Sunday News for May 16, 2010

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

Parish Notes

Pastoral Care Notes

During coffee hour please come to the Pastoral Care table in the Parlor to write a “thinking of you” note to a parishioner who is on the pastoral list. (We will mail it for you.) Note cards are wonderful for the recipient, because you can read them more than once, and they are evidence that you are remembered. So please visit Margie at the Pastoral Care table.

Parish Connections Event TODAY!

Come on the Historical Walking Tour of Unitarian and Universalist Boston today, May 16. Carpool directly after the 11:00 o'clock service today and meet at the Frog Pond on Boston Common for a bring-your-own picnic lunch, followed by the tour. Sign up at the Parish Connections table during coffee hour, or just come.

Transcendentalists in France-Spring 2011

Traveling together is about building community. On May 2, we held our informational meeting on the transcendentalist journey that Jenny will be leading to France next spring. Many parishioners sampled French pastries and enjoyed hearing our plans for this inspirational tour, and the educational opportunities before we go. If you missed the meeting but are interested in joining us, pick up an informational packet outside of the office or at coffee hour throughout the month of May. Don't wait too long though-space is limited and the deadline is June 1. For more information, please contact Steph Chiha at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Come One, Come All, to Concord Celebrates the Margaret Fuller Bicentennial Next Weekend!

May 21, 22, 23 is the grand celebration of Margaret Fuller's bicentennial birthday. First Parish is hosting this three-day event in Concord in collaboration with the Transcendentalism Council and the Concord Free Public Library, the Concord Museum, the Emerson House, the Emerson Forum, the Old Manse, the Thoreau Society and the Concord Bookshop. Visit the website for all event details: www.firstparish.org/margaretfuller. See the complete schedule included in this order of service (green insert).

Also, be sure to tune in to Channel 8-CCTV-where there is a public service announcement running for the Margaret Fuller weekend. The ad stars “Margaret” and “Waldo” (Donna Davis and Alec Walker, our own actors from First Parish!) talking about the events in Concord.

Margaret Fuller Scholars Here, May 22, 10:00 a.m.

Come to an engaging panel discussion Saturday morning, here at First Parish, with three Margaret Fuller scholars. The event is free. Jenny Rankin will moderate the discussion. Brigitte Bailey, Associate Professor of English at University of New Hampshire, will talk about Fuller's Travels: Modernity and the City. Michael Barnett, theologian and educator, will present Margaret Fuller Shapes the Consciousness of America through the New York Tribune. Joan Von Mehren, president of Margaret Fuller Society and Fuller author, will speak about “Margaret Fuller in Concord.”

Margaret Fuller Drama-One Performance Only

8 p.m. Next Saturday Night, May 22, in the Parish Hall

Buy tickets today at coffee hour ($10 per person) for the Saturday, May 22, presentation of Margaret Fuller's Universe, a play by Agnes Butcher and Sayre Sheldon that will be performed as a costumed stage reading in the Parish Hall.
      The play shows Margaret Fuller throughout her short life both here and abroad-as she relates to the men and women who influenced and changed her life. The cast features Donna Davis as Margaret Fuller and Alec Walker as Emerson, surrounded by Tom Beck (as both performer and director), Sara Ballard, Susan Ellsworth, Anne Fortier, Linda Hardiman, Bill Maxwell, Caroline McCloy, Jim Snyder-Grant and Tom Wilson-you won't want to miss it! Lillian Anderson is the producer.

Sarasa Concert

The Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble will be playing its final concert of the season at First Parish on Sunday, May 23, at 7 p.m. The program features music for clarinet and string quartet and will include pieces by Johannes Brahms, Bernhard Crusell and Antonín Dvorák. Tickets are $24 general, $20 senior, $12 students, free for children, and may be purchased through www.sarasamusic.org or at the door.

Women's AM/PM Book Group

The May book for the Women's AM/PM Book Group is My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme. The discussions will be held at First Parish-with the evening session on Monday, May 24, 7:30-9:00 p.m.; and the morning session on Tuesday, May 25, 9:30-11:00 a.m. All women of First Parish are warmly invited to read the current book and join one or both of these discussions. Also, our annual potluck and discussion of books for next year's list will be held Thursday, June 10. Details to come. If you would like to be added to the Women's Book Group e-mail list, contact Darien Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 978-369-1471.

Time to Reap

The Transition Study Team continues its compilation and analysis of Survey and Listening Session data. An official report to the Standing Committee is slated for next month. We wish to thank the 292 members of the First Parish community who completed the survey, as well as everyone who participated in a listening session. A special thank-you to our fine facilitators: Cynthia Ellis, Tammie Foote, Nancy Paisner Harrison, Bridget Neale Paris and Cricket Potter.

Annual Appeal Update

To date we have received pledges from 447 of the 546 active households at First Parish. If your household has not yet pledged, please send in your pledge card immediately! Thanks to the volunteers who helped with the initial phone-a-thon last Monday; we will be conducting another round of calling in the coming week.

Fun fact: Cost to keep First Parish open for one day: $3,085

Children's and Youth News

Today, Sunday, May 16-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 RE
    10:45-7th Grade Neighboring Faiths in the Brooks Room
    9:00 and 11:00-9th Grade Coming of Age Worship Service

Next Sunday, May 23-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 RE

Social Action Community

Contact Information Correction for Recipes!

Our thanks to Kathryn Shane, who prepared all of the foods for coffee hour on Sunday, May 2. Her correct e-mail address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Contact her for recipes and any other information about the foods that were “Kind to You, Kind to the Earth.”

Boston Pride Parade Saturday, June 12, at Noon

The Diversity Committee will take a group from First Parish to march with our banner in the Boston Pride Parade, which starts at noon on Saturday, June 12. Please join us for this fun, family-friendly event and help us show our support for the LGBT community. Contact Sara Ballard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up or get more information.