Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

Sunday Sermon given October 15, 2023 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

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

About the Sermon: Unitarian Universalism is a living faith, honoring tradition and evolving over time. The Unitarian Universalist Principles are stated in Article 2 of the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUA is currently in the process of amending Article 2.

Perhaps questions of faith should always be considered and tested by war and peace, life and death, love and loss. Amidst the poignancy and complexity of war in the Middle East this week, Rev. Marta Flanagan will consider what is central to our faith. This is Part I of a two part Sermon Series; Part II will be offered on Sunday, November 5.

Offering and Giving First For the month of October, half of the offering supports the work of the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC), a welcoming and inclusive community-based mental health center and the leading provider of outpatient and school-based mental health services for Arlington youth and their families. Central to its mission, AYCC offers individual and family counseling, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication treatment to Arlington youth, ages 3-21, and their adult caregivers.

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.

Sunday Sermon given October 8, 2023 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

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

About the Sermon: There is a Transylvanian story about churches being lit only by the lights people bring. During the Time for All Ages, we will hear this special story and our parish minister, Rev. Erica Richmond, will preach about what strange, quirky, important, and holy work congregations do together.

Offering and Giving First For the month of October, half of the offering supports the work of the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC), a welcoming and inclusive community-based mental health center and the leading provider of outpatient and school-based mental health services for Arlington youth and their families. Central to its mission, AYCC offers individual and family counseling, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication treatment to Arlington youth, ages 3-21, and their adult caregivers.

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.

Sunday Sermon given October 1, 2023 Prayer by Elizabether Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

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

About the Sermon: Most religious philosophies encourage us to seek the spiritual path by befriending fear. It’s a choice that runs counter to some of our deepest instincts, and yet, if we can accept that we are not in control and also recognize that no one is alone, then perhaps, we can open our hearts to live more compassionately and courageously.

About Rev. Marc Fredette: A native of New England Marc attended Humboldt State University and the University of California at Santa Barbara, CA before returning New England in 1988.  Prior to pursuing ministry Marc worked for many years as a computer programmer, training consultant, and software manager in southern New Hampshire. He earned his degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2004, and served our congregations in Fayetteville, AK, and here in Waltham before retiring from parish ministry in 2021. Marc served as our sabbatical minister last winter and thoroughly enjoyed his time with the congregation so much so that he began attending regularly earlier this year.  Marc’s personal passions include gardening, working with wood, a love of singing, dismantling racism and nurturing community in all walks of life.

Offering and Giving First For the month of October, half of the offering supports the work of the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC), a welcoming and inclusive community-based mental health center and the leading provider of outpatient and school-based mental health services for Arlington youth and their families. Central to its mission, AYCC offers individual and family counseling, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication treatment to Arlington youth, ages 3-21, and their adult caregivers.

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.

Sunday Sermon given September 24, 2023 Prayer by Rev. Marta Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/

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

Offering For the month of September, half of the offering supports the work of UU Mass Action. The mission of UU Mass Action is to organize and mobilize UUs in Massachusetts to confront oppression.

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.

About the Sermon: Join us on Sunday, September 24th, as we honor and recognize the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The primal sounds of the shofar will awaken us to spiritual invitations. During this time of year, we are encouraged to reflect and account for the harm we have caused. The Time for All Ages will look at institutional harm. The choir will bless us with Avinu Malkeinu. And  Rev. Erica Richmond will preach on apology, repentance, and individual relationships. 

Sunday Sermon given September 17, 2023 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

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

Offering For the month of September, half of the offering supports the work of UU Mass Action. The mission of UU Mass Action is to organize and mobilize UUs in Massachusetts to confront oppression.

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.

About the Sermon: What if congregations felt more like Friendly’s? Taking inspiration from family restaurants, explore with Rev. Stevie Carmody—our new Minister of Religious Education—how we build a multigenerational community where everyone has the space and support to learn and grow.

Sunday Sermon given September 10, 2023 Prayer by Rev. Erica Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/

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

Offering For the month of September, half of the offering supports the work of UU Mass Action. The mission of UU Mass Action is to organize and mobilize UUs in Massachusetts to confront oppression.

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.

About the Sermon: Worship will include our annual Water Ceremony. Please bring water from a place special to you. Everyone can contribute their intentions and special waters to our common bowl of water that will be used throughout the year for child dedications and other special occasions. We gather for this annual celebration and renewal of our community as we begin a new program. If last year is any indication nearly 250 of us will gather in person and another 50 will worship online. There will be treats and refreshments for all following our worship service.

Sunday Sermon given September 3, 2023

Prayer by Ruben Hopwood, Worship Associate

https://firstparish.info/

First Parish

A liberal religious community, welcoming to all

First gathered 1739

Offering

For the month of September, half of the offering supports the work of UU Mass Action. The mission of UU Mass Action is to organize and mobilize UUs in Massachusetts to confront oppression. Founded in 2006, UU Mass Action leaders build relationships with and center the leadership of those most affected by different forms of oppression and injustice living in our state. UU Mass Action then mobilizes among the 20,000 Unitarian Universalists in our state to engage in advocacy with the Massachusetts legislature and community organizing. UU Mass Action has working groups engaged in climate action, Indigenous Justice, immigrant justice, economic Justice, and prison reform. For more information go to uumassaction.org. The remaining half of the offering each week supports the life and work of First Parish. To give on a smart device, text “fpuu offering” to 73256 and follow the texted directions.

About the Sermon: How do we think of gods, life, death, existence, purpose? 2100 years ago Lucretius, a Roman poet, wrote an epic poem that built on the earlier teachings of Epicurus, which was rediscovered in the 15th-century. There is, perhaps, much we can contemplate on our own spiritual journeys based on this sensuous, earlier account.

David Dreyfus has been attending First Parish for about 10 years and participates in many aspects of community life here. He has chaired the finance committee, participates on property, helps in the kitchen, facilitates a men’s group, engages in discussion groups, and actively participates in Lectio Divina as part of a very active spiritual journey.

Sunday Sermon given August 27, 2023 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/

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

Offering For the months of June, July and August, half of the offering supports two recipients: The Mass Building Electrification Accelerator (http://www.electrifybuildings.org/) and Educate Girls Now (https://educategirlsnow.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.

About the Sermon: When we have suffered physical and spiritual harm—when we have experienced losses that can never be fully restored—what is the value of an acknowledgement or apology from the one who has harmed us? Stemming from work with the Reckoning and Repair Working Group, we will look at historical instances of harm and reflect on the question, If there can be no such thing as true redemption—a full restoration of what has been lost—what is the point of even reckoning with the harm?

Sunday Sermon given August 20, 2023 Prayer by Julia Jonathan, First Parish Member https://firstparish.info/

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

Offering For the months of June, July and August, half of the offering supports two recipients: The Mass Building Electrification Accelerator (http://www.electrifybuildings.org/) and Educate Girls Now (https://educategirlsnow.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.

About the Sermon: For decades Anna felt a dichotomy between her deep conviction in the divinity of nature and her intellectual understanding that there is no guy up there with a beard making decisions for us. But she recently had a spiritual epiphany that united these two seemingly contradictory selves. With passion and humor, Anna gives us a window into her newly enlivened spirituality.

Anna Callahan comes from a long line of UUs and loves the combination of divinity and science. In her 20s she was a professional musician, playing trumpet and arranging music. In her 30s & 40s she was a software engineer. Today she is a political activist, focusing on democracy and how to re-invigorate it on the ground in cities in America. Anna’s hobbies are playing trumpet, swing and contra dancing, and singing.

Sunday Sermon given August 13, 2023

Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate

https://firstparish.info/

First Parish

A liberal religious community, welcoming to all

First gathered 1739

Offering

For the months of June, July and August, half of the offering supports two recipients:

The Mass Building Electrification Accelerator

(http://www.electrifybuildings.org/)

and Educate Girls Now

(https://educategirlsnow.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.

About the Sermon: How do we respond, spiritually and politically, to the big wrongs of the world? In recent years, people have become more likely to speak/think in terms of abolition, especially but not only on the political left. What can we learn from the movement to abolish slavery about the strengths and pitfalls of abolition as a metaphor, a practical strategy, and a spiritual stance?

Lori Kenschaft has been a First Parish member since 2006. She has a doctorate in American history and deep interests in global history, social justice, and climate change. Her primary activity nowadays is volunteering with Electrify Arlington and helping people move their homes off fossil fuels.