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Our faith is a covenantal faith. Rather than a shared set of beliefs, we work with a shared set of promises to guide how we will be together. We will explore our covenant and recommit ourselves to the work of this sacred community. Following worship will be an opportunity to put our values into action by learning about and joining some of our active committees, in our annual Living Our Values Fair (LOVA FAIR). This is a great way to deepen your connection with members of this sacred community, while finding ways to put your love into action for the wider world.
This Sunday, the sanctuary choir will sing Craig Courtney’s poignant choral anthem “Promise” and John Harrison’s thrilling arrangement of the gospel song “Working on a Building.” They will be accompanied by Michael Bruce (guitar), Rusty Chandler (electric bass), Rip Jackson (piano) and Paul Reynolds (drums). Liz Hartmann and Liz Savir will sing the hauntingly beautiful duet “By my Side” (from the 1971 hit Off-Broadway show Godspell) Tim Jacoby will sing Stephen Schwartz’s hopeful song “Beautiful City” (also from Godspell). And for the postlude, our minister of music Rip Jackson will play Johann Pachelbel’s joyful “Fuga in C Major” on First Parish’s magnificent 1898 Hutchings 32-rank tracker organ.
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POTLUCK SUPPER!
The Members and Friends Committee and the Ministry of Fun will host an all-ages potluck supper in Parker Hall on Friday, September 22nd, 6:00 pm. You and your family and friends are all welcome. This is a simple affair with no sign-up required, just bring what you would like to eat and some extra to share.
Need some inspiration on what to share? Pretty much any one of the following, from a cooked entrée, a tossed or other salad, a dessert, or takeouts. Please label the ingredients if homemade, so folks can check out for any allergies; and no nuts as our church is a Nut-free zone.
Members & Friends committee and Ministry of Fun members will set up Parker Hall and make use of church tableware to be kind to the climate. We will provide beverages and our share of food offerings. We’ll run the dishwasher and clean up with help from the participants.
We are looking forward to sharing some food and building friendship in our beloved community.
M&F Committee (MaF):
Dan England, David Horton, Deborah Lawson, Julie Tobin,
Pete Tasker, Vicky Guo, Victoria Hardiman
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The Ministry of Fun (MoF):
Amy Jamison, Mia Roop, Vicky Guo
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PLEASE JOIN US!
October 20-22, for a weekend retreat of Jubilee 3. This is a unique opportunity to gather with local UUs from Follen Church, UU Melrose, and the UUUM to build community and deepen your understanding of how to Live Out Our Values of anti-racism. Paula Cole Jones, Leon Spencer and Lutricia Callair are the facilitators, who will be meeting virtually, as a way to keep this training affordable for all. They bring a unique perspective as Unitarian Universalists and people of color in leading this work. The Racial Justice Team is co-sponsoring and has funds available to subsidize your enrollment. For questions, contact Katie O'Hare Gibson.
See the flyer here and watch the video below for more information.
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FROM THE 8TH PRINCIPLE TEAM
The new UU Common Read is On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (Beacon Press, 2022), as discussed by Rev. Anne at last Sunday’s service.
This UU Common Read was announced at the UUA 2023 General Assembly. Available now are an overview of this UU Common Read and related content.
This Common Read offers a glimpse into one of our faith’s foundational sources, Judaism. Readers explore the call to accountability as we follow Rabbi Ruttenberg into a framework for making amends offered by the 12th century Jewish physician and scholar, Maimonides.
When we do a UU Common Read together, we share in reflection, learning, and action. A UU Common Read can take us on a powerful journey into what it means to be human and accountable in a world filled with both pain and joy.
In January, we will hold a series of workshops to discuss and process these powerful topics. Stay tuned for details.
| 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. | |
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THIS SUNDAY IN RE
We’ll continue our theme of Welcome and how it relates to water. Please join us this Sunday and get ready to have some fun mixing liquid watercolors in our RAINBOW Water Ceremony while also exploring our Seven Promises!
Caroline and Annelie
First Parish Lexington’s R.E. Children's Program Registration for 2023-2024
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YOUTH MINISTRY
This Sunday, September 24th from 3:30 to 6:15pm, our Senior High and Junior High youth are invited back to join our awesome youth friends at Winchester Unitarian Society for their annual youth contra dance and delicious snacks. Please RSVP to Robi so she can plan for rides.
The parent OWL orientation is next Sunday, Sept. 24th starting at 7pm. And the first OWL class will be Sunday, October 15th from 4 to 6:15pm.
Next week, on October 1st, Sunday evening Senior High Youth Group returns with pizza at 7:15 followed with games and planning our activities for the year. Plus news about a monthly opportunity to do service projects called SHYG-in-Action.
If you haven’t registered yet, please fill out our Youth Ministry Registration and Survey for 2023-2024.
| The family of Lee Ostrander invites us all to attend his Celebration of Life on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 2:00 p.m. Come and learn about his “life of endless curiosity” and support his wife Vicky, and his children Mark, Madeline, and Mandy. A reception will follow in Parish Hall. | |
ATTENTION COMMITTEE CHAIRS
The First Parish fall semiannual meeting will be held on Sunday, October 22, right after the service. In preparation for the meeting, please send your committee's annual report to Scott by Friday, September 29, so that he can compile all in time.
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THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 21st
7:30 - 9:00
Please join us for our first meeting this Thursday evening with a selection of media offerings.
- A passage from The Marginalian: "Terror, Tenderness, and the Paradoxes of Human Nature: How a Marmoset Saved Leonard and Virginia Woolf's Lives from the Nazis."
- Two videos with examples of how those with political divisions might move forward together: "Disagree Better - Saving Your Family Dinner" and "How Utahns are Working to Bridge Political Divide"
ZOOM LINK
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CREATIVE CALLINGS
Begins Thursday, September 21st at 2:00
The Parlor
Join other members of First Parish as we work on our knitting, sewing, needlework fiber creations together. All are welcome.
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Hanscom Field Expansion for Private Jets
“The Hanscom Field expansion for private jets is deeply problematic. I can’t see the project bringing any benefit to the surrounding communities or to the Commonwealth as a whole. It certainly will not benefit the global climate crisis or the local environment. Massport should focus on projects that benefit our commonwealth, not on projects that may be convenient for a few private jet owners at the expense of everyone else. It will serve no public good and will hurt the public.”
Cindy Friedman, Massachusetts State Senator
Lexington Times, September 2023 edition, p. 49
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Unity Group October 2nd
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Parker Hall
For the first time since March 9, 2020! Let's get together, discuss where we go from here, and share a few pandemic stories. Please bring a bag lunch. Beverages and dessert provided.
The Unity Group is a women's organization created from a merger of the First Parish Alliance and the Lend-A-Hand Society, and provides a setting for companionship, socializing and mutual support, and sponsors programs of interest to women.
Members and friends of First Parish are welcome to join us.
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