Job Posting - Reader for 1 hour a week.

Do you know of anyone in the parish who might like a job as a reader for 1 hour per week, possibly more? The person would have to be able to get to the Jewish Health Center. The daughter of a resident is looking for a good reader to read to her mother who can no longer speak or read. Contact emailmanager@firstunitarian.com for more information.

Lenten Series

Monday evenings Feb 22,March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 (in the Chapel)

Getting to Resurrection: The Journey of the Spirit

Using the Sufi spiritual classic, The Conference of the Birds (trans. C.S. Nott) this six part series is intended for participants to draw their own “maps”, as to where they hope to be going, spiritually, and how they imagine they will get there. The Conference of the Birds is a parable, a collection of short teaching stories, and a beautiful description of how human beings struggle on their path to the Divine. The book is short, and easily accessible to western audiences. We will cover several chapters each week. Rev. Merritt (who will be leading this series) will be ordering 10 copies of the book from Amazon, for $10 a piece. (First come, first serve). They will be available at the welcome Table on Feb 14th. (e-mail her at bmerritt@firstunitarian.com if you would like to reserve a copy)

Wheel of Life February 6, 2010

Our deepest sympathy goes to Rick and Madeline Silva and their family on the death of Rick's mother, Dorothy Silva, on January 27, 2010 at the age of 89.

Strategic Planning Committee

For an advance copy of the Strategic Planning Committee's proposed Vision for 2015. This will be discussed at the annual meeting.

The Strategic Planning Committee Report also shows how this Vision fits with our Covenant, the Values Statement (2005), the Vision, and our potential Strategies, Objectives and Goals.

http://www.firstunitarian.com/PDF4Display/Strategic_Planning_Outline_Jan_2010.pdf

An Experiment in Listening at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco

What: Screening of Documentary Video Made at WPI's Project Center in Morocco
When: 6:30 -8:30, Friday February 5th
Where: Salisbury Labs 115

Come hear what Moroccan students have to say about what they want to do after they graduate, what they think about the United States, why they cover their hair (or don't), what it means to them to be Muslim, and much more!

Just Like Us: An Experiment in Listening at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco is a documentary video that provides an in-depth perspective of the attitudes, aspirations, and lives of Moroccan students at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. The project was implemented while studying abroad through Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Global Perspective Program in August-October of 2008.

Submitted by Linea Palmer Paton

Help Host IHN Guests

Have you been considering signing up to help host the guests for the Interfaith Hospitality Network? Well, now it the time to get into action! Our guests arrive on Sunday. They will stay for 2 weeks. This is a huge challenge for us, but I know we are up to it! We have 5 adults, 3 youth, and 2 infants - one of which is only 2 weeks old!

We are in need of the following -
*help with move in BEFORE church at around 9:30am
*set up of classrooms as bedrooms AFTER the church service and the annual meeting.
*one person/family to host dinner on Thursday 2/11 with Linda Carney

HUGE NEED FOR Overnight Hosts - we need 2 people from our congregation to stay overnight with our guests to help them in case an emergency arises, or they have questions regarding the building. Arrival at 7pm and depart at 7am the following morning. In the morning just make sure everyone is awake, perhaps prep some coffee, and they will depart the building by 7am.
*2 hosts - SUNDAY 1/31
*2 hosts - Tuesday 2/2
*1 host - 2/3, 2/4. 2/5, 2/9, 2/10, 2/11, 2/12
*2 hosts - Saturday 2/13

Supplies
*week 2/7 - 2 cases bottles water, 5 liters soda (FYI - great sale right now at CVS if you buy 12-6 packs, get $10 Xtra-care bucks back)
*we need 4 people who will agree to be "supply runners" - people we can call if we need to restock supplies during the week to purchase the supplies and bring them over to the church the next day)

Thank you for the consideration! Please call the church office at 508-757-2708 or email office@firstunitarian.com for contact information.

Qi Kong, Talented Young Pianist from China

A gifted young artist from China, pianist Qi Kong, will be giving a free concert in the sanctuary of the First Unitarian church on Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 12 noon, playing works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Stravinsky. This 16-yr-old virtuoso was first prize winner of the 2009 Bösendorfer and Schimmel International Piano Competitions (junior division) after winning several competitions in his native China. He studies with Ms. Wha Kyn Byun and Mr. Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attends Walnut Hill School in Natick. Qi Kong was brought to our attention by Sally Jiang, a member of our choir. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear this extraordinarily talented young classical musician.