First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church • 330 First Parish Rd, Scituate MA 02066
First Parish News July 2022
on July 9th, 2022
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
0
Slavery in Scituate - June 19, 2022
on June 19th, 2022
For this Juneteenth service, three of First Parish's congregants joined Pam Barz in reflecting on the legacy of slavery and what this day means in our in our community.  Read More
0
First Parish News June 2022
on June 1st, 2022
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
0
First Parish News May 2022
on May 1st, 2022
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
0
Out of Time - April 3, 2022
on April 5th, 2022
Pamela Barz reflects on what she gleaned over the past three months of sabbatical, on her first Sunday back.  Read More
0
First Parish News April 2022
on April 4th, 2022
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
0
First Parish News March 2022
on March 5th, 2022
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
0
First Parish News Feb 2022
on February 5th, 2022
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
0
First Parish News Jan 2022
on January 6th, 2022
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
0
First Parish News Dec 2021
on December 6th, 2021
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
0
First Parish News Nov 2021
on November 2nd, 2021
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
0
First Parish News Oct 2021
on October 8th, 2021
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
0
   NewerOlder   

Categories

Recent

Archive

Tags

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" "Church is a place where we get to practice being human" "Elizabeth Goudge" "Hope is the thing with feathers" "I Don't Want to be the Strong Female Lead" "I Worried" by Mary Oliver "Live to see clearly and the light will come /To you and as you need it." "Love is the doctrine of this church and service is its law" "Pilgrim's Inn" "Teach us to number our days." "The Silence of the Stars" "This Little Light of Mine" "We shall be a city upon a hill" "original relation to the universe" "those people" #UULent 1st principe 200th anniversary 2016 Presidentail politics 2016 Presidential election 2017 Presidential Inauguration 500th anniversary 7th Principle 95 Theses A Christmas Carol A Wrinkle in Time A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in Abundance Adam Advent African American Alcott All Souls Day All Souls Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women Amalfi Amy-Jill Levine Amy An Inspector Calls Anne Robertson Annual Report sermon Ascension Day At-one-ment Balance egg at Spring Equinox Balance Ballad of Gilligan's Island to tune of Amazing Grace Beacon Beltane Beth Betty Williams Bible Black Panther Blake covenant Bonnie Prince Charlie Boston Braiding Sweetgrass Brett Kavanaugh Brit Marling Bryan Stevenson COVID19 Canvass Capuchin Crypt Casablanca Channing Charles Chauncy Charles Darwin Unitarian Charles Darwin Charles Dickens Charles M. Schulz Charlie Brown Christmas Eve sermon Christmas Eve Christmas star Christmas Community Coronavirus Daphne Day of the Dead Days of Awe Democracy Dickens Divinity School Address Duty Earth Day Earth Easter Gospel of Mark Easter Parade Easter story Easter Edmund Hamilton Sears Eleven Elizabeth Alexander Elizabeth Blackwell Emerson Epiphany Eric Garner Esther Everybody Comes to Rick's Eve Extravagance Faith & Film Ferry Beach Fifth Principle First Parish Ladies' Sewing Circle First Sunday in Lent First Sunday Forgiveness Frankenstein Franz Gruber Fred Friendship Garden of Eden Genesis 1 Genesis 2 George Floyd Gilligan's Island Girl before a Mirror God Gospel Gratitude Greta Guerwig Greta Thunberg Halloween sermon Halloween Hanukkah Happiness Harold Bloom Harry Potter Henry Whitney Bellows Heroes High Holidays High Holy Days Honor Hospitality Hurricane Harvey I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day I-Thou I-You Individualism Inside Out Isaiah 40: 1-4 Italy J.B. Priestley Jacob Marley Jesus' baptism Jesus Jo March Jo's Boys John 20 John Lothropp John Winthrop Jonathan Safran Foer Joseph Mohr Joseph Joyce Byers Jo Julia Ward Howe Julian of Norwich Just Mercy Kindness Koran Laurie Le Chambon Lenten practice Lenten sermon Lent Lilly Endowment Program for Excellence in Ministry Linus Little Men Little Women Longfellow Lord of the Dance Louisa May Alcott Love once again break our hearts open wide Lucy van Pelt Luke 2: 10-14 Luke 2: 10 Luke 2:14 Luke MLK Sunday sermon Mairead Corrigan March for Life March sisters Marcia McFee Marie Curie Mark 14: 3-9 Mark Marley's Ghost Marley's Ghost Martin Buber Martin Luther King Martin Luther Mary Magdalene Mary Shelley Massachusetts Bible Society Matthew 6:27 May Day Meditation Meg Murry Meg Membership Sunday sermon Millie Dresselhaus Mobius strip Mother's Day Mothers' Day Mystic Seaport Museum National Airlines flight 2511 Native American Nativity Nature Nelle Morton New Year's sermon New Year's sermon New Year\'s sermon No seed ever sees the flower. Okjokull Old Story of Salvation Oliver Sacks Origin of Species Pageant Palm Sunday Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard Parable of the Leaven Parable of the Mustard Seed Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Parable of the Yeast Parables Parker Palmer Passover Peanuts Gang Pearl Merrill Pentecost Pharisee Pilgrims Pope Francis Prince of Peace Prodigal Son Protestant Reformation Psalm 51 Psalm 90 Purim Puritans and Ten Commandments Puritans RE News Rachel Carson Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm Religious Education OWL Youth Group RE Teachers Religious Education Richard III Rod Serling Rosh Hashanah Ross Gay Sadness Samhain Samuel Longfellow Sanctuary Saving the world begins at breakfast Scituate Scooby-Doo Scripture Scrooge Seasons of Love Separatist Seventh Principle Shaggy Shavuot Shonda Rimes Year of Yes Silent Night Silent Spring Skywoman Snowflake Fair Sophia Fahs Spiritual not religious Spirit Spring Equinox St. Valentine Star Wars Stewardship sermon Stewardship Stranger Things Summer solstice Sunday School Super Bowl Sunday 2015 sermon Sydney Carter Thanatopsis Thanksgiving sermon Thanksgiving The Brain Center at Whipple's The Conversation Project The Good Samaritan The Prodigal Son The Pursuit of Happiness The Redemption of Scrooge Thoreau sermon Three kings Toy Story Transcendentalism Transcendentalists Tree of Life Synagoge Trump presidency Trump Truth Twilight Zone UU Lent UU good news UU view of Jesus UU women's organizations UULent UU Ubuntu Uniiversalist Unitaarian Universalist Unitarian Louisa May Alcott Unitarian Univeralist Unitarian Univeresalist Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalist Advent Unitarian Universalist Ascension Day Unitarian Universalist Christmas Unitarian Universalist Easter sermon Unitarian Universalist Thanksgiving sermon Unitarian Universalist Transcendentalism Unitarian Universalist covenants Unitarian Universalist liturgical year Unitarian Universalist sermon for Rosh Hashanah Unitarian Universalist sermon for Yom Kippur Unitarian Universalist sermon for the Days of Awe Unitarian Universalist sermon Unitarian Universalist values Unitarian Universalist women's history Unitarian Universalist women's organizations Unitarian Universalist Unitarian Women's Alliance Unitarian women's organizations Unitarian Unity Club Universalism Universalist Untiarian Universalist sermon Valentine's Day sermon Valentine's Day Vegan before 5 Vegan before 6 Velma Vernal Equinox Veterans' Day sermon Via Negativa Walden sermon Wangari Maathai Water Communion Wendell Berry What Is a UU? What Unitarian Universalists believe Why do bad things happen Will Byers William Cullen Bryant Witch-hunt Witches Women Touched by Grace Women's March Wonder World War I Christmas truce Yom Kippur You are the light of the world action addiction afterlife anam cara angels angel art atheist awe baby dedication baker ban books beloved community birds black liberation theology blessed bones bread brevity of life bridging divides broken heart brokenness calling can worrying make your life longer? candles canvass sermon care change child dedication church covenants church clay bird clergy climate change climate crisis climate strke college reunion community dinner compost cosmic costume courage covfefe creation myths creation stories dance darkness death penalty death diet diversity do Unitarian Universalists celebrate Christmas? don't believe in God dream drunk from wells I did not dig economic inequality election end of days end-of-life environment evil evolution faith fear of death fear feeding ourselves and others finances finitude fire communion sermon flowers and joy follow football and the church football sermon frameworks freedom friends funding gardening and joy ghost story give the money to the poor giving glacier good grace graitude grief happy hearing into speech history holiness holy hopes for 2015 hope hubris human nature humanism hygge immortality imperfection incarnation inequality inequity inherent goodness inherent worth and dignity interpretation journey joy cometh in the morning joy judging justice kairos kite flying kites language lean in lectio divina life changes life of deep fulfillment light listening lives lost love lucky magi masks meaning in life meddle ministry miss the mark mission modern-day Transcendentalism monsters mortality movie mystery new earth new reformation nostalgia nurturing spirituality othering others parable paradigm shift paying attention peace dove peace perspective philia pledging poems poetry polarization political divide post-election sermon potluck suppers power and privilege praise prayer pray priesthood of all believers prosperity gospel racism randomness reason reconciliation recycle reflection regrets relationship religion renewables repentance resilience response resurrection reuse rich young man risk ritual role of women in Unitarian church sabbath and climate change sacred time sacrifice salvation science fiction security blanket seed self-acceptance self-care self-esteem sell all your possessions sermon on control sermon on fear sermon on fulness of life sermon on worry sermon seven deadly sins seven generations shooting silence sin skeleton slavery social justice sabbath sorrow sower spiritual practice spiritual response to election spiritual thirst spirituality spirituals stars star statistics stories story substance abuse suffering sunrise take something on for Lent talking about death tax collector teshuvah thanks the church in the 21st century the end of work the woman with the ointment theology time transforming church trees I did not plant trust umami spirituality understanding universe vision vulnerabaility vulnerablility war we aren't in control weeping whole hearted wind wishes for end-of-life care witch hats women at the empty tomb women worship preferences worship styles worship