Our world religions series continues with guest speaker, “Matta” Matthew Haide Zheng, a Masters of Divinity Candidate at Harvard Divinity School and Founding Director of the Burning Refuge Collective (www.burningrefuge.org).

“Matta” Matthew Haide Zheng (any/all pronouns) is a 3rd year Masters of Divinity student at Harvard Divinity School, studying the anthropology of Buddhism and racial capitalism. Matta has and continues to serve as a hospital and LGBTQ+ higher education chaplain, political organizer and campaigner, and Buddhist community leader. At the age of 13, Matta discovered Buddhism through the complicated thicket of Yukio Mishima’s fiction. Though raised in a staunchly atheist household, they were called to Buddhadharma. Almost immediately, Buddhism was a spiritual salve to Matta’s hopelessness from being roundly rejected after coming out of the closet as queer. Since then, Matta’s practice, understanding, and passion for Buddhism has grown to infuse pragmatic hope for ultimate and final liberation for all sentient beings in every aspect of their life — whether personal, professional, or beyond. Today, Matta is a devoted queer Buddhist whose practice and passion extends to every corner of the Asian Buddhist diaspora. Most currently, Matta is authoring his MDiv thesis which theorizes a new way of understanding the religious tradition as "diaspora Buddhism".

Our buildings are now mask-optional. We have designated a mask-required section of our sanctuary. It is marked off and in the back right corner. Please consult with an usher if assistance is needed. 

Join Worship by Video: https://tinyurl.com/22-23fpc
Meeting ID: 999 7077 0266
Passcode: 01775
Join worship by phone: (929)205-6099 (long distance rates will apply)

FPC now has a closed captioning option in online services. If the Closed Captioning option is not turned on, you can use the button at the bottom of your screen to request that the host turn it on.

Order of Service: CLICK HERE (posted the morning of service)