Some members of First Parish marched during the Rally for Equality at Bridgewater State University on Tuesday. Rev. Ed Hardy was invited to speak.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Rally Against Hate Crime -- BSU Tuesday, Feb. 21
The BSU community will be coming together at 11 a.m. Tuesday for a rally against the recent hate crime that took place on the campus. Details of the rally are at: http://www.facebook.com/events/290763524323924/
An AP article from Boston.com describes the attack and the initial university response:
BRIDGEWATER, Mass.-Authorities are trying to identify two people who attacked a writer for the student-run newspaper at the largest state university in Massachusetts because of an opinion piece she wrote in support of same-sex marriage.
Bridgewater State University spokesman Bryan Baldwin said on Saturday that the assailants approached Destinie Mogg-Barkalow on campus. The man questioned her about the article titled "Prop 8 generates more hate" before the woman accompanying him punched the victim, leaving her with a bruised eye Thursday evening.
No one has been arrested and authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime.
University President Dana Mohler-Faria sent an email to the whole school condemning the attack and reminding everyone authorities will not tolerate any actions that impede or curtail the rights of members of the campus community to express themselves freely.
The article that precipitated the attack appeared in The Comment on February 15, and is entitled Prop 8 Generates More Hate.
Members of First Parish have signed letters of support to the university president and to the victim of the attack. First Parish members will also be participating in Tuesday's march and rally on the campus.
An AP article from Boston.com describes the attack and the initial university response:
BRIDGEWATER, Mass.-Authorities are trying to identify two people who attacked a writer for the student-run newspaper at the largest state university in Massachusetts because of an opinion piece she wrote in support of same-sex marriage.
Bridgewater State University spokesman Bryan Baldwin said on Saturday that the assailants approached Destinie Mogg-Barkalow on campus. The man questioned her about the article titled "Prop 8 generates more hate" before the woman accompanying him punched the victim, leaving her with a bruised eye Thursday evening.
No one has been arrested and authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime.
University President Dana Mohler-Faria sent an email to the whole school condemning the attack and reminding everyone authorities will not tolerate any actions that impede or curtail the rights of members of the campus community to express themselves freely.
The article that precipitated the attack appeared in The Comment on February 15, and is entitled Prop 8 Generates More Hate.
Members of First Parish have signed letters of support to the university president and to the victim of the attack. First Parish members will also be participating in Tuesday's march and rally on the campus.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Special Music on Sunday
The Capriol Consort, an eight-member recorder ensemble will be providing the music for this Sunday's service. Members of the Consort include our own Music Director Denise Haskins, and church member Pam Hayes-Bohanan. The ensemble is lead by Dr. Marcia Anderson.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Chocolate, Flowers, and Slavery -- Movie Night
The following announcement is from the Social Justice League at Bridgewater State University. The films are being shown in the Moakley Auditorium this Wednesday, February 8, starting at 7:00 p.m. See the event announcement for more information.
What are you getting your sweetheart for Valentine's Day? The usual chocolate and flowers?
This Valentine's Day, take a deeper look at your consumer choices. The Social Justice League will be hosting a double-feature movie night roughly a week before Valentine's Day to raise awareness about the labor conditions in the chocolate and flower industries.
Film 1: "The Dark Side of Chocolate: Child Trafficking and Illegal Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry" - A recent film investigating how chocolate manufacturers like Hershey and Cadbury have turned a blind eye to child trafficking and slavery on African cocoa farms.
Film 2: "Colombia: Flowers for the Gringo" - A film that reveals the tenuous nature of the flower industry by taking a look inside the world of Colombia’s flower growers, in particular those who work the hardest for the lowest pay.
Please attend this informational movie night to learn the truth behind that Hershey's bar and bouquet of roses, as well as learn more about WHAT YOU CAN DO to stop the injustice!
What are you getting your sweetheart for Valentine's Day? The usual chocolate and flowers?
This Valentine's Day, take a deeper look at your consumer choices. The Social Justice League will be hosting a double-feature movie night roughly a week before Valentine's Day to raise awareness about the labor conditions in the chocolate and flower industries.
Film 1: "The Dark Side of Chocolate: Child Trafficking and Illegal Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry" - A recent film investigating how chocolate manufacturers like Hershey and Cadbury have turned a blind eye to child trafficking and slavery on African cocoa farms.
Film 2: "Colombia: Flowers for the Gringo" - A film that reveals the tenuous nature of the flower industry by taking a look inside the world of Colombia’s flower growers, in particular those who work the hardest for the lowest pay.
Please attend this informational movie night to learn the truth behind that Hershey's bar and bouquet of roses, as well as learn more about WHAT YOU CAN DO to stop the injustice!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Interfaith Power & Light
Our service today was led by Vincent Maraventano, Executive Director of Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, a non-profit whose mission is to provide a religious response to climate change. He congratulated us on steps we have already taken as a Certified Green Sanctuary and member of MIP&L. He also challenged us to think about the moral dimensions of climate change.
Those who are interested in geographic dimensions of climate change are invited to visit the web page I created for my seminar on climate change.
All are invited to continue the discussion of what we can do as individuals and as a congregation.
Those who are interested in geographic dimensions of climate change are invited to visit the web page I created for my seminar on climate change.
All are invited to continue the discussion of what we can do as individuals and as a congregation.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Philosophy Circle
The newly formed Philosophy Circle, formerly the Religion and Science Discussion Group, meets at the Brockton UU Church every third Wednesday of the month.
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As an introduction we have chosen Will Durant's book The Story of Philosophy to start. This book has been around for a long time and a copy should be easy to find. If you have any difficulty finding a copy contact Dave Bassett (CHEM1700@yahoo.com, 508 550 0241).
Our next meeting is February 15th.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Jane Goodall Connections
Dr. Goodall is also an honorary geographer, having received the first Atlas Award from the Association of American Geographers in 2010. Vernon Domingo and I were lucky enough to be present for that award ceremony, which is viewable with her lecture on the AAG web site.
Those who wish to support her work in Gombe Reserve in a small way can purchase delicious Tanzania Gombe Reserve coffee from the shade-grown coffee farms that serve as buffer habitat to the reserve. Roasted in Vermont, this is truly exceptional coffee, both for the customer and for the planet.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Animal Ministry Service -- January 8
On Sunday, January 8th, the Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry and the Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition will present a service entitled "Farm Animals ~ Amazing Grace". In conjunction with the service, we encourage you to watch this short (4 1/2 minute) montage film featuring farm animals. It's very child friendly!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Pro-Marriage Video
Almost a decade ago, members of First Parish voted to participate in our denomination's Welcoming Congregation Program. This is a voluntary program of the UUA for "for Unitarian Universalist congregations that want to take intentional steps to become more welcoming and inclusive of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT)."
It is in this spirit that our minister and I are sharing this short video, which is currently making the internet rounds as Iowa legislators debate an amendment that would eliminate same-sex marriage in that state.
It is in this spirit that our minister and I are sharing this short video, which is currently making the internet rounds as Iowa legislators debate an amendment that would eliminate same-sex marriage in that state.
Vietnam Witness
At our December 4 service, Dr. Thanh Nguyen and her daughter Titania shared their recent experiences with orphans in Vietnam. Thanh described her experience as a survivor of the war in Vietnam and as one of the Boat People who attained an education in the United States. She is currently a professor of education at BSU. In recent years, she and her family have visited orphanages in Vietnam. During our morning service they described the experience and challenged our congregation to become involved.
The presentation included videos that are available on their Children of Vietnam blog. We expect to see the entire Nguyen family again in future services, both at First Parish Bridgewater and elsewhere in the Cranberry Cluster.
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