Greetings from Parish Committee! What a busy time it has been for all. The month began with Parish Committee coordinating a meeting to discuss the Multi-Platform services and our in-person protocols with a wider scope of people. The meeting included three Parish Comm members, the Opening Up group, 3 staff and committee representatives from Worship, RE, Personnel and Safe Congregations. The group had an in-depth discussion focused on clarifying the in-person attendance protocols. We also...
Musically Speaking – December 10, 2021
“Opening to Joy” is the theme of worship for December. Music does fit right into this! What is more wonderful than music? Some of my most memorable oboe playing is at the holiday season. There are pieces by Bach (Christmas Oratorio) and Handel (The Messiah), many arrangements of seasonal carols, pieces that tell the Christmas story—for example, there is a performance next weekend of The Brown King, an oratorio by Margaret Bonds, that tells the story of Balthazar, one of the wise men. ...
“Let Broken-Heartedness Abound” – December 12th, 2021
Can we just take a minute to extend praise and thanks to Jean Gauthier? For her beautiful version of Joni Mitchell’s Blue? And thank you to Joni Mitchell–one of the greatest musicians of our time. A true prophet–carrying messages from beyond. Right? I was introduced to her album Blue in high school. And I wore that cassette tape out. Remember cassette tapes? Forwarding and rewinding–wasn’t it the best when you stopped precisely between songs? A small victory, right? I digress. There wasn’t...
“We Wait” – December 5th, 2021
Last month I spent a good two hours organizing myself for this season at church. I marked my calendar, took notes, considered the arc of worship this month, noted questions for our worship planning team and committee. I made a list of things needed for rituals: Christmas Eve candles and their holders, blue Christmas ribbons for next week, poems for the upcoming vespers service…and Advent Candles for our advent wreath. Oh the joy–Opening to Joy is our theme this month by the way–oh the JOY, for...
From Your Minister – December 3rd, 2021
Greetings to you this December! I pray that you and yours are well and that you have what you need. We have entered what many faith traditions call the season of light, which is a time to consider the longer stretches of night as an invitation towards restorative, introspective waiting. This can be challenging amid all the holiday bustle and yet now, more than ever, we need to make time to still ourselves in the midst of it all. I hope you will join us for worship on Sunday where I plan to...
Winter Festival – Rain Date
The Religious Education Winter Festival will be held Sunday, December 12 (delayed due to rain). Join us outside for crafts, hot cocoa, and scenes from our pageant!
FPW Multi-Platform Worship Survey
As we continue to enhance multi-platform worship, Parish Committee and the AV Group want to hear about your experience attending in-person and/or online worship services.