Sunday March 7  Committed to Connection

This week we will join the Towson (MD) Unitarian Universalist Church so that we experience connection as we talk about it. Since laughter is a powerful healer and connector, the service will include an experience of Yogic Laughter. Pam and Beth will be joined by the minister of the Towson Church, and the music director of the Towson Church, in leading the service. The service also includes the video of Nick, joined by Emilia, Max and Olivia, sing Do You Let Your Light Shine? from our worship service last April.

Sunday March 14 Holy, Holey, Wholly

Pam and Beth will be joined by a guest preacher. She writes about her sermon: “The season of Lent invites us to consider our brokenness and our path to wholeness. But what does it mean to be whole? Is wholeness possible? And what does our brokenness call us to?” Beth will play Remembrance Op. 68, No. 28 by Robert Schumann; and Prelude in C Major (BMV933) by J.S. Bach.

Sunday March 21 Solvitur Ambulando

Many of us have relied on walking and being in nature to center our bodies and minds over this past year. Pam reflects on this healing practice. The music director's music this week includes Gade from Lyric Pieces, Op. 57 by Edvard Grieg. 

Sunday March 28 Stories of Healers

Earth Day Worship and Activism 

As part of my healing and of our worship series on healing, I have made a commitment to walk each day (weather permitting - I did not get out on the day when winds were blowing 30 miles/hour!). I’m participating in a virtual walk of the ancient pilgrimage Camino de Santiago, where for centuries pilgrims have crossed the Pyrennees mountain range, a journey of 500 miles. Many of my friends and colleagues have made this trip. This year, when the actual pilgrimage is not safe, several of them are taking part in a virtual version, walking the 500 miles between March 1 and July 24, an average of about 3 miles each day. I’ve decided to join them, and I want to invite you to join me, not in walking the whole route (though if you’d like to do that, you can find more information here:  https://caminoforgood.com/) but joining me for one - or more- of the daily walks. You’ll find more information and days and times for March on the Sign-Up Genius.

As we have noted previously, several members of First Parish recently made a request to the Parish Committee to hang a Black Lives Matter banner on the church building. The PC then organized a community conversation to begin our discussion of this; a range of thoughts were shared at that meeting. Many thanks to all who came and contributed. Before deciding on this issue, however, we would like to hear more thoughts from more members of the congregation. This is an important choice, and we want to be sure we have heard all views. 

To that end, we will hold a full community meeting further discussion on Sunday, March 21 from 3-5 pm on Zoom. (We will share the Zoom link closer to the date of the conversation.) We have engaged a trained facilitator who has supported other UU congregations in addressing these types of issues, to lead the session. Your voice in this is very important. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us! 

  March 2021 Notes from the Music Director  

Saturday March 6^th - the choir is having a zoom get together to discuss our plans for the Spring. We plan on singing together outside beginning Sunday March 14^th (weather permitting)!

March 7^th - We hear music from the music director of the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church during our shared service with them. We’ll revisit a fun video of some of our First Parish children singing with Nick. 

March 14^th - First Parish choir will rehearse at the church 9:30-10:00 - our first rehearsal together in 2021! Join us for distanced singing.

March 21^st - I have put together a new slideshow for Spring! First Parish choir sings For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter. 

Work, parenting, home-keeping, isolation - there are many reasons why so many of us are feeling stressed right now. In their recent book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, sisters Emily and Amelia Nagoski use science and their own experiences to offer strategies not to just to deal with what is but to address the causes of stress. You can hear about their work in their conversation with Brene Brown on her Podcast. If you would be interested in discussing their work with others (you do not have to read the book) you will find more information at the Sign-Up Genius

Thank UUs:   To Frank for installing memorial plaques in the Memorial Garden…. To all our canvassers, members of the Finance and Parish Committees, for conducting a strong Stewardship outreach in challenging times…. To Michael and Carey who faithfully make our Sunday services happen over Zoom each week and to Bob and Chuck for their assistance.

Tea with the Minister March 4, 11, 18, 25  

Members and Friends Directory

Summer, captured in a jar and can be delivered to you, because some things are still available from Grandma's Cupboard. The half-pint jams and jellies are $5 apiece, and all products in pint jars are $6 apiece. Below is a list of available items:

Fresh mint jelly (great served with roast meats, especially lamb and pork)

Strawberry balsamic jam

Strawberry/rhubarb jam

Watermelon jelly

Apple jelly

Watermelon/mint jelly

Cherry jam - 1 jar remaining

Dilly beans (pickled green beans in dill sprig/garlic/jalapeno brine)

Pickled beets

Watermelon rind pickles (somewhat sweet)

Dill cucumber spear pickles

Bread & butter cucumber pickles (somewhat sweet)

Jardiniere pickles (garden vegetables)

Spiced pickled peaches (somewhat sweet) - 1 jar remaining

Alma will deliver all orders free of charge, doordash style! Or, people can pick them up at my house by calling me or emailing me ahead of time.

-Claire

Mon.   1^st    

7:30     pm       Morality Discussion   

Tues.   2^nd               

7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Thurs. 4^th

4:30     pm       Tea with the Minister           

7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

Sat.     6^th

Sun.    7^th       

1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice

6:00     pm       SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting

Mon.   8^th    

7:30     pm       Morality Discussion   

Tues.   9^th                

7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Wed.   10^th

5:30     pm       UU Mass Action South Shore Region Kickoff Meeting

Thurs. 11^th 

4:30     pm       Tea with the Minister           

7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

7:30    pm      Committee on Ministry

Sun.     14^th 

1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice

Mon.   15^th

7:30     pm       Morality Discussion

Tues.   16^th  

7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Weds. 17^th

7:30     pm       Parish Committee

Thurs. 18^th

7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

Sun.    21^st

1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice

3:00     pm       Congregational Conversation

6:00     pm       SciCohRockWell YG – Zoom Meeting

Mon.   22^nd

7:30     pm       Morality Discussion

Tues.   23^rd   

7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions

Thurs. 25^th   

7:00     pm       A World of New Friends

Sun.   28^th

1:00     pm       Love Shows Up for Justice

Mon.   29^th

7:30     pm       Morality Discussion

Tues.   30^th   

7:00     pm       Picture Book World Religions