Newsletter  Weeks of February 21 & 28, 2016
We stand in a tradition of abundance.  We have said for centuries that there is room in our religion for  every kind of seeker and sojourner.  We are called to embody a generosity of spirit, an open and  optimistic view. . . of life that claims everyone is included.  Skeptics and poets and scientists are  welcome here, as are nonconformists and shy and uncertain folk, and all manner of smart people  and  foolish ones.  I believe that our restlessness and doubts have a divine origin and are a sign of grace.   Our love of truth can be understood as the holiest of gifts. Our devotion to truth may be the means  of our deliverance.
                                                                                                                                                                                          Rev. Barbara Merritt
       
WORSHIP SERVICES
  
Service February 21  Awake People - sermon by the Rev. Parisa Parsa 
Lent is a time of reflection, reconciliation and turning toward the good in each and all. Presidential Primary season adds an extra boost to the challenge of those practices. What might it look like to practice deep inquiry, openness and listening - even, especially, to those whose views are different from our own?

The choir's anthem will be "The Gift of Love", an American folk tune arranged by Hal Hopson:
             Though I may speak with bravest fire, 
and have the gift to all inspire, 
And have not love; my words are vain, 
as sounding brass, and hopeless gain....

Rev. Parisa Parsa is a Unitarian Universalist minister who serves as the Executive Director of Public Conversations Project, a nonprofit devoted to facilitating constructive dialogue where conflict is driven by differences in identity, beliefs and values. They offer workshops and trainings locally, and do training and facilitation around the world to build relationship and understanding across the most "hot button" issues. (Learn more at www.publicconversations.org) Before joining Public Conversations Project, Parisa worked for the UUA New England Region, First Parish in Milton, MA, the Faithful Fools Street Ministry, and the UU Urban Ministry.
 
Service February 28  New Member Sunday
We will honor those joining First Church during the service.  Tracey Robinson-Harris will offer reflections on choosing a faith community to call home with its many blessings and all its imperfections entitled "Beloved (and Imperfect) Community."
 
Welcome Breakfast - 9:30 a.m - All are welcome to join us for breakfast in the dining room.  See below for more details.

Religious Education News 
I can't believe we're nearly halfway through our Signs of our Faith
curriculum! The children have been doing a wonderful job identifying the different symbols and rituals of our Unitarian Universalist faith! Coming up next we're going to start to talk about what some symbols of other religious traditions are. I encourage families to talk about what rituals you engage in; these can be bedtime routines, eating dinner as a family, or even driving to school each morning. Ask your kids if they can find any symbols they know the meaning of as you're out and about during the day. 

If you weren't able to at the beginning of the year please register your child/ren for religious education, please do so here 

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at:
andrew.leigh.coate@gmail.com

Coffee Hour
A time of fellowship in the Dining Room follows the worship service each Sunday. We'd like to thank  Kim McCready and Danielle Levac for hosting Sunday, February 21st.  
If you can serve as a host for a Sunday contact Paul Miller pmmille2@yahoo.com or sign up on the Parish Hall "Opportunities" Board.


CALLING ALL VETERANS Stand With Our Muslim Friends
Please join your fellow veterans and stand against hatred, bigotry and Islamophobia 
Saturday, February 27th, 11:00am - 1:00pm. 
Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center
(Largest Mosque in New England)
100 Malcolm X Blvd. Roxbury, MA

"We as veterans, who have served this country, will gather together to declare that Muslims are not the enemy.  Violence directed towards Muslims in this country is unacceptable and un-American.  We call for this verbal and physical harassment to end immediately."

Sponsored by Veterans for Peace and hosted by the Islamic Center of Boston Cultural center.  All are welcome.


BLACK LIVES MATTER VIGIL DATE CHANGE!
Join us for the next monthly vigil in front of First Baptist Church on Centre Street on March 2nd from 5:30 to 6:30.


SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING March 6th: Bylaws
The First Church bylaws are being updated as part of preparing to recruit a called minister. There will be a congregational meeting to vote on the bylaws after church on 3/6. If you would like to review the proposed changes before then, contact Giulia Norton at:  gnorton1@gmail.com
 
EMBRACE OUR FUTURE:  The First Church Capital Campaign   

The Capital Campaign can use your photos!

The CC is continuing it's fundraising efforts and putting together a video to help us in our outreach.  We hope to get it produced this spring and we are now gathering input and content for it.  If you have good quality photos of church events and folks that you would be willing to share, please contact Betsy McDowell at  frango58@hotmail.com.  

We will need to be selective because we can't use everything, but here are some events we've thought about:
holiday crafts fair, spring fair, open studios, fellowship dinner, yoga, coffee hour, jp forum, any of the dance groups, the retreat, the Soiree/coffeehouse, ETC.

MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Standing and Nominating Committees are contacting every member and some active non-members of the church over the next few weeks to ask this question: who do you think would be a good candidate for the Ministerial Search Committee? If you haven't had the conversation yet, please be alert for an email or call. (Some people are on vacation and will start calling next week.)

Being on the committee is one of the most important functions in the church (perhaps the most important). We would like to know who you think:
  1. Works well with others?
  2. Can represent and serve the whole congregation (including children) well?
  3. Has demonstrated themselves to be both responsible leaders and responsible participants?
  4. Has self-awareness of who the church is - what we are like at our best, our worst, and on an average day?  Would be able to know and relate that well to potential ministers?

Holding these questions in mind, please look over the church directory and think about who you'd trust to work for the entire congregation. You can wait for a call or email names directly to Giulia Norton at:  gnorton1@gmail.com. You can submit as few or many names as you like; most people choose 3-5.

 
YOU'RE INVITED!

JP Forum: 
Birthday Party and Stuff Swap
February 27  3:00pm-6:00pm at Urbano.   Bring What You Can, Take What You Need! Free Time Exchange T-Shirt for the first 25 Members to arrive! The JP Time Exchange is turning 1, and it's time for a party! Members & non-members, join us for a Birthday Party and Stuff Swap on Sat, Feb 27 at Urbano (29 Germania St.) in the Brewery Complex near Stony Brook. 

New Members' Ceremony As part of the service on Sunday, February 28th we'll celebrate the decision of those among us who have decided to join our church as members and officially welcome them with a pledge, a flower, a song, and the signing of our historic membership book. Interested in becoming a member of First Church? If you've been thinking about becoming a member, or just want to know more about what membership means, please contact Paul Miller at pmmille2@yahoo.com or anyone else on the Welcoming Committee.
 
Welcoming Breakfast - Sunday, February 28, 9:30 a.m -  All are welcome to join us for a Welcoming Breakfast. Longtime church members, first-time visitors, and everyone in between are warmly invited to attend. Share a delicious morning meal with us as we build community and get to know each other a little better.  This is also an opportunity to lavish a little extra attention on those souls who are joining the church that morning. Bring your appetites, and we'll provide the food and beverages. Children are welcome! Please RSVP to Paul Miller at pmmille2@yahoo.com. Longtime members and friends, let Paul know if you can bring a dish.

Annual Fellowship Dinner:
A Celebration of Generosity at the conclusion of the annual budget drive
First Church members and friends are invited to this annual event on Saturday March 5th at 6pm in the Parish Hall.  We'll enjoy dinner together.  Then we'll celebrate First Church with brief remarks from Roy Karp, a performance of "HMS: First Church", a skit in the spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan.  A singalong ends the evening. Child care will be provided following the meal. Please RSVP at:   firstchjp@aol.com

Concerned about climate justice? There are multiple opportunities to get involved.  UUMass Action is asking congregations to  organize in support of the fight to resist the Spectra fracked gas pipeline next door in West Roxbury.  For more information feel free to contact Jom Michel jom45@aol.com

"Waking Up," the First Church Retreat, March 11-13
The annual First Church spiritual retreat-on the theme of Waking Up-will take place from Friday evening March 11 through lunchtime on Sunday March 13. In reflecting on waking up, we'll explore ways that we can live our lives with greater awareness of ourselves, others, and the world around us. We'll think about how and why we sometimes "sleep walk" through parts of our lives and consider what helps us emerge from this torpor to become more present and intentional. The retreat will take place at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, MA. There will be opportunities for group discussion, worship, nature walks, and the option to sit in with the Benedictine brothers as they observe their daily offices. The retreat will led by Rev. Marshall Hawkins. Cost for the weekend: $200. Some scholarship money is available. To register, contact Mary Brady: mbrady1983@aol.com 
For information, email Marshall:  marhawkins@comcast.net
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