Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

Reflecting on the social, moral, and spiritual implications of our personal and collective relationship with water.

Have mementos traveled with you through various moves? Do scrapbooks line your shelves? Do shoe boxes of photos, matchbooks, and discontinued subway tokens lurk in your closets? Or does a single movie stub or newspaper cutting suffice to tether you to your younger self? At what point do we become beholden to the STUFF we’re holding onto? What longing leads us to cling to objects from our past? Is there freedom in letting go?

Putting our existential hellscape into perspective.

Connecting examples from civil rights and industrial relations to our daily spiritual journey.

Exploring how becoming a better actor can lead to becoming a better person.

How mindfulness and gratitude transform mundane experiences--like biking to work--into a spiritual practice connecting us profoundly to each other and our environment.

Inspired by poetry and music, we will muse on the nature of beauty and the beauty of nature.

The Flower Communion ritual was developed by the Unitarian congregation in Prague before the second World War. Flower Communion is now celebrated in Unitarian Universalist congregation all over the world. As part of our ritual on June 12 everyone worshipping in the Sanctuary is asked to bring a flower to share. Those worship online are invited to have a flower nearby during the service. In addition to a homily by Marta Flanagan, worship will include the spoken sharing of joys and concerns by members of the congregation. There will be congregational singing of hymns. All members of the congregation are asked to be vaccinated and to wear masks.

In a time when so much feels uncertain in our world, we remember and honor the children and youth.  At First Parish, we do that by listening to their experiences and insights during our annual Coming of Age worship service. 

After three months of intensive study and reflection with volunteer adult mentors, twelve eighth grade youth have crafted credos, or faith statements of belief,  which they will share with the congregation. A collective work of art created by the group will be displayed in the Sanctuary.  Please join us either in person or virtually to share their journeys.