Dinners for Eight - Looking for Hosts to Keep the Tradition Alive
Dear Members & Friends,
The Dinners for Eight gatherings have been a huge success, bringing our community together for wonderful evenings of food, conversation, and connection. However, we ran into a challenge last year—we ran out of hosts!
This is where you come in! You don’t need to host at your house—hosting at the church is also an option. As a host, your role is simple:
Prepare the main dish.
Invite the participants (I will provide you with contact information).
Guests will bring an appetizer, side dish, salad, dessert, or beverages.
I’ll share a list of last year’s participants, and there may also be new folks interested in joining us this year. Once you volunteer, you can coordinate with participants to find a date that works for everyone.
If you are willing to host, please send me an email to let me know! Your hospitality makes this event possible.
Thank you so much for helping keep Dinners for Eight going strong!
Warmly,
Lynn Whitney
Email: lynnwhitney17@yahoo.com
Garden Committee Meeting Nov. 3
Please join the Garden Committee after service on November 3 to discuss the renovation of the labyrinth and fall garden tasks.
Please come prepared to work in the garden if the weather is nice.!
Contact Mary Rapoza with questions.
FREE Halloween Costumes this Saturday, October 26, at the Thrift Shop
We have had a few more people donate costumes to the costume drive after it took place. Therefore, we will be having one last costume distribution event this Saturday, October 26, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Let's get these costumes into the hands of kids that need them! Please tell your friends and family.
Did you miss Sunday service? Watch it here
Upcoming Services
Registration is not required. Click on "Register Now" for more information.
October 24 marks the 25th anniversary of the labyrinth's installation and dedication. Our service on October 27 will include a potluck to mark this momentous occasion. Here is a photo from that day in 1999.
Free costumes for kids this Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Weather permitting, we will have racks outside. Please take what you need and share it with your family and friends. Let's give every last costume away before Halloween.
The Jethros are coming to UUNB on November 9 at 6 PM.
This show will be completely acoustic to allow the audience to hear some of their slower and quieter songs in the way that they were written to be heard. The Jethros are hoping to create an atmosphere that feels like a community living room, and brighten (at least for a little while) the coming of the shortest days and longest nights of the year.
The audience is limited to forty people so that everyone can see and hear every nuance.
Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase by emailing thejethros@gmail.com. This show is limited to the first 40 reservations, so don’t delay.
The Jethros will play two sets with a short intermission. Complimentary coffee and cookies will be provided.
Who are the Jethros? They are a SouthCoast folk/blues/alt/soul/swing-jazz/bluegrass/funk/country/ mariachi/klezmer band for everyone!
See everything happening at UUNB on the calendar on our website. Updates are shown immediately, so you will always know what is planned.
From the Archives
A flyer promoting an event held in the Tryworks Auditorium (Unitarian Church Chapel) benefiting the Unitarian Church School on October 1, 1943.
Join the Social Justice Committee tonight on Zoom at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to attend!
We are looking for vendors of handmade goods for the Holiday Market scheduled for December 7.
All vendor fees are due no later than October 31. All spots are $35 and are on a first-come-first-served basis and are not confirmed until payment is received.
We are also looking for volunteers on the day of to help with running the plant table, bake sale, raffle table, and cleaning up afterwards. Please email Jess if you would like to volunteer.
Confirmed Vendors:
Crust Punks NBMA - Sourdough bread and cookies
Caitlyn Gifford - Hand-sewn stuffed animals and greeting cards
Wendy Gilbert - crochet blankets, scarves, coasters, scrunchies, headbands, hats
New Bedford Pottery
F.S. Designs
Bill White - Bill's Woodcarving
Holly White - Crochet Mermaid Tails
Patricia Duarte & Marie Gracia - Sewn aprons, hair accessories, Christmas decor. pinecone bouquets, and painted rocks.
Steve Carmel
START YOUR PLANT CUTTINGS!
We hope to have a plant sale again during the Holiday Market, so start your plant cuttings.
Gift Basket Raffle
We will be collecting items for another gift basket raffle like we did for the Jazz Service in June. We hope to do similar themes like:
Cooking/Italian
Wine and goodies
Cat or Dog theme
Knitting
New Bedford
Local History
Coffee/Tea/Baking
Spa/Wellness
If you can't shop, we will take donations of cash to purchase gift basket supplies. We made close to $600 in raffle tickets at the jazz service and we think we can do even better at the holidays. Gift baskets will need to be made by Thanksgiving so they can be included in the promotional materials for the Holiday Market on December 7.
We are looking for a few people to form a committee to help with the Holiday Market. If you are interested, please email Jess.
October 27: Listening to Those We Disagree With, Welcome All You Saints! Susan Brown
Contact Yasmin with any questions- flefleh@gmail.com
Support Needed for Our Neighbors at the Beyond House, 175 William St., New Bedford
The Beyond House Young Adult Access Center is a drop-in center for 16-21-year-olds that is a low barrier (free, no referral or insurance needed) youth-driven safe space that supports young adults’ transition into adulthood, be a bridge for mental health and substance misuse services, community resources, encourage social connectedness, leadership opportunities, and fostering healthy family relationships.
Your potential donation could be a beacon of hope, providing youth and young adults with hot meals, clothing, and essential services and resources.
As the holidays approach, it's important to remember that this time of year can be particularly challenging for our young adults and their families. The stress of celebrating can be overwhelming, and your support can bring joy and relief to those in need.
These events are about fun and providing a sense of belonging and normalcy to our young adults during these challenging times.
We seek assistance from our community partners and businesses to make these events successful. Your involvement is crucial in creating a supportive and inclusive community for our young adults.
What Can You Donate?
Friendsgiving:
Desserts and Drinks: Drop off on November 14 from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Hot Foods: Can be dropped off on the morning of November 20 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Frosty Festivities:
Gift Cards and unwrapped gifts: Can be dropped off starting November 14, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Desserts and Drinks: Can be dropped off on December 19
Hot Food: Can be dropped off on December 23 (specific time to be determined)
Your generous donations will provide our young adults with a warm and festive environment during the holiday season. The Beyond House would graciously appreciate any sponsorship or donation of goods or services. Your donation is tax-deductible, and our Tax ID is available upon request. To donate, please fill out the Google form here.
The Beyond House would like to thank you in advance for your support. We know that with the help of our entire community, the young adults will continue to be successful. Your support will help us create these moments of joy for our young adults. For more information, please contact:
Shantell Sanchez (she-her-hers)
Outreach & Engagement Specialist
The Beyond House
Young Adult Access Center, New Bedford
Child & Family Services, Inc.
office 508-742-3976
cell 774-737-8548
Thank you once again for your thoughtful generosity. Your support is invaluable to us and the young adults we serve, and we sincerely appreciate it.
UUA Pushes Back on Congressional Critique of Climate 100+ and ‘Woke’ Investing
In a letter, the Unitarian Universalist Association affirmed that it is “freely exercising its faith and beliefs and well within its protected free speech rights” by investing with climate justice goals.
In response to a letter from the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary accusing the Unitarian Universalist Association of participating in a “woke” “climate cartel” in violation of antitrust law, the Association has asserted its First Amendment right to express its religious values through socially responsible investing with climate justice goals.
More than 130 U.S.-based investors—including pension boards, retirement plans, and faith organizations—received the July letter from the Republican-led committee. It accuses them of being part of a “‘climate cartel’ consisting of left-wing activists and major financial institutions that collude to impose radical environmental, social, and governance goals on American companies,” according to a news release from the committee.
It demanded information about the investors’ alleged “involvement with the woke ESG cartel Climate Action 100+.” The committee, which has subpoena power, sent the letter to UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, through committee chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), chair of the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust.
All the recipient organizations, including the UUA, are signatories to Climate Action 100+, an investor-led initiative launched in 2017 that is working to influence corporations to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change to mitigate financial risks and maximize the value of assets.
In its August 15 response to the committee, the UUA emphasized that it pursues climate action and environmental justice goals under the guidance of the annual UUA General Assembly and the Board of Trustees, and that it is under no obligation to take investment advice from Climate Action.
“For over seven decades, the UUA has centered values-based investment as an expression of our religious liberties and shared values,” the UUA wrote through its lawyer, Adrienne K. Walker.
“As a religion freely exercising its faith and beliefs and well within its protected free speech rights,” the UUA wrote, “the UUA’s activities are primarily religious and/or political speech beyond the scope and intent of the Sherman Act,” a federal antitrust law that prohibits business practices that restrain competition in the marketplace.
The committee claims to have “direct evidence” of the alleged cartel, as outlined in an interim staff report released in June, “Climate Control: Exposing the Decarbonization Collusion in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing.”
According to its news release, “The Committee continues to examine whether existing civil and criminal penalties and current antitrust law enforcement efforts are sufficient to deter anticompetitive collusion to promote ESG-related goals in the investment industry. The over 130 companies, retirement systems, and government pension programs with membership in Climate Action 100+ must answer for their involvement in prioritizing woke investments over their own fiduciary duties.”
In response, the UUA wrote that it is “concerned that the Letter, including its broad document preservation request, may seek to improperly invade the Constitutionally protected rights to pursue investment strategies aligned with Unitarian Universalism’s values and beliefs.”
The UUA response also gave a brief history of Unitarian Universalism; enumerated its core values, including love and justice; and described the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF), a diversified investment fund that aligns with the faith’s socially responsible investing goals.
“Basically, it’s a First Amendment defense [stating] that faiths can express themselves, including through their investment policy,” says David Stewart, co-financial advisor to the UUA. While he doesn’t believe the House committee will be successful in attempting to leverage antitrust law against the First Amendment rights of the UUA and others, its action “certainly is concerning, and we will be defending ourselves vigorously,” adds Stewart, who is also a member of the UUCEF Investment Committee.
Other Climate 100+ Investors Targeted by Republican-Led Congressional Probe
In addition to the UUA, other faith-based recipients of the letter include the United Church of Christ; the Quaker organization Friends Fiduciary Corporation; JLens, a Jewish investing and shareholder advocacy organization; and a number of Catholic organizations such as Mercy Investment Services, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Loyola Marymount University, and the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell. Non-religious organizations targeted include the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, Harvard Management Company, Mellon Investments Corporation, and the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
Many have responded to the committee asserting their First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of religion.
“Sadly, a few organizations have backed away from their commitment to Climate Action 100+ due to the subpoena threats employed by the House Committee on the Judiciary,” says Stewart.
Stewart says that the Republican-led committee’s action is part of “an ongoing effort” to discredit socially responsible investing (SRI) and ESG investing, which refers to considering environmental, social, and governance factors when making investment decisions.
As a reflection of the faith’s core values, the UUA has been strongly committed to SRI for almost sixty years, since the Eastman Kodak shareholder advocacy efforts to remove discriminatory hiring practices in 1966. Stewart likens the right-wing attacks on ESG investing to the efforts to undermine DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.
In the past few years, nearly a dozen states, including Texas and Florida, have passed anti-ESG laws. Some of these laws forbid state and local entities, such as government pension funds, from working with investment firms that include ESG factors when making investment decisions. As a result, many investment companies “dropped SRI like a hot potato” because they stood to lose billions of dollars in assets, Stewart notes.
While Stewart was surprised that Republicans are attempting to wield antitrust laws to attack SRI efforts, “it’s just the latest round in the culture wars, and it would be difficult for them to do this without a lot of backing from folks who feel like throwing aside regulatory institutions,” he says. “This is much more about removing restraints on corporate behavior and removing asset owners’ ability to change the course of corporate behavior than it is about religion. It just so happens we are religious investors.”
And, he adds, “There’s a reason there’s a huge anti-SRI effort: it’s because SRI is extremely effective.”
The UUA has led or been part of coalitions that have resulted in significant institutional change at corporations in terms of climate justice and social justice, including how employees are treated.
“The UUA has a long history in being leaders on this, and we continue to be leaders in this effort,” he says. “We may be small, but we have a large impact in the world of investing.”
Mathew Jensen, senior investment officer for the UUA and director of Faith-Consistent Investing Programs at FaithInvest, says it is unclear what will happen now that the UUA has responded to the committee. But the fact the UUA received the letter, he adds, “is actually a good thing . . . it shows the UUA Common Endowment Fund is being impactful.”
October is LQBTQ+ History Month
Sing-a-Long at UUSF
Our friends at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven are hosting a sing-a-long on Sunday, November 3 at 6:00 PM in the Auditorium at 102 Green St., Fairhaven. They are hoping this get-together will relieve some of the tension before Election Day.
You can download the song list below. All are welcome to attend, instruments are encouraged.
Our Mission is to encourage diversity and mutual acceptance and work for positive change in ourselves and our community.
"We envision a congregation in which we practice the principles of our faith. We seek to enjoy peaceful reflection and inspiration in intellectually and spiritually satisfying church services. We aim to embrace the people and efforts of our church community by supporting our children and their programs, our committees and their goals, our staff and their efforts on our behalf, and each other."
Our Promises
Each person is important.
Be kind in all you do.
We help each other learn.
We search for what is true.
Each person has a say.
Work for a peaceful world.
The web of life’s the way.
Build the beloved community, free from racism and oppression.
First Unitarian Church in New Bedford
71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 994-9686
Administrator ext. 10
Minister ext. 13
Karen cell: (508) 441-9344
Thrift Shop ext. 12
Board Members & Officers
Steve Carmel, President
Charles Morgan, Vice President
Deborah Carmel, Treasurer
Cora Peirce, Clerk
Trustees
Committee Chairs
Staff
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
(508)994-9686 ext.12
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