The Compass, September 10, 2025
- Sep 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 16
Committee Chair Meeting Sunday, September 14
Attention Committee Chairs! There will be a meeting with the trustees this Sunday, September 14, at 12:30 PM to discuss the church year and the upcoming Chair Fair on October 19.
Fall Garden Clean Up & Planting Day, September 21, Noon
Fall is the best time to add perennials and shrubs to the garden. The Garden Committee invites you to a fall clean-up and planting party. You'll be taking out the weeds and adding in some plants. Plant donations are appreciated; please label with height and sun exposure needs.
So, wear your old clothes to church and bring your trowel. Many hands make light work!
Committee Chairs,
Mary Rapoza & Bette Low
Thrift Shop Volunteers Needed
The Thrift Shop has lost an efficient, dedicated volunteer and is in desperate need of an additional volunteer or volunteers for the following:
Books need to be shelved
Bags of clothing need to be unpacked, sorted, and hung
Please contact Pam Sherman at (508) 423-0544 for additional information. There are also other ways to help.
Virtual Bylaws Meeting
On Wednesday, September 26, at 6:30 PM, there will be a virtual meeting for members to discuss the proposed changes to the bylaws. This will be the last virtual meeting—if you have anything to add to the discussion, please try to attend this meeting. You can also submit comments via email to be presented to the committee. An in-person meeting of the membership will take place in the Spring.
Sunday Service
Welcome, Way Cool Sunday Team!
Sam Bio
My name is Sam, I live in New Bedford, and go to school at UMass Dartmouth studying Studio Arts/Sculpture. I’m mostly interested in welding and sculpting with nature. This past summer I had the opportunity to teach Sculpture to children aged 7-16 at an art-centered indoor camp. I had a blast, so I imagine I’ll have a great time working with kids again. I love the inspiration that flows with them; it’s definitely contagious!
Mari Bio:
Mari (Marissa) Fay-Martin is an early childhood educator with a passion for following children's lead and infusing creativity into every lesson. Mari has a bachelor's degree in Art Education and a master's degree in Education and Human Development. She currently works as the Early Childhood Education Coordinator at People Incorporated's Children Center, where she mentors the teachers and crafts curriculum in collaboration with the teachers and children. She loves our church community and is always happy to be here with her husband, Brenan, and daughter, Leila.
September 11: Art, History, Architecture {AHA}
September 14: Pluralism - “Widen the Circle!" The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
September 21: Generosity - “Share What You Have!” The Story of Honi and the Carob Tree
September 28: Interdependence: “Notice and Care for the Wider Web!”, Walking Field Trip to Serlingpa Meditation Center at 11 am, 514 Pleasant Street, if you plan to meet us there!
Please share these events with your family and friends, and consider attending yourself. We would love to see you!
FREE Events Happening at UUNB
Open mic occurs on the first Sunday of each month, September to June.
Being Human takes place every Friday at 11 AM. Please use the parking lot door.
There is also an open AA meeting, led by Walter Silvia, that takes place each Saturday at noon in the Parish House.
Ticketed Events: A portion of the sales from these events will benefit the restoration of the Tryworks Auditorium
In collaboration with Infinity Productions, we are excited to present a monthly concert series. Please check the events page on our website for updates. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Tickets to all of our shows can be purchased in the office with cash or check during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 1 PM, or online with a credit card.
The calendar on our website shows everything happening at UUNB. Updates are displayed immediately, so you will always know what is planned.
Piano Concert at UU Middleboro
UU Middleboro is thrilled to present our new Director of Music Ministry, William Smith, in
a concert of his original piano compositions on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2:30 pm in our
Sanctuary at 25 South Main Street, Middleboro. The concert is free and open to the
public.
William recently received his MM in Piano Performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, where he served for two years as a graduate fellow in collaborative
piano.
William writes: “My own personal understanding of music, and the world by extension,
has largely been shaped through a mathematical and spiritual lens. Math to me is an absolutely beautiful subject because we are able to explicitly define, prove concrete things about, and meaningfully discuss abstract structures and ideas... I will share with you my current best efforts at applying these ideas to a strictly musical setting. Through a particular minimalist style, the concert will explore many concepts and themes, including religion, spirituality, pain, healing, and love.”
Part One of the concert explores such questions as: Who are we? Where do our values come from? How do we view ourselves in the world? How do we emerge from challenges to build strength, stamina, and resilience?
Part Two is more playful, expressing the joys and discoveries of his 11/2-year-old nephew Fischer through “clumsy” motives, unclear tonal centers, and non-functional harmonies.
William ends with a one-movement sonata that explores the classical sonata form in a contemporary, minimalist style, full of energy and ending in a triumphant coda.
Please join us for this exciting premiere performance! For more information, go to https://uumiddleboro.org, 508-947-1935.
COME JOIN THE CHORUS! Greater New Bedford Choral Society is looking for new singers–everyone is welcome–no auditions necessary! We rehearse every Tuesday night from 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm at First Unitarian Church in New Bedford. This fall, we are planning a holiday concert for Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 pm featuring Rutter’s Gloria and a varied selection of pieces celebrating the different holidays of the season, ranging from original compositions to works by women composers. Attend an open rehearsal in September to find out how much fun it is to sing with us! Visit our website at https://www.gnbcs.org/ for more information or follow us on Facebook.
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
Trustees
Camilla Brooks
Elise Rapoza
Mary Rapoza
Niko Tarini
Jack Vitale
Committee Chairs
Bylaws: Niko Tarini
Endowment: Carlton Dasent
Finance: Helena Hartnett & Larry Jaquith
Garden: Mary Rapoza & Bette Low
Hospitality: Deb Carmel
House & Grounds: Steve Carmel
Outreach: David Godinez (interim)
Religious Education: Charlie Morgan
Social Justice: Tonianne Wong & IsaiahKidney
Thrift Shop: Pamela Sherman
Staff
Minister: Rev. Karen LeBlanc
RE Director: Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent
Music Director: Randy Fayan
Administrator: Jessica DeCicco-Carey
Facilities: Tony Gonsalves
Sunday School Teacher: Mari Fay-Martin
Sunday School Teacher: Sam Angelini
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
(508)994-9686 ext.12
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