AtholUU – E-Newsletter – March 29, 2017

WORSHIP SERVICE

April 2nd – Steve Wills’ popular TED and Response program.
Blessed is the UU Universalist, enjoying all the Faiths in the world!

Continuing in the spirit Michael Young brought us last week, Steve encourages us to  reclaim our rich faith-based heritage.

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

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

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.)

Board of Management Meeting is Sunday, April 9th after church, at church.  BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)

PROPOSED NEW MISSION STATEMENT

First Church’s Proposed Mission Statement
Our next meeting is April 9, 2017 after church. 
please consider the Proposed Mission statement below, and send any changes that you would like to Chris Coyle

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

Evening In A Sugar Orchard
by Robert Frost

From where I lingered in a lull in March
outside the sugar-house one night for choice,
I called the fireman with a careful voice
And bade him leave the pan and stoke the arch:
‘O fireman, give the fire another stoke,
And send more sparks up chimney with the smoke.’
I thought a few might tangle, as they did,
Among bare maple boughs, and in the rare
Hill atmosphere not cease to glow,
And so be added to the moon up there.
The moon, though slight, was moon enough to show
On every tree a bucket with a lid,
And on black ground a bear-skin rug of snow.
The sparks made no attempt to be the moon.
They were content to figure in the trees
As Leo, Orion, and the Pleiades.
And that was what the boughs were full of soon.


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