Sunday Helper Information

10:00am-11:00am
AT: sanctuary
Americans are socially isolated. As more and more people live alone, extended families disappear and civic participation declines, simple human contact and ordinary conversation are also becoming rare. A quarter of the population tell pollsters they have no one to talk with about significant personal issues. What can faith communities do to restore the web of human connection? Small group ministry, our minister suggests, offers a tested format for people to find deeper, more meaningful relationships and turn strangers into friends. Alex Andrews, a member of one of First Parish of Sudbury's Chalice Circles, will share her own experience with small group ministry, and a forum following the service will offer an opportunity to learn more about how to join and get involved.

Forum on small group ministry (Chalice Circles) at 11:15 in the Brackett Room

7:00pm-8:30pm
AT: Brackett Room
Gary will lead a book discussion group starting January 8 from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Brackett Room using Huston Smith's classic The World's Religions, an eight week tour of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Primal Traditions. The class is free and open to the public, but you might want to add this book to your Christmas list if you want to participate. Please note: we will be using the non-illustrated version of Smith's book. The pictures are nice, but the text is much abbreviated in the illustrated edition.

12:00pm
AT: Commons
Our speaker will be Peg Espinola, who will talk about her experiences creating her music. Have you ever wondered how Peg and other musicians come upon ideas for their compositions? Just how does the "creative process" happen for them? Peg will discuss this subject and illustrate by playing and singing some of her own songs. It should be a fascinating hour, so do join us on Tues., Feb. 28th!

7:00pm-10:00pm
AT: Parish Hall
Save the date for The Coffee House on the Rocky Plain — Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm. Tonehenge is our opener, fun do-wap acapella mens group. Our features are Junko Ogawa, folk singer and The Saturdays, also a folk group.  Click here for details.

10:00am
Women’s Alliance Retreat March 23-25...Sign Up Now!
There is no better way to get well acquainted with many women of the church and establish and/or renew friendships than by coming on retreat.
Pick up a brochure in the lobby or download one at WomensAlliance for this very special 25th annual Women’s Alliance Retreat. (This link requires sign-in.) As usual, we gather on Friday evening, getting to know one another. On Saturday we have a program for part of the day and ample time to enjoy being on Great Pond and the beautiful grounds of Rolling Ridge. Saturday evening brings singing, jigsaw puzzles and lots of conversation. Sunday morning after breakfast we have a worship service followed by a very leisurely lunch and reluctant departures in the afternoon. It’s hard to believe we’ve done this every year since 1987. We started on the Cape, spent many years in Rhode Island, searched a bit for a new home and now this will be the 5th retreat at Rolling Ridge in North Andover on Great Pond where there is room for about 50 of us. Questions? Contact Carolyn Lee, Peg Espinola or the office.

6:00pm-10:00pm
AT: Parish Hall
The auction website is up and running, ready for your donation. Check out the web form in the members area of the FPS website HERE. Or, if you prefer, call or email. Email: surlylizgmail.com or phone (Liz and Erin Llewellyn).
We are also looking for volunteers to help out the night of the auction. Please contact Liz or Erin if you are interested in volunteering.