- Sunday Worship
Choose Your Own Adventure: Sermon Edition
What happens in this sermon? You decide! This sermon is based on the popular “Choose Your Own Adventure” book series where the reader gets to decide the fate of the characters. You’d be surprised at how much they can tell us about life. Join Otto O’Connor as he leads you on this adventure.
Music this week will be provided by Yukiko Sekino. This will be Yukiko’s last summer service as guest pianist. She has been sharing her beautiful musicianship with First Parish for the past six weeks, and we are grateful to have had her with us. Thanks, Yuki! - About Our Sunday Worship Leader
Otto O’Connor graduated with his M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in May 2015. He is currently pursuing an M.A. in Global Interreligious Leadership at Andover Newton, and serves as one of the co-presidents of the Community of Unitarian Universalist Andover Newton Students. He is currently the Ministerial Intern at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church at the First Parish in Sherborn. He has also served as an Associate Chaplain at the Waysmeet Center, the United Campus Ministry to the University of New Hampshire.
- Water Communion on Ingathering Sunday
Ingathering Sunday is only a few weeks away! Whether you have spent the summer months in your back yard or traveling abroad, we hope you saved a small amount of water for the Water Communion ritual during the Ingathering Service on Sunday, September 11th.
The water communion is a UU ritual, a time of sharing where you’ve been and reconnecting with one another. The water is poured into a common bowl and symbolizes the UU belief that many are one. Some of the water is often saved, sterilized, and then used for ceremonial purposes, such as child dedications, at other times of the year.If you haven’t had a chance to collect any water, there will be extra water available. - Monthly Plate Donation for 2016/17
The monthly collection plate donation has become a strong program at First Parish. Over the past few years congregants have generously put more money in the plate following a presentation by a representative of a local charity. Follow up thank you notes attest to the warmth of our church members during the coffee hour.
Now is the time to start thinking about putting together a new list of recipients for September through June. We hope that everyone will feel welcome to suggest places that they feel are appropriate and consistent with our UU values of service, inclusiveness and commitment to our community.
Please feel free to email me. I will be away for parts of August but will be happy to field questions and take suggestions.
For the Social Action Ministry,
Carolyn Fleiss - Lexington Food Pantry
Please help our neighbors who rely on the Lexington Food Pantry to feed their families. There are two baskets by the front doors for donations of non-perishable food items, as well as in the bin outside of the church office. You can also make a cash donation by leaving it with the office or forwarding a check to the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry, P.O. Box 635, Lexington, MA 02420.
Questions? Contact Lynne Yansen.
- Lifespan Religious Education News 2016-2017
Sunday Morning Registration
The church year will here before you know it! September 11th is our Ingathering Service of Water Communion and is an all ages service. Pre-K through middle school classes start on September 18th. Our Nursery is open for babies and toddlers starting on September 11th. If you have not enrolled your baby, toddler, child or youth yet, please fill out our Family Enrollment Form.
Youth Groups, Coming of Age, and 8th Grade OWL
Senior High Youth Group will continue to meet on Sunday evenings at 7:00-9:00. Junior High Youth Group meets once a month from 3:00-5:00 on Sundays. Coming of Age meets twice a month from 5:45-7:00 on Sundays.
This year First Parish is offering the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program, which will meet in-house and is welcoming any outside families to participate. Parent orientation is on October 4th at 7:00pm, and OWL sessions start on Sunday evening October 16th.
To register for youth programs, please fill out our Family Enrollment Form.
Adult Programs
We are very excited to start up our new format of small group ministry, Soul Matters (previously Chalice Circles/Covenant Groups). Soul Matters groups are led by a facilitator to engage in a monthly theme. This is a great way to develop deeper connections with the members and friends of First Parish, and to dive deeper into how our monthly themes inform us as a community and support you on your personal spiritual journey.
For information on other Adult Programs, including Meditation Groups, Non-Fiction Group, Creative Callings (Fiber Arts Group) and Affinity Groups (Over 80s Group, Unity Group), please visit the website or contact Debbie Armstrong or Ruth Rose
Weekly Update
Subscribe to the Weekly Update
The email newsletter of First Parish in Lexington is published on Wednesdays at 4 pm. Submissions are due on Mondays at 10 am. Email submissions or inquiries to the church office.