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Mission Centered Ministry
Mission Centered Ministry is a program developed by the UUA which
will be presented this year in four workshops. The program is designed
for congregations who seek a deeper sense of who they are, why they
are gathered and how they choose to be together in community.
The focus is on growth of programs and in long-range planning for
the congregation. A variety of exercises will be used to identify
areas for change and congregational goals. A mission statement
and a covenant will be created which will then become the guide for
allocating our resources for programs, outreach, and building projects.
9/30/00, 11/11, 1/20/01, 3/31 Saturdays, 9am - Lunch, Parish Hall
Lunch and Childcare will be provided
Sponsored by the Board of Trustees
Wednesday Meditation
Join us for a little mid-week serenity Wednesdays 7:00 - 7:30 pm in
the Brackett Room. Sink into a chair, surrounded by First Parish
friends, and for 30 minutes escape to music, inspirational readings
and quiet moments. It's a peaceful time for reflection. Then
the lights go back on and we resume our lives with renewed spirits.
Wednesdays, 7pm - 7:30, Brackett Room
Sponsored by Rev. Crane
Saturday Night
Film Series
Join movie lovers for an intelligent
film and popcorn followed by intelligent discussion. Childcare is
available - RSVP with Judith at 617-943-2803.
7pm, 1st Saturday of each month in
the Brackett room.
Sponsored by the Adult RE Committee
Second Monday Salon
The Second Monday Salon is a group
of people who get together to discuss a wide variety of interesting,
stimulating topics, once a month at First Parish. Topics are
chosen in advance and a leader is selected to define, focus discussion
and research the topic. The salon is open to all and no advance
notice is required to attend. But check the Adult Religious
Education Committee (AREC) web page for preparatory materials -- sometimes
there are materials that the leader wants participants to be familiar
with before discussion begins.
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, 2nd Monday (usually)
of each month in the Brackett room.
Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education Committee (AREC).
TOPIC & LEADER
11/13/99 - Simplicity - Leslie
Bryant and Maria von Brincken
12/11/00 - What is Wisdom Today
- Jonas Barciauskas
1/8/01 - Jan Hardenbergh
2/12/01 - TBA
3/12/01 - Share your Favorite
Poems - Maria von Brincken
4/9/01 - TBA
5/14/01 - Quotes for the Wayside
Pulpit: Nominate your own - Tom Yelton
Book Discussion Group
A new book discussion group will be starting
this year and meeting about every other month on Wednesdays at 7:45
pm, directly after the Meditation group. Books will be chosen
by the consensus of the group. On 10/4/00 the reading was To
Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. For December 6, the book
selection is The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant. Future
possibilities include The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara
Kingsolver and The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.
For more information, please call Pamela
Nisetich, the facilitator, at 443-0444.
10/4/00, 12/6/00, 2/7/01, 4/4/01, and 6/6/00 at 7:45 PM after Wednesday
meditation, Brackett Room
Sponsored by Pamela Nisetich.
"UU & Me"
UU & Me: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism consists of
three, consecutive informal and interactive conversations about our
faith tradition. (Participants are encouraged but not required to
attend all three) There is a variety of speakers and facilitators,
including our Minister, Katie Lee Crane, and our Director of Religious
Education, Ginny Steel. The series explores Unitarian Universalism,
including: our roots, our ways of making meanings, our First Parish
community and our larger movement. We talk a lot about what matters
to us; we look at Unitarian Universalism through our own lens, sharing
with each other our experiences, our questions, our hopes and … whatever
else comes up.
This series is for newcomers and long-timers alike. It's for people
who want to know more about Unitarian Universalism and First Parish.
It's for anyone who has struggled to describe our faith to a neighbor,
a friend, mother-in-law or an uncle. It's for people from mixed
and different religious backgrounds as well as those with no formal
religious heritage. It's for life-long and long-time UUs to share
their experiences. It's for newcomers' questions - for anyone's
questions.
3/4/00, 3/11, 3/18 Sunday 11:45am, Brackett Room
Sponsored by the Membership Committee
New Member Forum
The New Members' Forum will be Monday, April 23, 2001, at 7:30.
The event is targeted to those who have decided to become members
of First Parish, and those who are still considering whether to do
so. Representatives of First Parish staff and leadership will
provide information about the structure and function of First Parish
and the responsibilities of membership, answer questions from participants,
and engage in informal discussion. All are welcome!
4/23/01, 7:30pm, Brackett Room
Sponsored by the Membership Committee
In Home Dinners
Each year informal, pot-luck dinners are scheduled at the homes of
First Parishioners as a fun way of socializing and getting to
know each other better. Contact Diane Willcox if you would like
to host or if you are very new and would like to attend a dinner.
1/6/01, 1/7/01, 1/12/01
Sponsored by the Membership Committee
Samhain, Yule and Spring Equinox
Samhain Ritual and Celebration, 6pm Saturday October 28, Brackett
Room
Yule Ritual and Celebration, 6pm Saturday December 16, Brackett
Room
Spring Equinox Ritual, 7pm Tuesday March 20, Brackett Room
The First Parish pagans plan and run several neo-pagan inspired rituals/celebrations
each year. The Samhain (pronounced sau'-en) ritual usually occurs
on the Saturday evening on or before Halloween and celebrates the
old Celtic new year and is followed by a potluck dinner. The
Yule ritual usually occurs on the Saturday evening closest to the
winter solstice and is also followed by a potluck. The Spring
Equinox ritual is held on the date of the equinox and has no potluck.
Older teens are welcome at the rituals. Childcare is provided
during the rituals and children are welcome at the celebrations and
feast that follows.
Sponsored by the First Parish UU Pagan Group
Winter and Spring Revels
Winter Revels is a special Sunday service held yearly in December,
celebrating the Winter Solstice with readings, poetry, song, children's
Morris dancing, and a mummers play performed by the children of First
Parish. It is inspired by the annual Cambridge Christmas Revels
in which several members of First Parish participate.
Spring Revels is a similar Sunday service celebrating the coming
of May or Beltaine. It culminates in the Morris dancers leading
the the congregation in dance outside to the Maypole. All
are welcome to participate in the Maypole dance.
10am Sunday December 10th, Sunday May 6th
Sponsored by the Music Committee
Contact Tom Kruskal or Deborah Morris-Bennett if you would like
to participate in planning or staging these events.
Women's Retreat
The
Women's Alliance Retreat is May 18-20. All women affiliated with First
Parish, whether members or friends, are welcome to attend the retreat.
Typically, as many as thirty women gather for quiet meditation, reflection,
laughter and conversation at St. James House in Tiverton, Rhode Island,
a lovely estate on the Sakonnet River. There are some programmed activities
as well as abundant unscheduled time. Retreat brochures are available
in early April. Space is usually limited and reservations must be
made early. The retreat fee of $100 includes a single room with a
light supper on Friday, and full meals on Saturday and Sunday. Scholarship
funds are available.
5/18/01 - 5/20
Sponsored by the Women's Alliance
Olympia's Daughters Concert and Worship
Again this year, First Parish will host the 24-woman a capella chorus
called Olympia's Daughters. This year, they will offer a concert at
the First Parish Meetinghouse on Saturday, March 17, 2001 and on Sunday,
March 18, they will lead the morning worship with stories and songs
of revival. This is their second visit to First Parish. They have
also sung at the Unitarian Universalist General Assemblies in Rochester,
New York, and Nashville, Tennessee. They have issued several CDs.
Put these joyful music events on your calendar now!
Contact: Rev. Katie Lee Crane
3/17/01 - 3/18
Sponsored by the Women's Alliance
Empty Bowls Project
The Empty Bowls Project, sponsored by the Religious Education Committee,
is a fundraising project for an area food bank, where people gather
to have a simple meal in hand made ceramic bowls, and reflect on their
good fortune, and world hunger. The participants may take a
bowl home, as a reminder, with a donation to the food bank.
This year's Empty Bowls Project will culminate in a lunch on Sunday,
November 19 following a special Music worship service. The
purpose of this lunch is to share a meal and give thanks together
and, at the same time, to raise money for the Greater Boston Food
Bank, which provides food to those in need in nine counties in Eastern
Massachusetts.
Throughout the year, members of the church along with amateur and
professional potters have been creating hand-crafted ceramic bowls
to donate for this project. These beautiful bowls will be
on display and available for a donation of $20 or more on Sunday,
November 5 and Sunday, November 12.
Whether or not you select a bowl, you are welcome to stay for a
simple meal on Sunday, November 19, celebrating our community and
giving thanks for our abundance and prosperity. There is a
$2 suggested donation for food if you do not reserve a bowl.
11/19/00 Sunday, Parish Hall
Sponsored by the Religious Education Committee and the Faith in
Action Committee
Undecorate the Christmas Tree
Every year, in the spirit of the season, First Parish requests from
the Department of Social Services (DSS) in Framingham the names of
children who could use a little extra attention on Christmas Day.
This service event is known as "Undecorate the Christmas Tree" because,
symbolically, we decorate a Christmas tree with the names of the children,
and a completely undecorated tree means that every child will receive
a special gift this Christmas. Won't you pluck a name (or two) from
our tree?
A Tree is erected in the Parish Hall decorated with separate
cards for each child listing their first name, age, size, likes,
needs, and wants. Take the cards of the child you want to
buy a gift for, one card with your child's description and a second
card that must be attached to the child's gift. Instructions
will be posted in the Parish Hall.
December, Parish Hall
Sponsored by the Faith in Action Committee
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
This beautiful, interfaith worship service on the eve of Thanksgiving
gives people of all the faith communities in Sudbury an opportunity
to come together as one community and give thanks. With participating
clergy from all the churches and synagogues, it has traditionally
been a powerful and moving service, a wonderful way to add a worshipful
dimension to your Thanksgiving celebration.
11/22/00 Wed 7:30pm, the Sanctuary
Sponsored by the Worship Committee and the Sudbury Clergy Association
Sunday After Christmas
The Sunday after Christmas, we'll be gathering with the Unitarian
Universalist congregations from Framingham and Wayland at 10:00 am
for "shared" worship at First Parish of Framingham.
12/31/00, First Parish, Framingham
Sponsored by the Worship Committee
Hanukkah candle lighting and Passover Seder
Hanukkah Candle Lighting: Thursday, 12/21/00, 7:00 PM, Brackett
Room
The Hanukkah celebration is a traditional candle lighting service
and retelling of the story of the Maccabees and their victory over
the Syrians. The celebration explains why candles are lit, why eight
candles, and is followed by playing with dreidels and exchanging Hanukkah
gelt. Children are encouraged to attend. The service is kept to no
more than an hour.
Everyone who has a menorah is encouraged to bring it, and all menorahs
are lit by the children (with adult supervision). It makes a wonderful
light!
Passover Seder: Saturday, 4/7/01, 6:00 PM, Parish Hall
The Passover Seder celebrates the traditional Jewish holiday of the
exodus from Egypt. Traditionally held on the 1st and 2nd nights
of Passover, we commemorate it at First Parish sometime during the
eight days of Passover. The Passover seder is held much like a potluck
dinner, with families contributing parts of the dinner. About 3-4
weeks before the seder is held, a signup sheet is posted in the Parish
Hall. Pamela Nisetich is the coordinator of the seder and more
than willing to help anyone who needs suggestions on the appropriate
food to bring. Each family is invited to make a small financial
contribution to handle the cost of the ritual foods like horseradish,
parsley, matzos, wine, and macaroons.
For more information, please call Pamela Nisetich at 443-0444.
Sponsored by the Worship Committee
Winter Series
- Worship & Workshops Explore a Single Theme
Often, after the holidays, First Parish
offers a midwinter worship & workshop series. For several
weeks running, we explore a single theme in worship then, for those
who wish to join in, we continue the discussion with a catered lunch
and an interactive workshop. Themes in the past have included
"Religions of the World," "Unitarian Universalism" (Is Unitarian Universalism
Really a Religion?) and "Diversity." The series for the winter
of 2001 is still in the planning stages and may be abbreviated because
of the congregation's commitment to the Mission-Centered Ministry
program.
Lunches must be signed up for and
paid for in advance. No signup is necessary for the workshop.
Childcare will be provided. Lunch scholarships are available.
1/??/01 to 2/??/01, Sundays , Brackett Room
Sponsored by the Worship Committee and the Adult RE Committee
Gay Pride Parade
Come
march with The Welcoming Congregation Committee and Rev. Katie Lee
Crane. Those who wish to carpool will assemble at First Parish at
10:00 am. It is easiest to drive to Alewife T stop and take the red
line into Copley Square. We are assigned a place to assemble and wait
until we step off with the parade (usually about 11:30). We will have
our First Parish banner proudly displayed.
This
is an exhilarating and fun event. We have marched for many years,
and each experience seems better than the previous one. Please come
and see what this festive and important cultural event is all about.
Your support is appreciated, but more than that we would like to
share this wonderful experience with as many First Parish members
and youth as possible. Incidentally, we will be one of many, many
UU groups marching.
To
let us know you will be there and to get further information please
call Sheila Davison.
June 9, 2001, Saturday, Copley Square, Boston
Sponsored by the Welcoming Congregation Committee
Summer Services
Summer Services are less formal than services during the regular church
year and are held in the Atkinson Wing of First Parish of Sudbury.
A continental breakfast begins at 9:30 am in the Brackett Room. The
lay-led service, in the large church school room off the entry lobby,
begins at 10:00 am. Child care is available. Bev Waring or Nina
Piazza can answer any questions.
Summer Sundays, 9:30am, Atkinson Wing
Sponsored by the Summer Worship Committee.
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