Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

Worship service given February 25, 2024 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

Join us this Sunday as Rev. Erica Richmond explores the theology of play and its importance in our lives. What might reconnect us to childlike wonder? Don't worry, it's not all talk, we will have a chance to play with markers, clay, and other crafts during worship!

Offering and Giving First

The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For February 2024, the Giving First recipient is VoteRiders.

VoteRiders' mission is to ensure that no eligible voter is prevented from casting a ballot that counts due to voter ID laws, either directly from lack of acceptable ID or indirectly because of voter confusion. VoteRiders educates voters and assists citizens to secure their voter ID. They inspire and support organizations, volunteers, and communities to sustain such voter ID education and assistance efforts.

Learn more at the VoteRiders website, https://www.voteriders.org/.

The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given February 18, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

What is at stake when we support humanitarian programs in Ukraine? Marc Loustau will reflect on his recent trip to Ukraine to report on humanitarian psychotherapy programs for people displaced by the war.

Dr. Marc Roscoe Loustau is a cultural anthropologist and journalist who specializes in Eastern Europe after living in Hungary and Romania for four years. He is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and member of First Church Boston, received a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and completed a two-year ministerial internship at King's Chapel in Boston, MA. He has appeared on the BBC News and France 24, and has published articles in the Christian Science Monitor, the Christian Century, La Croix International, The Tablet, and other magazines and newspapers. He lives in Roslindale MA with his wife Amy, son Sebastian, and dog Ramona.

Offering and Giving First

The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For February 2024, the Giving First recipient is VoteRiders.

VoteRiders' mission is to ensure that no eligible voter is prevented from casting a ballot that counts due to voter ID laws, either directly from lack of acceptable ID or indirectly because of voter confusion. VoteRiders educates voters and assists citizens to secure their voter ID. They inspire and support organizations, volunteers, and communities to sustain such voter ID education and assistance efforts.

Learn more at the VoteRiders website, https://www.voteriders.org/.

The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given February 11, 2024 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

This Sunday Marta ponders what we can do to be in right relation with others, with ourselves, with creation and with the Spirit of Creation. Marta will consider the pitfalls and benefits of giving up and making sacrifices. Listen to her romp through sacrificial theology, atonement and Lent and what it has to do with us today.

Offering and Giving First

The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For February 2024, the Giving First recipient is VoteRiders.

VoteRiders' mission is to ensure that no eligible voter is prevented from casting a ballot that counts due to voter ID laws, either directly from lack of acceptable ID or indirectly because of voter confusion. VoteRiders educates voters and assists citizens to secure their voter ID. They inspire and support organizations, volunteers, and communities to sustain such voter ID education and assistance efforts.

Learn more at the VoteRiders website, https://www.voteriders.org/.

The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given February 4, 2024 Prayer by Elizabeth Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

As we take stock of our lives and these times, it can be challenging but sacred work to consider what the world will look like for future generations. How do we make sense of our legacies? Join parish minister, Rev. Erica, as she shares wisdom from a group called the Loose Ends – knitters who finish projects for other sewers after they die.

Offering and Giving First

The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For February 2024, the Giving First recipient is VoteRiders.

VoteRiders' mission is to ensure that no eligible voter is prevented from casting a ballot that counts due to voter ID laws, either directly from lack of acceptable ID or indirectly because of voter confusion. VoteRiders educates voters and assists citizens to secure their voter ID. They inspire and support organizations, volunteers, and communities to sustain such voter ID education and assistance efforts.

Learn more at the VoteRiders website, https://www.voteriders.org/.

The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given January 28, 2024 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

Credo means "I believe" in Latin. Periodically, First Parish invites members to offer personal statements of belief. Based on their personal experience, members speak of what they trust to be true. Worship this Sunday features the credo statements of First Parish Members Mary Fusoni, Aaron Kitzmiller and Lillian Povey. Please join us.

Offering and Giving First

Each month we divide our morning offering between First Parish and an organization chosen by our Social Justice Committee. This month we are funding the work of Harbor Camps (Harborcamps.org).

Harbor Camps mission is to build confidence, resilience, and community for transgender and non-binary youth and their families through camp experiences. Camp is about having fun, playing outside, trying new things, growing, and making lifelong memories. Specifically for transgender and non-binary youth, it is about being in a place where you can truly be yourself, appreciated, and supported. To ensure that camp is an option for all families and youth, regardless of financial means, Harbor Camps provides scholarships each year without a limit. Programs such as "Giving First" help fund this guarantee. To learn more about camp, including upcoming sessions, or how to support in additional ways, visit www.harborcamps.org.

The remaining half supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given January 21, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Erica Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

As religious liberals we trust that people are first and foremost good and worthy. We also know we have slipped, stumbled and erred both as individuals and as a people. This Sunday Marta will consider forgiveness, repair, and responsibility in our time. During worship we will also send our children off to a new term in our Sunday morning religious education program. This is a good Sunday for kids to check out the program, teachers and the other kids in their classes!

Offering and Giving First

Each month we divide our morning offering between First Parish and an organization chosen by our Social Justice Committee. This month we are funding the work of Harbor Camps (Harborcamps.org).

Harbor Camps mission is to build confidence, resilience, and community for transgender and non-binary youth and their families through camp experiences. Camp is about having fun, playing outside, trying new things, growing, and making lifelong memories. Specifically for transgender and non-binary youth, it is about being in a place where you can truly be yourself, appreciated, and supported. To ensure that camp is an option for all families and youth, regardless of financial means, Harbor Camps provides scholarships each year without a limit. Programs such as "Giving First" help fund this guarantee. To learn more about camp, including upcoming sessions, or how to support in additional ways, visit www.harborcamps.org.

The remaining half supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given January 14, 2024 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

Join Rev. Erica Richmond and our worship team for this special MLK weekend. Our homily will explore Rev. Dr. King's controversial messages of peace and look at how our own congregation navigated the anti-war movement in the 1960s.

Offering and Giving First

Each month we divide our morning offering between First Parish and an organization chosen by our Social Justice Committee. This month we are funding the work of Harbor Camps (Harborcamps.org).

Harbor Camps mission is to build confidence, resilience, and community for transgender and non-binary youth and their families through camp experiences. Camp is about having fun, playing outside, trying new things, growing, and making lifelong memories. Specifically for transgender and non-binary youth, it is about being in a place where you can truly be yourself, appreciated, and supported. To ensure that camp is an option for all families and youth, regardless of financial means, Harbor Camps provides scholarships each year without a limit. Programs such as "Giving First" help fund this guarantee. To learn more about camp, including upcoming sessions, or how to support in additional ways, visit www.harborcamps.org.

The remaining half supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given January 7, 2024 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

For the first Sunday of the New Year, Rev. Marta Flanagan explores the question of what it means to live well. Perhaps that is the theme of nearly every sermon. But this time Marta draws on the experiences and memoirs of several people facing their death to tackle this eternal question. Come hear what those for whom death feels close, have to say about living well.

Offering and Giving First

Each month we divide our morning offering between First Parish and an organization chosen by our Social Justice Committee. This month we are funding the work of Harbor Camps (Harborcamps.org).

Harbor Camps mission is to build confidence, resilience, and community for transgender and non-binary youth and their families through camp experiences. Camp is about having fun, playing outside, trying new things, growing, and making lifelong memories. Specifically for transgender and non-binary youth, it is about being in a place where you can truly be yourself, appreciated, and supported. To ensure that camp is an option for all families and youth, regardless of financial means, Harbor Camps provides scholarships each year without a limit. Programs such as "Giving First" help fund this guarantee. To learn more about camp, including upcoming sessions, or how to support in additional ways, visit www.harborcamps.org.

The remaining half supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given December 31, 2023 Prayer by Elizabeth Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

Join us for our annual Poetry Sunday as Worship Associate Elizabeth Hunter leads us in lifting up words that have moved us and celebrating the coming year. Bring a poem to share–one you've found, or one you've written. Online participants are invited to share poetry together after the service.

Offering and Giving First

The Cole Resource Center is our Giving First recipient for December 2023. CRC offers custom support for individuals and family members facing mental challenges. CRC's staff have both lived experience and expertise in navigating the mental healthcare system. There is something special about the understanding and guidance offered by those who have traveled similar paths. CRC's clients learn that they are not alone. They welcome the hope and resilience they discover through the CRC community.

CRC navigators listen and provide relevant and accessible Resource Referrals. CRC's Women's Support Group gathers family caregivers who come together to share their concerns and celebrate their successes. CRC's Workforce Development Program assists job seekers with mental health issues who are looking for work, through its online Job Club and individual coaching. The non-clinical support offered by the Cole Resource Center has proven an invaluable complement to clinical care, especially during this time of intense community need for mental health services. For more information, please see https://www.coleresourcecenter.org/

The remaining half supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text "fpuu offering" to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.

Worship service given December 24, 2023 Prayer by Rev. Marta Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/

First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739

The Christmas Eve services, a highlight of the season, occur twice due to the number of people attending. The services feature the lighting of candles, organ fanfares and children reading the ancient tale. Rev. Erica Richmond offers a homily. We welcome special musical guests the Worcester Brass Consort, and also Nancy Timmerman on the organ.

Offering and Giving First

The full amount of your gifts will support the work of Renewal House, a domestic violence shelter for individuals in crisis and their children. Since 1980 Renewal House has provided temporary emergency shelter and advocacy services as part of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry.

To donate by credit card, debit card, or bank account using your smartphone text:

FPUU RENEWAL to 73256.

Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.