Past Services

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

"Love Triumphs!"

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.

  

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Thursday, April 5th, 2012

"MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE"

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

"Would Jesus Be A Unitarian Universalist?"

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. 

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Sunday, March 25th, 2012

"What About God?"

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. 

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Sunday, March 18th, 2012

"We Are On Our Way"

This morning we will rally our forces and pull out all the stops in a celebration of a "Great Day."  We will mark the completion of our annual Stewardship Campaign and the initial phase of our Capital Campaign. This Sunday all our choirs are singing and several talented musicians will be joining us at both services. Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends, we are on our way to an exciting new year and new chapter in the life of FPC. We are very blessed. Let's Celebrate!   

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Thursday, March 15th, 2012

"Here Comes Spring"

Vespers

The buds are appearing on the trees and new life is just waiting to burst up through the hard ground.  Here in New England we see it so clearly, spring is a time of life returning to cold and barren place. Please join us to share the Inspiration of this new season. Vespers is a 45 minute service of readings, reflection, candle lighting, sharing, music and silence. The Rev. Tom Rosiello will lead the service and music will be provided by saxophonist, John MacNeill.    

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

"The Future of Democracy"

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ~ SPRING FORWARD
New Member Sunday

This is a very special Sunday. At both of our services there will be an opportunity to join our church. We expect to break 300 members this Sunday morning for the first time in our history.  We will welcome these new members and recognize what they bring to us and what we have to offer to them. Our choir will welcome our new members with the anthem "You are the New Day." The Sermon will focus on the Future of Democracy. It comes as a surprise to some that one of the principles we affirm as Unitarian Universalists is "the use of the democratic process." Democracy is a vital part of our faith tradition.  With the enormous contributions individuals are making to PACs on both sides of the political aisle, with single individuals contributing tens of millions of dollars to seemingly buy support for particular issues, and with lobbyists seeming to control the votes of many of our representatives, there is a real question about the future of democracy in our nation. The Rev. Tom Rosiello will lead worship and preach on this important moral issue. 

  

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Sunday, March 4th, 2012

"The Moral Challenges of Immigration"

For the past month we have been engaging with challenges that immigrants face within our community. This morning in our worship we will take a step back and look at what gives rise to many of those issues. How we treat the stranger in our midst has been a question religion has addressed for thousands of years.  We will examine the laws, attitudes and policies of our society in light of the moral teachings of ancient religions and the principles of our 21st century faith.  

Following the second service (at 12:45 PM)  there will be a forum featuring speakers from several organizations that assist immigrants in our community. A light soup lunch will be served. Please come and learn more about the local aspect of this issue and perhaps discover ways you can put your faith into action. ( More information about the Forum by "clicking" on The Immigrant Experience in Our Neighborhood on right)

      The worship will be led and the forum will be moderated by the Rev. Tom Rosiello

  

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Sunday, February 26th, 2012

"Connecting to the Past"

To know where we are going, it is helpful to know where we have been.  First Parish has a long rich history, as does our religious tradition. Today we are going to look back to the wisdom and inspiration of those who came before us. Our worship will be led by The Rev. Tom Rosiello.  

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

"Living By Heart"

VESPERS

This evening, in the quiet of our candlelit sanctuary, we will explore the beauty of thinking from your heart, instead of from your head.  We will also examine the spiritual practice of learning certain words, poems or prayers “by heart”, and how that can help us on our life’s journey. Is there something you know “by heart”, and that comes to you when you need it?  If so, you will be invited to share it during the service. Or you may also bring a reading that is about “living by or from the heart” to share.  Vespers is a monthly service of readings, sharing, candle-lighting, beautiful music, silent prayer and meditation. 

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