Reverend Eliza Blanchard will focus on what it means to declutter the soul. As we curate what we hold tightly to, we’ll explore ways in which clearing out our spirits’ basements, and attics can transform us. Reverend Eliza Blanchard graduated from Harvard Divinity School (where she met Rev. Tom) in 2004, served the U.U. Society of Grafton and Upton for five years, and now offers spiritual direction and pet loss support as an affiliate of The First Parish in Brookline, U.U.
Past Services
Sunday, January 3rd, 2016
Join us for an intergenerational service observing the holiday of Epiphany, honoring the special day on which the three kings arrived to bring gifts to the newborn Jesus. Director of Religious Education, Michelle Cote, and Intern Minister, Ilene Gillispie, will co-preach about the gifts we each bring to the world, and the epiphanies we have that can change our lives (just as the lives of the kings were changed upon meeting the baby Jesus). This service will include beloved hymns like, We Three Kings, and will also involve movement and sharing to be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Sunday, December 27th, 2015
Only One Service this Morning in the Community Room
This Sunday we will gather informally in the community room and together reflect upon what is so necessary to do before we embrace the new which is, letting go of the old. Out with the Old! In with the New! The Rev. Tom Rosiello will lead the worship service.
Thursday, December 24th, 2015
4 PM Family Service
"Nativity in a Trunk"
Led by our minister, Tom Rosiello, Intern Minister, Ilene Gillispie, and our DRE, Michele Cote, this service will be oriented towards our children. We will have lots of them participating as we act out the Christmas Story and create a Christmas Tableau. Our Junior Choir and Youth Singers will be performing, and there will be familiar carols for all to sing. We will conclude this service with the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.
9 PM Traditional Christmas Eve Service
Led by our minister, Tom Rosiello and Our Inter Minister, Ilene Gillispie this service will feature traditional Christmas carols and anthems, the reading of the story of the birth of Jesus from the Christian Gospels, and a candle-lighting ceremony. It will be a quieter and more traditional service than the 4 PM service, with beautiful music provided by the Adult Choir, under the direction of Mike Pfitzer, organist/pianist Sanghee Kim, and talented guest musicians. An extended prelude of Christmas music will begin at 8:45 PM. Please come early.
Sunday, December 20th, 2015
9 AM in the Community Room
Join us around the Christmas tree for traditional holiday stories and lovely music of the season. Our storytellers will be Ann Sadler, Rev. Tom Rosiello and Intern Minister, Ilene Gillispie. We will sing some familiar carols and be treated to holiday music performed by Mike Pftzer and Sanghee Kim.
11 AM in the Sanctuary
Celebrating the Solstice with Our Annual Mummers Play!
We will dispel the darkness of the season with lively music and the presentation of our Annual Mummer’s Play under the direction of Pat Sorn. This is a great family service with lots of children participating. Worship will be led by Minister Tom Rosiello, Intern Minister, Ilene Gillispie, Director of Religious Education, Michelle Coté, Music Director, Mike Pfitzer and Organist/Pianist, Sanghee Kim.
Sunday, December 13th, 2015
Featuring Camille Saint Saëns' Christmas Oratorio
This very special Candlelight Vesper service will include a beautiful string orchestra prelude and the Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint Saëns sung by the First Parish Adult Choir with guest soloists and accompanied by a string orchestra and organ. The service will also include carols for all to sing and a reflection on the music offered. We will conclude the service by remember those affected by terrorist attacks around the world and together pray and sing for peace. This musical service is our holiday gift to the greater community. Please let people in the community know about it and bring your friends and neighbors. The music will be under the direction of Mike Pfitzer with Malcolm Halliday, organist, and The Rev. Tom Rosiello and Intern Minister Ilene Gillispie leading worship.
Sunday, December 13th, 2015
On this 7th day of Hanukkah we will tell the story of the Maccabee people who never lost hope that they could overcome those who oppressed them and tried to take their culture away. We will be treated to some wonderful Hanukkah and join in singing songs of hope. In the sermon Rev. Tom Rosiello will address the fear so many are experiencing with the recent incidents of terrorism and how we might address it in light of the lessons learned from the Jewish experience in both ancient and modern times. When the French Jewish writer, Tristan Bernard and his wife were arrested by the Gestapo, he proclaimed, "We have lived in fear, now we shall live in hope." This morning's service will be about fear and its antidote, hope. Intern Minister, Ilene Gillispie and director of Music, Mike Pfizer will assist in leading worship.
Sunday, December 6th, 2015
In recognition of World AIDS Day
Thirty five years have passed since AIDS was first diagnosed. Millions have died and entire communities have been devastated. Both research and treatment have been challenged by racism, homophobia, and negative attitudes towards other classes of victims. AIDS has challenged our love and caused many to abandon hope. But this season of Advent is time of renewed hope and we will explore that in the context of hope for even better treatment, prevention and cures for the disease. This Sunday we will share the journey of this disease, beginning with its devastating effect on American gay men in the 1980's and moving to its impact on other communities today . We will look at how it has changed the world and changed all of us. We will remember those we lost to the disease and celebrate the lives of those living well with the disease.
Sunday, November 29th, 2015
ONE SERVICE ONLY 11AM in the SANCTUARY
The days draw shorter, the winds are colder, and our calendars are filling up with holiday plans. Thanksgiving has gone, and Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years are fast-approaching. Many have called the holidays a season of light in a time of darkness, and for good reason. Parties, food, and gifts abound-- but there is room, too, for darkness amidst this season of light. The holidays do not always bring unadulterated joy-- for some, they are a distinctly mixed bag or even a time of mourning and loss. In this service, Intern Minister Ilene Gillispie will preach about acknowledging darkness during the holidays and even, at times, welcoming the peace that darkness may bring into our busy lives during this holiday season.
Sunday, November 22nd, 2015
Thanksgiving Sunday
Together as an inter-generational community we will give thanks. We will sing traditional Thanksgiving hymns and be treated to a bounty of beautiful music from our FPC choirs and musicians of all ages. Our minister, Tom Rosiello, assisted by our intern minister, Ilene Gillispie, our director of religious education, Michelle Cote, and many of our children and youth, will lead the service. It will include the traditional ritual of breaking and sharing of bread which will be baked for us by the junior youth group. Please bring non-perishable food and toiletries to the service which will be collected and donated to the Stow Food Pantry.
