Listings with asterisks are classes offered through the Wright Tavern Center for Spiritual Renewal.

Parish Notes

Sign Up to Bring Coffee Hour Food

Do you ever daydream about the doughnut holes and coffee cake that await you in the Parish Hall after the sermon? Each Sunday we need people to bring food to share for that table. There is a sign-up sheet on the table; and if everybody took one week of the year and chipped in, it would be so easy. The coffee is already made. All you have to do is bring the food, put it out, and clean up at the end of coffee hour. Just fill in your name and phone number on the sign-up sheet on the food table. Someone will call to remind you the week before your date. Thanks so much.

Ferry Beach Registration Deadline Today

The First Parish Ferry Beach Retreat will be from May 23 to May 26, Memorial Day weekend, at the Ferry Beach Camp and Conference Center in Saco, Maine. Final registrations for the weekend will be taken at coffee hour today. Look for the Ferry Beach information table in the Parish Hall.

Tracing the Transcendentalists in Italy-March 2009

Jenny Rankin will be leading a trip to Italy for members of First Parish who are interested in following the path of Emerson, Fuller, Hawthorne and others. The group will be traveling to Rome, Florence and Assisi, with stops in other towns as well. Plan to attend an informational meeting tonight at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Lillian Anderson at 978-369-1468 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Buy Tickets Today for Rock 'n' Roll (Bingo!)

This Friday evening, May 9, there'll be lots of action as Rock 'n' Roll Bingo returns to First Parish, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. This is a great evening for kids and families to play bingo and dance to our Youth Group rock 'n' roll musicians. Tickets are on sale at coffee hour today for $10/child or teen, or $35/family.

At 8:30 p.m. (as the youngsters go home), the scene changes to a dance for older teens and adults-until 10:30 p.m. Tickets for the dance are on sale at coffee hours today (and at the door if available) for $10/teen or $15/adult. Pizza (and raffle tickets) will be on sale throughout the evening!

Proceeds help to sponsor the Youth Group's Transylvanian student and to bring other Kerestúr youth to visit Concord next September.

Summer Services

First Parish will worship at Kerem Shalom, Elm Street, beginning June 15, at 10:00 a.m.

Miscellaneous News

Exhibit of Collages and Paintings

Siri Smedvig has an exhibit of collages and paintings in gallery B at Depot Square Gallery in Lexington Center. The show will run until May 25. All are invited.

“File of Life” Folders

Convenient health history and medical condition forms for Concord seniors are available from the Concord Council on Aging on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Concord Scout House, 74 Walden Street, or from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Harvey Wheeler Center, 1276 Main Street in West Concord. These forms can help give emergency responders the best information to help you in an emergency. Refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity to sign up with the Concord Fire Department for a smoke detector check. This folder distribution is an Eagle Scout project by Troop 132 in Concord.

Children's and Youth News

Today, May 4-Regular RE

  8:50 & 10:50 a.m. - Regular Classes, Babies-Preschool
   9:00 & 11:00 a.m. - Services
      K-6 Begin in the Sanctuary, Dismissed to Classrooms
     7th Grade Neighboring Faiths-Grace Chapel in Lexington

Sunday, May 11-Regular RE

  8:50 & 10:50 a.m. - Regular Classes, Babies-Preschool
   9:00 & 11:00 a.m. - Services
      K-1 Begin in the Sanctuary, Dismissed to Classrooms
     Grades 2-6 Begin in the Sanctuary, Dismissed to Chapel
     7th Grade Neighboring Faiths-Presentation on Cults

If you have not yet registered for RE for next year, please contact Jane Barnes in the RE office as soon as possible. Thank you.

Social Action Community

Sand Mandala at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

Starting Monday, take advantage of a unique opportunity to watch Tibetan Buddhist monks create Sand Mandala at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Viewing hours are from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m.. On Saturday afternoon you can also eat Tibetan food, shop at a Tibetan marketplace, and learn about compassion (the secret of happiness) in education. And from 6 to 9 p.m., you can enjoy a Tibetan dinner and entertainment (call 978-635-0355 to reserve dinner).