New Massachusetts Universalist Convention: Annual Meeting 2003

	The New Massachusetts Universalist Convention

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting 2005--All UUs Invited!

Program

Presentation Descriptions

Presenters

Directions

“Celebrating Our Universalist Heritage”

Saturday, September 24, Boston, MA

The Rev. Carl Scovel will lead worship ("A Celebration of Universalist Hymns") and the Rev. Mark Harris will give the keynote address (“Hosea Ballou's Treatise at 200”) at the New Massachusetts Universalist Convention’s Annual Conference on Saturday, September 24, at the Parish House of King's Chapel, located across Boston Common from King's Chapel at 64 Beacon Street (near Charles). The day will run from 8:30 to 4:30 and include food (breakfast, lunch, snack), singing, workshops, lots of good conversation, and an optional walking tour of Beacon Hill.

Cost:

$25 per person--includes continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. Make checks payable to "New MA Universalist Convention."

Child Care:

Available if we receive your request by September 10. (We need time to prepare.)

Accessibility:

The building is wheelchair-accessible.

Reservations:

By September 17 (earlier if requesting childcare) please send us the following information:

your name,
your postal address,
your phone number,
your email address (if you have one),
the number of registrations (at $25 per person)
and (if requesting child care) the names and ages of the children.

Please send this information either by email to:
        info@nmuc.org

or by post to:
        New Mass. Universalist Convention
        c/o 30 Briarwood Circle
        North Easton, MA 02356

Program

8:30-9:15 a.m.

Continental breakfast, Registration & Schmoozing

9:15-10:00 a.m

"A Celebration of Universalist Hymns," Carl Scovel

10:00-10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Keynote: "Hosea Ballou's Treatise at 200," Mark Harris

11:15-11:30 a.m.

Break

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sharing and (brief) Business Meeting

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Lunch (including vegeratian options)

1:30-2:30 p.m

Simultaneous Presentations

(a) "That Old Time Religion," Panel
(b) "What Shall We Tell Our children About Jesus?"

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Simultaneous Presentations

(c) "Beacon Hill Walking Tour," Susan O'Connor (or self-guided)
(d) "In Parables," Richard Trudeau

3:45-4:30 p.m.

Closing, Snack, Social Time

Presentation Descriptions

“That Old Time Religion”

Panel
A panel of "old-time Universalists" discuss what it was like to be Universalist before consolidation with the Unitarians.

"What Shall We Tell Our Children about Jesus?"

There used to be a consensus among UUs about Jesus. While a consensus probably still exists, we no longer share our view with our children to the extent we once did. Yet more than ever, our children need to be prepared for what they will hear about Jesus from other children who are not UUs.

“Beacon Hill Walking Tour”

Susan O'Connor
A tour of Universalist, Unitarian, and Black Heritage historical sites on Beacon Hill, plus a few architectural oddities. A booklet describing the tour is available for those who wish to take the tour at a different time or at a different pace.

“In Parables”

Richard Trudeau
Jesus' parables are not allegories or morality tales, but his attempt to "mess with people's heads." A look at one or two parables from this point of view.

Presenters

The Rev. Mark Harris
has served congregations in Palmer and Milton, MA and is now in his tenth year at the First Parish of Watertown, MA. He has an M.A. in American history. Mark has served as President of the UU Historical Society and Director of Information for the UUA. He teaches UU History at Andover Newton Theological School. Mark is author of the UUA pamphlet "Unitarian Universalist Origins," the book Historical Dictionary of Unitarian Universalism (Scarecrow Press), and is co-editor (with the late Carl Seaburg) of the anthology "Celebrating Easter and Spring." He is the father of four sons.

Susan O'Connor
served for 11 years as Director of Religious Education of the First Parish Universalist Church, Stoughton, MA. She is the creator of numerous materials used at the church, including Roots & Wings, their coming-of-age curriculum, and this walking tour.

The Rev. Carl Scovel
The second son of medical missionaries in China, an eyewitness to a piece of World War II, a graduate of postwar liberalism and agnosticism, Carl Scovel prepared for the ministry at Harvard Divinity School from 1954 to 1957 while working at McLean Hospital in Belmont as a conscientious objector. He served two churches in his career, The First Parish of Sudbury for ten years and King¹s Chapel in Boston for thirty-two. As a Christian pastor in the Unitarian Universalist Association he was sometimes on the road as a preacher and retreat leader. He and his wife, Faith, are parents to three grown offspring, Helen, Christopher and Rebecca, and grandparents to five grandchildren. He sometimes practices tai chi, occasionally leads retreats and used to bake bread until he moved to Jamaica Plain.

The Rev. Richard Trudeau is Minister of the UU Church of Weymouth, MA, and edits the newsletter of the New Massachusetts Universalist Convention. He also teaches college mathematics.

Directions

The Parish House of King's Chapel is located across Boston Common from King's Chapel at 64 Beacon Street (near Charles) in Boston, Massachusetts.

By car:
From the North
Take Route 1 or I-93 south to the Storrow Drive (West) exit. Leave Storrow Drive at the Government Center exit and follow signs to Charles Street (straight ahead); it is one way toward the Boston Common. At the intersection of Beacon Street and Charles Street (sixth traffic light at the Starbucks), turn left. The Parish House is on the left at 64 Beacon Street. The Boston Common Garage entrance is located between the Public Garden and the Boston Common. Circle around the Common or Garden to gain access. It costs $5.00 on weekends with a sticker purchased at the Parish House.

From the South
Follow Route 3 or I-93 north to the Storrow Drive exit. Follow the directions above.

From the West
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) east to the Allston/Brighton exit. After the tollbooth, take the first exit ramp on the right. At the second traffic light turn right onto Storrow Drive east. Leave Storrow Drive at the Government Center exit; right lane. Follow the signs to Charles Street (right turn). Follow the directions above.

By public transportation:

The Parish House of King's Chapel is near three MBTA stops:

Charles Street on the Red Line - Walk toward the CVS on Charles and Cambridge Streets, walk down Charles Street to Beacon Street, turn left to 64 Beacon Street.
Arlington Street stop on the Green Line - Walk up the stairs from the subway, look for the entrance to the Public Garden; walk diagonally across the Public Garden to the intersection of Beacon Street and Charles Street. Cross Beacon Street and turn to the right to 64 Beacon Street.
Park Street on the Green and Red Lines - Follow the painted red line through the Boston Common toward the State House; cross Beacon Street in front of the State House and turn left. Walk down the hill to 64 Beacon Street.

The church's web site is www.kings-chapel.org and its phone number is 617-227-2155.

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		This page was last updated on 08/06/2005. For questions about this Web Site, contact Susan O'Connor at info@nmuc.org.