NEWCOMERS

The First Parish Church of Stow and Acton (FPC) is its people. The talents, interests, and energy of our church family give it life and direction. Try serving on the committees that serve our many endeavors. Participate in group activities that may be of interest to you. Help out by volunteering to maintain constants like coffee hour, Sunday flowers, and ushering. Become involved by teaching in our Religious Education Program, or by making a contribution of your own special ideas and skills. We invite you to visit us, get involved, and make good things happen!

Thank you for taking an interest in FPC. We invite you to visit our church and learn what we have to offer you as a place to explore and develop fellowship, community, and spirituality

Regular Services

Regular services are held in the church sanctuary at 9:00 and 11:00 am on Sunday mornings from early September through mid-June. Regular services last about 1 hour. Following the service, a coffee hour is held in Fellowship Hall. Please join us for refreshments and fellowship.

During the summer months we have lay-led services in Fellowship Hall.

When you walk in the front doors on Sundays, you will be met by Nancy Grimes, our Membership Development Coordinator, or a church member who is ushering that day. Be sure to sign the Guest Book in the church vestibule or at the Newcomers Table in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour if you would like to receive our monthly newsletter, The Chronicle.  This is a great way to learn about upcoming educational and social events within our community in which you might like to participate.  

Also, you may be interested in subscribing to our electronic e-mail announcement list, fpcannounce. This is an announcement-only e-mail list where requests for volunteers, event reminders, and other items of interest are posted.

While children are welcome to remain with you during the entire service, they may visit the Religious Education classes if they like. Just ask our Membership Development Coordinator or an usher to direct you to the classes, held in Fellowship Hall and the Parsonage. We offer free childcare for infants and toddlers during Sunday services.  Please pick up your child in the nursery immediately after service (before coffee hour) .  Ask one of the ushers to direct you to the nursery when you arrive.  During the summer months we do not offer childcare or Religious Education classes.

Are you interested in learning more about our church? Do you have questions about Unitarian Universalism? We can provide the answers in our Newcomers Coffee Hour. These are held in the Parlor one Sunday per month following the church service, at approximately 12:45am. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our Minister, Tom Rosiello, and to ask him any questions you might have about our religion or FPC.

We also offer a 4-week workshop, NEW2UU. At the first three sessions, you will learn about our Free Church Tradition and Unitarian Universalism. Rev. Rosiello leads the class in exploring the differences between orthodox and liberal ways in religion; why doubt, skepticism, and free inquiry are prized tools in religion; and how seeking, searching, questing, and questioning form the core of who we are as a people of faith. It is hoped that participants will learn more about themselves and what they value, as well as meet and learn about other newcomers who are on the same pilgrimage of self-discovery. The last session will introduce you to some of the members of the Board of Trustees, and to some of our committee chairs who will give you a bird’s-eye view of the work undertaken by that particular committee.

Membership at FPC

Choosing to become a member of the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton (FPC) means that you believe this church makes a difference in your life, giving it greater strength, depth, significance, and direction. It means you have a sense of belonging and commitment to the liberal religious values this church represents. It means willingness to support the church with ideas, energy, time, and money, so that these values can be realized in the world.

We encourage everyone who is interested in exploring membership to attend our popular NEW2UU Workshop that is facilitated by Rev. Tom Rosiello.  Our Membership Development Coordinator, Nancy Grimes, and several of our committee chairpersons participate as well. This 4-week class provides a chance to reflect on your individual spiritual journey, as well as learn about the history of Unitarian Universalism, discuss Unitarian Universalist beliefs, and learn more about our congregation.  The emphasis is on fun, information, and getting to know other people who are new to the church. The NEW2UU Workshop is offered several times during the regular church year. Of course, not everyone's schedule permits them to attend all sessions of the NEW2UU Workshop, but we do encourage you to take the course if at all possible.  Individuals age 12 and older may sign the Membership Book during our New Member Sunday services.  You will be entitled to vote (age 18 and older) about important issues facing our church at the Annual Meeting held in the spring. 

We hold several New Member Sunday services each year, during which you can sign the membership book and be welcomed into the life of the church community. If you are interested in knowing when the next New Member Sunday will be held, or the schedule for the next NEW2UU Workshop, please contact our Membership Development Coordinator by e-mail, MDC [at] fpc-stow-acton [dot] org or by phone, 978-897-8149.

To discuss membership in this church, or to arrange to sign the membership book, please contact our minister, Rev. Tom Rosiello at 978-897-8721.

FPC, like all UU churches, is a self-governing church. Its members make all major decisions about church life, in particular calling a new minister and determining the church budget. You can become a member of our church by signing the Membership Book. We encourage you to do so after taking the time to ensure that our community is a good fit for you.   

If you are interested in joining FPC, we suggest that you complete the following steps

• Attend several Sunday services. Our services do not always follow the same format, and you will no doubt observe a variety of different services over a period of time.
• Attend/participate in at least two church-sponsored activities. It may be helpful to try one social activity and one spiritual or educational activity.
• Attend the NEW2UU Workshop.  You will learn about the Unitarian Universalism denomination, how our church is organized, and about the opportunities we offer you as a member of our congregation. 
• Sign the Membership Book of First Parish Church. This can be done during a brief ceremony at one of several Sunday services held throughout the church year.