RE Everyday!

God's frozen people, Bibles, and books!

2012-01-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

We had another great week in Sunday School! It was great to see everyone on a snowy morning.

Special thanks to Dexter Robinson who was a guest of our 3rd and 4th grade class, taught by Ellie and Clayton Handleman. Dexter demonstrated to the class his cold weather hiking/camping gear to illustrate their lesson about Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a UU arctic explorer - The class is studying "Adventures of Our People" in the Stepping Stones curriculum.

And this is just one of the many fascinating classes conducted each week. Come be a part!

Adult Learning:

We are happy to announce that Melody Barlow will lead the next session of A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group. We are talking about the Prophets and are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. We will meet on Sunday February 5th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We would love to see you. No prior attendance or acquaintance with the Bible is necessary.

*****************************************************************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss:

The Housekeeper and the Professor

By Yoko Ogawa

This is a fascinating read and we hope to see you on Wednesday, Feb. the 1st at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

I believe!

2012-01-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

re everyday!
**********************************************************

From the DRE,

It is difficult to believe that we are into our second trimester of Church School. We made the switch last Sunday and our new teachers were wonderful! They are: Anne Johnson, Ken Johnson, Elizabeth Robey, Ellie Handleman, Clayton Handleman, Jen Sulc, and Derek Sulc. We also thank our excellent first trimester teachers. They were: Mary Nickerson, Elizabeth Robey, Laura Page, Eric Page, Sue Keady, Tony Keady, Patti Walters, and Carrie Brandon. Thanks to all for doing this “noble work.”

If you have been away for awhile (or even for years!) We would love to see you back.

Many blessings to all. stuart

*************************************************************
Adult Learning:

We are happy to announce that Melody Barlow will lead the next two sessions of A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group. We are talking about the Prophets and are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. We will meet on Sunday January the 15th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We would love to see you. No prior attendance or acquaintance with the Bible is necessary.

******************************************************************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss:

The Housekeeper and the Professor

By Yoko Ogawa

This is a fascinating read and we hope to see you on Wednesday, Feb. the 1st at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

The noblest work on earth...

2012-01-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a blessed Holiday season! We are excited to welcome everyone back to Sunday School this Sunday. If you have not been for awhile, this is a great time to come back! Our second trimester begins this Sunday and I wanted to recognize our teachers...

"Like all schools, the Sunday-School must owe its influence to its teachers... The noblest work on earth is to act with an elevating power on a human spirit." William Ellery Channing (Pictured above)

A very special and deep thanks to our first trimester teachers.

Mary Nickerson

Elizabeth Robey

Laura Page

Eric Page

Sue Keady

Tony Keady

Carrie Brandon

Patti Walters

Our second trimester teachers are ready for action and will be recognized next week.

Many blessings to all and we hop to see you Sunday

Books that changed your life...

2012-01-04T07:04:00.000-08:00

How is the New Year's resolution going? How about making a resolution that is a joy to keep? How about a resolution to attend an adult learning program at First Parish? A great start happens tonight when our book group meets to talk about the books that have made an impact on your life. Spend some time thinking about those influential books and then join us tonight at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor for what should be a great discussion!

RE Everyday!

2011-12-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

I think like everyone else, its difficult to believe that Christmas is just a few short days away. I hope you are finding some time for peace and reflection and that your Christmas is what you hope it to be. We will not have Sunday School on Christmas Day or New Years Day though we will have baby care for the latter.

Many thanks to our Religious Education Community for providing coffee hour for the church this past Sunday. Much good food was had by all. And thanks to whoever cleaned up after...when I returned on Sunday afternoon to clean, I found it already done!

Ellie Handleman hosted a cookie baking party for our Youth Group Sunday Evening. It was a wonderful event full of fun and tasty cookies. Many thanks to Ellie for the idea and for hosting.

Our 5th and 6th Grade class helped collect Guest at Your Table boxes on Sunday culminating several weeks of promotion and of learning about water rights. Thank you to the students and teachers (Patti Walters and Carrie Brandon) for all your work. If your box is still at home, never fear...you can still bring it in!

All Things Religious Education!

2011-12-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

What a great week for Religious Education at First Parish Church!

Food Pantry

Last week our Pre K-K class decorated our Norwell Food Pantry cart and this week helped fill up! Thanks to the kids and their teachers, Mary Nickerson and Elizabeth Robey!

As part of their Neighboring Faiths Curriculum, our 7th and 8th Grade class visited the North River Community Church in Pembroke yesterday. Many thanks to Ellie Handleman and Marlon Taylor for driving and chaperoning the visit!

Cathy Phillips treated 5 members of our Youth Group to Pizza followed by a trip to the mall where they went shopping for Christmas presents for foster children.

Mitten Tree! Help keep someone warm this winter! Bring in gloves, mittens, hats or scarves to put on our mitten tree. We will collect all donations after our Christmas Eve service so let's start filling up the tree this coming Sunday!

Family Banner Squares! Have you noticed the wonderful banners in front of our sanctuary! If you or your family is not represented, stop by the Religious Education table on Sunday, pick up a felt square, decorate it and drop it by the church sometime before the Christmas Eve Service and we will pin it to our banners. Be a part of this wonderful tradition.

Adult Learning!

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group, will meet on Sunday morning, Dec. The 18th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor to discuss the Book of Exodus. the Exodus is the foundational event in the history of the Hebrew People. Everyone is very welcome.

Our First Parish Book Group has a special event planned for our January meeting! What are the books that have changed your life? We would love to hear from you. Bring your books and be prepared for a great discussion!

We will meet on Wednesday evening, January 4th at 7pm.

Check out and "like" the First Parish Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Parish-Unitarian-Church-in-Norwell/278602565514485

What are you waiting for?

2011-12-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

From the DRE,

What are you waiting for? It is the season of Advent, the time in the Christian Calendar year set aside for waiting and anticipation. May everyone find what they are looking for and may what we are looking for be worthy. Blessings to all.

********************************************
Church School Calendar Items:
Dec. 11th- regular Church school
Dec. 18th- regular Church school
December 25th-no Church School
January 1st- No Church School

We hope to see everyone. Let's keep up the great momentum! If you have not yet made your way to church and church school, the "Holiday Season" is a great time to start!

***************************
Adult Learning:

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group is talking about the Exodus. We are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. Please read the book of Exodus to prepare. We will meet on Sunday December the 18th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We would love to see you. No prior attendance or acquaintance with the Bible is necessary.

And dont forget that our Book Group will discuss Gap Creek Wednesday evening Dec. the 7th. at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

RE Everyday!

2011-11-29T06:28:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Elizabeth Robey for providing Nursery Care this past Sunday. And thanks as well to Rae and Minnie Stephenson who helped out!

We return, this coming Sunday, to our regular church school classes and hope to see everyone there!

It is not too late to pick up a Guest At Your Table box. They will be available at the church for the next few weeks. Pick yours up on Sunday!

Youth Group News: Our Youth Group met for pizza and a movie just over a week ago. Cathy Phillips will be taking a group of our youth shopping on Sunday, Dec. 4th following worship. They will be working with our Service Committee to purchase presents for foster children.

Adult Learning:

our readings for this Sunday are Genesis 12, 13, 37-47

We meet the first and third Sundays of each month at 9am (before worship) in the Fogg Parlor.

****************************
Our Book Discussion Group will discuss: "Gap Creek" by Robert Morgan.

One reviewer wrote of the book:

"In Gap Creek, he (Morgan) writes with great feeling--but not a touch of sentimentality--about a life Julie aptly calls "both simple and hard."

We meet Wednesday, Dec. the 7th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor

Water, Bibles, Books, and Boxes...

2011-11-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

Water Rights!

Our 5th and 6th grade Class has been working on water rights. With their teachers Patti Walters and Carrie Brandon-and with the help of Sue Robinson, our Guest At Your Table Coordinator, they studied this fundamental issue, helped pass out GAYT boxes at our Family Service last week, and produced a video. Filmed, edited and compiled by Molly Twite, this excellent resourse can be seen on the Church Website and here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YkL3YXH8ag&feature=player_embedded
Look for a display presented by the class at coffee hour during the next weeks. Many thanks to teachers, Sue, Molly and the students of the 5th and 6th grade class.

It is not too late to pick up a Guest At Your Table box. They will be available at the church for the next few weeks. Pick yours up on Sunday!

Reminder! We have no Church school this coming Sunday, Nov. 27th (due to the long holiday weekend.) Baby care will be available and we encourage everyone to attend if you are in town!

Adult Learning:

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study Group will meet Sunday, Dec. the 4th to discuss the Pentateuch (the story of Israel) We are using Marcus Borg's "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" as the basis for our discussion. We would love to see you! No experience with the Bible is necessary.
We meet the first and third Sundays of each month at 9am (before worship) in the Fogg Parlor.
A special thank you to Melody Barlow who led our discussion the past two sessions. Wonderful work!
****************************

Our Book Discussion Group will discuss: "Gap Creek" by Robert Morgan.

One reviewer wrote of the book:

"In Gap Creek, he (Morgan) writes with great feeling--but not a touch of sentimentality--about a life Julie aptly calls "both simple and hard."

We meet Wed. December the 7th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

Finally we wish all a blessed, joyous, and safe Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for.
Many blessings to all!

Family service! Table Guests, Bibles, Books and more!

2011-11-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

Family Service! Remember that this coming Sunday (Nov. 20th) is our Family Holiday Service. We will not have church school but will have Baby Care. We hope to see all our Church School Families in Church on Sunday!

Guest at Your Table boxes will also be distributed on Sunday (with some help from our 5th and 6th Grade Class who have been working on water rights.) The class will also have a display with vital information (and a video shot and edited by Molly Twite) at coffee hour.

Adult Learning:

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group is talking sin! We are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. Please read Genesis Chapters 1-3 to prepare. Melody Barlow will be the lead teacher Sunday, November 20th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We would love to see you. No prior attendance or acquaintance with the Bible is necessary.

****************************

Our Book Discussion Group will discuss: "Gap Creek" by Robert Morgan.

One reviewer wrote of the book:

In Gap Creek, he (Morgan) writes with great feeling--but not a touch of sentimentality--about a life Julie aptly calls "both simple and hard."

We meet Wed. December the 7th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.
******************************

And this from Ellie Handleman who is coordinating our Baby Care program!

"What's better than a baby? A baby you can take care of for an hour and then give back!! We are looking for volunteers to stay in babycare for one Sunday so that the parents of the little ones can enjoy a much-needed hour of adult time in the service. If all of us who haven't had a tiny one in a while took just one Sunday, we could fill up the babycare schedule and make our church even more welcoming for families with babies. Please contact Ellie Handleman (ehandleman@comcast.net) or Stuart Twite (dreslt@live.com) to get on the schedule. Thank you!"

Many blessings

Youth, Calendars, Bibles and Books...

2011-11-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

This from Cathy Phillips, coordinator of service for our Youth Group:

"After school on Wednesday, seven members of the youth group participated in a community service project at the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry headquarters in Roxbury. UUUM operates an after-school program for 50 middle and high school students from neighboring schools offering homework tutoring, dinner and games. While First Parish adults cooked a taco dinner, youth group members conducted interviews with the UUUM kids for a “photo collage” and led an icebreaker game. Everyone enjoyed dinner together followed by board games afterward. The project was deemed a great success by all and we’re planning to a return visit in January.

P.S.: UUUM is a beehive of activity and welcomes UU volunteers of all ages. It’s not hard to get there and there’s parking onsite. If you’d like to help out, contact Rev. Kate Wilkinson at kwilkinson@uuum.org."

A very special thank you to Cathy Phillips for organizing and conducting this very important work. Thanks also go to Corinna Silva and Laurie Brown who cooked along with Cathy while our Youth Group members spent time with the middle and high school students.
********************************************

Church School Calendar Items:

Nov. 6th "Regular Classes"
Nov. 13th "Regular Classes"
Nov. 20th "Thanksgiving, Family Friendly Service!" No Church School but child care will be available
Nov. 27th No Church School

We hope to see everyone. Let's keep up the great momentum! If you have not yet made your way to church and church school, the "Holiday Season" is a great time to start!
***************************
Adult Learning:

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group is talking creation! We are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. Please read Genesis Chapters 1-3 to prepare. Melody Barlow will be the lead teacher Sunday, November 6th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We would love to see you. No prior attendance or acquaintance with the Bible is necessary.

****************************

Our Book Discussion Group will discuss: "Gap Creek" by Robert Morgan.

One reviewer wrote of the book:
In Gap Creek, he (Morgan) writes with great feeling--but not a touch of sentimentality--about a life Julie aptly calls "both simple and hard."

We meet Wed. December the 7th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

*****************************

And this from Ellie Handleman who is coordinating our Baby Care program!

Many blessings

awesome!

2011-10-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today, I led four groups of Norwell Third Graders on a tour of our Church. This annual field trip takes the third grade through Norwell center and elsewhere. I have done the First Parish component for four years or so and really enjoy it.
This afternoon, as the final group left the church, one young person exclaimed loudly, "This is an awesome place!" Truer words...
Blessings to all. stuart

sleeping bags and good neighbors...

2011-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

As part of our new curriculum, "A Questing Year," teachers Carrie Brandon and Patti Walters took their 5th and 6th graders to the back field and had them spend some time in sleeping bags on the ground and think about what life is like for our homeless population.
(photo by Molly Twite)
************************
Sunday evening, our 7th and 8th Graders, accompanied by Marlon Taylor and Clayton Handleman (and myself) visited the Teen Life Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hanover, as part of our "Neighboring Faiths" curriculum. Thanks to Marlon and Clayton for coming!

*************************************

Adult Learning News.

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss: Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Don't miss this wonderful book! We meet Wednesday Nov. 2nd at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

*******************************************

A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group is talking creation! We are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg as the springboard of our discussion. Please read Genesis Chapters 1-3 to prepare. Melody Barlow will be the lead teacher Sunday, November 6th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.
**********************

And this from Ellie Handleman who is coordinating our Baby Care program!

a beautiful corner of the world...

2011-10-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great week. We had a wonderful Sunday beginning with a great discussion in our Bible Study (see more below) followed by the commissioning of all our dedicated Church school teachers during worship. Finally, coffee hour at the James Library introduced several people to a great South Shore Library and art center. What a beautiful corner of the world we have!
**********************************

Our 7th and 8th Graders will be visiting St. Mary's Church in Hanover this Sunday evening at 6pm as a part of our Neighboring Faiths curriculum. We will meet at the First Parish parking lot at 5:30. We hope all 7th and 8th graders (and families) can come. Please let me know if you plan to attend and/or can drive.

***********************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss: Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Don't miss this wonderful book! We meet Wednesday Nov. 2nd at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

*******************************************
A Panorama of Life, our Bible Study group will talk about creation stories Sunday November 6th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We are using "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg. You will look at Scripture in a whole new way!

Many blessings

full swing!

2011-10-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

re everyday!

From the DRE,

Our Church school and adult learning programs are in full swing but it is never too late to jump in! All we are missing is you!

Youth Group News

Our Youth Group met recently for a Pizza Party/organizational meeting. Special thanks to Cathy Phillips for speaking with our youth about possible service activities.

And thanks to the members of our Youth Group who helped our ushers on Sunday and provided Baby Care. Our Youth Group is off to a fine start!

Adult Learning News!

A Panorama of Life

Our First Parish Bible Study is using Marcus Borg's book, "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" as its springboard for discussion. This excellent book will change the way you think about the Scriptures and it is geared to all levels of previous engagement with the Bible. Give it a try!

We meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

******************************************************************

Join the First Parish Book Group for a discussion of:

Caleb’s Crossing
By: Geraldine Brooks

We will meet on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor

********************************************************************************

And this from Ellie Handleman who is coordinating our Baby Care program!

**********************************************************************************

Dont forget to encourage friends who have no church home to give First Parish a try! Jen Sulc, a member of out Lifespan Religious Eduation Committee had a great idea. If everyone who uses Facebook posted a status now and again about First Parish and Religious Education, the word would get out to many people. Give it a try!

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to call me at: 781 837 8791 or email at dreslt@live.com. Many blessings, stuart twite

alternate universes, neighboring faiths, Confederates and more...

2011-10-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

What a great Sunday we had in Religious Education!

Our first Bible Study Group of the year met before worship. We are using the wonderful book "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally," by Marcus Borg as the springboard for our discussions. Come give it a try! We meet the first and third Sundays of each month at 9:00am.

Church School is now in full swing! If you have not been able to make it yet, no worries! We would love to see you. Our teachers have settled in and are doing an amazing job!

Our 7th and 8th Grade class and their parents met after worship to talk about "Neighboring Faiths" a long-loved Unitarian Univeralist Curriculum that will take us on visits of several area places of worship. Thank you parents for your help and dedication in advance.

Our Youth Group met for Pizza and discussion Sunday evening (alternate universes being a particularly discussed subject.) Cathy Phillips talked about service opportunities and our youth did some organizing (though I think the Anarchist model of government was decided upon.) Thank you youth group for a great start!

Our Book Discussion Group meets this Wednesday Evening to talk about:

Confederates in the Attic. Join us at 7:00 pm in the Fogg Parlor!

Remember we have no church school this coming Sunday as it is a Holiday weekend. Child care will be available so we hope to see everyone in church!

Blessings, stuart

Neighbors, pizza, Bibles, and Confederates...

2011-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Attention Parents of 7th and 8th graders! We will have a short informational meeting following worship this Sunday. As you know, our Neighboring Faiths Curriculum is centered around visits to local places of worship. We will talk about that process talk about how all of you can help. Many thanks as see you Sunday.

Youth Group Evening! We invite all of our Youth (9-12th graders) to a pizza party/ organizational meeting this Sunday at the Church at 6pm. We encourage everyone to attend!

**********************************

Adult Learning News!

A Panorama of Life. This Sunday at 9:00am in the Fogg Parlor

Our First Parish Bible Study will use Marcus Borg's book, "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" as its springboard for discussion. This excellent book will change the way you think about the Scriptures and it is geared to all levels of previous engagement with the Bible. Give it a try!

We meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

************************************************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss:

"Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War" by Tony Horwitz

This fascinating and very entertaining book is a great way to start the year! We will meet
Wednesday evening at 7pm, October the 5th, in the Fogg Parlor.

*******************************************

Our hearts and prayers continue to be with Nick Metzger and the Metzger family. Nicky would love to get cards or postcards at:

Nick Metzger
6W Room 602
Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

You can also follow his progress and sign his guest book at

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nickmetzger.
*********************************************

Don't forget to encourage friends who have no church home to give First Parish a try! Jen Sulc, a member of out Lifespan Religious Eduation Committee had a great idea. If everyone who uses Facebook posted a status now and again about First Parish and Religious Education, the word would get out to many people. Give it a try!

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to call me at: 781 837 8791 or email at dreslt@live.com.

Back in the saddle...

2011-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Nick Metzger has begun his long hospital stay. We would like to send him over the next 8 weeks or so as many encouraging cards and letters as possible. Take a moment with your children each week to send a note. It would be deeply appreciated.
The address is:

Nick Metzger 6W
room 602 Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

And, of course, all of our thoughts and prayers go with Nick and the entire Metzger family.

Blessings

We're off!

2011-09-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

What a great first week we had in our church school!

First, a very special thank you to Ingrid Carlson who spoke to our church school during Second Sunday worship about bone marrow transplants-What a gift her talk was for our chudren and for the parents and teachers. Thank you Ingrid.

Our first trimester teachers were outstanding! They are:
Pre K-K: Mary Nickerson, Elizabeth Robey
1st and 2nd: Laura and Eric Page
3rd and 4th: Sue and Tony Keady
5th and 6th: Carrie Brandon and Patti Walters

Thanks also to Cathy Phillips who will be coordinating the public service component of our Youth Group. Cathy met with youth and parents and later with the Service Committee on Sunday.

Hope to see everyone on Sunday!

We are looking for you!

2011-09-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

From the DRE,
WE had a great first Sunday of Church School last week. Thank you to all who helped and thanks to all who came.
We will have our first Second Sunday Children's Worship this Sunday which will be followed by start of our regular classes. Our first trimester teachers are hard at work preparing lessons.
Finally, don't forget to stop by the Religious Education table to register your children for the year and to pick up information about our program!
We hope to see you then!
**********************************
Youth Group families! Cathy Phillips who will coordinate the public service aspect of our Youth Group will be speaking with members, potential members and parents about this vital subject! We will meet in the Skylight Room following worship.
**********************************
Adult Learning News!
Adult Learning programs will begin in October and include:

A Panorama of Life.

We meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

******************************************************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss:

"Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War" by Tony Horwitz
This fascinating and very entertaining book is a great way to start the year! We will meet
Wednesday evening at 7pm, October the 5th, in the Fogg Parlor.

*******************************************

Dont forget to encourage friends who have no church home to give First Parish a try! Jen Sulc, a member of out Lifespan Religious Eduation Committee had a great idea. If everyone who uses Facebook posted a status now and again about First Parish and Religious Education, the word would get out to many people. Give it a try!

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to call me at: 781 837 8791 or email at dreslt@live.com.

Hope to see you Sunday and
Blessings, stuart twite (DRE)

The Little Things!

2011-09-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to another wonderful year of Religious Education at First Parish Church! We hope you had all had a great summer. As always, we are excited to start another year. Our Homecoming Service is coming this Sunday, September 11th at 10am. The children will start in the service and then retire to the Parish Hall where we will introduce our theme and make classroom chalices and chalice cloths. Regular Sunday School classes will begin the following week. Youth group parents, look for an email by Wednesday with your early schedule-we are excited about the program and the response so far!

Our theme for the year is:

the little things...

__________________________________________________________

Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones," a reflection of a great and deep truth. Our theme this year in Religious Education emphasizes the many small ways in which we grow both as individuals and as a Church community.

In the face of so many of the obstacles of life our response is either to hope for dramatic change or to retreat into the belief that we cannot do anything to make things better.

Being faithful in the little things is the quietly radical belief that every small act that we commit for good has a dramatic impact in the world and in our lives.

So join us for a year of "little things," small yet deeply important steps along the road to living a life of meaning and spirit.
*********************************************

Adult Learning programs will begin in October and include:

A Panorama of Life. Our First Parish Bible Study will use Marcus Borg's book, "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" as its springboard for discussion. This excellent book will change the way you think about the Scriptures and it is geared to all levels of previous engagement with the Bible. Give it a try!

We meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

******************************************************************

Our First Parish Book Group will discuss:

"Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War" by Tony Horwitz

This fascinating and very entertaining book is a great way to start the year! We will meet Wednesday evening at 7pm, October the 5th, in the Fogg Parlor.

Dont forget to encourage friends who have no church home to give First Parish a try!

If anyone has any questions, dont hesitate to call me at: 781 837 8791 or email at dreslt@live.com.

Hope to see you Sunday and

Blessings, stuart twite (DRE)

Call me Ishmael...

2011-08-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

"Call me Ishael" on Wednesday, Augest 31st at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor when we will discuss "Moby Dick." If you read it long ago, it's going to be even better now. If you have never read it, you won't be disappointed! Hope to see you then.

Loaves, Fishes and Harry Potter...

2011-07-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

I was asked for the text of the "Harry Potter" sermon and as we don't post summer sermons, I thought I would post it here.

Homily: Loaves, Fishes, and the Harry Potter Generation

I think it was the theologian Stanley Hauerwas who wrote some years ago that we should not give Bibles to Sunday School students and, maybe should not be encouraging people to read the Bible at all. Now, as a lifelong Sunday School goer, the child of a Mother who was, at least twice, the Sunday School Superintendent of our Lutheran Church, as a teacher of Vacation Bible School, a teacher as an adult in Lutheran and Episcopalian Sunday schools, and a Sunday School Superintendent, before becoming a Director of Religious Education, this was somewhat off-putting. I remember receiving my Bible upon graduating, I think, the fifth grade of Sunday School. We even received New Testaments at a public school assembly one year. Why would Hauerwas, who loves the Bible, say such a thing?
His reasoning, if I remember correctly, was that the Bible has become hostage to two opposite yet similar camps. Fundamentalism, of course, argues that every word of the scripture is literally true and breathed by God. Liberal interpreters of the Higher Criticism, on the other hand, often focus on debunking, or proving what did not, factually, happen. Also, he said, the idea that we can read and understand the Bible by ourselves, outside of a religious community, was arrogance and deeply misguided.
I was put in mind of this by, of course, Harry Potter. For those of you who may have missed the Harry Potter phenomenon, a brief introduction:
On the 30th of June in 1997, a fantasy novel called "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" was released in England. Just this past Friday, July the 15th, 2011, the movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" was released. The 14 years in between saw six more books which, to date, have sold about 450 million copies, been translated into 67 languages, and made the English Author of the books, J.K. Rowling the world's first Billionaire author. The movie series has shattered box office records-the final installment mentioned above made 42.5 million dollars in midnight screenings on Friday alone. The combined series has made billions of dollars. And the books and movies are not all. Product lines, theme parks, games and much more have made the Harry Potter "brand" well-neigh ubiquitous and, often, controversial.
The books have long been praised for introducing tens of thousands of children to reading but are sometimes (and I think with a little jealously) criticized for their literary merit. They have been praised for their ethical message, and blasted by some who see them as dark, and a threat to the religious values of our youth. An entire cottage industry of books and movies ABOUT Harry Potter has arisen as well. Finally, in a couple of blogs and news stories recently bemoaning the end of Potter that has come with this final movie release, I have heard the children and youth who grew up in the 14 years of Harry, referred to as the "Harry Potter Generation" In other words, a cultural phenomenon doesn't get any bigger than this.
So why did Harry Potter phenomenon get me thinking about the theologian Stanley Hawerwas? Well to me, they both raise some deeply important questions including:
What is myth and what is truth, and how do they contribute to the formation of our view of the world? And what are the virtues and dangers inherent in how we read and integrate things like scripture or literature into our lives, minds, and hearts? My object this morning is to address these questions...
Myth and fact (or truth) have, of course, often been considered opposites, usually to the detriment of myth which is often used to mean untruth. But many philosophers, theologians and writers have struggled mightily against that view. The fantasy writer, Ursula Le Guin, for example wrote, "Fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual, but its true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely why many of them are afraid of fantasy. They know that its truth challenges, even threatens, all that is phony, unnecessary, and trivial in the life they have let themselves by forced into living." And the historical Jesus scholar Marcus Borg says this "Some understand that the power of myth is not whether or not it is true but how it shapes one’s understanding of the world and our place within it." And finally this from another writer of a fairly important literary fantasy series, the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien. When told that myths were lies, he replied "No, we come from God and the myths created by us, although they inevitably include some error, nevertheless "reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God." It is only through our myth making, in which we become a "sub-creator" inventing stories, that we can aspire to the perfection humans knew before the Fall."
I would argue that is exactly here that scripture and literature, especially for our purposes, fantasy literature, serve their greatest purpose. I am a great believer in the fall.
I believe that we are all divided creatures, separated from our true selves, what many name God. The poet William Wordsworth expressed this best in the famous 5th stanza of his "Intimations of Immortality"
"Our birth" he wrote. "is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
        Hath had elsewhere its setting,
          And cometh from afar:
        Not in entire forgetfulness,
        And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
        From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Shades of the prison-house begin to close
        Upon the growing Boy,
But he beholds the light, and whence it flows,
        He sees it in his joy;
The Youth, who daily farther from the east
    Must travel, still is Nature's priest,
      And by the vision splendid
      Is on his way attended;
At length the Man perceives it die away,
And fade into the light of common day.
It is the great function of religion and maybe of literature and poetry to illuminate that divide and then to create signposts along the way that may narrow it some.
With Tolkien, I believe that the great myth writers are "sub- creators" who bring us back to ourselves albeit never completely and never perfectly. "Myth", In the words of Ursula Le Guin, agitates adults who are victims of the fall "They know that its truth challenges, even threatens, all that is phony, unnecessary, and trivial in the life they have let themselves be forced into living." a pretty fair description of our divided selves.
So what could possibly be the problem? Why would our theologian Hauerwas, suggest the Bible, for example, should be taken out of the hands of individuals? What are the dangers of scripture and myth?
The first great danger is in HOW we read. We tend to be either "fundamentalist" insisting on a literal and uncompromising reading which, distorts the very spirit of the text and leads to a legalistic and exclusionary interpretation, or we seek to debunk as un-factual, fantastic, and impossible our reading which leads to a much diminished and one dimensional life.
The second danger is that of escapism. Lovers of the scripture and of fantasy literature like Harry Potter are often accused of being mere escapists-unable to deal with the realities of real life. Now let me go on record that I am firmly in favor of a little escapism. There is, after all, much in this life to escape. The question for me becomes whether we are escaping from or escaping to something.
The best of scripture and the best of myth make us look beyond the factual empirical realities of our lives. They make us see larger and greater truths beyond what we can touch and see. They can alter our angle of vision just enough to make us believe that we can create a bit our own reality.
An old verse by the great poet "Anonymous" sums up what I mean and I hope, demonstrates the practicality of what I am speaking of;
"Sow a thought" it is written, "and reap a deed.
Sow a deed and reap a habit.
Sow a habit and reap a character.
Sow a character and reap a destiny.
Or, as Marcus Borg said earlier, "the power of myth is not whether or not it is true but how it shapes one’s understanding of the world and our place within it." Scripture and literature sow those seeds.
So how we live, and how we see ourselves in this world can be deeply determined by how we read and integrate scripture or literature. In what I hope will provide a concrete example, I turn to our reading this morning from the Gospel of John.
The story of the loaves and the fishes, or the feeding of the multitudes is one of the most well attested in all of the Christian Scriptures. It is, I believe, the only miracle story related in all four Gospels. In addition, there is another "feeding of the multitudes" story albeit with fewer people and more baskets of food that is related in two of the Gospels. One can, therefore, take this as a very important event in the story of Jesus. In all six versions, thousands of people have gathered to see and to hear the teachings of this Jesus of Nazareth. When he is finished and they are about to disperse, he notices that they are all hungry and desires that they be fed. A paltry few baskets of fish and bread are produced and distributed amongst the thousands. Not only are they all fed, but baskets full are left over.
I think this a truly beautiful story largely because of how my reading and understanding of it has changed over the years. In Sunday school, I, of course, heard the story as evidence of the miraculous power of Jesus. The particulars of the story were not as important as the fact that it was yet more evidence that Jesus was God. I have never, thank God, completely lost that idea.
Years later, and by now a reader of liberation theology, I came across a very different interpretation which was also compelling. All of the thousands of people present, went this idea, had bits of food that, following the teaching, they all shared with each other thus providing enough for all who remained. This version was equally miraculous to me and I have held on to it as well.
My present reading of this story is, I suppose, a combination of the two and has been profoundly informed by my experiences as a church worker. In all the stories, many people have come, with some expectation, to hear Jesus, who offers a teaching and then, sits down with them in some kind of meal which leaves the people full. Is not this church life at its best? Do we not come together to offer up the best of ourselves? To learn together, to act together, to love together? Do we not, then, share with each other food for our bodies and fellowship for our hearts?
I do not know what happened 2000 years ago when Jesus met with the multitudes. The facts will always be unknown. Did Jesus provide a miraculous feast from a few loaves and fishes? Maybe. Did the people, inspired by a message, share with each other what they had, thus creating a bounteous meal? Maybe. I don't know. But I do know, I deeply believe, that people came to hear a teaching and left full and better than when they came. Is that not the power or scripture? The power of fantasy? The power of myth?
This is, I think, what Stanley Hauerwas was trying to say. That Scripture to be read aright must not be read literally or dismissed as fantastical, but must be read in the context of a loving, evolving, living community.
And that brings me back to Harry Potter. Over the years, I have come to realize that in a very strange way, and far beyond the crass materialism, the Harry Potter books and movies have created some wonderful communities. Some dress up in character costumes, play games that the characters play, and are deeply immersed in the entire culture. And that is, for the most part, wonderful. What a joyous thing to find a community of like minded people in this often lonely world.
Most of the communities I am referring to, however, only include a few people, maybe only two. In preparing for this talk, I sent out a last minute appeal on Facebook for people to send me their responses to Harry Potter. I was so happy to receive a note from a former student from our days at All Saints Episcopal Day School in Phoenix Arizona. "Hey Mr. Twite," she wrote, "I saw your posting on Harry Potter and couldn't resist sending you a note. I've been reading them since they came out, but what I'm most excited about is still to come. My five-year-old nephew saw one of the movies and when we spend a week together in August, we'll be reading the first book together. Right now, I'm his go-to for all things Star Wars and now it looks like he'll be coming to me for questions on Harry, Hermione and Ron. I can't wait to share the stories with him."
The second came from a parishioner here at First Parish. "As my son has gotten older," she wrote, "there are fewer and fewer points of common interest. Teenagers can be quite contrary! Harry Potter is something we never disagree on. It's a nice connection."
Now to me, when it gets right down to essentials, Jesus sharing a teaching and a simple meal with a few thousand of his closest friends, a mother sharing common stories with her son, and an aunt, sharing those same stories with a nephew are much the same thing. They are the beginning of the journey and they are the end of the journey. They represent the power of Scripture and the power of myth. We ignore that beautiful power at our own peril. Amen

Loaves, Fish and the Harry Potter Generation...

2011-07-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Join us tomorrow for summer worship! Check in with your church and listen to a talk about Harry Potter, Scripture, and recovering from the fall. The service will include time for anyone who wishes to talk about books that have had an impact on their lives. Summer services are a little shorter and a little more casual. Hope to see you tomorrow (Sunday, July 17th) at 10am!

Are you reading Moby Dick yet? We will discuss in August!

And don't forget to read "Reading the Bible Again For the First Time" by Marcus Borg. It will change the way you think about the Bible forever!

Blessings

SUMMER AT FIRST PARISH!

2011-07-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far! First Parish offers several opportunities for fun and fellowship this summer beginnning with our summer worship schedule.
Summer Worship at First Parish!

Summer worship services in the Meetinghouse: July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14 and August 28 at 10:00 am. These are all intergenerational services, with no separate children’s program or baby care.

Each “Fresh Air and Fellowship” (FAAF) Sunday, those wishing to participate will gather at the church at 10:00 am and then walk together in the Norris Reservation for conversation and fellowship. If it rains, we will gather in the Parish Hall for coffee instead. We hope that this will be an enjoyable, intergenerational time!

June 26 - FAAF, leaders Marlon & Les Taylor
July 3 – Lay-led worship service, Stuart Twite
July 10- FAAF, leaders Ralph & Betsy Gordon
July 17 – Lay-led worship service, Joanne Howard
July 24 – FAAF, leaders Joyce & Jim Pickel
July 31 – Lay-led worship service, Alex Gordon
August 7 - FAAF, leader Carol Neely
August 14 – Lay-led worship service, David Turner
August 21 – FAAF, leaders Bev & Bernie Gardner
August 28 – Rev. Vicki’s summer service
September 4 - Closed for the holiday weekend
September 11 - New church year begins with worship and religious education

In addition, our Book Group (which includes everyone who is interested!) is reading
Moby Dick. We will meet in August so dust off your copy and get ready for an amazing ride.

Our Bible Study Group (again the group includes anyone that is interested) is reading, over the summer, "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" by Marcus Borg. It is readily available and will change the way you think about the Bible.

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at: dreslt@live.com

Many blessings to all! stuart twite (DRE)

a radical vision for Sunday School...

2011-06-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

Next year's plan for Sunday School. What do you think? (this a postcard from 1910 predicting what education would be like in the year 2000)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far!

a little light summer reading!

2011-06-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Our summer Book Group will discuss "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. Its better than you remember! We will meet the first Wed. evening in August at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

Reading the Bible!
"Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" by Marcus Borg will be the springboard for next year's Bible Study Group. The subtitle of this wonderful and accessible book is "Taking the Bible seriously but not literally." Give it a read over the summer-you wont be disappointed!

Church Picnic!

2011-06-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

Join us tomorrow for our annual Church Picnic following worship! Sponsored and provided by your Lifespan Religious Education Committee, everything is provided except you. EVERYONE is invited. Come celebrate another great year!

Blessings to all

Youth, graduates, Picnics and more!

2011-06-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

re everyday!

On June 12th, we will recognize our graduating seniors and present them with Fogg Scholarships.

Also on the 12th, we will recognize and honor all who have taught in our Church school this year. I hope all can come as not only does your work need to be recognized, it demonstrates to our entire community the importance we place on service.

Following worship, on the 12th, we will have a very important YOUTH GROUP ORGANIZING MEETING. All parents of prospective youth group members and everyone interested is urged to attend.

Finally, on June 19th, The Lifespan Religious Education Committee will again host our annual All Church Picnic. We supply the food and drink, you supply yourselves. This is a wonderful way to celebrate another church year full of blessings. We would love to see you!

Last Sunday, we honored our Our Whole Lives (OWL) teachers Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor and all the students who completed the OWL curricula this year. Thanks again to Amanda and Marlon and congratulations to our 7th and 8th graders.

Adult Learning News:

Our Bible Study group met to plan for next year and came up with some very interesting ideas. We hope you will consider being a part! I will send out more details as they are firmed up. For now, our summer reading book is:
"Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally" by Marcus Borg
It is a wonderful book and the title says it all.

We would love to hear from you concerning possible books to include in our monthly book group list. If you have read a good book lately that you think would make for interesting discussion, drop me a note!

Blessings to all, stuart twite (DRE) dreslt@live.com

war and peace, owls and picnics...

2011-05-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

Because of the three day weekend, we will not have church school this coming Sunday. If you are in town, we urge you to come to worship. It focuses on the Civil War and will have a 19th Century feel.

We will recognize our OWL students and teachers on Sunday, June the 5th. We hope to see everyone there!
******************
Save the date! Our annual Church Picnic will be held on Sunday June the 19th. Dont miss it!

Youth Group, Sunday School, Music, and OWL...

2011-05-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

YOUTH GROUP INFORMATIONAL MEETING! For all parents of potential youth group members, and for all just interested in next year's Youth Group! We will meet on Sunday June the 12th, following worship, to talk about next year's program. From conversations with several of you, I am optimistic that we will have a great program and a great year.

Music Sunday is here! Several of our Sunday school students and parishioners will be singing and playing so don't miss it! We WILL HAVE CHURCH SCHOOL and have tried to schedule our student musicians early in the program so that they can attend class.

We will recogninze our OWL Students and teachers on Sunday June the 5th. What an outstanding year they have had!

Mothers, Van Halen, and m and m's...

2011-05-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Start your Mothers Day celebration with your First Parish Family! We hope to see you Sunday for Church school. I will be preaching on m and m's, Mothers, Van Halen, and what keeps us safe...
See you Sunday! And Happy Mothers Day in advance.

2011-04-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

We hope to see everyone Sunday for the resumption of CHURCH SCHOOL after Spring vacation and Easter!
**********************************************************

Join the First Parish Book Group for a Discussion of:

"The Omnivore's Dilemma"
By Michael Pollen

This is the Norwell Reads book selection and will make you re-think how you eat.

Wednesday, May the 4th at 7:00pm in the Fogg Parlor
*****************************************************

Our Bible Study Group will study Jeremiah 7: 1-20 this Sunday at 9am in the Fogg Parlor and discuss the questions:
1. What does it mean to live a religious life?
2. what role does Church play in that life?
All are welcome!
*****************************************************

I will be preaching Sunday, May 8th (Mother's Day) on the topic:
"No Brown M&M's: On Being Faithful in the Small Things. "

Vacations and Easter eggs...

2011-04-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

As I write, the rain beats on the window and an occasional rumble of thunder and flash of lightening break the sky. It may not feel like Spring vacation (or maybe it feels just like Spring vacation) but here it is! We will not have Sunday school this Sunday but encourage everyone who is in town to join us for worship! The following Sunday is Easter and begins with our Easter Breakfast, followed by family worship and, finally, our annual Easter Egg Hunt (directly following worship-bring a basket if you can.) We hope to see everyone there.

We wish everyone a happy and safe vacation. blessings

why can't we be friends...

2011-04-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Our third trimester is underway...We hope to see everyone on Sunday!

Our BIBLE STUDY Group will discuss Jeremiah 7:1-20. We would love to see you on Sunday morning at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

Our BROWN BAG EMERSON group will discuss the essay (and the idea of) "Friendship" this Sunday following worship. No need to have attended any of the other sessions. The essay can be found at: http://www.rwe.org/complete-works/ii---essays-i/vi-friendship

finally, our BOOK GROUP will discuss: "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" on Wed. April the 6th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor. Discounted books are available at the Religious Education table following worship.

are you experienced?

2011-03-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our second trimester teachers whose tenure came to an end last Sunday. Your work with our children is deeply appreciated! They are:
Pre K- K: Mary Nickerson and Laura Page
1st and 2nd: Elizabeth and Thad Robey
3rd and 4th: Patty Walters and Carrie Brandon
5th and 6th: Amy Stephenson and Wendy Prentiss
7th and 8th: Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor

And WELCOME and thanks to our third trimester teachers who begin this Sunday. They are:
Pre K-K: Anna-Joy Weber Bannon and Steve Bannon
1st and 2nd: A rotating cadre of experienced teachers
3rd and 4th: Clayton Handleman and Scott Stephenson
5th and 6th: Amy and Jon Maslow
7th and 8th: Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor
Our children are fortunate indeed!
*******************************************************

BROWN BAG EMERSON
Pack a lunch and join us for our second "Brown Bag Emerson" session (NO NEED TO HAVE ATTENDED THE FIRST SESSION-WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.) We will discuss Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essay "EXPERIENCE" It can be found online here.
child care (with lunch provided) will be available. Please let us know if you will need child care so we make sure we have enough!
********************************************************

Join the First Parish Book Group for a Discussion of:
"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson
(books are available at Church via Betsy Detweiler)
We Will Meet Wednesday Evening, April the 6th, at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.
Refreshments will be served

A Big Sunday!

2011-03-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is a big one at First Parish!
It starts at 9am in the Fogg Parlor with our Bible Study group and the first 10 Chapters of Jeremiah. This fascinating Prophetic voice will make for excellent discussion!

Then we will all join together to celebrate Spring with a child-friendly intergenerational Church service (Child care will be available!)

Finally, our adult learning program, Brown Bag Emerson will commence. Read Emerson's essay, "Self-Reliance" (easily found online) pack a brown bag lunch and join us. WE WILL PROVIDE CHILD CARE AND LUNCH FOR THE CHILDREN. Please let me know if you may desire child care so that we can provide enough food.

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Many Blessings

RE Everday!

2011-03-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

It's Union Sunday!
We are hosting Union Sunday this year. Join us for a gathering of area Unitarian Churches in a celebration of our common heritage. Though we don't have regular Sunday School classes, our own Kate Sanborn will be working with the children on Mandalas (a workshop she gave to our adults with RAVE reviews! Thanks to Kate and we hope to see everyone on Sunday morning.

Brown Bag Emerson
******************************************************************
Join us for three weeks, three brown bag lunches, and three essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Sunday March 20th: Self Reliance
Sunday March 27th: Experience
Sunday April 3rd: Domestic Life

Together, these three essays provide an excellent overview of Emerson's evolving and expansive thought. Read the essay, make a lunch, and come to one or all sessions for good conversation!

Jeremiah!
Our Bible Study group will begin the study of Jeremiah on Sunday March 20th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. Read the first ten chapters of this powerful book and join us!

Buddhas and Bibles (and some Ralph Waldo)...

2011-03-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

Join us tonight (Wed.) for a discussion of Tibet, western religion and much else as we talk about the book, Murder in the High Himalaya by Jonathan Green. No need to have read the book to come!

Our Bible Study group will talk about the book of Jeremiah this coming Sunday at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. We will focus this week on the first 10
Chapters. give it a try!

Vacations, Bibles, and brown bags...

2011-02-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

Can school vacation week really be upon us? Don't forget that we do NOT have church school this Sunday, Feb. 20th. We resume again on the 27th. If you are in town of course, we would love to see you in Church!

Adult Learning!

Our Bible Study Group!
Everyone has a favorite verse in the Book of Isaiah right? Well maybe not...but you will after reading Chapters 40-66 of this very important scripture. Our First Parish Bible Study Group will meet on Sunday, February the 20th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor to share with each other things from these chapters that strike us. This is an excellent time to jump in so don't worry if you are a first timer!
__________________________________

Brown Bag Emerson
******************************************************************
Join us for three weeks, three brown bag lunches, and three essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Sunday March 20th: Self Reliance
Sunday March 27th: Experience
Sunday April 3rd: Domestic Life

Together, these three essays provide an excellent overview of Emerson's evolving and expansive thought. Read the essay, make a lunch, and come to one or all sessions for good conversation!

Dragons and prophets...

2011-02-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

If you were at coffee hour last week, you saw the wonderful dragon made and manned by our third and fourth grade class in Celebration of the Chinese New Year. It is part of the classic Unitarian Universalist curriculum, "Holidays and Holy Days," which explores religious beliefs and cultural practices from around the world using...you guessed it...Holidays and Holy Days! The head will be on display during coffee hour this coming week. Come by and check it out.
Watch this space for details on all our wonderful Sunday School Classes!

FAVORITE ISAIAH?
Everyone has a favorite verse in the Book of Isaiah right? Well maybe not...but you will after reading Chapters 40-66 of this very important scripture. Our First Parish Bible Study Group will meet on Sunday, February the 6th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor to share with each other things from these chapters that strike us. This is an excellent time to jump in so don't worry if you are a first timer!

Why we are UUs...

2011-01-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

Why are we Unitarian Universalists? The answer is on display each and every week at First Parish Church, Unitarian. In our Church School this past Sunday, for example, lessons included non-violent protest and response (as part of our curriculum on the historical Jesus) the Chinese New Year, a lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures on what is essential and much else
Come and be a part! If the busyness of the holidays kept you away for a few weeks, come back!

Boston Unitarian
After a Holiday blogging sabbatical, Boston Unitarian is back. BU is my Unitarian History Blog. I have just started a new series on how Unitarians changed the reading of the Bible. Check it out and learn more about our great tradition. Go to http://bostonunitarian.blogspot.com/ or just click on my profile for a list of my blogs.

Everyone has a favorite verse in the Book of Isaiah right? Well maybe not...but you will after reading Chapters 40-66 of this very important scripture. Our First Parish Bible Study Group will meet on Sunday, February the 6th at 9am in the Fogg Parlor to share with each other things from these chapters that strike us. This is an excellent time to jump in so don't worry if you are a first timer!

Our Book Group will discuss: "Murder in the High Himalaya" by Jonathan Green. This is a fascinating book and should create interesting discussion. We meet on Wednesday evening, February the 2nd at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

I will be preaching this coming Sunday on the theme: "Horizontal Hold...or Jesus on the Ground"

Blessings to all

favorite Isaiah...

2011-01-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

Our Book Group will discuss: "Murder in the High Himalaya" by Jonathan Green. This is a fascinating book and should create interesting discussion. We meet on Wednesday evening, February the 2nd at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor.

A resolution that is a joy to keep!

2011-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Resolve to attend one of our Adult learning programs in 2011! We have regular groups and special programs scheduled and in the works. Coming soon:

"A Panorama of Life," our Bible Study group continues its study of the Prophets with Isaiah this Sunday at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. No experience with the Bible is necessary. Join us for good talk and coffee this Sunday morning!

A New Trimester!

2011-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our Second Trimester Teaching corp!

Pre K- K: Mary Nickerson and Laura Page
1st and 2nd: Elizabeth and Thad Robey
3rd and 4th: Patty Walters and Carrie Brandon
5th and 6th: Amy Stephenson and Wendy Prentiss
7th and 8th: Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor

A reminder that we will have Second Sunday Children's Worship this Sunday followed by an all Sunday School church school service project. Following worship, our first and second trimester teachers will meet to facilitate a smooth transition.

BABY CARE! We will be returning to a sign up system for Baby Care. Look for the sign-up sheet at the Religious Education Table in the Parish Hall.

Blessings to all

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

A New Trimester! We begin our second trimester this Sunday (January the 9th.) We will have children's Second Sunday worship followed by an all-school service activity. Following worship, we will have a transition meeting with our first trimester teachers and our incoming second trimester teachers.

If you have not yet been to church school this year, or have missed a few Sundays, this is a great time to come back! We are having a wonderful year-all we are missing is YOU!

Make a New Year's Resolution to attend an adult learning group or program in 2011!

On Wednesday, Jan. 5th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor, our Book Group will discuss "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens. What a great book! If you have never read it, or are just starting it and are daunted by the size, read what you can and come anyway! You can also read the "squashed" version at http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/littledorrit.htm (but I will deny encouraging that!)

Join our Bible Study Group on Sunday, January the16th, as we continue our fascinating study of the Prophets. No Bible reading experience is necessary!

burning baggage/Dickens/second Trimester!

2010-12-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

Join us this Sunday (Jan. 2nd) for worship. I am preaching on the topic, "We Hope You Have Had a Pleasant Baggage Experience" and it is, as well, our traditional (and powerful) "Burning Bowl" ceremony. We hope to see you on Sunday!

_________________________

On Wednesday, Jan. 5th at 7pm in the Fogg Parlor, our book group will discuss "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens. What a great book! If you have never read it, or are just starting it and are daunted by the size, read what you can and come anyway! You can also read the "squashed" version at http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/littledorrit.htm (but I will deny encouraging that!)

________________________

Our Second Trimester is here! On Sunday, January the 9th, we will have a communal Sunday School Activity. Following Worship, we will have a transition meeting including teachers from the first trimester and our incoming, second trimester teachers. We hope all can attend this important meeting!

________________________

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Thanks and Dickens...

2010-12-21T11:57:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Pageant was a huge success! The children and young adults were brilliant. Special thanks to Elizabeth Robey for all the prep work she did to make the pageant what it was. Thanks also to Jennifer Sulc who did a great job on Sunday. Rev. Vicki helped write the script and worked with the children on their performance.

A Special thank you as well to our First Trimester Teachers! We make the switch to our second trimester in early January. Our wonderful first trimester teachers were:

Baby Care: Melody Barlow

Pre K-K-K: Kate and Mike Sanborn

1st and 2nd Grades: Jen and Derek Sulc

3rd and 4th Grades: Sue and Tony Keady

5th and 6th Grades: Ellie Handleman and Laurie Marsh

7th and 8th Graders: Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor (they will continue on!)

Adult Learning!

Dickens in December. Our First Parish Book Group is reading Little Dorrit our January the 5th meeting. Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

for

Join the James Library for a very special event!

An after-Christmas presentation by Professor John Glavin of Georgetown University and author of “After Dickens: Reading, Adaption and Performance”. Join Dr. Glavin for an entertaining discussion of Dickens and his works. Holiday music by Alex Gordon and refreshments. FREE.

Our Bible Study Group will not meet on January 2nd but will resume full force on January 16th when we will continue our study of the Prophets. We meet the First and Second Sundays of most months. If you have any questions, please contact stuart twite at DREslt@live.com.

RE Everyday!

2010-12-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

Walk a Mile…Religious Education at First Parish

______________________________________

Your Church school is excited to present our Christmas Pageant! Join us on Sunday during worship (10am) for a wonderful Christmas experience!
(photo: Mike Sanborn)

______________________________
Make a New Year’s Resolution to attend an adult learning program in 2011!
_____________________________

December just screams Dickens! So join our Book Group in reading "Little Dorrit" for our January 5th discussion. The James Library will host a talk by a noted Dickens scholar in late December. If you have never read Charles Dickens, you are in for a treat (and he was a Unitarian!
______________________________________

Our Bible Study group will not meet on December 19th or January 2nd. We will resume on January 16th! Give it a try! Ne experience in reading the Bible is necessary.
______________________________________
Attention Church School families! We ask that you have your children at church by 9:30 so that they can get into costume and into position. Many thanks!
_________________________

Donate to our Mitten Tree!
Bring in new gloves, mittens, hats etc. to put on the Christmas tree in the Sanctuary. After our Christmas Eve services, they will be given to help someone stay warm this year.
Thank You!

Important December News!

2010-12-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Our Church School Pageant!

Much work is being done (especially by the chair of our Lifespan Religious Education Committee, Elizabeth Robey, to prepare for our Church School Pageant! On Sunday, December 12th, following worship, we will have our rehearsal/family lunch party. Rehearsal will begin following worship and will probably last until around 12:30. Lunch will be provided for all. This will be our only full rehearsal so I hope everyone can attend! The Pageant will be held during the church service on December 19th.
__________________________________________

December just screams Dickens! So join our Book Group in reading "Little Dorrit" for our January discussion. The James Library will host a talk by a noted Dickens scholar in late December. If you have never read Charles Dickens, you are in for a treat (and he was a Unitarian!)

RE Everyday!

2010-11-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and that you can pause to take a breath before Christmas. The next few weeks of Church school will be focused on our Christmas Pageant and we encourage everyone to come and participate in this exciting process! On Sunday, December 12th, following worship, we will have our rehearsal/family pizza party. This will be our only full rehearsal so I hope all can attend! The Pageant will be held during the church service on December 19th.

A special thank you to Peg Kitchenham for initiating and working very hard on a project to take members of our Youth Group to New Orleans during February vacation. You will be hearing more about this exciting trip in the days to come. Thanks Peg!

The prophet Amos is the focus of our Bible Study group this coming Sunday (Dec. the 5th.) You can find the text online if you do not have a Bible. It is a perfect time to jump into our Bible Study group so we hope to see YOU on Sunday morning at 9am in the Fogg Parlor.

December just screams Dickens! So join our Book Group in reading "Little Dorrit" for our January discussion. The James Library will host a talk by a noted Dickens scholar in late December. If you have never read Charles Dickens, you are in for a treat (and he was a Unitarian!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Many blessings to all for a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. I wish I could express to everyone how grateful I am for the First Parish Church Community. The work that each of you does everyday at church and in your homes to create a better world is inspiring. Have a wonderful day and, I hope, amidst the busyness, take a moment to remember the great joys of being a part of a wonderful chuch community.

Here is a Thanksgiving Prayer from the great 19th Century Unitarian Minister Theodore Parker:

Thankfulness and Trust

For all the trials of my earlier day
I thank thee, Father, that they all have been;
That darkness lay about the rugged way
Which I must tread alone. For all I’ve seen
Of disappointment, sorrow, pain, and loss,
I thank thee for them all. And did I sin,
I grieve not I’ve been tried; for e’en the cross
Of penitence has taught me how to win.
Yet, of the ills as child or man I’ve borne—
My hopes laid waste, or friends sent off by death,--
Remorse has most of all my bosom torn
For time misspent, ill deeds or evil breath.
But yet, for every grief my heart has worn,
Father, I thank thee still, trusting with hearty faith
_________________________________________
A special Thank You to the 3rd and 4th grade class and their teachers Sue and Tony Keady! They gathered and deliverd many coats and other winter apparel to insure a warm winter for others.
_________________________________________
It is difficult to believe but our Church-school Christmas Pageant is coming soon. We will have our Rehearsal/Family Pizza Party on Sunday Dec. the 12th following worship. Our Pageant will be held on Sunday December the 19th. Save the dates!
________________________________________________

Many blessings to all! stuart

RE Everyday...

2010-11-17T05:58:00.000-08:00

Donate your gently used (and clean) winter coats! Our 3rd and 4th grade class is sponsoring a COAT DRIVE. You may have seen some be-coated students marching through the Parish Hall last Sunday. The class did wonderful work in organizing this effort. Please bring your children's coats (or adult coats) and winter wear to the Holiday Fair this Saturday (Nov. 20th) or to church on Sunday, Nov. 21st. Help keep someone warm this winter (and thank you 3rd and 4th grades and teachers, Sue and Tony Keady!)

Remember that we have no Church School (including 7th and 8th grades) the next two Sundays. Please join us this Sunday for our Holiday Family Service! Start your family holiday off with your First Parish Community!

____________________________________________________

It is difficult to believe but our Church-school Christmas Pageant is coming soon. We will have our Rehearsal/Family Pizza Party on Sunday Dec. the 12th following worship. Our Pageant will be held on Sunday December the 19th. Save the dates!

Sunday!

2010-11-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is a Second Sunday service and the children will be together in the Parish Hall for Children's Worship! Don't forget that we will take an offering which will be contributed to the worship offering. We suggest a dollar or two.
Our Minister emeritus, Richard Fewkes, will lead worship so don't miss it! See you Sunday and
Blessings

News and Unitarian Humor (1878 style)...

2010-11-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

October was a very busy month for Religious Education at First Parish. Our first trimester teachers settled into their work and our adult learning programs started up with our regular offerings and our program "SLOW DOWN." We continue to see our church school families returning to church and that is a blessing. If you haven't made it yet this year, NO WORRIES! Join us anytime-we would love to see you and your children
________________________________________________________
Join the First Parish Book Group and the James Library Lyceum for "Dickens in December." Our book group will be reading "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens for our January meeting. On December the 28th, the James Library presents a program by a noted Dickens Scholar (many more details to follow later.)

_____________________________________
Unitarian humor...(1878 style)

This (with no comment) from "The Dayspring" a publication of the Unitarian Sunday School Society (1878) in a section called "Humorous:"

"MA," said a thoughtful boy, "I don't think Solomon was so rich as they say he was." — " Why, my dear, what could have put that into your head?" — "Why the Bible says he slept with his fathers, and I think if he had been so very rich he would have had a bed of his own."

' A Little boy entered a fish-market the other day, and, seeing for the first time a pile of lobsters lying on the counter, looked intently at them for some time, when he exclaimed: " By the gracious! them's the biggest grasshoppers I've ever seen ! "

I'd' like you to help me a little," said a tramp, poking his head into a country shop.
".Why don't you help yourself?" returned the proprietor, angrily.
" Thank you, I will," said the tramp, as he picked up a bottle of pickles and two loaves of bread, and disappeared"

Blessings

RE Everyday!

2010-11-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

To meditate or not to meditate (or when to meditate) That is the question. We are working on our Meditation Group schedule for the year and would like to hear from YOU! If you are interested in Meditation, contact me (stuart at DREslt@live.com) and tell me what is, for you, a good time to meet!

__________________________________________________

Attention Youth Group! (Grades 9-12) We will meet Sunday Morning, Nov. 7th during worship (about 10:15.) We have some exciting things to talk about-all we need is YOU.
__________________________________________________

The First Parish Book Group Discusses: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" by Mark Haddon. Join us on Wed.

Nov. 3rd at 7pm

_______________________________

Join us this Sunday (Nov. 7th) for our Bible Study Group. No previous Bible knowledge required! Our reading for this week is:

The Calling of Prophets

Isaiah 6 (Isaiah's Commission )

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

9 He said, "Go and tell this people:

" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull

and close their eyes. [a]

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?"

And he answered:

"Until the cities lie ruined

and without inhabitant,

until the houses are left deserted

and the fields ruined and ravaged,

12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away

and the land is utterly forsaken.

13 And though a tenth remains in the land,

it will again be laid waste.

But as the terebinth and oak

leave stumps when they are cut down,

so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

AMOS

Professional prophets were common throughout the history of Israel. They would proclaim oracles from God for prophet, or attempt to divine the future for a fee. Most were false prophets who only proclaimed what the people wanted to hear (Jeremiah 6:13-14). Not only was Amos not a professional, but he was not even a student (or “son of a prophet”) of a prophet.

Instead, Amos was given a special call by God. This is a repeated theme in the Old Testament prophets. God selects the prophets. He gives them a very specific call and a very specific message to share. Amos shares his calling in Amos 7:15:

(Amos 7:15 NASB) ""But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people Israel.'"

Amos, like most of the prophets, did not chose to be God's agent. He had his own responsibilities back in Judah. But he responded to God's call, at great personal sacrifice and became willing to proclaim God's word to a hostile audience. "

Hope to see YOU on Sunday morning at 9:00 am in the Fogg Parlor!

Youth/Bible Study Readings/Sunday School!

2010-10-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

Our Sunday School has had a great start with excellent attendance this year. Lets keep up the momentum. Our children benefit from larger classes. See you Sunday!

Attention Youth Group! We will meet Sunday Morning, Nov. 7th during worship (about 10:15.) We have some exciting things to talk about-all we need is YOU.
_________________________________________________

Join us next Sunday (Nov. 7th) for our Bible Study Group. No previous Bible knowledge required! Our reading for this week is:

The Calling of Prophets

Isaiah 6 (Isaiah's Commission )

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

9 He said, "Go and tell this people:

" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull

and close their eyes. [a]

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?"

And he answered:

"Until the cities lie ruined

and without inhabitant,

until the houses are left deserted

and the fields ruined and ravaged,

12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away

and the land is utterly forsaken.

13 And though a tenth remains in the land,

it will again be laid waste.

But as the terebinth and oak

leave stumps when they are cut down,

so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

AMOS

(Amos 7:15 NASB) ""But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people Israel.'"

Hope to see YOU on Sunday morning at 9:00 am in the Fogg Parlor!

_________________________________________

BYOM...

2010-10-27T03:44:00.000-07:00

Join us tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 27th) for the final session of our Fall program

"Slow Down."

We will explore the spiritual and meditative aspects of music. The evening will include:

1. A brief presentation of different uses of music in religious life

2. A time for YOU to share your favorite music and why. Bring in a CD or cassette, we will play a bit and then talk about it (of course, you can just come and listen as well)

3. A brief meditation with music

Hope to see you tonight at 7 pm.

See you Sunday!

2010-10-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

Join us tomorrow for another exciting Sunday! Matt Meyer, a UU drummer and worship leader, will give a children's talk and then we will have our usual wonderful variety of Sunday school lessons. We hope to see everyone!

_____________________________________

A special Thank You to Kate Sanborn who led a wonderful session in our "Slow Down" series last Wednesday evening. It was a true blessing for all who attended. Look for another program from Kate in the late winter!

_____________________________________

OUT OF THE MOUTHS...It was my pleasure to lead four tours of our Church on Friday for students at Vinal Elementary School. All went well till the final tour when one cheeky young boy said to me, "This Church smells like a dentist's office and you look like a waiter."

Blessings

Dont miss this!

2010-10-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

Slow Down

You move too fast
___________________________________

Join Kate Sanborn for:

“The inner heart inside you: The practice of Mandala”

Kate quotes six year old Peter who said, "Making Mandalas help people understand the inner heart inside you. I never thought that mandalas could really tell you stuff inside you. Man, was I wrong! Making the mandalas expresses your feelings".

Creating mandalas is a meditation process. We will work from a center and move out using recycled material & collaging to make the mandalas each of which will then be incorporated into a larger work of art. _____________________________________________________________

Join us for this exciting session on Wednesday October the 20th at 7pm in the Skylight Room (no artistic experience is needed!)

(Reply to this email if you plan on attending-it will help us plan for materials!)

Slow Down.../Attention YOUTH/Bible Study Reading/Book Group!

2010-10-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

*****A special thank you to Patti Walters and Molly Twite for staffing our very busy Baby Care room Sunday! Much appreciated!
_____________________________________________________

ATTENTION YOUTH!

We will meet this coming Sunday, Oct. 17th, during Worship, to discuss service projects that are close to your hearts. What would you like to do for others this year?

_____________________________________________________

Adult Learning! (Starting Wed. evening)

_____________________________________________________
Slow Down...

You move too fast… Exploring the spiritual practice of: Poetry Art and Music
Session One Meets THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING (Oct. 13th) at 7pm in the Skylight Room.
We will talk about POETRY as a path of mindful living.
*******Absolutely no experience or proficiency as an artist, poet or musician is needed!*******

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! stuart twite (DRE)
(Photo by Mike Sanborn)
__________________________________________________________
"A Panorama of Life" Our First Parish Bible Study group will discuss the prophetic aspects of the question of immigration/what is a homeland, this coming Sunday morning (Oct. 17th) at 9am in the Fogg Parlor. A Reading for preparation can be found at: http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/archive/1715-strangers-in-our-midst
It is written from a "conservative" Christian standpoint but seeks to not "demonize" immigrants...It was chosen to stimulate discussion...
__________________________________________________________

The First Parish Book Group

Discusses: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" by Mark Haddon. Join us on Wed.

Nov. 3rd at 7pm

2010-10-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Great start!

A special thanks to the RE COMMITTEE, our FIRST TRIMESTER TEACHERS, PARENTS, and, especially OUR CHILDREN and YOUNG ADULTS for a great start to our Church school year. Our attendance has been outstanding and the energy level high!

Remember that we will not be having Sunday school this Sunday (Oct. 10th.) Please join us, however, for our Second Sunday service! Child care will be available. Classes will resume on the 17th.

________________________________________________

Adult Learning!

Don't forget Book Group tonight! We will discuss, "Born Under a Million Shadows"

_________________________________________________

The James Library Lyceum presents:

Use it or Lose it: Self Culture in America
Presented by Stuart Twite

Self Help books, recordings, seminars etc…are big business in America. The urge to grow and improve is a part of our nature. This lecture will explore the 19th Century American (and very New England) movement for “Self-Culture” which asked the question, “How can I make my life an Art?”

Friday October the 8th

The Lecture begins at 7:30 and refreshments will be served.

James Library
24 West St. Box 164,
Norwell, Massachusetts
781-659-7100
________________________________________________________________
Next week, join us for

Slow Down
You move too fast… Exploring the spiritual practice of: Poetry, Art and Music

Join us for three Wednesday evening sessions that will examine how poetry, art and music can help us
lead more meaningful, mindful lives.

*******Absolutely no experience or proficiency as an artist, poet or musician is needed******* Come to one or all sessions!

We will meet Oct. 13th, 20th, and 27th at 7:00pm in the Skylight Room!

(Photo by Mike Sanborn)
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! stuart twite (DRE)

Adult Learning in October!

2010-09-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to announce the start of our Adult Learning year with an exciting October! We hope that everyone will come for one or all of our offerings-every voice is important and contributes to whatever the discussion.

A Panorama of Life: Justice and the prophetic voice

The 1st Sunday of each month for a discussion of the burning issues of our times. We are inundated with news of recession, war, environmental disaster and much else. And yet, we seek to live lives of compassion, love, and “defiance of despair.” One way to do that is to talk with each other.

The 3rd Sunday of each month when we will examine the lives and lessons of the great Prophets of the Hebrew tradition. The lives and messages of these prophets have much to teach us about our engagement with our lives, each other, and the world around us.

We meet at 9:00am in the Fogg Parlor. Refreshments are provided

__________________

The First Parish Book Group discusses:

"Born Under a Million Shadows"

by Andrea Bushfield

We will meet on Wednesday, October the 6th at 7:00pm in the Fogg Parlor. Refreshments will be provided.

_____________________________

James Library Lyceum

Use It or Lose It: Self Culture in America

Presented by Stuart Twite

Friday October the 8th

The Lecture begins at 7:30 and refreshments will be served.

James Library

24 West St. Box 164,

Norwell, Massachusetts

781-659-7100

________________________________________________________________

Slow Down

You move too fast…

Exploring the spiritual practice of:
Poetry, Art and Music
Join us for three Wednesday evening sessions that will examine how poetry, art and music can help us
lead more meaningful, mindful lives.

*******Absolutely no experience or proficiency as an artist, poet or musician is needed*******

We will meet Oct. 13th, 20th, and 27th at 7:00pm in the Skylight Room!
(Photo by Mike Sanborn)

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! stuart twite (DRE) dreslt@live.com

A SCARY good idea!

2010-09-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Service Committee and the Religious Education community are joining together to make sure Halloween is a special time for everyone! The UU Urban Ministry and other helpers of families could use Halloween Costumes. Bring in good condition used children's costumes or pick up an extra when shopping this year and bring it to church by Sunday October 17th. We will see that they get where they are needed. Help bring some joy to a family this Halloween!
Contact Carrie Brandon at cbrandon@live.com if you have any questions.

2010-09-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

Walk a Mile...

It was another great Sunday of Religious Education at First Parish! As it was a "Second Sunday" we had Children's Worship during which we introduced our theme "Walk a Mile." Ask your child about our theme! We then lit class chalices from our common Sunday School chalice and our teachers and students processed to their Sunday School classes. Welcome back to all! If you haven't yet been able to make it to Sunday School, we look forward to seeing you soon! Our attendance so far has been excellent. Come be a part of the excitement!

Service! A central part of our church year will be service. Elizabeth Robey, the Chair of our Lifespan Religious Education Committee, has a heart for service and has made helping others a focal point for our Church-school year! Much more from Elizabeth as the year goes on.

Working with the Service Committee: Carrie Brandon and Amy Stephenson, two active Church School parents, have joined the Service Committee and will be working with Elizabeth Robey and the DRE on some joint service projects this year. Thank you Carrie and Amy!

Second Sunday Offerings: Starting in October, we will be collecting an offering from the Church school children during our Children's Worship service. Besides raising money to help with the service projects we will be working on this year, the offering is a good reminder of one way in which we sustain our community. (Suggested offering is $1 and if it could be a dollar earned during the week by your child, all the better!)

___________________________________________________________

Adult Learning:

The First Parish Book Group discusses:

"Born Under a Million Shadows" by Andrea Bushfield

We will meet on Wednesday, October the 6th at 7:00pm in the Fogg Parlor. Refreshments will be provided.

Teachers/Youth Group/Adult learning...

2010-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

First Trimester Teachers!
Hello First Parish Religious Education Community! I am very happy to announce that our First Trimester Teachers are:

Pre K-K: Kate and Mike Sanborn
1st and 2nd Grades: Jen and Derek Sulc
3rd and 4th Grades: Sue and Tony Keady
5th and 6th Grades: Ellie Handleman and Laurie Marsh
7th and 8th Grades: Owl teachers-Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor

Thank you!
___________________________________________________________
If you have not yet signed up for a trimester of teaching, contact me at dreslt@live.com.
___________________________________________________________

Youth Group News!
Hello Youth Group members and families! I am happy to welcome all of you to a great year of youth group activities. I am sure that all are aware that Jen Shattuck, our Director of Youth Programming resigned at the end of last year. We will miss her but will appreciate her work with youth programs at the District level.

I would very much like to invite all of our youth to an organizational meeting on Sunday, September the 26th. We will meet to make plans after commissioning our teachers during the worship service (about 10:15 am.) I hope everyone can attend!
____________________________________________________________
Adult Learning!
Our regular programs will start in October. Look for our pamphlet soon!

I will be presenting a James Library Lyceum Program on Friday, October the 8th at 7:30 pm called "Use it or Lose it: Self-Culture in America" See here for more...

Many blessings!

Welcome Back!

2010-09-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful first Sunday of Religious Education at First Parish! Attendance was as high as the energy level. After Re-dedicating the Chalice during the church service, the children and several teachers recessed to the Parish Hall where we painted our classroom chalices and chalice clothes (our traditional first week activity.)

Many thanks to our children, and to the parents who helped out (In above photo our current Religious Education Chair, Elizabeth Robey and our RE Chair emeritus, Patty Walters and members of our 3rd and 4th grade class get ready to paint!)

Ellie Handleman and Laurie Marsh, (our first trimester 5th and 6th grade teachers) wait with their class while Stuart Twite (DRE) parcels out some paint to the 7th and 8th graders.

More from the day!

Thanks also to Bev Gardner and Amanda Metzger for the photographs.

We look forward to seeing everyone next week for our first week of regular classes!

Sunday!

2010-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

It is In-Gathering Sunday at First Parish Church!

Welcome back to everyone! We are very excited about the year to come and we hope all can come on Sunday. Our Sunday school children will participate in our Chalice Re-dedication ceremony in church and then recess to the Parish Hall where we will decorate our classroom chalices and chalice clothes.

Many blessings to all and see you Sunday!

Searching just for YOU!...

2010-09-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday School returns! Join us this coming Sunday for our In-gathering and first Sunday School session for the 2010-2011 Church year! Your Lifespan Religious Education Committee and first trimester teachers are hard at work preparing for an exciting year. If you have not been with us for some time, or your schedule allows just a couple of weeks of Church school per month, we welcome you!

I deeply believe that the lessons we learn in our Religious Education program have never been more important. If you know of anyone looking for a church home, invite them to church in September!

And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 781 837 8791, or email me at dreslt@live.com. Many blessings and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, Sept. the 12th!

Sincerely,

stuart twite (Director of Religious Education)

(illustration from an antique Sunday School postcard!

FYI on OWL and COA

2010-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

   This year's 7th and 8th grade curriculum consists of "Our Whole Lives (OWL)" the exceptional Unitarian Universalist sexuality/relationship curriculum and "Coming of Age (COA)" which celebrates an important transitional time in the lives our our young adults.
   We are blessed to have as our "OWL" teachers, Amanda Metzger and Marlon Taylor. They are experienced, knowledgeable, sensitive and talented. Rev. Vicki and I (stuart twite) will facilitate the "COA" process.

   We will have a brief parent meeting on In-gathering Sunday (Sept. 12th) following worship to talk about this exciting year and answer any questions you may have.

This note from Amanda Metzger:

"Hello parents of incoming OWL 7th/8th students! Marlon Taylor and I hope to provide a 20-30 minute introduction session after church 9/12.

Please bring any questions or concerns re: the OWL curriculum.

We look forward to providing the OWL curriculum to your wonderful kids!

Amanda Metzger"

We hope to see everyone on Sunday, September the 12th! Many blessings

Inward Springs...

2010-08-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Walk a Mile...Religious Education at First Parish, Unitarian Norwell

Your Lifespan Religious Education Committee met in full force this past Monday Evening. We had a really excellent meeting and I know this will be a great year for Religious Education at First Parish! The members of this year's LRE Committee are:

Chair: Elizabeth Robey

Returning Members:

Patti Walters

Jennifer Sulc

Melody Barlow

Julie McOsker

Ellie Handleman

Kate Sanborn

New Members::

Sue Keady

Clayton Handleman

We began our meeting with a Chalice Lighting using these words of William Ellery Channing"

"The great end in religious instruction, whether in the Sunday-school or family, is, not to stamp our minds irresistibly on the young, but to stir up their own; not to make them see with our eyes, but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own; not to give them a definite amount of knowledge, but to inspire a fervent love of truth; not to form an outward regularity, but to touch inward springs; not to burden the memory, but to quicken and strengthen the power of thought..."

Look to this page often for what is happening in Religious Education at First Parish!

Many blessings

Our theme for Lifespan Religious Education, 2010-2011!

2010-08-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Walk a mile…

Religious Education 2010-2011 at First Parish Church, Unitarian
____________________________
The Principles of Unitarian Universalism

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

It is the goal of Religious Education to foster, nourish and provide the spiritual resources and practical tools for better living such a life as individuals, and in our larger world.

One such practice is to deeply follow the old adage, “If you want to understand another person, you must walk a mile in their shoes.” Though worded in different ways throughout time and in several different cultures, the call to “walk a mile” is central to living a full, compassionate and useful life.

We will, throughout this year, explore ways in which we can all “walk a mile” with our neighbors as close as our own household and around this entire world.

Let us all “walk a mile” together at First Parish Church!

Great news!

2010-07-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hello First Parish Religious Education Community!
   We are very happy to report that Elizabeth Robey will be the new chair of our Religious Education Committee! She replaces Patti Walters who stepped down as chair this year after three years of dedicated service in that capacity.  We deeply thank Patti for her wonderful service and are thankful that she will continue to serve on the committee.
   Elizabeth was instrumental in the creation of our very successful trimester teaching system and we are thrilled that she is willing to serve as committee chair.
   Other exciting committee news: Sue Keady and Clayton Handleman will join the Lifespan Religious Education Committee for the coming year. Welcome aboard!
   I hope all are having a wonderful summer!
Many blessings to all!

Summer Service

2010-07-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hello First Parish Religious Education Community!
   If you are in town this weekend, join us for our summer worship service. I will be preaching on the topic, "Feels like the first time," Alex Gordon will be playing the organ, and David Turner has offered to bring some goodies for coffee hour.
   We hope to see you on Sunday at 10 am.
Many blessings

Welcome and thank you!

2010-07-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to RE Everyday, a blog for the First Parish Unitarian, Norwell, Religious Education community (which, of course, includes everyone.) The purpose of RE Everyday is to provide information and updates concerning the events and activities of the Sunday school and the Adult Learning Community. Bookmark this page or check in periodically for updates!
It is fitting that our first post is a heartfelt thank you to all for a wonderful religious education year just completed. From our Lifespan Religious Education Committee, our Trimester Teachers and adult learning teachers, to all who helped for one week or all year, the importance of your efforts cannot be overstated.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful and safe summer. We will be asking for sign-ups for this year's teaching soon so be thinking of times of the year and age groups that you would like to teach next year.
Thanks again and
Blessings, stuart