Book Through Bars Update
June 29, 2010
July and August’s recipient of Share the Plate proceeds will be Providence Books Through Bars, whose library is housed in the Bell Street Chapel Parish House. Although BTB is again out of postage money for our national outreach; the good news is that we have finally received permission to donate books to the ACI’s Intake Service Center. A building that houses up to 1500 inmates, the ISC currently has no provisions for getting books to these men. Over the summer, we plan to place at least one bookcase with about 300 paperbacks in each, into the first eight “modules.” The bookcases must be metal, not wood, and we may have a resource to secure these. As usual, thanks to the Big Gray Book Bin, the generosity of our congregation and many local libraries, we have plenty of books! We hope to start answering letters and mailing books again in September.
Ministerial Search Resumes
June 29, 2010
At the annual meeting on June 6, the congregation voted to resume the search for a settled minister. The goal will be to call a minister in the spring of 2011. The congregation elected a Search Committee, made up of Greg Greco, Don Laliberte, Wendy Schwartz, Carol Wiseman and Chad Welch. The process of searching for a minister includes several phases. The process begins with a period of self-reflection, in which the congregation considers our values and what we need from a settled minister. This process will likely include small group discussions and a congregational survey. The results of this process will help the search committee develop an informational packet that describes our church to potential ministers. Next, the Search Committee interviews potential ministers and selects several precandidates. The Search Committee meets with these potential ministers and hears them preach at a neutral pulpit. Finally, the Search Committee recommends a candidate to the congregation and the congregation votes whether to call the candidate as a settled minister.
The Search Committee will begin our work over the summer. Although the interviewing and candidating processes need to be confidential, we will keep you informed about our work throughout the process. Watch for regular updates.
GLBT Film Festival Aug. 10-15
June 29, 2010
Once again, Bell Street Chapel is proud to be a venue for the Rhode International Film Festival (RIIFF) Aug. 10 – 15. This year we will be hosting the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Sidebar Wednesday through Saturday nights. We will be screening a variety of GLBT-themed films, including shorts and features, comedies, dramas and documentaries. We are planning an opening reception on Wednesday evening. We are also organizing panel discussions to discuss issues raised in the films including marriage equality and transgender issues.
Additionally, on Saturday afternoon, we hope to screen documentaries focusing on other social justice issues. At press time, the screening schedule
was still being developed. So mark your calendars for Wednesday August 11 through Saturday August 14, and check the Bell Street Web site
or the RIIFF Web site (www.film-festival.org) for updates.
Thomas Jefferson, The Freedom to Grow
June 25, 2010
Sally Gabb
The Seven Principles
June 5, 2010
The Seven Principles
The Religious Education program
Join us as we take a look at the seven UU
principles from a child’s point of view and
celebrate with the children of our church school.THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES
The Religious Education program
Join us as we take a look at the seven UU
principles from a child’s point of view and
celebrate with the children of our church school.