The Messenger

Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton
325 West Elm Street , Brockton MA 02301
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Minister:  Rev. Robert A. Thayer
Minister Emeritus:  The Rev. Dr. Raymond C. Hopkins
President:  Susan Davis
Organist:  Marlene Howell
Secretary:  Nancy Smith
Office Phone: (508) 583-7775   e-mail: uubrockton@aol.com   web site: www.uubrockton.org

 

 

 

 

Message from the Finance Commissioner

 

         The 2010 Pledge period is quickly coming to an end this month.  The annual pledge is the lifeline of the church and allows the church to continue to exist.  If the Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton wants to be a vibrant, growing church, it must have the funds to achieve this goal.  The troubled economy has affected many of us.  This, in turn, has effected the church.

         In order to keep our church, we all must contribute to our annual pledge card drive.  These monies pay for:

 

·        heat

·        electricity

·        maintenance/repairs (plumbing, roofing, flooring, painting, cleaning, etc.)

·        groundskeeping

·        supplies

·        equipment

·        salaries

 

   This is a very short list of our necessary expenditures.  Most of you know what it takes to maintain a home; when small problems are unaddressed they become big, often very expensive problems.  If you believe that the church is our home, we must support it cooperatively, and a fundamental part of this cooperation is financial.

   For our newer members and friends, signing the pledge card means you will contribute a stated amount (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.).  The weekly collection is only a small part of the funds that are needed.

   Our free church is not free.  Please fill in and return your pledge card to Jay Rasher, Commissioner of Finance.  If you haven't received a pledge card, please cut out and return the form found on an inside page by June 13, 2010 .

On The Bright Side

 

By Rev. Bob Thayer

 

"WHEN IT COMES TO 'CHURCHES' - WHO HAS IT BAD?

 

We in this Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton may not have had it all that good, or as good as we would like it, that is, our small size by comparison with a generation ago, and with our challenge to restore the RE wing, and to diversify and re-invent our organization.  But there are 'churches' in our own UUA Ballou Channing District which are facing actual, ruinous circumstances.

Some are up against it - really.  A church I call "Awesome - 1" with an old, historic property needs about 4-6 million dollars just to keep what is permanent still standing there.  A church I call "Well off - 2" with 1+ million in endowment, is living on that income to support ¾ of its annual budget, and is probably going to run that down to zilch in three years.  Another church which I call "Cathedral - 3" needs at least 20 million dollars to restore the roof, the ceiling, the walls, and the stained glass - or else - move out.

Another church which I call "Perfection - 4" has a brand new, and perfectly constructed small edifice in the middle of a large city; and the congregation numbers twelve or less on Sunday morning, plus four children; and they haven't the money to compensate the beloved minister.  Another church, which I call "Classic - 5" has a beautiful building with a capacity to be a full-service congregation, and located on a perfect lot in a city - and cannot turn the heat on and keep it on, and cannot afford a minister.

 Listen, my friends.  We are re-inventing the wheel here in Brockton .  Just hold on and let's pull together and move forward.  We can do this with the three C's: caring, common sense and commitment.  We are almost there.  Remember that great old song "The Sunny Side of the Street" from the early 30's, I believe?  When I was a teen-ager I played it on my guitar and sang it in groups.  Here it goes. Everybody!  Let's hear it.  Sing it out now.

"Grab your hat and get your coat.  Leave your worries on the door-step;

Just direct your feet…to the sunny side of the street;

Can't you hear that pitter-pat?  Let that happy tune be your step;

Life can be so sweet…on the sunny side of the street.

                        I used to walk in the shade…

                        With those blues on parade;

                        Now I'm not afraid.

                        This rover crossed over.

If I never make a cent… I'll be rich as Rockefeller

Gold dust at my feet…on the sunny side of the street."

 

Worship and Program News

By Steve Brooks, Commissioner

Rev. Bob will be in pulpit on June 6 and June 13.  June 13 will be our Religious Education and Flower Communion Sunday.  All members and friends are invited to bring a flower to be placed in arrangement with others, to then be shared during the service.

 

On June 20^th, we will gather with the Rockland and Bridgewater churches for a special outdoor service at Island Grove Park in Abington at 11:00 AM .  Music will be provided by folk singer Chris Thompson and the Male Bonding Band.  Please bring a picnic lunch and a dessert to share.

 

Our summer services will begin on June 27^th, at 9:30 AM .  As I write this we have one date open if you would like to present a service.  Please contact Pauline Perkins if you are interested.  Please contact Steve Brooks if you would like to host the breakfast for these services.

 

Javawocky Coffeehouse

       Our last show of the season will be Michael Troy on June 19 with Chuck Williams opening.  We will begin again on September 18 with Patty DeRosa.

 

June 2010 Worship Services

            June 6             Rev. Bob will lead the service.  The sermon is:

"O World, You Can Choose The Better Part"

            The classic poem - which is also in our hymnal - brings us to a definite stopping point in the world, in this society and culture.  Individuals and organizations can choose to be better.  We know what that better is: it is to get beyond narcissism and consumption and greed and well, some of us do.  Will we choose it?

 

            June 13           Rev. Bob will lead the service "We are Universalists - We Say - And All Races and

Classes Are Welcome" 

            We are too much the people who live on our "upper middleclass, white pin-head" with no room for anybody but the likes of us. Now, we can be welcoming, and get to like it.  In Brockton we are welcoming.  Of course, multicultural diversity does not allow us to endure craziness and the bizarre acting out.  But we do have a place for all.  Our UUA President, Peter Morales, has started one huge campaign for everyone in this movement to show it and do it.

 

 

COME SEE MY SHED!

     Michelle Murphy painted a mural on three sides of my shed that are too beautiful to describe.  It needs to be seen to be appreciated.  So, I decided the only way to do this is to have a church cook-out.  On Saturday, June 19, at 4:00 p.m. I will be having an all church cook-out at my house to show off my newly painted shed.  All church members are invited.  For those of you who don't know where I live , it's at 116 Grove St. , Brockton .  Please let me know in church if you can attend or call me at 508-587-4990, so I can plan accordingly.  Hope to see you there!

                                                              Susan M. Davis

                                                               President

                       

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP

All members and friends of the Women's Fellowship are asked to collect their thoughts and contributes suggestions for the programs during the coming church year.  President Grace Perry will call one or two planning meetings during the summer following the Body and Soul gatherings.  The dates will be announced later.  

 

 

LITERARY GROUP

While impatiently awaiting the publication of the third book in the suspenseful trilogy by Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson, our group has decided to cool our jets by reading The Help written by Southern author Kathryn Stockett.  This is her first novel.  The discussion will be held on Tuesday, June 22 at 10 A.M.

All are welcome

Jean Gowen

 

 

UU ADULT EDUCATION

The UU Adult Education Group will hold its final meeting of the church year on Wednesday, June 9.  The topic is Governance-How Do We Do It?  All are invited - first session or if you have attended many.  Starting time-7 P.M .Margaret<><

MILE OF PENNIES

Recently I was asked to explain about the d 4854' 4".  Please remember your pennies. Many years ago our church choir had an exchange with the North Easton choir.  While there I saw that their church was collecting "a mile of pennies". I went home and told my husband, Bill, about it.  "How many pennies does it take to make a mile?" he asked.

"I was hoping you can tell me," I answered.

Bill measures one penny with a micrometer. "You're not going to like this," he said.  "I get seventy-two hundredths of an inch." 

"72/100 of an inch? That's wonderful!"

"What do you mean, wonderful?"

"That means one hundred pennies are 72 inches, or six feet.  It couldn't be better.  So 5280 feet equals $880."

Now we are completing our fifth mile with an average contribution of about $176 a year.  We all get rid of the nuisance of pennies, and the church treasury gains another small pledge.

So far we have reached 4,936'6".  That's $57.25 to go.

Marion O'Donnell

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU WITH JUNE BIRTHDAYS

 

    You can feel it in your heart

You can see it in the ground

You can see it in the trees

You can smell it in the breeze

Look around Look around

JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER

   . . .  June, June, June

Just because it's June, June, June!

--song from "Carousel" (Musical) Composer: Richard Rogers