First Unitarian Stewardship

“I am an atheist— yet my decision a dozen years ago to join the choir at First Unitarian has opened a gigantic window of personal (dare I say, spiritual?) growth for me, and, though I shudder to hear myself say it, I think that I have become a ‘minister’ of music as a result”.  David Spanagel My family began attending worship services at First Unitarian when our son reached kindergarten age.  Having been unchurched myself, the weekly Sunday ritual started out very much as a chore that I had little desire for.  The one dimension of weekly worship services that did really brighten my whole outlook was the music I heard and shared at First Unitarian.   I gloried in the power of the organ chords as they penetrated the entire space of the sanctuary, and I marveled at the ambition of the choir’s classical music repertoire.   Occasionally, I even felt a transcendent chill of beauty and truth in the sounds that emanated from the sol...

We’ve endured one of the most dramatic and difficult organizational changes when we lost our beloved Ministers – so significant was that loss that I decided that no matter what, I wanted to remain here … [and] we’ve flourished … we have held together by holding one another together.  Jane Beckwith More than ten years ago, like so many others, we were “church–shopping” and came upon this church as one in a series of visits.  When we arrived and saw the sanctuary, witnessed everyone enjoying one another before the service started, watched as the service evolved, then heard the Choir sing, and then heard Reverend Merritt’s sermon, we knew this was to be our church.  As many have also said before me, I never knew there was a place like this, nor did I know that I was in search of such a place.  We joined the church two weeks later – that’s how sure we were, in our hearts if not yet in our heads. In the past few years, I’ve understood better what’s so very sp...

Religion is far more than what happens on Sunday morning.  What’s most important is how what happens on Sunday morning shapes and influences our actions all week long.   I’ve long seen religion as a matter of behavior.  Life-Span Faith Development implies to me that we never stop trying to apply our faith in our everyday interactions with others.  Paul Ropp I first came to First Unitarian to sing in the choir, and for two years, I saw that as my only responsibility (even though we loved the Sunday services and were impressed with the choir community).  One day Barbara Merritt mentioned that on average people attend the church for two years before joining.  Marj and I both had the same thought at the same time:  “We come every Sunday and appreciate the experience, we might as well sign up as members.”  After that, we began to stay for coffee hour and we quickly got to know people beyond our friends in the choir. Among those people w...

“I believed that my day job as an RN in the Pediatric ICU at UMass would make it easy for me to handle a bunch of teenagers.  However, I was surprised to encounter teens willing to gain more knowledge in their spiritual quest and to learn how to use this in their everyday lives.”   Rudy Cepko   For many years I had not stepped into a church except for weddings and funerals.  In the mid-1990s, my wife, Alesia, started attending church to sing with UU choir.  She was impressed by the message that she heard from Barbara Merritt and suggested that I try the church.  I felt I was in a place that spoke to me, and our son Stefan was enrolled in the Sunday school programs. I had some involvement with church stewardship as a volunteer in the Garden committee.  Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, planting and laying yards of mulch were part of my contribution to the church. Then when my son, Stefan, was in YRU2, he asked if I would be interested in be...

“My formula for being a steward—listen to what fulfills and enhances you, listen to the needs of the community, match what you can give to what is already established—and if it isn’t there—create it”.  Linda Wyatt To me, the Gala is a joyous fundraiser party.   How did I become the chair of the First U Gala?  Several factors:  I love to bring people together.  I wanted to give back to First U congregants-- especially in gratitude for supporting me after I was hit by a car in March, 2011. I had more time because my daughter was older and more independent.  I also was learning about the local music scene and the great musicians associated with our church. I knew the time was right to bring the music to party! I told Scott Hayman, “I know we can do this.  I planned my wedding in three months! Besides I’ve booked the band.  WE CAN AND MUST DO THIS!”   I was fortunate to have committee people who encouraged me and assisted ...

The UUA handbook defines Stewardship as fundamentally spiritual.  The act of giving, whether time, talent or treasure, is, in itself, a form of worship.  Those of us on the Stewardship committee have been fortunate to be inspired by the many stories of those who have responded to the call of service in the programs which make up the life of our community.  You know many of these people, for they are present week after week, year upon year, mentoring our youth, singing in the choir, providing pastoral care, and doing all the small but essential things which enrich our Sunday worship experience. In the next few weeks we want to share some of these stories with you, that you might also be inspired when you understand the deeper meaning which results from all acts of giving.  And we also hope that in being inspired, you might find yourself hearing the call for a deeper commitment to our community, and that in responding to that call you are both a gracious giver and re...

I started going to yoga on Thursday’s and learned more about the church from  some participants in the class. I finally started attending services.  I sit by a window on Sundays,   in this peaceful environment enhanced by the inspiring music,   ending my week with a calming peace and starting my week with a replenished spirit. --Jean McInerney, Membership co-Chair For many years I was searching for a worship community I could relate to.  I signed up for the First Unitarian’s email newsletter and would read it regularly, impressed by all the church does. But after months (actually, if counted, it was years), I decided since I wasn’t attending, I removed myself from the list. At somepoint I was back on the email list. I later found out it was some IT change on First Unitarian’s end. This time I did not remove myself, but I was still not attending Sunday service. I started going to yoga on Thursday’s and learned more about the church from some partici...