It's been fun, but...

This blog has been a useful tool while the church developed its web site, but now that the new web site is up and running, it's no longer necessary.

For current information about Brighton Allston Congregational, please go to http://www.brightonucc.org/.

Thanks.

Sunday, April 25: World Malaria Day

THE CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
For millions of people around the world, a simple mosquito bite can mean death. Every year, malaria kills nearly 900,000 people—mostly children, infants and pregnant women—and 90% of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

But malaria is an entirely preventable disease, with cost-effective solutions. Bed nets to protect against mosquitoes cost just $10 and malaria treatment costs just $2 a dose. And these solutions are delivering life-saving results: through education and bed net distribution, Ethiopia and Rwanda HALVED malaria deaths in just two years.

Read more at http://www.one.org/c/us/issue/14/

Week of April 18, 2010

Sunday, April 18

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday, Patriots’ Day

• Prayer 6:30
  

Tuesday

• Women’s Association noon
• Chaplains on the Way board 7:00
  

Wednesday

• Pastor Karen away through Friday
• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
• Divi Zheni rehearsal 6:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, April 25

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• MBA Spring meeting at Congregational Church of West Medford 2:00–5:00
• AA 6:00
  

April 25–30

• Pastor Karen out of office, 8–5, for training.
  

Week of April 11, 2010

Sunday, April 11

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate meeting 12:15
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• St. Elizabeth’s chaplaincy 3:00
• Prayer 6:00
• Finance 6:45
• Executive Board 7:30
  

Tuesday

• Field ed 10:00–3:00
• Food Network 10:00–11:30
• Seminarians in the City 6:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Thursday

• Urban Clergy 10:00
• Web workshop 2:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Building & Grounds Committee 12:30
  

Sunday, April 18

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Easter week: April 4, 2010

Sunday, April 4: Easter!

• Sunrise service on the hill behind EF School off Lake Street,
  hosted by Community United Methodist Church 6:00 a.m.
• Easter breakfast at Brighton Allston 9:30
• Communion Service of the Resurrection 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
• the church’s 183rd birthday
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
  

Tuesday

• New clergy group 2:30–4:30
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
• Concert by Divi Zheni 7:00
  

Thursday

• Divi Zheni rehearsal 5:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, April 11

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate noon
• AA 6:00
  

Monday, April 12

• Finance Committee 6:45
• Executive Board 7:30
  

Holy Week: week of March 29, 2010

Sunday, March 29: Palm/ Passion Sunday

• deadline for Easter flower orders
• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship: new members received 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Brief Diaconate meeting 12:15
• Building & Grounds Committee 12:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
• Passover begins at sundown
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Maundy Thursday

• Maundy Thursday service 7:30
  

Good Friday

• Stations of the Cross noon–3
• Good Friday service at International Community Church 7:30
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  

Sunday, April 4: Easter!

• Sunrise service at 6:00 a.m. on the hill behind EF School off Lake Street, hosted by Community United Methodist Church
• Easter breakfast served at 9:30, here at BACC
• Easter Communion Service of the Resurrection 10:30 a.m.
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Week of March 21, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship & One Great Hour of Sharing 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
  

Tuesday

• Brighton House Bible study 10:30
• Thrift Shop clean-up noon
• A-B Town Hall meeting at St. E’s 5:30
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
• Seder 5:00
  

Sunday, March 28: Palm Sunday

• new members received
• deadline for Easter flower orders
• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Week of Sunday, March 14, 2010: the fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 14

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship & One Great Hour of Sharing 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:00
• Finance Committee 6:45
• Executive Board 7:30
  

Tuesday

• Women’s Association noon
• Community of Practice 2:00–4:00
• Monica @ Committee on Ministry 5:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00

Thursday

• Retirement workshop 9:00–4:00

Friday

• Eliot Church retreat until Saturday at 3 p.m.

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00

Sunday, March 21

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00

Looking ahead:

Sunday, March 28, Palm Sunday:

• new members received
• deadline for orders for Easter flowers

Week of Sunday, March 3, 2010: the third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 3

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship, Baptism & Communion 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate 12:15
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
• Chaplains on the Way board meeting 7:00
  

Tuesday

• Community of Practice 2:00–4:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Thursday

• Divi Zheni rehearsal 5:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  
• Set clocks ahead!
  

Sunday, March 14

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Tuesday, March 16

• Women’s Association noon
• Community of Practice 2:00–4:00
  

Week of February 28, 2010: the second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 28

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Service uniting Hope Church & Central Congregational in JP 5:00
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
  

Tuesday

• Field ed 10–3
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Meditation/Movement 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
• Lenten retreat 3:00–7:00
  

Sunday, March 7

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship, Baptism & Communion 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate 12:15
• AA 6:00
  

Week of February 21, 2010: the first Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 21

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 6:30
  

Tuesday

• Brighton House Bible study 10:30
  

Wednesday

• Food Bank run 10:00
• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00

Thursday

• Winship School spelling bee 10:30
• Church leaders dinner 7:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, February 28

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Service uniting Hope Church & Central Congregational Church 5:00
• AA 6:00
  

Week of February 14, 2010

Sunday, February 14

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Building & Grounds Committee noon
• AA 6:00
  

Monday: Presidents’ Day

• Prayer 6:30 Please note change of time.
  

Tuesday

• Women’s Association noon
  

Ash Wednesday: the beginning of Lent

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
• Ash Wednesday service 7:00
  

Thursday

• Urban clergy 10:00
• Divi Zheni rehearsal 6:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, February 21

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Week of February 7, 2010

Sunday, February 7

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship & Communion 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate 12:15
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 5:00
• Chaplains on the Way board meeting 7:00
  

Tuesday

• Community of Practice 2:00–4:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Thursday: Annual Meeting!

• Gathering 7:00
• Meeting 7:30
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, February 14

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Building & Grounds Committee noon
• AA 6:00
  

Ash Wednesday service, February 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Week of January 31, 2010

Sunday, January 31

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 5:00
  

Tuesday

• Field ed B.U. class 10:00–3:00
• Food Network 10:00
• CMS trauma workshop at BACC 6:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Thursday

• CMS Board meeting 5:30
• Divi Zheni 6:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  

Sunday, February 7: distribution of Annual Reports

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate 12:15
• AA 6:00
  

Thursday, February 11: Annual Meeting

• Gathering 7:00
• Meeting 7:30
  

Donations to help Haiti to be received at "If You Can't Be a Tree" (or click here!)

The needs in Haiti are overwhelming, but we can all help. A click on the title above will take you to the UCC's secure on-line donation form, where you can make a donation in any amount. Because of Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support, 100% of all donations made will go directly to the victims of the Haitian earthquake.

Another way to help is by making a donation to the same fund at this Saturday's poetry event, "If You Can't Be a Tree," a program of readings inspired by the writings, speeches, philosophy and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sam Cornish, Boston's Poet Laureate, will MC this open mic event . Please bring your own writing to share.

The theme for the evening is from a line that Dr. King quoted in many speeches: “If you can’t be a tree, be a bush.”

The event will be held Saturday, January 16, at 7:00 in the sanctuary of the Brighton Allston Congregational Church, 404 Washington Street, Brighton Center. Directions are available by clicking on the link in the column to the left. Suggested donations to aid the renovations to the church's Community Supper kitchen are $10 general admission, $5 seniors and students, and free to low income people.

Week of January 17, 2010

Sunday, January 17

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Monday: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• Prayer 5:00
  

Tuesday: Election Day

• Women’s Association noon
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  

Sunday, January 24

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Poetry event in honor of Dr. King

The Brighton Allston Congregational Concert Series will present an evening of prose and poetry honoring Dr. Martin Luther King on Saturday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. Sam Cornish, Boston’s Poet Laureate, will be the MC for this open mic evening. All are encouraged to bring your writing. Refreshments will be served.

The evening’s theme is taken from a line that Dr. King quoted in many speeches: “If you can’t be a tree, be a bush.”

The event will be held in the sanctuary of the Brighton Allston Congregational Church, 404 Washington Street, Brighton Center. Directions are available by clicking on the link in the column to the left. The evening is free and open to the public, although donations in support of the renovations to the Community Supper kitchen will be gratefully accepted.

Week of January 3, 2010

Sunday, January 3

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult reflection group 9:30
• Worship & Communion 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Building & Grounds Committee noon
• AA 6:00
  

Monday

• Prayer 5:00

Tuesday

• New clergy group 2:00–4:00

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00

Saturday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Food Pantry 10:00–1:00

Sunday, January 10

• Children’s Sunday school 9:30
• Adult reflection group 9:30
• Worship 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• Diaconate 12:15
• AA 6:00

Monday, January 11

• Prayer 5:00
• Finance Committee 6:45
• Executive Board 7:30
• Deadline for Annual Reports!
  
  

Week of December 27, 2009

Sunday, December 27

• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship, Monica Maher leading 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Wednesday

• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
• Movie 3:00
• Spiritual Practice 5:00–5:45
• Community Supper 6:00
  

Thursday

• Alcothon 8:00
  

Friday: New Year’s Day

• Saturday
• Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  

Sunday, January 3

• Adult discussion group 9:30
• Worship & Communion 10:30
• Fellowship 11:30
• AA 6:00
  

Stratus Ensemble concert to be held Sunday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m.

The Stratus Ensemble will be presenting the December concert in the Brighton Allston Congregational Concert series on Sunday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m. The concert is in the church’s sanctuary, known for its excellent acoustics. Brighton Allston Congregational Church UCC is located at 404 Washington Street in Brighton Center.

The Stratus Ensemble performers are Yhasmin Valenzuela, clarinetist; Deirdre Viau, flute; Paul Jacobs, piano; and Sebastian Chaves, bassoon. The program is an especially varied one, featuring works not only by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Saint-Saëns, but also Messager, Martinu, Villa-Lobos, and Paquito D’Rivera.

All proceeds from the concert benefit the renovation of the Community Supper kitchen. General admission to the concert is $10; students and seniors are $5; low income persons are admitted free. Thanks to the generosity of Citizens Bank, there is parking next door in the Citizens Bank parking lot. Both driving and public transit directions are available at www.brightonucc.blogspot.com.

Yhasmin Valenzuela: A native of Peru, Yhasmin earned her bachelor’s degree at the Lima Conservatory “Josafat Roel Pineda” in both clarinet performance and music education.

She continued her studies in the United States at Texas Christian University where she received her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance. In 2005, she obtained a Graduate Performance Diploma with distinction at the Longy School of Music. While at Longy, she was a winner of the 2005 Honors Competition.

She has performed with ensembles in Peru, Mexico and the United States, including the Lima Symphony Orchestra, TCU Symphony Orchestra, TCU Wind Ensemble, and the Musica Anatolia Contemporary Ensemble. She was recently invited to perform as a soloist with the UTA Orchestra in Texas.

A founding member of the Stratus Ensemble, she is currently on the faculty at the Westwood Public Schools and at Beaver Country Day School.

Sebastian Chaves: Born and raised in Costa Rica, Sebastian started playing bassoon at age 15 at the National Institute of Music in his hometown San José. He later received a Bachelor in Music Performance and a Bachelor in Music Education degrees from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and Master of Music Performance and Graduate Performance Diploma degrees from the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Sebastian participated in international music programs such as the Tournon-sur-Rhône Music Festival (France), Round Top Music Festival (TX), Interlochen Arts Academy (MI), Chautauqua Institute (NY), Stuttgart Festival Ensemble (Germany), Aspen Music Festival (CO) and Verbier Music Festival (Switzerland).

Sebastian is a substitute player with the Boston Philharmonic, Opera Boston, the Boston Ballet and Boston Modern Orchestra Project; he is currently principal bassoon of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the Indian Hill Orchestra, the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Plymouth Philharmonic and the Neponset Valley Philharmonic. Sebastian lives in Brighton with his wife, and enjoys horror movies, soccer and surfing.