First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

First Parish News - January 2021

We aspire to be a beacon of ...
...Liberal Faith
Sunday January 3, 2021 Crossing Thresholds
Usher in the new year with our annual Janus ritual of burning our regrets and sharing our hopes for the future. Weather permitting we will gather outside at the church for this service led by Pamela and Elizabeth with a Christmas carol-sing. If you cannot be present but would like to have your regret(s) burned, you may write them on slips of paper and drop them off in the box on the church steps before 10 a.m. this morning. Please fold the paper to keep it private. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook for those who prefer not to gather in person. You do not need a Facebook account to watch it.
Sunday January 10  Imagine First Parish
At the end of a difficult and disturbing week, we gather to sing, and pray, and reflect. Pamela will preach on the ways our community transforms our lives and our world. Elizabeth will play music by Howard Blake and J.S. Bach. The First Parish Choir will sing I Believe in Love by Mark Miller and we will sing along with Holly Near on Singing for Our Lives.

Our shared plate offering this month supports the work of Families for Justice as Healing in their work to "Rimagine Communities," advocating for currently and formerly incarcerated women and their families. Their founder Andrea James came to speak to us in 2014 and inspired many to support their work. Learn more about their work at: https://justiceashealing.org/
Sunday January 17 Free at Last - Shared service with Westminster Unitarian Church
This Sunday and next we will join for worship with the Westminster Unitarian Church of East Greenwich, RI. One of the good things about remote worship is that it allows us to get to know other congregations outside of our geographic area. Ellen, minister of the Westminster church, and Pamela have talked for several years about setting up a pulpit exchange; now, instead of switching, they are able to bring all of us together. This Sunday, our congregation is hosting the service, so Pam and Beth will lead it and Ellen will preach. Please join us in welcoming the Westminster congregation. 

Ellen writes about her sermon: "The title of this sermon was taken from Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech, one of the most profound expressions of hopeful imagination ever spoken on the Washington Mall. Since then, some things have changed. But we also see evidence, again and again, of the ways we are still firmly held in racism’s grip. What might true freedom look like, for all of us?"
Sunday January 24 at 10:00 a.m.  A Tale of Two Towns and a Heretic
Please note the change in time for this Sunday: Our second shared service with the Westminster Unitarian Church will be hosted by their congregation and will begin at their regular service time of 10 a.m. Pamela will reflect on what the thought of the 5th century theologian Pelagius and the 19th century fictional towns of Middlemarch and Highbury have to say to us today.  
Sunday January 31 Equanimity   
Guest preacher
Our preacher today serves as the Senior Program Leader for Justice Building at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and as the Minister of the Religious Society of Bell Street Chapel in Providence, RI. 
From the Minister

Week after week over the past four years, I have opened our services and our times of prayer recognizing yet another horrendous transgression of kindness, justice, and law by President Trump and his allies. Each week we have offered one another strength, renewed purpose and grounding. This month again we turned to one another to mourn and rage at the destruction we witnessed at our Capitol building on January 6. As I said on Sunday January 10, I am glad to have this community to turn to in these times.  

For nearly 400 years, the First Parish in Scituate has served as a beacon of hope, love, and justice to this congregation and to the larger world. Our good news is as needed now as it has ever been.  

This is the time of year when we think about the importance of this church for us, our families, our community, and our world. January 18th is the anniversary of the first covenanting by those who gathered in 1634 to form this congregation, and traditionally we celebrate our birthday by recommitting ourselves to that work - making pledges of money and of energy to carry that work forward. Members of the congregation will be contacting each of us to talk about the commitments we will make this year.  

As you think about the financial commitment you can offer, I hope too you’ll think about how you want to commit your time and ideas in our shared ministry. “Ministry” is a big word - perhaps it helps to think about it by considering the different aspects of our ministry: Worship, Education, Welcome, Care, and Justice along with caring for our building, our finances, and our governance. What area do you feel called to serve in this year? All are rewarding; all are necessary for First Parish and for the good we offer the world. I’m looking forward to another year of ministry with you.

See you in Church,

Pam
Religious Education
The Winter Session of Religious Education for the Picture Books World Religion zoom class (ages 3-6) and the World of New Friends zoom class (grades 2-5) begin the week of January 4, 2021. Teachers are needed for both age groups.

Classes are taught over zoom in the comfort of one's home. Teachers do not need to have children in classes to participate. World religions curriculum is provided and is engaging and fun. Teachers are expected to commit for a 6-8 week time period. Picture books class time is Tuesday, 7pm, World on New Friends is Thursday, 7pm. Please contact Eileen to learn more.
...Strong Community
Tea with the Minister January 14 and 21

Join Pamela on Thursdays January 14, and 21 between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. for conversation about the events of the world and of our lives.

Snowflake Fair Meltaway Sale:
Grandma's Cupboard Items Still for Sale
We have at least 40 jars of yummy jams, jellies, pickled items, stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce for sale through Grandma’s Cupboard! 


All jars ordered can be picked up at Claire's or delivered. Only clean white bags are used, or clean boxes with dividers and the items are guaranteed to last at least 18 months. Payment is due upon pickup or delivery.
...Transformative Service
Scituate Justice Work
Join with other members of First Parish and of Scituate to work on issues of diversity and inclusion with Scituate PFLAG and Scituate STRIDE.
PFLAG meets next on Tuesday January 12 at 6:30 p.m. Join through Zoom.
STRIDE (Scituate Together for Representation, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) meets next on Wednesday January 27, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Join through Zoom.
Love Shows Up for Justice Sunday Stand Outs
Ongoing - Sundays 1:00 to 2:00 pm
We have changed the time of the gathering so that we won't be standing out in the dark as we move into the winter season.  Please join us on Sunday afternoons from 1-2pm.

For further information, please contact Jean.
Scituate Food Pantry
The Food Pantry welcomes donations of unopened, unexpired, non-perishable food in the box at the rear of the Masonic Temple on Country Way. Especially needed right now are: 

  • Microwave Popcorn
  • Creamed soups:
  • Celery, Chicken, Mushroom, Tomato
  • Hash
  • Creamed corn
  • Canned fish:
  • Salmon and sardines
  • Spam
  • Coffee (Instant Decaf)
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Jello and instant pudding
  • Scituate Blue Trash Bags

They also are in need of help unloading the delivery of food from the Greater Boston Food Bank on Friday January 15 at 12:30 p.m. Adults and teens are welcome. For more information and to
January 2021
 
Sun.   3rd
10:30   am       Worship 
1:00     pm      Love Shows Up for Justice
 
Mon.   4th
7:30     pm       Morality Discussion
 
Tues.   5th   
7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions
 
Thurs. 7th
4:30    pm      Tea with the Minister
7:00     pm       A World of New Friends
 
10:30   am       Worship 
1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice
6:00     pm       SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting 
 
Mon.   11th
7:30     pm       Morality Discussion

Tues.   12th  
6:30     pm       PFLAG Meeting
7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Wed.   13th   
7:30     pm        Parish Committee meeting
 
Thurs. 14th
4:30     pm       Tea with the Minister
7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

Sun.    17th
10:00   am       Worship 
1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice 
 
Mon.   18th
7:30     pm       Morality Discussion
 
Tues.   19th   
7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions
 
Thurs. 21st    
4:30     pm       Tea with the Minister
7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

Sun.   24th
10:30   am       Worship 
1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice
6:00     pm       SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting 
 
Mon.   25th
7:30     pm       Morality Discussion
 
Tues.   26th   
7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Wed.   27th   
7:30     pm       STRIDE Meeting

Thurs. 28st    
7:00     pm       A World of New Friends
 
Sun.   31st
10:30   am       Worship 
1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice
6:00     pm       SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting