A bridge-builder, Rev. Andrew Kimble is invested in sustaining collaborative partnerships between the academy and communities of moral discernment. Ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Andrew serves as minister of church and culture at the Historic Charles St. AMEC in Roxbury, MA. Additionally, Rev. Andrew’s participation in philanthropic initiatives at Boston University School of Theology helps raise financial support for the school’s scholarships, programs, and annual...
We’ve been starting off our church year in September with the theme of Belonging. Along with the ceremonies and intentional moments – celebrating the annual Water Service and thinking about how our building can be more welcoming – we find belonging in our congregation through mundane, everyday acts and tools, like remembering to wear a name tag and greeting new faces. One of the mundane, but important, tools that helps support our connections is the church directory. We use Breeze Church...
The new church year is upon us and we look forward to spending time together. The Fellowship Committee has agreed that we should try to have one Social Hour per month with food, starting in October. We will call these the "Second Sunday Social Hour" and will be recruiting volunteers to host these events. Please watch for emails on that volunteer opportunity. We will also be recruiting Greeters for Sunday Services - another email to watch for. Here is a list of the fun, social events that are...
Names of deceased First Parish members, friends, and those loved by them can be added to the Memorial Wall each summer. Applications for engravings as well as additional information can be found at https://fpwatertown.org/about/memorial-garden/. Paper applications are also available in the church office. The fee for engraving a name along with birth and death years is $500. Applications and fees must be returned to the church office no later than June 1. Requests for a reduced fee can be made...
We covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” The word is out about the 8th Principle! Maybe you’ve heard Reverend Sophia mention it during a worship service. Maybe you’ve participated in one of the discussions or attended another of the related events this last year. Maybe this is the first time...
In May of 2021 the Parish Committee assembled a new transitional Committee on Ministry to work for one year with our new minister, Reverend Sophia. The Committee consists of one person from the now-disbanded Search Committee (Judy Kamm); and two parishioners who had been nominated to the Search Committee (Katherine Calabro and Jean Gauthier). Our objective is to ensure that our new minister’s first year with us goes as smoothly as possible. Since August we have met monthly with Reverend Sophia...
The 8th Principle, Your Vote and Becoming a Member of the church: The 8th Principle is a very important vote for our congregation and is planned for June 5th. In order to vote on this very important and historic adoption of the 8th Principle our by-laws require a person be an official member of the church for a minimum of 60 days (signed the membership book or virtually with the membership committee). Please contact the Membership Committee or email Parish@fpwatertown.org if you have any...
In last Sunday’s service, I shared a story from a book called Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard. Here is the recipe for “Kevin’s Fry Bread” from the end of the book. I hope people will try out this recipe in honor of our Indigenous siblings.
From Mass Turnpike (I - 90): Take exit 17, (Newton -Watertown).
Follow signs for Watertown. On Galen Street, go east towards Watertown. Just before you cross the Charles River, you will join Rte. 16. After you cross the Charles, move to one of the two left hand turn lanes in Watertown Square, and then turn left on Rte. 20 (Main St.). This is heading towards Waltham.
Take your second right onto Church Street (the Armenian Library and Museum is on the corner of Main and Church Sts.). The First Parish is one block upon your right. Turn right at Summer Street to reach the parking lot.
Public Transportation
From Harvard Square take #71 bus down Mt. Auburn Street. Get off at Dunkin Donuts approaching Watertown Square. Summer St. is on the right, follow for two blocks until you see church on your left.
Parking
There is a parking lot adjacent to the church. It is available for event parking in the evening after 4:00 p.m. and on weekends after 1:00 p.m., but NOT at other times.