Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts Various

Worship service given June 2, 2024
Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
At First Parish, we honor the passage from childhood towards adulthood through our Coming of Age program. This Sunday we celebrate seven of our 8th grade youth! Our service will include Credo (“I Believe”) statements from the Coming of Age class. And as another cohort passes through the “Arch of Love,” we celebrate all the people who have contributed to our multigenerational community.
After the service, in-person attendees are invited to participate in the "Story of Religious Education at First Parish" activity in the Parlor. Come share memories and help shape the future!
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For June, July and August 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA.
The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.

Worship service given May 26, 2024
Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
Yvette McDonnell, Interfaith Chaplain and Spiritual Companion Ritualist, inspires with stories of sowing seeds of change and nurturing a summer garden.
Yvette (she/her) is an Interfaith Chaplain who has dedicated her life to helping others. She earned her Master's degree in Social Change from Starr King School for Ministry, with certificates in Chaplaincy and Interfaith Studies. Yvette's ministry is centered around love, healing, and an intuitive understanding of ancestral wisdom that honors the many ways of knowing in the world. Her background in Social Justice helps her support those who have been marginalized by society and companion those who are interested in exploring their biases. Yvette is an educator, Spiritual Companion Ritualist and proprietor of Soul Tapestry LLC. She encourages people to breathe slowly and savor each moment, so that they can bring integrated awareness into their lives. Yvette specializes in guiding people who are interested in creating rituals to guide, protect, celebrate, and mourn the many aspects of life.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center.
This Sunday half of the offering supports
the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. 
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.

Worship service given May 19, 2024
Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
This Sunday after worship is the annual congregational meeting. Members will vote on the budget, elect officers and consider two justice-based resolutions. One concerns indigenous justice and the other concerns our acknowledging and repairs the involvement of half of the Frist Parish founders who were slaveholders. Each of the justice based resolutions has been in the works for two years with numerous forums, workshops and meetings leading up to these votes. Many opinions have been expressed. Many changes have been made to the proposals. We have listened and we have discussed. Still we do not expect unanimity. In her sermon this Sunday before the annual meeting, Marta will consider what it is to disagree well.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center.
This Sunday half of the offering supports
the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. 
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.

Worship service given May 12, 2024
Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
This coming Sunday, Rev. Erica Richmond will preach on love- how imperfect, vulnerable and messy it can be. It is this type of love that makes us real and allows us to be our real selves. Our high school seniors will delight us with a reenactment of the Velveteen Rabbit and then, as they prepare for their next chapters, we bless them as a faith community! Join us for this very special Sunday.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center.
This Sunday half of the offering supports
the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. 
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.

Worship service given May 5, 2024
Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
Each year, one Sunday is devoted to the social-justice-themed Shinn Service, with a guest providing the sermon related to their own social justice work and interests. Dr. Michael Curry is currently the President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers, serving over one million patients out of over 300 practice sites. He plans to stay and participate in “Reverberations” on Sunday, the after-service event that will dive a bit deeper into his sermon.
Dr. Curry has received numerous local and national awards for leadership and advocacy and is frequently requested as a keynote speaker and panelist on a wide range of civil rights and health policy issues. In 2022, he received the Trailblazer Award from the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA), as well as a leadership award from the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action.
He is a regular commentator on the local Public Radio Broadcast/WBUR Boston, WGBH Radio, as well as on television with WGBH, WBZ, and New England Cable News/NBC Boston, on a wide range of political, cultural, and social issues. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from New England School of Law, and later graduated from the inaugural class of the Executive Leadership Council’s Pipeline to Leadership Program.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center.
This Sunday half of the offering supports
the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. 
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.

Worship service given April 28, 2024
Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
The Alliance of First Parish supports those who have given much. This Sunday, Lara James, of the organization Facing History and Ourselves, reflects on looking backward and looking forward and what we each can do to make communities more inclusive, resilient and hopeful.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For April 2024, the Giving First recipient is the Living Legacy Project.
The mission of the Living Legacy Project (https://www.livinglegacypilgrimage.org/) is to provide experiential education about the American Civil Rights Movement that challenges, inspires, and equips people from diverse backgrounds and identities for justice work in their communities and beyond. Despite gains made by the American Civil Rights Movement to ensure that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or color, have access to human and civil rights, much work remains. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) continued to be imprisoned at a higher rate than white people, subjected to police overreach, experienced more poverty, and had fewer opportunities. Protecting voting rights to eliminate mass incarceration takes committed activists and organizers willing to take stands against injustice.
The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.