This Week in Worship

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Theme: Resilience

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Minister Rev. Lisa Ward

Entering into the Easter season, First Parish is offering several spiritual opportunities. Beginning with this Sunday, we will share our annual communion service with the church silver as well as welcome several new members to our faith community. Later that afternoon, our CUUPS group is offering the observance of Ostara , the Spring Equinox, a time of finding balance when dark and light are equal. The following Friday (March 30) we will offer a Tenebrae service in the Children’s Church: a meditative honoring of Jesus’ ministry as we recognize the tragic ending of his life. Our Easter service this year will be a multi-generational service, including a time to recognize our “good eggs”, lifting up volunteers named for their important service to the community. And the following Friday (April 6), our annual Seder will be celebrated. Check out the details listed below.

Many opportunities to deepen in faith and center our lives on the abundance of this community. I hope to see you at some point in these next two weeks.

Blessings, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

• Nursery and toddler care is available every week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This week our caregivers are Daisy and Toya. Stop by and say hello!
• Religious Exploration for Sunday, March 25: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to their classrooms. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am.
• Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “The Story of Easter of Rechenka’s Eggs.” Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Super Heroes: Bible People curricula, meeting in the Children’s Church. This week will continue the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Grades 6 through 8 will be discussing resurrection and reincarnation as part of their Friends and Neighbors program.
• Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Coming of Age, 10:30am – 12pm

After weeks of looking at different faith perspectives and spiritual paths, our class class this week will focus on being UU. What makes us UU? Where do we come from? What are we striving toward?

There will be no CAT this week

Events, News and Announcements

First Parish Spring Fun-raiser

When: Saturday, March 24 — 6:30pm-10pm

VIEW the auction items and vacation homes:

http://fpfunraiser.homestead.com/index.html

Restaurants, books, art, music, Reds Sox and concert tickets, and much more!

Jazz tunes with Joel Hiller and croons and tunes by Franc Graham, Jeff Stoodt, Pat Neves, Claudia Wellington and others. Appetizers*drinks*desserts.

Friends of First Parish welcome as well!

$10 donation at the door

(checks and cash only for auction items – no credit cards)

There will be no meditation next Sunday March 25.

March for Our Lives

Saturday, March 24, 12pm – 5pm in Boston

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Please contact Linda at Lindacarneygoodrich@yahoo.com for more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour. For more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour.

SOCIAL HOUR – POT LUCK

When: MARCH 25!

On Sunday, March 25th, social hour will be pot luck. Christa Ayoub and Jen Pinkus
will set up the coffee, tea and cider for social hour. If the spirit moves you,
bring a coffee cake, some cheese and crackers, fruit or anything else and add it to the table.

Knowing First Parish, we’ll end up with an interesting buffet! Our goal is “No Stress.”

SUMMER SERVICES

Summer is coming! And that means lay-led summer services at 9:30 am in The Children’s Church. Is there some aspect of your spiritual journey that you have wanted to share with the congregation? Is there some part of your social action work that you would like to present to others? This is your chance! Please email Mallory Digges if you have interest in leading a service.

FIRST PARISH TENEBRAE SERVICE

Friday, 30 March, 7:00 PM

Children’s Church

The word “tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness”. This is a service to reflect on the execution of Jesus. It is contemplative, honoring the profound loss of light felt in his death and our calling to enliven spiritual light in the world (one of the callings of Easter).

SPRING 2018 CIRCLE SOCIALS

Dinner – Saturday April 7 NEW DATE

Blue Hills Hike & Happy Hour – Saturday April 14

Please join us for the next round of collaborative get-togethers — no agenda other than making and renewing friendship.

Register with Tucker Smith — your name (s), how many, and contact email/phone. Hosts will coordinate food/beverage offerings directly.

DINNER

Saturday, April 7, 6:30 – 9 p.m., Deb Larson-Venable and Richard Venable (2 friendly dogs and cats), 6 adults welcome; 8 Essex Road (directions will be sent)

BLUE HILLS HIKE & HAPPY HOUR

Saturday, April 14 (Raindate Sunday, April 29), 2 – 4:00 p.m.; Hale and Tucker Smith; multi-generational number welcome; 1632 Canton Avenue (END of Carberry Lane cul-de-sac, directions will be sent)

THE FIRST PARISH ARTS GROUP is planning to see the play “The Humans” on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:30 PM at the Shubert Theater in Boston. Carpooling from FP will be arranged. Orchestra seats are $73 or $61 for seniors. Balcony seats are $41. Tony award winning play “The Humans” by Stephan Karam is an uproarious, hopeful and heartbreaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. All are welcome.

Please contact Laurie Macintosh or Deb Alsebai to purchase tickets and coordinate carpooling.

Sunday, March 25, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall.

March heralds the arrival of spring and the celebration of Ostara, the Spring Equinox. Dark and light are equal, so it represents a time of finding balance. Mother Earth is awakening and feeling the first joys of spring. It is a time to plant new seeds, not just in the garden but within our lives as well, to join in the celebrations and revel in the new and exciting energy.All are welcome to join the First Parish CUUPS in a celebration of Ostara on Sunday, March 25, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall. Pot Luck social hour to follow.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays

Sundays through mid June

• Worship, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
• Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
• Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)

The link to SignUp Genius is:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday1

You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.