Compass, June 11, 2026
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
UUNB Seeks a New Director of Religious Education
The utmost priority for the DRE and the church membership at large is to expand enrollment and participation in our religious education programs for young people on Sunday morning.
Click below for the full job description.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to admin@uunewbedford.org no later than June 22nd. Interviews will take place with the Personnel Committee during the week of July 6, 2026.
New Officers Selected!
Your new President of the Board of Trustees is Camilla Brooks! Part of strengthening communications in our church, Camilla has her own church email address. She can be reached directly at president@uunewbedford.org
Your new Vice-President is Jack Vitale, and the secretary remains Elise Rapoza.
Your Board of Trustees includes:
Camilla Brooks
Jack Vitale
Elice Rapoza
Mary Rapoza
David LaBrie
Ed Rooney
Niko Tarini
Mary O'Beirne (Treasurer)
Events, Outreach, and Fundraising Meeting Scheduled for Sunday, June 14, at noon
Continuing the conversation from the Annual Meeting and our May 26 meeting, we will come together to continue the conversation of improving communication, break down silos, and explore the possibilities for committees in FY27. Please come with an open mind and positive suggestions. Anna Gerber and Donna Martocci will lead the discussion.
ATTN: Committee Chairs
Please plan to hold a meeting before the end of the Fiscal Year on June 30 to identify new committee members and/or select a chair for the committee if you are stepping down.
FY27 is going to be the year of COMMUNICATION and building our committees!!
Thank you to Dani, who will be co-chairing the Social Justice Committee with Izzy.
Thrift Shop Update
June sale: 50% off pre-season summer clothes
Garden Committee Update
The Garden Committee is raising money for the church by selling seedlings and house plants outdoors under a tent at the Jazz Service on Sunday, June 28. All are welcome to bring in your extra garden starts, perennial plant divisions, and house plant babies and join us!
Did you miss the last Sunday Service? Watch it here!
June Services
Only 2 Services Left of the Church Year!
But, we want to keep the momentum going! Are you interested in leading a discussion group, book club, hosting a dinner at the church, or offering lessons in a craft? Let's stick together this summer. All ideas are welcome! There's a signup sheet in the Parish House to host.
Please email admin@uunewbedford.org with any ideas you may have.
Jazz Concert, June 28—All Hands on Deck!
We need organizers and planners for food. Are we doing a bake sale? Providing sandwiches? Providing drinks? We need one person to be the point of contact and main organizer of food.
Volunteers to help with gift baskets and selling raffle tickets.
Please fill out the form below to indicate how you would like to help! There is also a signup sheet in the Parish House.
Food Pantry
Our food pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM. In order to keep the pantry running over the summer, we would love a few volunteers to sit in the Parish House and assist visitors on those days. If you are interested, please email admin@uunewbedford.org
Please share these events with your family and friends, and consider attending yourself. We would love to see you!
FREE Events Happening at UUNB
Tonight, June 11: LGBBQT—stop by the church, starting at 6 PM, during the Pride Block Party for food and fun with the Social Justice Committee.
Friday, June 12, at 11 AM. This group will continue to meet every Friday through the summer. All are welcome!
Advocacy Days & Fun on the Fridge
Interfaith
● Summer Solstice/Litha (Pagan/Wiccan) - June 21, 2026
Unitarian Universalist
● Norbert Capek celebrates first Flower Ceremony - June 4 (1923)
● General Assembly - virtual business meeting, June 12-14, 2026; national online gathering,
June 26-28, 2026
● Olympia Brown was ordained - June 25 (1863)
National & Cultural Holidays
● Salem Witch Trials convened - June 2, 1692
● Anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando - June 12, 2016
● Father’s Day - June 21, 2026
● Juneteenth Emancipation Celebration - June 19
● World Refugee Day - June 20
● Stonewall Uprising - June 28
For Fun and On the Fringe
● National Garden Week - First week of June
● National Trails Day - First Saturday in June
● U.N. World Environment Day - June 5 (Sponsored by a different country each year)
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
Camilla Brooksl, President
Jack Vitale, Vice President
Mary O'Beirne, Treasurer
Elise Rapoza, Secretary
Trustees
Camilla Brooks
Niko Tarini
Mary Rapoza
Jack Vitale
David LaBrie
Ed Rooney
Elise Rapoza
Committee Chairs
Staff
Rev. Karen Leblanc, Minister
Yasmin Fle-fleh Vincent, Director of Religious Education
Randy Fayan, Director of Music
Jessica DeCicco-Carey, Administrator
Tony Gonsalves, Facilities Manager
John Manning, Sunday Sexton
Mari Fay-Martin, Sunday School Teacher
Sam Angelini, Sunday School Teacher
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
(508)994-9686 ext.12
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