Weekly Newsletter: June 14
All new items will be listed first in each section and preceded by three asterisks (***).
Find us online at:http://www.firstchurchjp.org;
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Congregational Administrator on Leave
Julia Terry, our congregational Administrator, will be working remotely from Alaska until late August. Office hours will be covered by Luz Carrazola. All communications to the church should go through the church email: firstchjp@aol.com.
All materials for the weekly newsletter must be sent to the church email by Wednesday at 8 pm or they will not be included.
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CHURCH HAPPENINGS
***This Sunday, June 17th, at First Church***
Join us during our first Summer Service of the year! George Smith will be delivering a sermon titled “What My Father Taught Me.”
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SAVE THE DATE – UPCOMING EVENTS
***Next Sunday, June 24th***
Join us at Summer Services with eliSabeth Taylor, preaching a sermon titled “Birthing the Universal Human, 12-22-12”. We will meet in the Parish Hall.
***Tonight! Thursday, June 14, 2012: GODS, GAYS, AND GUNS: REV. OSAGYEFO SEKOU ON THE FAILURE OF GOD AND DEMOCRACY***
As a pastor, documentary filmmaker, theologian, and organizer, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou argues that religion must be used for the expansion of democracy. His new book, Gods, Gays, and Guns takes up the topics of gay marriage, economic justice, and social movements. Written in London’s ghetto, the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, post-Katrina New Orleans, and Parisian cafes, Gods, Gays, and Guns is a spiritual tour-de-force — revealing a crisis of faith in religion and democracy. Join us for a conversation with Rev. Sekou about his new book and his reflections on the role of religion in our global democracy.
Summer Services Schedule
Please note the following dates and the guest preachers we will be welcoming to First Church Summer Services. For sermon titles and bios, visit our website at http://www.firstchurchjp.org/
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Date
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Preacher
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6/24
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eliSabeth Taylor
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7/1
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Janna Frelich
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7/8
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Marshall Hawkins
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7/15
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Peter Connolly
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7/22
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Abby Krueger
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7/29
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Mick Hirsch
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8/5
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Lyra O’Brien
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8/12
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Ghanda DiFiglia
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8/19
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Margaret Suby & David Dorney
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8/26
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Cathy Baisley
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9/2
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Alice Kociemba/ Terry Burke
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Sunday, June 24th: Common Cathedral
Come join members of the Social Action Group in serving food for and worshipping with the homeless on Boston Common on Sunday, June 24. We will make sandwiches and assemble lunches at church in the morning and then get to the Common by noon to participate in the Common Cathedral program. Please contact Marshall Hawkins if you plan on participating.
Tuesday, June 26th: Church Council Meeting
A Church Council Meeting will be held Tuesday evening June 26th at 7:00 PM. The purpose is to block out the 2012-2013 Church Calendar. Per our by-laws, the Church Council is led by the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee and comprised of the chair or representatives of each church committee. All church members are welcome to attend. For those unable to attend, please send relevant dates/information to Jom Michel.
Please visit our calendar online at:
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WAYS TO CONNECT OR CONTRIBUTE
***Pledge Drive: Important news!***
Thank you all so very much for your generosity in giving to support the work of First Church and its community. Your commitment to this community is vital and you are greatly appreciated for all that you do and give.
Please note that pledges for this year must be into the office by June 30th, which is the end of our fiscal year. You will be receiving a reminder from the Finance Committee if you still have a balance due.
If you’d like to set up automatic payments for the next fiscal year (July 1-June 30), you may do so on-line from any account you have with your bank. It’s typically called “on-line banking” and you can set up automatic payments through it. If you have any questions, ask Margaret, our summer bookkeeper.
More theatrics – this weekend!
Church member Jom Michel is part of a silly production of The Little Mermaid, to be staged June 16-17 at the Episcopal Church in Needham. This show is guaranteed to surprise and delight you – lots of singing, dancing, slapstick and bad puns in the style of British Panto. For more particulars go to: http://www.thefringetheatre.com/
Food Pantry News
Food Pantry will be open on June 21st, closed for July and August. Please do not bring food donations to the church throughout the summer as we will be clearing out the food storage pews. Food pantry will reopen September 20. We’ve had a busy year, serving 45-60 people every 2 weeks since September. Your donations and our wonderful volunteers have made this project work. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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ONGOING CHURCH HAPPENINGS
Building Use
Did you know that you can rent the Parish Hall or a smaller space for a celebration, group meeting or other event?? Contact Monroe Heyman for more details.
Yoga at First Church
Join us throughout the year for Monday for Evening Yoga (6:45 – 8:15 pm) for 90 minutes of stretching, flexing and core strengthening (suggested donation: $15). For you early birds who want to wake up your body while the earth is waking up, try the slow-flow class Thursday mornings, 7:30 to 8:15 (suggested donation: $10). Please try to be on time, out of respect for other attendees. Some mats and props will be available to borrow. Bring a friend! For any questions about yoga, contact Margaret. All donations go to the work of First Church in our community.
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When submitting items for the weekly newsletter, please limit them to 250 words or less. If you have a special event that may need more space, please check in with Julia (Firstchjp@aol.com) for special parameters. If you would like your announcement included in the weekly newsletter, please send them in by Wednesday evening at 8 pm. Announcements will run for no longer than 3 weeks, unless there are specific date parameters. You may resubmit your item after it has run for the allotted time.
Regular office hours are currently 9 am to 1 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays. You may contact the church administrator, Julia, by emailing Firstchjp@aol.com.
Julia Terry, Congregational Administrator
First Church in Jamaica Plain UU
6 Eliot Street
P.O. Box 300186
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-524-1634
Website: www.firstchurchjp.org
