< Back 2023 Annual Report For the 2022-23 church year; submitted by the leadership, staff, and committee chairs of FCB Previous Next

The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. Food, Alcohol and Permits Food and Beverage Policies Food and alcohol service must follow Town of Belmont regulations. Caterers require a permit (apply at least 30 days in advance). Alcohol service requires a certified bartender and insurance naming the church as additional insured. Selling alcohol also requires a one-day liquor license from the town. Some events serving alcohol may require a paid police detail (determined by the Town). Takeout food (e.g. pizza, deli platters) does not require a permit. Church kitchen includes a standing freezer and refrigerator. Church does not provide linens, dish ware , cutlery, coffee makers, or an ice machine. Apply for catering permit Apply for liquor license Police detail information

Drop-In Meditation September 9 · 11:00 AM · Sanctuary Join us for a weekly drop-in meditation on Wednesdays from 11:00–11:50 am in the Library. Sessions include both walking and sitting meditation, led by Eleanor Hobbs. All are welcome. For questions or more information, email Eleanor at meditation@uubelmont.org.

Annual Church Picnic June 14 · 11:30 AM · Town Green Join us on June 14 for our end-of-year celebration with burgers, hot dogs, salads, and a raffle! Bring a salad to share to be entered in a raffle. CLICK HERE to sign up to help or to tell us what terrific salad you are sharing! Cost is $10/adult, $5/child, $30 max per family, payable at the picnic. Contact Michael at fellowship@uubelmont.org for more information. Recurring annual event info here

FCB Sangha January 26 · 7:30 PM · Online The FCB Sangha meets weekly throughout the year on Mondays 7:30 PM lasting one hour. It features a democratically run organization where participants can sign up to either offer the opening candle, or a 20 minute reading, followed by 30 minutes of sacred silence and a closing

Family Members of Adult Children Who Are Struggling January 11 · 5:00 PM · Conference Room Join our support group for parents of adult children facing emotional challenges or mental health diagnoses at 5:00 pm in the Conference Room. Email Nina at a dultchildrenstruggling@uubelmont.org for more information and the upcoming schedule. We are an established group of family members of adult children who have serious mental health diagnoses and/or are struggling to cope with everyday life. We meet once a month to give space to those in crisis, and if there's time, we address a topic that concerns us such as "Siblings", "How to answer the questions and comments of others about our loved ones", "Difficult decisions we must make to preserve our own health and wellbeing". We create safety to speak openly, but there is no obligation to speak. We laugh, we cry, we support each other but don't try to fix, and we always review our rule of 100% confidentiality. There is also no obligation to come every month, but regular attendance creates more safety and trust in the group to explore difficult, even painful topics.

Author Falwell Event with Henry Frost March 19 · 3:30 PM · Parish Hall Author Illustrator Cathryn Falwell is thrilled to join us for a book reading and craft event for families on Thursday, March 19th from 4:30-5:30. Belmont Books will be present to sell signed books as well. Contact- Iris Ponte iris@irisponte.com Notes from Iris email: Author Illustrator Cathryn Falwell is thrilled that Thursday, March 19th from 4:30-5:30 will work out. We should have the same set up as last time- auditorium seating in the front with a mic and then craft space set up in the back. I will be speaking with her this week about her craft project and what materials she needs and loop you in. This is a flyer [in Iris’s email] we used for her post COVID. Feel free to lift the content for the new flyer ! This time she will be focusing on her book David’s Drawings and connecting it to her love of Trees. I am assuming that you want to create the flyer since your team is better at it than me. Also the Patel Family (former student) is donating all funds for Falwell’s royalty so I would also like to recognize that. Let me know if you need more information or images. SETUP NEEDS from Iris (sent 3/11/26): Screen/projector audience set up in the front for about 50-60 people and then standing tables to craft in the back- maybe 4-5 craft tables for children to stand at? Also I think we just need one mic. Also parents loved that toddler area in the back you set up Martha! If that is possible again it would be amazing. Belmont Books will need a table in the back for their book sales as well. As for craft materials- one of our teachers has a special craft cutter for the leaves and we have a copy machine to make the trees. Martha if you have glue sticks that would be great. If not no worries I can pull some together!

Musical Performance No. 3, Cast A November 21 · 7:00 PM · Parish Hall The Wizard of Oz! Presented by the Children's Choirs

Create a SIGN for No Kings 3 March for Democracy March 27 · 6:00 PM · Parish Hall The Social Action Committee is sponsoring a No Kings sign-making session following the weekly Friday Night Stand-Out Against ICE and For Democracy. Get your sign ready for the third, nationwide No Kings demonstrations on Saturday, March 28. Join us for pizza and sign-making in community. Bring your own supplies or use ours. Sign suggestions provided. RSVP to socialaction@uubelmont.org .

Friday Night Stand-Out Against ICE and For Democracy May 8 · 5:00 PM · Offsite Join us to protest ICE actions and to defend the Constitution and Democracy, every Friday evening from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm, in front of the church. Bring your own signs and your voice.

SoUUper Lunch April 29 · 12:00 PM · Kitchen Come Join us for SoUUper Lunch Every Wednesday at noon. Soup, salad, bread, dessert and great conversations. No reservations required!

Near Death Experiences: Life, Death, and Consciousness March 19 · 7:00 PM · Library Explore together the phenomena of near death experiences, end of life visions, shared death experiences, terminal lucidity, and spiritually transformative experiences. Meets on March 19 and 26 at 7:00 pm. Contact Hugh Robinson at hrobin02@gmail.com . Register here today!