Our Vision:
We aspire to be a beacon of
liberal religion, strong community,
and transformative service,
rooted in Love.
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From the Minister
Meister Eckhart wrote, “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
Gratitude is our worship theme for the month. Here are some questions I’m thinking about as I prep for the month ahead perhaps they resonate with you:
- What are you most grateful for right now, and why?
- What does “having enough” mean to you?
- What practices help you to express gratitude; for others, for life, for the earth, for the Sacred?
Erin Minister
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We Need Your Help on Sunday Mornings
Would you like to be a participant in our worship service? We would love it if you wanted to be a reader, or tell the Story for All Ages, or light the Chalice. It is a meaningful way to be more deeply involved here at First Parish. Not to mention, a really easy thing to do. Erin will provide you with the reading. If you sign up to do the Chalice or the Story she will help you find the right thing to offer. Please send a note with your contact information to Stephanie, our fabulous Administrator: She will be keeping a list of who is available.
Erin, Minister
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Daylight Savings Time!
Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2 a.m. Before you go to bed Saturday night, you'll want to turn your clocks back an hour, so you're not late for the service!
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Sunday Services
Sunday, November 5
Rev. Erin and Elizabeth
Sunday, November 12
Rev. Al
Sunday, November 19
Rev. Erin
Sunday, November 26
Rev. Erin
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Notes from the Music Director
Thank you to Noah for playing the organ on October 29th! It was fun to help “pull out all the stops”.
We are looking forward to sharing music with you next Sunday, November 5th.
Cathy, flutist, and Noah, bass clarinet, will join me and the choir in a music service. Carol will read “Drum, Dream Girl” by
Margarita Engle. Mary will lead us in a gratitude practice. Frank
and Cathie will be readers.
Our Choir anthems for the month of November are:
Nov. 5th- I will Sing with the Spirit by John Rutter
Nov. 12th- For the Beauty of the Earth, arranger Jim Scott
Nov. 19th- Let Us Give Thanks and Praise by Peter Sampson/ Traditional English Melody
Nov. 26th- Season of the Grateful Heart by Jim Scott
Thank you, Jody (our new choir member! ) for playing the bells as we sing the children out to RE each week
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See you in Church!
Elizabeth
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Happenings for the Month of November at
First Parish
Daytime Fididdler's Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 1, 10:00 a.m. in the church.
Nighttime Fididdler's Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 1, 7:00 p.m. at Eileen's house
Social Justice Committee (Zoom)
Monday, November 6, at
7:00 p.m. Over Zoom.
Daytime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 8, 10:00 a.m. at the church.
Nighttime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 8th, 7:00 p.m. at Eileen's house
RE Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Thursday, November 9, 8:00 p.m.
Over Zoom.
Finance Committee Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. at the church.
Daytime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 15, 10:00 a.m. at the church.
Nighttime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday, November 15, 7:00 p.m. at Eileen's house
Daytime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 22, 10:00 a.m. in the church.
Nighttime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday, November 22, 7:00 p.m. at Eileen's house
PC Committee Meeting Tuesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m. at the church.
Daytime Fididdlers Crafting Group - Wednesday,
November 29, 10:00 a.m. in the church.
Wreath Decorating Wednesday, November 29, at 6:00 p.m. at the church.
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Parish Committee
October Parish Committee
Last month saw an unexpected change in our First Parish neighborhood. Our parsonage tenant of more than a decade, Bruce, is leaving our area to live in New York State. He has been an ideal tenant and we will miss him. As of this writing, Building and Grounds head Erica is reviewing an applicant who, if all checks out, will move in immediately, without interruption of rental income to the church. The lease will be for one year since we want to be able to consider our long-term options for the use of the property.
Otherwise, we have discussed ways the testimonies, memories, and wishes collected during Erin's intro conversations could be used as a basis for our church's future understanding and growth.
Charlie, a member of the Parish Committee, underwent emergency surgery late last week. After a few days in the I.C.U., he is recovering at home aided by the loving care of his wife Mary. We send good wishes to both of them as Charlie begins the healing process
Submitted by Lin
Co-Chair, Parish Committee
The Parish Committee:
Ann, Co-Chair, Parish Committee, Carol, Secretary; Erica, Treasurer; Charlie, Jen, and Richard, Members at Large
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Social Justice News and Denominational Affairs Committee
Next Meeting of the Social Justice Committee
Please join us at our next meeting online on Monday, November 6, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. All are welcome! We will be discussing how we plan to move forward with activities in support of criminal justice reform and pursuing the UUA’s designation for the annual Welcoming Congregation renewal.
November Special Collection - In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, proceeds from the Sunday, November 5 collection will be donated to the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, a joint collaborative effort of members of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and the Herring Pond Band of Wampanoag. Their mission is to return language fluency to the Wampanoag Nation as a principal means of expression.
You can make a donation online at any time during the month in two ways:
Via the First Parish website under the One Time Gifts option and specifying WLRP or Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project in the notations box.
Directly to the donation page of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project.
Please help us support local Indigenous Peoples.
Countdown to the National Day of Mourning - 23 days of Solidarity
Join UU Mass Action in their 2nd Annual Countdown to the National Day of Mourning. An annual tradition since 1970, the National Day of Mourning is a solemn, spiritual, and highly political day by United American Indians of New England held on the day many in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. Mythology surrounding Thanksgiving is deeply rooted in colonialism, antithetical to Indigenous Justice. As part of Native American Heritage Month, and to push back against this mythology, we invite UUs to join in a short (2min - 10min) daily practice, counting down the days to the National Day of Mourning. See this checklist of simple ways to Act, Feel, Learn, and Ground into Indigenous Justice each day.
JOIN THE NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING Thursday, Nov. 23rd
- In-person in Plymouth, MA, 12 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Other UUs RSVP'd so, join our Zoom watch gathering online: 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
UUMass Action Campaigns and Meetings
If you are interested in social justice topics not currently addressed by the FPUU Social Justice committee, here are a few opportunities to join other UU’s in the state at UUMass Action’s campaign meetings or events sponsored by other UU churches:
- Immigrant Justice Team meeting will be Tuesday, November 14, from 12:00 -1:00 p.m.
- Climate Justice Team meeting will be Wednesday, November 15, from 5:00 -6 p.m. Sign up today!
Author presentation of “Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point.” Sunday, November 5, 4:00 p.m. In-person at First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Road, Concord, and on Zoom "We are at a crossroads: America will either become a multiracial democracy or cease to be a democracy at all" writes Harvard professors Steven and Daniel in their newest book. Co-sponsored by Reclaim Our Democracy at First Parish in Concord and the Democracy Action Team at Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ).
November Skill Up: Faith Out Loud - Side with Love’s webinar this month will be a time to discuss and practice articulating theologies of justice-making with faith-centric language that can be used in outreach, public statements, petitions, letters, and more. Side with Love is a public advocacy campaign, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association, that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. Sunday, November 19, 2023, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m., followed by an optional Q&A Conversation from 5:30-6:00 p.m.
Ellen, Social Justice and Denominational Affairs Committee Chair
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Bottles and Cans Update
Tuesday, October 24th, we earned $115.00. Mike and Howard sorted and Mark transported. Tuesday, October 31st, we earned $95.00. Mike and Eileen sorted and Howard transported.
Mike, Mark, Damion, and Howard are always looking for people to help us, and to become part of the Bottles and Cans Team. Please sign up on the sign-up Genius.
We will work beside any new “trainees” so please do not be intimidated if you have not done this before.
Thanks to those Parishioners who have been dropping off their redeemable bottles and cans in the garage behind the church. You don’t have to sort them. We will pick them up and take them to the Scituate Transfer Station, to be sorted along with all the other drop-offs.
Howard
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Snowflake Fair
Snowflake Fair, Saturday December 2, 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
GRATITUDE for the month of November and all we have to be thankful for in our tiny part of this crazy world. November...yikes! The elves are running here and there, up and down, back and forth…their little bellies bumping into each other -there is so much work to be done. Like trees to cut, wreaths to
decorate, fudge and toffee to make, Bling to buff, buff here, buff, buff there, and all those yummy, lip-smacking confections to bake! Grandma’s concoctions are bubbling and boiling in anticipation of high-volume demand while the crafter needles and glue guns are working overtime to finish up all the one-of-a-kind gifts.
Just 30 days until the big event! Helpers are needed for all elf departments, please check out the sign-up sheets available after services…we look forward to you joining the elf ranks of pitching in. Whether you are new to the church or have worked at the fair every year, your participation and involvement make the fair all the better. The fair is 4…yes Four weeks away- the countdown has begun! Please consider adding one of the below items to your next AMAZON order:
- -Item # FDAGB4A Clear Bags (We need at least 2 orders) 14.99
- -Item # B08THD84F8 Candy boxes with clear tops, 30-white (We need at least 3 orders) 14.45
As always, think snow!
Eileen and Kim, Co-chairs Snowflake Fair
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November Monthly Calendar 2023
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