First Parish Faith in Action Team

serves the congregation as it strives towards the UU goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. We sponsor First Parish outreach efforts through six focus areas:

Item Donations
Share the Plate
UUA Study Action Issues,
Social Action Liaison to congregational programs
Programs and Initiatives,
Support of UUSC programs.

In these ways, we hope to make positive changes in our society by increasing our congregation's awareness, becoming a more generous community, and by reaching out and helping those in need.

We meet at First Parish, four times a year, either before or after our Sunday morning worship service - Join us! Call Tom Arnold or Judy Deutsch for more information.

We are a core team with the entire congregation participating in our projects, initiatives and efforts.

Current Initiatives

Guest at Your Table Program Our annual UUSC program began on November 27. Boxes will be collected during the January 15 service. If you cannot be present then, boxes or donations may be left at the office for the UUSC/Faith in Action folder. This annual program in cooperation with the UUSC benefits people of need in the USA and around the globe.

Our annual Secret Santa program was again a success, supporting children in Framingham. We mourn the loss of our member who spearheaded this program for over a decade and passed away just before Christmas.

Fair Trade Coffee Program is currently suspended and needs a NEW coordinator. If interested, please call Tom. A or the church office.

NOW is time to renew or reinstate your UUSC membership, or join if you never have before. The UUSC is the independent organization of UU's working around the world and in the USA for social and environmental justice and providing emergency disaster aid. Click through to the UUSC. Be cetain to note you are part of First Parish of Sudbury.

http://www.uusc.org/index.shtml

Share The Plate Program

Share The Plate Twice monthly we share the collection plate with worthy organizations, as suggested by the congregational community. Last year we donated almost 8% of our annual budget through various grants, share-the-plate and outreach collections. We are looking for input from members and friends on which organizations we should support. To make a suggestions, please complete the form link below and submit to the office for the FIA Folder.

Share the Plate Designees Upcoming:

January 15: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
January 29: West Suburban Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth (WAGLY)
February 5: TBD
February 12: Wayland, Sudbury, Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable
March 18: Unitarian Universalists for Just Economic Community
March 25: Mass. Coalition for the Homeless

To nominate an organization to receive our Share the Plate
please complete this form and submit to Faith in Action electronically or through the office:
Share The Plate Recipient Recommendation Form

Annual Activities

The 2012 Project Bread - Walk for Hunger May 6 We will again field a walk team. The 2011 team raised over $5000.

Our Annual Backpack Drive was again a success. In partnership with HOPEsudbury (

http://hopesudbury.org) we collected backpacks and school supplies. We outfit the children at an emergency family shelter in Waltham and provided backpacks to keep for welcome packages for new children throughout the year.

The 2011 4rd Annual Walk for Literacy - sponsored by Barakat World (

http://Barakatworld.org) Five members of Team First Parish Sudbury did the 5 mile walk through Cambridge just before the storm struck on October 29. We collected overe $1500.

The Annual UUSC Guest at Your Table will begin in November. Plan to have a Guest at Your Table Box at your table, sharing in the bounty of the holiday season.

The Secret Santa Program for 2011 was a huge success thanks to contributions by members and friends. We supported over 40 children in Framingham. The 2012 program will begin in November.