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All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree Open Hearts - Open Minds - Open Doors |
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Welcome Home! We are a community that celebrates diversity in Braintree, MA - Imagine the Freedom - More Spirituality, Less Religiousity![]() We accept you as you are... It's no accident that you are here. We are so happy you're visiting our website! We update it frequently, so be sure to drop by often. And please let us know if there's anything you'd like to add. As a happily diverse community, we attempt to remain engaged with each other's differing views. Thus, we learn while sharing, remaining open to rational argument or spiritual enlightenment. This allows us to minimize doctrine, ideology, dogma, creed, or any kind of fundamentalist, authoritative ideas that are not to be disputed or doubted. Those things can lead to suffering. The glue that binds us together is the love of our community and an affirmation to promote the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism. (See the left side bar) Many of us feel our spiritual lives are grounded in a sense of the fullness and connectedness of all things. . All Souls Church, Unitarian UniversalistOur Vision is to be an open-minded spiritual community that celebrates diversity and lives successfully with both its gifts and challenges. We seek to understand and appreciate the great diversity of people and ideas in the world. With our vision in mind, Our Mission, as All Souls Church, is to come together in community, to create opportunities for spiritual expression and exploration, to learn with and from each other, and to make a difference in the world. Our ServicesPlease join us for services on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Children begin in the sanctuary with adults before going to their religious education classes. Child care is available for nursery and preschoolers. Please check the Newcomers link at the top of this page for additional information you may find helpful. Summer Worship Services - 9:30 AM in the Parish HallNote that service on July 18th was NOT at the church, but was held on George's Island - see the image near this text Summer worship services feature the eclectic gifts and interests of All Souls members and friends. Services are informal and last from 30 to 45 minutes. June 27 - Rev. Estelle Margarones - Community Picnic: All Are Invited July 4 - Bill O'Neill July 11 - Andrew Pearce July 18 - An outdoor service held on George's Island will be led by Rev. Steve Wilson -- see the right sidebar for details July 25 - Jane and Larry Fogg August 1 - Stephanie Heaney August 8 - Our former minister, Rev. Kathy Schmitz returns to All Souls for a visit August 15 - All Souls Historical Group - All Souls History August 22 - Jan Norris - Clare of Assisi (1193-1254) and Marguerite de Porete (1250-1310: Two Medieval Women Who Dared August 29 - Don Swanson - Hope September 5 - Rev. Steve Wilson More George's Island Service ImagesThe Islanders (for the day) Look to the right. The Music For The Service On George's IslandWe had Native American flute and African hand drums. What Do We Love?We love a Sense of Belonging, Celebration of Life, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Freedom, Ecology, Diversity, Justice, Earth, Same-sex Marriage, Humanity, Democracy, Nature, Music, Love, Liberty, Community, Sustainability, Sharing, Truth, Celebrating Common Values, Creativity, Honesty, Learning, Ethics, Interfaith Weddings, Compassion, The Braintree Farmers Market, Equality, Joy, Our 7 Principles... (See the left sidebar for The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.) Remember the caution of Paul Tillich and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that we not separate love from power. Why? Because love without power is sentimental and anemic, and power without love is reckless and abusive. What Are Our Demographics?![]() ______________________________ Our members and friends backgrounds/beliefs include - Unitarian Universalism, Humanism, Buddhism, Theological Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Neo-Paganism, Hinduism, Shinto, Islam, Native American Spirituality, Spiritualism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Pantheism, Creatheism, Environmentalism, etc. with more coming in. Most resonate with more than one of the above. We've Got Small Groups!![]() A sampling of some of our intentional small groups - Chalice Circles, Monthly Book Group, Discussion of "The God of Your Understanding", Buddhist Reflections, Gay Men's Discussion Group, Women's Lesbian Support Group, Peace & Pizza, Coffee & Conversation, Yoga, Choir, Drummimg, Developing a Deeper Relationship with God etc. For more detailed information on our Small Groups, click on the Get Involved tab at the top of this page. Installation Service Celebrates New Ministerial LeadershipOn November 1 at 3:00 PM, All Souls celebrated a new chapter of service in the Braintree community with the installation ceremony of its new settled minister, Rev. Steve Wilson. Many local clergy came to attend this special ceremony in the Unitarian Universalist tradition that celebrates a new relationship between a minister called to ministry and the congregation. Read the entire press release Homecoming Celebration Welcomes Rev. Steve Wilson to All Souls ChurchAll Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree ushered in the beginning of its new church year with a Homecoming Celebration on Sunday, September 13. The church lawn was filled with entertainment and games for the entire family. Refreshments were enjoyed in an outdoor setting amid the fun! The kick-off event was to welcome Rev. Steve Wilson to settled ministry at All Souls. Rev. Wilson has served family-sized Unitarian Universalist congregations in Rutland, Vermont, Northfield, MA, and Bernardston, MA. He comes to Braintree after a six-month tenure at a growing church in Sydney, Australia. A dynamic worship leader, Rev. Wilson will officiate at All Souls' Sunday services, which provide a time for reflection and meditation, music, and connection with others. Rev. Wilson brings to his ministry a rich background of experience in social justice and environmental activism. His experience will enhance the ministry of All Souls Church, which has a long history of promoting social justice as well as environmental awareness. It has earned the Unitarian Universalist designation of "Welcoming Congregation", indicating a church community that embraces all individuals whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. It has also earned the designation "Green Sanctuary", indicating its commitment to environmental responsibility. Rev. Wilson recently remarked, "I am excited to be here in a religious community that serves as a magnet for progressive thought and social action. For those who actively yearn for justice, love questions as much as answers, and want to live out their religious lives in a welcoming community, my brief time here has already convinced me that this is a great place." Rev. Wilson has been working with the church's cooperative religious education committee to develop its engaging Sunday morning Young Explorers Program for children and youth. The program is in session on Sundays from 10:30 am to 11:45 am. It provides a variety of experiences, activities and fun time together to provide young people with the opportunity to nurture new friendships, support their individual journeys and be part of a caring community. . 350.org - International Day of Climate Action![]() All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree took part in the most widespread day of environmental action in history -- over 5,200 events in 181 countries -- to call for a clear solution to the climate crisis: reducing the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere below 350 parts per million. . Rev. Kathy and CharlieA beloved previous minister and her husband joined us for a summer service. Here's proof... What a nice time we had. . |
WORSHIP AT ALL SOULS
Summer Services are now in session! From June 27 through September 5, summer services begin at 9:30 AM and are held in the Parish Hall. They last from 30 - 45 minutes and are led by the talented members and friends of All Souls Church. There is no coffee hour after the service, and no child care is offered. We resume our regular schedule after Labor Day, on September 12. After Labor Day, beginning on September 12, worship services will be held on Sundays at 10:30 A.M. and are followed by food and fellowship at an informal coffee hour. The Young Explorers Program for children and youth meets concurrently during the service. |
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Copyright 2007, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree Braintree, MA, USA |
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