During the summer, family service is held every Sunday at 10 AM
Starting Sept. 12th two family services will be held on Sundays at 9AM & 11AM.
We welcome all who seek a vibrant spiritual home, where together we lovingly challenge and transform ourselves.
Empowered by our congregation’s rich history and our Unitarian Universalist traditions, we commit to courageously build a caring and just world.
Upcoming Services
Upcoming Events
September 12 ~ Ingathering Sunday ~ Services at 9 & 11 AM
“WELCOME HOME". We are all seekers and one of the most important things we seek is a spiritual home where we feel comfortable, supported and inspired. Feeling at home spiritually helps us to grow in our understanding of who we are and what is important to us. It is together with a church family that we can best translate what we believe into action and become our best selves. This Sunday would be an excellent service for folks in the community who might be looking for a spiritual home to attend. All are welcome and First Parish members are encouraged to invite neighbors and friends. Our worship will be lead by our minister Tom Rosiello with assistance from our Director of Religious Education Michelle Cote and music director, Suzie Cartreine. At 11 the Adult Choir will sing Travelers on a Journey by C. Courtney with Jonathan Daisy, flute. Our new season of religious education for our children will also begin this Sunday with the commissioning of those who will serve as teachers and helpers. Whether it will be your first Sunday with us or you have been coming here all your life, welcome “home” to First Parish.
Sunday, September 19 ~ Making Amends ~ Services at 9 & 11 AM
In our worship this week we focus on the message of the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur. This is the time of year when Jews take stock of their lives and seek not just to forgive and be forgiven, but to go a step further and “ make amends” for the wrongs committed. We will look at how we as individuals and a society make amends, including exploring the concept of “restorative justice.” At 11:00 the adult choir will sing Ose Shalom and Spirit of Life. The Rev. Tom Rosiello will be preaching at both services.
Sunday, September 26th ~ Longing for Justice ~ Services at 9 & 11AM
The punishing of children for wrongs committed by a parent is an concept found in the earliest sections of the Hebrew Bible but largely rejected in the later books and in the Christian Bible. It certainly is inconsistent with the idea of justice in our western society and our Unitarian Universalist Principles. Equally inconsistent with these is the idea that someone may be detained and questioned by the police based upon how they look or how they speak. In the past few months, these ideas have entered the public debate concerning how we treat the recent immigrants in our country. Fear seems to be bringing out the worst in us. At the same time, many who live in our country but have no political say, are longing for justice. Now more than ever, we need to bring our religious principles and our voices to this debate.
This Sunday we will begin our worship with a focus on spiritual longing and will move to focus on the longing for justice in relation to the issue of immigration. At 9 AM the Youth Choir will sing a setting of 1 Corinthians 13 entitled The Gift of Love. Our Adult Choir will sing the beautiful a cappella anthem “Sicut Cervus” by Giovanni da Palestrina (Psalm 42) at the 11 AM service. Music will be under the direction of Suzie Cartreine. Worship will be led by Our Minister, Tom Rosiello.
Fresh Baked Apple Pies Available
Fresh baked apple pies will again be available from the Apple Pie Stand at the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton on the Common in Stow at the intersection of Routes 117 & 62. (353 Great Rd.) The dates are Sat. & Sun., Sept. 11 and 12, Sept. 18 and 19, Sept. 25 and 2622, starting at 11AM on Saturdays until the pies are sold. Sales will start on Sundays by 11:15AM. Sat., Oct. 2 is the annual Church Fair and pies will be available during Fair hours, 10AM-3PM.
Book Group
Third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM in Room 5 of Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome. Just show up.
Job Seekers Support and Networking Group
Every Monday at the FPC Parsonage 9-10:30AM. A drop-in group open to the greater community. More info: FPC Office.
Meditation Group
Every Wednesday at 7:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Open to everyone; newcomers welcome.
Candlelight Peace Vigil - Now in its 6th Year
Every Thursday evening 5-6:30 pm in front of FPC on the Stow Common. (Candles & signs provided, although please feel free to bring your own if you would prefer.) Open to everyone; newcomers welcome.
