Lisa Maria Steinberg is seeking 7-12 people (children, youth, and adults) to perform in an all-ages skit on Sunday, March 5^th. Both speaking and pantomime parts available. Full Cast mandatory rehearsals on Sunday, February 26^th at 11:45am and Sunday, March 5^th at 9:30am. Please indicate if a speaking part is desired. Also needed, one adult available on both dates to be assistant director/assistant cast wrangler. Email Lisa Maria at dre@fplex.org to sign up.

All are welcome to participate in an informal group of members and friends who enjoy fiber arts. On Thursday, bring your knitting, crocheting, beading or other fiber work and meet in the church parlor from 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm for a low-key time of fellowship, creativity, and sharing of ideas.

Just drop by or email Karolyn Eisenstein to join the email list.

The Social Action Ministry (SAM) at First Parish comes from our Unitarian Universalist faith based on the values of love, justice, community and responsibility. We do this within the supportive environment of our broader church community and the mission of First Parish “…to act on our values to serve the larger community and create a more just and loving world.”

Economic Justice Advocacy

Last week First Parish’s Economic Justice Team met with Laura Wagner, UUMass Action Director, to explore areas of common interest. UUMass Action has been organizing and mobilizing congregations in the state since 2006. It gives effective public voice to our moral values. This, Laura explained, is different from “issue” organizing in that it lifts a moral umbrella under which a diversity of issues are acted upon. She noted that with this framework individuals might have a primary concern that they work on, but they also “show up” for other actions and events that support our values. This faith based approach, and the priority issues it works on (Immigration, Economic Justice, Climate Change, and End Mass Incarceration Together), mirror those worked on by many FP folks. The FP team looks forward to working closely with UUMassAction. To learn more about them visit their website here and hold the date of April 11 for UUMass Action Advocacy Day. Attending: Rev. Anne, Pete, Stephen Shick, Jane Beswick, Karolyn Eisenstein, Dave Pollack, and Bob Kvaal.

Criminal Justice Advocacy

The UU group, End Mass Incarceration Together (EMIT) has been working very hard on criminal justice advocacy over the past few years.  EMIT sent out the following good news indicating the possibility of some good changes this year coming from the State House.

A Breakthrough!

Last month’s inaugural Voices on the Green event was a Breakthrough success. A packed house enjoyed a sparkling evening of speakers, storytellers, and musicians all focused on our first theme, Breakthrough!  First Parish members Don Cohen, Cammy Thomas, Zoe Perry-Wood, and Regie O’Hare Gibson were featured storytellers, along with community stars Jeff Leonard (and his jazz trio) and Dr. Todd Rose from Harvard. Along with the aural events, there were delicious edibles contributed by many in the congregation. Afterwards, we were able to provide a hefty donation to the Lexington Arts Council as our co-sponsor of the evening—a good outreach to the community.

Ok, so what’s next?

What do Larry Prusak, Mary Brinton, and Regie O’Hare Gibson have in common?  The only way to know will be to come to the next Voices on the Green event called “Balancing on the Hyphen.” Along with other storytellers, speakers, and musicians, they will explore the tensions and opportunities that come from balancing multiple identities—living locally as an Asian-American, an African-American, a bi-sexual American, an immigrant-American, a bi-religious family, etc.

Do you have a hyphenated story to tell? We are looking for a few other people from First Parish (or your neighbors) who can illuminate this topic in an artistic, musical, humorous, thought-provoking, and/or heart-touching way. Do you know a song or a poem or a piece of art that speaks to this topic? If so, send your thoughts to one of the steering committee members: David Rose, Deb Lapides, Regie O’Hare Gibson, and Laura Juitt.

Our co-sponsor/collaborator for this evening is the Lexington Youth and Family Services; we will share our proceeds and donations with them.

Save the date: Friday, April 7, right here at First Parish.

On Monday evening, February 13th, the organizers of the newly-formed Minuteman Indivisible Lexington group, Pete Tasker, Michelle Olson, Karolyn Eisenstein, and Jane Eckert, held their kickoff public meeting at First Parish. Despite the snow, 76 people from the Lexington area attended — 47 Lexington residents from outside First Parish, seven from surrounding towns, and ten from First Parish in addition to the organizers — all of whom are interested in resisting the erosion of the civil and human rights won over the past 30 years.

This new group is chartered to follow the Indivisible Guide, which provides information and tactics for use by citizens to influence their state and US legislators. The meeting agenda included orientation to the Indivisible national organization and its Guide, in-state advocacy planning, outreach to other Indivisible groups locally and across the country, morning coffee action, and introduction to the group’s Facebook page. A second public meeting will be held in two or three weeks at the Cary Library or the Lexington Community Center.

If you are interested in following this activity, visit and “like” the Facebook page.

Contact Pete Tasker for more information.

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