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The origins of all three Abrahamic religions begin in mystery. In these days of political and religious conflict, let us seek the ineffable experience of Oneness. May it flood inside of us and overwhelm our illusion of aloneness and separation.
This Sunday the sanctuary choir will sing “Sweet Honey in the Rock” singer Ysaye Barnwell’s poignant anthem “Would You Harbor Me?” and Robert Decormier’s beautiful arrangement of Peter Yarrow’s (“Peter, Paul and Mary”) joyous “Light One Candle.” Kate Berg, Liz Hartmann and Liz Savir, with Michael Bruce on guitar, will present The Wailin’ Jennys’ inspirational hit “One Voice” (from their album 40 Days). David Meharry will sing George Frideric Handel’s prophetic “Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth'' (from Messiah). And for the postlude, Jamie Willis will sing Reggae singer Matisyahu’s inspiring and hopeful arrangement of Bob Marley’s song “One Day.” A special “thank you” to Michael Bruce, guitar and Paul Reynolds, drums.
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CHILDREN'S RE
Please join us this Sunday for a Spirit Play Story about a beautiful tiger who believes she’s weak and not very important until one day she encounters a lion!
We’ll also continue to enjoy snacking on Swedish gingerbread cookies and practicing breaking each cookie into three pieces for good luck!
This will be our last time together in Children's R.E. for this year. We hope to see all of you back on January 7, 2024. Happy New Year!
Caroline and Annelie
|  | On Friday, December 22nd, First Parish in Lexington will present a Winter Solstice Experience at 7:30 pm. With music, ritual, candles, dancing and darkness, we will experience the quiet of the longest night, and welcome the sun as we wait for her return. Led by Rev. Anne Mason, with Minister of Music, Rip Jackson, this event will be a mystical experience exploring earth-centered imagery, with an invitation to cherish the darkness. You are invited to set aside your frenetic everyday concerns and take this hour for your own inward journey. The Solstice is honored by indigenous religions around the world and we will have music, dance and poetry which honor many traditions. A group of intergenerational dancers will weave movement and ritual to celebrate the peace of the darkest night of the year and the triumphant return of the sun’s nourishing light. The musicians will include soprano soloists Liz Savir, Chelsea Cannon and Natalie Brierre, soprano sax player Katie Runde Sanchez, along with guitar, electric bass, piano, electronic synthesizer, drums, rain stick, gong, Tibetan singing bowl and other atmospheric musical instruments. They will sing music from diverse genres including music by Paul Winter, Loreena McKennitt, Enya and original music by Rip Jackson. A free will offering will be taken and public parking is in the rear of the church. |  | Join us for this year’s Guest at Your Table program to learn what UUSC partners are doing to address immediate injustices – as well as the collective liberation they envision for the future. Listen to our UU Service Committee’s partners’ stories, such as the Alliance for Black Justice in Poland (ABJP) which formed in March 2022 to support Black people arriving in Poland for refuge. We will Share the Plate with UUSC at our Dec. 17 service. |  | |
Good news! We wrote many postcards last Sunday to folks in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, to urge them to register to vote. How many? The total was 140 cards! Great job! Thanks to all.
Some of you have asked for research findings on the efficacy of letter writing and postcarding in political campaigns. We are pleased to report that much research, such as that below, confirms our understanding that these campaigns can be very effective.
https://swingbluealliance.org/choosing-effective-mail-campaigns/#:~:text=While%20research%20is%20ongoing%2C%20current%20evidence%20shows%20that,for%20postcard%20programs%20can%20approach%202%25%2C%20occasionally%20higher.
https://d1h4zokikhjm0v.cloudfront.net/content/sl_letters_vs_postcards.pdf
https://actionnetwork.org/user_files/user_files/000/037/479/original/Blue_Wave_Analytics_Postcard_Best_Practices_Data_and_Analysis.pdf
https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards-faq/
https://sisterdistrict.com/b/research/values-matched-messaging/
More opportunities to help save democracy will be coming! Watch this space! Questions? Contact Debbie Armstrong and Marty Kvaal.
Thanks to all 36 parishioners who were involved!
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Upcoming Local Climate Action Events
Wednesday, December 6 at 6 p.m.
Community Forum: “The Climate Impact of Private Jet Expansion” with Senator Mike Barrett, Neil Rasmussen, and Michael MacDonald
Virtual via Zoom
Register Here
Questions: Jeanne Krieger, LexCAN
Monday, December 11 from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Stop Hanscom Expansion for Private Jets:
Join a Standout to Spread the Word
Sponsored by:
First Parish Climate Action Team
Lexington Climate Action Network
Mass. Avenue and Pleasant Street (stoplight corner) in East Lexington. Bring your own sign or LexCAN will provide one.
Questions: Tom Wanderer, First Parish
Tuesday, December 12 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Stop Hanscom Expansion for Private Jets:
Join a Standout to Spread the Word
Sponsored by:
First Parish Climate Action Team
Lexington Climate Action Network
Depot Square, Lexington Center
Bring your own sign or LexCAN will provide one.
Questions: Tom Wanderer, First Parish
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The Great Fall Auction is underway at the auction website: charityauction.bid/fplex.
Over 120 items are up for bid on the website. Get your bids in now! Bidding closes at 5 PM on December 9th. And make plans to attend the Live Auction with food, beverages, and live music. The live auction features an additional 25 items and is at 6-8 PM on Saturday, December 9th at First Parish.
Bid early and often, to support First Parish and our community partner, Smart from the Start.
Your Auction co-chairs,
Vicky Guo, Richard Jobling, Tom Rich
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ANNUAL
POINSETTIA ORDERS
Per past tradition, poinsettias may be ordered in honor of or in memory of a loved one. These magnificent plants will adorn our sanctuary not only providing a festive atmosphere for the Season, but also as a reminder of those loved ones before going home with the purchaser. The deadline to order is Monday, December 11th. Limited quantities are available, so please act quickly. The cost is 30.00 per plant.
Click here to order
| NOTE CORRECTED LINKS FROM YESTERDAY'S SPECIAL BULLETIN: | |
ALL ARE INVITED!
Let’s talk about
developing a new
Mission, Vision, and
Congregational
Covenant!
When and Where?
Sunday, December 10th after
church with LUNCH in Parker Hall or Thursday, December 14th at 7 p.m. on Zoom
With Whom?
Your Shared Ministry Committee and other delightful persons
Why?
To engage everyone and further develop our draft statements into something amazing for a congregational vote, Spring 2024.
Journeying Together towards Building Beloved Community and Spiritual Wholeness
Click here to sign up!
ZOOM for December 14th
Passcode: Covenant
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HELP WANTED
Do you know anyone who might be interested in working part-time at First Parish? If you do, have them contact Director of Operations Scott Abrahamson via email or at 781-862-8200 x1 to apply for the position or for further information. More part-time people are desperately needed to prepare and provide coverage for Sunday worship services, trash and recyclables removal, light cleaning, and preparing and providing coverage for certain private and church sponsored events, daytime and evening. Help!!
David Horton
Personnel Committee Chair
|  | The Unity Group invites all First Parish members and friends to join us on Monday, December 11th, at noon in Parker Hall. Bring your lunch and a drink (remember no nuts or nut products). We will eat lunch and socialize. After lunch we will have an exchange of gifts called a "Yankee Swap." If you are not familiar with a Yankee Swap we will explain it at the meeting. Please bring a wrapped, bagged, boxed or somehow disguised gift, new or old, worth not more than $15. What an opportunity for fun and re-gifting! | |
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM)
presents
A Community Conversation on Tuesday, December 12th
6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
A Long Road Home: The Roots of Homeownership Inequity
with Aja Kennedy
Zoom Link
Co-sponsored by First Parish in Lexington and Follen Church
| From choir rehearsals to Soul Matters, Building Bridges to Meditation Group, Urban Ministry to Democracy Team, Climate Action Team to Youth Groups and all of the other wonderful ways to get involved here at First Parish, please check the church calendar. | Submissions for The Weekly Update are due by the end of day, Mondays. To submit an article or information for consideration, please use this form. | |
