Sunday News for May 23, 2010
| Sunday, May 23 | ||
| 10:00 | Gospel Choir | 12:15 | Nominating Committee | 4:00 | Cakes for the Queen of Heaven II* | 7:00 | YRUU | 7:00 | Sarasa Concert | Monday, May 24 |
| 12:00 | Newsletter Deadline | 6:30 | T'ai Chi* | 7:00 | Cakes for the Queen of Heaven II* | 7:30 | Women's AM/PM Book Group* | Tuesday, May 25 |
| 9:00 | Networking Group | 9:30 | Women's AM/PM Book Group* | 9:30 | Kundalini Yoga* | Wednesday, May 26 |
| 9:30 | Buddhist Group* | 1:00 | Artisan Jury | 4:30 | Junior Choir | 5:00 | Yoga for Women* | 5:15 | Chalice Choir | 6:30 | Membership Committee | 6:45 | Yoga for Women* | 7:30 | Transcendentalist Council | 7:45 | Adult Choir | Thursday, May 27 |
| 9:30 | Hatha Yoga* | 7:00 | Stress Reduction and Relaxation* | 7:30 | Buddhist Group* | Friday, May 28 |
| 9:30 | Stress Reduction and Relaxation* | Saturday, May 29 |
| 7:30 | Men's Group |
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.
Sarasa Concert
The Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble will be playing its final concert of the season at First Parish tonight, 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.
Offering Envelopes
Offering envelopes for the new pledge year are in, and they have a new look-they are slightly larger, so checks and cash can be inserted without folding! They will be available downstairs after the services today, and for the next two Sundays.
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. .
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. 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.
First Parish Theater Project
Join the Theater Project on June 4, at 7 p.m. at First Parish. We have many people interested in exploring and reading plays at First Parish. We meet on the first Friday of the month at First Parish. In June we will be reading The Madwoman of Chaillot, a wildly theatrical satire and fantasy first produced in Paris in 1945 and in New York in 1948-49 to great acclaim. The Concord Players produced it in 1987. It is set in the heart of Paris with a cast of over 30 representing all walks of life, so there are many wonderful character parts for readers. Please let us know if you have any trouble finding copies of the play. Contact Claudia Nimar at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lillian Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.
Annual Appeal 2010 Update
Thank you to our phone-a-thon callers and to all who responded last week by submitting pledges. We have reduced our Appeal goal from $925,000 to $875,000; this revised goal would allow us to maintain the same level of ministry and programming in 2010-2011 that we have during the current church year. To meet this new goal, we need to receive an additional $92,000 in pledges between now and the end of June. We do not expect our outstanding pledgers to fill this gap, so many of you will receive a letter this week requesting that you consider increasing your pledge to help us avoid cuts for next year. Thanks in advance for your careful consideration of our request. Please feel free to contact Pamela Hathaway with questions ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
Mainly in Your Mind
The Transition Study Team is in the midst of coding and tallying the data gathered from the survey and listening sessions. An official report to the Standing Committee is slated for next month followed by a presentation to the congregation at the First Parish Annual Meeting. Here are a few interesting facts we've already gathered. Reflective of our greater community, we at First Parish are a rather cerebral group (more than 65 percent of those who took the survey have graduate degrees); and in addition to the celebration of common values, the splendid music and the time for personal reflection, one of our key reasons for attending Sunday service is the intellectual stimulation it provides (84 percent).
Children's and Youth News
Today, 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
11:00-7th Grade Neighboring Faiths in the Emerson Room
Next Week, May 30-No RE Classes
8:50 & 10:50 a.m.-Regular Classes, Babies-Preschool
9:00 & 11:00 a.m.-Services
K-6 Join Their Families in the Sanctuary
Social Action Community
El Salvador Service Trip Reminder
We are currently accepting applications from both high school youth and potential adult chaperones for the El Salvador Youth Service Trip in April 2011. This trip is open to pledging members of First Parish only. There is a lot of interest in this highly successful trip with lay leader Jim Reynolds. More information and applications can be found at http://www.firstparish.org/cms/education-and-spirituality/youth-calendar, and applications are due by June 1. Please contact Faith Bade, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Mary Wren vanderWilden, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , with any questions.
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.