Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

Come join the First Parish youth (high school aged) in their exploration of escape. Witness how our youth have navigated the past year’s challenges and how they describe the places they go to in times of joy and sorrow.

This time of year, First Parish encourages good stewardship from its spiritual community. If you feel moved to contribute to the First Parish community financially, you may donate online at https://firstparish.info/give/ or text the phrase “fpuu offering” to 73256. Thank you for your support and generosity.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

This Sunday kicked off our Stewardship Campaign, our annual time of fundraising for our congregation. We reflect on the goodness of our community, the ways we sustained ourselves during an extraordinary year, and how generosity lets us build the beloved community we yearn for.

If you feel moved to contribute to the First Parish community financially, you may donate online at https://firstparish.info/give/ or text the phrase “fpuu offering” to 73256. Thank you for your support and generosity.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

On the First Sunday in Lent Rev. Marta Flanagan considers what we are to make of Jesus: the teacher, prophet, savior and liberator. Next month on the first day of Passover Marta will preach the second sermon in this series: “Moses What?”

The art referenced in this episode is contained in the episode thumbnail and includes:

• Superman Jesus, Unknown
• Head of Christ, Warner Sallman, 1940
• Christ Pantocrator of St. Catherine’s Monastery at Sinai, 6th century
• Forensic Rendering of Christ, Richard Neave
• Bright Hope Baptist Church, Philadelphia PA, 1964
• Jesus of the People, Janet McKenzie, 1999
• A Last Supper, Lorna May Wadsworth 2010
• Wales Window, John Petts, 1965

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

Credo Services have been a treasured part of worship at First Parish. Credo is from the Latin meaning “I Believe.” Credo statements are statements of faith or belief based on personal experiences. Members of the congregation find inspiration by the example of credo speakers to consider what they themselves may believe. In honor of the service falling on Valentine's day, we're trying a slight variation for this particular service: all "speakers" are actually couples: Mary-Beth Landy & her wife Rachel Masson, Cheri & Nick Minton and Juius Pereli & Martha Gray. The topic, of course, is love -- in the broadest sense of the word.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

The Buddha spoke of enlightenment and Nirvana. The Hebrew people spoke of a “Promised Land. Jesus spoke of a “Kingdom of God.” Rev. Marta Flanagan asks: what was the dream and what should it be now?

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

On the path to healing and wholeness, we can hit obstacles and get turned around. What do we need in order to commit to the sometimes-discouraging, sometimes-confounding journey? Let's explore these twists and turns together in the ongoing commitment to justice.

About our Guest Preacher: Rev. Wendy Page is a Unitarian Universalist minister who serves as a chaplain in both hospital and hospice settings. She works at MGH and St Elizabeth Hospitals and Ascend Hospice. Wendy has been a member of First Parish for over two decades. She is a regular participant of Lectio Divina and has sung in the choir and UUlations, made quilts, served on many committees, and made desserts for the Harvest Moon Cafe. She was and is supported by First Parish as she heeded her call to ministry. As an Affiliate Minister of First Parish, Wendy takes our UU values out into the community through her work as a chaplain. Wendy grew up in rural Upstate New York, and moved to the Boston area after college. Her careers have included photography, working at the Museum School of Boston for 10 years, followed by software development for 20 years until she finally listened to her call to serve as a spiritual care provider. Chaplaincy through the pandemic has been scary, heartbreaking and deeply meaningful.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

How do you imagine you got the life you have? How do you imagine others got the life they have? Rev. Marta Flanagan considers the importance our imaginings make – in our lives and in the world.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

In this episode we honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King junior. As a spiritual community, we have a theological obligation to cultivate an imagination that dreams of a better and more just world. In these times, how might we learn from MLK's faithful call to act even in the face of uncertainty and even when we can't predict the outcomes?

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

The worship theme for the month of January is imagination. We live with dangers both real and imagined. Rev. Marta Flanagan considers the precariousness of life as well as the prevalence of precarity, an idea and a reality, in our lives and times.

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.

Welcome to 2021! This Sunday we will be celebrating the new year and the holiday of Epiphany. We recall the ancient story of the three magi; how they followed a bright star and found the manger. But who else was there, how did they get there, how did the event change them? As we embark of individual and collective journeys, what authority do we trust and how do we make those leaps?

Podcast introduction music composed and played by First Parish Music Director Emeritus, Kenneth Seitz: “Amen, Blessed Be;"
number 14 in the First Parish songbook, Singing Toward Justice.

Introduction language is the Mission Statement adopted in 2010 spoken here by First Parish lay leaders and Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan.