Join us as we work with religious education consultant Dr. Michele Townsend Grove in December and January in an effort to explore First Parish’s lifespan religious education heritage, identity and future. Everyone is welcome to participate in one or more opportunities.
Vision
Get Involved in the Ministerial Search
The members of the Search Committee have been working hard behind the scenes over the summer - receiving training from the UUA, delegating roles, and beginning to gather information. As the church year begins this fall, we are looking forward to hearing from you, the members, friends, and staff of First Parish Watertown, as part of the phase the UUA calls “Building the Structure to Search.” Listening is vitally important in understanding the hopes, visions, and perspectives of the congregation...
“Reflections on White Rage, White Grief, and White Fragility” by Rev. Wendy L. Bell – January 19, 2020
A Reflection on White Rage We began this morning with the dream. And yet we hardly need reminding, that the ideal which we seek lies in stark contrast to the reality in which we live. Have we made progress in this country in terms of race? Yes, but it has not been straight forward. Every inch of progress has been met with a countervailing counterforce. The end of the civil war and the eradication of slavery was met with the Black Codes in Mississippi and nine other former confederate states,...
“Envisioning Our Future” by Rev. Wendy L. Bell – January 12, 2020
It’s hard to believe that we are almost a quarter of the way through this two-year interim period. I have thoroughly enjoyed beginning to get to know you, and hearing some of your stories. And I thank you for welcoming me in and sharing with me some of your concerns and some of your hopes. When people ask me what interim ministry is about, I sometimes say that it is about journeying with a congregation as, together, we look back, look around, and look ahead. This morning I invite you to look...
“Seeking a Word” by Rev. Wendy L. Bell – January 5, 2020
Happy New Year! During this first month of the new year we will be looking ahead and reflecting on the theme of vision and possibility. According to the Soul Matters staff writers who pull together and distribute a lot of our theme material each month, “Of all our topics…possibility is arguably most central to our faith. It has distinguished Unitarian Universalism from the start. Historically, when others saw depravity and sin at the core of human identity, we saw potential… When many were...
Your Visions for the First Parish of Watertown
The results of our survey on the congregation's vision for our Church were presented on Sunday, June 9, 2013. Here is the document summary from the Vision Task Force. Your Visions for First Parish Watertown
What Dreams Do You Have For First Parish?
Weaving the Web of Dreams What Dreams Do You Have For First Parish? Here is the list as of October 15, 2012: Dreams That We Have Heard To Improve Our Buildings: Accommodate growth in terms of space Compost toilets/add urinal Geothermal heat system Improve access to storage space Build/Improve office space for staff French doors leading to a patio for social hour Wire building for Internet Larger shed New AV system in sanctuary Preschool hallway/classes redo; Remove the preschool Remodel for RE...
Vision Task Force Worship Service – September 30, 2012
Vision Task Force Worship Servvice - September 30, 2012 – Call to Worship - from Benjamin Mays It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a...