With inspiring music from our choirs, soloists and instrumentalists, we will remember those loved ones we have lost, especially those who died in the last year. With words and music we will bring them close again. Everyone is invited to bring a photo or memento of a deceased loved one to help us create our beautiful "All Souls Day Altar of Remembrance." At the end of the service we will plant daffodils in front of the church which will rise up in the spring reminding us of how the loved ones who have died live on with us in spirit. If you would like to donate some daffodil bulbs in memory of a loved one please contact the office a 978 897 8149 for more information.
Past Services
Sunday, October 21st, 2012
Gathered as a community of love and compassion we will explore the difficult question on which we will be asked to vote in the upcoming election. Ballot question 2 asks us to vote for or against legalizing physician assisted suicide or what proponents of the bill call "death with dignity.” This is a very complex end of life issue that raises many serious moral and ethical questions and we will try to look at all sides of the issue. The sermon will delivered by the Rev Tom Rosiello.
Thursday, October 18th, 2012
A Candle Light Choral Vesper Service
Autumn has arrived. In the words of John Keats as set in an anthem by Will Chiles that the choir will sing at this service, "How Beautiful the Season! How fine and sharp the air!" Come Autumn time here in New England, we experience both the beauty of the season's brilliant colors, the pure sunlight and sharp air, as well as a sense of sadness as the summer plants die and the leaves fall. It too is atime when the days are getting shorter, and we move inward to warm ourselves at the hearth. So many different feelings rise up in each of us at this time of year. We will celebrate the season and reflect upon the meaning we draw from it with a beautiful choral vesper service at 6:45 PM on Thursday, October 18. The First Parish Adult and Youth Choirs, under the direction of Mike Pfitzer, will be singing chants and anthems of the season, and they will be joined by guest soloist, Caitlin Felsman who will perform Roger Quilter's, "Autumn Evening." Our organist and pianist, Sanghee Kim, will be joined by Jonathan Daisy, flute, Heather Sugioka, oboe, and other church instrumentalists. The service will be led by The Rev. Tom Rosiello, with assistance from Trisha Guditz, Worship Associate. In addition to beautiful choral and instrumental music, the service will also include poems and other readings, hymns, and a short reflection on the season. There will also be an opportunity to light candles and share thoughts as well as a time of silent prayer and reflection. Come and feed your soul. This service is the perfect way to end a hectic day. All are welcome and we hope you will join us.
Sunday, October 14th, 2012
In the words of Shakespeare, "To thy own self be true," but being who we really are is not always easy. Sometimes it is easier to pretend to be someone else, but there is a high price to pay for living a life that is not your own. This past week marked The National Coming Out Day for GBLT individuals. This morning we will focus on how important it is to truly be yourself. This will be an uplifting and affirming service with our regular musical team as well as members of our FPC Jazz Band contributing their talents at both services.
Sunday, October 7th, 2012
So many of us have had health scares, gone through serious medical treatment and in one way or another have had the realization that, "We all live on borrowed time," thrust upon us. It can be scary, even depressing, or it can challenge us to live every day to the fullest and recognize each moment as the precious gift that it is. At both services, our music director, Mike Pfitzer will sing the beautiful song, "We all Live on Borrowed Time” by David Friedman and organ and piano music will be provided by Sanghee Kim.
Sunday, September 30th, 2012
The Rev Tom Rosiello preaching; Visiting Student Minister, Jennifer Duhamel, assisting with worship.
Today we live in an increasingly polarized nation and world. At the heart of this polarization seems to be uncompromising religious positions and there seem to be many who wish to exploit those religious positions for political gain. Of course religious values are important but how do we move forward as a diverse society when compromise seems less possible and competing interest seems to be ignored. Ethical decision making is always about balancing competing interests.
This morning we will explore this difficult issue. In our worship we will share joys and concerns and rich music making. Our choirs will sing, “On that Holy Mountain” by Joe Mattingly and the message of that text taken from The Book of Isaiah (the story of the lion lying down with the lamb) will be our message for all ages. In our Religious Education classes, our children will be learning about the Sikh tradition.
Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
Worship led by Rev Tom Rosiello and assisted by Jennifer Duhamel, student minister
In the context of the Jewish High holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we will examine what we are called to do for each other and the world. At both services you will hear the beautiful anthem, Al Shlosha D'Varim which translates, "The world is sustained by three things, by truth, by justice and by peace." The youth will present the Children’s Message this morning.
Sunday, September 16th, 2012
Worship led by Rev. Tom Rosiello.
We all yearn to go deeper to connect with the spirit of life and love and justice by whatever name we call it. That theme will be expressed in the beautiful 16th century motet, Sicut Cervus by Palestrina at the 11 AM service and at the 9 AM service by a beautiful instrumental reflection. Being spiritually grounded is essential to a healthy life and just as our bodies need to be nourished by food and exercise; our spirits too need to be fed and exercised through a spiritual practice. Moreover our spiritual health and physical health are often closely connected. This Sunday we will begin the new program theme for this year, “Healthy Bodies-Healthy Spirits.” Stay tuned – lots of different activities that will be part of this program. And also we will commission those wonderful adults who once again have volunteered to teach and otherwise assist with our religious education program for children and youth.
Sunday, September 9th, 2012
INGATHERING SUNDAY
This Sunday we return to worship in our beautifully restored church and to two services. We will be "pulling out all the stops" for this Ingathering celebration when we officially begin our church year. In our worship we will focus on the importance of having a spiritual home and how this church is, or can be, that home for you. Our professional and volunteer musicians will be back in force with members of our jazz band playing at the 9 AM and 11 AM services. At the 9 AM Mike Pfitzer will sing a solo about coming home and at the 11 AM our choir, under his direction, will be singing a beautiful anthem entitled, “The Road Home" by Stephen Paulus. Our Director of Religious Education, Michelle Cote, as well as our new Visiting Student Minister, Jennifer Duhamel, will also be participating and there will be a message for children and youth introducing them to our Religious Education program. The Rev. Tom Rosiello will be preaching. A special homecoming coffee hour will follow both services and there will even be an ice cream social at Erickson's Dairy at 3 pm this afternoon.
Sunday, September 2nd, 2012
Although summer officially lasts until the third week in September, Labor Day Weekend has traditionally marked the end of the season. This morning we will look back on summer and celebrate the fun and meaningful times we had this year. Everyone is invited to bring some momento of their summer and we will together create an End of Summer Altar.... maybe a photo or souvenir of somewhere you visited, a flower, tomato or zucchini from your garden, your beach towel or flippers or maybe a canoe paddle.... maybe some art or craft you created…anything that you enjoyed or found meaning full this summer. We will sing hymns and songs of the summer and enjoy hearing the beautiful Gershwin Song, "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess. The Service will be led by Rev. Tom Rosiello who will share readings and an end of summer reflection.
