Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

This Sunday is our annual youth-led, youth-created worship service! Come hear from our teens about the spiritual topic of duality. There will be readings, a litany, senior reflections, and youth-led music. At the end of the service, we will be invited to join in the final song. Come celebrate all that these youth have accomplished!

This Sunday, Rev. Erica Richmond, will be preaching on the power of spiritual practices. When the world is chaotic, what helps us not only survive, but also thrive? How do we encourage one another to be our most authentic and vibrant selves? Worship will include a body prayer, one congregational hymn, and hopefully some laughter!

Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go. Spiritual Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, and the spiritual practice of relationship when things around us are changing fast.

This Sunday, Rev. Erica Richmond will preach about money, generosity and what it means to live our values in this chaotic world. As a congregation, we rely on each other to keep this place going. It is a spiritual practice to give. This Sunday we will also be doing a reverse offering! So come one and all to this fun and thought-provoking service.

Jim intersperses original songs and readings with his personal reflections on the idea of Mother Earth or “Gaia” being one living organism. Churches can offer the “spiritual response” so timely now, as “the spirit of life on earth is in crisis.”  Jim’s uplifting songs provide the balance to the “wake up call,” leaving participants with a vision and inspiration to take the healing into our own hands.

Former Co Chair of the UU Seventh Principle project, Jim helped create the “Green Sanctuary” program now undertaken by many UU congregations.  His songs of earth have educated and inspired audiences across the US and the world and his “Earth and Spirit Songbook,” supported by a grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalism, is becoming widely acclaimed by UU congregations.

Rev. Wendy Page has been a member of First Parish for over two decades. She is an ordained UU Minister.  First Parish provided great support as she made a late career change into the ministry. Currently she is serving as both a Hospice and Hospital Chaplain.

The Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Gardiner served as a parish minister at Unitarian Universalist congregations in Washington DC (1967-1972), Nashville, Tennessee (1972-1980) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1980-
1990). Bill was the Director for Anti-racism and Social Justice Empowerment Programs in the Department for Faith in Action at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston, Massachusetts from 1990 till 2004. He is currently a member of the First Parish Climate Action Working Group and the state wide Ending Mass Incarceration Working Group.

We explore the possibilities for continued health and well-being given our current local, national and global challenges.

On January 2, Rev. Erica will lead worship alongside our Adjunct Sabbatical Minister, Rev. Marc Fredette. Come learn about Epiphany and how this holiday invites us to extend the peace of Christmas into the New Year.

On Sunday, December 26th we focus on the words that sustain and uplift us in our annual Poetry Service. Participants will be invited to share meaningful poems in the sanctuary and on Zoom during our hybrid worship. Bring a favorite poem, or one you’ve written yourself, on the theme of new beginnings, navigating change, and embracing uncertainty.