Exploring Our Truth Through Books, March 20

As Unitarian Universalists, many of us are interested in exploring ideas from our own diverse spiritual tradition and writings from practioners of other faiths that might assist our free and responsible search for truth and meaning.  It also seems like many of us have a huge stack (or list) of these books that we want to read, but haven’t gotten around to finishing.

What will motivate us?  A deadline!

Join us Saturday, Mar. 20 for an exploration of the ideas in F. Forrest Church's The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology.  Read as much of the book as possible before March 20 and make mental and/or physical notes about the thoughts it inspires.  We will have our discussion over a potluck dinner from 4:00 to 7:30 pm.  Register online here or download and print a registration form here. Be sure to let us know whether you'd like to bring an appetizer, main dish, drink, or dessert.  We'll gather for food, fellowship, and a guided opportunity to explore the content of this theology and how it relates to our own personal theologies. Bring your potluck offering, your thoughts/notes/responses, and a clear head for discussion.

This is part of what we hope will be an ongoing series of spiritual book explorations, beginning with this one from our own religious tradition.  If you can’t make this date or have questions, please let discussion leader, Whitney Novak know of your interest in the program and any titles you’d like to throw in for consideration.  Ideally responsibility for planning discussion questions and activities will be shared amongst participants. Let Whitney know if you would like to be a co-planner.

Going Forward Together, Feb. 28

Join us for our second conversation about moving forward together as a congregation, Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12:45 in Pratt Hall. 

We will continue our discussion about where we are and where we want to be as we move toward our 200th anniversary. Our conversation will build on the values and aspirations that we identified during our first conversation as we explore all the positive things that we could do as a congregation. We will look at the commitments that it will take us to get where including ideas, time and money. An update of the process and progress for determining our 2011 budget. 

Childcare and a pizza lunch will be available. Contact Board President, Nancy West with any questions.

It is very exciting and challenging time at First Unitarian Church.  Be a part of it!

Big Question of the Week

All people everywhere wrestle with the big questions in life. This week's question to think about, comment on, and talk about with your friends and family and kids:

Is there something about which you fee completely certain?

New UU Parenting Blog Makes its Debut

The editors of UU World welcome Michelle Richards' new blog on Unitarian Universalist parenting at blogs.uuworld.org/parenting/  Michelle Richards is the author of the upcoming Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting.  


This is the first installment:

The Unique Challenges of Unitarian Universalist Parenting

Unitarian Universalism offers a different parenting experience than many other religious traditions do—and not just because of our diverse theologies. Parents raising their children in our faith frequently face situations that other parents may never encounter.

During the five years I served a congregation in the Midwest as director of religious education, and in my years since as an author and religious education consultant, I have visited many congregations to present workshops and speak with many parents, ministers, and religious educators. Some parents are seeking to recreate the specialness of the religious traditions they remember from their own childhoods; however, having rejected the faith of their youth, they are unsure how to adapt those traditions or how to develop new rituals for their families.

Other Unitarian Universalist parents have had little or no exposure to a religious faith during their childhood years but still desire to “do religion” with their children.  They seek to give their children the experience that many Christian, Jewish, and Muslim parents give to their children without any apparent effort—a special sense of their religious faith and a deepening sense of spirituality expressed through their family life. Even parents who were raised as Unitarian Universalists may still be challenged in this regard; many of them were raised in a time when fear of indoctrination made it taboo to expend much effort instilling a Unitarian Universalist identity in children.

Unitarian Universalist parents have had ethical dilemmas about whether to allow their children to participate in a school play that depicts Native Americans in a stereotypical fashion, whether their sons should join the Boy Scouts in spite of that institution’s stance on non-believers and homosexuality, and whether to confront a teacher who presents misinformation or biased religious ideas in a public school classroom.

Parents need resources and information to create and share meaningful religious experiences with their children at home and meet the unique challenges of raising children as Unitarian Universalists.  This is why I wrote the book Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting and will be keeping this blog over the next few weeks. In the book I have written, and through this blog, we will address how parents and children can live their Unitarian Universalist faith everyday—from engaging in social action projects as a family, to exploring the natural world and the feelings of awe it evokes, to appreciating the interdependent web of life, to searching for truth.

Please share your questions, thoughts, and ideas as well as we address what it means to raise children as Unitarian Universalists.

Because whether a family chooses to light a chalice as they share meaningful words, engage in a regular meditation practice, pray together, or walk a labyrinth, they are choosing to give their children a special gift for the future, the gift of a faith tradition. And in doing so, parents are also giving something special to themselves, the gift of a close, connected family drawn together by religious faith.

Bring Your Best Baked Goodies to Sunday, Mar. 7th's Cookie Potluck

As we prepare for Rev. David's Installation Weekend, chock-full of great events, there's one event YOU can help make even more delicious!  


Following the service of Installation, which begins at 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 7, we will be hosting a reception in Pratt Hall. Members and friends of First Unitarian are encouraged to show off your baking magic by bringing your favorite baked treat for a cookie potluck (or any dessert you eat with your fingers!) Don't be shy to outdo your pew-mates!


Bring your treats to Pratt Hall in advance of the 4:00 ceremony and then join the celebration in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided for young children during the ceremony and all are welcome at the reception after. Questions? Contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks.

Installation Concert, Saturday March 6, 7:00 pm

In celebration of the new partnership between The First Unitarian Church of Baltimore and Rev. David Carl Olson, we will be hosting a Concert with special invited guests on Saturday, March 6 at 7:00 pm.  Emcees, Adrian Hilliard and Lyn Cox will welcome to the stage classical, folk and hip hop artists for a show that is as enthusiastic and wide-ranging as our own congregation.

Foundation Movement— Recently chosen as Boston's Best Hip Hop Act in the Improper Bostonian's Best of Boston Issue, the Foundation Movement continues to be one of Bostons top Hip-Hop acts, with songs crafted with creativity and balance. MCs Eroc and Optimus are committed to addressing issues of injustice and oppression, while also entertaining crowds with hot beats and relevant lyrics.

Pia Broden-Williams — Pia is a talented coloratura soprano from Michigan, gifted with a rare and flexible type of voice that can proficiently execute classical, jazz, gospel and pop styles. Pia currently serves as musician in residence for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint.


New Wave Singers — A community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight people, New Wave performs an eclectic repertoire featuring music that promotes justice and peace and celebrates life in all its diversity.


In addition to these amazing performers, we will welcome some surprise guests.  After the concert, join us for a dessert reception in Pratt Hall. You won't want to miss it!


Tickets for this gala evening are $15 and are available for purchase during coffee hour each Sunday after worship in Pratt Hall, or from the church office during the week (410-685-2330; office@firstunitarian.net)  Special discounted tickets for families with children and youth in the Religious Education program are also available ($25 for the whole family).


If you would like to become a Patron in support of this celebratory occasion, our Patron Package includes four concert tickets and four complimentary gourmet dessert tickets for $100.00  Contact the church office to purchase, or stop by the table in Pratt Hall on Sunday.

Download the Installation Events Poster here

March Madness

As we all begin to poke our heads out from under the snows of February and look ahead, the wonderful news is that March is as action packed as ever, with exciting programs and events for people of all ages!

MYSTERY BUDDIES

Our premiere event in March is, as always, our Mystery Buddies program. Mystery Buddies matches individual adults or youth with children in the congregation. Each Sunday in March the pairs exchange clues about their identities. The final Sunday in March (Mar. 28), all participants join together for a potluck breakfast where identities are revealed. Clue exchange begins March 7. To sign up, simply download and complete the form here or pick one up during coffee hour after church on Sunday. 

INSTALLATION WEEKEND

This year is a very special one at First Unitarian as we welcome Rev. David Carl Olson as our minister. The first weekend in March is a celebration of our new partnership and includes several events, as follows:

Sat., Mar. 6

10:00 am — Tamale Making for all ages featuring Chef Luis Alonso Guzman of El Salvador

7:00 pm — Concert and Community Celebration, featuring the rap duo The Foundation, the New Wave Singers and Opera, Gospel and Jazz singer Pia Broden-Williams, as well as other surprise guests.  For tickets ($15 each) contact the church office at 410-685-2330.  

Sun., Mar. 7

11:00 am — Worship featuring guest preacher Rev. Alma Faith Crawford. (Regularly scheduled Religious Education classes for children)

4:00 pm — Service of Installation with Rev. Patrick O'Neill, guests representing the larger Unitarian Universalist community and Baltimore city, as well as members and friends of our own congregation

Children and youth are welcome at any of these events, and childcare will be provided as well.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION EVENTS

There will be three Lifespan Religious Education special events in March as well:

• "Construction of Spiritual Practices and Rituals" is a six week course for adults and teens, beginning Wednesday, Mar. 3 at 7:00 pm. Download the flyer here for more information.

• "Bibleodeon" is a one-time multi-generational workshop introduction to the Bible for UUs, Saturday, Mar. 13 from 9 am to noon. Adults, teens and children ages 8 and up are welcome to participate. A flyer with more information is available here.

• "Exploring Our Truth through Books" is the kick-off event for an ongoing small group ministry that facilitates exploration of different spiritual and theological books selected by participants. The first title will be F. Forrest Church's The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology and the group will discuss it over a potluck dinner from 4pm to 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 20.

To register for any of these RE Events and Classes, you can complete the online form here or download and print a registration form here.

Download a calendar of these and other events and programs in March here. If you have questions about any of these programs and events, please don't hesitate to contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks.

NEW date for Bibleodeon class

Our Multi-Generational introduction to the Bible for UUs, "Bibleodeon" has been rescheduled for March 13 (9am to noon)

This half-day workshop, led by Director of Lifespan Religious Education Becky Brooks, is based on the "Bibleodeon" curriculum developed by the Shelter Rock Unitarian Universalist Congregation for use by UU churches. The workshop is designed to offer adults, teens and children ages 8 and up a fun, engaging way to learn more about the Bible using games, role play, discussion and hands-on projects. We will explore the idea of sacred text, find out what's special about the Bible and what these stories can teach us, even across lines of diverse theologies.

We will meet Saturday, Mar. 13, 9am to noon in the downstairs classrooms at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore. Families are encouraged to register together, but you need not have children to participate. Childcare for younger children will be provided upon request. The class minimum is 10, Limit 20.

Register online here or print a registration form here. Or contact Director of Lifespan RE, Becky Brooks.

ALL CHURCH EVENTS ON FEB. 7 CANCELED

Please be advised that all church events on Feb. 7 will be canceled due to the weather, including the Talent Show. Please stay tuned for information on new dates for scheduled events.

Be safe everyone!

It's Mystery Buddies Time!

photos from last year's Mystery Buddies Breakfast by Jessah Serafini


You've waited a whole year and the time has come again for First Unitarian's annual Mystery Buddies Program!


In this fun intergenerational program, kids and adults or youth are matched in Mystery Buddy pairs, with the goal of getting to know a little more about each other every week until identities are revealed at a potluck breakfast on March 28. Adults, youth and kids who sign up to participate will choose a mystery nickname, fill out a brief questionnaire and decorate a mailbag. Pairs will exchange clues each Sunday in March. You can sign up at the Religious Education table any Sunday in February or print out the sign-up form here and mail or bring it to church. 


How does it work?
Every Sunday before service, mailbags will be left out by the front doors of the church, ready to accept letters and small homemade gifts* from both older and younger participants. After service begins, mailbags will be moved to the Parish Hall for coffee hour when participants can check their mailbags for that weeks’ clue. The event will culminate in a potluck breakfast on March 28 when Mystery Buddy identities will be discovered!
*we ask that you spend no more than $5 over the course of the month on any gifts for your Mystery Buddy

Who can participate?

Anyone under the age of 18 can be a “younger” buddy and anyone over 12 can be an “older” buddy (youth can choose to be an older or a younger). All participants are asked to exchange at least a little clue each of the four weeks (either in person or by proxy—just let DLRE, Becky Brooks, know if you will miss a week).

Join in the fun!