What’s Happening at First Parish
Search FAQ: When do I get to vote on a minister?
We have been waiting a lot since mid-March 2020… waiting for a vaccine, waiting to see our loved ones, waiting for a hug, waiting for our communities to be open, waiting for a kinder world… At FPW, there is also waiting for the Ministerial Search Process.
From the Parish Committee – February 26, 2021
This month, the Parish committee continued “tying up loose ends” by discussing several “who does what?” questions. In the last two years, we have been discovering gaps in our understandings of who does what. We have found many things for which we, as a congregation,...
What’s with the big secret?
Wait. What? The Search Committee can’t say anything about pre-candidating ministers?
No. We cannot. Out of respect for the confidentiality of the candidates and their current communities, we can’t tell you things that would give any idea of who they are.
Musically Speaking – February 12, 2021
As I have said several times recently, I have been working this year to make Black Lives Matter an overarching theme for music at First Parish. In thinking about how to do this, I have been reflecting on how UU thinking helps give guidance. For example, one of our...
In the Interim – Feburary 5, 2021
During the month of February, we will be reflecting together on the meaning of Beloved Community. For the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Beloved Community was an important concept, the aspirational vision of a community that included everyone, that did not...
Where is the white smoke?
While your Search Committee is not a group of church officials sequestered day and night waiting to send a signal of a decision, we are a group of church leaders working very hard to be sure we have crossed all our t’s and dotted all our i’s on good process to determine the candidate to present to you for a vote in the spring.
Reading. Talking. Reading. Talking. Thinking.
What a month it has been for the ministerial search process! We have learned a lot about applicants and this process.
From the Parish Committee – January 22nd, 2021
This month the Parish Committee has continued its planning for our future. During these times of such uncertainty, it often feels like we are walking in the dark toward a dim light ahead. It is a time to find every bit of optimism and hope available. I am so...
Opening the Search and Next Steps
Beloved community, Happy New Year from your Ministerial Search Committee!!! Thanks for your interest and patience!!! Here is a bit about where we have been and where we are going: Evaluated and summarized your survey feedback Facilitated 11 cottage meetings and focus...
Important Sanctuary Coalition Effort (Deadline of Jan 25th)
First Parish Watertown is part of a coalition of congregations committed to supporting and protecting a woman in sanctuary. Congressman Joaquin Castro has agreed to send a “Sign-On” letter to his colleagues in the House of Representative. The collective asks that anyone supportive of immigrants in sanctuary contact their US representative and request that they sign the letter.