Welcome Aboard, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, September 7, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Release Date: 09/15/2025
Spiritual Dial-Up, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, January 4, 2026
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given January 4, 2026 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Come join us for worship as we kick off 2026. As we turn towards a new year, we are invited to take stock, maybe do a spiritual tune-up. Rev. Erica Richmond will be preaching and Accompanist and Music Director Emeritus Ken Seitz will offer music. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge...
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Poetry Service, led by Lillian Povey, Mary Breen, and David Klingsberg, Worship Associates, worship service Sunday, December 28, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Led by Lillian Povey, Mary Breen, and David Klingsberg, Worship Associates Worship service given December 28, 2025 Prayer by David Klingsberg, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for our annual Poetry Sunday as Worship Associates Lillian Povey, Mary Breen, and David Klingsberg create space for us to share the words that have moved us over the past year and celebrating the coming year. Bring a poem to share – one you’ve found, or one you’ve written. Online participants are invited to share...
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given December 24, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister Reading of "Each Night a Child is Born," by Sophia Lyon Fahs, read by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 The Christmas Eve services, a highlight of the season, occur twice due to the number of people attending. The service features the lighting of candles, organ fanfares and children reading the ancient tale....
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Multigenerational Christmas Service, led by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, worship service Sunday, December 21, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Led by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education Worship service given December 21, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister Performance by the First Parish Carol Players Narrated by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, and Rev. Stevie Carmody https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join Rev. Jonipher, Rev. Erica, Rev. Stevie, and our “Carol Players” of all ages for a retelling of the old Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol. Gather together as we explore values of...
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Who's Naughty or Nice, by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, worship service Sunday, December 14, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given December 14, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Who doesn't want to get on Santa's "Nice" list? But can our behavior really be reduced to these binary options, or is there another way of being that would make the world a better place? Or even the holiday get togethers just a tad more tolerable? Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a...
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Embracing the Darkness, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Friday, December 12, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given December 12, 2025 Readings by First Parish congregants Music by Diane Taraz Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 For the 17th year at First Parish we offer a special evening worship service during the holiday season, a worship service to “Embrace the Darkness.” Parish Minister Rev. Erica Richmond will lead us in worship and Diane Taraz will offer music . This service will be an...
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Music Sunday, by Dr. Daniel Parsley, Music Director, worship service Sunday, December 7, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Led by Dr. Daniel Parsley, Music Director Worship service given December 7, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister Reflections by Bev Morse and Cheri Minton, Choir Members First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for our annual Winter Music Service, led by First Parish Music Director Dr. Daniel Parsley and featuring the First Parish Choir, accompanist and Music Director Emeritus Kenneth Seitz, flutist Robin Baker, guest harpist Colleen Murray, alongside reflective vignettes from congregation and staff...
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Living on a Prayer, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service Sunday, November 30, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given November 30, 2025 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate Reading: "Prayer Chain" by Tim Nolan https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 What is prayer to a Unitarian Universalist? Come join us for worship as we talk about different approaches to prayer and how the spiritual practice might work across different theologies. Rev. Erica Richmond is preaching. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering...
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Making Stone Soup, by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, worship service Sunday, November 23, 2025
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, preaching Worship service given November 23, 2025 Prayer by Lillian Povey, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 With First Parish’s Harvest Moon Fair wrapped up, and Thanksgiving Day before us, it’s time to make Stone Soup together! Rev. Stevie will explore the radical wisdom found in the old European folktale, and the ghosts that haunt it. If you can, bring a single vegetable to share–this isn’t a trick! Offering and Giving First The Giving...
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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%...
info_outlineRev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Interim Lead Minister, preaching
Worship service given September 7, 2025
Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
Curious as to what the next two years will be like? Let's embark on this journey of unpacking the five interim tasks while also celebrating Ingathering Sunday and water communion.
Water Ceremony: Please bring water from a place meaningful to you, whether you join us on Zoom or in the Sanctuary. During worship in the Sanctuary we join our waters together in our annual water ceremony, and we will symbolically incorporate the waters from our Zoom congregation This water will be used in child dedications and blessings through the year.
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 September, the Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) will share half the plate. Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) is the first and only organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence systemically. As a national nonprofit, they work to prevent sexual violence before it happens by addressing root causes like rape culture and systemic oppression. Their work spans policy advocacy, research, institutional reform, and community education to create lasting, structural change. SVPA partners with schools, workplaces, unions, and government agencies to implement evidence-based prevention strategies and is proudly led by marginalized survivors—including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled people—ensuring that their work is informed by the lived experiences of those most impacted.
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.