Author: First Parish Northfield, Unitarian

In these hard times we confront serious challenges. This Sunday at 10:00 am at First Parish Northfield, Unitarian, we will explore what our tradition can offer to help us to navigate the challenges faithfully and to practice being in right relationship in the midst of it all.

People of all ages are warmly invited to join us for the special Ingathering Service in which we resume regular, weekly worship after a summer hiatus. Our service will take place in person in the parking lot behind the church at the corner of Main St. and Parker Ave., and will be concurrently shared on Zoom. It has been our tradition to collect waters from our summer time away from the gathered during our Ingathering service for a water communion ritual. In an effort to be inclusive of our community online and in person, this year our water communion will be a little bit different. Those gathering in person don’t need to bring or do anything in advance. Those joining from home are invited to have a little cup or bowl of water nearby during the service.

If you are coming in person, please wear a mask and consider bringing a folding chair, if you can. For a link to join on Zoom, send an email to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com

Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer will lead First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, in a church service titled “In Praise of the Rainbow” at 10:30 am Sunday, June 13. The service will be an in-person gathering outdoors behind the church and also be streamed by Internet videoconference.

Rev. Carvill Ziemer is Minister Affiliate for the First Parish congregation. The service will be fully multigenerational. Honoring Pride month, it will include the uniquely Unitarian Universalist ritual called the Flower Ceremony.

Speaking of the program, Rev. Melissa said “You may bring a flower with you to the service, from your yard, from the woods, from a field, from a store as you choose. If you will be on Zoom, please bring a flower with you as well to share on screen. We are excited to be able to offer our last worship service of the program year both on Zoom as it has been all year, and, for those who are comfortable, we will also have the option to gather to worship in person. We will follow the following safety protocols for our gathering: While gathered outside, masks will be required only when people come within 6 feet of each other; the church itself will be closed except for bathroom use, in which case masks will be required inside; there will be no food to share.”

Following the service, the youth social justice group at First Parish Northfield will celebrate Pride month with a community event from 1-2pm, right outside the church at the corner of Main St. and Parker Avenue. All are welcome to stop by and show support. Sign-making supplies and Pride flags will be available, or participants may bring their own. Afterwards, the celebration will continue with a visit to the Creamie.

For the Zoom link for Sunday’s service, send an email request to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com. All will be welcome.

Faith in Unitarian Universalism isn’t just an intellectual exercise: it’s “heart” work. This service features a sermon by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, as well as vibrant music, storytelling, and other worship elements that will help us to grow in spirit, in courage, and in generosity.

First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, will share this as our Sunday service on Sunday, May 30 at 10:30 am. A time for all ages is included in the program. Following the service, those who wish may stay connected for a social time.

This service can be viewed at any time by clicking this link:

https://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/loved-being

Join Franklin County UUs this Sunday, May 23, at 10:30am. In her last regularly scheduled service, worship leader Julie Payne Britton will explore the fullness of this passing time and the task that always and still lies before us:

“Finally there is light at the end of the COVID tunnel! At least in this country. At least in this state. At least in this community. And tempting as it may be to put this long, hard 14 months in the rearview mirror, doing so would make us miss something important — the chance to learn and grow and draw nearer to the Source of All. People are invited to bring a candle to light during our chalice lighting and there will be a Body Prayer for All Ages.”

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos

Members and friends of First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, will hold a special Chalice Circle, “Return to Community,” at 10:30 am on Sunday, May 16. This “Service Work Day” will be a hybrid event.

The goals are to revive and beautify the building and grounds of our church and build community with our inter-generational congregation. Those participating in person will follow Massachusetts guidelines for social distance, mask wearing, one-way traffic, and occupancy restrictions when indoors. Others may drive by to greet fellow parishioners from their cars.

The link for a survey form to see tasks and activities and sign up for the Chalice Circle is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-7zqJISDXnZBDQTKYLpXV0nCrd-XSUOGk5LGmGSajrM/edit?usp=drive_web – for more information send an email message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com.

Notes:

• 10:30-11:30 am: Young people will ring Church Bells at 10:30!

• Masks required

• Bring your own food/drinks

• Canopy Shelter available outside

• Tools: Arrive earlier if you have tools to share/loan for the day (David Smith will be there by 9:30 am)

• Paint: David will bring paint and sandpaper. If you have brushes, consider bringing 1 or 2.

• Kids are encouraged and welcome! Rev. Melissa will have sidewalk chalk for art and messages of hope

• All are Welcome to stay after for clean-up or to re connect with friends and the community

[Photo credit: John Phelan]

One of the historical teachings of Unitarian Universalism is that all people have a calling in this world. This Sunday, May 9th at 10:30am, we’ll look to the scriptural stories about Hagar for inspiration about what it might mean to be faithful to our own callings. We’ll lift up appreciation for mothers and mothering and have time for sharing joys and sorrows and for enjoying wonderful music. We’d love to have you join us. This service, led by Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer, will be multigenerational; children and youth are welcome to attend for the whole service and the first 20 minutes will be designed with people of all ages in mind.

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

[Painting: Frederick Goodall, “Hagar and Ishmael”, 1866]

This Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 10:30am, the Franklin County Collaborative of Unitarian Universalist congregations will gather online for a service led by Dan Tinen. He will speak about “Systemic Prosperity.” Tinen asks, “Is it possible to build a society that eliminates poverty? Several economists and the experience of different nations suggest that it is possible if we are willing to let go of outdated ideological concepts on both the left and the right and see the world, and our fellow human beings, in a whole new way.”

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos

This Sunday’s minister for the Franklin County UU churches is no stranger to our Valley. The Rev. Steve Wilson has been Minister for First Parish of Northfield and for the Bernardston Unitarian Church. He currently serves a church in California.

“UU Hero, Thomas Starr King: Neither a groovy rock band, nor bold nickname for an astronomer, Starr King was a prophet, politician, orator, and evangelist of liberal religion throughout the 1800’s. Thomas Starr King was such an important West Coast Unitarian that we named a Divinity School after him. Today we discuss him and his current relevance.”

Sunday, April 25th at 10:30am, Bernardston Unitarian Church is the Zoom host for the Northfield, Greenfield and Bernardston UU Collaborative. Rev. Steve Wilson leads the service from his ministerial post at Pacific Unitarian Church in Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA.

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos