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From Rev. Rob - Flourishing in the New Year
Dear First Parish,
Happy New Year! I hope you found opportunities over the holiday for rest and connection with loved ones, and that this message finds you and yours well.
Let’s face it, friends: 2024 was a long year… It feels good to turn the page on the old and welcome the new! In that spirit, I invite you to begin the New Year from a place of spiritual grounding by joining us for worship this Sunday.
My message this week is called From Surviving to Thriving. I’ll invite us to take to heart the central imperative of our religiously humanist tradition: that the goal of the spiritual life is human flourishing. How can we shift out of “survival mode” and embrace life fully in the New Year?
Sunday’s service will include beautiful music from the First Parish Choir, as well as a children’s story. After service, we’ll gather in the parlor for a warm lunch of soup and bread. I hope you’ll join us.
In the meantime, I leave you with a poem by Lucille Clifton that invites us to consider one of the important spiritual practices of this season of new beginnings: forgiveness.
i am running into a new year
By Lucille Clifton
i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twenty-six and thirty-six
even thirty-six but
i am running into a new year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me
Christmas Eve at First Parish
Join us on December 24 at 4:00 pm for our Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. Rev. Rob Hardies, Lead Minister, will offer a Christmas Message and our Choir will lead us in beautiful music of the season. Everyone is welcome!
Join us on December 24 at 4:00 pm for our Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. Rev. Rob Hardies, Lead Minister, will offer a Christmas Message and our Choir will lead us in beautiful music of the season. Everyone is welcome!
The Meaning and Magic of the Holidays
Dear First Parish Family,
For some of us the holidays are a time of joyful celebration. For others, I know, this season can be a lonely and difficult time. Either way, all of us can share in the meaning and magic of the season by celebrating and serving others this month at First Parish.
This Sunday Val Frank, Sophia Doescher and the First Parish Jazz Trio will lead a beautiful winter solstice service, a celebration of darkness and light.
On Christmas Eve, help us prepare and serve a special Christmas lunch for our Wednesday Meals guests. You can sign up here for volunteer shifts throughout the day. Thank you!
Then please join us at 4 pm on Christmas Eve for our annual Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. The First Parish Choir is preparing some beautiful music for this service, and I will offer a Christmas homily. Invite your friends and family to join us for this special celebration! Our earlier start time allows you to return home in time for Christmas Eve meals and celebrations.
And if you are having a hard time this season and could use some pastoral support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sophia, Val or I at care@firstparishcambridge.org.
I look forward to sharing this season with all of you.
Dear First Parish Family,
For some of us the holidays are a time of joyful celebration. For others, I know, this season can be a lonely and difficult time. Either way, all of us can share in the meaning and magic of the season by celebrating and serving others this month at First Parish.
a reminder that all month long we are collecting winter socks, hats and gloves for guests of our Meals Program and Y2Y Youth Shelter. Please bring these items to church and place them under the Christmas tree in the Parish Hall.
This Sunday Val Frank, Sophia Doescher and the First Parish Jazz Trio will lead a beautiful winter solstice service, a celebration of darkness and light.
On Christmas Eve, help us prepare and serve a special Christmas lunch for our Wednesday Meals guests. You can sign up here for volunteer shifts throughout the day. Thank you!
Then please join us at 4 pm on Christmas Eve for our annual Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. The First Parish Choir is preparing some beautiful music for this service, and I will offer a Christmas homily. Invite your friends and family to join us for this special celebration! Our earlier start time allows you to return home in time for Christmas Eve meals and celebrations.
Below is a holiday calendar that describes in more detail all the events taking place this season at First Parish. I hope you’ll join us for as many of them as you can.
And if you are having a hard time this season and could use some pastoral support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sophia, Val or I at care@firstparishcambridge.org.
I look forward to sharing this season with all of you.