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.
  • Friday! Voices on the Green: Modern Love

    This Friday! You won’t want to miss the next Voices on the Green. Doors open at 6:30 for beverages and socializing; event begins at 7:00pm.

    What two things do Chris Hess, Katie O’Hare Gibson, Marshall Wilensky, Katherine Rose, Regie O’Hare Gibson, Al Jacobson, and Tom Daley have in common? They are all great local storytellers, and each has a great personal love story to tell. Fortunately for you, you can hear their stories at Voices on the Green.

    This popular series explores one theme – in this case, modern love – through many different voices. In addition to the stories, the evening will feature varied love songs by popular singer and humorist Don White and a presentation on the neuroscience of love by Allison Posey (also of Lexington). This latest Voices on the Green event will be at turns both touching and humorous. All of this with “hearty” refreshments and easy access, right here at First Parish church on the Green. 

    To purchase tickets, click here!

  • Sunday Service

    These are the times which try our souls. Therefore, these are the times when we need to be intentional about taking care of ourselves, of each other, and of our community. For we need each other when times are tough. We need each other to ensure our future. And most importantly, the world needs us to carry our message – with persistence – into the places where people are hurting. Please join Rev. Anne Mason this morning at 10:30am when she asks us to “Practice Persistence.”

    There will be Sunday School classes for grades Pre-K through 8th. The nursery will be open for infants and toddlers.

    This Sunday, as part of the February theme of “perseverance,” the children’s choir will sing the thought-provoking song “It’s Quiet Uptown” (from the hit Broadway show Hamilton) with soloists Sarah Beuttell, Lindsay Korn, Caroline Kvaal, Rosalie MacClary and McKenna O’Hare Gibson. The sanctuary choir will sing Franz Schubert’s powerful “Gloria” (from Mass in G Major) with soloists David Meharry and Elizabeth Walsh. They will also sing John Leavitt’s wildly popular “Festival Sanctus.” For the centering music and postlude, Rip Jackson will play Claude Debussy’s ethereal “Arabesque No. 1” on the piano and Fred Binckes’s magnificent “Fanfare for a King” on the church’s Hutchings tracker organ.

    Click here to listen to last week’s sermon, “Finding the Mission We Belong To,” Katie O’Hare Gibson and David Rose

  • First Sunday Food Collection

    This Sunday, and on the first Sunday of every month, the Social Action Ministry Committee will place a food donation basket in the sanctuary for non-perishable food donations to benefit the Lexington Food Pantry. This basket serves to remind us that there are hungry people in Lexington, and that we can make a difference. Please place non-perishable items into the basket in the sanctuary on the first Sunday of each month or during office hours in the basket outside of the main office.

    Please contact Lynne Yansen or Tom Wanderer for more information.

  • The Green Corner

    News & Action from the Climate Action Team

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    Livestream Watch Party

    Wednesday, January 31, 7:30pm, First Parish in Bedford 

    First Parish Bedford Climate Justice Group and Bedford Mothers Out Front have invited us to a livestream Watch Party! We’ll be hearing from Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben and other leaders of the climate change movement as they propose a plan to keep moving forward in the effort to reduce fossil fuels.

    RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/fossil-free-fast-bedford

    Join other FP-Lexington folks by contacting Stephen at: stephenshick04@gmail.com Please forward this to others or print and post this flyer. You can also share this Facebook event with your friends. Hope you’ll join us!

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    Immediate Action Needed before February 7

    Take Individual Action Now or

    Join us for a “phone-in” this Sunday February 4th at 11:45am after worship in the Parlor

    It’s now crunch time for the Massachusetts carbon pricing campaign. Both carbon pricing dividend bills S.1821 and H.1726) https://climate-xchange.org/massachusetts-campaign/about-the-bill/remain in the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE). They must be voted out of committee by February 7, or they are likely dead for the session. A majority of state senators and about 70 of 160 House members have announced support. Of the 90 remaining House members, most have not taken a position, and many still know little about the bills. Thus, if a carbon pricing and dividend bill reaches the floor, it will likely pass.

    The TUE Committee, however, has taken no action on the bills. To move the bills forward, we need to persuade the House TUE Committee Chair (Tom Golden) and House Leadership (including Speaker DeLeo), that climate change legislation must be a priority, and carbon pricing deserves a vote. We can do this by: (a) getting more House members to endorse; and (b) asking members who have already endorsed to pressure their leadership to bring the bills out of committee.

    Below is the contact info and instructions for your reps, which should allow you to make calls (or emails) in less than five minutes. Both Senator Friedman and Rep (or Chairman) Kaufman have signed onto Senator Barrett’s bill. Short calls/emails are fine. Thanks again for your support and help.

    State Senator:

    Cindy F. Friedman     Cindy.Friedman@masenate.gov     (617) 722-1432

    State House Rep:

    Jay Kaufman    Jay.Kaufman@mahouse.gov            (617) 722-2320

    Next meeting of the Climate Action Team is Sunday, February 25 at 11:45. Room to be announced. For more information, contact Stephen Shick, Bob Kvaal, or David Pollack.

  • Communities Without Borders
    Attention to all those who are interested in traveling to Zambia with Communities Without Borders.The next trip will be: Late June – Mid July, 2018

    The trip committee has planned an introductory meeting for friends, families, and others who want to find out more about the trip. The meeting is designed to provide you with important information to help you know if this trip is for you.

    Sunday, February 4, 2018, 3 PM – 5 PM
    First Parish in Lexington, Green Room
    7 Harrington Road
    Lexington, MA

    Please feel free to spread the word to others. The trip committee can provide additional information to those who are unable to attend the meeting but strongly encourages you to come if you can.

    More Details
  • Senior High Youth Group Fundraiser
    Graphic of Pine Ridge Reservation Flag By Himasaram

    The Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) is excitedly planning for their Service Trip this June to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota! Please see below for ways you can support SHYG and their service trip!

    Kids’ Night Out

    When is this event? Saturday, February 10th

    Sign up by Wednesday, February 7th!

    What time? 5:00 – 8:30 pm

    Where is it? First Parish Lexington

    What will the kids be doing? Fun games, a movie, and crafts; Pizza and Snacks also included!

    Who will be watching the kids? SHYG Youth and Adults

    How old do the kids need to be? The event is for kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade

    How much will it cost? $25 for one child; $35 for two children; $40 for three children

     

    Contact Youth Program Coordinator Katie Camire at youth@fplex.org to sign up or for more information!

     

    Save the Dates:

    Two other events hosted by SHYG to support their service trip coming this Spring:

    Themed Dinner on March 24th and Trivia Night on May 5th

    Details coming soon!

     

    Other Ways to Support SHYG:

    Please visit the SHYG table at coffee hour on Sunday mornings for a great selection of soup and Equal Exchange fair trade organic coffee, tea, and chocolate!

  • Beloved Conversations

    Registration is still open for the new Adult Program in the New Year: Beloved Conversations: a collaboration with First Parish in Concord. Small groups have been developed from the availability of the current registered members. Please consider participating in this innovative new program.  The small groups are: Monday Nights (2nd and 3rd), Tuesday nights (1st and 3rd), Monday Mornings and Wednesday afternoons, the latter biweekly schedule TBD.  Please email Elisabeth Jas (svenjas@msn.com) to register. You can learn more about the program on our website.

    Developed by Meadville Lombard UU Theological School, this highly acclaimed program begins with a thought provoking retreat facilitated by a trained Fahs Collaborative staff. Small  groups of 8-10 members from both congregations will then meet together biweekly for 8 structured sessions that connect both the sources of inspiration as well as the challenges of race/ethnicity and provide a space to re-form/fuse the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior ushering in social and spiritual healing. Registration begins January 7th (limited availability, full commitment required). For more information see  http://www.meadville.edu/beloved 

    Questions? Contact Elisabeth Jas (svenjas@msn.com) or Rev. Anne Mason (minister@fplex.org ).

  • Imagination Cafés – You’re Invited!

    If you missed last Sunday’s first Imagination Cafe event, have no fear! There is another one on Sunday, February 11th, right after church.

    Children and youth are most welcome to participate! Lunch provided, as well as childcare for those who wish to use it.

    If you have not yet signed up yet, you can do so at the website imagination-cafe-first-parish.eventbrite.com or sign up at the piano this Sunday, or phone/email Jane Foley at the church office. 

    The first Cafe last Sunday attracted 100 + parishioners and was a huge success.  But we want to hear your voice!!

    At the Cafe we will gather over lunch, in small groups, to imagine the future of First Parish. Table hosts will guide our discussions via questions posed by the Board. The Board and Rev. Anne urge all parishioners—long timers, newcomers, and in-between—to participate in one or the other Cafe. It is looking to the Cafes for guidance from the congregation as together we plan ahead for this year and the next.

  • First Parish in Pictures

    Thanks to Lew Counts for the wonderful photographs of recent events at First Parish.

    On Sunday, January 28th, over 100 people participated in the first Imagination Cafe!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    And that afternoon, Austin Burns performed Music from the Gilded Age, accompanied by Rip Jackson.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Stewardship Pledge Drive 2018

    The Pledge Drive this year will be a continuation of celebrating the heritage of our congregation and recognizing the role we all have in building toward an inspiring future. The Imagination Café events led by the Board are an opportunity for everyone to embrace the potential of our community and provide guidance in making plans for the years ahead. In the upcoming weeks, information about the pledge drive will be distributed and will show how important it is for us all to feel that we are united in supporting the financial needs of the church. Support through your annual pledge is a vitally important way to demonstrate your commitment to First Parish.

    What is the Pledge Drive?

    The time of year when we make our financial pledges to the church to support the programs and mission of First Parish.

    Why it’s important.

    Did you know that over 65% of our budget comes from our annual Pledge Drive? Our pledges enable us to build the church we want.

    Who Participates?

    You do! All members and friends contribute.

    When is it?

    There will be several events promoting and discussing the Stewardship goals and engaging with you in conversation. On Sunday, March 18th, we will have our annual Celebration Sunday, and in April we will end the Pledge Drive with an event.

    How do I pledge?

    Pledge cards will be mailed to you in early February. On Celebration Sunday, March 18th, bring your card to church or pledge online <see Fplex.org>

    Who is driving the Stewardship Pledge Drive this year?

    The Stewardship Planning Team members are:  Bob Coyne, Marsha Fox, Katie O’Hare Gibson, Elisabeth Jas, Erik Svenson, and Tom Rich.  Send Questions or Comments to stewardship@fplex.org.

  • Soul Matters

    February’s Soul Matters theme (one day early): What does it mean to be a people of perseverance?

    One of the ideas in this month’s Soul Matters materials is that perseverance is more than just bucking up, digging deep, and pushing on. Michael Moore offers another aspect of perseverance with a personal anecdote from his high school days: “Sometimes in band or choir, music requires players or singers to hold a note longer than they actually can hold a note. In those cases, we were taught to mindfully stagger when we took a breath so the sound appeared uninterrupted. Everyone got to breathe, and the music stayed strong and vibrant…So let’s remember the advice of music: Take a breath. The rest of the chorus will sing. The rest of the band will play. Rejoin so others can breathe. Together, we can sustain a very long, beautiful song for a very, very long time. You don’t have to do it all, but you must add your voice to the song.”

    Where else in our lives does this kind of cooperative support allow everyone to persevere

  • This Week at First Parish
    Wednesday, January 31    
    Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary
    Master Singers Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Parker Hall
         
    Thursday, February 1    
    Meditation Group 4:00 p.m. Parlor
    Nonfiction Book Group 7:30 p.m. Parlor
    Scrabble Club 7:30 p.m. Parker Hall
       
    Saturday, February 3    
    Beloved Conversations Retreat 9:00 a.m. All church
    Munroe Saturday Night 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary
       
    Sunday, February 4    
    Choir Warm-up 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary
    Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Sanctuary
    Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:45 a.m. Yellow Room
    Climate Action “phone-in” 11:45 a.m. Parlor
    Communities Without Borders 3:00 p.m. Green Room
    OWL 4:00 p.m. Parker Hall
         
    Monday, February 5
    Staff Meeting 11:00 a.m. Minister’s Office
    Members & Friends Committee 7:30 p.m. Common Room
    Tuesday, February 6
    Empty Sky Sangha 7:30 p.m. Parker Hall
    Finance Committee 7:30 p.m. Common Room
    Wednesday, February 7
    Creative Callings 1:30 p.m. Parlor
    Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary
    Master Singers Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Parker Hall
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