Enter, Rejoice & Come In

Sunday Services

at 10:00 am

Sunday, May1, 2011

Led by Rev. Robert A. Thayer

“Stewardship Sunday Sermon…”

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Led by Tony Toledo

Sunday, May15, 2011

Led by Rev. Robert A. Thayer

“Peace and Harmony…”

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Led by Rev. Robert A. Thayer

“Humanism in Organized Religion:…”

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Led by Guest Patricia Hatch

Annual Pledge Drive

Jay Rasher, Finance Commissioner

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers”

James Thurber

The annual Pledge drive has begun and is running from April 15 to May 15, 2011. Pledge cards have been made available before the pledge period. If you do not have a pledge card, you may use the card found at the bottom of this article.

The annual pledge is so important to the Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton because it raises almost 30% of the church’s annual budget.

In other fundraising news, the UU Annual Yard Sale will be held May 28, 2011 from 10-2. This event is a great way to have fun and to make money at the same time. We still need clean, usable items to be brought to the church for the yard sale. Workers are desperately needed to organize and run the yard sale. Please contact Jay if you can help.

Fund raising and fun raising are both important, but they can not happen without the congregation’s active support and participation.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE REV. ROBERT THAYER

“Sailing The Inter-Faith Seas”

This is a practical approach to our urban ministry in downtown Brockton, and going forward into the future with our people, our property, resources and funds. This goes back to the Board Retreat in October 2010 when we did an assessment, led by BCD consultant, Peter Bowden, and we explored how to make our property available, not just on Sunday each week, but more often and on a regular basis. We took the approach that the virtual emptiness of the church except for four hours on Sunday did no good except for us. We realized that some Haitian congregations had begun to ask for and gain rental use of the property. We asked at the Retreat: What does this point to?

We assessed by anecdotal examples just how much the congregations really appreciated the way in which we cooperated with them for special events such as weddings, parties for celebrating life passages, and the like. We came to the conclusion that we were doing a real ministry for and with immigrant communities, as they moved toward adjustment to American culture and strengthening their self-worth and confidence “in the Lord’s doing” for them.

We looked at two other examples of the same ministry. One is in Boston in the Episcopal Cathedral, where the Rector has maintained a working relationship with a men’s Muslim prayer group since 1997. Another is in LA, where a small UU church of 50 people has a vital relationship with several faith groups in and around their neighborhood. This led us to take up the idea of thinking of our property in terms of an official “Inter-Faith Facility.”

Sitting in the old Ladies’ Parlor last week in the Religion and Science workshop were about ten of us having an enlightened conversation about the topics of existentialism and post- modernism. It went on for two hours. In the chapel were some ten people from their Nigerian nation holding a worship and teaching service, which we could listen to out of the corner of our ears without an intrusion into our Religion and Science workshop. Then in the Fellowship Hall were gathered about ten people from a Haitian congregation, which has a home with us, and they were holding a worship, singing and preaching service.

Imagine three religious groups, one - ours a New England Unitarian Universalist intellectual discussion about Science and Religion – a topic that is so basic to us it goes back half a millennium, two - an African church and three - a Haitian church. Each of us sharing the same space. Prejudice, fear, disdain were not present. It felt for a moment like sitting in a program section of the United Nations in NYC. It felt like heaven to me, if you want to know. Because each gathering was gaining some value to enable each to grow toward the Good in this region, and not be put down or become rejected and discouraged. Yes, that applied to us UUs as well. Some religions reject us because – well, the list goes on and on – we are too intellectual.

Since 1995 our church has belonged to the Brockton Inter-Faith Community, and now we begin to take another step forward toward our being on board in our own ship, sailing the inter-faith seas. Who knows where exactly this will lead, but we are on course. Trust me. We are also setting an example for the other UU congregations who really have their own chance to become immersed in ethnic and religious diversity.

Worship and Program News

By Steve Brooks, Commissioner

Worship and Program

Our Passover seder on April 17 was a rousing success, with 25 members and friends in attendance. Feedback has been universally positive, and I hope to do it again next year.

Janet Feld’s Yom HaShoah remembrance on April 24 was very well-received, and Inga Protentis’ spontaneous response was very moving. I’d like to thank Inga for sharing her story with us.

Rev. Bob will be in pulpit on May 1, 15 and 22. On May 8 we welcome back the ever-popular Tony Toledo, and on May 29 we will have Patricia Hatch as our guest worship leader.

May 1^st- “Stewardship Sunday Sermon – Give As You Are Able – And Receive All Our Heartfelt Thanks.”

May 8^th – Guest – Tony Toledo

May 15^th – “Peace And Harmony Actually Exists First Between Two People – Peace Between Nations Is The Final Goal.”

May 22^nd - “Humanism in Organized Religion: How UUs Changed Emerson’s ‘Man Is The Measure Of All Things’ To ‘Beyond Man: We Want To Know And Measure Far More’. ”

May 29^th – Guest Patricia Hatch

Third Sunday Discussion -11:45 AM “How Have You Formed And Grown Your Faith/Ethics/Values During Your Lifetime?”

The response to my call for coffee hour hosts has been excellent, but we still have some Sundays open. Please sign up on the sheet in Fellowship Hall or contact Steve Brooks, 339-788-9263.

“On Sunday, the first day of daylight-saving time, a sleepy-eyed congregation watched the young priest ascend the pulpit in a Washington church. Not looking too wide awake himself, he began, ‘As you all know, we lost an hour last night because of daylight-saving time. I don’t know which hour you lost, but I lost the hour in which I usually write my sermon.’

He returned to the altar and continued the service.”

The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor

“Church Sign: ‘This is a Ch – ch. What is missing?’ “

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP

The theater party, or meeting with a romantic movie, which had to be cancelled last February, is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 16. Further details will follow in the June Messenger

Mile of Pennies

“When you become a parent, you can only begin to discover your capacity for strength, love, and fatigue.”

Peter Gallagher

“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don’t have the top for.”

Jerry Seinfeld

Now our sixth mile of pennies has reached 582’2”. Thank you for remembering your pennies.

They’re really beginning to add up.

UU Adult Education

On Wednesdays May 4 &11

At 7 PM (Note time change).

May 4 -“The Last Week Of Jesus’ Life As Recorded In The Gospels: How Three of The Writers Blamed His Suffering And Death On The “Jews,” Not On The Roman Governor.”

May 11^th – 7:00 PM “Poetry, Essays, Proverbs, Plays, Novels and Arts: For UUs These Contain Much of Our Scripture” We invite you to share some examples of your own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL of you with May Birthdays

Spring Song

A Blue-Bell springs upon the ledge.

A lark sits singing in the hedge

Sweet perfumes scent the balmy air,

And life is brimming everywhere.

What lark and breeze and bluebird sing,

Is Spring, Spring, Spring!

The poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1896

Membership Committee Meets Sunday, May 1, 2011, after church at 11:30. We will also meet on Sunday May 29 after the worship service. Bring your coffee and goodies to discuss the 2011 Church directory. See you then. Margaret Potashnick

Sharing and Caring

Congratulations to Shannon and Andrew Bassett at the recent birth of their daughter, Leighton Vivian Bassett.

Congratulations also to grandmother Irene, and to grandfather David. May your whole family enjoy the promise of this new life.

Three cheers to Henry Gregoire! The Unitarian Universalist Association has accepted him as an official candidate for the UU ministry. Keep up the good work, Henry

Our best wishes go to Grace Perry for her upcoming operation in early May. May you feel healthier and happier afterward, Grace.

Good luck to Pearl Cohen and her business partner with their new company which aims to protect us all, especially senior citizens, from predatory telemarketers. They are working to have legislation passed in Massachusetts to curb the overzealous and sometimes fraudulent practices of professional fund-raisers. We can all enjoy the peace and privacy.

The Literary group will meet Tuesday May 24, 2011 to discuss the book Plant Dreaming Deep by May Sarton. May Sarton is the pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton who was an American poet, novelist, and memoirist.

She was born in Belgium, but the family moved to Boston when she was quite young. She received her education in Cambridge and studied the theater in her teens.

May was an enthusiastic gardener and had a need for the solitude she found in a house she bought in a remote village in New Hampshire after her 13 year relationship with Judy Matlack ended when May’s father died. Her 1988 book, Honey in the Hive is about her relationship with Judy.

Our April 23 show with Folk By Association had a somewhat disappointing turnout of only 16 people, possibly due to Easter weekend and the newness of the act. Our next show will be on May 21, emma’s revolution, Pat Humphries and Sandy O. Pat and Sandy have been referred to as “Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars.” Talented performers and political activists in the tradition of Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs, Pat and Sandy performed at GA a few years ago. I am really excited about this show and I’d like to get a big turnout for this show. Tickets are $15.00 in advance, $18.00 at the door, no one turned away.

“Woman to her husband, as they leave church: Bob, I noticed you put ten dollars in the collection. Now what have you got on your conscience?”

It would be appreciated and helpful if all articles for the newsletter could be in the office by the Tuesday preceding the first Sunday of the following month.

All Annual Reports should be in by May 15, 2011 to allow time for the booklets to be assembled.

It is important to remind ourselves of basic nutritional concepts that help us maintain an appropriate weight, a balanced diet and a healthy well-being.

NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST. Try to eat within an hour of waking to keep your metabolism at its optimal level.

STAY HYDRATED. Drink 8 glasses of fluids daily to maintain regularity, beat fatigue and limit false hunger signals. Fluids include, water, coffee, milk, juice, flavored waters etc.

LIMIT PROCESSED FOODS. These foods tend to be higher in sugar, fat and sodium and contain less vitamins & minerals. This includes prepackaged foods, frozen dinners, cured meats & cheese.

BE MINDFUL OF PORTIONS. Each year, the portions we are served and eat continue to escalate.

LISTEN TO YOUR HUNGER SIGNALS. It’s a basic concept that most people do not follow: “Eat when you feel hunger. Stop when you feel full.

The Alzheimer’s Association is holding an event to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Illuminating Hope - A Candlelight Tribute Rally is being held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 7:00-8:00 P.M. on the Marshfield Town Green. Show your concern for this growing epidemic – meet and hear family members and caregivers.

An event to commemorate Yom HaShoa is being held at the First Parish Universalist Church in Stoughton on Wednesday May 4, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. A movie, “The Emperor of Atlantis” will be shown.

The Channing Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockland is having its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 21 at 9: A.M.

There are many ways you can make every day Earth Day. Consider these suggestions:

Purchase non-toxic cleaning products. Use natural fiber sponges and cleaning agents that are biodegradable, phosphate-free, chlorine-free, and unscented.

Reduce paper use. Use rags instead of paper towels, cloth napkins instead of paper ones. Buy post-consumer recycled paper and recycle it when you have used it.

Refurbish responsibly. Use water-based or vegetable-based paints, stains and varnishes. Don’t wash paint thinners, household cleaners, oil, or pesticides down the drain or pour them on the ground; use them up, give leftovers to friends or a charity, or dispose at your local toxic waste disposal center.

Replace disposable goods with renewable ones. Use dishes instead of paper plates.

Plant for the planet. Strenghten your garden’s resistance to pests by planting resilient plants, rotating the fruits and vegetables you plant.