Each year in the month of March, our church goes through a period of reflection and renewal in preparation for the start of its new fiscal year on April 1. There is a lot to do to get ready! As a congregational church, we govern and support ourselves financially. We contribute our time, talent and funds to support the church community. The Annual Appeal helps raise the funds needed for the ongoing operations of First Parish. We each decide for ourselves what we can afford to pledge (or...
Do you consider First Parish your spiritual home? If so, consider becoming a member! First Parish welcomes people of all religious backgrounds who affirm the worth of human beings, advocate freedom of belief, and the search for advancing truth. What does it mean to be a member at First Parish? Membership is how you indicate that you are part of the First Parish community. Members can vote on important issues such as the annual and other congregational meetings. While the majority of committees...
As a next step in our congregation’s ongoing efforts to understand our complex history and determine actions to guide our way forward, the Parish Committee will sponsor a panel after service on Feb. 25. The panel is entitled “Grappling with our History: Lessons to be Learned,” and will include speakers from other churches who will share their stories about how their congregations are working to acknowledge and address their history. Karla Baehr, member of First Parish in Brookline and Chair of...
For nearly 35 years, FPW has participated in the annual holiday gift drive for the Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Hospital. For those new to this campaign, the Grow Clinic (linked above) works with a population of Boston area residents whose children have been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive. The Grow Clinic requests gifts in the form of $25 gift cards from Target, Stop & Shop or Amazon. These gift cards allow families the dignity to buy food for the holidays and select gifts as desired....
Nov 17| 6:30 pm | Social Hall The FPW Safe Congregation Committee will be presenting the film “No Ordinary Man” (see IMDB). The evening will be moderated by Louise Harrison Lepera, Jean Gauthier, and special guest, Nat Moss. After the showing, there will be a brief question and answer period for anyone who is interested. Pizza will be provided at 6:30 pm, and the film will begin at 7 pm. All are welcome. Film is age appropriate for 13 years +. Blurb from IMDB: No Ordinary Man is an in-depth...
The NDN Collective has been selected to receive our Designated Offering for the month of October. The NDN Collective is Indigenous-led and dedicated to building Indigenous power through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and narrative change. Two major areas of effort for the NDN Collective are Climate Justice initiatives impacting Indigenous Communities, and the demand for freedom for Activist Elder Leonard Peltier, who has been wrongly imprisoned for over 48...
Join us beginning October 23rd for Foundations of Contemplative Practice, a 10-session exploration of contemplative practices from several traditions. Each week, we will experience sitting meditation, qigong moving meditation, Naikan self-reflection, and mindfulness in daily life. The sessions will be led by Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan. The program runs from October 23 to December 18 (no meeting November 20). Meetings are Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the Golden Room at First Parish of...
Join us after service on Sunday, Sept 24 for a short update on the Welcoming Building group’s plans for next steps and a walk-though tour and ritual as we prepare to take the historical items - Arbella model, banner made by Missy Shay, and ministerial portraits - from our walls to be put into storage until June 2024. This is the first step in what will be an ongoing process to reckon with our history. Sept 24 Sun at noon - Update from Welcoming Building group followed by walk-through and...
DO YOU KNOW WHO WROTE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT? To Learn More, Please join us for a CONCERT FOR A CAUSE to Benefit the Educational Non-Profit History UnErased Featuring the Soulful Talents of Local Singer, Song Writer, Guitarist Jean Gauthier Performing Blues, Folk, Country and Original Pieces Sunday, September 24, 2023 3PM Concert (Doors open at 2:30pm) SUGGESTED DONATION $25* ADVANCE PURCHASE PREFERRED HERE CASH ONLY AT THE DOOR Cookies, Punch & Informal Q & A...
Harvest Potluck Gathering Saturday October 28th – 6pm to 7:30pm We will gather in the Social Hall to enjoy this good ole’ Meet and Eat Potluck meal Deck the Halls Saturday December 2rd 2023 – 3pm to 5pm Get the holiday season rolling by helping to decorate FPW inside & out. We hope to offer gift making tables and Green Sanctuary will offer a gift/clothes swap table. We will collect gift cards to donate to children who are helped by the Boston Medical Center Growth Clinic. Winter Solstice...