In this August newsletter, Rev. Pam writes of reconnecting with each other as we head into a new church year and return to the sanctuary. She's been inspired by reading The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt and the novel Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson. During the summer, Pam met with members for spiritual check-ups, to talk about what we're dreaming about for our own lives and for the church. She says two themes came up often in those conversations - "gratitude for the work and presence of our church in the crazy, disorienting, disturbing times we live in, and desire for more connection with one another in exploring the “why’s” and the “what’s” but also just in having fun together." Going into the fall, our newly formed Council of Leaders is considering how to focus our energy in these areas, and the worship series for autumn is on the “Quest” — to live into these goals. Read details in the newsletter about registration for the adult and youth Religious Education programs, book discussions, voting rights action by the Social Justice team, and more.  Read More

Summer is a great time to practice loving, understanding, and doing justice. The long days invite us to bask and reflect. Our summer services are less formal with time for conversation, art, music, games. Our theme this summer is “Feed Your Soul.” There are links in the newsletter to Fall RE registration; social justice initiatives being planned through UU the Vote; and an invitation to a reading group discussion about slavery in Scituate (sparked by our Juneteenth service). Words from the minister for this month of July: On Friday June 24 following the Supreme Court decision taking away the right to an abortion, members of the First Parish community gathered at the church, along with people in the area who saw it announced on Facebook and through Bans Off Our Bodies. We grieved; we raged; we shared stories; we named our fears; we lit candles; we sang. Our gathering didn’t change the reality, but it made us better able to deal with it. We remembered we were not alone. And that connection gave us hope - hope which increased the next morning at the Scituate Pride parade and program as we remembered that we can and have made the power of Love more real in our world. In our tradition the power of church comes not from our belief in a certain truth or doctrine but in our understanding that together we embody Love in ways we cannot do on our own; together we increase our understanding of what is important in ways we cannot do on our own; together we “do justice” in the words of the prophet Micah in ways we cannot do on our own.  Read More

June is the end of our regular church year. RE classes and scheduled activities take a summer break—but we jump into action in other ways. This month's newsletter describes the "Spiritual Practice" theme driving our summer lay-led services (for which volunteers are needed, for sharing any spiritual activity that grounds you); the Adult Faith programs for the summer, which include Spiritual Autobiography, and another Brene Brown small-group discussion series. The newsletter also includes a celebration of what the kids and teachers achieved in Religious Ed this year, and a farewell message from our RE Coordinator Eileen Knight ("As I reflect back on my 3 years as RE Coordinator, I'm in awe of this wonderful community of children and adults who hold each other up spiritually, champion all human, animal and earthly rights, and embrace change with open hearts and minds.")  Read More

At this time of year, towards the close of the church year, the activities at First Parish involve a good deal of looking back and looking ahead, all while continuing to do the work needed in the present. This newsletter informs the community on the upcoming Spring Fair and its celebration of spring growth and the beauty of Kay Shaw's artwork, and on the continuing work of the Social Justice team and community organizations. We look back on all the religious education program has accomplished with the youth of the church, and prepare to review ALL the other programming offered this year, as the Annual Meeting approaches. The Meeting will acknowledge past accomplishments, propose funding for future challenges, and decide on changes to the by-laws in order to help church governance work more effectively. At this time of self-assessment, Pam's message asks us to reflect on how we as a church can root ourselves more deeply in Love as we offer its warmth to others.  Read More

Rev. Pam Barz is back from her sabbatical: "I am looking forward to our reconnecting. I’ll be sharing some of what I learned and pondered during my sabbatical in sermons this month, but I’d love to hear what you’ve learned. What insights have you had into your own life, our church, the world? How would you like to live out those insights? As the time of planting draws near, where would you like to put your energies for growth?" This April newsletter offers some ideas for putting energies into our parish community's growth! — such as being inspired to act for climate justice on Earth Day and beyond, teaching in the youth program, preparing for the Spring Fair, digging into the resource lists to educate yourself on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples, donating to alleviate suffering in Ukraine, and donating to support the works of this church.  Read More

This month of March is ushered in with many joys and sorrows: The gift of music, the gift of Rev Danielle's guidance, the generosity during our pledge drive to support our work together—but also the sorrow of watching war in Ukraine and suffering across the world. Activities at First Parish this month offer resilience: Sermons on the community work of Boston's UU Urban Ministry, on how Unitarian Universalism can be a faith that saves lives, and how it can be a faith that supports us in healing from trauma. The children's classes explore "miracles" in our world, and Nick Page will visit us to lift up all ages with the joy of his song-leading.  Read More

February's newsletter highlights lots of increased activity, the most important of which is our return to the sanctuary—with covid restrictions in place, but gathering again nonetheless (the youth program remains virtual or on hiatus). We also have launched the annual pledge drive, with great expectations for success in supporting our church with the resources we need for all that goes on at First Parish. We are a self-sustaining church with no denominational financial contribution to our staff, building, or programs. In Social Justice news, Black History Month will be recognised, and we continue educational activities to broaden our knowledge and perspective regarding Indigenous Peoples. February can be a difficult month for many. Interim minister Rev. Danielle notes "I am reminding us all that this month we may need to reach out to our friends, neighbors and church members to check in on their well being. I invite you to make a call, write and send a note, send an email or text to someone who may need it. It could make a big difference."  Read More

This January of 2022, we find ourselves again returning to virtual services in order to keep our congregation and families safe and healthy. Rev. Pam Barz begins her sabbatical time, which runs from Jan through March, on retreat, considering questions she poses to us as well: As we asked throughout our Advent and Christmas services, how will we ‘House the Holy’ in 2022? How will we offer our time and our love to strengthen what we care about, especially during this time when we might be worrying about the health of our friends, the health of our society, and the health of our environment? This month's newsletter also provides information about our interim minister and guest worship leaders, and a description of this spring's social justice activities raising awareness of issues important to Indigenous Peoples.  Read More

This season of Advent, we are facing so many challenges in the context of the never ending pandemic. In this December newsletter, Pam speaks of the need to recognize—not mask— the darkness. She writes that she is reading "Haphazard by Starlight" by Janet Morley, a collection of poems and reflections on pieces by authors such as Philip Larkin, Sylvia Plath, and Emily Dickinson. Although these are poems about darkness - the darknesses of the self, the season, and the society - some offer the hope of light breaking in; others encourage the reader to sit with and in the darkness. Worship services are focused on the Advent themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. Activities in the church this month include holding the Snowflake Fair fundraiser; supporting the Sponsor a Woman campaign; collecting childrens' hats and mittens for Cradles to Crayons, and adult-size white socks for Haley House.  Read More

This November newsletter describes the highlights of a very busy month. Read about our masked-and-distanced return to the indoor sanctuary; the crafting of a Land Acknowledgement; an introduction to the Rev Ms Danielle, who will be our sabbatical minister this coming spring; a description from Pam about the focus of this last session of her sabbatical; and about the services and activities that will bring the children and adults through Thanksgiving and into Advent.  Read More

October's beautiful weather has uplifted our outdoor services and the outdoor children's program activities! This newsletter describes a busy fall calendar under way, with indoor and outdoor services, gatherings, and social justice opportunities, as well as planning sessions for even more ahead. Although our calendars may be fuller than they have been in a long time, Pam's message here asks if the effects of the pandemic still have you feeling as if you are "languishing." An antidote to languishing, she says, is opening ourselves to moments of flow - those times when you are so focused or immersed that you lose track of minutes and of worries - she invites you to make those moments more likely by taking on meditative practices which invite flow.  Read More

September begins a new church year, with lots of activities, even though we celebrate outside, for now. The worship theme for the month is 'Courage'; the newsletter details all the upcoming opportunities to find courage and hope together, by moving forward and making positive change. School and church school begin; book discussions and social justice activities are under way — we reconvene, and renew our commitments and intentions.  Read More