Finding the Extra in the Ordinary, by Bill Licea-Kane, Lay Worship Leader, worship service Sunday, August 24, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Release Date: 08/29/2025
History vs. Nostalgia, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, November 16, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given November 16, 2025 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 What is the difference between looking back at history and what we can learn from it versus nostalgia? Were things really as good as we thought it was or have certain versions of the past romanticized in our own minds? How does history affect our present reality, thereby shaping our future? Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50%...
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Institutional Embodiment, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, November 9, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given November 9, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 As we examine our Unitarian Universalist values, what does it mean to live out our congregational commitment to reckoning and repair? As a congregation, how are we uniquely positioned to make a difference? Come join us for worship and then stay for a special presentation about the work for UU Urban Ministry. Offering and Giving First...
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Finding Comfort in a State of Perpetual Perishing, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, November 2, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given November 2, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 We all have to reckon with mortality--other's and our own. If we zoom back from that finality, we recognize that every moment is already a mini death and rebirth. How do we cope with so many changes? What do we continue and what inevitably has to change? Where do we find comfort in the midst of all that grief? Offering and Giving First...
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Living Our Faith, Featuring First Parish member testimonials, worship service Sunday, October 26, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Featuring speakers Betsy Carlton-Gyson, Peter Heller, and Betsy Leondar-Wright Worship service given October 26, 2025 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for our special annual Living our Faith service! Hear from three brilliant First Parish members about their activism and spirituality: Betsy Carlton-Gyson, Peter Heller, and Betsy Leondar-Wright. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable...
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Engagement As A Spiritual Practice, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, October 19, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given October 19, 2025 Prayer by Lillian Povey, Worship Associate First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 One of our core values as UUs is generosity. What does it mean to share our time and talent with one another? How can we view volunteerism as a spiritual practice? Join us as we formally launch Project ENGAGE! Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with...
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Picking Berries, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, October 12, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given October 12, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for worship on Indigenous People’s Weekend. As we sink into autumn, we can learn from Indigenous teachings and consider how can the wisdom of the natural world guide us? Rev. Erica Richmond is preaching. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable...
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Repent! The Beginning is Near, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, October 5, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given October 5, 2025 Prayer by Mary Breen, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 The UUA's common read a couple of years ago was Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's On Repentance and Repair. Repentance is part of the beginning, not the end, much like starting a clean slate during the new year is an important component of Yom Kippur. Let's go through the five-part reparation process suggested in the book. Offering and Giving First The Giving...
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What Else Do We Carry? by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, September 28, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given September 28, 2025 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 As heaviness swirls around us, grief is a thing we carry. It is not something that we can get rid of or move on from, but it is something that can become one of many things we hold. Join us on Sunday for worship. It is an extra special service as we do our annual Child Dedication for the newest little ones among us. Rev. Erica Richmond is...
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To Be Woke in a World that Prefers to Sleep In, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, September 21, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given September 21, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of ten days of repentance in Judaism. It's meant to be a time for self-reflection and to wake up to the places we've fallen short. The word "woke," however, has been weaponized by some and perceived as an undesirable trait. How can we become more aware and compassionate in a world that prefers the...
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Show Me Your Birds, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, September 14, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given September 14, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 In a time of cacophonous news and digital distractions, how do we live with intention? Rev. Erica Richmond will be preaching on the importance of connection and presence. Come join us for worship and learn what birds have to do with it! Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each...
info_outlineBill Licea-Kane, Lay Worship Leader
Worship service given August 24, 2025
Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
Life is full of awe-full moments. There’s a long tradition of going on pilgrimages to find these moments. On Sunday, we’ll be exploring the moments that come to us.
During the summer our Zoom-only worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Bill Licea-Kane (they/them) and their spouse Erica have been members of First Parish since 1998. They came for their then young son Marsden, but quickly found their own home here too. Bill is currently retired, volunteering at First Parish as a Worship Associate and Youth Group Adult Advisor. Bill is influenced by the writings of humanists, rationalists, and mystical transcendentalists, but also finds deep meaning in the writings of deists and theists.
Offering and Giving First
The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For June, July, and August 2025, The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) will share half of the plate. For nearly 50 years, BAGLY has been a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community in Massachusetts. After serving over 200,000+ youth since 1980, BAGLY is recognized nationally for its pioneering role in creating, sustaining, and advocating for social support, leadership development, and health promotion programs for LGBTQ+ youth.
The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.