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< Back 2023 Annual Meeting Agenda For the 167th Annual Meeting on June 11, 2023 Previous Next

Throughout the history of the First Church in Belmont, the music program has played a central role for children and youth. Typically, the year starts out with a fully staged, full length musical with a cast made up of all three of our children’s choirs. Children + Youth Choir Register Today DSC01404 musical-e1567280092382 DSC01642 DSC01404 1/5 Throughout the history of The First Church, the music program has played a central role for children and youth. Typically, the year starts out with a fully staged, full length musical with a cast made up of all three of our children’s choirs. The youngest children form small choruses that perform throughout the show, and children in grades 5 and up have the opportunity to audition for solo and lead roles. This is an all-inclusive show, so everyone is given a part, no matter what! Performances are usually in the middle of November. After Thanksgiving, the regular choir season begins, in which all cast members of the musical must participate. The three children’s choirs present music four times in services throughout the year, and play a central role in the Christmas Eve services. Presented by The First Church in Belmont, UU The First Church Children's Choir season starts every year with a fully staged musical. This year we will be performing 13: The Musical, with music by Jason Robert Brown, based in the book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. Synopsis Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents' divorce. Surrounded by an array of typical middle school students, he struggles to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. 13 is a show that will resonate with many teens these days. Key Contacts Ian Garvie - Music Director Laura Couch - Children’s Choir Assistant Director Kara Sassone - Project Manager Questions? Email YouthMusic@uubelmont.org Performance Dates Thursday, November 20 - 5:30 pm - CAST A Friday, November 21 - 7:00 pm - CAST B Saturday, November 22 - 7:00 pm - CAST A Sunday, November 23 - 3:00 pm - CAST B Production Start Date Sunday, September 7th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, there will be a parent orientation and information session for all interested participants. A pizza lunch will be provided for the children, and they will get a chance to watch the Netflix movie version of the show. In general, rehearsals from September through November will be on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings for all participants, and on Thursday evenings as well for 5th Grade and up. Additional Tuesday rehearsals will be asked of lead actors. After Thanksgiving, rehearsals for all ages will be on Monday evenings. This space will be updated with more details as we get closer to the start of rehearsals. Register Today The Junior Choir Pre-Kindergarten through 1st Grade The Junior Choir is for singers from Pre-Kindergarten through 1st Grade. After the musical, rehearsals are Monday evenings from 5:30 - 6:10pm. Singers learn about healthy singing, how to match pitch, and they begin to learn to read music The Chancel Choir 2nd - 4th Grade The Chancel Choir is for singers in 2nd through 4th Grades. After the musical, rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6:15-7:00pm. Singers continue to practice reading music singing in parts. They also learn to sing in numerous other languages, including German, Latin, Spanish, Hebrew, and others. The Youth Choir 5th - 12th Grade The Youth Choir is for singers in 5th through 12th Grades. Rehearsals after the musical are Monday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm. Youth Choir members further their understanding of musical concepts, and learn to sing mixed chorus pieces in three, four, and sometimes even more parts. The Alumni Choir Young Adult Alumni The Alumni Choir is formed of former Youth Choir members who return to sing at the 11pm Christmas Eve service. This is a wonderful opportunity for singers to reconnect with old friends, as well as to once again make music together.

The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. An LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people. As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to: honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation. celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship. incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education. affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history. affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings. advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake. We recognize that there’s always something more to learn, and remain open to deepening our understanding about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

From nursery care to refurbishing furniture, we have many volunteer opportunities for the Children’s Religious Education (CRE) program. Contact Nate Sellers, the Director of CRE for more details. VOLUNTEER Volunteer opportunities in the Children’s Religious Education (CRE) program Nursery We need occasional subs when one of our nursery caregivers is away or ill. This is a chance to spend time with some special young ones. How long has it been since you rocked a baby or played trains with a toddler? PreK + Kindergarden This age group offers the chance to interact with children who show great delight and make priceless comments – and will joyfully hug you in supermarkets shouting, “There’s my teacher!” Spend a morning with them reading a story, making a craft and creating castles out of blocks. Teaching Religious Education Ours is a cooperative religious education program. We need parents and members of the congregation to help teach our Sunday morning classes. Teams of four teachers are needed for each classroom during each service. Inexperienced teachers are paired with more experienced ones. You can sign up to help for one semester or for the full year. We can work around your schedule if you are not available to be in the classroom every week. Sharing Faith Traditions Our Neighboring Faiths program and our World Religions curricula really benefit from having guests who can share their knowledge of and experience with various faith traditions. Join the class for a single week to talk about the ideas, rituals and celebrations of Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Quakerism, Wicca, etc. Facilitating OWL The Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Education curricula are a valuable gift we give our middle school youth. We offer OWL for 5th and 6th graders and a longer, more in depth session for 8thgraders. OWL facilitators need to be officially trained and certified to teach (the training cost is funded by OWL class fees). CRE Committee The Children’s Religious Education (CRE) Committee meets once per month. The committee sets the goals and priorities for the Children’s RE program, reviews and selects curricula, helps recruit teachers and oversees policies and procedures as needed. We welcome newcomers, especially those whose children have graduated out of the program and parents of young children. Get Creative Calling all talented crafters, sewers, quilters, and those who love to prepare craft materials – we have projects for you! Our curricula would be enhanced by (simple!) costumes. Also, we want to help create quilts for Renewal House children, and we’d like to make cloths for the classroom altars. There are also many craft projects that need to be prepared and we’d eagerly accept help in arranging classroom displays. Refurbishing Furniture Our younger children’s chairs date from long ago. While still sturdy, they are in need of refinishing. The seats need sanding and varnishing and the metal frames need to be sanded and painted. Chairs could be worked one at a time in your home at your own pace.

The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. Welcome to the First Church Bylaws Page Questions? Contact us at bylaws@uubelmont.org Special Meeting Documents Bylaws '10 Current First Church Bylaws: Amended and Restated at the Annual Meeting Held on April 2, 2023 Current First Church Bylaws (April 2023) ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATION Section 1.01. The name of this church and corporation shall be “The First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist” (the “Church”). Section 1.02. The Church shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. ARTICLE II – COVENANT, PRINCIPLES, AND INCLUSION Section 2.01. [Reserved for a new Church covenant to be duly approved by the Members.] Section 2.02. The Church affirms and promotes the following principles: The inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and society at large. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Section 2.03. The Church affirms and promotes the full participation of all persons in all the Church’s activities and endeavors, including membership, programming, committee involvement, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals, without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, age, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, veteran or military status, disability, class, economic status, or national origin. ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP Section 3.01. All persons (a) who are members of the Church upon the adoption of these amended and restated Bylaws, or who become members thereafter, and (b) who maintain a continuing interest in the worship and work of the Church, shall constitute the membership of the Church (“Members”). To become a Member, a person must be at least eighteen years of age, express the desire to join the Church by completing a membership process determined by the Parish Board or its designee, sign the Membership book, and be approved by a vote of the Parish Board. No doctrinal test shall be required. Section 3.02. Each Member shall be listed on the Membership Roll by the Clerk of the Church or by the Parish Board’s designee. At least annually, and no later than one month before the Annual Meeting, the Membership Roll shall be updated and verified by the Clerk or the Parish Board’s designee. Names of Members who for a period of two years have neither communicated with the Church nor contributed to its support, may, by vote of the Parish Board, be removed from the Membership Roll, provided that, before such a vote, an attempt has been made to ascertain the wishes of Members to be voted upon. Any Member so removed may apply to be reinstated following the process established in Section 3.01. Section 3.03. A Member may withdraw from membership by making a written request to the Church. Section 3.04. A person under the age of eighteen but of high school age may become a Youth Member of the Church by completing a process determined by the Parish Board or its designee, signing its Youth Membership book, and being approved by a vote of the Parish Board. Youth Members shall be listed on the Youth Membership Roll. To continue Church membership upon reaching age eighteen, a Youth Member must become a Member, as described in Section 3.01. Section 3.05. A Member’s name may be removed from the Membership Roll, by a vote of the Parish Board, for actions that threaten the well-being of the congregation, as determined by the Parish Board. ARTICLE IV – VOTING ELIGIBILITY The right to vote at Annual and Special Meetings of the Church may be exercised by all Members and Youth Members who were listed on the Membership Roll and Youth Membership Roll as of at least seven days before the Meeting. Youth Members may not vote on matters of property and contract. No proxies shall be recognized. ARTICLE V – MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH Section 5.01. The Annual Meeting of the Church shall be held in May or June at a time and place in Belmont to be designated by the Parish Board or, on failure to make such designation, at 12:30 PM on the second Sunday in June in the Church building. The Annual Meeting shall be presided over by the President of the Parish Board for the purpose of the election of the members of the Parish Board, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Committee on Ministry; the approval of an annual budget as presented by the Parish Board; and the transaction of such other business as may lawfully come before the Meeting. Section 5.02. Special Meetings may be called by the Parish Board, and Special Meetings shall be called by the Parish Board upon the written request of twenty-five Members. Special Meetings shall be presided over by the President of the Parish Board, and shall be held only for the purposes specified in the call. Section 5.03. Fifteen percent of the Members listed on the Membership Roll shall constitute a quorum at an Annual or Special Meeting. Except where provided otherwise in these Bylaws, the Members at an Annual or Special Meeting shall act by majority vote of the Members present and voting at such Meeting, provided a quorum exists at the time of the vote. Section 5.04. At least two weeks before the Annual Meeting or any Special Meeting, notice of, and the purposes for, such meeting shall be sent to the Members by first-class mail or electronic communication, shall be announced during Sunday services, and shall be posted prominently in the Church Building. Section 5.05. At least one month before the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall nominate a slate of candidates as required to fill those positions on the Parish Board, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Committee on Ministry that are to be elected at such Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee shall send the slate of names to the Clerk, who shall give notice to the Members at least three weeks before the Annual Meeting. Other nominations may be made in writing, signed by ten Members of the Church, and delivered at least ten days before the date of the Annual Meeting to the Clerk or the President of the Parish Board, who shall give notice to the Members at least five days before the Annual Meeting. All candidates for election to, and all members of, the Parish Board, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Committee on Ministry shall be Members of the Church, and no ballot for any person other than those nominated as described above shall be received or counted at the election. ARTICLE VI – PARISH BOARD Section 6.01. The officers of the Church shall consist of a President of the Parish Board, a Vice President, a Clerk, and a Treasurer. The immediate Past President shall serve on the Parish Board ex officio in a non-voting capacity, and there shall be seven at-large trustees. The four officers, the seven at-large trustees, and the Past President together shall constitute the Parish Board. Management of the Church and its operations shall be vested in the Parish Board. Section 6.02. Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, the Parish Board shall act by majority vote of its voting members present and voting at meetings of the Parish Board where a quorum exists at the time of the vote. A quorum of the Parish Board shall exist if more than half of the voting members of the Parish Board are present in person, by telephone, or via the internet or other electronic communication technology, and provided that the meeting setup allows for everyone to hear one another and to speak. Section 6.03. The President, Vice President, Clerk, and Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and shall serve one year and until a successor is elected. Officers may be elected to additional one-year terms, subject to the limits in this Section 6.03 and in Section 6.05. Should the President or Vice President serve three consecutive years in such capacity, they may not be again elected to the same post until the expiration of at least one intervening year. Section 6.04. At each Annual Meeting, at-large trustees shall be elected to fill open at- large seats for one, two, or three years to achieve a reasonable balance of staggered terms, as proposed by the Nominating Committee or others in accordance with Section 5.05. Should an at-large trustee serve three consecutive years in such capacity, they may not be again elected as an at-large trustee until the expiration of at least one intervening year. Section 6.05. No individual shall serve on the Parish Board for more than five consecutive years, except the Treasurer, who may serve additional years with the express approval of the Members at a Special or Annual Meeting. Section 6.06. The Parish Board shall possess all the powers of the Church except as otherwise limited by these Bylaws and as may be otherwise voted by a Special or Annual Meeting of the Church, but it shall not, without the specific authorization of the Members, have power (a) to convey or mortgage real estate, or (b) to choose or to set the term of employment of the Senior Minister. The Parish Board may appoint individuals (such as an assistant to the Treasurer, or consultants) and standing and special committees of an advisory nature to assist in its work. The Parish Board, after consulting with the Nominating Committee, shall have power to fill (but only until the next Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting called for that purpose) all vacancies in its membership that occur between Annual Meetings, including the offices of President, Vice President, Clerk, Treasurer, and at-large trustees. ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF PARISH BOARD OFFICERS Section 7.01. The President of the Parish Board shall, in addition to any other duties prescribed in these Bylaws, preside at all Annual and Special Meetings of the Church and all Parish Board meetings, shall be a voting member ex officio of all committees of the Church except the Nominating Committee, and shall work jointly with the chair of the Committee on Ministry to conduct the annual performance review of the Senior Minister. Section 7.02. The Vice President shall, in addition to any other duties prescribed by the Parish Board, substitute for the President of the Parish Board in the President’s absence. Section 7.03. The Clerk shall, in addition to any other duties prescribed in these Bylaws, keep the minutes of Annual and Special Meetings of the Church and meetings of the Parish Board. Section 7.04. The Treasurer shall have custody of all operating funds of the Church. The Treasurer shall disburse operating funds under the direction and to the satisfaction of the Parish Board; shall keep a complete account of the finances of the Church on books (including electronic books maintained in standard financial software), which shall remain the property of the Church, and which shall be open for inspection at any time by any member of the Parish Board; shall render a financial statement at the Annual Meeting of the Church; and shall perform such other treasury functions as assigned by the Parish Board. The Treasurer shall be a voting member ex officio of the Finance Committee. ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES Section 8.01. The Church shall have various standing committees to oversee the programmatic and administrative functions of the Church. The Church’s standing committees shall include a Nominating Committee, a Finance Committee, and a Committee on Ministry, as well as such other committees as may be established from time to time by the Parish Board. Except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws, the number, duties, size, and membership of the Church’s standing committees shall be determined by the Parish Board. The members of the Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, and Committee on Ministry shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Parish Board, after consulting with the Nominating Committee, shall have power to fill (but only until the next Annual Meeting) all vacancies on the Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, and Committee on Ministry. Section 8.02. Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, the Nominating Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Committee on Ministry shall each act by majority vote of the Committee's voting members present and voting at the Committee’s meetings where a quorum exists at the time of the vote. A quorum shall exist if more than half of the Committee's members (not counting ex officio members) are present in person, by telephone, or via the internet or other electronic communication technology, and provided that the meeting setup allows for everyone to hear one another and to speak. Section 8.03. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of six members who shall each serve for staggered terms of up to three years. No member who has served for three consecutive years shall again be elected to the Nominating Committee until the expiration of at least one intervening year, and no member may be a candidate for any other elected office before the expiration of the member’s term on the Nominating Committee. In addition to such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Parish Board, the Nominating Committee shall be responsible for nominating, and submitting for election at the Annual Meeting, a slate of candidates for the open positions on the Parish Board, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Committee on Ministry, as described in Section 5.05. Section 8.04. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall consist of a minimum of four, and a maximum of eight, elected members, with the exact number of members established from time to time by the Parish Board. Members of the Finance Committee shall serve staggered terms of up to three years, with the specific terms for individual members determined by the Nominating Committee in order to achieve a reasonable balance of staggered terms. No member who has served for six consecutive years shall again be elected to the Finance Committee until the expiration of at least one intervening year. The President and Treasurer shall serve as voting ex officio members on the Finance Committee, but they shall not count toward a quorum. In addition to such duties as may be assigned to it by the Parish Board, the Finance Committee shall (a) assess the financial well-being of the Church, (b) advise the Parish Board on matters relating to the generation of revenue, the expenditure of monies, and the investment of funds, and (c) appoint members of the Investment Fund Management Committee and oversee the Investment Guidelines as provided in Article X. The Finance Committee shall report to the Members at the Annual Meeting and at such other times as the Committee deems necessary. Section 8.05. Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall consist of six to nine members who shall each serve for staggered terms of up to three years, with the exact number of members established from time to time by the Parish Board. No member who has served for three consecutive years shall again be elected to the Committee on Ministry until the expiration of at least one intervening year. In addition to such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Parish Board, the Committee on Ministry shall engage with the congregation, both in groups and individually, to solicit feedback about the Church’s ministries and congregational experience. The Committee on Ministry shall report its findings at least annually to the Parish Board and the Senior Minister, and shall provide a report at the Annual Meeting. The chair of the Committee on Ministry shall work jointly with the Parish Board President to conduct the annual performance review of the Senior Minister. Section 8.06. Ad hoc committees may be authorized by the Parish Board. The makeup of each ad hoc committee, its purpose, and its longevity shall be determined by the Parish Board. ARTICLE IX – SENIOR MINISTER AND STAFF Section 9.01. The staff of the Church shall be composed of the Senior Minister and such other ministers and employees as may be authorized by the Parish Board. Section 9.02. The Senior Minister shall be in fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association and shall be called by ballot of the Members of the Church present in a Special Meeting called for that purpose. A vote of a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting shall constitute approval. The Senior Minister shall have freedom of the pulpit, but the Senior Minister’s compensation and conditions of employment (other than its duration) shall be determined by the Parish Board. Section 9.03. Subject to any provision to the contrary in the authorized contract between the Senior Minister and the Church, the employment of the Senior Minister by the Church may be terminated by either party’s giving not less than three months’ written notice, the Church acting in such regard through the Parish Board upon the mandate of a majority vote of the Members present and voting at a Special Meeting of the Church. The Parish Board may call such a Special Meeting only upon a vote of at least two-thirds of the entire voting membership of the Parish Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.03, if so requested by the Senior Minister, the Parish Board shall have the authority to negotiate a resignation of the Senior Minister. Section 9.04. In the event of a vacancy in the position of the Senior Minister, a Search Committee shall be established as an ad hoc committee, in accordance with these Bylaws, for the purpose of identifying, screening, and bringing to the Church for consideration a candidate for the position of Senior Minister. Section 9.05. The Parish Board shall set the compensation and conditions of employment of other employees of the Church. ARTICLE X – INVESTMENT FUNDS Section 10.01. The Church shall have a separate investment fund (the “Fund”) consisting of bequests, memorial gifts, and gifts specifically designated for the Fund. The purpose of the Fund shall be to assure the long-range financial health of the Church, to help the Church manage and survive financial emergencies, and to fund capital needs and special projects that further the mission of the Church. The Fund shall be governed by the Investment Fund Management Committee, appointed by the Finance Committee, which shall be responsible for the investment of, and distributions from, the Fund, in accordance with Investment Guidelines established by the Finance Committee. The Investment Guidelines shall, among other provisions, require the Investment Fund Management Committee to make periodic reports about the Fund to the Finance Committee as well as make a report at the Annual Meeting. Section 10.02. The Investment Fund Management Committee is authorized and empowered, acting through its Chair, to hold, sell, exchange, rent, lease, transfer, convert, invest, reinvest, and in all other respects manage and control the assets of the Fund pursuant to the Investment Guidelines and subject to any restrictions placed on gifts and bequests when they are given to the Church (the “Restrictions”). The Investment Fund Management Committee shall act in its sole judgment and discretion as it deems wise and prudent, and without further approvals, for any proposed investment or distribution that is consistent with the Investment Guidelines and the Restrictions. Section 10.03. Any proposed investment or distribution that is not consistent with the Investment Guidelines shall be transacted only upon approval of either (a) a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Finance Committee, and a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Parish Board, or (b) a majority vote of the Members present and voting at the Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting called for that purpose. Any investment or distribution to be made under the preceding sentence must still comply with the Restrictions. The Finance Committee shall make such changes as necessary to the Investment Guidelines to accurately reflect any votes taken under this Section 10.03. Section 10.04. In addition to any changes to the Investment Guidelines made under Section 10.03, the Finance Committee may periodically adjust the Investment Guidelines upon a majority vote. Following such approval, the Finance Committee shall promptly notify the Parish Board President of the proposed changes to the Investment Guidelines, and such new Investment Guidelines shall automatically take effect within 60 days of said notice to the Parish Board President unless such changes are explicitly rejected by a majority vote of the Parish Board. ARTICLE XI – INDEMNIFICATION The Church shall indemnify any person who is or was a Trustee or Officer of the Parish Board, or others as determined by the Parish Board, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in the scope of that person’s duties or functions within the Church to the maximum extent allowable by law, provided the person acted in good faith and did not engage in an act or omission that is intentional, is willfully or wantonly negligent, or is done with conscious indifference to or reckless disregard for the safety of others. The provisions of this article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such persons may be entitled under any agreement, insurance policy, vote of Members, or otherwise. ARTICLE XII – RULES The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern the Church in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or special rules of order of the Church. ARTICLE XIII – DISSOLUTION Section 13.01. At a Special Meeting called for the purpose, and by a two-thirds majority vote of all the Members listed on the Membership Roll (counting those absent as well as those present), the Church may vote its dissolution. Section 13.02. If the Members vote to dissolve the Church pursuant to Section 13.01, there shall be a second vote to direct that the property of the Church be assigned to one or more religious or charitable organizations that have under the Internal Revenue Code the exemption status then enjoyed by the Church as a religious or charitable organization; provided, however, that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed to impair a contrary limitation of title validly imposed by a donor to the Church. This second vote shall be by a majority vote of the Members present and voting at either (a) the same meeting as the vote to dissolve the Church, or (b) a subsequent Special Meeting called for the purpose. ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENT Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting at the Annual Meeting or any Special Meeting of the Church, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been fully set forth in the call for and in the notice of such Meeting.

We are a welcoming congregation dedicated to nurturing each other spiritually through meaningful sermons, joyful music, authentic, non-judgmental social connections, and a shared commitment to justice, peace and conscientious stewardship of our planet. Who we are Hello! We welcome you; your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts—your worries and your hopes. The First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist is a mid-sized church of over 400 members and friends. We incorporate other faiths and humanist values into our worship and activities and welcome people from all religious backgrounds or no religious background. We welcome people who are married or single, straight or gay, with children or without. For individuals who may feel uncertainty about the religion of their upbringing or for families who are blending two or more religious faiths, First Church is a particularly welcoming community. For those who feel something is missing in their day-to-day lives, but are unsure whether church is for them, we encourage you to visit us. As a faith community, we strive to nurture each other spiritually through meaningful sermons, joyful music, authentic, non-judgmental social connections and a shared commitment to justice, peace and conscientious stewardship of our planet. Come see for yourself if First Church is what you are looking for to enrich the lives of yourself and your family. Our Vision We honor the holiness in one another and in all that is. Living mindfully, we serve our community and our world. Our Mission Worship together as a Unitarian Universalist community Foster the spiritual growth of individuals of all ages and inspire one another to grow personally Welcome all people and celebrate the diverse gifts that each person brings to our community Relate to one another and our community through all the cycles and circumstances of our lives Promote social justice Share the vision, longings, and wisdom of each generation Relate to one another with integrity and compassion, facing conflict as an opportunity for growth Our Symbol: The Flaming Chalice A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently. Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. To Unitarian Universalists today the flaming chalice is a symbol of hope, the sacred, the quest for truth, the warmth of community, the light of reason, and more. We light a flaming chalice in worship to create a reverent space for reflection, prayer, meditation, and singing. Would you like to light the chalice at one of our services? FCB BYLAWS MEET THE STAFF FCB PROGRAM COUNCIL

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The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. Our Partner Church First Church Belmont has an active partnership with the Unitarian Church of Désfalva, Transylvania. Since 1990, pilgrims have traveled between the two congregations every few years to share fellowship and to support each other’s spiritual journeys. Education Fund The Transylvania Partner Church Education Fund was established in 2001 to provide financial support to high school and university students of Désfalva who otherwise could not attend school. With no high school in the village, students commute to or live in distant towns to continue their education and pay out-of-pocket for books, travel, room and board. The fund provides each student an annual stipend to help defray these expenses. We support 10-15 students each year. Your gift of any size will help First Church continue its critical role in funding this important program. Get Involved and Connect Visit their website Check out their Facebook Désfalva Tune in on YouTube Learn more about the UU Partnership Council

The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. Frequently Asked Question About FellowshipOne For Groups Back To Giving Jump To: What are Fellowship One Groups? Why should I use Fellowship One to manage my Group? How do I get a Fellowship One account? How do I get to Fellowship One to see my Groups? How do I see the Groups I manage? Can I download a list of everyone in my Group with their contact information? How do I add someone to one of my Groups? How do I remove someone from one of my Groups? What is the difference between Adding someone to my Group and Inviting them to join my Group? Can I email my Group? Do my Group members need to have a Fellowship One account to receive email I send? When I send email to my Group what email address does it come from? Why can’t group members do a “Reply All” to emails from Fellowship One? Why should I record Attendance? How do I record Attendance for a meeting of my Group? Can I correct meeting attendance if I make a mistake? Can Fellowship One send automatic meeting reminders? How do I change my Group’s meeting schedule or location? What if my Group meets on a different date and time than our regular schedule? What if my Group doesn’t meet at our regularly scheduled date and time? Can a Group have more than one Leader? How are Group Leaders different from Group Administrators? What are Group Prospects and what should I do about them? Can I use my mobile device to manage my Groups? Where can I learn more about Fellowship One in general? 1. What are Fellowship One Groups? A Group is what Fellowship One calls any collection of people that come together at the church on a regular basis. At First Church, each of our committees, governing bodies, small group ministries, and ongoing adult programs is a Group. Groups have leaders and members. Group leaders and members can use Fellowship One to see who belongs to their group and connect with others in the group. 2. Why should I use Fellowship One to manage my Group? Using Fellowship One helps you and helps the church – at the same time! With Fellowship One, you can see a list of all the members of your group with their latest contact information. You can send emails to everyone in the group, or just a subset of people. (No more email snafus!) You can download a list of people in your group. You can add people, remove people and invite people to your group. Did you know that there are almost 70 different groups at First Church? That’s a lot of groups for our church keep track of! When you use Fellowship One to manage your group it helps the church maintain an up-to-date view of our groups and members. This picture of the church helps us enormously as we seek to foster community, boost volunteerism, and build stewardship. 3. How do I get a Fellowship One account? If you don’t have an account yet, you can create an account. 4. How do I get to Fellowship One to see my Groups? You can always get to Fellowship One from the First Church website. Go to uubelmont.org and click Our Church / Membership / Fellowship One. Want to go straight there now? Here’s the link for Fellowship One. Once you’re there, we recommend creating a bookmark in your browser for easy access. 5. How do I see the Groups I manage? To see Groups that you lead (and belong to): Go to Fellowship One Click “Your Groups” from the list or click the “Groups” tab in the upper left hand corner of the page. Click on a group that you lead. You’ll see 4 tabs that let you do all sorts of things. Try them out and see what you can do. Don’t worry, you won’t break it. 6. Can I download a list of everyone in my Group with their contact information? Yes, you can. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click the Roster tab at the top On the right there is a list of Actions you can take in the Roster section. Click Download CSV for an Excel-readable file (and you can choose the fields you want in the file) Click Download PDF for a pretty presentation including photos and general contact information 7. How do I add someone to one of my Groups? There are three ways to add members to your Group: Add someone to the Group Invite someone to join the Group Wait for someone to ask to join To Add or invite someone to join the Group Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group On the right, under Actions, click Add/Invite someone to Join If a person is known to be in the Group, then simply add them to the Group. If you Invite someone to the Group, that person becomes a Prospect. They are sent an email which includes instructions for registering for Fellowship One. They can then accept the invitation and will become a member or the group and are added to the roster. When someone asks to join they also become a Prospect. You can approve or reject their request. If you approve, they then have to accept your approval to become a member and be added to the roster. .8. How do I remove someone from one of my Groups? If someone is no longer a member of the group, they can be removed from the Roster. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click the Roster tab Click the name of the person to be removed On the right, under Actions, click Remove From Group 9. What is the difference between Adding someone to my Group and Inviting them to join my Group? Inviting someone to the group makes them a prospect and they get an e-mail which includes instructions for registering for Fellowship One. They can then accept the invitation and will become a member of the group and are added to the roster. Adding someone to the group skips the prospect stage. They become a member and are added to the roster. They will not receive an e-mail inviting them to register for Fellowship One. Your group members can always sign up for a Fellowship One account if they don’t yet have one. 10. Can I email my Group? Yes, you can. You can email everyone in the Group, or select which people to email. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group On the right, under Actions, click Send an email to the group. Choose “Send an email to everyone in the group” or “Let me choose which people to email” Type in your Subject and your Message You can include a link in your email by pasting in the URL (you can’t make it pretty, but the link will work when people receive the email) You can attach a file to your email with the “Attach a file” link at the bottom of the screen At the bottom of the screen, click “Send email now” 11. Do my Group members need to have a Fellowship One account to receive email I send? As long as group members appear in your Roster, they will receive all emails that you send to the Group. They don’t need to have a Fellowship One account to receive your emails. While we hope everyone at the church will sign up for an account we realize that some people may choose not to and that’s OK. 12. When I send email to my Group what email address does it come from? When you send an email to your Group, the email comes from fellowshiponemail@activenetwork.com , with a “reply to” that uses the email address you use with Fellowship One, e.g. from: Joe Kelly reply-to: Joe Kelly.02478@gmail.com When group members reply to your email, their reply will go to the email address you use with Fellowship One. If people in your Group are not receiving your emails, they should check their Spam and Promotions folders to make sure that fellowship one emails are not going to Spam. 13. Why can’t group members do a “Reply All” to emails from Fellowship One? We know that this is a feature that would be useful to have in some circumstances. Reply All is not possible because Fellowship One emails do not include the email addresses of the other recipients. This has its pros and cons. On the plus side, it is a privacy feature that reduces unwanted dissemination of personal email addresses. (Ever gotten into trouble because you were supposed to use bcc and forgot?) On the minus side, it means that group members who receive the email cannot send a reply all to the whole group. Group members can still send a reply to the sender and this is sometimes sufficient (and even more appropriate than a Reply All). If group members want to send an email to the whole Group, they can always do that by by going into Fellowship One themselves and emailing the Group. An alternative approach, that will enable “Reply All” and still allow you to use the latest Fellowship One email addresses for your Group members, is to download the emails from Fellowship One and then paste them into your regular email client, e.g. Gmail, Outlook, etc. We also realize that Fellowship One does not support the “Send email to the group” option in the mobile version of its website. This would be a nice feature and we have suggested it to their product team. 14. Why should I record Attendance? We know that recording attendance can feel a bit “Big Brother” for us UUs. But when you record attendance at your meetings it helps the church understand how individuals are involved in the life of the church. This picture of the church helps us enormously as we seek to foster community, boost volunteerism, and build stewardship. 15. How do I record Attendance for a meeting of my Group? Fellowship One makes this easy! Following a scheduled meeting of your Group, Fellowship One will send you an email reminder to Post Attendance. Click the link in the reminder email. Select the check box beside each person who attended. Click Save attendance. (If your Group didn’t meet, you can select Did Not Meet and then Save Attendance.) 16. Can I correct meeting attendance if I make a mistake? Yes, you can. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click on the Attendance tab Choose the attendance date Click Edit Attendance in the upper right corner Edit the attendance as needed Click Save Attendance 17. Can Fellowship One send automatic meeting reminders? Not currently. At present, there is not a way to send automatic meeting reminders for regularly scheduled meetings. However, if you change the scheduled date or time of a meeting, you have the option of notifying your Group members of the change. 18. How do I change my Group’s meeting schedule or location? Go to Fellowship One Click on Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click on the Dashboard tab (you may already be there) On the right, under Actions, click View Settings Click Edit schedule or Edit location. Edit the schedule or location. Under “Notify the Group?”, choose whether or not to notify the Group of the change in schedule or location. Click Save schedule or Save location. 19. What if my Group meets on a different date and time than our regular schedule? You can record attendance for a special or ad hoc meeting. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click on the Attendance tab Click Enter Attendance Under “Post attendance for Group meeting on…”, choose “Add your new event” Select the date and time of your ad hoc meeting Select the check box beside each person who attended Click Save Attendance 20. What if my Group doesn’t meet at our regularly scheduled date and time? You have the option of indicating that your group didn’t meet. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click on the Attendance tab Click on Enter Attendance Choose the date of the missed meeting and check the Did Not Meet box. Enter a reason for why you didn’t meet (this is a required field). If your Group met on a different date than regularly scheduled, you can add attendance for that date. Go to Fellowship One Click Your Groups Click the name of the Group Click on the Attendance tab Click Enter Attendance Under “Post attendance for Group meeting on…”, choose “Add your new event” Select the date and time of your ad hoc meeting Select the check box beside each person who attended Click Save Attendance 21. Can a Group have more than one Leader? Yes. Send an e-mail to fellowshipone@uubelmont.org with the name of the person(s) that should be leaders of your Group. 22. How are Group Leaders different from Group Administrators? Group Leaders can invite or add members to their group, e-mail members, edit the meeting schedule and location, record attendance and view the Roster. Group Administrators can edit details of the Group, such as the group description and search criteria, and help with prospect lists. If you have questions about any aspect of your Group, or you would like to be able to change something about your Group, send an email to fellowshipone@uubelmont.org . 23. What are Group Prospects and what should I do about them? Group Prospects are people that you have either invited to join your Group or they have requested to join your Group through the “Find A Group” option. They will be listed under the Prospects tab in the Group that you lead. If you have invited the person to join your group, they will become a member as soon as they accept the invitation, and should come off the Prospect list. If a person has requested to the join your group, they will become a member if you approve their request and they subsequently accept your approval. Once this happens, their name should come off the Prospect list. If you reject their request, this should also remove them from the prospect list You will not receive an e¬mail when someone accepts the invitation or asks to join, so you have to login in to Fellowship One to track what is happening with your prospects. Contact us if: A prospect you have invited doesn’t accept the invitation to join the group (after a reminder or two) and you would like to have their name removed from the prospect list. A prospect that you have invited or asked to be approved accepts the invitation or approval and is on both the Roster and the prospect list at the same time. The admin can remove the person’s name from the prospect list. 24. Can I use my mobile device to manage my Groups? Yes. For the groups you lead, Group leaders can take attendance; view the dashboard, roster and prospects; and send e-mails For all your groups, you can use your mobile device to view the dashboard and roster and send emails. If you are a Group Leader, you can additionally take attendance, and add/invite new members. You can use your mobile device to send e-mails in a few ways: click the gear icon, then Send an E-mail open the Dashboard (you may have to click on the triangle on the right to show the pull down menu), click on Actions, then Send an E-mail open the Roster from the pull down menu, click on Actions, then Send an E-mail Feel free to explore and see what else you can do from your mobile device. 25. Where can I learn more about Fellowship One in general? Check our Frequently Asked Questions about Fellowship One . 1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 11 10 8 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Back To Giving >>

The First Church in Belmont, MA is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship, music and lifelong learning opportunities. View Full Calendar Multiple Dates Small Group Writing & Sharing Tue, Nov 18 Zoom Join us on the third Tuesday of each month, from 7:30–9:00 pm on Zoom, for a small group writing and sharing circle that nurtures reflection, creativity, and connection. Learn more Multiple Dates Drop-In Meditation Wed, Nov 19 Library All are welcome to join us for a weekly drop-in meditation on Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 11:50 am. Sessions include both walking and sitting meditation. SoUUper Lunch to follow at 12:00 pm for those interested. For questions or more information, email Eleanor at meditationgroup@uubelmont.org Learn more Interfaith Thanksgiving Sun, Nov 23 Plymouth Congregational Church All are welcome to join us the weekend before Thanksgiving, on November 23, as local faith leaders and speakers from area charities come together in unity to give thanks and support those in need. For questions, contact Rev. Chris at cjablonski@uubelmont.org. Learn more Multiple Dates Living With Health Challenges Mon, Dec 01 Zoom Join us on the first Mondays of the month, November 3–May 4, 5:30 pm–7:00 pm, for a monthly support group exploring health challenges, sharing experiences, and building understanding. Facilitators: Debbie Dobbins and Rick Hawkins. Register by October 19: livingwithhealthchallenges@uubelmont.org Learn more Book Group Wed, Dec 03 Parlor (hybrid) The book group meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. It's a hybrid meeting and all are invited, even if you haven't finished or have started reading the book. This month, we'll discuss "High Tide from Tucson" by Barbara Kingsolver. Questions? Email Christine at bookgroup@uubelmont.org Learn more Multiple Dates First Church History Group Thu, Dec 04 Zoom Join us on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm for ongoing discussions about First Church history with Historian John Howe. For more information, contact John at history@uubelmont.org. Learn more Multiple Dates UU Belmont Alliance: Romanesque Monasteries in Burgundy Thu, Dec 11 Zoom Lanier Smythe will share insights and photos of two famous French monasteries, Cluny and Fontenay Abbey. We will gain insight into their influence on architecture and sculpture. Thursday, December 11, 11:00 am on Zoom. Please contact Kathy Lind at belmontuualliance@uubelmotn.org for the link. Learn more WordSong: One Text. Four Composers. A Public Conversation Sun, Dec 14 Parlor & Sanctuary Join us on December 14, from 7:00 pm-9:30 pm, to explore the intersection between poetry and music in an interactive concert setting. Listen and reflect on different interpretations of the same poem. Learn more Multiple Dates 3rd Friday Film Discussion Group Sat, Dec 20 Zoom Watch the movie on your own and join us to discuss on the third Saturday of the month, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contact Richard Waring at saturdayfilm@uubelmont.org for the Zoom link. Learn more Winter Solstice Walk Sun, Dec 21 Clay Pit Pond Join us for a walk on the winter solstice. After the 11:00 am service, we'll meet in the parlor and then set off for a winter solstice walk around Clay Pit Pond. Questions? Email Anna at earthbasedspirituality@uubelmont.org. Learn more Multiple Dates Spiritual Renewal through Poetry Sun, Jan 04 Parlor Robert Frost called a poem “a momentary stay against confusion.” Good poems help us see more clearly and reveal what truly matters. Join us every Sunday in January from 2:00 pm-3:00 pm to explore poetry that deals with spiritual topics. Email Peter Gutherie at peter.guthrie@verizon.net Learn more Valentine Card Making Sat, Feb 07 Parish Hall Join us for a crafty afternoon making Valentine's cards on February 7 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own to share! No registration is required. Open to all ages. Contact Judi Berman at j-berman@rcn.com for details. Learn more FCB's Ninth Annual Moth Hour Fri, Mar 20 Parish Hall Now in its ninth season, this beloved storytelling event, hosted by Richard Waring and Ian Garvie, brings our community together through true, five-minute tales told by fellow congregants without props or scripts. To share a story, contact Richard at richardwaringpoet@gmail.com. Learn more View Full Calendar