Past Services

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

First Sunday on our Summer Schedule - Only ONE SERVICE at 10 AM
Memorial Day Weekend

We will together create this Memorial Day Service. If you would like to participate in the service or share thoughts about what Memorial Day means to you, please contact Rev Tom Rosiello at minister@fpc-stow-acton.org.  If you  are  a veteran, we especially invite you to participate or share your thoughts.  Music for this service will be provided by our Jazz Band.

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

Youth Sunday

9 AM "Elevator Speeches"

Unitarian Universalism can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. So when someone asks you what do Unitarian Universalists believe, what do you say? Hopefully you don't say "anything you want!"

We know there is much more to it than that. Several years ago, in response to the challenge to better articulate our faith, our UUA President challenged all of us to create what he called an "Elevator Speech." By that he meant a short answer, one that you could deliver in the time it takes for an elevator door to close and  open on the next floor.  He asked us to answer the question, "What Is Unitarian Universalism?" or "What do Unitarian Universalist believe?" Would you be willing to take a crack at it?  We hope to get a variety of folks with different perspectives, long time members and new members to write one.  If you are willing to do so, please let Tom know at minister@fpc-stow-acton.org. Even if you will not be at this service, you can still participate by emailing your elevator speech to Tom. It would be helpful if you could email it to him by Wednesday May 18 in order to best organize the service.

11 AM Youth Sunday Service

This service is being planned and executed by our youth.  They will be providing the music and the message. At this service our Coming of Age Candidates will complete their year-long program and deliver their "credo statements." This annual service is always a wonderful event. Please come and support our youth.

Sunday, May 15th, 2011

Religious Educator Recognition Sunday

We have been hearing voices of freedom and democracy rising up in countries around the world. Individual freedom and an equality of voice in decision-making are considered basic human rights in our post-Enlightenment western society, but in many other cultures this is not the case. In many of those countries, the religious traditions, although sometimes desiring regime change, are very reluctant to embrace real freedom and democracy for their followers. Religions in general are often organizations where individual freedoms of thought and belief are discouraged and authoritarian rule is the norm. But not in our case. As a religion which grew up in the Enlightenment, freedom and democracy have long been core "religious values" for us. This morning we will explore those values. In both services we will also recognize our RE teachers and leaders who help to grow an understanding for these and all our religious values and teachings in our children.  Pianist Nick Warseck will be back, and we will sing songs of freedom.

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

We have all had a part in helping to make Walter a minister, and we all will come together to ordain him. We will be joined by members of the clergy from far and near in this great celebration. Our choir, under the direction of Ellen Oak, will be joined by pianists/organists Malcolm Halliday and Ted Johnson to provide music and lead us in song. You do not want to miss this exciting celebration of a member of our church becoming a minister in our faith tradition. Please make every effort to attend. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

In many circles of western society, religion has a pretty bad name. In a world where heinous crimes are perpetrated in the name of religion and where reason and scientific thinking are dismissive of biblical stories, many people have not surprisingly rejected traditional religion. It is easy to say that we have little need for religion today, but to do so would be "throwing the baby out with the bath water."  Properly understood, religion is not about faith in a set of beliefs, but is a lived community experience that invites us to engage in a quest for that place of fullness to which we orient ourselves morally and spiritually. The choice between religion or no religion is a choice between living our lives naively and superficially, or deeply engaging with our spiritual and moral selves and in relationship with others, who will challenge and support us on our journey towards a fuller life experience. Worship will be led by Rev. Tom Rosiello.

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

Only one Service in Stow at 11 AM
(There will also be a service for those on retreat at Ferry Beach, led by soon-to-be-ordained Walter LeFlore)

Today is May Day. It is both an ancient pagan holiday that celebrates the end of winter with flowers, May baskets and Maypole dances, and in many countries, a day when the rights of workers are celebrated. This morning we will explore both and consider what meaning they may have for us.  We certainly need to rejoice in the  spring's beauty after such a tough winter and it seems like a most appropriate time to look at the moral issues that surround the treatment of workers in our own country and abroad.   Worship will be led by Rev. Tom Rosiello. Music will be provided by pianist Barbara Jones, and will include selections from Edward Grieg's "Holberg Suite".

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Easter Sunday

Join us for an uplifting service that will focus on what the Easter message can mean for us in our lives today.  The sermon by our minister Tom Rosiello, will examine the ways in which we may be stuck in a place that is like a tomb and how there is an "Easter experience" waiting for us if we can just “roll the stone away”.  Our services will be full of Hallelujahs and after a special Easter Story for all Ages, our children will leave for the great Easter Egg Hunt.  At the 11 AM service, everyone will be invited to join in singing Handel's famous "Hallelujah Chorus" from the Messiah to conclude the service. Please bring you family and friends to for this joyous celebration.

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Led by Rev Tom Rosiello and soon to be ordained minister, Walter LeFlore. For this beautiful candlelight service we will commemorate the story of Jesus’ final days focusing on the meal he shared with his disciples.  Our worship will include readings, reflections, hymns and organ music.  In this service we honor our history and celebrate our Christian roots while reaching beyond to the broader message of community, sharing and the ministry of humble service.  Whether or not your religious background is Christian, please plan to attend.

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

All this weekend at church, UUA Consultant, Mark Ewert, will be with us exploring the viability of a capital campaign to help us meet many of our needs.  He will address the congregation briefly at both services.  The question of our readiness to embark on such a journey together is far more than one of just dollars and cents. There is a spiritual dimension to the question.  In this morning’s sermon, our minister Tom Rosiello, will explore the idea of what it takes for us to move from being a good church to being a great church. Today our organ will be featured as we are joined by guest organist, Robert Humpreville. Our youth choir will join the Adult Choir to provide music at 11 AM which will include a favorite FPC anthem, "Choose Something Like A Star," Randall Thompson's setting of the famous Robert Frost poem.

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim or even a Scientific Fundamentalist, there is a serious problem with thinking you have all the answers. This morning we will embrace the mystery of what we don't know, and explore the importance of resisting attitudes of exclusiveness in our interpretation of the world. Worship will be lead by the Rev. Tom Rosiello with assistance from Field Ed. Student, Bryan Elwood.  Our music will be under the direction of Ellen Oak, who will sing a work by Hildegard von Bingen at the 9 AM service, and lead the choir  at 11 AM in a mystical piece drawn from Hindu tradition entitled, "Dravidian Dithyramb." Our guest organist will be Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell.

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