us at the local level, so your input is important. Think about it, and be aware that a member of the nominating committee may approach you with a request to join The Board.
Thanks,
Dick

Don’t Forget!!
The “Put-Your-Spirit-Into-Hymn” Hymnal Fundraiser And Contest is underway. Registration forms are available in the vestibule and should soon be returned to the box on the piano in the sanctuary. Judges will pick the winners after worship on April 11 and the winning hymns will be sung during worship the next week.

Belly Psychadelli
“Belly Psychadelli” is the theme of Sumora’s 6th Annual Belly Dance Karavan on Saturday, May 22 at the church. Many beautiful dancers have already committed to performing in this year’s show and it is shaping up to be a perfectly entertaining event. All the dancers donate their time and talents for this show and some travel from as far away as Lowell and Worcester to get here. For those of you unfamiliar with the beautiful, ancient, and spiritual art of belly dance, you might be surprised at what you see — it is beautiful, sacred, and entertaining. Please mark your calendars and participate on show night to support these beautiful performers as well as the church: attend the stunning show as an audience member or help out behind the scenes! Please also help our fundraising efforts by inviting everyone you know to this family-friendly show. As in the past, ALL proceeds go towards the church’s Accessibility Improvements Fund ramp initiative! If you would like to help out, please contact Sumora at ShimmyYogini@comcast.net. Updates will be posted to Sumora’s Web site (home.comcast.net/~susanmorgaine) and the church’s Events Web site (events.uufoxborough.org).

Walk For Hunger
Save the date for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 2, 2010. With more people than ever struggling to put food on the table, it’s good to know there’s help close to home. The 20-mile Walk weaving through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge will include entertainment and free snacks and will help raise $4 million to fight hunger. Register, donate, and learn more at www.projectbread.org/walk or call 617-723-5000.

Will You Be Silent?
On Friday, April 16, 2010, many schools and people across the nation will be observing the 14th “Day Of Silence” (DOS). What is the Day Of Silence? The Day Of Silence is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in schools take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment — in effect, the silencing — experienced by LGBT students and their allies. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying, and harassment in schools. Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to participate on April 16, so that those who endure anti-LGBT bias will not be forgotten. For more information about the DOS, please visit www.dayofsilence.org.

Standing On The Side Of Love News
SSL invites you to contact your members of Congress about the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. While the Administration announced changes in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on March 25, unfortunately, it’s still illegal to be gay or lesbian in the military. Current military policy bans bisexual, gay, and lesbian people from serving openly; the changes announced just make it a little safer in the closet. The President has expressed his commitment to repealing this harmful policy, and the military is already preparing to end it, but Congress must act on the issue. A new bill to repeal DADT has been introduced in the Senate. For details, please visit www.standingonthesideoflove.org.

April 2010 Holidays
1 Maundy Thursday – Christian
2 Good (Holy) Friday – All Christians
3 Holy Saturday – Christian
4 Easter – All Christians
5-6 Pesach (Passover) final two days – Jewish
11 Yom HaSho’ah – Jewish
14 Baisakhi – Sikh
19 Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Jewish
21 First Day of Ridvan – Baha’i
23 Saint George’s Day – Christian
28-May 1 Theravadin New Year – Buddhist
29 Ninth Day of Ridvan – Baha’i
30 St. James the Great Day – Orthodox Christian

Wayside Pulpit
Nature never did betray the heart that loved her. ~ William Wordsworth

April’s Global Chalice Lighting
In the name of compassion and loving-kindness :
Following the paths of Ibn Arabi, a Sufi master, we let our hearts dilate to enable them to fit all spiritual or existential kinds.
For those who seek, our hearts have become church, temple, synagogue, mosque, sanctuary; stronghold for the poor, for those who are suffering, for minorities wherever they come from.
We believe in the religion of Love, which has no gender, and to which all personal stories are leading.
Because Love is our religion and our faith.

~ Yohann Amal

Conseil des Unitariens et Universalistes Français (CUUF)

http://unitariens.francais.over-blog.fr/

Milestones
Aurelia Isabel Henry Reinhardt, Deborah Webster Greeley, Dorothea Lynde Dix, Charles Bliss Bowles, Maja Veronica Oktavec Capek, Chester Greenough Atkins, Rev. Samuel Willard, Daniel Chester French, Winfred Overholser, Abigail Williams May, Richard Bowditch Wigglesworth, & Mary Wollstonecraft.

• In 1781, on April 22, Elhanan Winchester gave his first sermon publicly advocating Universal Restoration at Pennsylvania University.

Our Roots
If you’re interested in some people that contributed to the Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist faiths, some biographies are available on-line at many locations including: the church Web site, the Harvard Square Library Web site, and the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society Web site. Harvard Square Library has recently expanded their focus on Notable American Unitarians (www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/) to include Notable American Universalists (www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/universalists/). The Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography is looking for volunteers to write short biographies about famous Unitarian Universalists in history and can be accessed via www.uuhs.org.

UU Notable News
Harvard Square Library offers books to read for free on-line. Current books available include:

• “Sacred Service In Civic Space” by Kathleen R. Parker which celebrates the three hundred years of community ministry of Unitarian Universalism.
• (www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/Community_Ministry/)
  “We Sing Of Life (with We Speak of Life)” edited by lifelong UU minister Vincent Silliman and in collaboration with composer and musicologist Irving Lowens. The book was designed especially for liberal religious education. (www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/We_Sing_of_Life/Introduction.html)

UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
We are still participating in this ongoing social action. As of March 19, the Fund has received donations totalling $1,728,344.68. If you would like to donate, please place your donation (in an envelope marked with “UUSC/UUA Haiti Fund”) in the collection plate and/or contact our church Treasurer.

Transforming Our Prejudices – A Sensitivity Workshop
The Channing Church Interweave group will be hosting a Sensitivity Workshop from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, at Channing Memorial Church (135 Pelham Street, Newport, RI). This workshop will give participants opportunities to do personal work on internalized and external oppressions as well as provide concrete ways to bring new learnings and tools into everyday life. If you are interested in attending, please contact Lee Whittaker at interweave@channingchurch.org to let him know how many will be attending. You may pay the $10 fee at the door. Make checks payable to Channing Church with memo: Interweave Workshop.

ShelterBoxUSA Tent-A-Thon
From 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, children, youth, and adults of the Unitarian Church of Sharon will erect a “tent city” on the front lawn of the church. Each tent on the church lawn will represent $200 in pledges gathered by participants from Sharon, Foxborough, Mansfield, and Norwood. For more information visit www.shelterboxusa.org. For more information about this event, contact Louise Marcoux, Director of Religious Education, at 781-784-3652.

UU Holdeen India Program
The UUA International Resources Office released “UUHIP: Partners for Justice in India” an introduction to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Holdeen India Program. UUHIP supports the efforts of those peoples excluded or oppressed on the basis of gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, especially dalits (untouchables), adivasis (tribals), migrant, bonded and child laborers, domestic and home-based workers, and scavengers, helping them to participate fully in the social, economic, and political life of India. Available on-line for free at www.vimeo.com/10032783, the video features profiles of 5 Holdeen India Program partners as well as reflections by Program Director Kathy Sreedhar, former UUA President Rev. John Buehrens, and UU minister Rev. Abhi Janamanchi.

Ballou Channing District Annual Meeting
The BCD Annual Meeting on April 24 at First Unitarian Church of Providence will include reports about district operations; recognition of new and departing ministers and religious educators; election of District officers and directors, and the approval of the FY2011 budget. A Social Service Project will also be undertaken: an afternoon of work in the Brown University’s community garden project to help prepare the beds for summer plantings. Participants should bring boots and gloves. Contact the District Office at 508-559-6650 or via bcdoffice@uua.org if you have questions about the conference. Registration deadline is April 22, 2010.

April Worship Services
All services begin at 10:00 a.m. and are followed by a Friendship Hour.

Apr. 4: Easter

Apr. 11: Music Sunday
Come for a celebration of music including performances from members of the congregation. We will pause to reflect on the ways in which music speaks a different spiritual language and is often able to connect us to each other and to the holy in a totally unique way.

Apr. 18: Green Theology
Minister Katie Lawson explores the theological arguments for environmental protection.

Apr. 25: Inspiration Service
Join Rev. Patricia Hatch for a service that will lift your spirits and inspire you towards the life you want to live.

Other Notices And Events

• Apr. 1 and May 6: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church. Area residents are invited to participate!
• Apr. 7 and May 5: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company in Mansfield. Please contact Rick for details. Newcomers are welcome!
• Apr. 9: The Attleboro Area Council of Churches is hosting a benefit dinner, Hope on the Streets, to raise money to assist the homeless through their varied programs. Will be held at the Attleboro Elks and feature a presentation from Rev. Geralyn Wolf, the Episcopal Bishop of Providence.
• Apr. 11: (8:00 a.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
• Apr. 28: (10:00 a.m.) UU Lobby Day begins at the UUA headquaters, 25 Beacon Street, in Boston.
• Please visit www.bcduua.org, BCD In-Brief, the BCD and UUA e-mail lists, www.uufoxborough.org, and the bulletin boards in the vestibule for more event listings and details.
• Contact rentals@ uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your ceremony, meeting, or other event. Payments are made through the Treasurer.
• Don’t forget to purchase products through our Amazon and Powell’s Book partner programs: click through the links on the church Web site home page (www.uufoxborough.org) and shop!

In The Community
Monday – Friday – Crossroads Children’s Center at the church (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.); Mondays & Wednesdays – Belly Dance classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays – Yoga classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Saturdays – Yoga classes at the church (9:30 a.m.); Apr. 3, 10, 22, & 24 – Events at the stadium; Apr. 13 & 27 – Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; Through Apr. 9 – Foxborough Reads; Apr. 8 – Norfolk Advocates for Children facility open house; Apr. 8 – Spring Concert at FHS; Apr. 9 – ImprovSoup at Burrell; Apr. 10 – Foxborough Lions Club Bottle & Can Drive; Apr. 10 – Community Trails Day at CRRA; Apr. 10 – Boy Scout Pasta Dinner Fundraiser at Bethany Church; Apr. 15 – Candidates Night; Apr. 16, 17, & 18 – “13 – The Musical” at Orpheum; Apr. 19-23 – FPS Vacation Week; Apr. 29 – Ahern Strings & FHS Symphony Orchestra at Ahern; The Restocking The Shelves collection box is on the church’s second level – please contribute!

Summer Programs At Regional UU Camps
UUs looking for a “close-in” vacation may wish to check out the wide range of art, education, personal development, and music conferences and workshops as well as beaches and camps sites at the three New England conference and retreat centers.

• Ferry Beach in Saco on the coast of Southern Maine (www.ferrybeach.org)
• Star Island within the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire coast (www.starisland.org)
• Rowe Camp and Conference Center in Rowe, MA in the Berkshire Mountains (www.rowecenter.org).

Ethical Eating Core Team Presents The 40/40/40 Campaign
UUs across the continent are expanding Earth Day’s 40th anniversary on April 22, 2010 to last 40 days. How? By committing to large and small daily actions over the 40 days, for the sake of the Earth and all who live on it. Some UUs are even taking on-going lifestyle changes for a 40-day “test drive,” knowing that some aspects of global environmental justice begin with personal choice. When 40 people in one congregation make 40-day commitments, that congregation receives special acknowledgement from the UUA’s Ethical Eating Core Team.. For more information about the campaign and available reseources, please visit www.tr.im/404040.

What will this look like in congregations? Use the resources at www.tr.im/404040 to kick off the 40/40/40 campaign in worship and religious education. Those who take the “40/40/40 Pledge” receive a sticker for their church nametag, helping to spread the word. Participants enjoy support and community building both in the local congregation (which might hold a potluck or a special environmental justice event), and also nationally, sending their stories to the 40/40/40 blog at www.tr.im/40blog. At the conclusion of the 40 days, congregants gather to share stories—what they learned, what worked well and what did not, how their perspectives changed, and what comes next, as individuals and as a congregation.

DRUUMM
Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries has a new website! Please visit and pass the word on about www.druumm.org, where you will find information about DRUUMM, chat rooms, event registrations, and the means to connect to DRUUMM members across the continent.

IARF Congress
Being held in Kochi, India from Septemer 1-7, 2010, the 33rd Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) will be a very special occasion for participants. The theme is “Beyond Conflict to Reconciliation: the Challenge of the 21st Century.” An international list of speakers includes: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Karan Singh, President of the Temple of Understanding, Ms. Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on Religion or Belief from the United Nations, and Dr. Sheikh Ali, Muslim interfaith leader. Also, the International Association for Liberal Religious Women will be celebrating its 100th year with a special program for women.

The UUA has ten voting delegates so if you are interested in being one, contact the Rev. Eric Cherry at the International Resources Offi ce (international@uua.org). There will be important issues to vote on regarding the future of the organization. For more information on this special event, and to register, check out: http://bit.ly/IARFCongress.

What Torture’s Taught Me
Join the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) at 3:00 p.m. on April 11, at The First Church in Belmont as Bill Schulz presents his renowned talk, “What Torture’s Taught Me”. Bill is a former UUA President, former executive director of Amnesty International USA, and current interim president and CEO of UUSC. Bill Schulz first delivered this talk as the Berry Street Lecture at the 2006 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Saint Louis, MO. Suitable for everyone high-school age and older, his lecture will focus on torture in a theological — versus political — context. Alfa Radford (First Church of Belmont’s Minister of music) considers Bill to be one of the greatest speakers she has ever heard.

UUA Leadership Training Opportunities

• Join other UUs at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands, NC, the first week of August to empower UU youth and adults who work with youth to be interfaith leaders in their congregation and community. Participants will explore religious pluralism and UU theology and history as related to interfaith work, share stories of faith and service, and participate in community building and outdoor activities. Registration, lodging, and meals are provided by the UUA. Participants are responsible for their own travel; limited travel scholarships are available. Apply at www.uua.org/interfaithyouth by May 1, 2010.
• Youth and Young Adults of Color aged 15–30 years old, are invited to come to Boston from August 13-17 for a Leadership Development Conference that will equip participants to be leaders in their local UU congregation or district, better understand racial/ethnic identity development, and foster inter-cultural collaboration and intentional relationship building. Conference registration is $200; travel and housing will be paid by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Apply via www.uua.org/yaya/ldc/color by May 15, 2010.

When people we care about are going through hard times, it can be difficult
to know what exactly will comfort them. How do we resist the urge to try to simply solve their problems and instead bear witness to their suffering?

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Tags: Foxborough Universalist Church, Katie Lawson, Religious Education, UUA, Worship

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

As we have been engaging more intently in discussions about how we might “choose to bless the world” and engage in social justice work, I keep thinking of a pair of congregants from the church where I served as an intern. At Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul, a volunteer always maintained a presence at the front desk. One of those volunteers was a 91 year old retired law professor and ex-navy commander, with a piercing intellect and dignified presence, that we will call Henry. The year before I came to the church, Henry’s wife took ill with kidney disease and had to move into an assisted living facility. This was a difficult transition for Henry, though I understand he bore it with characteristic reserve. During coffee hour one morning he remarked to another congregant, a man with two young kids who worked for public radio that we’ll call Ben, that one of the hard things about living alone was wondering if anyone would know if something happened to him. Ben, who did not know Henry well, asked, “Would you like me to call you in the morning?” at which point Henry did not say “No.” And so the next morning Ben called, just to say, “Good morning.” And so it went for every day after that. Some days Ben would just say, “Good morning,” and Henry would say, “Have a good day.” Other days their conversations were a little longer. It had gotten to the point where Ben’s kids would remind him, “Did you call Henry today?” As I was leaving the church, Ben and Henry had shared this practice for two years without missing a day.

I have been thinking about Ben and Henry for a couple of reasons. First, this act of service, of blessing the world, came out of Henry venturing to share his real concerns to a member of his community. He may not have thought about it this way, but in doing so he was blessing Ben with the opportunity to care for someone and to build relationship. Second, this blessing came out of Ben hearing Henry. One of the most important aspects of social justice and service is listening, being attentive to where the need lies. Third, this became, for Ben, a spiritual practice. It wasn’t long before it was so integrated into his days, that he did not think about it as doing something for Henry, but as a part of what made his days feel whole. For Henry, it expanded his understanding of his support system, soothed his loneliness, and repositioned the church in his heart as a part of his family.

This is social justice work as much as marching on Washington is. Granted we should still advocate for compassionate systems for caring for our elders. We should pay close attention to support systems like Medicare and Social Security. However, we should not dismiss the tremendous blessing that is brought upon people when they engage on a more intimate level in co-creating the world in which they want to live. As we approach our discussions about social justice and let ourselves think big about what is possible when we pool our energy, let us also maintain reverence for the smaller gestures we daily make in the name of building a more compassionate and connected world. In doing so, we are, in some ways, letting ourselves live in that world as we are creating it.

Faithfully,
Katie
Chairman’s Ramblings

We are on the downward side of the church year once again. Time to forget (if that’s possible) winter, think spring and that period of planting, growing, and change that, for me, is the start of the year. This is when we all think of gardens being started, finding our yards long hidden by snow, and yes…for UUs in Foxborough, planning for next year’s budget. At the next Board Of Trustees meeting we will be discussing fundraising for the balance of this year, and for activities next year. If you cannot make the meeting, please send your ideas to any Board member or discuss them at church.
Dick

Worship And Other Events In March

• March 1: (10:00 a.m.) “The Relevance Of Church And Bowling”
• March 4: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company.
• March 5: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA.
• March 8: (10:00 a.m.) “The Problem With Tolerance”
• March 8: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church.
• March 9: (7:00 p.m.) Women’s Group Meeting.
• March 13: (5:00 p.m.) Pot-luck Dinner And Movie Night.
• March 15: (10:00 a.m.) “This I Believe”
• March 22: (10:00 a.m.) “The Possibility Of Peace”
• March 29: (10:00 a.m.) Intergenerational Passover Seder

Third Annual UU Lobby Day
Save the date for the Third Annual UU Lobby Day! It will take place, on Wednesday, April 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., beginning at the UUA office at 25 Beacon Street in Boston. Learn about the key issues facing Massachusetts this year and help UUs make a difference on these issues including “Poverty” and “Global Warming”. Connect with UUs from around Massachusetts and learn how to be a more effective advocate for issues important to you! More information will be available in February and through www.uumassaction.org. Please e-mail Nancy Banks at uumassactionnetwork@verizon.net to register or call 978-264-4961.

New England Music Conference
The annual Ballou Channing District (BCD) sponsored New England Music Conference will be held on March 7, at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church in Attleboro. The conference is for music directors, choir members, worship and music committee members, ministers, religious education directors, and all individuals interested in music in their church. There will be presentations, classes, and the popular choral repertoire “sing-through.” Please visit www.murrayuuchurch.org, www.bcduua.org, or the church bulletin boards for more details.

Even an enlightened being, with limitless knowledge and power and the wish to save all others from suffering, cannot eliminate the individual karma of each being. ~ His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso

News From Advocacy & Witness
The National Prayer Service held during Inauguration Week was followed by a “Coffee and Conversation” between UUs, President Sinkford, and UUA Washington staff on Wednesday. You can find coverage of some of the week’s events and more on uua.org and the Advocacy & Witness staff blog – ‘Inspired Faith, Effective Action’ – at uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com.

UUA Releases New Study Guide For “Milk”
‘Milk’, Gus Van Sant’s filmed biography of the later years in the life of Harvey Milk, a great leader of the 1970s Gay and Lesbian movement and the first openly gay politician in the United States, has recently been released. Given the film’s important historical content and the passage of Proposition 8 in California in the last election cycle, as well as the UUA’s longstanding commitment in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights, a discussion guide for UUs and UU congregations was prepared to support faithful congregational conversations on the subject of equality for all people and related topics. This discussion guide includes a list of resources and steps for taking action, and was prepared by Rev. Mark Belletini, Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, Ohio. Rev. Belletini has taught worship and celebration, Unitarian Universalist history, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender studies, and the Gospels from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Find out more about the new study guide and access versions in MS-Word and PDF via www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/125446.shtml .

UU World
The Spring 2009 issue of UU World is now in the mail, but you don’t need to wait for your copy to arrive to start browsing the magazine at www.uuworld.org/currentissue.shtml. Features this month include ‘Natural faith’�, ‘Our inner ape’�, ‘Imagineers of soul’�, and ‘True to my lineage’�. If you’re a member of the church and not currently receiving UU World, please let the Membership Committee or a church Trustee know. If you’re not a church member, but want to peruse the quarterly magazine, please ask if we have extra copies, read the on-line version, and/or look at the copy at Boyden Library.

Church Groups
You’re invited to join any of our groups! Some of our current groups are: Men’s Group, Choir, Children’s Choir, Women’s Spirituality Group, Jr. Youth Group, Green Sanctuary Committee, Religious Education Committee, Social Action Committee, and Sunshine Committee. Please check the web-site, vestibule/bulletin boards, and upcoming newsletters for details about our groups, who to contact for more information, and how to join. If none of those interest you, think of forming a new one for you and other congregants to join.

Foxborough Universalist Music
Our choir information and music catalog is on-line at www.geocities.com/uufoxboroughmusic. The collection ranges from music published as recently as 2005 to music published as far back as 1832. All sheet music listed in the catalogue is available to other Ballou Channing District churches on a lending basis. Please contact us to add items to the database.

Wayside Pulpit
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

Faith Without Borders
Introduced at General Assembly, the �Faith Without Borders� program invites congregations to integrate a commitment to faithful global citizenship into many aspects of congregational life. Participants in the program will receive resources, consultation, and celebration from the International Resources Office. Please visit www.uua.org/fwb for more information.

Notices

* Preserving the Unitarian Universalist Chaplaincy at the Doolittle Home a new Fund
* Committees & Groups: Women’s Group, Green Sanctuary Committe, Social Action Committee, Sunshine Committee, Worship Committee, & RE Committee
* Please check the bulletin board and Order of Service for weekly updates.

Planning A Wedding, Meeting, Party, Or Other Event?

Members and non-members are able to hold special events at our conveniently located church! Overlooking a quintessential New England Town Common, the Foxborough Universalist Church makes a lovely setting for weddings, meetings, reunions, classes, workshops, rehearsals, and other events and ceremonies. In addition to the Sanctuary, piano, overlooking balcony, and vestibule, there is a large finished downstairs which includes a kitchen and social hall. We welcome all to tour our treasure and discuss your event needs with our Minister and/or Board of Trustees. Our minister, Katie Lawson, is available to perform your ceremony, but utilizing her pastoral services is not a requirement for using our historic building. Please contact the church office via office@uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your events.

If you will be using the church some evening or Saturday for a meeting or other event, please drop the Property Committee a line or give them a call a bit in advance. This will allow the thermostat to be programmed so that the building is welcomingly toasty when you arrive and, after you leave, it will return automatically to its preset program.

First Thursdays Peace Vigils
A Peace Vigil is held outside at the church from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. the first Thursday of every month. Everyone – members, congregants, area residents, etc. – is invited to participate. Please show up during the hour and stay as long or as short as your schedule allows. Candles will be provided. If you want to be added to the reminder e-list, please let LeeAnn or PR know or sign up via http://events.uufoxborough.org

“Music can be an important component of identity, but it is also an important means of arriving at cultural pluralism, by which I mean a tolerance, openness and understanding towards other peoples’ cultures, social structures, values and faiths.” ~ His Highness the Aga Khan

BCD and UUA Events
full listings BCD In Brief and UUA Calendar
Dates and time subject to change so please check with the offices.

* Mar. 7: New England Music Conference
* Mar. 13 – 15: Allies for Racial Equality 2009 Annual Conference
* Apr. 1-5: UUJEC 20th Anniversary Conference
* Apr. 3-5: Now Is The Time! Conference
* May 2: BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting
* June 24 – 28: General Assembly in Salt Lake City, UT.

* Other Upcoming Events Feb 26-Mar 1 International Convocation of U*U Women Houston, TX
* Mar 7 New England Music Conference Murray UU Church
* Mar 13-15 Allies for Racial Equality 2009 Annual Conference All Souls UU Church, Kansas City, MO
* Mar 16 BCD Board meeting 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: TBA
* Mar 22 Rev. Tess Baumberger Installation Unity Church, North Easton, MA
* Mar 25-26 RE Gathering Retreat Location TBA
* March 26-29 UU Christian Fellowship Revival 2009 All Souls Church, Tulsa, OK
* Apr 1 Lobbying Day, UU Mass Action Massachusetts State House
* April 3-5 Leading Congregations into a Multiracial, Multicultural Future Post Oak Lodge (Tulsa, OK)
* Apr 6 Job-a-Like Conclave: Worship 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton
* Apr 13 BCD Board meeting 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: TBA
* May 2 BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting First Parish Church (Old Ship), Hingham, MA
* May 11 UUMA Spring Retreat Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, Wareham, MA
* May 18 BCD Board of Directors Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: TBA
* Jun. 1 New Congregation Presidents Orientation (tentative) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: TBA
* Jun 24-28 General Assembly Salt Lake City, UT
* Please see the BCD-In-Brief , church web-sites, and church bulletin boards for additional events and information.

Stewardship

In 1915 Sarah Doolittle gave her family home to the Universalist Convention of Massachusetts to be used as a residence for the elderly, especially those of the Universalist faith. Over the years there has been a strong relationship between the Home and the UUA (and its predecessors) and currently about half the residents are UUs who chose to retire to this haven because of its affiliation with the UUA. Now, a current Board of Trustees is trying to sever that tie. A policeman in uniform was hired to keep people out of an Annual Meeting (the people barred entry were UUs who are members of the corporation or people who were holding valid proxies). This is a very unfortunate situation where a group of outsiders is trying to wrest control of a UU institution. There are legal costs to fight for Doolittle so please contribute – a large check if you can, or a small one if you can’t. Checks should be made out to: The UUA Fund for Doolittle Home, Inc. and sent to the UUA, Attention: Jerry Gabert, 25 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108. Please be generous. We are very grateful for your support. For more information please contact Rev. Dorothy Boroush.

Support the Doolittle Home residents, our UU family, friends, and community,
and the Home’s treasured UU Heritage!!!

Not just the “big green and white house on the corner or across from the Library”, the Doolittle Home has been a planned for retirement haven of U’s and UUs for over 90 years. Support the Doolittle Home residents, our UU family, friends, and community, and the Home’s treasured UU Heritage!!!

Love To Sing…Love Good Health…Join The Choir!
In several studies recently cited in The Boston Globe, it was proven that those people who belong to choirs enjoy healthier lives than those who are not choir members. Wow – what a rousing endorsement! Look for upcoming dates for our choir rehearsals. We have a general choir for adults and older youth and a children’s choir. Practices are usually held before and/or after worship services. All are joyously welcome. Contact Katie for further information.

Summer At Ferry Beach
Registration for summer conferences at Ferry Beach is now open to everyone! We are very happy to announce our newest conferences: Quilting for Beginners (June 20-26) and Fiber Fanatics Festival (July 25-August 1). And we are very excited to add an entire 2nd week of youth camps! For more information on all of Ferry Beach’s programs, visit www.ferrybeach.org or check the vestibule for the current brochure. You can register on the website or over the phone at 207-282-4489. There is also a registration form on their web-site to download and mail in.

How Has UUism Touched Your Life?
“For New Year 2009, we asked you to share blessings in your lives with us. From all over the world, you sent stories of the ways Unitarian Universalism has transformed your lives, and those things for which you are deeply thankful during these turbulent times�. You can read some of the stories and blessings that have been shared through www.uua.org/giving/news/generosity/stories/124904.shtml or share your own through www.uua.org/giving/news/generosity/stories/index.shtml.

CUUPS
Unitarian Universalism draws from many sources including “Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc. (CUUPS) is an Interest Group of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) which “exists in part to promote the practice and understanding of Pagan and Earth-centered Spirituality within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and to enable networking among Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalists. Chapters are one way CUUPS accomplishes these goals.” Currently there are more than 100 chapters world-wide, with six of them based in Massachusetts. If you’re interested in CUUPS or the local Chapters, please visit www.cuups.org.

Spreading the Good News Of UUism Via Podcasting
“Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.” Podcasting is a great way for congregations to reach a larger audience for that very reason: They go to the people, busy people who might lose a bookmark or be too pressed for time to check back every week or two. Audio sermons of any sort are a smart move for a congregation because they allow the pastor and lay leaders’ words to reach UUs who live too far from a brick-and-mortar congregation to visit, or who might be shut in due to illness, or who may have been hurt in a religious setting and thus be reluctant to walk into a UU congregation without getting some sense of what they’ll find there. To find out who’s podcasting and to listen to some, please check the following websites: www.geocities.com/scarcrest/uu_podcasts.html, www.uupodcasters.org, www.podcast.net, and www.uuism.net/uuwiki/index.php/List_of_UU_podcasts.

The Goddess And You
‘The Goddess And You: Exploring The Relevance Of The Goddess For Women Today’� is the theme of this year’s Womensphere Spring Gathering. First Unitarian Church of Providence is the location of the Saturday, March 21, 2009, event. This will be a day spent celebrating the energizing power of the goddess. We will have time to share the impact of the goddess in our own lives. Then we’ll cross the street to the Rhode Island School of Design museum and stand before Isis, Hathor, Maat, Kuan Yin, and others. Cost is $25 including lunch plus admission to the museum, $10 adults/$7 62+. A limited number of scholarships are available. To register or for more information, please contact Susan Emmer Schmidt via emmerschmidt@verizon.net.

Wayside Pulpit
Even an enlightened being, with limitless knowledge and power and the wish to save all others from suffering, cannot eliminate the individual karma of each being. ~ His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama Of Tibet Coming To Foxborough
“The Tibetan Association of Boston is honored to invite the 14th Dalai Lama to share his message of hope and compassion in a public address. The universally recognized spiritual leader of Tibet and Nobel Peace Laureate will host two public talks on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. The day will be broken out into two separate talks each lasting two hours; one ticket allows access to the entire day.”� The morning session will be a brief introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (The Four Noble Truths). The afternoon session will be a public talk on “A Path to Peace and Happiness”. Ticket prices range from $37.50 – $200, and go on sale Friday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased on-line through www.TicketMaster.com or by phone 866-448-7849. For more information about the event, please e-mail info@bostontibet.org.

Restocking The Shelves
Since 1970, the Foxborough Discretionary Fund and the Foxborough Food Pantry have provided emergency food relief as well as temporary food support to Foxborough residents in need. The organizations could not exist without the generous support of our community and friends. Donations to the Foxborough Food Pantry can be made in the designated boxes at the Foxborough Stop and Shop and the Sharon Shaw’s Supermarkets. Demand at area food pantries is especially high during the winter months (when utility and fuel costs rise) and during the summer months (when children do not have access to the school lunch programs). Gladly accepted is any food donation that has not reached its expiration date. The following items are always in short supply at the town pantry:

Baked Beans, Beef Stew, Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Cereal, Chunky Soups, Cleaning Supplies, Feminine products, Hamburger Helper, Jelly, Juice Boxes, Kleenex, Laundry Detergent, Peanut Butter, Shampoo, Spaghetti Sauce, Toilet Paper, Tuna, Bottled or Canned Juice, Canned Chili, Hash, or Spam, Canned Pasta: Ravioli, Spaghetti O’s, & Snacks: cookies, crackers, chips

No matter which town or city you live in, our contributions have an immediate impact on the lives of many individuals and families in our municipalities. Please help if you are able to either by donating to your local food pantry or by adding something to the Church’s monthly donation box in the Vestibule. The Discretionary Fund also usually sends out an annual request for holiday gifts and needed winter clothing. Please donate if you can. Thank You!

Universalism struck hell from the theological menu; Unitarianism removed original sin. ~ Forrest Church

Guest At Your Table 2008-2009
UUSC’s Guest At Your Table kicks-off on November 23, 208, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. For over 30 years, UUs of all ages have built lasting connections to our shared values through Guest at Your Table. Later this church year, we hope to participate in this special UU tradition. If you’re interested in more information about UUSC and human rights in the United States and around the world, please visit www.uusc.org/guest.

You may have to allocate a little more time to get to the church and to park, but like most everything else downtown, we will be open during the construction of the mostly federally funded transportation and business district demonstration projects. For roadway conditions and projects’ updates, please check here.

Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline
With the high cost of living in the Commonwealth and more than 522,000 people across the state struggling to put food on the table, chances are that a friend or neighbor of yours is having difficulty making ends meet this winter. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline can help . The FoodSource Hotline is the only comprehensive information and referral service for the hungry in Massachusetts. Counselors can provide information and screen callers for food stamp eligibility, connect them to school meal programs, and direct them to emergency food resources right in their neighborhood. Counselors can assist callers in 160 languages and the calls are both personalized and confidential. Extend your goodwill and reach out to those in need. A call to Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333 TTY: 1-800-377-1292) may be all it takes to provide comfort to someone who is struggling. In response to the increased demand for help, Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline has extended its hours to: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.. and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

March’s Action Of The Month
The March Action Of The Month is “Sexuality Education Call-In Days�. “The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) views sexuality education as an issue of justice . It is our religious faiths and values that compel us to support justice and equity for people of all genders, races, backgrounds, income levels, abilities, and sexual orientations. We support age-appropriate, medically accurate, and fully inclusive sexuality education in schools and communities and congregations.�. Some suggested ideas to participate in this action are to: contact your legislator regarding the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act; form an ongoing sexuality education advocacy group in our congregation, campus group, or community; partner with groups in our community and state; investigate what type of sex ed programs are provided in our local schools or community; and educate our community about these issues by hosting a forum or a movie night with films such as “The Education of Shelby Knox� and “Abstinence Comes to Albuquerque�. Additional information is available via www.uua.org/socialjustice/actioncenter/.

“Inspired Faith, Effective Action”
The Washington Office For Advocacy’s new Legislative Assistants, Grace Garner and Lisa Swanson, started in the office during the summer, learning the ropes from their predecessors, Elizabeth and Meredith. The two new L.A.s have big shoes to fill but we are confident that they are up to the task. Alex Winnett, the new Program Associate for Peacemaking, has been with the office since June. You can read more about Alex, Grace, Lisa, and the rest of the office on the UUAWO office blog, “Inspired Faith, Effective Action.” at http://uuawo.blogspot.com. The Washington Office looks forward to working with fellow UUs over the coming year.

Who Will Be The Next UUA President?

This June there will be an important election to choose the next president of the UUA. All the votes will be counted at GA, whether they are in person or by absentee ballot. Information is available on the UUA web site (www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/elections/index.shtml). There is an e-mail list you can join by going to lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/election-l. Each month, the candidates will answer a question posted by the Election Campaign Practices Committee and subscribers are free to comment. There is also a blog that contains the candidates’ statements, provides links to the candidates web-sites, and gives readers an opportunity to comment on-line at uuapresidentialdebate2009.wordpress.com.

March’s Global Chalice Lighting

A truth worthy of complete devotion may not be provable by reason, but it will not insult our intelligence, nor will it be alien to our experience. If God is, then there is no place God is not—be it in temple or telescope. May we take to heart the injunction to question, listen, respect, and understand, and live the beauty of our faith.

~ Samuel Trumbore

Unitarian Universalist Association

www.uua.org

Tags: Events, Faith, Foxborough, Foxborough Universalist Church, Katie Lawson, UUA, Worship