Welcome to the Website
of All Souls Church in Braintree
January Service Theme
What Does it Mean to be a Family of Imagination?
Being guided by “what if...” is something humans do really well. We can imagine possibilities, informed by past observations and experiences, to create new realities that did not exist before.
What Does it Mean to be a Family of Imagination?
Being guided by “what if...” is something humans do really well. We can imagine possibilities, informed by past observations and experiences, to create new realities that did not exist before.
Join us for Sunday Online Service at 10:30 am
Everyone is welcome.
To attend a Sunday Service, meeting or connection circle, connect with us on Zoom We are not holding in-person services at this time. By using Zoom, we can see one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices (you can choose to participate off camera if you wish).
If the technology is a barrier,
you can call in by phone instead of connecting by computer or tablet and enter
Meeting ID : 965 7100 6038
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/apI3OzUAb
January 24 at 10:30 am: Community Sunday
by the Social Action Environment Committee
The focus of the service will be to continue talking about points raised in the Dec. 15 All Souls discussion of the GA Ware Lecture, “Why We’re Ready for Radical Change”, by Naomi Klein. This discussion is helpful in our planning, in the words of Rev. Susan Federick-Grey: to ”…give all we can to defend democracy, dignity, and liberation and to put people and the planet finally and resolutely above profits.” (By the President, Fall 2020 UUWorld, p. 4)
The SAEC realizes this is not an easy discussion and that there are different views on what our faith calls us to do. Every view, every voice is welcome in this serious discussion, in which consideration and a willingness to listen are essential.
Read The Lecture online here
Naomi Klein’s 2020 Ware Lecture to the UUA General Assembly June 20-23, 2020
https://www.uuworld.org/articles/ready-radical-change?
You can also watch and listen to the lecture here
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7462757/video/433421388
Know you are one with community
as you join us online.
Because of COVID-19, All Souls Church's regularly scheduled programs
have moved online.
Connection Circles are our small group offerings:
Online Tuesday Mid-day Meetup, Friday Coffee Hour, and Discussion Groups are Open to All Souls Members, Friends and Visitors.
Tuesday Afternoon Coffee Hour
Meet up with us for some online conversation and companionship
Tuesdays at 3:30 pm.
Friday Morning Coffee Hour
Join us Fridays at 10 am for online coffee and conversation.
as you join us online.
Because of COVID-19, All Souls Church's regularly scheduled programs
have moved online.
Connection Circles are our small group offerings:
Online Tuesday Mid-day Meetup, Friday Coffee Hour, and Discussion Groups are Open to All Souls Members, Friends and Visitors.
Tuesday Afternoon Coffee Hour
Meet up with us for some online conversation and companionship
Tuesdays at 3:30 pm.
Friday Morning Coffee Hour
Join us Fridays at 10 am for online coffee and conversation.
Connection Circle: Anti-Racism Small Group
Join Rev. Jo on six Thursday evenings, as a dedicated group gathers to explore how systemic racism and white supremacy culture show up in our lives and what we can do to dismantle it. The group will meet every other Thursday from 6:30-8:30 pm in the church's Zoom Room. https://zoom.us/j/96571006038
The dates are: January 28, February 11, February 25, March 11, March 25. This is not a drop-in discussion. Pre-registration is required.
Earth Illustration from the lecture
Social Action / Environment Committee
We will lead the Sunday, Jan. 24 morning service, 10:30 to 11:30 am. The focus of the service will be to continue talking about points raised in the Dec. 15 All Souls discussion of the GA Ware Lecture, “Why We’re Ready for Radical Change”, by Naomi Klein. This discussion is helpful in our planning, in the words of Rev. Susan Federick-Grey: to ”…give all we can to defend democracy, dignity, and liberation and to put people and the planet finally and resolutely above profits.” (By the President, Fall 2020 UUWorld, p. 4)
The SAEC realizes this is not an easy discussion and that there are different views on what our faith calls us to do. Every view, every voice is welcome in this serious discussion, in which consideration and a willingness to listen are essential.
George Goss, chair Social Action and Environment Committee
Read The Lecture online here
Naomi Klein’s 2020 Ware Lecture to the UUA General Assembly June 20-23, 2020
https://www.uuworld.org/articles/ready-radical-change?
You can also watch and listen to the lecture here
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7462757/video/433421388
At the December Social Action discussion of Naomi Klein’s lecture, Ross Edwards presented this outline.
Key moment in history-Triple crisis leads to extraordinary response, the Age of Consequences- Climate Change, COVID-19, and Racial Injustice.
A. time of reckoning.
B. Many people now grasp/understand this, and perceive the interrelation of the crises.
1. Those who seek positive change are many.
2. Those opposed are powerful but few.
3. Green New deal addresses multiple social and physical areas, realizing the interconnectedness of them.
Pandemic response has shown what is possible, what can be done when necessary. (Granted, it is an immediate and deadly threat.)
A. That we cannot do it – that it is “too much” – is shown to be a lie.
B. Our imaginations are being rewritten
C. That such changes can happen is inspiring, a cause for hope.
D. The chances of achieving an ethic of caring are better now than a year ago.
Who are the most vulnerable: pandemic is a spotlight on them.
A. Categories of people who are disposable/sacrificeable by the powers-that-be.
B. This attitude has shaped society’s response to COVID crisis:
1. At first all were perceived to be at risk, we were “all in this together.”
2. Then, when the most disposable were shown to be the most hurt by COVID, calls to “open the economy” in ways that put the most vulnerable at the most risk.
Back to item I. above: Initial response shows what can be done; initial consequences show how positive the result can be (in spite of the imperfections).
A. However, we now must take the changes “all the way to the top.”
B. Many people understand this
C. BUT: there are opponents.
1. Authoritarian governments taking advantage of COVID to control and shut down democratic activities.
2. Big industries and companies are doing the same, limiting personal interactions among their employees.
3. Disaster Capitalism is alive and well.
D. Analogy between FDR’s New Deal and the Green New Deal; How both did/could uplift society.
E. The future is up for grabs. FDR’s New deal won out over opposition, why can’t we win? (Can the right leader at the right time lead us there?)
F. We are writing this science fiction novel together; no one knows how it will come out.
Note: we need the text of the Green New Deal, which is not a set of laws, but rather a congressional resolution which is a broad outline of where we need to go to not just fight Climate Change but to improve society. Link to complete Green New Deal: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text
Andy Pearce shared some suggestions for specific things we can do in our everyday lives. Doing any of these things is a meaningful contribution to at least mitigating the negative impacts we have on the environment.
Try to avoid having natural gas in your home, if possible. There are health issues with the gasses released indoors, even when the gas is burning for cooking or heating. Also, gas main leakage under streets and into the air is a major urban health problem, particularly in lower income areas where mains are usually not as well maintained. And the placement of large gas lines in more populated areas has become more of an issue over the last few years. These lines can be dangerously explosive. So, try not to increase demand for natural gas, if possible. But yes, gas is less expensive than electricity and oil heat. I get that.
Be prudent with water use. Massachusetts conservation guidelines suggest using no more than 65 gallons of water per day, per person in the household. Monitoring water usage is not difficult. If you have access to your water meter, let me know if you’re curious about the method I use. Very easy. In short, a cubic foot is 7.48 gallons, so if your quarterly water bill (90-92 days) is less than 800 cubic feet per person in the household, you’re meeting the guidelines.
Basically, it’s a matter of not letting the water run continuously while scrubbing dishes, brushing teeth, shaving, or soaping up in the shower.
Drink tap water! It’s safe and cheap. About 2 cents per gallon for us, including sewer cost. And, unfortunately, now we know about the huge problem with plastic waste, and the fact that plastic recycling has basically been a myth.
If you have oil heat, maintain your furnace yearly. If the furnace is performing below 80 – 85% efficiency, you should replace it. Not just for environmental reasons. Lower efficiency can indicate the furnace has aged beyond safe usage. And if you have a gas furnace, at least you can feel good that a well-maintained, late model gas furnace is highly efficient.
When not using air conditioning or heating, try to keep your household electrical usage to less than 13-14 kilowatt hours average per day. Even if you have an electric dryer, stove and water heater, which is the case for us. LED lightbulbs make a big difference. Turn off power strips when microwaves, computers, TV’s, etc. are not in use. Where a power strip is not practical, a simple switch receptacle can be plugged into the outlet, and the appliance can be plugged into that.
Try to set your heat thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Try to set your air conditioning thermostat at 75 degrees or higher. AC dehumidifies the air, so a temperature of 75-78 degrees is quite livable. Try not to use the AC unless nighttime temps stay above 70 degrees for a prolonged string of days.
Braintree has a program where you can support the use and installation of solar power sources in town by buying power from solar panels that have been placed around the town. We enrolled in that several years ago. Let me know if you want details, or contact BELD directly.
Drive a car that gets at least 30 miles per gallon, overall. And keep your vehicle well maintained, to mitigate emissions, and optimize your gas mileage. Hope this helps! ~ Andy
Social Action / Environment Committee
We will lead the Sunday, Jan. 24 morning service, 10:30 to 11:30 am. The focus of the service will be to continue talking about points raised in the Dec. 15 All Souls discussion of the GA Ware Lecture, “Why We’re Ready for Radical Change”, by Naomi Klein. This discussion is helpful in our planning, in the words of Rev. Susan Federick-Grey: to ”…give all we can to defend democracy, dignity, and liberation and to put people and the planet finally and resolutely above profits.” (By the President, Fall 2020 UUWorld, p. 4)
The SAEC realizes this is not an easy discussion and that there are different views on what our faith calls us to do. Every view, every voice is welcome in this serious discussion, in which consideration and a willingness to listen are essential.
George Goss, chair Social Action and Environment Committee
Read The Lecture online here
Naomi Klein’s 2020 Ware Lecture to the UUA General Assembly June 20-23, 2020
https://www.uuworld.org/articles/ready-radical-change?
You can also watch and listen to the lecture here
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7462757/video/433421388
At the December Social Action discussion of Naomi Klein’s lecture, Ross Edwards presented this outline.
Key moment in history-Triple crisis leads to extraordinary response, the Age of Consequences- Climate Change, COVID-19, and Racial Injustice.
A. time of reckoning.
B. Many people now grasp/understand this, and perceive the interrelation of the crises.
1. Those who seek positive change are many.
2. Those opposed are powerful but few.
3. Green New deal addresses multiple social and physical areas, realizing the interconnectedness of them.
Pandemic response has shown what is possible, what can be done when necessary. (Granted, it is an immediate and deadly threat.)
A. That we cannot do it – that it is “too much” – is shown to be a lie.
B. Our imaginations are being rewritten
C. That such changes can happen is inspiring, a cause for hope.
D. The chances of achieving an ethic of caring are better now than a year ago.
Who are the most vulnerable: pandemic is a spotlight on them.
A. Categories of people who are disposable/sacrificeable by the powers-that-be.
B. This attitude has shaped society’s response to COVID crisis:
1. At first all were perceived to be at risk, we were “all in this together.”
2. Then, when the most disposable were shown to be the most hurt by COVID, calls to “open the economy” in ways that put the most vulnerable at the most risk.
Back to item I. above: Initial response shows what can be done; initial consequences show how positive the result can be (in spite of the imperfections).
A. However, we now must take the changes “all the way to the top.”
B. Many people understand this
C. BUT: there are opponents.
1. Authoritarian governments taking advantage of COVID to control and shut down democratic activities.
2. Big industries and companies are doing the same, limiting personal interactions among their employees.
3. Disaster Capitalism is alive and well.
D. Analogy between FDR’s New Deal and the Green New Deal; How both did/could uplift society.
E. The future is up for grabs. FDR’s New deal won out over opposition, why can’t we win? (Can the right leader at the right time lead us there?)
F. We are writing this science fiction novel together; no one knows how it will come out.
Note: we need the text of the Green New Deal, which is not a set of laws, but rather a congressional resolution which is a broad outline of where we need to go to not just fight Climate Change but to improve society. Link to complete Green New Deal: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text
Andy Pearce shared some suggestions for specific things we can do in our everyday lives. Doing any of these things is a meaningful contribution to at least mitigating the negative impacts we have on the environment.
Try to avoid having natural gas in your home, if possible. There are health issues with the gasses released indoors, even when the gas is burning for cooking or heating. Also, gas main leakage under streets and into the air is a major urban health problem, particularly in lower income areas where mains are usually not as well maintained. And the placement of large gas lines in more populated areas has become more of an issue over the last few years. These lines can be dangerously explosive. So, try not to increase demand for natural gas, if possible. But yes, gas is less expensive than electricity and oil heat. I get that.
Be prudent with water use. Massachusetts conservation guidelines suggest using no more than 65 gallons of water per day, per person in the household. Monitoring water usage is not difficult. If you have access to your water meter, let me know if you’re curious about the method I use. Very easy. In short, a cubic foot is 7.48 gallons, so if your quarterly water bill (90-92 days) is less than 800 cubic feet per person in the household, you’re meeting the guidelines.
Basically, it’s a matter of not letting the water run continuously while scrubbing dishes, brushing teeth, shaving, or soaping up in the shower.
Drink tap water! It’s safe and cheap. About 2 cents per gallon for us, including sewer cost. And, unfortunately, now we know about the huge problem with plastic waste, and the fact that plastic recycling has basically been a myth.
If you have oil heat, maintain your furnace yearly. If the furnace is performing below 80 – 85% efficiency, you should replace it. Not just for environmental reasons. Lower efficiency can indicate the furnace has aged beyond safe usage. And if you have a gas furnace, at least you can feel good that a well-maintained, late model gas furnace is highly efficient.
When not using air conditioning or heating, try to keep your household electrical usage to less than 13-14 kilowatt hours average per day. Even if you have an electric dryer, stove and water heater, which is the case for us. LED lightbulbs make a big difference. Turn off power strips when microwaves, computers, TV’s, etc. are not in use. Where a power strip is not practical, a simple switch receptacle can be plugged into the outlet, and the appliance can be plugged into that.
Try to set your heat thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Try to set your air conditioning thermostat at 75 degrees or higher. AC dehumidifies the air, so a temperature of 75-78 degrees is quite livable. Try not to use the AC unless nighttime temps stay above 70 degrees for a prolonged string of days.
Braintree has a program where you can support the use and installation of solar power sources in town by buying power from solar panels that have been placed around the town. We enrolled in that several years ago. Let me know if you want details, or contact BELD directly.
Drive a car that gets at least 30 miles per gallon, overall. And keep your vehicle well maintained, to mitigate emissions, and optimize your gas mileage. Hope this helps! ~ Andy
