Meet our Candidate Minister: Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger (read the full announcement here)
The Search Committee has done its job … now it’s your turn! Schedule of events for Candidate Week, details on voting, as well as all Search Committee information is further below. We need as many members voting in person in the sanctuary as possible to make this a resounding call for Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday 7th May. This vote will take place immediately following the Sunday service.
Details about voting are below this table of events for the week:
| First Parish in Bedford: Candidate Week | April 30 – May 7 | ||
| Sun 4/30 | 10:00 am | Worship Service (All Ages) | Sanctuary / ZOOM |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Conversation with Rev. Jamie | Sanctuary / ZOOM | |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Community Session with Search Committee (without Rev. Jamie) | ZOOM | |
| Mon 5/1 | 2:00 pm | Carleton-Willard Village meets Rev. Jamie | CWV |
| 7:00 – 8:30 pm | Conversation with Rev. Jamie | Sanctuary / ZOOM | |
| Tues 5/2 | 8:30 – 9:30 am | Conversation with Rev. Jamie | Common Room |
| 12:30 – 2:00 pm | Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Jamie | Common Room | |
| Wed 5/3 | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Conversation with Rev. Jamie | Sanctuary / ZOOM |
| Thu 5/4 | 8:30 – 9:30 am | Conversation with Rev. Jamie | Common Room |
| 6:45 – 7:25 pm | Adult Choir Meet and Greet with Rev. Jamie | Sanctuary | |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Community Session with Search Committee (without Rev. Jamie) | ZOOM | |
| Fri 5/5 | 10:00 am | Morning Meditation with Rev. Jamie | ZOOM |
| 12:00 – 1:30 pm | Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Jamie | Common Room | |
| 5:30 – 7:00 pm | Pizza dinner for children, youth, and their families with Rev. Jamie | Common Room + | |
| 7:00 pm | Dessert Potluck for All Parishioners & Rev. Jamie (Movie & Karaoke for children/youth) | Common Room + | |
| Sat 5/6 | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Community Session with Search Committee (without Rev. Jamie) | ZOOM |
| Sun 5/7 | 10:00 am | Worship Service (Faith Development for children) | Sanctuary / ZOOM |
| Immediately after service |
Congregational Meeting with Vote (Only members can vote, but all are welcome.) |
Sanctuary / ZOOM | |
| After the vote | Community Hour and Ice Cream Social with Coffee/Tea | Common Room / Outside |
Voting Details:
All members who have signed the First Parish in Bedford Membership Book by April 6, 2023 are eligible to vote at the Congregational Meeting On May 7, 2023. Ministerial Candidates consider a successful call to be a favorable vote by 90% of the members voting.
The Congregational Meeting will occur after the service at approximately 11:15 AM. Those attending the meeting are requested to remain in the sanctuary. Community Hour will be postponed until after the meeting.
Please commit to voting in person at the Congregational meeting if you can. Childcare will be available. There are three options available for voting:
- In-person in the sanctuary: Members will register and receive a paper ballot before the service at either the Elm Street entrance or the Narthex entrance. Members arriving after the start of the service will be able to register and receive a paper ballot immediately after the service, but before the start of the Congregational Meeting.
- Virtually on Zoom: Members attending on Zoom will need to reconnect on a new meeting link that is different from the Sunday service link and must identify themselves with their full name on their screen. A Deputy Moderator will check those in the Zoom Waiting Room against the First Parish Membership List as of April 7, 2023 and approve entry to the Zoom meeting for First Parish members.
- Absentee voting is intended only for those unable to attend the meeting in person or on Zoom. An absentee ballot consists of the member’s written statement identifying themselves with their full name and address and includes a statement of a “Yes” or “No” vote on the calling of Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger as Senior Minister for First Parish in Bedford. Ballots may be mailed to the church office addressed to the Parish Clerk or submitted to clerk@uubedford.org starting at the beginning of Candidate Week (April 30 – May 7) and MUST be received by the Clerk before 5:00 PM on Saturday, May 6. The Clerk will register these members prior to the start of the meeting and they will not be allowed on Zoom or given a ballot if they arrive in person for the meeting.
All votes will be counted by the Clerk and a tally announced to the congregation at the conclusion of voting.
Following a successful call, there will be a community celebration with Rev. Jamie in the Common Room and outside (coffee/tea, treats to eat and Bedford Farms ice cream) that you won’t want to miss!
Historical Documents from the Search Process July 2022 – May 2023
Email us with comments or questions
Renu Bostwick, Ian Carroll, Stacy Chandler, Sharon McDonald,
Maureen Richichi (Chair), Rich Suval and Andrew Van Praagh
