Sunday Service

June 28, 2025

The color for Sunday is Green

Coming up at the MAC

Line Dancing with The Lineup Backstage

August 28 @ 7:00 pm, in Parish Hall - FEE $10 at the door

Open Mic Café

Sept. 4 @ 6:30 pm, in Parish Hall - FEE $5 at the door

Line Dancing with The Lineup Backstage

Sept. 25 @ 7:00 pm, in Parish Hall - FEE $10 at the door

The Art of Hope – Gallery Exhibition

Sept. 26 @ 11:00 am, in Meeting House

Visit the MAC Art Gallery from September through December 2026 to experience the "Americana Autumn" - a collective, fiber-art show on the walls of the historic Northborough Meetinghouse.

Folk Music from Prince Edward Island

with Cynthia MacLeod and Gordon Belsher

Sept. 30 @ 7:00 pm, in Parish Hall - FEE $25 at the door

MINISTER'S CORNER

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about

Last year we had Nobel Prize winner and representative of ICAN the “International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons,” Dr. Ira Helfland to talk about the now often ignored dangers of nuclear weapons. 

ICAN reports that Global spending on nuclear weapons reached a staggering $119 billion dollars last year.  And over the past 5 years, reached $471 billion!

The chief international group fighting the proliferation of nuclear weapons reports that the 119 billion dollars spent globally in 2025 amounts to $3,768 per second. That is a 19% increase from 2024. Probably not shocking you, if you follow global trends is the truth that the good old USA alone spent 69.2 billion alone. That’s more than all other nuclear-armed states combined. China, came in 2^nd spending 13.5 billion. 

Would the member who borrowed Dick Zajchowski's church key please return it to him at your earliest convenience?

Thank you!

Proud FP UUs- come represent our beloved community at one or both of the following events: 

Worcester Pride- we have a table at the event from 2-7 following the parade (https://www.prideworcester.org) on September 12th. We need people to be warm, hospitable and engaging about what we have to offer. Come for an hour or 2 or even more!! Let Rev. Steve know of your availability

Northborough's own Applefest- for a second year, we will be having a table at this even on Saturday, September 23rd from 10-3. It will be like a deja vu- same decorations, same resources, same need for socially engaging people to represent us. Again, let Rev. Steve know of your availability.

Now get out there and represent!!

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER

Membership Committee

We all welcome visitors to First Parish for that is who we are.

We need several members to especially attend to visitors and provide information about how they might join our growing congregation.

Partnering with Reverend Steve, an Orientation meeting is planned, and held for people considering joining First Parish. A new member welcoming ceremony is also planned and held during Worship Service. Committee members continue to support new members after they have joined to help them identify how they may contribute to our church community.

This welcoming job requires three or more members to especially welcome visitors to

First Parish at Worship Services and other First Parish events.

Committee members invite visitors to coffee hour after Worship Services, provide

visitors with the information sheet, and introduce them to other members.

Follow up contact via phone, text or email is also one of the tasks for serving on this

committee. Attending the Orientation meeting (s) and New Membership Welcoming

Ceremony held during Worship Service is expected.

Attendance at all Worship Services is not expected, Hence, 3 - 5 members on the

committee will provide a distribution of responsibilities.

And it is fun to share the wealth of activities First Parish members do.

Contact Celia Brown

Personnel Committee

Duties include informing the President and appropriate Governing Board members of updates from the UUA regarding information/changes in fair compensation and benefits; respond to personnel questions; provide support for employees are needed; assure that annual evaluation are down by the appropriate supervisor. 

This important job has ongoing personnel monitoring of 1-3 hours per quarter.

Two-four hours would be required in the spring as the Governing Board reviews employment status and would need counsel from this committee or chair.

Contact Celia Brown 

The Meeting House Arts Center 

The MAC stage crew needs support on event nights. If you are interested in helping with sound, a short training session will be required. This skill set would also come in handy for other times when sound acumen is required (e.g. karaoke).

Contact Adi and Lori Pandit

Pastoral Care 

There are currently only 3 active members of this important committee. These longstanding members could use some help! Most of what they do includes meals, cards, telephone connections, rides and pastoral visits. They also need somebody to take notes of joys and concerns for the committee to act upon. This is a beautiful opportunity to support and love members of our community.

Please consider what time you have to offer, even a half an hour a week can be helpful

Contact Caroline MacDonald

Nominating Committee

Each year, the nominating committee makes recommendations for congregants who would be willing to serve in various elected positions on the Governing Board and Trustees of Funds. These volunteers are then voted on during our annual meeting. 

This commitment is yearly in the late spring to assess vacancies and meet with possible volunteers. In total it may require 5-10 hours

Contact Pete Mierswa

Prepare to grow and connect in the upcoming church year. Consider joining the following groups at church, as you are called to do. 

Men's group- meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7-9 pm thoughtfully sharing the journey of life as men. They also occasionally get together for a hike, potluck dining, movies etc.

Living by Heart- sharing poetry for 20 years. They meet the 1st Tuesday of the month on Zoom at 7:30 or at someone's house at 2. No need to feel pressured to bring a poem. You are welcome to just attend and listen if that's what's comfortable

Knitwits- you don't have to knit to join! If you want to learn to knit, these folks are fantastic!! Whatever hand craft you like to do is most welcome and the conversation is always warm. They meet at member's homes on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 2-4 pm. 

If you have an idea for a group, please let a member of the Governing Board know. We will do our best to support your interests!

ZOOM HOSTS NEEDED FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

If you are willing and able please contact a Worship Associate -

Linda Clark, Chris Woodcock or Lisa Whittemore .

Thank you!!

Opportunities to Act on our UU Values

Monday Evenings DEMOCRACY VIGIL

4:30pm-6:00pm at Church

First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Northborough has and will continue to stand in support of democracy on Mondays from 4:30pm to 6:00 pm. We’ll gather on the church lawn in front of the WWI war memorial at the corner of Church St. and Whitney St.

Bring a friend and stand together in witness of our UU values!

Worcester County Indivisible Alliance

Upcoming Events and

Meetings

September 11th, at 1:30pm at Acoustic Java in Worcester

Come grab a coffee, and discuss what we can do to preserve the mid-terms and

beyond, and provide ideas for the bi-partisan People’s Project 2027, which will outline what changes we need for a democracy that works for the majority, not just the minority in power.

Sign up here:

https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/

885791/

Educational Seminar:

The 2027 Articles of Impeachment!

Wednesday, September 2nd, 5:30pm at the Northborough Public Library

Come hear about the Articles of Impeachment being written for our new Congress, as well as the impeachment process and with so much happening, why this is important.

A DC lawyer, who is affiliated with several non-profit groups, is putting pen to paper to

help write this important document, which already contains about 30 articles of

impeachment. She will present from DC via Zoom, and will give the audience an

opportunity to ask questions.

Sign up here:

https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/

1015264/

Don’t Despair. Prepare: Be an Election Observer, Virtual on Oct. 5th

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/

976553/

Let’s Make a Plan to Preserve Our Elections!

We are all aware how dangerous Trump is, but we can do a number of things to protect election integrity and our democracy. Our hope is that members will provide additional ideas, and will eventually commit to doing two or three initiatives!

1. Be a poll worker, observer, or vote counter in your community or other location. Go to your town’s website for more Info - Northborough‘s information is below:

https://www.northboroughma.gov/home/news/now-hiring-election-workers-–-help-support-yourcommunity’s-democracy

2. Consider being a member of our new ‘’Improving Democracy Task Force’’, who will formulate ideas on suggested legislation to present to our hopefully new blue Congress regarding preserving and improving democracy, including tightening up loopholes, suggesting legislation to prevent another authoritarian president, limiting money in politics, improving the American educational system to cultivate active participation in democracy, improving accountability for our elected officials and the Supreme Court including expanding the court, age limits, term limits, etc.

3. Write postcards to the Democrats and independents in purple and red states. (I have postcards for the group, provided by one of our members.)

4. Phone bank before the mid-terms. Modern phone banking programs run on digital platforms that integrate call lists with data tracking. Tools like ThruTalk, NGPVAN, or MiniVAN allow volunteers to call through lists, log responses in real time, etc. Commit to Democracy and mobilize.us typically list phone banking opportunities.

https://www.commit2democracy.com/phonebank

mobilize.us

5. Repeatedly call, write, or email your elected officials, including Attorney General Andrea Campbell at (617) 727-2200 (main number), to reiterate the importance of preserving fair elections, and to demand detailed legal contingency plans for the mid-terms and beyond. Be aware of specific legislation that aims at protecting our elections, and encourage your elected officials to support these initiatives. More information can be found here:

https://www.rockthevote.org/freedomtovote

https://tracker.votingrightslab.org/pending/search/issue/emerging-issues

https://5calls.org/

To contact your federal rep and senators, contact the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and give the operator your zip code or the name of your Representative or Senator.

Find and contact your state officials at: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator or call

the Massachusetts State House at (617) 722-2000 to contact your state representative and senator.

Events and Action Opportunities

If you’re ready to make an impact, please join our letter-writing campaign today and help us turn out voters "

GAIN

Greater Assabet 

Indivisible Network

If you wish to unsubscribe to the Perspective Newsletter

Please call 508 393-6422 or Email office@firstparishnorthboro.org

Need a meal? A ride? Support from your spiritual community? 

Please let us know at the contact information below.

Pastoral Care is the way we take care of each other. If you would like to help members of the congregation who need an occasional ride or meal, please contact Caroline MacDonald (bobandcaroline.m@gmail.com).

If you have questions or a Pastoral Care need, please call or email:

Caroline MacDonald (508-341-2351, bobandcaroline.m@gmail.com)  or 

Sally Manning (508-612-0644, symanning@aol.com)

Committee members: Patrice McCabe, Karen Nelson, Sally Manning, Audrey Krake-Lambert, Caroline MacDonald, acting Chair .

Volunteering to serve on the Governing Board for 2026-2027 are:



Current Governing Board



Kathleen Howland, President

Celia Brown, Vice President

           Jeanne Cahill, Treasurer

           Stephanie Sullivan Director of Operations

Lori Tiron-Pandit, Clerk

           Peter Mierswa, Member at Large

           Anne Morrissey, Member at Large

Nick Prato, Member at Large

Upcoming Governing Board Meetings - 5:30 pm in the Clara Barton Room

September 21, 2026

October 19, 2026

November 16, 2026

December 2, 2026

January 18, 2027

February 15, 2024

March 15, 2027

April 19, 2027

May 17, 2027

Pancake Breakfast served by the Board January 3, 2027

Annual Meeting June 6, 2027

If you wish to submit an agenda item, please contact Board President Kathleen Howland at president@firstparishnorthboro.org.

Rev. Steve has office hours on Monday’s and Friday’s from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Best to call or text to see that he is not out of the office, but on Monday’s and Friday’s he is regularly at the church or about town.

(617) 852-2292