Weekly Update

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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.
  • Sunday Service

    We often wonder just which moment in our lives should be counted as the most important.  As school lets out and the weather is finally warm, is this the time to pay attention to what may have lain dormant under the winter snows for many a month? This Father’s Day, let us dwell in the present moment, and with gratitude for the love and care of the fathers in our lives, consider how we can learn to respond authentically in important moments of our lives. 

    Rev. Anne Mason, Worship Leader

    This is an All Ages service. Everyone will be in the sanctuary.

    This Sunday Tim Jacoby will sing the thrilling song “This is the Moment” from the hit Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde. Austin Burns will sing Mendelssohn’s beautiful aria “Then Shall the the Righteous” (from Elija). Rip Jackson and Austin Burns will sing John Denver’s sweet song “Perhaps Love.” For the centering music, Pieter Svenson will play the hauntingly lyrical “Adagio sostenuto” first movement from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” And for the postlude, Rip Jackson will play the “Toccata” from Bach’s monumental “Dorian” Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 538.”

    Click here to listen to last week’s sermon by Rev. Anne Mason for Flower Communion Sunday.

  • From Your Minister
    On Sunday afternoon, folks from many of the faith traditions in our town gathered on the Battle Green to stand together in the face of hatred.  They have asked us to pray this prayer in our faith community.  Would you take a moment to read these words, allow them to settle into your thoughts and even into your heart?  Would you take a moment to send out some loving and positive energy to all those who experience oppression within our community?  Would you copy these words and send them to your friends in town, helping us to make a network of love in the name of justice?
    May our beloved town of Lexington 
    (and all the towns in which we reside)
    Be cured of the virus of hatred.
     
    May our homes be beacons of compassion and generosity.
    May all our children grow up in safety
    And flourish as they become their best selves
     
    May our schools and parks and streets be signs of hospitality and welcome neighbors and newcomers with genuine care;
     
    And may the people who call Lexington home, 
    those who work and study and worship here,
    A community rich in tradition, language and conviction
    share generously and learn eagerly from one another.
     
    And let us say: Amen.
  • A Note from the Board
    Photo Credit: Tom Rich (of course!)

    I am sure that you recognize how fortunate we have been to have Tom Rich as our board chair for the last two years. He has been extraordinary in every respect, and if you haven’t thanked him personally I hope you will do so. Last night the Board thanked him with a wonderful sculpture/stand by Parker Hirtle, made out of a salvaged segment of the decorative molding of our own steeple (plus something expensive to drink from Scotland).

    There is no one who will be able to fill the void that Tom will leave. Nonetheless, the Board and the congregation have much to do. So, after hours of unethical campaigning and hostile voter intimidation, I was elected to be the Board chair for the upcoming year.

    I knew immediately what my first task as Board chair was: to lower expectations. The accompanying picture illustrates one of my techniques, a scaffold to help members remember that the bar has been lowered.

    Fortunately, we have a very strong Board this year and it is clear that they are willing and able to share the burden (and the opportunity) that leadership will require. Equally fortunately, Tom will continue to play a strong role in FP leadership: he has agreed to stay on the Board ex officio. Altogether, and with the support and challenge of our growing congregation, I think it is going to be a great year. You are always welcome to come to any Board meeting: just don’t expect me to be Tom Rich.

    In fellowship,

    David Rose

    Board Chair

  • This Saturday – Sewing for Days for Girls

    JOIN US TO SEW for

    DAYS FOR GIRLS

    SATURDAY JULY 29TH FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 1:00 PM

    AT FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN LEXINGTON

    Days for Girls is an organization that provides health education and feminine hygiene kits to girls and women in more than 100 countries who otherwise would not have access to either. Their mission states, “Days for Girls is dedicated to creating a more free, dignified, and educated world, through providing lasting access to feminine hygiene solutions and health education.” Visit their website to learn more information.

    Join us to sew reusable cloth kits for girls who do not otherwise have access to sanitary products. Please bring your sewing machine! Supplies will be provided.

    Questions? Contact Amy Breiting or Roberta Pittore for more information.

  • UUA Denominational News

    Experience General Assembly ONLINE!

    General Assembly (GA) is happening in New Orleans – next week (June 21-25).  First Parish has four people attending in person (Marianne DiBlasi, Elizabeth Walsh, Deb Weiner-Soule, and Ben Soule). You can join us virtually!  The worship and business events will be live-streamed from GA. To view online, visit http://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2017.  No registration is required.

    NOTE:  All times are Central Daylight Times.

    Wednesday, June 21

    Welcoming Celebration and General Session I, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

    Thursday, June 22

    Morning Worship, 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

    General Session II, 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Service of the Living Tradition, sermon by the Rev. Cheryl M. Walker, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m.

    Friday, June 23

    Morning Worship, 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

    General Session III, 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Public Witness: #LoveResists Rejoicing for Sanctuary & Solidarity, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

    Presidential Candidates Forum, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m.

    Saturday, June 24

    Morning Worship, 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

    General Session IV, 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Synergy Bridging Worship, 5:00 – 6:15 p.m.

    Ware Lecture by Bryan Stevenson *, 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.

    Available via live streaming video only; will not be recorded or available for on-demand viewing later.

    Sunday, June 25

    Sunday Morning Worship, led by the Rev. Mara Dowdall, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Will also be Live-Streamed during Sunday Morning Worship at First Parish in Lexington!

    General Session V and Closing Celebration, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

    * The Ware Lecture (Saturday June 24, 2017, 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.) will be available via live streaming video only; it will not be recorded or available for on-demand viewing later.

    Ware Lecturer, Bryan Stevenson, is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL and is the author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.  To view his full bio, visit http://www.uua.org/liberty/criminaljustice/ware-stevenson

  • Next Week’s Weekly Update

    The Weekly Update will be sent out next Tuesday, June 20th. If you have information that needs to be shared, please send to the office by Monday, June 19th at 10:00am.

  • Deadline – Focalpoint for July and August

    There will be one summer edition of the Focalpoint, which will include information for both July and August. If your committee or program have events or gatherings during the summer, please send the information along to Jane Foley at admin@fplex.org. The deadline for the July/August issue is Monday, June 26th.

     

  • Staff Summer Schedule & Office Hours

    The office hours will be reduced beginning June 26 through August 18. The office will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 1:30pm.

    Rev. Anne Mason: Beginning June 26, I will be on vacation through the month of July. Lisa Perry-Wood will be on-call for pastoral emergencies and can be reached at lperrywood@gmail.com or 781-883-3411. In August, I will be on study leave but available for ministerial support. Please email me at minister@fplex.org or leave a message at 781-862-8200 x2.

    Lisa Maria Steinberg: I will be on vacation the weeks of June 20-26 and July 22-29. Throughout the summer, I will be working both offsite and in the office planning next year’s children, youth, and adult programming. I’m available by appointment any time outside of vacation by emailing me at dre@fplex.org.

    Rip Jackson: Over the summer, I will be offline enjoying vacation and comp time. I will also be in the office at the end of July. I will be attending three continuing education workshops between late July and early September. And finally, I will be doing some work offsite beginning to prepare and plan for next year’s music and concerts. Please leave me a message at music@fplex.org.

    Jane Foley: I will be on vacation the weeks of June 20-23 and August 7-11. Voicemail will be monitored during those weeks, and email will be answered when I am in the office. Messages can be left at admin@fplex.org or 781-862-8200 x1.

    Bob Coughlin: I will be on vacation from June 30 – July 15. For building emergencies, contact Jane Foley in the office at admin@fplex.org or 781-862-8200 x1.

  • This Week at First Parish
    Wednesday, June 14    
    Choir Party 7:30 p.m. Offsite
         
    Thursday, June 15    
    Meditation Group 4:00 p.m. Parlor
         
    Friday, June 16    
    LYFS 12:00 p.m. Parlor
         
    Sunday, June 18    
    Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Sanctuary
    Social Action Committee 12:00 p.m. Parker Hall
         
    Monday, June 19    
    LYFS Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. Parker Hall
         
    Tuesday, June 20    
    80+ Luncheon 12:30 p.m. Parker Hall
    B&G Meeting 7:00 p.m. Parlor
       
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