Sundays
9:15 and 11:00 AM

Children's Classes at 9:15 AM only; infant and toddler child care at both services.

Our full service schedule can be found on our Upcoming Services page.

Please consider volunteering to help out at a worship service on our Volunteer Signup page.

Warrant - Annual Meeting of the UUCR on Sunday May 20, 2012

THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF READING
WARRANT
ANNUAL MAY MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION

Sunday, May 20, 2012
In the Sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading in Reading, MA
at 12:30 pm

The Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading are hereby called to the Annual May Meeting of the Church on Sunday, May 20, 2012 in the Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, Massachusetts, at 12:30 pm.

AGENDA

1. To approve minutes from the October 2011 Meeting.

2. To receive Annual Reports from the various committees of the church.

3. To elect officers.

4. To adopt the operating budget for fiscal year 2012-2013.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jane Jolkovski
Clerk

UU Basics- A Great Opportunity!

The May 19 offering of UU Basics has been canceled.

Ordination of Meg Soens - Save The Date of June 10 at 4:00 PM!

Save The Date -- June 10, 4pm
Ordination of Meg Soens by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading and First Parish UU, Lexington at First Parish in Lexington.  More information will be forthcoming, but please mark this date and time on your calendars. It's an important gift you are giving to the whole Unitarian Universalist community, so come and be part of it!

May 2012

The caring and sharing coordinator for the month of May 2012 is Samantha.  Samantha can be reached This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Faith Development Explorations News - One Minute; Three Questions

The Faith Development Committee would love to hear from you!

Please click on this link to take a three question survey (one of them is your name!).  We'd love to hear about your current involvements, interests and hobbies.

President's Messages - Annual Budget Drive Appeal

Please look for a very important letter in your mail this week from the Governing Board. I’m including it here for you to read as well.

The Annual Budget Drive Committee did a fantastic job running our Annual Budget Drive this year. We received great support again from the top 5% of our givers and we beat our average pledge goal of $ 2,250! A number of people increased their pledges to the most they have ever given and we had many new pledging households. That’s a lot to applaud! But we need each and every household to consider pledging an additional $ 20.00 per month.

Why? Despite the generosity of our congregation, we have come up well short of the funds required to maintain our expenditures (what we pay our staff, what we pay to maintain our buildings, our financial support to the good work of our committees, our mortgage, etc.) at their current level. In the interest of the UUCR’s fiscal health, it is imperative that we pass a balanced Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget. Given the current projection of the funds we expect to raise in this year’s Annual Budget Drive ($ 417 K) we will need to institute very painful cuts totaling approximately $ 33,000 from our current (FY12) budget to balance our FY13 budget.

Before we do this, we’d like to let you know about the current situation so that you are better informed, and we request that you consider raising your current pledge by $ 20.00 per month to help us to sustain our quality programming.

Below are some questions you may have:

Q: What do the graph labels mean?

Level Services: $ 450 K in pledges: A flat line budget for FY13 compared to FY12: No increases in expenses except where they are unavoidable (e.g. increase fuel oil costs, etc.)

Projected: Total Annual Budget Drive income, if all anticipated pledges come in: $ 417 K in pledges. (If you haven’t yet turned in your pledge card, please do so right away!)

Current Status: The actual pledges received to date: 4 K in pledges

Q: What does it cost to run our church each year?

$ 570 per adult congregant to support our church’s ministry (staff - including minister and intern minister, and all adult programs)

$ 280 per adult congregant for our Faith Development Program ($ 570 per student)

$ 620 per adult congregant to maintain our property and pay our mortgage

$ 280 per adult congregant for administrative expenses

Summary: It takes $ 1,750 per adult congregant to support our Level Services budget for FY13

Q: What would we accomplish if we raise more than the $ 450 K necessary to maintain level services in FY13?

• Pay our Minister fair wages at last, in keeping with UUA standards

• Address the most critical of our campus property repairs

• Start to replenish funds taken from our financial reserves over the past few years

Q: What would we need to cut to balance the budget with the Projected Annual Budget Drive income ($ 417 K)?

• Reduce the payroll, postage, and computer repair expenses (reducing our ability to effectively communicate with the congregation and maintain working computers for staff and church office)

• Eliminate UUA and MBD dues, in which case we will not be supporting the programs, outreach, and mission of our denomination, nor will we have access to district consulting services and advice. We essentially take ourselves out of fellowship with the other UU churches in the country.

• Eliminate General Assembly allowance for our Minister. (For a second year in a row, our minister could not attend the denomination’s national meeting and represent our congregation.)
• Stop accepting credit card payments for pledges and winter auction.

Q: What options are available to balance the budget with the Current Status Annual Budget Drive income ($ 374 K)?

• Cut staff by eliminating one or more positions.
• Eliminate contingency funds, putting the church at future financial risk.
• Cut property budget and further defer critical campus maintenance.

What we need from you now!

We are asking everyone to help make up the shortfall. Any pledge is helpful. Please consider pledging an additional $ 20/month. That’s $ 240/year per household. We understand that not everyone is in a position to make an increased pledge, but if you are able to, we urge you to do so. And if you are in a position to be able to do more, we would greatly appreciate it!  As you can see, the monies we receive will be put to good use.

Acting on the recommendation of the Governing Board, I will move to delay consideration of the budget at the annual meeting on May 20th. The board will then call a special meeting of the members on June 17th. This will give us the time we need to raise more funds. For the longer term, the board is taking a fresh and critical look at long-term expense and income strategies and looking at a range of solutions to bring our financial picture into better health.

To increase your pledge, you can do any of the following:

• Contact the Annual Budget Drive Co-Chairs: George Marinakis or Matt Wilson: Contact Form
• Contact Rosemary in the church office: 781-944-0494: Contact Form
• Return the card that will be enclosed with the letter that comes in your mail with your additional pledge amount specified; please provide postage.

Please feel free to contact me or any other member of the board with your questions. Thank you for your consideration,

Tracy Sopchak
Governing Board President

Governing Board Members are: Tracy Sopchak (President), Jamie Maughan, Jay Schwartz, Armando Villarroel (Vice Presidents), Matt Wilson, David Oakes, Jean Hanson, Christine Lusk, Christine Thomas (At-Large Members), Chad DeGraca (Treasurer), Jane Jolkovski (Clerk), Rev. Tim Kutzmark (Minister)

Website News - RSS Feeds

Just a reminder that the best way to keep up-to-date on the latest news posted to the website is to use our RSS Feeds. RSS readers poll the website periodically and provide notification when new articles are available. Some email clients have integrated RSS readers, and they make each new article posted to the website look like a new email sent directly to you.

We have added a new RSS feed, designed specifically to keep you informed about the latest news:

 (All) Latest News (includes all of the items below except Sermons)
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/latest-news?format=feed&type=rss

Other useful RSS Feeds include:

Worship Services
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/worship/worship/upcoming-services?format=feed&type=rss

Sermons
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/worship/worship/sermons?format=feed&type=rss

Minister's Message
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/worship/worship/ministers-message?format=feed&type=rss

President's Message
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/presidents-messages?format=feed&type=rss

News from teams, committees and other programs
Feed URL: http://uureading.org/teams-committees-and-programs-news?format=feed&type=rss

For more information on RSS feeds, check out this page in our Online Guide:

RSS Feeds

And please feel free to ask us for assistance in taking advantage of the RSS feeds. We are more than happy to walk you through the process of setting up your RSS reader.

Contact Form

If you would like to review earlier Website News, click HERE.

Website News - Worship Volunteers Signup

We're pleased to announce that volunteer signup for Ushers, Welcome Table, Altar Flowers donations, and Social Hour volunteers are now possible online. In each Upcoming Service article (link), there is a table showing the volunteers needed. If you prefer, you can visit the Worship Volunteers Signup page (link), and volunteer for any upcoming service.

If you are willing to fill an empty slot,  please click the "(click here to signup)" link, enter your full name and email address, enter in the confirmation code, and then submit the form. If you entered a valid email address, then you'll receive a confirmation email containing instructions on the relevant volunteer job.

Buddhist Meditation Group

Half Day Meditation Retreat

The Buddhist Meditation Group @ UUCR invites you to a half day meditation retreat on

Saturday June 30th from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The retreat will consist of a combination of chanting, silent meditation and walking meditation. It is recommended you wear loose comfortable clothing. Please bring a meditation cushion if you prefer one over a chair. 

The retreat will be followed by a pot luck vegetarian lunch.

Registration is required and free here: http://bmgjuneretreat.eventbrite.com/

Planting Seeds (Community Engagement Project)

Support Community Sponsored Agriculture At UUCR - First Delivery June 12!

PEAS = “People Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability”

NESFP = “New England Sustainable Farming Project”

CSA = “COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE”

UUCR = US!

SUPPORT COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE RIGHT HERE AT UUCR! - First Delivery Scheduled to Loring House for Tuesday, June 12

You are invited to join the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading World PEAS (People Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability) CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture). You are invited to sign up for shares of produce comes from organic sustainable Lowell based farms. This agricultural program is sponsored and managed by Tufts University.  Rosemary Fiori is the on-site coordinator. Fresh vegetables and fruits will be dropped off at the UUCR Loring Porch for pick up by YOU every TUESDAY by 8 PM from June through October. There will be 18 deliveries to the UUCR campus. The once a week delivery will be Tuesday at our church! There will be 70 locally grown vegetables, berries, melons, tree fruit and more!  Also, there will be an extended 3 delivery season from October through November for an extra subscription price. To enroll visit www.nesfp.org 

~A large share costs $ 710.00 for 18 deliveries.

~A small share costs $ 470.00 for 18 deliveries.

~The extended season costs $ 130 for 3 extra deliveries at the end of the season.  Enrollment must be done online www.nesfp.org 

Kris Kringle Fair

Kris Kringle Fair Organizational Meeting

Mark your calendars now.  On Tuesday, May 22nd, at 7:30PM, in Loring Room 101 there will be a very important Kris Kringle Fair organizational and planning meeting.  We welcome all who are interested in the fair and in helping us structure the new “two fair” system for the upcoming church year.  If you have been involved in past fairs or if you’d like to get involved, please come to our meeting with your ideas.  If you have a vested interest in which tables or services appear in which season (fall or spring) - please come to the meeting with your ideas.  And most important of all, IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE FAIR STEERING COMMITTEE AND BE TRAINED FOR FUTURE LEADERSHIP, please come to the meeting with your ideas.  We can’t make the fairs happen without strong leadership teams.  Each fair needs 3-4 co-chairs.  If you can’t attend, but wish to offer suggestions or to volunteer for a leadership position, please contact either of us by e-mail, by phone or in person.

Sharyn Taitz and Shanna Weston, co-chairs of the fall Kris Kringle Fair

Social Action

This Sunday (5/20) You're Invited to Sign Up for June 9 Food Bank Trip

For a fun, informative, and satisfying morning of work, you're invited to join with other UUCR volunteers at the Greater Boston Food Bank, Saturday, June 9, 9:30 to noon. Members of the Social Action Team will be at coffee hours this Sunday, 5/20, to answer questions about the trip or to help you sign up. You can also contact Jen McAneny or Anne Mark.

After a brief training, volunteers head to the conveyor belts to sort, pack, and label donated food that goes out to food pantries and meal sites, to help alleviate the increasing food insecurity and hunger in Massachusetts. The last time UUCR members volunteered, on 11/19/11, each volunteer sorted 172 pounds of food, on average, and made 133 meals possible.

There are jobs for volunteers of all strengths, and for volunteers who can lift and those who can't. For safety reasons, volunteers need to be 16 years old or older.

 More News

4th Annual UUCR Walks Boston Pride - Join Us

Sign Up to March:  Time to mark your calendar for the 4th Annual UUCR walks Boston Pride

UUCR marches with Boston Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered/Bisexual Pride on Saturday, June 9 at 12 Noon. This is our 4th year. Some marchers are planning carpools from UUCR.  See the sign up sheet in the atrium to contact other marchers. The parade route kicks off at 12 Noon after a short service at the Arlington Street UU Church at 11 AM.  You may join us at the Arlington Street Church in Boston located at 351 Boylston Street website at www.ascboston.org at 11 AM.  Or join us in our place in line by 12 Noon.  The parade will start in the area where Clarendon Street and Boylston Streets meet. The route of the parade takes its marchers from Boston’s Back Bay through the South End, up to the Boston Common, continues past the State House and will finish at City Hall Plaza where the festival will be held.

The Boston Pride Parade is a march to celebrate and promote equal rights for the region’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and is the staple event of Pride Week.  As one of the most popular and scenic gay pride marches in the country, organizations and individuals  from around New England will walk together to advocate for inclusivity, equality and respect.  The theme of the Boston Pride Parade this year is “Celebrating 30 Years of Worldwide Pride Movement” in honor of the annual InterPride conference, which will be held this year in Boston in October.

If you would like, join us in the UUCR parking lot at 9:30 AM and we'll paint some UU Principles on your arms or jeans!  New this year!  When the parade ends and we recess into City Hall Plaza, our UUCR will be represented with a literature table!  We hope to sticker the crowd with UUCR Pride!  Come join in on the fun.  To sign up, call the office at 781 944 0494 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

   Our Larger Community

Ferry Beach Weekend Registration Continues

FERRY BEACH WEEKEND
Registration continues for the church's weekend at Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine on June 1, 2 & 3, 2012.  Attendees from last year received forms by email, please print those forms and bring to church on Sunday at either coffee hour. If you need forms you can e-mail Susan Delaney by email and she will send them to you, or you may pick a registration form up at the church.

Contact Form

Lori McKenna: October 6, 2012

"Poignant and profound poetry. She has an uncanny ability to paint stories of the human condition in a way that reminds us all that we are not alone." ~ Keith Urban

Saturday, October 6, 2012 

8:00 pm

Tickets: 
$ 22 general admission
$ 20 students/seniors 

Buy tickets for this concert online.

Lori is the winner of 2011 Boston Music Awards Folk Artist of the Year.

From Good Day LA:  
Lori McKenna is one of the most respected songwriters in country music. Her songs have been recorded by other artists including Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Mandy Moore.

John Gorka on Saturday, January 26, 2013

Energetic, acoustic folk

“Listening to him sing, one can get goose bumps all over. There are many reasons—fresh lyrics, a stunning emotional baritone, his twisted humor …” New York Times

Saturday, January 26, 2013
8:00 pm

Tickets: 
$ 25 general admission
$ 23 students/seniors 

Buy tickets for this concert online.

From Ben Wakeman, Take Me To the Bridge:

There are few contemporary songwriters that come anywhere close to the talent of John Gorka. His songs have a way of working on you long after you thought you had it all figured out. I will listen to a song that I know all the words to and can sing along with and then one day sitting at a traffic light I realize that there was a whole other layer of meaning that I had missed.

In 1984 John Gorka won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition. He has over ten albums to his credit. John is a songwriter's songwriter and his songs are championed by an amazing circle of artists including Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, David Wilcox and many more.

Matt & Shannon Heaton on Saturday, April 13, 2013

“Their playing is masterful and inventive, their arrangements city-smart and spacious. Still, they never forget that Irish music is, at its heart, a neighborly form meant for sharing, not showing off." — Scott Alarik, Boston Globe

Saturday, April 13, 2013
8:00 pm

Tickets: 
$ 16 general admission
$ 14 students/seniors 

Buy tickets for this concert online.

Musically speaking, the Heatons play the heck out of their instruments (Irish wood flute/accordion, guitar/bouzouki). After years of study in Chicago, and many nights of music in Clare, Galway, and their adopted home of Boston, Irish Music Magazine’s John O’Regan wrote, “their duet playing is tight, sweet, and tasteful, lacking nothing on either technical expertise or instrumental virtuosity.” 

As for their singing, when Matt and Shannon perform centuries-old songs, it feels current, conversational. They make traditional music relevant to American audiences. O’Regan wrote “songwise [there are] hints an older domestic sound, the familiar down home harmonies of The Carter Family and Tim and Mollie O’Brien.”