Social Action at First Church in Belmont
Social Action Committee
Our mission is to mobilize the energies and resources of the church and focus them on global and local actions that promote our Unitarian Universalist principles.
We have several subcommittees, each focusing on key themes:
- Poverty Alleviation
- Human Rights
- Environmental Protection
- Peace activism and Conflict Resolution
TO CONTACT US: dlockett@uubelmont.org
Social Action Initiative Committees in FCB:
The Grow Clinic Committee
The Grow Clinic of the Boston Medical Center is a nationally acclaimed program for the treatment of children diagnosed with Failure to Thrive. The clinic provides a variety of medical, nutritional, and social services to the children and their families. We facilitate First Church participation and often provide food for the clinic.
Quilters
Affiliated with the Social Action Committee are the First Church Quilters, who provide support to Renewal House for victims of domestic violence and to the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM), an alliance of over 45 congregations providing ministry-at-large in the inner city of Boston. With an extensive volunteer program backed by a small staff, UUUM seeks to eliminate the divides of race and class among the church communities and inner-city families.
TO CONTACT US: gunger@uubelmont.org
Belmont Unitarian Alliance
We are the oldest continuing group at First Church. Our purpose is to provide a forum for friendship and discussion, as well as service to the wider church community. Typically we meet on a Wednesday noon to share a bag lunch, conversation and a program of current interest. Examples of past programs are: a talk by Cathe Carpenter on “Land of Disabilities,” a tour of Mt. Auburn Cemetery by Laura Miller, and poetry reading by Barbara Paul-Emile. In the past we have contributed to the maintenance and repairs to the Tiffany window and other church projects.
TO CONTACT US: Julie Goetze and Carolyn Mieth, Co-Presidents – cmieth@uubelmont.org
Second Friday Coffeehouse
The Second Friday Coffeehouse is Boston’s first and oldest all-benefit coffeehouse. The committee operates collectively and makes decisions by consensus with each member taking responsibility for specific tasks. Committee members tasks are setup, baking, selling baked goods and coffee, sound, lights, cleanup, MC’ing, publicity, etc. We are social activists who love music.
Nine Fridays each year are devoted to raising funds for human service, social justice, Unitarian affiliated and environmental groups, while also providing an enjoyable evening of music, poetry, storytelling and delicious desserts. Projects associated with the Social Action programs of First Church include Renewal House, Grow Clinic, Partner Church and Partakers. During the 2008-2009 season, the coffeehouse raised $8,458.41 to fund social action programs. The coffeehouse celebrated 25 years of music and service in 2009.
Other Coffeehouses in New England
TO CONTACT US: ifreeman@uubelmont.org
Holiday Charities & Offering Plate Giving
First Church in Belmont donates 100% of its offering plate from its four Christmas Eve Holiday Services, as well as one service each month, to charities designated each year by standing committees within the Church. These charities vary as needs are matched to our abilities. For more information contact the Church Administrator.
We are grateful to the entire church community who generously supported our Holiday charities by donating $6,524, which will be shared by the Grow Clinic, Gateway Families, Playing for Change Foundation, and the work of our church.
TO CONTACT US: mailto:sstreet@uubelmont.org
Partner Church Committee
In 1990 First Church joined the Partner Church movement and was partnered with the Unitarian Church of Désfalva. Désfalva is a tiny farming village in the middle of Transylvania . About a third of Désfalva’s residents are Unitarian. There are also Calvinist Reformed and Eastern Orthodox churches in the village. The primary language of the village is Hungarian. Désfalva also has Roma (Gypsy) families. Whatever their profession, everyone in the village must farm to provide basic needs. Rev. Ferenc Balint was the minister of Désfalva at the time our partnership was formed. Our Minister of Music Alfa Radford met Ferenc in Transylvania while on a choir tour in 1990. Thus began pilgrimages between our two congregations which have continued over the years. We continue to offer each other mutual support and love as we journey through life sharing our Unitarian heritage.
Click here for more information about the Partner Church Committee, and blog and photos from the August 2010 trip to Transylvania.
Click here to go to the UU Partner Church Council
Rummage Sale
In May 2010, the Social Action Committee participated in helping to organize the annual Rummage Sale, which is officially sponsored by the Belmont Unitarian Alliance. Nancy Davis led the event, and other members of the committee and their spouses contributed. The committee worked with Nancy to strategize how to spread the workload required for this large event. This is a work in progress that must be revisited next year.
The Partner Church Relief account is primarily a holding account for receipts from the Rummage Sale.