This will be an exciting service! Our Junior and Senior Youth selected the theme and they have been working with DRE, Michelle Cote and Music Director, Mike Pfitzer to create a meaningful service for all ages. We are very proud of our Youth at FPC. I hope you will be there to support them and hear their message. We will also recognize our graduating seniors at this service.
Past Services
Sunday, May 20th, 2012
One Service Only at 10 AM (beginning of summer service schedule)
YOUTH SUNDAY
Sunday, May 13th, 2012
The Rev. Tom Rosiello will be preaching and leading the worship.
This month people in many parts of the world are celebrating the Buddha's birthday. Many Unitarian Universalists are drawn to Buddhist practices and thought.
This morning we will explore Buddhism and its connection to Unitarian Universalism. We will also take time in our service to acknowledge Mother's Day and the role that parents play in our lives.
Sunday, May 6th, 2012
The Rev. Tom Rosiello will be joined by the Rev. Cheryl Leshay in leading today’s service. Rev. Leshay is the affiliated community minister at the UU Church of Worcester and a professional chaplain. She, with the Greater Worcester Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries, has been helping students attending colleges in Worcester, with campus ministry since 2004. She comes to our pulpit, joined with the voices of some of these students, to share with us this vital and essential outreach ministry. This is the famous Campus Ministry Road Show! Don’t Miss It!
Sunday, April 29th, 2012
One Service at 11 AM in Stow
We tend to think of silence as a welcome reprieve from busyness, but silence has a hidden face. Our faith can help us navigate such encounters with the violence of silence.
This Morning our service will be lead by The Rev. Erik Resly. Erik grew up overseas and was confirmed in the Unitarische Freie Religionsgemeinde (Unitarian Free Religious Community) in Frankfurt, Germany. He is in his final year of study at Harvard Divinity School, having served as Intern Minister at First Parish in Milton, MA and as a chaplain at the National Institutes of Health. Next year, he hopes to start a network of neighborhood faith communities in Washington, DC to reach populations underrepresented in our tradition.
Sunday, April 22nd, 2012
EARTH DAY SERVICE ~ UUSC Justice Sunday
Earth, fire, air, and water. Since ancient times these have been considered the basic elements that support life on our planet. Today with help from members of our green team and FPC supporters of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, we will focus on water. No life can exist without it and therefore all people have a right to safe, sufficient, affordable, accessible water for daily human needs. Our water is not a limitless resource and selling water has become a huge business. Music Director Mike Pftizer and singers from our choirs will lead us in some Earth Day Songs and chants.
Sunday, April 15th, 2012
We are blessed to have so many children as part of our church. This Sunday we will begin both services with a Child Dedication ceremony. At each service families with babies and older children who are new to our church or who have new children in their family will be participating. Our entire service will focus on children; not a children’s service, but a service about being a child. It is not easy to be a child. Growing up can be a tough job. We will focus on the challenges our children face and how our community and liberal faith tradition can help. Our worship will be led by The Rev. Tom Rosiello and Director of Religious Education, Michelle Cote.
Sunday, April 8th, 2012
EASTER SUNDAY
Easter reminds us that the seemingly impossible can happen, that we can move beyond our pain and struggle and find new life. Love is the catalyst that makes this possible. This morning we will celebrate how love can triumph! Join us for an uplifting service full of joy and hope. In addition to the Easter gospel there will also be poetry by e.e.cummings, a reading from Howard Thurman and the telling of the wonderful story for all ages of “The Velveteen Rabbit.” After the story, children will leave for a fun Easter Egg Hunt that also teaches them the Easter story. Our choirs and soloist will be singing great Easter music and at the end of both services everyone will be invited to the choir in singing the famous Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. Worship will be led by The Rev. Tom Rosiello. Music will be under the direction of Mike Pfitzer with Sanghee Kim as organist and pianist. A reception with coffee and "goodies" will follow each service in Fellowship Hall. It will be a wonderful morning. Treat yourself to the experience and bring your family and friends.
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Special Communion Service
In this beautiful candlelight service we will commemorate Jesus’ final days. We will focus on the Seder meal he shared with his disciples and what this ritual of “breaking bread together” means to us today. In this service we honor our history and celebrate our Christian roots, but also reach beyond to the broader message of community, sharing and the ministry of humble service. Our worship will include a meaningful communion service using the church’s historic communion silver as well as readings, reflections, hymns, and beautiful music sung by a choir and played on our historic organ. Whatever your religious background, you are welcome to participate in this service. We hope you will join us.
Sunday, April 1st, 2012
This is Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar, a day when many churches focus on the meaning of Jesus’s life. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said of Jesus, “What a distortion (does) his doctrine and memory suffer.” This morning we will look beyond those distortions and focus on the man Jesus, the Jewish teacher, prophet, and reformer, and the relevancy of his life and teachings to our inclusive religious movement. We will ask the question, “Would Jesus, if he were alive today, be a Unitarian Universalist?” You might be surprised at the answer! The worship service will be lead by The Rev. Tom Rosiello. Our Adult Choir will sing Mendelsohn’s beautiful anthem, "How lovely are the Messengers" as well as other music at the 11 AM service. Pianist Barbara Jones will perform music of Handel & Bach at both services.
Sunday, March 25th, 2012
Among Unitarian Universalistst here are many different ideas about God. Some hold to traditional beliefs, others reject the notion of a god altogether and many struggle with the theological question. Even in Biblical times there were many different ideas of God. Liberal theological scholars of recent times have offered new ideas of how the "god concept" fits within the scientific and naturalistic worldview of our time. Together we will explore the "god question." Is the concept an outdated myth for you or is there an idea of God that is relevant to your life today? The Rev. Tom Rosiello will be preaching and leading worship. Both services will include a children's message on this topic and our Adult Choir, under the direction of Mike Pfitzer, will be singing at the 11 AM service.
