In The Deep Midwinter - Intergenerational Candlelit Christmas Eve Service

Everyone is invited to celebrate traditional candlelit Christmas Eve Worship Service with us!

The community is invited to join the Foxborough Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, congregation for a multigenerational Candlelit Christmas Eve Worship Service at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, December 24, 2009.

Hot cider, cookies, and cocoa will be available after the service.

We are located at 6 Bird Street (On the common), Foxborough, Mass. 02035-2301, USA.

Update: Men's Group Meeting Is Moving!

The location for December's meeting has been changed from StoneForge Pub to Pike's Peak Mining Company (31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, Mass.)

The Men's Group meets at 7:30 p.m the first Wednesday of every month at a local venue. Join us there to socialize and plan community service and church events. The group welcomes new members. Please contact RickB. for more information.

Potluck & Planning

At 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 20, we will have a potluck dinner followed by our first "5 Year Plan" planning session. Our District Director, Rev. Bill Zelazny, will be here to assist and to help explain the organizational structure found in larger churches - and hopefully help us pick out a path to adding membership that will get us to the next size church. Please sign-up to bring fodd and other things for the supper and to help with set-up and cleanup. The sign-up sheet will be posted in the vestibule.There will be an activity for the kids during the planning session.

November 2009 Newsletter Highlights

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

What does it mean to be Unitarian Universalist? How do I explain it? I am hearing these question more and more from you. You want a way to explain yourself to your friends, to your family, to your children, and to people you think might be enriched by participating in our congregation. You have rightly ascertained that Unitarian Universalism has evolved into something that is hard to explain to people who have only experienced more conventional Christianity. However, the difficulty of explaining it mostly comes from the fact that the conventional terms in which we talk about individual religions do not apply to Unitarian Universalism. Inevitably, when someone is looking for you to explain Unitarian Universalism, what she seems to be asking is, “So, what exactly do you believe?” which actually is not what Unitarian Universalism is about. My colleague, Thom Belote, said it well I think when he was explaining Unitarian Universalism to reporters from a fundamentalist Christian magazine:

….we are a covenantal faith, not a creedal faith. We share a covenant of how we try to be together, not a creed of what we all must believe together.

Then the questions really began: “Well, does your church believe in the Bible?”

My response: That is a creedal question. We are a covenantal church. We share a covenant of how we try to be together, not what we are expected to believe together.

This answer is not a flakey cop-out. This answer emerges out of a history throughout which people struggled with what it means to be Christian, what it means to be religious, and what it means to be “saved.” These people often risked their livelihoods, if not their lives, to say, “I am a thinking person, close to God by virtue of being born, and I should not need to be told what to believe by other mere human beings.”

Thom’s answer emerges out of the first action of the pilgrims when they landed in Massachusetts which was to form a covenant on how to live together as religious people. This answer emerges from the thoughts of devout early Congregational ministers who read the Bible and thought, “This is less about worshipping one man and about walking a path encompassing love.” This answer emerges out of religious philosophers like Ralph Waldo Emerson who could not believe that God was the possession of only those sitting under one kind of roof, who read the newly translated works from the East and thought, “We are trying to say the same thing: Life is full of blessings and injustice and God is everywhere.” This answer emerges from the fervent hopes of the humanists, who thought, “With or without God, our duty is to be good to each other and work for justice in THIS life.”

In the weeks to come, let us help each other find ways to articulate this beautiful, flawed, challenging, and brave tradition. It is worthy of our faith.

Faithfully,
Katie

Chairman’s Ramblings

It’s the start of the holiday season already, and each year the time seems to get compressed: too many activities going on, too much commercialism. This would be a good time to bring in non-perishable food or other items for the Foxborough Discretionary Fund. Their need is year-round but a little extra heavy this time of year. There are many families that need help with food and other items at this time of year, and your help is always appreciated.

If you have extra adult clothing, winter coats, shoes, etc., please bring them in to church. The patients at Shattuck Hospital always need clothing and Ginger Bailey will bring items in to the hospital. They should be clean and gently used. Ginger kindly took the leftover clothes from the yardsale, and they were appreciated. It would be nice to have members remember to bring in both food and clothes each Sunday.

Last, we will be doing the Guest At Your Table program again this year, but in a little different fashion. Instead of taking home the boxes to place at your table, we will set out a collection for the program at coffee hour. We hope you will be equally generous and appreciate the convenience.
Dick

Newcomer’s Orientation
If you have recently started attending services at Foxborough Universalist Church or are contemplating doing so, this short introduction provides information about the church, how to become more involved (including how to become a member), and a brief history of Unitarian Universalism. From 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. on November 8, the minister and a board member will be in the church office to answer your questions. You do not have to be ready for membership to attend this orientation.

Wayside Pulpit
“The world is like a mirror, you see? Smile, and your friends smile back.”
~ Japanese Zen saying

RE Happenings
After several rained-out attempts at a fall outdoor excursion, the RE classes finally switched to an indoor field trip. On October 18, despite rain, all the classes visited the Haunted Theater at the Orpheum. Amongst other activities, they danced in a 3-D room, visited a basement dungeon, and walked through a sparkly, spinning cylinder. A good time, and many treats, were had by all.

The Hogwarts

The Hogwarts group started learning the bible story of Joseph. The first lesson talks about his coat of many colors, his brothers’ jealousy, and leaves us hanging with Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. My favorite comment of the day came from Russell, who predicted that the brothers would kill Joseph because that’s how all the biblical people handle jealousy. While listening to the story, the kids made their own coat of many colors.

On November 13, the Hogwarts group will be going on their own field trip. After having learned about Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors, they will travel to Norton to see the Norton Singers’ version of “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
Leah

Milestones
Vashti Cromwell McCollum, Kate Olivia Sessions, Edna May Oliver, James Luther Adams, Sir Charles Lyell, Charles Hudson, Mary Tyler Peabody Mann, Orello Cone, Lotta Hitschmanova, and John Haynes Holmes.

The First Thanksgiving
Interested in the facts and myths about the “First Thanksgiving” at Plimoth Colony? Log-on to www.plimoth.org/education/olc/ to use “You Are The Historian”, an interactive presentation created by the folks at Plimoth Plantation.

The Living Tradition
The Wheel Turns – Samhain

I would guess that most of you call October 31 Halloween, but for some of us it is the holiday of Samhain, the Witch’s New Year. It is a very magical night, when the veils between the worlds are thin. While we can and do celebrate Halloween with costumes, candy, and parties, there is always a private ritual or celebration where we honor our loved ones who have passed on and to invite them to join us once again on this sacred night.

Samhain actually means “Summer’s End” and was when the last of the harvesting was done. Some current Halloween traditions derive from the ancient Celtic traditions. The carving of pumpkins was actually the carving of turnips and they were used for light when many households let their fires go out so that they could be re-lit with the night’s bonfires. The Druids lit huge bonfires and the people gathered, sometimes wearing the skins of animals, which could be considered the source of dressing up for Halloween. The Romans had their own feast to honor the dead and also a day to honor Pomona, the Goddess of fruit and trees. When they conquered Celtic lands, these traditions blended. Pomona’s symbol, the apple, was incorporated into these celebrations, hence possibly this is where “bobbing for apples” comes from. The influence of Christianity also adds to the tradition of Halloween. As they were taking over the old Pagan rituals to influence people to convert, they called the day after Samhain, All Hallows or All Saints Day, a day to honor the dead saints, followed by All Soul’s Day, a day to honor all of the dead. The night before became known as All Hallows Eve, shortened to Halloween.

For those who follow a Wiccan spirituality, this is a very important night. Gathered together, or as solitaries, we honor our loved ones, we set out what is called “The Dumb Supper”, leaving a plate for those from beyond the veil who may be walking the night. We use the signs of autumn on our altars – leaves, acorns, pumpkins, apples. This is a night for divination, as Samhain night is known to be “the night that exists outside of time”.

No matter how you celebrate, may your Samhain be blessed and know that every ending is but a beginning in the Wheel of the Year.

Goddess Blessings,
Susan Morgaine

November 2009 Holidays
1 All Saints’ Day – Christian
1 Samhain – Wicca Northern hemisphere
1 Beltane – Wicca Southern hemisphere
2 All Souls’ Day – Catholic Christian
2 Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday – Sikh
12 Birth of Baha’u'llah – Baha’i
15 Nativity Fast begins (through Dec 24) – Orthodox Christian
22 Christ the King – Christian
24 Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom – Sikh
25-28 Hajj – Islam
26 Thanksgiving – Interfaith – USA
26 Day of Covenant – Baha’i
26 Waqf al Arafa – Hajj Day – Islam
27 Eid al Adha – Islam
28 Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha – Baha’i
29 First Sunday of Advent – Christian
30 Saint Andrew’s Day – Christian

International Day Of Climate Action
Our church hosted and participated in a successful “International Day Of Climate Action” event on October 24, 2009. Minister Katie Lawson, Pastor Paul Sangree of Bethany Congregational Church, Rev. Rebecca S. Brown of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, members of FACT (Franklin Area Climate Team), and Foxborough Selectman Paul Mortenson each spoke briefly of the need to take actions to reduce global warming. About 40 people attended the event, including church members and the public. There was a display of 390 ping pong balls (350 white and 40 black) to simulate the current atmospheric level of carbon dioxide of 390 ppm. The goal of the day’s activities focused on the number 350 and each participant was encouraged to take one of the black ping pong balls to represent both their intention to reduce their carbon usage and the need to bring the CO2 levels back down to the currently desired level of 350 ppm.

We were one of twenty-six Massachusetts UUA congregations to participate in the day’s activities, and one of more than 5,200 actions around the globe in 181 countries! Many thanks are extended to: the day’s emcee and guest speaker, Minister Lawson; Lisa Benoit for coordinating the event, making signs, setting up the sound system, and more; Madison for doing face painting. If you want more information about the ongoing work of 350.org or UUMFE, our Green Sanctuary efforts and related literature, and/ or the upcoming COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen, please visit green.uufoxborough.org.

Stand Up For Climate Justice
Discussions about climate change usually focus on mitigation (reducing the production of carbon). But these efforts leave unaddressed the impact on people already experiencing the effects of climate disruption — communities around the world that had very little to do with creating the problem in the first place. Supporting these communities is a matter of justice. As part of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s (UUSC) engagement with the global 350.org campaign, they have launched “Climate Justice Offset Program”.

UUSC’s partners around the globe can help advance social justice and develop methods to deal with the effects of climate change. For example, in Darfur, dwindling rainfall over the last several decades has caused more frequent droughts which has meant less water for people to grow their crops. The resulting increase in competition for land and water has exacerbated existing conflicts in the region, playing a major role in the genocidal war that has raged in Darfur for over six years. From your donations, equipment and materials can be provided to help a woman secure alternatives to leaving the safety of displaced persons camps in order to make a living. Please visit www.uusc.org/climatejustice to find out other locations UUSC is focusing on and how UUSC and its partners can help protect the environment by planting native trees, bringing together voices from the Global South concerned about climate change, and more.

First Thursdays Peace Vigils
Get involved in the ongoing Social Action project hosted from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm. at the church the first Thursday of every month. The First Thursdays Peace Vigils community would like you to join them; candles and signs are provided. Stay for as long or as short as your schedule allows. Upcoming dates: Nov. 5, Dec. 3, and Jan. 7. December will mark the 3rd Anniversary of our First Thursdays Peace Vigils.

Notices

* Nov. 1: (2:00 a.m.) Daylight Savings Time ends! Turn your clocks back one hour.
* Nov. 1: Work party after church. Bring your favorite tool to help clean the church grounds.
* Nov. 4: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at StoneForge Pub in Foxborough.
* Nov. 5: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigils outside at the church.
* Nov. 7: “Supporting LGBT and Questioning Youth: Creating Safety and Building Resiliency” free workshop at First Parish in Bedford. Visit www.uubedford.org to register.
* Nov. 16: Deadline for submitting UUA General Assembly 2010 Program Proposal forms to the Program Development Group.
* Dec. 2: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at StoneForge Pub in Foxborough.
* Dec. 3: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church.
* Dec. 6: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
* April 8-10, 2010: UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar, “A Climate Of Change: Head, Heart, And Hands Around The Planet” in New York City, New York.
* Contact rentals@uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your ceremony, meeting, or other event.


Holdeen India Program
A new DVD resource, which gives an introductory overview of UUHIP, is available for free! Please visit www.tinyurl.com/UUHIP-DVD for more information.

Charter For Compassion
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is one among a diverse group of interfaith religious organizations that have partnered with the “Charter for Compassion” community. This collaborative effort seeks to be a witness to the centrality of compassion in all of the world’s religions – and to help build a more “peaceful and harmonious global community” through that witness. The finalzed version of the Charter for Compassion will be “launched” in a major event on November 12, 2009. Religious people from around the world are invited to join in this launch by sponsoring special events and activities. Unitarian Universalist congregations are welcome to participate in any way that they choose. Learn more about how our congregation can participate by visiting www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/151228.shtml Additional details about the Charter For Compassion can be found on-line at www.charterforcompassion.org.

Minister Emerita
On October 18, 2009, we presented our former Minister, Reverend Fayre Stephenson, with the title of Minister Emerita of the Foxborough Universalist Church.

Reaching Out
While we’ve held drives to help send items to military personnel serving overseas, there are other ways to reach out any time to those far from home. Operation Dear Abby (https://wwwcfi.cnet.navy.mil/dearabby/), USO’s Operation Mail Call (www.uso.org/mailcall), and Operation USO Care Package (www.uso.org/oucp) are three on-line methods of bringing some Holiday cheer to the women and men serving our country around the globe.

UUSC Holiday Cards
This year, send more than holiday greetings in the mail to loved ones; send support to courageous human-rights defenders around the world with UUSC holiday cards! These cards are a colorful way to promote social justice during the season of goodwill. Order your UUSC holiday cards today via www.uusc.org.

Standing On The Side Of Love Friday Calls
Join in on the 45 minute Web-cast conference calls every Friday at 1:00 p.m. Each call features a presentation by Campaign Staff and Advisors, a Q & A, and discussion. Topics include: how to get your congregation involved; how to develop a local campaign; how to use new media; how to bring SSL to interfaith colleagues and allies; and more! For more details and connection requirements, go to www.standingonthesideoflove.org/fridaycalls/.

Families: Weave A Tapestry Of Faith
In the Fall, 2009 issue, UU World magazine launched a unique lifespan faith development resource to use at home. The new four-page insert in UU World’s centerfold space is geared for the whole family and draws from the stories, activities, and faith development guidance in “Tapestry Of Faith” curricula published by the Lifespan Faith Development staff group. The next issue will feature a story about Mahatma Gandhi’s quest for his own truth and a West African/Caribbean story about the spider, Anansi, to remind us, as we follow our own faith paths, to seek out our six Unitarian Universalist Sources and harvest their wisdom.

Worship Services

Nov. 1: Day Of The Dead by Lay-leader Neda Joury-Penders
On this day we come together to remember those who have died. We will explore what it means to live in the presence of death and how knowing that the people we love will die affects how we relate to them while we live.

Nov. 8: Bring A Friend Sunday by Minister Katie Lawson and Worship Associate Ginger Bailey
This service will be especially geared for those who may want to visit the church for the first time and will explore what it means to be a good a friend and what it means t to be a good neighbor.

Nov. 15: Health And Happiness by Katie Lawson and Virginia Sanders
In the presence of the debate over health care legislation and so much information about what it means to be healthy, we will explore the ways in which physical health is entangled with our spiritual health and religious lives.

Nov. 22: The Attitude Of Gratitude
As Thanksgiving approaches, we devote our worship to reasons for and ways of cultivating gratitude in our lives. We will also celebrate with a Cornbread Communion.

Nov. 29: Decking Your Halls
As we move into the winter holiday season, how do we retain the spirit of reverence that is their inspiration. How do we enter the holiday season with intention and hold
that intention throughout?

In The Community
Month – Free mulch and compost for residents from DPW; Mondays & Wednesdays – Belly Dance classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays – Yoga classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Nov. 1. 8, & 22 – Events at the stadium; Nov. 10 & 24 – Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; Nov. 6 – “Three Mill Girls” at Chapel Meetinghouse (7:00 p.m.); Nov. 11, 26, & 27 – No School (FPS); Nov. 12 – “Dinosaurs” at Orpheum Theatre (9:30 a.m.); Nov. 12 – Fall Jazz Concert at FHS (7:00 p.m.); Nov. 14 – “Belly Cat” Fundraiser for Felines Of Foxborough (6:30 p.m. at SFCC); Nov. 21 – Jaycees Craft Fair at American Legion (10:00 a.m.); Nov. 21 – Mother Goose On The Loose at Boyden; Nov. 21 – Handbell Festival at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (3:00 p.m.); Nov. 24 – FMA Young Artist Recital at FHS (7:00 p.m.).

Other November Holidays And Observances
2 Deviled Egg Day
4 King Tut Day
11 Veterans Day/Remembrance Day
15 America Recycles Day
20 Transgender Day of Remembrance
27 Buy Nothing Day

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; Adoption Awareness Month; Alzheimer’s Disease Month; Diabetes Month; and Native-American Heritage Month. Nov. 1-7 Animal Shelter Appreciation Week; Nov. 9-15 World Kindness Week; Nov. 15-21 Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week; Nov. 22-28 National Game & Puzzle Week.

October 2009 - Newsletter Highlights

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

Recently, I started attending a Bible study group. Twice a month this group of ten or so gathers to read a small section of the Bible, talk about it, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s a motley crue. We are Catholic, Episcopalian, Congregationalist, and Unitarian Universalist. Three of us have been to seminary, but most of the group is just interested in studying the Bible as a spiritual text, as a book that might have something to tell us about how to live.

I was worried at first about how I might fit into this group. My relationship with the Bible as a sacred text is by no means exclusive. I am as apt to find wisdom and inspiration in the teachings of the Buddha or in the essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. I was right to believe that others in the group might have a more intimate and familiar relationship with the texts, especially the Gospels. Most of the members of our group have been relating to the stories in the Bible their whole lives. While I went to Sunday school as a young person, those stories never felt familiar to me the way they did to many of my friends. Because it wasn’t a focus in my family, the Bible always felt like someone else’s book. So, while I now find great value in it and enjoy studying it, I know that I don’t have the same fluency with it as people for whom it was integrated into their childhoods. I also worried slightly about the ways in which my interpretations might vary with those of other members of the group. I am aware that the Bible has been interpreted from countless perspectives over the course of centuries, and I wasn’t sure how my thinking would land in this theologically diverse group.

Much of my anxiety was immediately soothed by my first five minutes there. As I entered a busy kitchen people were laughing and offering each other tea. Each person welcomed me in a way that felt both intentional and genuine. We sat for a time at the table and they asked me questions about myself and told me stories about their lives. Eventually, we began the more focused part of the evening with silence, and then out of the silence someone began reading the short passage we would be discussing. People told stories and shared ways that they could relate to the text, as well as making more scholarly observations. Many of us started with phrases like, “I wonder if what Jesus was trying to say was…” without really knowing for sure.

After an hour and a half or so we closed. People were even more intentional about their leave-taking. They stood in the entry noting what a nice time we had had and hugging. Each person made sure to tell me it was nice to have me there. I left feeling centered, thoughtful, and reverential.

It was as if the time was just slightly more sacred because the guest of honor was the Bible, that having Jesus as our focus helped us to see each other and our lives through slightly holier eyes. I decided that this is how worship feels, like we have put ourselves in the presence of the holy and have let it make an impression on us. Let us continue to create a place where we can see each other and our lives through holier eyes.

Faithfully,
Katie

Chairman’s Ramblings
It's October already, and the church year is up and running with activities planned through the year end. This year we are taking a leap forward for the Board and for the church fellowship. We are going to start our first 5 year plan for the congregation and the church. Like most small congregations, we have always 'managed' and reacted to our needs - “what can we afford this year?”, “who needs help doing what?”, etc. Now, it's time to change our approach as we want to move into the future. We need to become more proactive, plan for our capital needs, staffing, programs, and social outreach activities.

As with past changes, we believe it is best to involve all of the congregation in the planning process. To this end, there will be a fall gathering on Friday, November 20, to come together with a pot-luck dinner followed by the first step in the planning process. We ask you to bring your ideas, wish-lists, and thoughts for what you would have us look like in 5 years.

There will be more information coming during October - think about where we are and where we would like to be. I think it will be good for all of us.
Dick

Church BBQ & Work Party
The October 18, 2009, Worship Service will be followed by a barbeque and church clean-up until 2:00 p.m. Bring your favorite tool and sign up to bring food or drink to share!

Building Use And Rentals
Members and non-members are welcome to use the church building for meetings, weddings, baby showers, recitals, birthday parties, classes, or other events. The sanctuary has outstanding accoustics and the first level of the church contains a social hall, kitchen, and more. Please contact the Board Of Trustees by phone at 508-543-4002 or by e-mail at rentals@uufoxborough.org for a tour and additional details.

For weddings, commitment ceremonies, child dedications, or other religious ceremonies, please contact our Minister, Katie Lawson, at ministerlawson@uufoxborough.org or 508-543-4002. Visit rentals.uufoxborough.org for more information.

First Thursdays Peace Vigils
Get involved in the ongoing Social Action project hosted from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 pm. at the church the first Thursday of every month. The First Thursdays Peace Vigils community would like you to join them; candles and signs are provided. Stay for as long or as short as your schedule allows. Upcoming dates: Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, and Jan. 7.


Religious Education


The Hogwarts
One of our RE missions this year was to have the groups choose names to identify themselves. Thus, the 2nd to 4th grade class will henceforth be known as The Hogwarts, after the magical school in the Harry Potter books. Besides the advantage of each student being able to belong to whichever of the 4 houses of Hogwarts fits their needs on a given week, we are also going to be looking at some of the more magical elements of bible stories. For example, we recently read the story, "Jonah and the Big Fish”*. We all agreed that the only fish big enough to swallow a person whole would be a whale, but those whales big enough to do so are all baleen whales. For Jonah to end up inside must have involved some sort of magic on God's part.
*We know this story as “Jonah and the Whale”, but The Hogwarts' curriculum book points out that the true translation is 'Jonah and the Big Fish'.


Reverse Trick-Or-Treating
Interested in participating in the third annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating action where youth reverse the Halloween tradition to hand adults a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate? Free kits are available through Equal Exchange; participants pay for shipping costs. The deadlines to request a kit are: October 1 for groups, October 13 for individuals. Visit www.uusc.org/halloween2009 for details.

October 2009 Holidays
3-9 Sukkot - Jewish
4 St Francis Day - Catholic Christian
10 Shemini Atzeret - Jewish
11 Simchat Torah * - Jewish
12 Thanksgiving - Interfaith – Canada
17 Diwali (Deepavali) - Hindu, Jain
20 Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth - Sikh
20 Birth of the Bab - Baha'i
25 Reformation Day - Protestant Christian
28 Milvian Bridge Day - Christian
31 All Hallows Eve - Christian

Restocking The Shelves
Our Foxborough Food Pantry drive donation box is in the Sanctuary - eagerly awaiting a can or box or two. Items often needed include: baked beans, beef stew, canned fruit, canned vegetables, cereal, soups, cleaning supplies, feminine products, hamburger helper, jelly, juice boxes, kleenex, laundry detergent, peanut butter, shampoo, spaghetti sauce, toilet paper, tuna, canned chili, hash, or Spam, canned pasta, Spaghetti O's, cookies, crackers, and chips. All items collected will be donated to the pantry at the beginning of next month. Please donate if you can!

UN Sunday: October 25, 2009
Following World War II, the United Nations (UN) was founded on October 24, 1945. In celebration of this annual event, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) invites congregations and individual UUs to deepen their understanding of the United Nations by devoting one service in October to reaffirming the connections between UU principles and vital issues dealt with at the UN. Usually, congregations organize a UN Sunday for the last Sunday in October, but any Sunday in October would work. The theme for this year's UN Sunday packet is "A Safe and Dignified Life for All" with an emphasis on human rights. Please visit www.uu-uno.org for more information and a resource packet.

Wayside Pulpit
We are constantly invited to be what we are.
~ Henry David Thoreau

National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day began in 1988, one year following the second national march for equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Washington, DC. Over half a million people gathered for that march in 1987. National Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 11 every year. Many congregations acknowledge the day in one way or another. Some congregations center the entire service around it. Others provide a reading or take a moment to light a candle in honor of the day. Other congregations take the opportunity to do social justice work. For a candle lighting, a reading, links for social justice opportunities, sample sermons, and other resources to help celebrate and participate in National Coming Out Day, please visit www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/47915.shtml.

Notices

• Oct. 1: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church.
• Oct. 3: (4:00 p.m.) Memorial service for Dr. Forrest Church. Details via www.allsoulsnyc.org.
• Oct. 4: UUA Association Sunday: “Grow Our Diversity”.
• Oct. 7: (7:30 p.m.) Men's Group Meeting at StoneForge Pub in Foxborough.
• Oct. 10: (7:00 p.m.) Dawna Hammers at First Parish Universalist Church in Stoughton.
• Oct. 24: (8:00 p.m.) Gretchen Peters at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin.
• Oct. 25: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
• Oct. 29: Minister Lawson's column scheduled to appear in The Foxboro Reporter.
• Nov. 4: (7:30 p.m.) Men's Group Meeting at StoneForge Pub in Foxborough.
• Nov. 5: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigils outside at the church.

International Day Of Climate Action & 350
Guided by the 2006 Unitarian Universalist Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change, the UU Ministry for Earth, the UU State Advocacy Networks, the UU-United Nations Office, the UUA Green Sanctuary Program, and the UUA Office for Advocacy and Witness call upon UUA congregations to participate in the International Day of Climate Action, October 24. Making the number 350 visible to everyone is an important part of the request.

Why 350? The number reresents the level in parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere that climate scientists believe should not be allowed to be surpassed any longer in order to sustain life on Earth as we currently know it. During the time humans have lived on this planet, the atmospheric CO2 level was around 275 ppm. That was the level until about 200 years ago - when levels began to rise and humans began to burn more coal, gas, and oil for energy and industrial uses. At present, the CO2 level is 390 ppm. Please visit www.uuministryforearth.org/350.htm and www.350.org for some action ideas, fact sheets, resources, and more!

Milestones
Hosea Ballou 2nd, Eliza M. Tupper Wilkes, Frances Dana Barker Gage, e e cummings/Edward Estlin Cummings, Joseph Sill Clark, Weston Edward Vivian, Ida Mabel Folsom, John Adams, & Lucy Hunt Ballou


Worship Services
October 4: Today Is The Day
by Minister Katie Lawson and Worship Associate Justina Lakey
So much of our lives are motivated either by the past or the future. What does being present really mean? How can we better tune into the powerful now?

October 11: Life Is Puzzling
Lay-leader Angela Garcia

October 18: Losing Paradise
As global community we are facing many challenges related to the environment. What does this have to do with our religious and spiritual lives?

October 25: Blessing Of The Animals
Animals of all kinds are a part of the family of all being and the interconnected web of existence. The animals we choose to live with play a particular role in bringing us into contact with our belonging and are a blessing to us. Bring your pets, so that they can be blessed in hopes that they and all animals will continue to thrive in our care.
Note: This service will largely be held outdoors. If you have allergies, accommodations will be made to ensure your safety and comfort. This is a special service; we don't want you to miss it.

November 1: Guest Speaker & Topic T.B.A.

In The Community
Oct. 2 - 25 Haunted House at Orpheum (Fridays through Sundays); Oct. 3 – Annual HUGS Walk at Ahern; Oct. 4, 10, 17, & 18 – Events at the stadium; Oct. 6 – Oktoberfest at The Shops at Chestnut Green; Oct. 7 – Flu Clinic at Public Safety Building; Oct. 8 –Tri-Town Drug and Alcohol Awareness Partnership forum at Showcase Live; Oct. 10 - Fall March for Babies at Patriot Place; Oct. 16 & 17 - Friends Of Boyden Library Fall Book Sale; Oct. 17 – Open House at CRRA; Oct 24 - United Nations Day in town.

October's Global Chalice Lighting
The light of life shines through the eyes of each and every person.
The light of truth shines through each life.

May the light of this chalice remind us that our search for truth and light is ongoing, and is enhanced and nurtured by every person we meet.

May we honor the light in each other.

~ Rev. Jill McAllister, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

September 2009 Newsletter Highlights

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. Our goal is to significantly improve and positively influence conditions which affect the quality of life of our members, our families, and our community. We strive to provide a place for people to explore their own spiritual beliefs as we believe that religious growth and learning is a lifelong journey.


Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

Our house is quiet this morning as we digest the news of Senator Kennedy's death. It's a respectful quiet, like it is not right to complain or to talk about the day's mundane details in the presence of such a meaning-filled life. Regardless of our political perspectives, we can appreciate the compassion-driven life of this man and learn from his example. What Mr. Kennedy reminded us again and again was that a life lived for a larger purpose can pull a person through grief, disappointment, failure, and mistakes. A life built around a "mission" separates the wheat of our days from the chaff and shelters us from what might discourage, depress, or detour us.

However, lives like Senator Kennedy's do not exist in a vacuum. They depend on the support provided to them by family, community, and institutions. Institutions, especially, like churches. There can be no doubt that our little church serves this vital purpose to many and that it plays a role in creating a more just and loving world.

As we look forward to being together again, let us renew our pledge to buttress efforts to make the world ever more compassionate and to support each other in living lives built with integrity, energized by authentic passions, and tempered with gratitude.

I am looking forward to seeing you all at our first service of the church year. Bring your friends and family to join us in celebrating good company, casting our dearest hopes into the confluence of our combined energies, and renewing our promise to live lives directed by love. See you then!

Faithfully,
Katie



Chairman’s Ramblings
Welcome back! This year we are getting off to a late start because of the Labor Day holiday schedule, but after the Board Of Trustees meeting, everything looks good to go. We have a busy schedule, new directions to take, and plenty of tasks to go around.

For the first time in our long history we are going to work on a five-year plan to define where we want to be in five years, what it should take to get there, and individual steps needed along the way. This is building on the foundation of our Mission Statement and will help keep us focused on all of the myriad tasks needed to help a church grow. My vision is to have this work done by a stand alone group working with the Board Of Trustees and our Minister.

Meantime, RE is getting ready for the new year and we will be working on Katie’s installation, searching for a community social action project to work on, and just coming together as a church community on Sunday mornings. Whether you choose to be on a committee, do coffee hour, or come on Sundays to participate in the services and socialize, we welcome you back. I think this is an exciting time to be a member of this historic church and look forward to seeing you this fall, whenever you can be here.
Dick

Worship Services
September 13: Casting Into The Confluence
Each year we come together in the fall and celebrate our separate journeys and the joy of community. Bring a sample of water from your summer, and we will enjoy a water communion and explore the strength of our common bonds.

September 20: A Month Of Mercy: You Are What You Don't Eat
As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, we explore the meaning and gifts of fasting. During this last month, Muslims have denied themselves not just food, but many things thought to be distracting from the spiritual path. What rituals do we use in our lives to recalibrate them towards a larger purpose and meaning and how do we say sorry and move forward when we fall short?

September 27: Keepers Finders: Broken Beauty
This is the weekend of Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. It's a day when we are asked to reflect on our imperfections and renew our pledge to "begin again in love." At the same time, we acknowledge the value and beauty of imperfection and the spiritual strength that comes from reflecting upon it and ultimately embracing it.


Religious Education - Fall 2009

It's that time again! The Religious Education teachers have begun to plan and strategize for the upcoming church year. We have some exciting events in the works to welcome the kids back to church, so stay tuned for upcoming news. In the meantime, some important dates to remember:

September 13: Our first service and water ceremony. Don't forget to bring your water! For those of you returning for the first time, this is a chance for families to share their summer stories and, often, they include something that includes a body of water. People often bring a small jar of water from that lake, beach, or pool or that symbolic water from your tap will do as well! This service is a favorite among our kids!

September 20: Our first day back in Religious Education Classes. This first class will be an opportunity for the kids to meet their new teacher(s), get acquainted, and get an overview of the upcoming classes.

September 27: Corn Maze Trip

We will be bringing the kids on our annual fall hike to a local corn maze. Details to come.

Volunteers
If you have considered helping out in our program but have not yet done so, we need you! Please feel free to talk to me or one of our teachers about helping out. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. We are open to assistants who just want to help out a few times or in regular teaching positions. Our program cannot run without the wonderful efforts of volunteers!!

I hope everyone has had a fabulous summer and I look forward to seeing all the kids and families!

In Peace,
Lisa Benoit
Religious Education

Rock Climbing Expedition

At the end of the last church year, the Middle School Group had the opportunity to go rock climbing at Wrentham State Forest. Under the expert eye of FrankF, they donned harnesses, were hooked up to ropes, and climbed cliffs. They finished the day by rappelling down a thirty foot cliff wall. Everyone had a fantastic time and left with a desire to come back and climb again. Thank you Frank!

September 2009 Holidays
1 Ecclesiastical Year begins - Orthodox Christian
8 Nativity of Mary - Christian
14 Elevation of the Life Giving Cross - Christian
16 Lailat al Kadr - Islam
19-20 Rosh Hashanah - Jewish
19-27 Navaratri - Hindu
20 Eid al Fitr - Ramadan ends - Islam
22 Equinox
22 Mabon - Wicca Northern Hemisphere
22 Meskel - Ethiopian/Eritrean Orthodox Christian
28 Yom Kippur - Jewish
28 Dasera - Hindu
29 Michael and All Angels - Christian


Notices

* Sept. 14-15: UUA Fifth Principle Task Force meeting in Boston, Mass.
* Sept. 19: (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) Ballou Channing District Presidents Council Gathering at Unitarian Church Of Barnstable in Barnstable, Mass.
* Sept. 19: (8:00 p.m.) The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fundraiser.
* Sept. 20: (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Doolittle Home Annual Open House.
* Sept. 27: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church.
* Oct. 1: Deadline to submit CSAI proposals to UUA Commission On Social Witness.
* Oct. 1: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church.
* Oct. 3: BCD Fall Conference “Leading To Become Effective Congregations” at First Parish Church in Brewster, Mass.
* Oct. 7: (7:30 p.m.) Men's Group Meeting at StoneForge Pub in Foxborough.
* Please see the bulletin boards, vestibule, Web site, calendars, and weekly Order of Service for updates.
* Visit rentals.uufoxborough.org for details about holding your event at the church.


5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan
Saturday, September 19, 2009, is the new date of this year's Belly Dance Karavan, a fundraiser I have been organizing for the church for the past several years. This year's theme is "Belly Dance Goes To The Movies". This show features some of the area's best belly dancers, who each year donate their time and talent to help raise funds for our beautiful church. I encourage all of you to attend the show, not only to support the church, but also to watch these beautiful dancers in their art; and, yes, it will be *family-friendly* entertainment. Don't take my word for what a wonderful show this is; ask around to those who have attended in the past and I think you will find that they agree!

As always, since this is a church fundraiser, I would not say “no” to anyone from the church who would want to volunteer their time to help behind the scenes (playing the music, selling tickets at the door, making baked goodies for intermission, setting up intermission refreshments, etc.). If this sounds like something you might want to help with, please e-mail or call me. Thank you and hope to see all of you at the show!!
SusanMorgaine


Fundraising Through Partner Programs
We’re Amazon.com and Powell’s Books Associates. If you click through their links on the homepage of the church Web site (www.uufoxborough.org) and then shop at either of these on-line stores, part of your purchase price comes back to us. Please keep this in mind as you shop during the year!

What Should The Commission On Appraisal Study Next?
To answer this question, take the survey at www.uua.org/coa. The UUA Commission On Appraisal (COA) is charged to "review any function or activity of the Association which in its judgment will benefit from an independent review and report its conclusions to a regular General Assembly."

News From GA 2009
The Unitarian Universalist Association Of Congregations' 2009 General Assembly in Salt Lake City, UT, concluded on June 28, 2009. General Assembly delegates elected Rev. Peter Morales to be the eighth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Delegates approved a Responsive Resolution which calls for inquiry into African visa denials. Several Actions Of Immediate Witness were passed by delegates, including: a demand for Clean, Honest, and Fair Elections in the United States; to support America's Red Rock Wilderness Act; a commitment to work for U.S. Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; and a Call for a Commission of Inquiry into U.S.-Sponsored Torture. The torture resolution concludes with these words: "Nothing less than the soul of our nation is at stake in confronting U.S.-sponsored torture and completely renouncing its use."

More than 35 events from General Assembly 2009, including worship services, plenary sessions, and talks, are available to watch on-line through www.uua.org/ga (click on "2009 Event Coverage-Video/Audio" link). For more information about General Assembly 2009 and our social action and social justice work, please visit social.uufoxborough.org.

First Thursdays Peace Vigils
Get involved in the ongoing Social Action project hosted from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 pm. at the church the first Thursday of every month. The First Thursdays Peace Vigils community would like you to join them; candles and signs are provided. Stay for as long or as short as your schedule allows.

The Goddess Within
Women of the Ballou Channing District are invited to the Womensphere Annual Retreat on Oct. 3 & 4, 2009, at Senexet House in Woodstock, CT. Renew your mind, body, and spirit with Marcianna during “The Goddess Within: Discovery of the Spiritual Feminine through Movement and Meditation”. Marcianna is a teacher of Yoga and numerous dance styles, an artist, and the founder/operator of Chrysalis Video. She will gear activities to allow for various physical abilities. All activities are optional. There will be time for craft projects, walks, reading, etc. Join us for a weekend of renewal with UU women. Cost is $125 and the registration deadline is September 25, 2009. For more information or to register, contact Kate Gillis at 401-823-7929 or ksgillis@netzero.net.

UU Radio Programs
A few UUA congregations around the country are trying to get the message out over the airwaves. According to Rev. Thomas Schade of Worcester’s First Unitarian Church “radio broadcasts are an experiment in reaching into the larger community with liberal religious messages”. At 6:00 a.m. each Sunday, people can tune in to WCUW (91.3 FM) and hear the previous week’s service. A few of the churches have also put their programs on-line. Check out some of them at www.lifenowradio.org, www.uucc.us/?q=audio, www.progressiveblendradio.com, and www.uuplink.org.

Men’s Group
The Men’s Group had a pre-Labor Day holiday meeting. Instead of a formal discussion, they participated in the trivia contest being held at the restaurant. A more structured meeting will be held on the first Wednesday of October; topic to be announced.

International Coastal Cleanup
Sign up for the 24th International Coastal Cleanup at a waterway near you this month! Many Unitarian Universalists live within fifty miles of the saltwater and are impacted by flotsam and jetsam. The effort is more than the usual "beach clean-up" activity. Everything collected is carefully recorded and the information is used to monitor environmental conditions and to make improvements in environmental protection programs. During last year’s cleanup, nearly 400,000 volunteers collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash in 100 countries and 42 states in the USA - the world's largest volunteer effort of its kind. For more information, visit www.coastalcleanup.org.

UUA Green Sanctuary Program News

* A newly updated Green Sanctuary Manual will be released this month.
* The Fourth Edition of the Green Sanctuary Manual, published in 2007, is now available free-of-charge on the UUA Web site.
* In the Fall, all UUA congregations should check their mailboxes for a copy of the interfaith film “Renewal” and “Renewal: A Guide for Screening and Using the Documentary”.
* Visit www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/greensanctuary for a comprehensive review of environmentally themed books, films, and Web sites. The list is being regularly updated.


Join The March For LGBT Equality!
On National Coming Out Day (October 11) people across the country will be marching, rallying, educating, and otherwise mobilizing support for the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Will you and our congregation participate? The Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network hopes so! Whether you go to the UUA sponsored National Equality March & Rally in Washington, D.C. or participate with a solidarity event in our congregation and community, please visit www.uua.org/socialjustice for all the tools we need for a successful action calling for full LGBT equality.

UUSC Values In Action: Guest At Your Table Is Coming!
For more than thirty years, households around the country have welcomed special guests into their homes and lives. This year, meet Daw San of Myanmar, Abdul Khan of Afghanistan, and others. Welcome a Guest at Your Table, and learn more about Unitarian Universalist Service Committee partners around the world. Most congregations will begin the Guest at Your Table program on November 22, 2009 - the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Visit www.uusc.org/guest for additional information and resources.



Wayside Pulpit
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. ~ Albert Einstein

Milestones
Leverett Saltonstall, Phoebe Cary, William Howard Taft, Frank Ernest Gannett, & Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. On Sept. 30, 1770, Rev. John Murray preached his first sermon in America.

The Living Tradition: The Off-Center Cross
Combining a circle, a cross, and empty space, the off-center cross was created by four ministers during the Universalist General Assembly in 1946.

Each of the three elements used in this symbol represent different principles of Universalism:

* The circle represents that which has no beginning or end, infinity, the universe
* The empty space at the center represents the mystery at the heart of the universe that some people call "God"
* The cross represents the Christian roots of Universalism, but was placed off-center to leave room for other points of view and paths towards God

The off-center cross was first used in a public service of worship on September 29, 1946, at the ordination of Earle McKinney in Foxborough, Massachusetts at our church.

In 1947, the off-center cross was officially adopted as a symbol of Universalism in Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Universalist Convention.


September’s Global Chalice Lighting

May our coming together be a joyful moment, because we share in the spirit of life.

~ Revs. Nihal A. Attanayake & Elvira Paras Sienes
Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines
www.uuphilippines.org

"Belly Dance Goes To The Movies": 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan (Saturday, September 19, 2009)

More than fifteen individual dancers and two dance troupes blend stunning costumes, dance talents, and music to benefit accessibility improvemts to Foxborough's oldest church building!

"Belly Dance Goes To The Movies"
The 5^th Annual Belly Dance Karavan Fundraiser

"Belly Dance Goes To The Movies" is a show not to be missed! The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fundraiser begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2009, at 6 Bird Street in Foxborough, MA. Featuring some of the areas best belly dancers, the family-friendly show is always a crowd pleaser. Come to watch the beautiful dancers in their art while helping support accessibility improvements to the oldest building on the Foxborough Common.

This year's show includes more than 20 belly dancers performing to songs from the movies. Audience members will experience a visual and musical journey from Slumdog Millionaire to Get Shorty, through 007 and License To Kill to Lawrence Of Arabia.

Each year, the belly dancers donate their talent and time to help raise funds to benefit the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA. All money from the fundraiser will go towards the Acceccibility Improvements Fund ramp initiative. The ramp, when completed, will allow the historic building to be more accessible to all.

Nehira, Ioke, Moirae, Almasa, Dorothea, Sadira, Goddess Delight, Samantha, Shimmy Kimmy, Aneckha, Odalisque Dancers,Ameena, Maatkare, Sumora, Anam Cara, Zaharah, The Dobersheik Dames Tribal Dance Collective, Morgana, and Sabrina are among the belly dancers scheduled to perform.

Tickets to the September 19 show are available at the door. Cost is seniors $10; adults $15; children $10; family maximum $35. There will be an intermission with light refreshments. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8:00 p.m. If you need directions to the venue (Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, 6 Bird Street, on the town common/Route 140), or want more information about the show, please call the event coordinator, Sumora, at 508-561-4229 or visit events.uufoxborough.org.

About The Dance

Arising from the culture of the Middle-Eastern world, belly dancing is traditionally performed at weddings and parties, as well as in the best nightclubs and theaters. This form of dance depends on fine muscle control of the torso, arms, and hips, and on interpretation of the music. Middle-Eastern dance is neither a tease nor a come-on nor are there nude dancers - it is family friendly! The dance is an expression of feeling: joy, love, sorrow, friendliness, passion, contemplation, and all the complex emotions of life.

Unitarian Universalist General Assembly Stands On The Side Of Love

The Unitarian Universalist Association Of Congregations’ 2009 General Assembly in Salt Lake City, UT, concluded on June 28, 2009. General Assembly delegates elected Rev. Peter Morales to be the eighth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Delegates approved a Responsive Resolution which calls for inquiry into African visa denials. Several Actions Of Immediate Witness were passed by delegates, including: a demand for Clean, Honest, and Fair Elections in the United States; to support America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act; a commitment to work for U.S. Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; and a Call for a Commission of Inquiry into U.S.-Sponsored Torture. The torture resolution concludes with these words: “Nothing less than the soul of our nation is at stake in confronting U.S.-sponsored torture and completely renouncing its use.”

The Ballou Channing District, the district that includes the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, sponsored two workshops during the five day meeting: “Breakthrough Congregation” and “Liberating the UU-Friendly Elements of Christianity”. Church members that couldn’t be present in Salt Lake City were able to view many of the Worship services and plenary sessions live via streaming video.

In addition to the social justice actions taken, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, both Unitarian Universalists, were awarded the 2009 Wilton Peace Prize, which is given by the UUA in recognition of individuals or groups who have supported peace and human progress. Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Alice Blair Wesley received the UUA’s 2009 Distinguished Service Award which honors UUs who “over a considerable period of time, have strengthened the institutions of our Unitarian Universalist denomination or clarified our message in an extraordinary way.”

During the yearly meeting of congregations, almost $30,000 was donated to the Utah Pride Center, UUs held “Valuing All Families” - an interfaith community witness event in support of immigration reform, and the “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign was officially unveiled. “Standing On The Side of Love” is a UUA sponsored public witness campaign that promotes respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person by confronting issues of exclusion, oppression, and violence based on identity. All people, not just Unitarian Universalists, are invited to stand, speak, worship, march, roll, and live on the side of the love.

More than 35 events from General Assembly 2009 including worship services, plenary sessions, and talks are available to watch on-line through www.uua.org/ga (click on “2009 Event Coverage-Video/Audio” link). The Unitarian Universalist Association, of which the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, is a member, is a faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance, and social justice.

For more information about Unitarian Universalism and/or the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, please visit us in person or on-line at www.uufoxborough.org. The first worship service of our new church year will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13.

June 13: Trolley Tours And Model T Rides On Foxborough Founders’ Day!

Take a break from Foxborough Founders’ Day field activities and enjoy a refreshingly fun ride through town by hopping on board a trolley, a 1910 Model T Touring car, or both!

Designed mostly for children, the trolley tours will be entertaining and informative for both children and adults. While Katie Lawson is guiding the in-town trolley tours and imparting some fun tid-bits of the town’s history, Nancy and Dave will be escorting passengers in their antique car on a shorter jaunt through Foxborough.

The ticket booth and departure location for both transportation modes is the Igo Building’s South Street parking lot. Tickets for the historical trolley tours are: $1 per child (under 12); $2 per adult; and $5 per family. Rain or Shine, the trolley will depart every 30 minutes between noon and 2:30 p.m. The price to ride in the Model T is $5 per car load; children must be accompanied by an adult.

All proceeds will be devoted solely to the preservation of the Foxborough Universalist Church building - the oldest church building in town and the oldest building on the Foxborough Common. Come join the fun on the trolley and Model T on Founders’ Day!

The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan

The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 19, 2009.

June 2009 Newsletter Highlights

Minister’s Message

One of you recently offered me the fabulous insight that May is the new December. I trust that this refers to the number of commitments that seem to mound up in our weeks during May and early June and the energetic crescendo that seems to precede the end of the school or church year. It does feel suspiciously like the post-Thanksgiving/pre-New Year’s window,
during which it can require every ounce of our Buddha-natures to actually be *present* for the cascade of celebrations and commitments. It is a particularly hard condition under which to say a proper good-bye to each other for the summer. Honoring transitions, however, is one thing that church is good for, and I hope that you all will be able to come to our last
service and the annual meeting to mark the close of our year together.

As we near the end of the year, I am sometimes moved to tears as I reflect upon the small ways in which you have grown the presence of love and kindness in the world. I am thrilled by the efforts that the whole religious education team made on behalf of our children. I am optimistic about your desire to put into place a more integral and intentional approach to social justice and community service. I am energized by your commitment to expand the reach of the church. All this makes it a little hard to say
good-bye to our worship life together for the summer. However, I am comforted knowing that while our doors will be closed, our efforts to stay in community will continue. I hope you find times to reach out to each other through the women’s and men’s groups, impromptu days at the beach, e-mails and phone calls, or days helping out with the maintenance of the property.

This has truly been a tremendous year. I anticipated that being a part of this church would be a blessing, but I had no idea how enormous that blessing would be. I am so grateful to have found you. May days this summer be graced with love, health, and laughter. Please stay in touch.
Faithfully,
Katie

Chairperson’s Ramblings
This is the last newsletter of the year. It seems to have gone by faster than normal, even though I am still anticipating Spring weather. We will soon be gone for the summer doing the usual summer-family activities.

I want to take this time to thank everyone for helping make this an exceptional year. From bringing on board a new minister to the great turnout we had for the recent yard sale, there was a spirit of growth and cooperation that was wonderful to see. And, of course, we will soon have our annual meeting to culminate the fiscal year. Please plan on attending to cast your vote on new Board members, the budget, and anything else that may come before the meeting.

This year we are having the Annual Meeting immediately after a shortened friendship hour on Sunday, June 14. We need a Quorum of members to attend. Please plan on being there.
Dick

Notices

• The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fundraiser has been postponed until September 19, 2009.
• The “Love Makes A Family” photo-text exhibit is still on display.
• June 3: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company (31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA).
• June 4: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church.
• June 7: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
• June 14: Our Annual Business Meeting will be held at the church.
• June 14: (2:30 p.m.) Piano recital at the church.
• July 1 & August 5: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meetings at Pike’s Peak Mining Company.
• July 2 & August 6: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigils outside at the church.

Religious Education

It’s that time again, preparing for the end of the year, looking forward to summer days. Another church year has flown by and we are now busy wrapping up with our annual RE Sunday service and Flower Communion. As the kids prepare the service and get ready to give you a glimpse of what they’ve done over this last year in Religious Education, I encourage parents to talk to their kids about their experiences in class and at church. What do they like about RE? What are their thoughts about the topics or stories? What are their interactions like? I also encourage you to talk about how all their experiences and thoughts relates to our seven UU principles.

What are the seven principles?? If you’ve been with the church a while, you are probably familiar with them, but if you’re fairly new, you might be interested in the version which helped me to remember them - the children’s version called the Rainbow Path - based on the colors of the rainbow:

Red for “Respect all people.”
Orange for “Offer fair and kind treatment to all.”
Yellow for “Yearn to learn throughout life.”
Green for “Grow by exploring ideas & values together.”
Blue for “Believe in your ideas, and act on them.”
Indigo for “Insist on a fair and peaceful world.”
Violet for “Value our connections with all life and nature.”

In simple terms:
1. We believe that each and every person is important.
2. We believe that all people should be treated fairly.
3. We believe that our congregations are places where all people are accepted, and where we keep on learning together.
4. We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
5. We believe that all people should have a voice and a vote about the things that concern them.
6. We believe that we should work for a peaceful, fair, and free world.
7. We believe that we should care for our planet Earth.

Trying to remember the principles from the “adult” version didn’t work for me - but ROYGBIV? This was something I could handle. When someone asked me what UU was all about - I could start with the rainbow!

These principles are the foundation from which we derive our Religious Education program. However, an RE program does not just emerge from principles and while there are some great UU curricula available, a great program is built from ideas and creativity and input from the community. I invite you to share with us your thoughts - what do you want to see from RE? What interests your children? What do we want to see coming from our youth? What do you have to share with our young church members? While we will be making choices about curricula to use with our kids, your ideas will help us shape and fine tune our program so that it will be a vibrant place for all kids. I would be happy to share my thoughts and ideas - and I look forward to hearing yours!

Have a happy, safe, healthy, and fantastic summer!
Lisa

Middle School Group Happenings
The middle school class visited the Providence Zen Center in Rhode Island on May 10 as follow up to its recent classes on Buddhism. The Providence Zen Center is a residential and non-residential community of lay persons and monks. Its mission is to provide Zen training for all, through daily practice, regularly scheduled retreats, and an international exchange of teachers and practitioners.

It offers many talks and classes open to the public. The one we attended was an introductory talk and question and answer session. Our students sat on cushions in a beautiful room with a vaulted ceiling, a Buddha statue, and views of the rural surroundings. They asked some great questions (as did our chaperones) and took part in ten minutes of silent meditation.
They did awesome.

The monks invited us to come back and visit any time. They have many talks, meditation classes, retreats, and Zen dinners. Anyone interested can go to their Web site (www.providencezen.org).

Thanks to LeeAnn, Ginger, and Lia for lending a hand as driver and chaperones. And thanks to Virginia who tipped me off to the Providence Zen Center.
Donna

It Takes A Village
The Foxborough Universalist Church religious education program is currently looking for volunteers to staff our Sunday School classes next church year. Teachers commit to six weeks with a class, are encouraged to participate in a teacher training in the fall, and are supplied lesson plans and a curriculum schedule. Please consider supporting this important part of the church’s mission. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Suzanne, Lisa, or Katie Lawson.

Family Focused Historical Trolley Tours
Ride the trolley in the morning parade, then help staff the ticket table and/or hop on board the trolley in the afternoon. Katie Lawson is guiding the tours through the sights of Foxborough and, will be imparting some fun tid-bits of the town’s history! Afterwards, stay in town to watch the fabulous fireworks !

June 2009 Holidays
7 Trinity - Christian
7 Pentecost - Orthodox Christian
9 Saint Columba of Iona - Celtic Christian
11 Corpus Christi - Catholic Christian
14 All Saints - Orthodox Christian
16 Guru Arjan Dev Martyrdom - Sikh
19 Sacred Heart of Jesus - Catholic Christian
19 New Church Day - Swedenborgian Christian
21 Solstice
21 Litha - Wicca, Northern Hemisphere
21 Yule - Wicca, Southern Hemisphere
21 First Nations Day - Canadian Native People
24 Saint John the Baptist Birth - Christian
29 Saints Peter and Paul - Christian

Office Of Youth And Young Adult Ministries
The UUA’s Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry and the Youth Office have merged into the Office Of Youth And Young Adult Ministries. The new office will be part of the Lifespan Faith Development Staff Group.

Foxborough Founders’ Day
Foxborough Founders’ Day will be observed on June 13, 2009. This year’s theme is Public Safety and will salute all who contribute to our public safety - police, fire fighters, EMTs, and everyone who keeps the people of Foxborough safe.

Our church is participating in the celebration to show our support for the community and as a fundraiser. As a fundraising activity, all proceeds go towards preserving and maintaining our historic building, not religious programs. We have chartered a trolley to ride in the parade in the morning, then, in the afternoon, we will offer “family focused trolley rides” which will be punctuated with snippets of Foxborough’s history between multiple in town destinations.

Designed mostly for children, the trolley tours will be entertaining and informative for both children and adults. Please let those you know they can take a break from the field activities and enjoy a refreshingly fun ride trough town by hopping on board the trolley! The ticket booth and
departure location is the Igo Building’s South Street parking lot. Tickets prices are: $1 per child (under 12); $2 per adult; and $5 per family. The trolley will depart every 30 minutes between noon and 2:30 p.m.

You can participate in our Founders’ Day activities this year in few ways:
* Help out on Founder’s Day by selling trolley tour tickets, staffing our information table, etc.
* Ride the trolley in the parade! Arrive at the church by 8:30 a.m. on June
13.
See you on Founders’ Day!

This year’s trolley tour sponsors are: Antonia’s Deli, Aubuchon Hardware, Bright Start Child Care, Lake View Pavilion, Mansfield Eye Center, RE/MAX Real Estate Center, Rodman Ford Lincoln Mercury, Sam’s Stamp Shop, Sandwich Lantern Works, The Learning Experience, and Tree Tech.

New! Antique Car Rides
This year, we’ll be having another fundraising activity during Founders’ Day! Nancy and Dave will be giving rides in their antique car throughout the afternoon. The price, length, and route of the rides will soon be announced. Please spread the word about “Foxborough Universalist Church Antique Car Rides”!

First Thursdays Peace Vigils
Get involved in the ongoing Social Action project hosted from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 pm. at the church the first Thursday of every month. The First Thursdays Peace Vigils community would like you to join them; candles and signs are provided. Stay for as long or as short as your schedule allows.

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 camp sites at these 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)

A Meeting Of Congregations
If you won’t be in Salt Lake City during GA2009, some sessions will be shown on-line via www.uua.org/ga. Log-on to read daily reports and watch events in-progress!

2009 Association Sunday Early Planning
The theme for the third annual Association Sunday is “Grow Our Diversity”. Association Sundays celebrate our common bonds within our religious movement and our Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Funds raised this year will support (1) expanding the “Building the World We Dream About” curriculum and associated resources, (2) congregations that
are working to create a racially, culturally, and economically diverse Unitarian Universalism, and (3) programs that enable congregations and districts to ministers to youth and young adults who identify as people of color. The recommended Sunday is October 4. For more information and to register our congregation as an Association Sunday participant, go to
www.uua.org/giving/associationsunday.

Recycled Paper Product Guide
Greenpeace’s Recycled Toilet and Tissue Paper Guide helps you quickly and easily determine which paper products are recommended, which can do better to be easier on the Earth, and which should be avoided at all costs. Also available for the Android and on any mobile web browser! Download the guide by visiting www.greenpeace.org/tissueguide.

Sandwich Fund Grants
When Sandwich’s First Parish Church ceased existence its endowment was modified to allow the funds to be used for the purpose of providing assistance to Massachusetts societies within the Ballou Channing District. The income from the fund is to be used for the development and extension of Unitarian Universalist purposes and principles. Past approved projects have included media projects, lecture series, community gardens, and a community social action project. The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, June 4, 2009. Please visit www.bcduua.org for details and application forms.

Performances In The Area
* Be sure to attend and listen to Ted sing with the Serenading Seniors! * Check out where Joe and his band, Third Degree, will be appearing through www.myspace.com/thirddegreesite.
* Our musician Kris is performing a lot of free concerts with her band this summer. Check her Web site for dates
and locations: www.krisanthi.com
* Susan Morgaine’s upcoming performance schedule is available on her Web site at home.comcast.net/~susanmorgaine/.

2009 Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest
Send in your best photos for a chance to win a National Geographic Expeditions trip for two to the Galápagos Islands! The winning photo will also be featured in National Geographic magazine. This year, Massachusetts residents over 18 can send in your photos, rate contest entries, see how your favorites are doing, and ask award-winning photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson your photography questions. Details and submission forms are available via www.nationalgeographic.com/energizer/. The six photo categories are: Animals/Wildlife, Nature, People/Cultures, Travel,
Weather, and Inspiration/Keep Going. Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2009.

UUA Advocacy And Witness News

June’s Action Of The Month
There will be no new UUA Action of the Month during June as UUA staff and many UUs will be busy preparing for General Assembly in Salt Lake City. So if you didn’t get a chance to promote immigrant justice in May, consider what actions you might be able to take in June, especially since some exciting immigration reform legislation is about to be introduced! If you
chose to continue participating in this Action Of The Month throughout June and beyond, please check May’s newsletter or the Action Center at www.uua.org/socialjustice/actioncenter/index.shtml for ideas and additional resources.

Final Draft Of Statement Of Conscience On Peacemaking
The Commission on Social Witness has released the final draft of the Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking for General Assembly. To read the draft, please visit www.uua.org/peacemaking. We encourage congregations to read and discuss the Statement of Conscience with their delegates in preparation for GA. Comments directed to the UUA on the Statement of
Conscience will be reserved for the GA delegates.

Rev. Sinkford To Speak At Anti-Torture Event
On June 11, Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the UUA, will speak at the Religious Witness Against Torture event hosted by the National Religious Coalition Against Torture (NRCAT) in Washington DC. To join Rev. Sinkford, please visit www.NRCAT.org.

Beacon Press To Publish “The King Legacy”
Beacon Press announced last month that it had formed a partnership with the estate of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to publish new editions of King’s work in a series called “The King Legacy”. The partnership gives Beacon Press the exclusive right to publish new editions of King’s previously published work and to issue new compilations of his sermons, lectures, and
other writings. The first works to be released under this agreement will be published to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2010.

Milestones
Annie Adams Fields, Harriet Martineau, Charles Sinclair Weeks, Eleanor Vendig, Anna Laetitia Aiken Barbauld, Harold Hitz
Burton, Margaret Bowers Barnard, and Celia Laighton Thaxter.
* In June 1877, Clara Barton, a Universalist, wrote to a founder of the International Red Cross and began the creation of the American Red Cross.
* On June 21, 1985, Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles.

Our Oceans, Our Responsibility
Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day. In December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day”. The theme of the inaugural observance of the World Oceans Day by the United Nations is “Our Oceans, Our Responsibility”. “The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans”.

Need Somewhere To Hold Your Event?
If you’re looking for a place to hold a meeting, wedding, baby shower, recital, birthday party, or other event, check out the Foxborough Universalist Church! Members and non-members are welcome to use the building, so please let your friends and family know the church would make a lovely setting for their events too! The sanctuary has outstanding accoustics and the first level of the church contains a social hall, kitchen, and more. All are invited to tour our treasure and discuss your event needs with our Board Of Trustees. Please contact the Board Of Trustees by phone at 508-543-4002 or by e-mail at rentals@uufoxborough.org. For weddings, child dedications, or other religious ceremonies, please contact our Minister, Katie Lawson, at minister@uufoxborough.org or 508-543-4002. Visit rentals.uufoxborough.org for more information.

Crime
Quincy’s United First Parish Unitarian Church has been vandalized four times in the past nine months. The rainbow flag flying outside the church was stolen last August, and again last September; two months later the flag was burned, and last week it was stolen again. Flying outside the church’s Parish Hall entrance, the flag is a symbol of the congregation’s support for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons. The congregation considers this theft a hate crime, and has reported the incident to the police and filed a complaint with the city human rights commission. The congregation has purchased and hung a new rainbw flag.

Illuminations
Greet the Summer Solstice or sun or moon phases by going to High Rock Hill, F. Gilbert Hills S.F., your garden, Moose Hill, Crystal Springs, Borderland S.P., UMASS Sunwheel, Harold B. Clark T.F., America’s Stonehenge, Foolish Hill, Calendar One, “Hail To The Sunrise” Monument, Watery Hill, Ferry Beach, Robbie’ Hill, or anywhere else. Bid Spring adieu and Welcome Summer in your own special way! Other illuminating events: WaterFire will be ongoing during the next few months in Providence; there will be some fantastic bonfires and fireworks displays during Founders’ Days and 4th of July celebrations in many area cities and towns; and visiting or worshiping at other UU Churches during your travels

May 30: The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan: Belly Dance Goes To The Movies

Belly Dance Goes To The Movies!

The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan Fundraiser

"Belly Dance Goes To The Movies" is a show not to be missed! The 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fundraiser begins at 8:00 p.m. on May 30, at 6 Bird Street in Foxborough. Featuring some of the areas best belly dancers, the family-friendly show is always a crowd pleaser. Come to watch the beautiful dancers in their art while helping support accessibility improvements to the oldest building on the Foxborough Common.

This year's show includes more than 20 belly dancers performing to songs from the movies. Audience members will experience a visual and musical journey from Slumdog Millionaire to Get Shorty, through 007 and License To Kill to Lawrence Of Arabia.

Each year, the belly dancers donate their talent and time to help raise funds to benefit the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA. All money from the fundraiser will go towards the Acceccibility Improvements Fund ramp initiative. The ramp, when completed, will allow the historic building to be more accessible to all.

Nehira, Ioke, Moirae, Almasa, Dorothea, Sadira, Goddess Delight, Samantha, Shimmy Kimmy, Aneckha, Odalisque Dancers,Ameena, Maatkare, Sumora, Anam Cara, Zaharah, The Dobersheik Dames Tribal Dance Collective, Morgana, and Sabrina are among the belly dancers scheduled to perform.

Tickets to the May 30 show are available at the door. Cost is seniors $10; adults $15; children $10; family maximum $35. There will be an intermission with light refreshments. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8:00 p.m. If you need directions to the venue (Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, 6 Bird Street, on the town common/Route 140), or want more information about the show, please call the event coordinator, Sumora, at 508-561-4229 or visit events.uufoxborough.org.

More than fifteen individual dancers and two dance troupes blend stunning costumes, dance talents, and music to benefit accessibility improvemts to Foxborough's oldest church building!

About The Dance

Arising from the culture of the Middle-Eastern world, belly dancing is traditionally performed at weddings and parties, as well as in the best nightclubs and theaters. This form of dance depends on fine muscle control of the torso, arms, and hips, and on interpretation of the music. Middle-Eastern dance is neither a tease nor a come-on nor are there nude dancers - it is family friendly! The dance is an expression of feeling: joy, love, sorrow, friendliness, passion, contemplation, and all the complex emotions of life.

May 23: Church Yard Sale!

Stop by the church yard sale on May 23.

Enjoy deals on furniture, housewares, clothing, electronics, books, kids stuff, and more! Shop from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., rain or shine.

Where: Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA
(on the common in downtown Foxborough)

* Donations are currently being accepted from the community for the yard sale.

May 17: Newcomer's Orientation

If you have recently started attending services at Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, or are contemplating doing so, this short introduction provides information about the church, how to become more involved (including how to become a member), and a brief history of Unitarian Universalism.

From 11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. on May 17, the minister and a board member will be in the church office to answer your questions. You do not have to be ready for membership to attend this orientation.

Some Upcoming Events

May 3: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
May 6: (7:30 p.m.) Men's Group Meeting at Pike's Peak Mining Company in Mansfield, MA.
May 7: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA.
May 10: (11:00 a.m.) Love Makes A Family photo exhibit opens!
May 11: (7:00 p.m.) Women's Group Meeting in Mansfield, MA.
May 23: (9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) Church Yard Sale at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA.
May 30: (8:00 p.m.) 5th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fundraiser at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA.
May 26: (9:00 p.m.) Newsletter deadline

May 30: Belly Dance Karavan at 8:00 PM

Belly Dance Goes To The Movies!

Save the date! The Belly Dance Karavan is coming to town at 8:00 p.m. on May 30. Always a crowd pleaser, the family-friendly annual Belly Dance Karavan includes professional belly dancers from the region. This year, the dancers will perform to songs from movies such as 'Chicago', 'Get Shorty', and 'Hairspray'. There will be an intermission and a finale featuring all the dancers together on-stage.

Additional details coming soon!

May 23: Church Yard Sale!

Stop by the church yard sale on May 23. Enjoy deals on furniture, housewares, clothing, electronics, books, kids stuff, and more! Shop from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., rain or shine.

Where: Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA, 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA
(on the common in downtown Foxborough)

* Donations are currently being accepted from the community for the yard sale.

May 10: Love Makes A Family photo-text exhibit opens in Foxborough!

Family Diversity Projects’ touring exhibit LOVE MAKES A FAMILY: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People and their Families visits Foxborough

The touring photo exhibit ‘Love Makes A Family: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People and their Families’ is coming to Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA. The exhibit will be on display throughout May on the second level of the church, located at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA, beginning Sunday morning, May 10.

The exhibit - which is free and open to the public - will be open for viewing on:

• Sunday, May 10, from 11 AM - 2 PM
• Sunday, May 17, from 11 AM - 2 PM
• Saturday, May 23, from 9 AM - 2 PM
• Sunday, May 24, from 11 AM - 2 PM
• Sunday, May 31, from 11 AM - 2 PM
• other days and times which will be announced soon
• other times, by appointment (call 508-543-4002 to schedule)

Designed for audiences of all ages, the “Love Makes A Family” photo-text exhibit (with photos by Gigi Kaeser and interviews by Peggy Gillespie) challenges stereotypes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and helps dismantle homophobia. At a time in history when LGBT people continue to fight for basic human rights including the right to legally marry, the right to lead a Boy Scout troop, the right to have access to partner health benefits, and the right to be adoptive and foster parents, ‘Love Makes A Family’ helps cut through all the political arguments right to the heart of the issue by showing the love, caring, and connection that are so basic to all families. By allowing viewers to come face-to-face with LGBT people, ‘Love Makes A Family’ makes visible in a positive way, the love and caring in these families. This exhibit contributes to the process of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance, thus making the world a safer place for all people.

For more information about the photo-text exhibit and the full viewing schedule, please call the Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA at 508-543-4002 or visit http://events.uufoxborough.org.

April 2009 Newsletter Highlights

Chairman’s Ramblings
Here it is - April already! Most, if not all of us, are hoping that warmer weather is soon to be here. Maybe time to do some yard work, or fix-up projects, and, yes, let’s not forget the church work party.

It is also time to start the process of asking for volunteers for the Board Of Trustees for next year. Each year several members come off the board as required by our bylaws, which means we need to replace those positions to keep the church functioning. As with many other Unitarian Universalist traditions, each church is a fully independent organization, governed by its own bylaws, charting its own philosophical and spiritual path. Because of this independence, it is important for each of us to consider serving on the board for a period of time. We try to keep the workload to just a few hours or less per month, and have an enjoyable experience in the process.

So, when someone from the nominating committee asks - please seriously consider serving. Descriptions of the board positions and duties are available at anytime.
Dick

Worship In April

April 5: “Your Life: Just in Time”
by Worship Leader Neda
Years ago Toyota revamped the way the car industry worked by ordering parts to the factory Just In Time rather than maintain large inventories, Just in Case. How can this management philosophy, so effective in business, inform the way we manage our own lives?

April 12: Easter Service
by Katie Lawson, Minister

April 19: Earth Day Service
by Minister Katie Lawson and Worship Associate Leah
Wendell Berry once said we should spend as much time enjoying the environment as we do protecting it. What does protecting the natural world have to do with our spiritual health?

April 26: “The Courage To Teach”
by Minister Katie Lawson
Teaching is a spiritual practice. Katie explores the rich spiritual life offered to those who put themselves in a position to teach formally and informally.

Middle School Group Happenings
This past month the middle school group has continued their exploration of world religions. They have started, and will be continuing next month, a unit on Buddhism. They also had the unique opportunity to have Neda come in as a guest speaker and talk to them about Baha’i religion. After viewing some Baha’i symbols the group’s members had the opportunity to create their own religious symbols. Many thanks to Neda for taking the time to share her knowledge with the group.
Vote For Your Favorite Poster
Over 70,000 fifth grade classrooms participated in this year’s National Arbor Day Poster Contest. The 2009 theme, “Trees are Terrific… in Cities and Towns!”, was “designed to increase student’s understanding of the importance of trees in a community”. From March 30 - April 3, 2009, you can vote on-line for your favorite entry via www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest/.

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

Ride Our Trolley In The Founder’s Day Parade!!
On Founder’s Day, Saturday, June 13, our church will participate in Foxborough’s annual Founder’s Day celebration. In previous years we have participated by chartering a trolley to ride in the parade in the morning, and by offering guided historical trolley tours of the town in the afternoon.

This year we are going to try something a bit different - we are going to tailor the tour to school aged children. Our very own Katie Lawson has generously offered to be our tour guide this year. With Katie’s energy and our new focus on families, I think this will definitely be an exciting year for this Founder’s Day tradition.

Look forward to seeing you on Founder’s Day!
Alison

Some Upcoming Events
* Apr. 1: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company (31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA).
* Apr. 2: (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA.
* Apr. 5: (7:00 p.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
* Apr. 13: (7:00 p.m.) Women’s Group Meeting.

International Engagement Database
The UUA’s International Resources Office (IRO) maintains a database of the many varieties of international engagement that Unitarian Universalist congregations are involved with. To date they have records from approximately 150 congregations in the database. Is our congregation one of them? If so, they’ld love to update our entry. If not, they’ld love to include information about our congregation’s international engagement. The IRO office can put congregations in contact with other congregations who are involved with similar international programs. More information is available via www.uua.org/aboutus/professionalstaff/advocacywitness/internationalresources/index.php.

May Yard Sale
Cleaning out your house or just have a few items you no longer need? Collect items to donate for our yard sale, which is tentatively scheduled for May 23. In addition to the yard sale, the public will be invited to view the photo exhibit which will be on display throughout May. Please contact Dick if you have any questions about the yard sale.

Belly Dance Karavan
“Belly Dance Goes To The Movies” is the theme of this year’s Belly Dance Karavan. This is Sumora’s fifth year coordinating the annual fundraising event for our church. All proceeds from the past two years have been earmarked for the Accessibility Improvements Fund ramp initiative. Help out on event night (Saturday, May 30, 2009) or come to see the graceful belly dancers put on a stunning, family-friendly show that’s sure to delight all! Please contact Susan to help or if you have any questions about the show.

Historical Trolley Tours
Take a fun ride on the trolley! Whether you help with the planning or during the parade, the tours afterward, or the clean-up, you can help make this fundraising effort a huge success. Please let Alison know if you’re interested in helping with this effort.

Partner Programs
If you are unable to find the book or item you want at a local store and are planning to use Amazon or Powell’s Bookstore instead, please consider doing it via our church web-site ( http://www.uufoxborough.org ). To help us out, you just need to turn your “cookies” to ‘on’ if they’re not already, go to www.uufoxborough.org, click the link to amazon.com or powells.com, and then make your purchase. You must stay within the web page linked to from our web-site and leave your cookies on until the transaction is completed. Please contact Sharon if you have questions about using the partner programs.

Crossroads
Crossroads is the Children’s Center located on the first level of the church. It operates 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday during the public school year.

Building Rentals
Community members and groups are able to use the building or grounds for their events. Tell your families, friends, and neighbors about the events being held at church and using our fantastic spaces for their events! Please contact the Board Of Trustees in person, by phone at 508-543-4002 or via rentals@uufoxborough.org to schedule events at the church. First come, first served, so please plan accordingly.

Our church is a small but steadily growing church with big ideas about how it wants to better serve our community and the world. Thank you for considering all these opportunities to help us. Whether you’re able to experience the good work of our congregation directly or not, we know that you will feel great about the ways we are putting values you hold into action.

Listen To The Latest ‘UU World’
Audiorecordings of the articles in the latest UU World are now available. Award-winning audiobook actor Dick Hill reads articles from the Spring 2009 issue. The recordings can be listened to in most browsers or downloaded to your computer for playback using an .mp3 player. The audio version of UU World is produced in cooperation with the UUA Office of Accessibility Concerns. We welcome your feedback about this audio service. Write to world@uua.org. On-line at www.uuworld.org/issues/audiorecordingsspring2009.shtml.

New Dollars, New Partners For Your Sacred Place
The New Dollars, New Partners training program, presented by Partners for sacred Places, is designed specifically for congregations with historic sacred places. It helps congregations build leadership; research and write a realistic and compelling case statement for funders, understand proven methods for reaching out to a wider community, and learn how to fund-raise effectively. The training consists of four interactive training sessions over a nine month period. In the sessions, participants from 8-15 congregations will learn with other congregations then return home to do their own planning with fellow congregants. The first workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2009, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Providence. For more information about particpating in this progam, visit the Preseve Rhode Island web-site (www.preserveri.org) or contact Susanna Prull at 401-272-5101 or sprull@preserveri.org.

Massachusetts Youth Legislative Action Day
UUSC is again cosponsoring the Massachusetts Youth Legislative Action Day with Promise The Children and First Church Boston. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough Street, Boston. It will feature a discussion of issues and how to lobby for them, a meeting at the State House with legislators and their aides, breakfast, lunch, and ice cream sundaes! It’s designed for youth (grade 6 and up) and their family, friends, and allies. One of the issues will include An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition. To learn more about the event, visit the Promise The Children web-site (www.promisethechildrenuu.org/events/item/249/)

April’s Action Of The Month
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is partnering with Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) to bring you April’s Action of the Month: Environmental Justice. Leading up to and during the month of April, we invite Unitarian Universalists (UUs) to engage in environmental justice - recognizing the disproportionate impact that both environmental problems and proposed “solutions” have had on women, low-income families, and communities of color both in the U.S. and around the world. Join UUs across the country as we work on a variety of consciousness-raising actions, culminating in Earth Sunday services on April 26. You can find suggested activities and other items related to this action such as “The Water Justice Praxis Study, Action, Reflection Guide”, an Earth Day Service worship packet, additional information about the 2006 AIW End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining, and more via www.uua.org/socialjustice/actioncenter/128311.shtml.

UUA Presidential Candidates Forum Video
Watch the video of the UUA Presidential candidates’ forum from the recent Women’s Convocation. You can view it at portal.icuuw.com/icuuw/video/video3.cfm. This is a good opportunity if you want to learn more about the presidential candidates, you’ll be making decisions regarding completing absentee ballots, you’ll be directing delegates how to vote at GA, or for congregation delegates going to GA undirected.

Ballou Channing District (BCD) 2009 Spring Conference & Annual Meeting
Join other UUs from our district for “Exploring Paths of Inspiration & Transformation” on Saturday, May 2, 2009. Unitarian Universalism encourages individuals to explore and find their path to discover meaningfulness, quench a “thrist”, find heart. “Come, Listen, Learn, Experience” with us at First Parish (Old Ship) in Hingham, MA. Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz will present “SPIRITS IN THE NIGHT: The Healing Ministry of Bruce Springsteen” during his keynote address. There will also be music (Springsteen, who else?), worship, the UU Network Mall, continental breakfast and lunch, networking opportunities, and workshops to learn about and engage in personal exploration of various paths for inspiration. The Annual Meeting will include reports about district operations, election of District officers and directors and the approval of the FY2010 budget. Deadline for pre-conference registration discount is April 29. Pre-conference registration fee is a sliding scale $22-30 (upon ability to pay.) Youth (under 18) registration is $7 (Fee includes break refreshments and lunch). At the door Conference fee is $40 for adults, $7 for youth. Call the District office at 508-559-6650 or e-mail bcdoffice@uua.org to register.

Send A Love Letter To Salt Lake City!
Can you imagine a “Marriage is a Civil Right” banner waving over downtown Salt Lake City? This year, we have a unique opportunity to hang a three by ten foot marriage equality banner on the large tower of the Salt Palace Convention Center during General Assembly in June. In 2008, Utah residents donated $2.6 million - more than any other state outside California - to support the passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Displaying our banner will send a strong message that we are standing on the side of love. $6,000.00 alone will make this advocacy event possible, but the Salt Palace will not reserve the space until payment is in hand. We aim to make the reservation by May 1, so the time to act is now. Gifts of $35 or more are especially helpful. Donations accepted on-line at www.uua.org/giving/donatenow/129603.shtml.

BCD “Looking Forward” Gatherings
A series of conversations for BCD congregation leaders, members, District staff and Board to discuss opportunities and challenges will be held during the next few months. “Looking Forward - Ministry to Youth” is scheduled for April 27, at Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven. The second conversation, “Looking Forward - Young Adult Ministry”, will be held on May 4, at FirstParishChurch in Duxbury. “Looking Forward - Our Congregations’ Futures” is the final conversation of this series. It will be held on May 16, at First Parish Church in Taunton. Although the gatherings are free, we ask that you register by calling or e-mailing the BCD office at 508-559-6650 or bcdoffice@verizon.net.

In The Community
Apr. 4, 6, & 25 - Events at the stadium; Apr. 7, 14, & 28 - Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; Mondays - Belly Dance Classes at the church/6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays - Kundalini Yoga & Meditation classes at 6 Bird Street, Foxborough, MA (6:30 p.m.); Apr. 1: Renewable Energy Advisory Committee Meeting (6:00 p.m.); Apr. 2 - First Thursdays Peace Vigil at Foxborough Universalist Church, UUA (6:00 p.m.); Apr. 2 - Spring Concert: Symphony Orchesta, Concert Choir, and Concert Band at FHS (7:00 p.m.); Apr. 3 - Burrell Vendor Night (6:30 p.m.); Apr.3 & 4 - 7th & 8th Grade Drama Club’s “A Midsummer Night’s Western” at Ahern School; Apr. 3 - “Lhasa to Kathmandu, the Trip of a Lifetime” by Tony Gilby at Chapel Meeting House (7:00 p.m.); Apr. 4 - Spring Community Trails Cleanup Day at CRRA Nature & Walking Trail (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.); Apr. 4 - Lions bottle & can drive to benefit Cub Scout Pack 70; Apr. 4 & 5 - All Day MICCA Concert Festival at FHS including FHS Concert Bands, Symphony Orchestra, and Ahern 7th & 8th Grade Concert Bands; Apr. 4 - Third Degree at Outlaw BBQ (9:00 p.m.); Apr. 7 - CORE Turfsup Meeting at Boyden Library; Apr. 11 - Third Degree at The Ancient Mariner (9:00 p.m.); Apr. 14 - “Choral-palooza”:Grades 5-12 Choirs at FHS (6:30 p.m.); Apr. 16: Candidates Night on FCATV; April 17-19 - “Les Miserables - School Edition” at Orpheum theatre; Apr. 20-24 - FPS Vacation Week; Apr. 23 - Mr. Suspender performs at Boyden Library (2:00 p.m.); Apr. 25 - Gypsy Dance & Zills Workshops with Zaharah; Apr. 27 - Foxborough Historical Commission Meeting at 7:30 p.m.; Apr. 30 - Ahern Strings & FHS Symphony Orchestra at Ahern School (7:00 p.m.).