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
Release Date: 11/17/2025
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%...
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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...
info_outlineRev. 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
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 November 2025, Chaplains On The Way will share half the plate. Founded in 2010, Chaplains On The Way is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that offers spiritual support to people experiencing homelessness in Waltham, MA. We believe that no person living in homelessness should feel they have to walk alone. We live out our mission by building trusting relations with people in Waltham, MA who are experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. They offer compassion and companionship through life’s struggles and triumphs, welcoming all into relationship and loving community.
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.