BEV: October 2010 Newsletter Highlights

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

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

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

Some of you may remember that at the 2009 annual congregational meeting, you voted to ordain me in your church as an expression of confidence in my ministry. This is a real gift and it seems so right to me that this congregation is the one that will ordain me. You will be, in essence, standing in for all the congregations I may serve and offering your blessing on their behalf. It is the day that I fully enter the ministry. Thank you for that honor.

Ordination in our denomination is an interesting process due primarily to the different approaches that the Unitarians and the Universalists historically took to ordination prior to merging. The Unitarians had a 300 year history of having individual congregations ordain ministers, while in Universalism it was seen as a broader denominational responsibility. The typical path to ordination now is a combination of both with special emphasis being placed on an individual congregation. Typically, to be ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister involves three steps: 1. earning a Master’s of Divinity 2. completing the Unitarian Universalist Association’s fellowship process which involves psychological testing, interviews with regional and national committees, and approval from the Ministerial Fellowship Committee 3. congregational vote. In many ways, the third step is the most important, because, no one should be better able to discern my capacity for ministry than you all.

At the completion of this process, I can legitimately use the title “Reverend” and feel the full authority of ministry. Technically, we completed this process with the vote, but in the case of ordination, the ceremony is seen as equally important as the vote. It’s like the difference between obtaining a marriage license and having a wedding.

Like a wedding, ordinations are of all shapes and sizes. However, typically ministers from the area will come to perform different functions in the ceremony, members of the Foxborough community will come to offer blessings, as will some of my friends, colleagues, and family members. It’s a big day for the church.

We have had to post-pone the ceremony a couple of times, but have now tentatively scheduled it for March 6 in the afternoon. I hope that as many of you who can will plan on attending.

Once again, many thank yous for this treasured honor.

Faithfully,
Katie

Our Newest Trustees & Officers
Welcome to the newest members of the Board Of Trustees: April, Leslie, Virginia, and Mike.

Wayside Pulpit

The earth laughs in flowers. ~ e.e. cummings

Religious Education Happenings
Another Church year has begun- Welcome back to another year of RE!

Fall is here and the leaves are already beginning to show their bright colors. Change is in the air! We have so many exciting things brewing this year – where to begin? First off, classes have begun and we have old and new volunteers helping us out – thanks to all of those wonderful parents. The Middle Schoolers are starting their year off in their newly painted room. It’s been refreshing and exciting to have a bright space – many, many huge thanks to the youth and Leah for helping making such a monumental task easy!!

The groups will be meeting for their regular classes and we are working on “extra-curricular” fun get-togethers for the groups in addition to regular Sundays. Parents or anyone who is interested in volunteering to chaperone an event is invited to contact me at any time.

Our next ongoing task is creating a NEW baby/toddler space. We are in the process of designing a space to be welcoming for families of small children and babies. While we have been spurred on by our minister’s upcoming addition – this has been a long time need that has been waiting to be filled and I am so thrilled to see the enthusiasm as everyone participates in helping to create this new space. If you have not been a part of this discussion and have ideas and suggestions, please let me know!

The OWL – Our Whole Lives – program is coming to fruition. Thanks to the Sharon Unitarian Church and First Parish UU Church of Canton, I am privileged to say we are able to offer for the first time this year, the comprehensive sexuality education program known as OWL. We will be offering a 5th-6th grade and 7th-8th grade class. The classes will be run by leaders who are trained in the age appropriate curriculum. If you are interested in learning more or have a child in 5th-8th grade, I am more than happy to speak with you.

This year promises to be a busy one with lots of exciting happenings to come – it’s been exciting and a pleasure to see everyone back at church. I look forward to working with all of you this year.

Peace and Blessings,
Lisa Benoit
Director of Religious Education

Birth Of The Bab
Siyyid Alí Mu?ammad Shírází (“The Báb”) was born on October 20, 1819, in Shiraz, Persia. He was a descendant from Muhammad through the Imam Husayn through both his parents. The Bab was the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith and his mission was to proclaim the imminent arrival of “Him Whom God shall make manifest,” namely Baha’u'llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith. On Oct. 20, Baha’is observe this Holy Day by abstaining from work. There are no prescribed ceremonies, but gatherings usually involve prayers, devotional readings, music, and fellowship. Baha’i days begin at sunset so celebrations may begin the evening of Oct 19.

October 2010 Holidays
1 Simchat Torah – Jewish
4 St. Francis Day – Catholic Christian
8-16 Navaratri – Hindu
11 Thanksgiving – Interfaith – Canada
17 Dasera – Hindu
20 Birth of the Báb – Baha’i
28 Milvian Bridge Day – Christian
31 All Hallows Eve – Christian
31 Reformation Day – Protestant Christian
31 Samhain – Pagan/Wiccan

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, and Lucy Hunt Ballou.

Reverse Trick-Or-Treating
October 31 was observed as “Begger’s Night” in England. The middle-class handed out special treats known as Soul Cakes to poor people/beggers who then promised to say a prayer for the dead. This practice was known as going “a-souling”. Over the years, “a-souling” and other end of October celebrations have morphed into Trick-or-Treating for some cultures. Youth can reverse this Halloween tradition and hand out a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate to candy givers by participating in the fourth annual Reverse Trick-Or-Treating event. Free kits are available through Equal Exchange; participants pay for shipping costs. The deadline to request a kit is: October 8 (while supplies last). Visit www.uusc.org/rtot/reverse-trick-or-treating-2010 for details.

Guest At Your Table
Guest at Your Table fosters understanding and awareness of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s (UUSC) human-rights work and has been an important part of UUSC and Unitarian Universalist culture since 1975, when the program first began. Each year, the program strengthens connections to our shared principles and helps challenge injustice throughout the world. We can help make UUSC’s 70th anniversary a banner year for global human rights and help nurture a spirit of gratitude and “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations” by organizing Guest at Your Table for our congregation. November 21, 2010, is thekick-off date for this year’s program. Visit www.uusc.org/guest for information about this year’s guests, Stories Of Hope, and additional resources.

Ordination Fund-raising
If you have ideas about how to raise some funds for Katie Lawson’s ordination, please let Dick and the Ordination Committee know in person, via e-mail or committees.uufoxborough.org/Finance/, or leave a note in the chairman’s box in the church office.

Welcoming Congregation Bylaws Review
A committee has been formed to review the bylaws in order to suggest proposed changes to them so they will reflect the spirit and standing of our status as a UUA Welcoming Congregation. The committee will provide suggestions to the Board Of Trustees, who will then present the final proposal to the congregation for a vote to be taken in the next few months.

Ministerial Search Committee
A Ministerial Search Committee has been formed to seek a replacement for Katie Lawson. The initial steps will be to develop the review and update, if needed, the criteria for a new minister that we used last time and meet with Ballou Channing District (BCD) President Rev. Bill Zelazny and Board Of Trustees in October or November. The first meeting of the committee is being held at 11:15 a.m. on October 3, 2010. The Board Of Trustees will keep everyone appraised of the committee’s progress and seek congregational input as we travel on this path.

Spiritual Nurture
Visit www.uua.org/visitors/spiritualtopics/ for answers to some common questions from newcomers about Unitarian Universalism regarding everything from spiritual practices, to the concept of a higher power, to ideas about life and death, to sources of inspiration and guidance, to the use of sacred texts. Some videos and podcasts for inspiration and reflection are available via www.uua.org/multimedia/inspiration/ and www.uufoxborough.org/Newcomers_Area.htm.

UU Jewish Gathering Being Organized
UUs for Jewish Awareness is organizing a conference, with the theme “Let Us Be Counted!”, the first in over 20 years. The theme is inspired by the Torah portion that coincides with the Shabbat of our gathering, Ki Tisa: Exodus 30:11-34:35: “Let us come together to count our selves, not to wait to be counted but to affirm our belonging together!” The conference will be held on February 18 – 20, 2011, in Atlanta, GA. All UUs wishing to celebrate and explore their Jewish identity within Unitarian Universalism are welcome. Go to www.uuja.org for information about program details and how to register.

Green Sanctuary Program News

• Find information about the 10/10/10 Global Work Party via www.uuministryforearth.org/10-10-10.
• Learn how to become better stewards of your funds & creation; get connected with resources to help our congregation with energy efficiency upgrades at the ENERGY STAR Congregation Event beginning at 9:00 a.m. on October 23, 2010 at The First Parish of Needham, UUA. R.S.V.P. no later than October 9, 2010, to Wadi Muhammad at 617-918-1807 or muhammad.wadi@epa.gov.
• Mass Climate Action Network is holding a conference on October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Register via www.massclimateaction.net.
• Read the UUA’s Green Sanctuary Program blog at greensanctuary.blogs.uua.org.

National Coming Out Day
In 1987, over half a million people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the second national march for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. National Coming Out Day began one year later and is celebrated on October 11 every year. 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.

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 offcenter 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.

Doolittle Home Support Auction
The seventh annual Doolittle Home Support Auction will be held on Saturday, November 6. The auction proceeds will go towards the purchase of an improved model of whirlpool tub for the nursing unit. Donations are accepted from anyone; please call the home’s office at 508-543-2694 to arrange to donate something. To preview auction items and pre-register for a Speed Bid number, visit www.doolittle-home.org.

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

Common Read
At General Assembly 2010, delegates selected “Immigration As A Moral Issue” as the new Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI). The UUA, in partnership with Beacon Press, has initiated a Unitarian Universalist “Common Read” as part of that study. For a 2010-11 Common Read, the UUA offers Margaret Regan’s The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories for the Arizona-MexicoBorderlands. To find out more about how you can participate, please visit www.uua.org/publications/commonread/index.shtml. Study and facilitation guides are available.

UN Sunday
In celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) on October 24, 1945, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) invites congregations and individual UUs to deepen our 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. The 2010 United Nation Sunday packet, “Ethical Aspects of Climate Change”, is available on-line at www.uu-uno.org.

A Wish List
Norfolk Advocates for Children (NAC) is a partnership of public and private agencies that work together collaboratively to help children who experience physical, sexual, and domestic abuse. Below is a list of remaining needs for the new facility in town. If you would like to donate any of these items, please call AnnMarie Sullivan at 508-308-0852. On-line at www.norfolkadvocatesforchildren.com.

• Kleenex
• Windex
• Facecloths
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Alcohol wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Liquid Hand soap
• Chlorox bleach
• Mop and bucket
• Towels (for nurse)
• Toilet bowl cleaner/brush
• Laundry detergent- liquid
• Lamps with woodland theme
• Cera Ve hand lotion (scent free)
• Changing Table and Changing Pad
• Water bottles (8 oz. and 16 oz. Sizes)
• Shower curtain for the medical room
• Sample sizes for shampoo, conditioner, soap
• Plastic/wire storage shelves for the closet in the medical room
• Individually wrapped crackers (pretzels, goldfish, animal crackers – no sugary snacks and no peanut butter)

PR News
If you’re a visitor, newcomer, newer member, or long-time member of the church and would like to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter and/or join our e-reminder lists, please let the PR Committee (prcommittee@uufoxborough.org) know. Please also let us know if you have something to include, articles, photos, etc. The newsletter is available via e-mail and surface mail.

Peace Candles & First Thursdays Peace Vigils
In April, 2003, we lit the Peace Candle that sits in the front window of the church and serves as a symbol of the congregation’s continued prayers for peace, especially in Iraq. In the Fall of 2006, we began the First Thursdays Peace Vigils and the community of vigilers have stood in front of the church with peace candles and signs once a month since then, with the plan to continue until the war in Iraq is over. Even though all combat troops have currently been removed from Iraq, 49,700 U.S. troops remain there. Since the combat troops left Iraq, U.S. forces in Afghanistan have increased to about 100,000. These numbers do not include the roughly 250,000 private contractors working for the Department of Defense in both Iraq and Afghanistan as of May 2010; about 41,000 of them are U.S. citizens. Please support this ongoing effort: LeeAnn has requested a replacement so please sign-up to be the monthly coordinator or join the vigilers from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. any first Thursday.

In The Community
Monday – Friday – Crossroads Children’s Center at the church (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.); Mondays – Belly Dance classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays – Yoga classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Oct. 2, 16, 17, 23, & 31 – Games at the stadium; Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays in October – Haunted House at Orpheum Theatre; Oct. 12 & 26 – Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; Oct. 2: Recommittal of remains from Foxborough State Hospital (11:00 a.m.); Oct. 6 – First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church (6:00 p.m.); Oct. 11 – No school; Oct. 22 – Reptiles Rock at Chapel Meeting House (7:00 p.m.); Oct. 24 – United Nations Day in town; Oct. 30 – Fall Festival at Igo; Oct. 30 – Halloween observances such as trick-or-treating in town; The Restocking The Shelves collection box for the Foxborough Food Pantry is on the church’s second level – please contribute!

Other Notices And Events

• Oct. 3: (8:00 a.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting. All are welcome to attend.
• Oct. 3: (11:15 a.m.) Ministerial Search Committee Meeting.
• Oct. 6 and Nov. 3: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company in Mansfield. Please contact Rick at mensgroup@uufoxborough.org for more information. Newcomers are welcome!
• Oct. 7 and Nov. 4: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church. Area residents are invited to join the commnity of vigilers! Details via events.uufoxborough.org.
• Oct. 8 – 10: Second Annual Leaf Peeper Weekend at Starr King Unitarian Fellowship in Plymouth, NH. Call 603-536-1179 or visit www.starrkingfellowship.org for details.
• Oct. 16: (7:30 p.m.) John Flynn returns to The Javawocky Coffeehouse in Brockton. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
• Oct. 23 & 30: “Basic Car Care Maintenance” fund-raiser in Attleboro. Details via www.goodnewsgarage.org.
• Oct. 24: (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Doolitle Home Open House.
• Oct. 25: (7:15 p.m.) Let’s Laugh Today (laughter yoga) at the First Universalist Society in Franklin.
• Oct. 30: Ballou Channing District (BCD) Fall Conference at First Parish Church in Duxbury, Mass.
• Please visit www.uufoxborough.org, www.bcduua.org, BCD In-Brief, the BCD and UUA e-mail lists, and the bulletin boards in the vestibule for more event listings, brochures, and details.
• Contact rentals@uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your wedding, ceremony, baby shower, bridal shower, group meeting, band rehearsal, or other event. Payments are made through the Treasurer.
• Don’t forget to purchase products through our Amazon.com and Powell’s Book partner programs: click through the links on the church Web site home page (www.uufoxborough.org) and shop!

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

Oct. 3: You Loved Me Before You Knew Me

Oct. 10: Living With Weeds

Oct. 17: Building A Theological Home

Oct. 24: TBA – Guest Minister Rev. Christana McKnight, Minister of First Unitarian Parish of Norton

Oct. 31: All The Ghosts
Memorial Service for who have preceded us in death. Bring a photo or other contribution for our altar.

BEV: June 2010 Newsletter Highlights

Bird’s Eye View

Newsletter of Foxborough Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association

6 Bird Street * On The Common * Foxborough, MA 02035-2301 * 508-543-4002

Worship Service & Religious Education Classes, Sundays at 10:00 A.M.

Katie Lawson, Minister * www.uufoxborough.org * All Are Welcome!

A UUA Welcoming Congregation

June 2010

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,

The time is fast upon us when our doors will close for the summer, and we leave the sanctuary to its own reflections. I am ambivalent about this practice, which is common in the denomination, especially in small churches with part-time ministers. It always catches me a little off guard and feels like someone is interrupting an enjoyable conversation. However, I choose to focus on my belief that there are many ways to worship, and that during the summer, the frog songs and flowers draw us outdoors into an equally significant communion with the holy.

Finding a sense of larger purpose, of belonging, and of the holy through a relationship with nature runs deep in American Unitarianism and Universalism. William Ellery Channing who proudly embraced and articulated Unitarianism in this country for the first time in 1806, found his call to ministry and his understanding of a loving and beneficient (rather than punishing) God while walking on a beach near his childhood home in Newport. Ralph Waldo Emerson saw nature not just as a metaphor for the holy, but God manifested all around us. Universalist and, later, Unitarian minister, Thomas Starr King was first and foremost a renowned mountaineer who wrote a guide book of the White Mountains that was seasoned with poetry and spiritual reflection. Throughout its history, Unitarian Universalism has been as bound to a reverence for the natural world as it has to its belief in good works and freedom of consciousness.

In an important way, it is an expression of our faith to nurture a garden, to walk a wooded path, to watch the birds at the feeder, to stay awake for a thunderstorm, and to work to deepen our relationship to it all. During the summers, when Sunday morning comes around, I often feel a particular call to pause and note the weather pattern or make time for a walk or just sit in our old row boat and drift. I hope your summer Sundays similarly call you to a Sabbath of sorts, to turn your attention to what really sustains you.

I will miss you this summer, but look forward to reuniting in the fall with all our tales of peace, beauty, communion, and service.

Faithfully,

Katie

Chairman’s Ramblings

This is the last issue of Bird’s Eye View for this church year. As you may have guessed, the title comes from our view of Bird Street, 6 Bird Street to be more specific. There was a long time that we thought we were 4 Bird Street, but the wisdom of the Post Office changed all that. I’m not sure if our perspective changed after all those years of being called 4 Bird Street, and now being 6 Bird Street. Sort of feels like the same place to me. A kind of special place which has been highlighted by this year’s Church Yard Sale. The willing cooperation to move and remove all those items, to sort them out in preparation of the sale, and to get everything ready for the Saturday event is really inspiring. The additional items brought in by townspeople is inspiring also.

As I write this, I don’t know how well we will do financially. I do know that the effort that has gone into the sale as of this point shows how great and caring our Church people truly are, and I thank you! This effort culminates a year of of change for us, as change that I believe bodes well for the future. We all spent significant time listing our ideas for a growth plan, and then the Board spent several meetings listing and prioritizing those ideas to formulate a 3-5 year plan for the Church. The results will be published shortly and will constitute the working plan for our Church for the near future. Again, thank you for all of the cooperative efforts you have made during the year.

Dick

Religious Education Happenings

On Saturday, June 5, there will be a Religious Education Sunday practice and picnic at the church. Please contact Lisa Benoit, Religious Education Director, at re@uufoxborough.org for details.

Don’t forget: We are now accepting registration forms for next year’s Religious Education classes. Please return the RE forms to Lisa Benoit.

Wayside Pulpit

Prejudice delivers instant opinions without bothering with all those facts. ~ Anonymous

First Thursdays Peace Vigils

Get involved in the ongoing Social Action project hosted from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 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: June 3, and July 1, and August 5. Please visit events.uufoxborough.org to sign-up for the e-reminder list and find out more information about our ongoing peace work.

June 2010 Holidays

3 Corpus Christi- Catholic Christian

9 Saint Columba of Iona – Celtic Christian

11 Sacred Heart of Jesus – Catholic Christian

19 New Church Day – Swedenborgian Christian

21 Solstice

21 Litha – Wicca Northern Hemisphere

21 First Nations Day – Canadian Native People

29 Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul – Christian

Shimmy Thanks!

Thank you to Sumora, all the volunteers who helped behind the scenes, and all the dancers who performed in “Belly Psychadelli”, the 6th Annual Belly Dance Karavan fund-raiser on May 22, at the church! Belly dancers Za-Beth, Sumora, Anechka, Haleema, Goddess Delight, Anam Cara, Belly Dance Collective, Baseema, Jihanna, Neylan, Morgana, Nehira, *Samantha*, Ameena, Heather, Christina, Johara, Snake Dance Theater Company, Sadira, Dorothea, and Sabrina donated their time and outstanding talent to help in our goal of improving community accessibility to our historic building. All money raised this year and will go towards the Accessibility Improvements Fund ramp initiative.

Milestones

Annie Adams Fields, Charles Sinclair Weeks, Anna Laetitia Aiken Barbauld, Harold Hitz Burton, and Celia Laighton Thaxter.

In UU History

• On June 25, 1863, Olympia Brown became the first woman to be ordained by any denomination in the United States. She was ordained as a Universalist minister.
• In 1877, Clara Barton, a Universalist, wrote to a founder of the International Red Cross and began the creation of the American Red Cross.
• June 21, 1985, Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles.

Restocking The Shelves

The monthly Foxborough Food Pantry drive donation box is in the vestibule – eagerly awaiting a can or box or two. All items collected will be donated to the pantry to help others in our community. Please donate if you can.

Church Yard Sale!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the annual church yard sale! Many congregants helped out by: bringing in their own items and unsold items from other sales to the church; letting their friends and family know donations were welcome; hanging flyers around town; storing some of the larger items until sale day; delivering the food basket to the raffle winner; moving items into and out of the church office; going to town hall; staffing the sale; and, performing more tasks that needed to be done to insure a successful fund-raiser! Thank you everyone who pitched in and helped!

Interested In Joining The Board Of Trustees?

If you’re interested in serving, please talk to one of the members of the nominating committee as soon as possible. The slate for the 2010-2011 Board Of Trustees And Officers will be presented and voted on at the Annual Meeting in June. The church cannot run without a strong Board. Each Officer and Trustee position is a two-year term, unless you will be serving as an interim trustee or officer/finishing the end of someone else’s term.

Building Use And Rentals

Members and non-members are welcome to use the church building and grounds for meetings, weddings, baby showers, recitals, birthday parties, workshops, classes, or other events. The sanctuary has outstanding acoustics and the first level of the church contains a social hall, kitchen, and more. Please contact us via rentals@uufoxborough.org to schedule events at the church. First come, first served; we already have reservations in June and mid-summer, so please plan your events early. Visit events.uufoxborough.org to find some secular events occuring at the church; visit rentals.uufoxborough.org for more information.

Sharing The Good News Of UUism

• Don’t forget to check out Beacon Press (including their UU Guides), Skinner House Books, and the UUA Bookstore for your summer reading adventures.
• Grab a Principles and Purposes bookmarker, pamphlet, or walletcard to keep your place.
• Share these tomes and/or UU World (or UU & Me) with a friend, neighbor, or relative when you’re done reading!!

Destination ImagiNation

To help get them to the Global Finals Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee, the South Shore Home Learners (SSHL) held a fund-raiser at the church on May 16. The SSHL team manager provided a brief summary about Destination Imagination (DI) and described the Breaking DI News challenge to the audience. The kids performed their play about the story of an unusual friendship that formed between a baby hippo and tortoise. The structure held 651 pounds. With an audience of about 30 people, SSHL put on an entertaining show and raised some money! The South Shore Home Learners team came in 16th place in the “Challenge E: Breaking DI News, Middle Level” category. Congratulations to the entire team, including two of our congregants! If anyone is interested in learning more about DI, please visit www.idodi.org.

Other Notices And Events

• June 3, July 1, & August 5: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church. Area residents are invited to participate!
• June 2, July 7, & August 4: Men’s Group Meeting. Please contact Rick for details. Newcomers are welcome!
• June 6: (8:00 a.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting.
• June 13: (11:15 a.m.) Annual Business Meeting.
• August: Ordination Committee Meeting. This will be a meeting during the first week of August.
• Please visit www.bcduua.org, BCD In-Brief, the BCD and UUA e-mail lists, www.uufoxborough.org, events.uufoxborough.org, and the bulletin boards in the vestibule for more event listings and details.
• Contact rentals@uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your ceremony, meeting, or other event. Payments are made through the Treasurer.
• Don’t forget to purchase products through our Amazon.com and Powell’s Book partner programs: click through the links on the church Web site home page (www.uufoxborough.org) and shop!

General Assembly, A Meeting Of Congregations

If you won’t be in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) this year, you can kep up-to-date on the day to day activities during the meeting, also known as General Assembly (GA). If you have internet capabilities, visit www.uua.org/ga/ to find a schedule of the worship services, plenary sessions, events, and other activities that will be streamed live. On-line GA coverage will include print and photo reporting from UU World. Plenary I and Opening Worship will begin at 8:00 p.m. CDT, and Closing Celebration will be held from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CDT. Those with slow connection speeds may find the stream choppy and you might miss some of the words, but the on-line reporting and updates usually accurately reflect the days’ activities, so you won’t miss out on much.

Social Action News

• “The catastrophic oil disaster off the Gulf Coast continues to destroy the natural environment and people’s lives. As legislation currently stands, oil companies like BP only have to pay for up to $75 million for clean up costs – less than one day’s profit – and the rest is passed on to the American taxpayer.”
• President Obama has proclaimed June as “National Oceans Month” and “LGBT Pride Month”.
• Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283), the legislation regarding the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, is working it’s way through Congress.
• Visit www.uusc.org, www.standingonthesideoflove.org, and www.uua.org for more information.

In The Community

Monday – Friday – Crossroads Children’s Center at the church (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.); Wednesdays – Belly Dance classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays – Yoga classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); June 6 – Sumora’s & Sabrina’s Student Showcase at the church (2:00 p.m.); June 12, 13, & 26 – Events at church (afternoons); August 21 & 22 – Events at church (all day); June 5, 12, 13, 26, & 27 – Events at the stadium; June 8, 22, & 29 – Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; June 17 & 24 – Concerts On The Common (7:00 p.m.); June 18 & 19 – Foxborough’s Relay For Life at Ahern; June 6, 19, 20, 26, & 27 – “Rock The Plaza” free concerts at Patriot Place; June 1 – 6th & 7th Grades Band Concert at Ahern (6:30 p.m.); June 3 – 5th Grade Concert Band at Ahern (6:30 p.m.); June 4 – ImprovSoup at Burrell; June 5 – BSA Troop 7 Car Wash at Town Hall; June 5 – Foxborough Against Diabetes 5k Run and Walk (10:00 a.m.); June 6 – National Trails Day activities at CRRA (Cocasset River Recreation Area at 68 Mill Street); June 8 – Choral Concert at Ahern (5th & 6th Grade, 6:30 p.m.; 7th & 8th Grade, 7:30 p.m.); June 10 – All Strings Concert at Ahern (7:00 p.m.); June 12 – Foxborough Founders’ Day; June 26 – Dragonflies And Damselflies at CRRA; The Restocking The Shelves collection box is on the church’s second level – please contribute!

Other upcoming events and opportunities: helping the Discretionary Fund by volunteering at or buying fresh, locally grown produce from the Community Farmstand, having a plot at the Community Garden, utilizing Museum Passes through Boyden Library and friends, joining or forming a town softball team, National Night Out on the common, block parties, and much more.

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.

BEV: Newsletter Highlights (March 2010)

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

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

Chairman’s Ramblings
Hi,

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is not an organization that I always agree with, but in reading their reports of the work being done by them in partnering with other groups and local Haitians they have a much more humanitarian way of distributing aid and providing resources than a lot of the volunteer groups there. First, the UUSC through appeals to local congregations has raised more than $1,000,000 in funds – significant for us, but not nearly enough to do the work that needs to be done. Second, by using their partnerships with local community action groups, they have passed out this aid in a dignified way to those who might not otherwise get it. Many aid groups have simply driven to a site, thrown out large sacks of rice – allowing the strongest to elbow their way to the front of the line – the young and the old have been short changed in this un-humane way of distribution. Third, being a charity and using local groups, more of the donated money has gone to aid, not administration.

I urge you to continue contributing to the UUSC fund for Haiti – it will be needed for a long while: unemployment is above 60%, wages are unconsionably low, and those who work in the garment industry work for 12 hour days-6 days per week and still have no place to live cannot afford decent food for themselves let alone the rest of their families. I also want us to all appreciate the gifts that we take for granted and how quickly they can disappear. Talk to you again next month.
Dick

Wayside Pulpit

The single largest pool of untapped resource in this world is human good intentions that never translate into action. ~Cindy Gallop

UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
We are still participating in this social action. As of February 19, the Fund has received 8,585 donations totalling approximately $1,130,000! If you would like to donate, please place your donation (in an envelope marked with “UUSC/UUA Haiti Fund”) in the collection plate and/or contact our church Treasurer.

The CUUPS Podcast Is Out!
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) recently released the first issue of their new CUUPS Podcast. The first issue features an interview with British academic Michael York recorded at the December 2009 Parliament of World Religions. Basic information about CUUPS is also included in the podcast. The second issue features Margot Adler and Brian Schorr and music from Carole Eagleheart and Faith and the Muse. You can download a free copy of the podcasts either by going to cuups.libsyn.com or to the religious podcast section of the iTunes store.

Womensphere Spring Gathering
Please join Unitarian Universalist women at a Day for Women with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday, Buddhist teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. The day’s theme will be “Listening as a Spiritual Practice, Hearing with the Heart”. The program will be Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, 840 Sandwich Road, Falmouth Mass. The deadline to register is Friday, March 19. The fee of $20 includes registration and lunch. Scholarships are available. Contact dschmader@cox.net for more information and to register.

Universalist Convocation 2010
The Universalist Convocation will hold its annual convocation May 14-16, 2010, at the First Universalist Society of Rochester in Rochester, New York. The keynote presenter will be the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, whose talk is titled “Dragged Kicking and Screaming to Heaven”. For more information go to www.nmuc.org/Convo.

March’s Global Chalice Lighting

English

Let all nations live together in unison
And praise GOD together.
Speak with one voice
To LOVE and accept the Word.
Let LOVE create great songs of praise
For all living souls to sing together.

Yoruba

Gbogbo Eda Dapo,
E Jo Yin Oluwa.
E Pa Ohun nyin po,
Lati Fe Oro Na;
K’ ife da orin ope nla,
Ki gbogbo eda k’o si gbe.

~ Olufemi Matimoju
First Unitarian Church of Nigeria

BCD Spring Conference
The Ballou Channing District (BCD) Spring Conference will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on April 24, 2010, at First Unitarian Church of Providence in Providence. We will explore the developing trends in demographic and religious practice and possible congregation responses. This year we will focus the theme through three sermons embedded in an extended, dynamic, morning worship followed by five conversation workshops. Our presenters will be: Rev. James Ford, First Unitarian Church minister, Rev. Eric Wikstrom, UUA Director of Worship and Music Resources, and Rev. Sue Sinnamon, Thomas Jefferson District Director of Faith Development. Plans are also under development for a community social service project. Please chek the BCD Web site (www.bcduua.org) and our church vestibule for more information and registration instructions.

March 2010 Holidays
1 Holi – Hindu
16 Vaisaki – Hindu
17 St Patrick’s Day – Christian
20 Equinox
20 Ostara – Wicca – Northern Hemisphere
21 Norouz (New Year) – Persian/Zoroastrian
21 Naw Ruz (New Year) – Baha’i
21 Passion Sunday – Christian
24 Ramanavami – Hindu
25 Annunciation of the Virgin Mary – Catholic Christian
27 Lazarus Saturday – Orthodox Christian
28 Palm Sunday – Christian/Orthodox Christian
28 Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zaranhushtra) – Zoroastrian
29 Mahavir Jayanti – Jain
30 Lord’s Evening Meal – Jehovah’s Witness Christian
30 Hanuman Jayanti – Hindu
30 Magha Puja Day – Buddhist
30-31 Pesach (Passover) First two days – Jewish

Milestones
Alexander Graham Bell, George Mortimer Pullman, Luther Burbank , William Fogg Osgood, Vard R. Johnson, Joseph Priestley, William L. Langer, Neville Chamberlain, Sarah Billings Doolittle, Dorothy Tilden Spoerl, Thomas Hiram Andrews , Fannie Merritt Farmer, & Bela Bartok.

Summer At Ferry Beach
Registration for summer conferences at Ferry Beach is now open to everyone! The summer conference season begins with “Work and Play Week”/family week and Quilting Retreat:”You Can Quilt!” from June 20-26, 2010. Some new conferences this year are “The Ferry Beach Group: A Ministerial Study Retreat”, “Filling the Well: younger women’s mini-week”, “Exploring the Maine Coast: A Family Nature Camp”, “Grand Buddies Camp”, and “Celebrating Our Living Tradition: UU History Course and Conference”. For more information on all of Ferry Beach’s programs, visit www.ferrybeach.org or check the vestibule for the current brochure. You can register on the Web site or over the phone at 207-282-4489. There is also a registration form on their Web site to download and mail in.

UU Lobby Day
UU Lobby Day is Wednesday April 28. Join folks at the UUA headquaters, 25 Beacon Street, in Boston at 10:00 a.m. Learn how you can help make a difference on climate change in Massachusetts and fund critically needed homeless prevention programs. You’ll also meet UUMassAction partners and connect with other UUs. For more information, please visit www.uumassaction.org.

Standing On The Side Of Love News
* March 19-22: Ecumenical Advocacy Days: “A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples”. This year’s focus will be on Immigration. Details available at www.advocacydays.org. Please contact Kat Liu at kliu@uua.org, if you are participating.

* March 21: Join UUs & others for a March for Change for Comprehensive Immigration Reform to rally together and Stand on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families. Details and registration available via www.standingonthesideoflove.org/take-a-stand.

* June 26: UUA General Assembly 2010 attendees are invited to join in an Interfaith Community Public Witness Event at the Twin Cities’ Pride Weekend at the Stonewall Stage in Loring Park.

Volunteer To Help Haitians In U.S.A. Apply For TPS
The estimated 100,000-200,000 Haitians in the United States prior to January 12, 2010, are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This status will allow them to legally live and work in the United States for the next eighteen months without fear of deportation. The UUA and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) are setting up and supporting legal clinics for Haitian TPS applicants. At these clinics, volunteers will provide free advice and assistance in filling out the necessary forms, as well as help in completing TPS fee-waiver applications. Volunteers need NOT be attorneys in order to participate, but do need to take part in a TPS training supervised by immigration attorneys prior to volunteering.

UUSC is hosting two TPS webinars – open to all – facilitated by immigration attorneys, to train volunteers to serve at these clinics. TPS Training Webinars will be held: Wednesday, March 3, (7:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST) & Wednesday, March 10 (7:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST).

Clinics where trained volunteers will help people fill out applications for TPS and fee waivers will be held: Saturday, March 6 , (11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) in West Somerville & Sunday, March 7, (2:00 p.m .- 4:00 p.m. location to be determined). Please visit www.uusc.org/resource/tps_training to register for the Webinar Trainings, then please RSVP to Nichole Cirillo at 617-301-4336 or ncirillo@uusc.org to let her know which training and/or clinic you will be attending.

Join NCTE For Lobby Days: March 14-16
On March 16, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) will be holding a Lobby Day in Washington D.C. specifically for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). In brief, this bill stops companies from firing or refusing to hire transgender workers simply on the basis of gender identity. This has drastic consequences which have included becoming homeless, being preyed upon by those who are in the sex worker industry, and worse. LGBT people and allies from around the country who support ENDA will be at the Lobby Day. For more information about the proposed legislation, the NCTE, and how you can participate, please visit www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/bgltequality/employment/index.shtml and/or www.transequality.org

Magha Puja
Commemorating an important event in the life of Lord Buddha, Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month. On this day, the Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats,(Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha’s disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery with the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana. Here, Lord Buddha recited the “Ovadha Patimokkha” (the Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples.

Clean Water For A Healthy World
International World Water Day is celebrated each year on March 22. “It is still a reality that an estimated 1.1 billion people rely on unsafe drinking-water sources. Therefore the theme of World Water Day 2010 is focusing on raising awareness of water quality under the theme ‘Clean Water for a Healthy World’“. The overall goal of the World Water Day 2010 campaign is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level so that water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity. Visit www.unwater.org/worldwaterday, www.uusc.org, and www.worldwaterday.org for more information.

American Red Cross Month

President Obama has proclaimed March is American Red Cross Month in the United States.

Tidbits: The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clarissa “Clara” Barton, a Universalist born in N. Oxford, Mass., & President Franklin D. Roosevelt began the tradition of proclaiming March as American Red Cross Month in 1943.

A 45th Anniversary
This month marks the 45th Anniversary of the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Two UUs, the Rev. James Joseph Reeb and Viola Liuzzo, were murdered by white supremacists during this time. Rev. Reeb was attacked and beaten on March 9, 1965, and died two days later.

Viola Liuzzo, a mother of five children, had brought her car to help drive civil rights workers around the county and was shot and killed while doing so.

The police attack on the marchers and these two murders outraged many Americans and prompted President Johnson to institute the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Other March Osbervances
1 First National Park establised, 1872
2 Read Across America Day
3 National Anthem Day
8 International Women’s Day
10 First paper money issued in US 1862
12 Girl Scouts founded, 1912
14 Mothering Sunday (England)
14 Save A Spider Day
14 Potato Chip Day
14 Daylight Saving Time begins, 2010
15 American Legion founded, 1919
18 Camp Fire Boys and Girls established, 1910
19 Swallows return to Capistrano
19 Iraq War began, 2003
22 National Sing Out Day
25 International Waffle Day
27 Fly A Kite Day
27 Earth Hour
31 First US Copmbat troops ordered to Vietnam, 1965.

Weeklong Observances
Pet Sitters Week
Girl Scout Week
Poison Prevention Week
Crochet Week

Birthstone: Aquamarine, Bloodstone

Flower: Jonquil

Fundraising Ideas
Have a fundraising idea or want to help out at some of the upcoming fundraisers? Please submit your ideas to the Finance Chairman or Board Of Trustees and let the event organizer know you have time to help. You can do this in a variety of ways: in person; leave a note in the mailboxes in the church office; via e-mail; and/or on-line through committees.uufoxborough.org/Finance/.

* Don’t forget to purchase products through our Amazon.com and Powell’s Book partner programs: click through the links on the church Web site home page (www.uufoxborough.org) and shop!

A Very Brief Look At Ostara
The Spring or Vernal Equinox is also known as Ostara and will occur here at 1:32 p.m. EDT, on March 20, 2010. Ostara is the Goddess of Fertility and Rebirth and she presides over this celebration. She is often depicted standing among spring flowers and vines, holding an egg in her hand, surrounded by bunnies at her feet, and birds flying above her. Ostara and the egg are symbols of newborn life.

Eggs and seeds are an important part of this festival because of the promise they each hold of new life springing forth. Seeds are Blessed and are either planted or saved for future planting. Eggs are colored in pastels and placed in baskets around the house and altar.

Ostara is also a time to remember our balance in the greater scheme of things, we are an important part of all that happens around us, our actions and deeds have effect on the Earth, Her people, and the Universe.

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine,
food and medicine for the soul. ~Luther Burbank

Other Notices And Events

* Mar. 3 and Apr. 7: (7:30 p.m.) Men’s Group Meeting at Pike’s Peak Mining Company in Mansfield. Please contact Rick for details. Newcomers are welcome!
* Mar. 4 and Apr. 1: (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) First Thursdays Peace Vigil at the church. Area residents are invited to participate!
* Mar. 6: (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) “Thinking Outside the Pulpit: Beyond the Hymn-Sermon Sandwich Service” workshop at All Souls Church in Braintree, Mass.
* Mar. 6-10: End Mountaintop Removal Week. Please visit www.ilovemountains.org/wiw for details.
* Mar. 7: (8:00 a.m.) Board Of Trustees Meeting at the church. All are welcome to attend.
* Mar. 20: (10:00 a.m.) Annual Meeting of The Universalist Church School Union Trust at First Parish Church in Waltham, Mass.
* Mar. 22: Sex Education Advocacy Call-In Day. Details via www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/reproductive.
* Mar. 27: (7:30 p.m.) Kim and Reggie Harris at Javawocky Coffeehouse in Brockton. Tickets and more informatio available via www.javawockyuu.com.
* Apr. 8-10: UU-UNO 2010 Annual Intergenerational Spring Seminar “A Climate of Change: Head, Heart, and Hands Around the Planet”. Details and registration forms available via www.uu-uno.org.
* Please visit www.bcduua.org, BCD In-Brief, the BCD and UUA e-mail lists, www.uufoxborough.org, and the bulletin boards in the vestibule for more event listings and details.
* Contact rentals@uufoxborough.org to reserve the church for your ceremony, meeting, or other event. Payments are made through the Treasurer.

In The Community

Monday – Friday – Crossroads Children’s Center at the church (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.); Mondays & Wednesdays – Belly Dance classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Tuesdays – Yoga classes at the church (6:30 p.m.); Saturdays – Yoga classes at the church (9:30 a.m.); Mar. 5-7 – “Rent” at Orpheum Theatre; Mar. 5-7 & 12-14 – Events at the stadium; Mar. 6, 9, 23, & 30 – Board Of Selectmen’s Meetings; Mar. 1 – Choral-palooza by Grades 5-12 at FHS (6:30 p.m.); Mar. 9 – McGinty Family Fun Day On The Common Planning Meeting at Public Safety Building (7:00 p.m.); Mar. 11 – Winter Skate at Patriot Place; Mar. 19 – The Un-Common Theatre Company Improv Soup at Burrell (7:30 p.m.); Mar. 23 – Bandorama by Grades 5–12 at FHS (7:00 p.m.); Mar. 29 – Apr. 9 – Foxborough Reads (tickets to related events available beginning Mar. 15); Mar. 31 – “Harriet Tubman’s Freedom Train” at Orpheum Theatre; The Restocking The Shelves collection box is on the church’s second level – please contribute!

Minister’s Message

Dear Friends,
With canvass season (a.k.a. the pledge drive) upon us, it would be so tempting to list for you the many ambitions we have for the church and the standing financial commitments we need to honor as a community. However, I trust you are aware of these–that you have looked around the place and seen the many places where money could be well spent.

Instead, I’d like to focus our attention on the things we are ALREADY doing or have done in the past year thanks to your continuing generosity with your time, energy, creativity, and money. Here are just a few things you were able to do this year:

✔ Increase the number of members and people attending the church to roughly 70 people including a robust group of children. The Membership and Public Relations Committees have been hard at work making sure word of the church is getting out and that people are properly welcomed to the community. This has energized worship and efforts to reach beyond the walls of the church to help the community.
✔ Tune and re-key the piano.
✔ Offer our children a solid religious education program featuring not just thoughtful curriculum and instruction on Sunday mornings, but also other outings to build a sense of community amongst the younger cohort of our congregation.
✔ Increase salaries. Not only are we grateful for this, but it also brings the church closer to offering salaries that would help attract quality people in the future.
✔ Paint the front entry of the church and make other improvements to the interior decor of the church.
✔ Create the “Property Improvement Committee”, which has created a comprehensive aesthetic vision for our building – inside and out.
✔ Host the International Day Of Climate Action gathering in Foxborough.
✔ Re-write the church’s mission statement and begin the development of a three year strategic plan.
✔ Create and participate in a variety of high-quality lay-led worship services.
✔ Complete the process to become a Welcoming Congregation.
✔ Regularly feature guest musicians as a part of the worship service.
✔ Carry the monthly peace vigil into its third year!
✔ Via the Sunshine Committee, care for each other during times of stress or need.
✔ Change lightbulbs, vacuum, dust, bake, mow, sweep, teach, read, greet, etc.

The list could go on and on. In the midst of our aspirations for our church to serve as a center for spiritual growth and our urgency to provide needed and relevant care to our community, I hope that we can stop every now and then and recognize what we have accomplished together. As we move into the spring, I’m so excited about what’s on our immediate horizon: welcoming more new people and their ideas and talents, having our middle schoolers participate in the OWL program, getting a couple of good social outreach ideas off the ground, and completing the strategic plan that will take us forward as we try to “grow in our ability to fulfill the mission of the church.” You continue to foster a community that reminds us all of what love looks like. Thank you so much for all you do!
Faithfully,
Katie

The 1st Annual “Put-Your-Spirit-Into-Hymn” Hymnal Fundraiser And Contest
Choose your favorite hymn tune and write words for it that express something your spirit longs to have in song. Candidates will be played after worship on April 8 and voted upon by those who volunteer to judge that day. The winning hymns will be sung during worship on “Music Sunday” on April 11. The winners will also have a hymnal each donated to the church in their names. An under-sixteen and over-sixteen winner will be chosen. Original hymn tunes are also welcome!

Pick up a registration form from the front entry of the church. Your registration should be submitted to the box on the piano in the front of the sanctuary by April 1. A separate registration is required for each entry. A three dollar registration donation is suggested.

Upcoming Worship Services
All Worship Services and Religious Education classes begin at 10:00 a.m. and are followed by a Friendship Hour.

March 7: You Are Here
by guest minister Rev. Margie Allen
A look at how we know where we are on our spiritual map and where we want to go.

March 14: It Takes All Kinds
by Lay-leader Neda

March 21: James Reeb–Minister And Martyr
by Minister Katie Lawson and Worship Associate LeeAnn
The Rev. James Reeb was a white Unitarian Universalist minister who worked with poor people in Boston. In 1965 he journeyed with other UU clergy to Selma, Alabama, to protest violence by state troopers against civil rights marchers. Reeb and two other ministers were walking back after dinner to a meeting led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when they were attacked by a group of white men. One hit Rev. Reeb in the head with a club. The blow was fatal and Rev. Reeb died. Rev. Reeb’s murder drew national attention, and is credited with helping to hasten passage of the federal Voting Rights Act.

March 28: Passover Seder
by Minister Katie Lawson and Worship Associate Steve
We join together for a Passover Seder meal, remembering the Israelite’s escape out of slavery and rededicating ourselves to freedom.

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

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