4:30 and 6:00 pm
“Be Not Afraid!”
Holidays
In the Interim – 12/6/2019
And so, December comes! Our Christian neighbors and friends have begun their celebration of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year, a season of waiting for the arrival of baby Jesus, born again in old stories and anew in hearts and minds. Meanwhile, as the darkness of winter deepens, we all wait for the return of the sun’s light. Everything about the natural world at this time of year in the northern hemisphere seems to say to us, “Slow down!” The dark, the cold, the snow, the ice, all...
“Jumping In” by Rev. Wendy L. Bell – September 29, 2019
This morning, I’d like to spend some time talking about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the days in between, which all together are known as the Jewish High Holy Days. And I want to begin with an acknowledgement that although I’ve had a deep life-long respect for Judaism, and attended the bar and bat mitzvahs of many friends in my youth, I am not Jewish. But Judaism, along with Christianity and other world religions and indigenous, earth-based traditions, is one of the many sources of our...
“Holy Envy” by Mark W. Harris – Easter Sermon – April 21, 2019
“Holy Envy” by Mark W. Harris – UUs often say that we don’t believe in that resurrection story, but that we believe in science where dead people don’t come back to life. Yet do we sometimes long for one transforming belief, and have holy envy towards those who do believe?
“Lost Sheep” Christmas Eve 2018 – by Mark W. Harris
“Lost Sheep” by Mark W. Harris – Christmas Eve Homily- I was a young shepherd in those days wandering the hills and valleys with a fairly large flock of sheep, at least 100. . .
“Easter Magic” by Andrea Greenwood – April 1, 2018
“Easter Magic” by Andrea Greenwood -Years and years ago, out pickling berries with my two year old, O asked him how he found so many and he answered very simply: “I open my eyes.” What do you see on Easter morning when the eyes of your eyes are opened? What treasures are hiding nearby, awaiting your discovery?
Christmas Eve Homily – “Decorating Our Lives” by Mark W. Harris – December 24, 2017
Christmas Eve Homily – “Decorating Our Lives” – How do the ornaments we hang on our trees symbolize the stories of our lives, and the meaning we can share with others.
“What’s Good About Good Friday?” Mark W. Harris – March 27, 2016
“What’s Good About Good Friday?” Mark W. Harris Easter 2016 – March 27, 2016 – First Parish of Watertown Call to Worship – “spring song” by Lucille Clifton the green of Jesus is breaking the ground and the sweet smell of delicious Jesus is opening the house and the dance of Jesus music has hold of the air and the world is turning in the body of Jesus and the future is possible Reading – “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs About the lilting...
Christmas Eve Homily – December 24, 2015 – “The Freedom Tree” by Mark W. Harris
Christmas Eve Homily - December 24, 2015 Homily - The Freedom Tree Christmas is a time for wishing. As children most of us had Christmas wish lists, these were the toys or games we wanted most and we tried to convey those wishes to anyone who would listen. There were letters to Santa, there were constant reminders to our parents of our fervent wishes, and if we saw Santa at a store, we made sure to tell him about the baseball glove or record player we were wishing for. I know I am dating...
“I Give Up” by Mark W. Harris – April 5, 2015 – Easter Sunday
“I Give Up” by Mark W. Harris April 5, 2015 - Easter Sunday – First Parish of Watertown Call to Worship – from Joan of Arc “Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it…and then it’s gone. But to surrender who you are and to live without belief is more terrible than dying. ...