Sermons

Every Tuesday your staff team meets, and whenever we stand at the precipice of a new month’s theme, we make extra time to consider how it might inform and guide our work. I’m deeply grateful for this staff team. I learn so much from them and feel blessed to have such stellar partners in ministry. This month’s theme of Courage really spoke to us, and Rev. Kyle and Charlyn have offered some beautiful reflections on it in this newsletter. Courage, to me, speaks to ‘heart.’ This is the...

We will close out this month’s worship and faith exploration theme of ‘Beginnings’ by considering the spiritual challenges and gifts that being a ‘beginner’ invites us towards. We will also sing one of our faith’s favorite hymns, “Blue Boat Home,” which celebrates life’s mysterious path and those ‘kindred pilgrim souls’ who walk it with us. Let us come together to seek, find, and draw courage from church and one another.

We will dive into our year’s theme of Living Our Faith by working to understand what faith means as Unitarian Universalists, and what ‘living it’ demands of us. We will also celebrate some good beginnings by blessing our kids’ backpacks,  learning our new children’s processional song, “Know that You are Loved,” and singing a hymn out of our new hymnal Sing Out Love called “Ours is a Living Faith.” Bring your griefs, bring your longings, bring a friend. Come to church and let’s be faithful, together.

We begin our church year through the gathering, blessing, and communing of waters. We will hear the story of this ritual, sing songs of coming home to ourselves and one another, and listen to the silent stirrings of our hearts as we mark the beginning of a new rhythm together.

Rev. Sophia Lyons preaching, with Rev. Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Missy Shay, Guy Urban, and the FPW Band!

This Sunday is our annual Flower Communion worship service where we will ritualize the giving and receiving of flowers to honor our community’s flourishing, as well as the hope we have for a world where all living beings flourish. We will celebrate the abundance of life and love through music, dance, prayer, and story as we come together to marvel in this ravishing system of aliveness we Unitarian Universalists are committed to protecting and celebrating! 

Rev. Sophia Lyons with Rev. Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Jean Gauthier, Beth Tappan-deFrees, Guy Urban, and the FPW Choir!

We will celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings this Sunday through word, prayer, song, blessing, and LOTS of rainbows! This worship service will celebrate the flourishing of Pride, center queer voices, and invite us to answer the Call of Love. Revs. Sophia and Kyle will offer Rainbow Blessings in front of church before worship, our Safe Congregation Committee has lots of swag for all who want it, and your choir will sing of Celebration. If you haven’t been at church for awhile–this service is calling your name. Let’s let Love Guide Us home to one another this Sunday. See you at church–and wear your Rainbow Pride if you have it!

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Lynn Bratley, Allison Hewett, and Guy Urban.

We will close out this month’s theme of Rituals by focusing on the transformative power of appreciation and gratitude in a community. Whether you are new to FPW or not, serve as a leader or not, we all come bearing gifts that deserve honoring. This Sunday we will ritualize the thanking of one another for the gifts freely shared with this community–seen and unseen. See you at church!

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Charlyn Bethell, Jean Gauthier, Debi King, Dani Nordin, Missy Shay, and Guy Urban.

This Sunday we will hear about the ways that some indigenous cultures ritualize community healing and conflict resolution when hurt or misunderstanding descend. Let’s consider how wisdom teachings such as these might speak to our own treasured Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values! Our sacred circle is made stronger because of you–come to church and take your place in it. See you Sunday!

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, and Guy Urban.

As we continue to work with May’s theme of ‘ritual’ we will consider the many rituals we engage in as Unitarian Universalists, and as friends and members of First Parish. We might ask ourselves: what’s the story beneath some of our treasured rituals? and why do we do them? If you are seeking for renewal, meaning, and the genuine love of a community, then slow down and worship with us this Sunday!

Sensei Morris Sullivan and Rev. Sophia Lyons leading worship, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, and Guy Urban!

As Unitarian Universalists we believe that there are a myriad ways to touch fingers with the Divine. This Sunday let’s look to the Buddhist tradition as we come together to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday, otherwise known as Vesak! We will reflect on Buddhist teachings that will help to open our hearts and fill us with spiritual peace, as well as partake in a beautiful communal ritual together. You are not going to want to miss this special worship service!