The Chimes
Summer 2010 E-Newsletter

Worship Notes

On Sunday, June 27, we began our Summer Schedule. Worship Service begins at 9:30 AM and is celebrated at this time until early September.

The 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.

Our Minister will be out of the area until Wednesday July 15th, representing us at General Assembly in Minneapolis and visiting friends in Chicago , Vermont , and Martha’s Vineyard .  Throughout the summer, Reverend Steve will be at the church periodically.  The best way to reach him is by phone and he welcomes your call at (617) 852-2292

Summer Message from the Chair of the Board

By Mary Mitchell


On June 13 the members of All Souls Church elected a new slate of leaders. I am honored to hold the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees for a two year term. Our outgoing Chair, Mark Sullivan , gave a tremendous gift to All Souls with his steadfast stewardship during a time of transition from Rev. Schmitz’s settled ministry to Rev. Wilson’s. The church community can attribute the success of our journey through this three-year period to Mark and his long-suffering partner, Joyce, with sincere gratitude.


I am joined on the Board of Trustees by two seasoned officers, Treasurer Cora Madrid, and Vice-Chair, Joe Maloney. Stepping into her first elected leadership position in the church is Kaitlin Lord, who will serve as Clerk. Three Trustee At-Large positions are newly-filled by people who have had experience as Board or Parish Committee members in the past: Linda Barry , Pat Mascelluti , and Bill O’Neill. As members of the governing body of the church, I hope you will look to them when you have questions or suggestions about church operations. I look forward to working with this leadership team to build on the momentum generated in the last year.


I commend the Nominating Committee, chaired by Jan Norris and joined by members Don Swanson and Maureen Ellstrom . These three worked diligently in the months leading up to the Annual Meeting to identify leaders of our committees. For the first time in a number of years, every church committee has an elected leader. This speaks not only to the persistence of the Nominating Committee, but also to the commitment of our membership. The Committee leadership team for the coming year is listed in this issue of the Chimes.


All Souls Church is a remarkable community that makes up for what it lacks in dollars with the energy of volunteers. This energy is primarily harnessed by the committees that oversee the activities of the church. I can attest that involvement in the church at the committee level brings with it the potential for significant personal growth. The skills I have developed, the relationships I have formed, and the lessons I have learned during my eight years of committee work at All Souls have enriched my spiritual and personal life in innumerable ways. For those who may not have stepped into the waters of committee life, I highly recommend that you consider serving on a committee. It’s good for the church and good for you, too!


I look forward to continuing my adventure at All Souls Church as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. My hope is that our community will continue to grow, not only in numbers, but in the depth of our commitment and in the ways we embrace our diversity, mindfully communicate, nurture our spiritual lives, support one another, and engage the wider community. May it be so.


The following individuals were elected to positions of leadership at All Souls Church :

ALL SOULS LEADERSHIP 2010 - 2011

Board of Trustees

Chair (Board of Trustees) 2 year term expiring 2012: Mary Mitchell

Vice-Chair (Board of Trustees) 2 year term expiring 2012: Joe Maloney

Treasurer (Board of Trustees) Completing 2 year term expiring 2011: Cora Madrid

Clerk (Board of Trustees) 1 year term expiring 2011: Kaitlin Lord

Trustee-At-Large (Board of Trustees) 2 year term expiring 2012: Bill O’Neill

Trustee-At-Large (Board of Trustees) 2 year term expiring 2012: Linda Barry

Trustee-At-Large (Board of Trustees) 1 year term expiring 2011: Pat Mascelluti

Standing Committee Chairs

Building and Grounds Committee Chair - 2 year term Dave Adam   -  Expiring 2012

Development Committee Co-Chair- 1 year to complete term Kathy Pearce   -    Expiring 2011


Development Committee Co-Chair – Completing 2 year term Diana Althouse  -  Expiring 2011


Finance Committee Chair – 1 year to complete term Mark Sullivan  - Expiring 2011


Membership Committee -  Rick Anderson  - Expiring 2011


Committee on Ministry Chair – 2 year term Don Swanson  - Expiring 2012


Social Action/Environmental Committee Chair – Lin Steiner - 1 year to complete term – Expiring 2011


Worship & Music Chair – 2 year term Stephanie Heaney   -  Expiring 2012


Youth Religious Education – 2 year term Joyce Albrecht - Expiring 2012

Other Elected Positions

Auditor – 1 year term Sal Vento


Nominating Committee – 1 year term Jan Norris


Nominating Committee – 1 year term Maureen Ellstrom


Nominating Committee Chair – 1 year term To be appointed

Announcements

Spring Cleaning Extravaganza

Last weekend, two dozen members and friends rolled up their sleeves and got to work sprucing up the interior spaces of the church.  They washed woodwork and floors, re-arranged furniture, and threw out and recycled old stuff.  They gave the Elliott Room a major face lift, making the space more conducive for meetings with a white board and a large television in a handsome entertainment cabinet.  The spring cleaning team was ruthless with the clutter that has accumulated in the kitchen.  After food and fellowship over pizza, the crew finished up its work for the day.  There is more to be done, but experiencing the momentum was invigorating!  Some of the members of the spring cleaning team have been inspired to take the spring cleaning spirit back to their own homes!   Kudos to Rick for envisioning and organizing this much-needed face-lift.  And special thanks to Troy who mistakenly arrived late for service but stayed to clean. 

LGBT Brunch


The monthly Brunch for LGBT Seniors in the South Shore Area continues during the summer months at All Souls Church Parish Hall. The two upcoming brunches will take place on July 31 and August 28. If you would like to attend as a guest, please RSVP to Maryanne Ryan 781-848-3939 Extension 325 or e-mail lgbtseniors@sselder.org for more information or to make a reservation. An optional donation of $2 is suggested for guests 60 years old and up.

All are welcome to volunteer to help with the brunch. All Souls Church is acting as the brunch host site; South Shore Elder Services is operating the brunch. Joe Maloney has some volunteer applications or those interested can contact the Volunteer Coordinator at SSES. Call 781-848-3910 Extension 430.

Coming Up

The Board of Trustees will be meeting on the second Tuesday of every month beginning in September (Sept 9 will be the first meeting), likely in the Minister’s Study.

The Board will meet once this summer -- on Thursday, July 22nd. If you have any issues to put before the Board, please let Mary Mitchell know at least one week before the meeting.


The Membership Committee is meeting on Tuesday, August 10.

The Development Committee will meet Wednesday, August 25 at 7 PM.

The Social Action/Environmental Committee will again be collecting backpacks and school supplies for needy children beginning on August 1. The backpacks will be assembled on Sunday, August 22nd after the Sunday service. 

Last year we supplied 40 backpacks filled with school supplies to needy children as well as 2 boxes of extra supplies to a few Braintree Schools. Please watch the summer ads for these items, especially backpacks. We will remind everyone during the summer services.     

Events in the Wider Community

Interfaith Collaboration to End Homelessness: Next Steps for the Metro Boston Region  

The Metro Boston Faith-Based Advisory Council to End Homelessness invites you to join them for a working meeting to formulate next steps for our interfaith efforts to end homelessness.  Thursday, June 24, 2010, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Christ Church Episcopal (Upper Fales Hall) 750 Main Street , Waltham , MA    Hosted by Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Social Action Ministries, the Waltham Ministerial Association and the Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness.    Light refreshments will be provided. Street and lot parking available.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: 
Caitlin Golden, Social Action Ministries, a program of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance cgolden@mhsa.net or (617) 367-6447 ext. 28

Reverend Steve thought this would be of interest. It is a video entitled, 'A Passionate Commitment to Young Adults'; and it describes how the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, California, transformed itself from a graying congregation into a multigenerational one.  CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO


The sixth annual 24 hour vigil in celebration for peace will be Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19 Beginning at First Parish Church , 50 School Street , Bridgewater , MA at 1 PM.  For more info visit www.firstparishbridgewater.org

UU Bed and Breakfast Directory

Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?

The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecoming) can fulfill your dream.

For 31 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in the United States and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.

You can also become a host and be listed in the directory: see www.UUreHome.com for an application.

If you have questions, contact us at info@uurehome.com or call 828-281-3253.

Host listings on the UU’re Home website at www.UUreHome.com are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added.

The paper edition is published once a year in April. For a copy of the 2010 directory and a year’s access to the website listings, please click on “become a member” to pay be credit card, or send a check for $25 and your e-mail address to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806

Reminders

Farmers Market Volunteers needed From June 26 to October 30, All Souls Church will be selling fair trade coffee, tea and other items at the Farmers Market in Braintree .

If you would like to help out, please sign up for a Saturday; or speak to Diana Althouse if you have any questions. It is very easy and a lot of fun!

If you shop at the Braintree Farmers Market, be sure to visit our booth.  


Fair Share Contributions

Each year All Souls strives to make a “Fair Share” contribution to help provide for the cost of the services available to us from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Ballou Channing District. This enrolls All Souls Church in our affiliated organizations, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Ballou-Channing District.

Our Fair Share status can make us eligible for grant money: and Fair Share status is considered when the BCD evaluates grant proposals. 

The “Fair Share” dues for this fiscal year is $75 per member. Any contribution you can make to help All Souls meet its “Fair Share” this year would be greatly appreciated. Please make your check payable to All Souls Church , and clearly mark it as a “Fair Share Contribution.”

Thank you for your cooperation and generosity in support of the UUA and the Ballou Channing District.

The next regular issue of The Chimes will come out at the end of August. Be sure to visit our BLOG and FACEBOOK group to stay in touch with one another and with what’s happening at All Souls Church .  Our Facebook page is still being developed.  (You must set up your own facebook account to follow us there.) 

You can also read this issue of the Chimes on our BLOG.   

Church office hours are Wednesday 10 AM to 2 PM (depending on the heat).  Maggie is also checking the voicemail for messages daily.   An alternate email address is allsoulschurchbraintree@gmail.com

Have a great summer!