Green Sanctuary Accreditation

At the November 14 service, which was organized by the Green Sanctuary Committee, committee chair Eileen Hiney shared some wonderful news: The UUA's Office of Congregational Stewardship Services has formally recognized First Parish Bridgewater as an Accredited Green Sanctuary. The October 18 letter from Robin Nelson is posted in the Upper Parish Hall (in a hallowed location over the coffee urn).

An excerpt from the letter describes part of our success and encourages us to keep building upon it:

"Your application offers strong evidence of the positive environmental consciousness that has developed in your congregation, resulting in new behaviors and new lifestyle choices by members individually and by the congregation as a whole. We were especially inspired by the way you brought children and families together through your programming as well as working with other churches. Your Kids to Camp project seems to have been successful in both getting children to camp and creating a partnership with the Easton Nature Camp. You now have a great foundation for continuing action in the future."

A certificate will soon be placed prominently in our building, and we will be among the new Green Sanctuaries recognized at the 2011 General Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Immigration Conference December 4, Needham

Immigration Matters: From Phoenix to 495

A UU Mass Action conference

Saturday, December 4th from 9:30 to 2:00
First Parish in Needham, 23 Dedham St.

Agenda
9:30 - Coffee and Networking
10:00 - Worship with Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo
10:45 - Who are we?
11:00 - Hot Topics in MA - MA Immigration and Refugee Association Coalition (MIRA)
11:45 - LUNCH
12:30 - Workshops
1:30 - Tools to Take Home

Workshops include “Bringing Immigration into your Faith Development program”; and “Tools for Engaging your Congregation”. Cost is $15.00 and includes coffee and lunch. RSVP to Nancy Banks at nancy.banks1@verizon.net or 617.835.5426.

Details and poster are on the UU Mass Action web site. Carpooling from First Parish Bridgewater may occur; stay tuned!

Geography Fair

Member Vernon Domingo, working with the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance, is one of the lead organizers of the 24th Annual Geography Fair (as he has been with most or all the previous ones). This year's fair was mentioned during today's special service, organized by the Green Sanctuary Committee, because the theme of the fair this year is water.

The fair will run Saturday, November 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 in the old Burnell School on the campus of Bridgewater State University. A special program on the project to build a well in Liberia will be part of the festivities, as will the work of scores of students from throughout this region. See the MGA site for more information.

PowWow Nov 14

This message is from Dr. Joyce Rain-Anderson, a BSU professor of Engish who has organized a Native American PowWow on campus.


National Native American Heritage Month Powwow to be held in the Kelly Gym Sunday, November 14, 11am – 6pm.  Enjoy inter-tribal dancing, dance demonstrations, pottery demonstrations, social dances and storytelling. Arts, crafts and supplies for sale in addition to traditional Native foods. Please join us in welcoming local Native peoples to our campus for the second powwow as we continue in strengthening our relationships with one another. Bring positive energy to the circle.

November 14: ... And Not a Drop to Drink

Service Organized by the Green Sanctuary Committee

Dr. Kevin Curry is a biology professor and winner of a BSU presidential fellowship, which allowed him to spend last year in Cambodia installing water filtration systems in impoverished Cambodian villages. He will speak about his experiences making a difference in the lives of people who do not have clean drinking water, and in the lives of Cambodian and U.S. students who worked with him.

November 7: ANGER!

On November 7, Rev. Ed Hardy's sermon will address anger, acrimony, animosity, antagonism, ... umbrage, vexation, violence, and a whole thesaurus-worth of things in between. From when NOT to write an e-mail to much more, this will be the "deadly sin" of the day. Please join us at 50 School Street at 10:30 Sunday morning to hear more.

And to avoid anger at yourself, please remember to set your clock back Saturday night, lest you arrive to an empty sanctuary!

Coffee House Nov 6: Thompson Twins

Since 1969, First Parish Church has hosted Off the Common, a monthly coffee house that continues to bring some of the best musical talent in the region -- and the country -- into a cozy venue in Bridgewater Center. The first Saturday evening of every month (except summer months) features an amazing musical artist, with open mike available to aspiring artists. (Sometimes even the open mike attracts established musicians.)

This Saturday, November 6, Chris and Meredith Thompson -- the Thompson Twins -- will be returning to Off the Common. Known for their harmonies, flute, and guitar, the Thompson Twins have been highly acclaimed in many national venues, from Lilith Fair to the U.S. Songwriting Festival. We are indeed fortunate for the Thompson Twins to be returning to the Off the Common stage.

Performing with the Thompson Twins will be Sarah Borrello, who performed earlier this year at Bridgewater State University. Borrello is an award-winning, independent local artist known for her youth, her maturity, and her "blistering intensity."

The show begins -- as always -- at 8:00 p.m. in the Upper Parish Hall (rear of building) at 50 School Street in Bridgewater (nestled among several buildings of the BSU campus).


Admission is $13; refreshments are for sale, as are performer CDs.

Lasagnapalooza

Friday Night, November 5
6:00 -- until we run out of lasagna or diners

$8/adult $6/senior $4/child

$22 family maximum

It is that time of year -- the Male Bonding Band is hosting an evening of fun and food. After work and school, don't worry about dinner: just come to First Parish for a nice meal with fellow parishioners and friends of the church. The Male Bonding Band is cooking a variety of meatful and meatless lasagnas, including at least one gluten-free lasagna. In other words, there will be something for everyone -- along with salad, garlic bread, and a bit of ice cream. 


Warning: Corny sing-alongs of Italian songs could ensue! 

MainSpring Lunches -- Monday morning

Every month for as long as we can remember, members of First Parish have helped to support the work of MainSpring House in Brockton by packing lunches. On the first Tuesday of every month, the 100 lunches prepared at First Parish are used by shelter occupants who go out on work projects that are a core part of the program by which MainSpring (and now Father Bill's) helps to connect people to permanent housing. In order to get the lunches there on time, we meet at 9:00 a.m. on the Monday before that first Tuesday (a bit like the way election dates are set, but backwards).

This month, we will gather in the church kitchen at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 1. As Betty always says, "Many hands make light work."

Nicaragua Film -- Ben Linder

Thursday, November 4
7:00 PM
Library Lecture Hall, Bridgewater State University

Geographer and First Parish member James Hayes-Bohanan will be showing the film American/Sandinista as part of a program on U.S. volunteers who worked in Nicaragua in the years following the Sandinista Revolution. The focus will be on Benjamin Linder, an engineer whose assassination by the contras helped to bring about an end to U.S. funding for that insurgency.
The university recently decided not to name a new cafe in Linder's honor; discussion following this film will include other possibilities for honoring the Linder legacy.
Fair-trade coffee and refreshments will be served.