Sunday News for March 7, 2010

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

Parish Notes

Marvelous Mondays

March 8, 15 and 22, at 6 p.m.
One of the great First Parish social events is here! Participate in any or all of the Marvelous Monday dinner events in March. Dinners will be served on March 8, 15 and 22, with each meal being presented by a committee of the church (Social Action Community, First Parish Choir and Standing Committee). The meals are sure to be pleasing to the palate, and each is followed by a vesper service. Child care is available, and the cost is $5 per person/$20 per family. Contact Dave Elwood at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.

Photographs on Display

Bill Claybrook is exhibiting some of his photographs on the stage in the Parish Hall from through March 31. The exhibit contains both black and white and color landscape and structure images.

Special Coffee Hours This Week

The creativity, generosity and perseverance of our First Parish community are cause for celebration! Join us today at both coffee hours as we celebrate our community and launch this year's Annual Appeal. See your neighbors and friends, learn how we've structured the appeal a little differently this year, and find your home on our master map!

Episode 2 of “Race: the Power of an Illusion” Today

The Diversity Committee will show episode 2 of the PBS documentary series, Race: The Power of an Illusion, this afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Parish Hall; a short discussion will follow. “The Story We Tell” explores the roots of the race concept, and how it became so widely accepted. Episode 3 will be shown on March 21.

Evening of Song Auction Party

Saturday, March 13, 7:30 p.m.
Singers and nonsingers alike, join us for an evening of singing and partying. Sing through folk songs, show tunes and classical pieces, all accompanied by the fabulous Grace Choi. Enjoy scrumptious savouries and delectable desserts. Visit at the Smiths' with fellow First Parishioners, friends and families. Teens and older are welcome. Hosted by Darien and Jim Smith, Sara and Stoney Ballard, Val and Biff Holt and Tammie Foote. $20/person. Tickets available at coffee hour and by contacting Darien Smith at 978-369-1471or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

“Zenobia-A Life of Margaret Fuller”

A play by Agnes Butcher and Sayre Sheldon will be performed on Saturday, May 22, at 8 p.m. 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 her and changed her life. There are many colorful characters and it will provide our First Parish actors with a chance to get involved. Come and read scenes from the play with Lillian Anderson and Tom Beck on Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m., and see how you might become involved in this interesting production. The production is part of the week-end-long Margaret Fuller Bicentennial celebration at First Parish. For more information, contact Lillian Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Women's AM/PM Book Group

The March book for the Women's AM/PM Book Group is She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, by Jennifer Finney Boylan. Discussions will be held on Monday evening, March 29, 7:30-9:00 p.m.; and Tuesday morning, March 30, 9:30-11:00 a.m. at First Parish. All women of First Parish are warmly invited to read the selection and join one or both discussions. If you would like to be added to the Women's Book Group e-mail list, please contact Darien Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Children's and Youth News

Today, March 7-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
       8:30 a.m.-7th Grade, Neighboring Faiths, Union Baptist Church
       2:00 p.m.-8th Grade, Our Whole Lives, Brooks Room

Next Sunday, March 14-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
       10:15 a.m.-7th Grade Neighboring Faiths,
                            Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
       2:00 p.m.-8th Grade Our Whole Lives, Brooks Room

Social Action Community

You Can Help Rebuild Haiti

You are invited this afternoon, 4:30-6:00 p.m., to a Young Activist fundraiser for Haiti at the Folk Café at First Parish. Enjoy the sounds of First Parish members Diana DeMuth, an emerging vocal artist, and Eric Kilburn, a longtime folk favorite, as you contribute to Partners in Health, Paul Farmer's nonprofit that works directly in Haiti with the poorest of the poor. No entry charge. Light refreshments available for sale. All donations go directly to PIH. To help with the fundraiser, contact Charlotte Rankin-Higgins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The First Parish Social Action Grants Committee will match funds raised, up to $1000.

Young Activists Program

Thank you to our five Young Activists who participated in the Social Action Young Activists Grants Program. Their hard work and research culminated in a presentation and awards last Sunday, February 28. Noa Ryan and Hadleigh Nunes were awarded $500 for the Ankanksha Foundation's work on education in India; Charlotte Copp was awarded $125 for Pennies for Peace, working on education in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and Charlotte and Lily Wallis were awarded $125 for the Sierra Club's legislative work on environmental issues. Congratulations! This program was created and funded by the First Parish Social Action Community board.