What’s Happening: The First Parish Blog

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Charlyn Bethell, Lynn Bratley, Kate Hanson-Plass, Carole Katz, and Guy Urban.

The spiritual practice of Paying Attention can begin by believing yourself to be ‘hitched to everything else in the Universe.’ These words were written by naturalist John Muir in the Yosemite Valley–a sacred place that holds many important lessons for our time. Let’s come together and explore how interdependence, humility, and paying attention to the Everything Else might just quench and renew our spirits in days such as these. See you on Sunday! 

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Michael Collins, Jean Gauthier, Guy Urban, and our hospice choir, Hand in Hand. 

How do we know what path we are meant to take in life? What does it feel like to know we are on the right, or wrong, path? Some refer to questions like these as ‘discerning a call,’ which requires listening to our lives.  Let’s reflect on what this means and consider how to better listen to our lives. Heed the call and come to church!

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Holly Cachimuel, Patti Rae Miliotis, Missy Shay, and Guy Urban.
This Sunday we will close out our month’s theme of Embodiment by learning about the life-giving practices of sacred rest and Sabbath-keeping–for who among us isn’t exhausted these days? We will also hear Pattie Rae’s heartfelt testimony about why she gives to this church and sing a beautiful hymn of praise and thanks for all that is our life. Choose to slow down and celebrate rest and renewal with us–come to church! See you Sunday.

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Laura Horn, Guy Urban and the FPW Choir! One of our UU values is Generosity which asks us to be living embodiments of abundance, gratitude, faith, and hope. This is a challenging ask–one that requires...

Guest Preacher Ian Evans, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Debi King, Missy Shay, Guy Urban, and the FPW Band!

When we read headlines or see the cruel images and videos of what is happening across our country, we feel it in our bodies. For many, we hold that deep inside. But all that pent-up anxiety and grief can prevent us from acting with love. We must learn to identify it and release it. On Sunday, we will be asking ourselves, “Where does that hit me?” and “Where am I carrying that?,” and, together, practice releasing grief together, so that we may go out and act to make a more loving world. And we will be blessed by music from our band too! It’s cold outside, but oh-so-very warm at church. See you Sunday!

Rev. Sophia preaching with Djalai Babazadeh, Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Guy Urban, and the FPW Choir!

In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday we will reflect on his belief in meaningful friendship as an expression of his faith and the ideals of Beloved Community. How might we summon the courage to deepen in our relationships, and how might this help us in our fight for collective liberation? Let’s see if we can answer some of these questions together. Our choir will be singing and friends long for your presence here at First Parish–so do yourself a favor and come to church!

With Rev. Sophia preaching, Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Carole Katz, Izzy Tappan-deFrees, and Guy Urban.
Our theme this month is Courage. We will explore the nature of Courage, debunk some myths about it, and, especially, consider the courage it takes to be churchgoing Unitarian Universalists. With the ushering in of a new year comes the invitation to renew your commitment to this spiritual community. Do yourself a favor–slow down, be courageous, and come to church! See you Sunday.

Guest Preacher Matt Meyer  and Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Lynn Bratley, and Guy Urban. So many New Year’s resolutions add more and more things to our calendars and to-do lists. Let’s begin the new year by learning to subtract, to speak a good ‘no,’ and to plot our...

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Michael Collins, Missy Shay, Guy Urban, and the Hand in Hand Hospice Choir! 

Unitarian Universalists place an enormous amount of value on celebrating the kaleidoscope of diverse belief in our communities. This Sunday we will take time to consider when and how a personal search for meaning began to emerge in our faith, and open our hearts to the awe-inspiring beauty of the multitudes. We will also light our third Advent Candle and mark the first night of Hanukkah. See you Sunday!