Chalice Lighters Program
April 27, 2009
This year, Bell Street Chapel is asking for support from the Ballou Channing District Chalice Lighters program in order to raise funds for a wheelchair stair lift to improve our accessibility for the handicapped.
The purpose of the Ballou Channing District (BCD) Chalice Lighters program is to raise money for grants to assist congregations in developing and implementing plans to promote growth and membership retention. Projects might include support of professional ministerial or religious education staffing, renovation or expansion of facilities or funding of special programs for start-up and membership growth activities.
The greater Bell Street’s participation in the Chalice Lighters program, the more likely it will be that Bell Street receives a grant. Participation in the Chalice Lighters program will not only help Bell Street Chapel to purchase a stair lift, but will also help other Ballou Channing congregations grow in important ways. If you would like to become a BCD Chalice Lighter, or would like more information, please feel free to call me at (401) 569-8843, e-mail me at dgreco2760@yahoo.com, or track me down during coffee hour.
~In faith,
Dan Greco
Newsletter Deadline Change
April 27, 2009
As everyone knows, Meredyth Waterman is moving from president-elect to president as of the annual meeting. As we also know, she has been faithfully editing our newsletter for two years. However, with her change in position within the church, she will no longer be able to edit the newsletter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Meredyth for all the hard work and countless hours she has given to Bell Street Columns. Thanks also goes to Genevieve for her hard work on the layout.
Because Meredyth was so great at what she did, it is going to take not one, but two people to replace her. I will be taking over the editing, and Ellen Smith will be doing the proofing.
As this transition begins, we will need more time to complete the newsletter and beginning with next month’s newsletter (June) we will be moving the deadline for articles up a week. Beginning next month the deadline will be the second Sunday of the month, May 10. All articles will now be sent via e-mail to Richard Corso at RichardCorso@gmail.com. We appreciate your flexibility with this new deadline.
Both Ellen and I look forward to putting out the newsletter starting in June.
~Richard Corso
Bylaws amendment proposals
April 27, 2009
At our congregation’s annual meeting on May 17, the congregation will be asked to approve an amendment to our society’s bylaws allowing future annual meetings to be held later in the year.
Currently, the annual meeting must be held by May 31, at which time the congregation approves the following year’s budget. This date presents a problem because in recent years we’ve been unable to find out until just days before the meeting how much money we’ll be getting for the church year from the James Eddy Trust.
The trust’s investments moved to Washington Trust several years ago, and that firm’s quarterly update schedule doesn’t provide updated figures from the investments until mid to late April. Because our bylaws currently require that materials for the annual meeting (which is usually held at least a week before the deadline in case of emergency cancellation) be mailed to members three weeks in advance, the Finance Committee ends up with only about three days to a week between when it learns how much the trust will contribute and when it has to have a complete budget proposal to send to members in the annual meeting packets. The committee usually has to prepare a few different versions of the budget, and then must scramble to adjust the closest one when the information comes.
To allow a more reasonable time frame in which the Finance Committee can develop the budget, the Board recommends moving the deadline for the annual meeting to June 21 and reducing the three weeks’ notice required for societal meeting agendas. An amendment has been drafted and was included in the annual meeting packets provided to members in late April.
~Meredyth Waterman
President-elect
Committee Appreciation Dinner
April 27, 2009
The Governing Board invites all members of every church committee to attend a committee appreciation dinner Saturday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in Eddy Hall.
The folks who serve on committees make sure there’s someone to lead service each Sunday and that the building’s walls don’t crumble down upon us. They organize important social justice activities as well as fun social events. They do countless other important tasks that often go unrecognized, and the Governing Board would like to see to it this year that we say “thank you” on our congregation’s behalf. Dinner and surprises (don’t ask, or it won’t be a surprise) will be provided by the members of the Governing Board.
If you serve as a member of any committee, you are welcome to attend this event, which we can assure you will be a fun time. We’ll have a sign-up sheet in Eddy Hall so we know how many to expect. If you have any questions, please contact Meredyth Waterman at MeredythW@aol.com, Dan Greco at dgreco2760@yahoo.com or Carol Crowley at ccrowley8@cox.net.
~Meredyth Waterman
Providence String Quartet Concert June 7
April 27, 2009
Bell Street Chapel is proud to present a concert by the performers of The Providence String Quartet, Sunday, June 7, at 4 p.m.
The music will be by Dvorak and Brahms. Performers will be Jessie Montgomery, violin; Adrienne Taylor, cello; and Sakiko Mori, piano.
The concert will benefits Community Music Works’ summer music program and Bell Street Chapel.
~Tom Mack, Events Committee
Movie Night – Friday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.
April 27, 2009
In an effort to live out our commitment as a Unitarian Universalist Association Welcoming Congregation, Bell Street Chapel sponsors a monthly movie night featuring films that examine gender identity issues. Over the past several years, we have seen dramas and documentaries, comedies and heart breakers – all acclaimed and artistically significant films. Genevieve Peri seems to have an endless number of ideas for films in this category.
May Movie Night, our final one for the 2008-2009 season, will be on Friday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. The film is a classic 1959 film regarded by the American Film Institute as the “greatest American comedy film of all time.” It won many awards and honors. Our licensing agreement does not allow us to identify the film by name in public communications, but anyone who hasn’t guessed the title and wants to know more may contact Carol Crowley at ccrowley8@cox.net.
As always, we will share a potluck dinner before the showing of the movie. We always follow up with a short discussion led by Genevieve Peri. So do join us on Friday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Eddy Hall for a memorable end to our Movie Night season – and give us your ideas for films to be shown next season!
On the Road to Providence — Choose Wisely
April 27, 2009
It seems that the news media is enamored with stories of teenagers who have made major accomplishments. They gush all over 12-year-old Shaheen Jafagholi the singing sensation who has stolen the spotlight from Susan Boyle. Farrah Gray is a 24-year-old who became a millionaire at age 14. Billy Jinks is another 24-year-old who also became a millionaire 10 years ago at age 14. Then there are the stories of teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold; they too made the news 10 years but not for their singing talents or their entrepreneurial acumen. Harris and Kleibold are remembered for having massacred 10 people in Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
There were signs of impending disaster that might have alerted officials if people had paid attention. On that day, April 20, 1999, I was studying a report from my ministerial intern in Denver, Colorado. The report told of the teen-on-teen violence and growing tension in Denver school system. School officials were responding by monitoring the activities of the minority students: Latino, African-American and Native-American. However no one was addressing the needs of the teen-agers or even listening to their suggestions. There was an appalling lack of communication between teens and adults.
Ten years later we have witnessed additional shootings in schools, in houses of worship and in workplaces. People of all ages are crying out in pain and in need; asking for someone to listen to their concerns before they become overwhelming. In our Unitarian Universalist faith community, we have several indications that not all is well. While I do not believe that these are signs of potential violence, I do believe they are signs of the potential loss of some of our community.
On the Unitarian Universalist Web site (www.uua.org) there are copies of two reports: the Mosaic Project Report and the Youth Ministry Working Group Report. Both of these reports are pivotal for the future of our youth. It is said that the youth are the future of our faith movement. However, if they are not part of our present faith, how can they be part of our future? The Mosaic Project is an assessment of the Unitarian Universalist ministry to youth and young adults of color and Latina/o and Hispanic and multiracial/multiethnic descent and makes crucial recommendations for improvements. The Youth Ministry report charts out various ways to widen and enhance youth participation in our association and in our congregations.
Both reports are essential documents for all Unitarian Universalists, especially for our leadership. If we cannot welcome the participation of our youth and young adults into our congregations and larger movement, then we have no right to reach out to anyone else. As a leader in Unitarian Universalism, I pledge to do what I can to increase opportunities for youth and young adult participation in our faith and invite all others to do the same. To quote “…we must be a part of the scaffolding that support Youth and Young Adults …in their development of a healthy identity….”
~Rev. José Ballester
Good News
April 27, 2009
Rev. José Ballester
Traditionally this is Whit Sunday or Pentecost, wherein we speak about the goodness of the church universal. Our Universalist forbearers used this occasion to preach proudly about the joy and love of their faith. This Sunday we will follow in the footsteps of de Benneville, Murray, Ballou and Skinner.
Letters from the Front
April 27, 2009
Revs. José Ballester and James Ford
Joint Memorial Day Service with the First Unitarian Church of Providence
Service will feature words from soldiers and families involved in United States wars over the years and reflections on Memorial Day.
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
April 27, 2009
Rev. José Ballester
From marriage equality to love thy neighbor, the core of our faith is love. In these days where harsh words are all around, we need to renew our commitment to love and strengthen our resolve.