AtholUU – E-Newsletter – March 22, 2017

WORSHIP SERVICE

March 26th  –  Guest speaker, Michael Young will be leading Universal Worship in the Sufi Tradition this Sunday.

April 2nd – Steve Wills’ popular TED and Response program.
Steve’s programs are held regularly on the first Sunday of the month.

April 9th – Rev. Richards — Why Palm Sunday?  What might a tree have to do with it?

April 16th – EASTER BASKET BLESSING & BRUNCH at 10:00 AM

Easter baskets in our Polish and Hungarian Unitarian traditions were meant to sustain life.  They were filled with substantial food, like a leg of lamb, a wheel of cheese, wine, condiments, anything needed for food security in the early spring, before edible food started to grow. These baskets were covered with heavily decorated cloths, that were always returned to the sender because they were masterpieces.
We have an all American potluck and worship service to honor this tradition.  Everyone brings a dish that should be covered with a pretty cloth.  The dishes are unveiled during the service.

April 23rd – Our Annual Earth Day Service by Kathy Richards

April 30th – Rev. Richards – The Day Before May Day – Doing Our
                                                 Social Justice Homework.

EVENTS

Board of Management Meeting is Sunday, March 26th after church, at church.  BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)

River Rat Parade Coffee Stand on the church’s front lawn will be selling hot coffee and fresh donuts on Saturday, April 8, 2017
please contact Donna  or talk to her after church.
if you would like to help, either inside or outside.

Mission Statement Meeting
Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017  after church, we will discuss the Mission statement and any changes that were made over the winter break.  After this meeting, the new mission statement put on the Annual Meeting’s agenda, to be voted on at the Annual meeting.  The entire church needs to vote on the Mission Statement; before the process is completed.

Easter Basket Blessing & Brunch potluck — Sunday, April 16th at 10:00 AM. (see above)

New England Region Annual Meeting
Rev. Richards is attending this year and welcomes others who want to check out the Annual Meeting.  Please talk to her if you are interested at 978-249-5951.

Friday, April 21 — Meet the Candidates for President of the UUA @ New England Region’s Annual Meeting in Woburn, MA.  This event is FREE and open to all church communities.  Kathy and I are attending if you wish to join us.
Friday, April 21, 2017
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Woburn/Boston Hilton Hotel
2 Forbes Road
Woburn, MA 01801
I’ll send you the whole E-mail flyer on request (hit reply to this E-mail.  Our listserv has not taken attachments in the past.)

Saturday, April 22 — UUA’s New England Region’s Annual Meeting
All day Saturday, April 22, 2017
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Woburn/Boston Hilton Hotel
2 Forbes Road
Woburn, MA 01801

——– and our denominational events

from former speaker Susan Tordella tells us:
Free performance of Mariposa and the Saint on Saturday, March 26 at the UU Society of Amherst, 121 Pleasant St., at 7 pm.
It’s a 45 minute live performance of one woman’s story of the dehumanizing cruel punishment of solitary confinement.

Star Island is a UU summer family camp on Star Island in the Isle of Shoals between New Hampshire and Maine.   Marilyn highly recommends it!!
web site:  http://starisland.org/the-island/green/

COMMUNITY NOTES:

Many thanks to Bette Martin for her hard work on our Chapel space. The chapel ceiling project has been completed. Our building looks recently loved.

We have a 2nd article in the Greenfield Recorder which will be printed on this Sunday, March 26, 2017.

PROPOSED NEW MISSION STATEMENT

First Church’s Proposed Mission Statement
please consider and mention any changes that you would like to see to either Chris Coyle
or the minister, at athol.uu@gmail.com
Below is one more edit to consider

“We seek the truth in love and help one another, as a diverse spiritual community that is committed to compassion toward all living beings, social justice for all and the freedom to think and to learn.”

IN CLOSING

To Laugh Often And Much
by Ralph Waldo Emerson (Unitarian)

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of the intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition;
to know that one life has breathed easier
because you lived here.
This is to have succeeded.

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