Now that businesses are beginning to re-open in Massachusetts, you may be wondering when the First Parish building will again be available for meetings, services, rental uses, and other gatherings. Here is an important update for you. The church building is currently closed for all use, including, but not limited to church committee meetings, community organization meetings, rentals, and all other gatherings. Staff will coordinate their occasional use of the building with Wendy and each other....
COVID-19
“Becalmed” – Homily for 17 May 2020
I had the extreme good fortune of growing up with a father who loved to sail, and who instilled in me a love of sailing. As a child, I spent many weeks over the course of many summers, cruising the Chesapeake Bay, exploring its inlets and coves, sleeping in the cockpit under the stars. It was beautiful and lovely…except when it wasn’t. There were plenty of mosquitos at dusk and dawn, and many hours spent sitting still under a hot sun waiting for the wind to blow. For many years, I did not...
In the Interim – April 2020
I’ve been thinking more than usual about plagues. (Frankly, I’ve never really had cause to think about them before!) I’m pondering them today not only because of our current situation with this novel coronavirus epidemic, but also because Passover is fast approaching.
From the Parish Committee – March 27, 2020
During this trying time, we are remaining optimistic and thinking ahead to better times. At our last meeting we planned for a process to nominate our Ministerial Search Committee. Our plan is to focus on this during the month of May. The Parish Committee and the Nominating Committee will be contacting every member and friend of this parish during May to discuss your ideas on our settled minister search and to hear from you who you would nominate to represent our congregation on the Search...
Church in the Time of COVID-19
This month, before our plans were changed, we were going to be focused on the theme of abundance and generosity. But now we’re having to give so much up because of this pandemic: our usual routines, the physical presence of co-workers and classmates and teachers, our visits with friends and extended family, and our peace of mind, to name a few. Some of us are so busy trying to work from home and keep our children productively occupied that we may not have had time or space to feel our...
Preparing to Worship Online
This Sunday we will be worshiping together online using Zoom. If you haven’t yet used Zoom, you’ll want to go to zoom.us, click “Join Meeting,” and download the software. Then you’ll be all set for Sunday morning. There is a link for joining by computer, laptop, or smartphone, as well as a phone number for joining on any telephone, that was sent out through Breeze to all church members and friends - if you did not receive it, please contact Wendy (minister@fpwatertown.org) or Allison...
Coronavirus Response
Due to a growing concern about the spread of the coronavirus in our area, First Parish Watertown will cancel worship services, religious education classes, and after-church activities for the next two Sundays, March 15th and March 22nd.