Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum is our our candidate for settled minister. Rev. Cindy's background in literature and love of the written word led her on her path to becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister and continue to inspire her and challenge her to think about theology, ethics, and social justice today. This sermon will explore some of those literary sources that she draws from in her "loose-leaf Bible." We will also recognize Mother's Day and the role of parents of all genders.
Past Services
Sunday, May 13th, 2018
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum will lead the service
Sunday, May 6th, 2018
in the Sanctuary
We have two different services this week. At 11 AM in the Sanctuary, our Senior Youth will lead the service which will include Coming of Age youth sharing their credos. All youth in grades 5 and up are encouraged to attend this service.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018
in the Community Room
We have two different services this week. At 9 AM in the Community Room join us for a glimpse into the life and poetry of Rumi. There will be programming for children in grades 4 and under at this service.
Sunday, April 29th, 2018
ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 11 AM
In scrolling through clergy resources online recently, I came across a graphic with words something like this: grace is that moment when love meets imperfection. There is more to it than that, I'm sure. And that's where this Sunday's reflections will start. Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris will lead the service.
Sunday, April 22nd, 2018
This service honors Earth Day and the work of Climate Justice being done here in our communities and around the world. In the hymn "Turn Back" are these words: Earth shall be fair and all its people one. What does fair mean for us today? How can all people be as one? How shall we make it so? Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris and the Climate Justice Task Force will lead the services.
Sunday, April 15th, 2018
Inspired by the words of James Luther Adams—that we have "the responsibility to offer a church in which we elicit participation"—and of Margaret Wheatley—"be brave enough to start a conversation that matters"—this sermon focuses on belonging, participation and the power of conversation. Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris will lead the services.
Sunday, April 8th, 2018
Taking inspiration from poet Warsan Shire, Pope Francis, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the sermon explores the sounds of shouting and how/why necessity calls it out of us. FPC Drums will lead the congregation in Aguanile, an Afro-Puerto Rican song written by Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe.
Sunday, April 1st, 2018
EASTER SUNDAY
Drawing on the poetic wisdom of Wendell Berry and the story of the women who went to Jesus' tomb this Easter sermon is a reflection on facing the impossible, confronting the improbable and going on anyway. Rev Tracey Robinson-Harris will lead the services.
Thursday, March 29th, 2018
7 PM in the Sanctuary
This candlelight service is inspired by the story of Jesus' final days focusing on the Passover meal that he shared with his disciples and what the ritual of "breaking bread together" means to us today. The service will include communion using the historic communion silver from both the First Parish of Stow and the Universalist Church of South Acton. Whatever your religious background, you are invited to be with us for this beautiful service.
Sunday, March 25th, 2018
Our services will be centered in the voices and experiences of black Unitarian Universalists and how these black UU leaders teach us to be better allies, better siblings in faith, better citizens in our community. White Unitarian Universalists are still learning how to decenter our whiteness so people of color are brought from the margins to the center. Our services are both practice in that work and leaning in to the promise of a new way of being together. The services are also an opportunity to make a financial gift in support of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism.
The UUA has set aside one million dollars from its endowment for support of BLUU. Two very generous Unitarian Universalists, Arnold and Julie Bradburd, have offered an additional one million dollars to match congregational giving. If FPC reaches the threshold of $10 per member ($3400 in total) our gift will be doubled. With the support of the Board and the Racial Justice Task Force, the offerings from both services are designated toward fulfilling our match gift.
Just over two years ago, FPC voted to display your Black Lives Matter banner. Six months earlier, conversations among Black UUs at the July 2015 Movement for Black Lives Convening in Cleveland, Ohio led to the creation of Black Lives of UU (BLUU) Organizing Collective. BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within our faith; providing support, information and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice making and liberation through our faith. This is a moment when our financial support of BLUU is an affirmation of the promise of a just and inclusive faith, and an affirmation of our willingness to continue the journey required of us to make it so.
Reverend Tracey Robinson-Harris and members of the Racial Justice Task Force will lead the service.
