Persistence, by Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer
We will gather again to ground ourselves in our values and gather inspiration and energy for continuing to live them out in the world. Even in the presence of opposition or indifference, our call is to persist following the lead of love.
Please join us at 10am at First Parish Northfield, corner of Parker Avenue and Main Street, this Sunday, November 17. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
For the First Parish church service this Sunday, November 10, author, musician, educator, and visual artist Eveline MacDougall will share reflections on the topic “Daring to Move Beyond Tribalism: Spiritual First Aid for Surprising Times.” She will also perform live music during the 10 am service, which will be available by Zoom as well. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
Dan Tinen will preach about “The Long Run” tomorrow at 10 am live at First Parish, corner of Parker Avenue and Main Street. Dan describes the theme as follows:
“When things don’t turn out as we expected or hoped, it’s not the end of the world; it’s a learning opportunity to correct our course to get where we want to go. Realizing our ideals requires us to reevaluate our assumptions from time to time, and now is clearly one of those moments, no matter how things turn out on Tuesday.”
To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. And don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night!
Robert Kubacki will lead Sunday’s Chalice Circle service in a continuation of the theme of Deep Listening. Among the ideas to be considered are the observation that, “one half of language is to listen,” that a sense of wonder can stave off boredom and disenchantment, and that, “the privilege of wisdom is to listen.” The service begins at 10 am at the church, corner of Main Street and Parker Avenue.
Deep Listening, Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer: The skill of listening well is one that can’t be perfected, but it can be cultivated and honed. Join us this Sunday for a chance to reflect together on the spiritual practice of listening. We’ll draw inspiration from many sources, including trees and animals. This service will be created with all ages in mind and will begin at 10am at First Parish, Northfield and available by Zoom as well. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn: “This title is adapted from a quote by the South African theologian and religious leader Desmond Tutu. Tutu reminds us that to someone suffering from injustice, neutrality can and will look like taking the side of the oppressor. Two equally real places in which we see individuals trying to remain neutral are in cases of animal abuse and when there are conflicts in other countries. I will speak through my lens as a grandmother of a pitbull and a granddaughter and daughter of Polish Jews, some of whose family have settled in Israel.” The service will begin this Sunday at 10 am at the church and be available on Zoom. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
“The Oracles of Concord: Vision Forward with Emerson, Thoreau, and Fuller” is the title of Lay Reader Dan Tinen’s 10 am service Sunday 10/6 at First Parish. Join us at the church or on Zoom. Dan will be with us over the Internet from his home in Seattle. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
Sunday – Sept. 29, 10 am
Chalice Circle: Invitations
Hosted by Judy Wagner and Mike La Rue
We will explore the doorways opened to us by invitations. This gathering itself is an invitation to think together about transitional moments of our lives. All are welcome to join us at First Parish, Northfield (corner of Parker Ave. and Main St.).
Earthen Invitations, Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer
The Autumn Equinox has an invitation for us. What is yours? I invite you to pay attention to how our earth is speaking to you these next few days. Please consider bringing an item from the natural world for our altar that represents the invitations you are receiving. Maybe you might bring a flower or seed, a stone or a leaf or a branch, a vegetable or a fruit or some other item for our common altar.
Our UUA has an invitation for us. The UU Climate Justice Revival is an opportunity to reflect on connections between climate and justice and reimagine our approaches to this work to be more connected, more nourishing and more visionary.
People of all ages are welcome to join us in person at 72 Main Street in Northfield or online at 10am this Sunday, 9/22. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.
Our church year continues on Sunday September 15 with a service by First Parish Board member and worship committee leader Ann Linge. Her service tomorrow on “Accepting the Invitation” will explore the newly adopted UUA Values and Covenant, consisting of six shared values with love at the center. The service will begin at 10 am at the church and online. All are welcome. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link.