Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

Recorded sermons from worship at First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Arlington, Massachusetts

A Messy Swirl - Grief and Gratitude, Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching, worship service November 24, 2024 11/25/2024

A Messy Swirl - Grief and Gratitude, Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching, worship service November 24, 2024 Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given November 24, 2024 Prayer by Mary Breen, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 As we look towards the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us are feeling a particular heaviness this year. How do we honor both grief and gratitude? How do we support ourselves and one another? Come join us Sunday morning as Rev. Erica Richmond preaches and all of us partake in our intergenerational ritual of sharing cornbread with one another. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Resource Organizing Project. Resource Organizing Project builds stronger movements for justice and liberation in New England with racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice partners. They offer affordable and high quality services, practices, spaces, and pathways that support both interdependence and self-reliance for community self-determination. ROP is endorsed by Episcopal Dioceses and by the Reparations Interfaith Coalition. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/34142346

Choosing Love: Music Sunday, led by Dr. Daniel Parsley, Music Director, worship service November 17, 2024 11/18/2024

Choosing Love: Music Sunday, led by Dr. Daniel Parsley, Music Director, worship service November 17, 2024 Worship service given November 17, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister Reading by Dr. Daniel Parsley of "I Choose Love" by Tammy T. Stone Featuring "Five Hebrew Love Songs" by Eric Whitacre, performed by the First Parish Choir and First Parish String Quartet https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us at First Parish in Arlington as we explore the theme of “choosing love”—even when it feels beyond our reach. Through the music of Eric Whitacre’s "Five Hebrew Love Songs" and Mark Miller's "I Believe", performed with string quartet and First Parish Choir, we’ll reflect on how love can be a conscious choice and how, in moments when love is hard to choose, we can still resist apathy, fear, and the all-too-human temptation to hate. Drawing from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, we’ll seek ways to embrace patience and understanding as we navigate and help build a more loving community. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Resource Organizing Project. Resource Organizing Project builds stronger movements for justice and liberation in New England with racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice partners. They offer affordable and high quality services, practices, spaces, and pathways that support both interdependence and self-reliance for community self-determination. ROP is endorsed by Episcopal Dioceses and by the Reparations Interfaith Coalition. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33975422

What We Know to be True in These Times, Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching, worship service November 10, 2024 11/12/2024

What We Know to be True in These Times, Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching, worship service November 10, 2024 Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given November 10, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 In the wake of a contentious Election Day, Rev. Marta Flanagan will preach. After worship, she and Rev. Erica Richmond, Parish Minister, will facilitate a “Reverberations” session in the sanctuary. Reverberations occasionally occurs after Sunday worship giving members of the congregation an opportunity to offer their perspectives. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Resource Organizing Project. Resource Organizing Project builds stronger movements for justice and liberation in New England with racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice partners. They offer affordable and high quality services, practices, spaces, and pathways that support both interdependence and self-reliance for community self-determination. ROP is endorsed by Episcopal Dioceses and by the Reparations Interfaith Coalition. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33900952

Lessons from the 2004 Red Sox, Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching, worship service November 3, 2024 11/04/2024

Lessons from the 2004 Red Sox, Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching, worship service November 3, 2024 Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Worship service given November 3, 2024 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Twenty years ago, the Red Sox finally broke the curse and won the World Series after an 86 year drought. They sustained a sense of belonging and connection through ups and downs, wins and losses. As we look towards the election on Tuesday, what spiritual lessons can we glean from the 2004 World Series? Let's cowboy up. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Resource Organizing Project. Resource Organizing Project builds stronger movements for justice and liberation in New England with racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice partners. They offer affordable and high quality services, practices, spaces, and pathways that support both interdependence and self-reliance for community self-determination. ROP is endorsed by Episcopal Dioceses and by the Reparations Interfaith Coalition. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33775862

All Souls Service, Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching, worship service October 27, 2024 10/28/2024

All Souls Service, Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching, worship service October 27, 2024 Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given October 27, 2024 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for our Annual All Souls Day service. Please bring a photo or an object that reminds you of a loved one who has passed- we will make an altar during the service. Marta will be filling in for Rev. Erica this week. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Native Land Conservancy of Mashpee, MA, founded in 2012, is the the first land trust east of the Mississippi led by Indigenous people. Their mission is to "protect sacred spaces, habitat areas for our winged and four-legged neighbors, and other essential ecosystem resources to benefit Mother Earth and all human beings." 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33641227

Living Our Faith, featuring testimonials from Jamie Aronson, Peggy Gardiner, and Lois Fine, worship service October 20, 2024 10/21/2024

Living Our Faith, featuring testimonials from Jamie Aronson, Peggy Gardiner, and Lois Fine, worship service October 20, 2024 Featuring testimonials from Jamie Aronson (read by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan), Peggy Gardiner, and Lois Fine Worship service given October 20, 2024 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us on Sunday to hear from three First Parish congregants about how they live out their spiritual commitments in the world. How do each of us live our faith? How have we been living faithfully during this election season? This is a special annual service that is sure to be inspiring, join us on Sunday! 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Native Land Conservancy of Mashpee, MA, founded in 2012, is the the first land trust east of the Mississippi led by Indigenous people. Their mission is to "protect sacred spaces, habitat areas for our winged and four-legged neighbors, and other essential ecosystem resources to benefit Mother Earth and all human beings." 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33547712

Wisdom Beyond Ourselves, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service October 13, 2024 10/15/2024

Wisdom Beyond Ourselves, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service October 13, 2024 Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister Worship service given October 13, 2024 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Using Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Rev. Erica will explore how theological pluralism came to be a priority in Unitarian Universalism and what Indigenous wisdom might teach us today. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Native Land Conservancy of Mashpee, MA, founded in 2012, is the the first land trust east of the Mississippi led by Indigenous people. Their mission is to "protect sacred spaces, habitat areas for our winged and four-legged neighbors, and other essential ecosystem resources to benefit Mother Earth and all human beings." 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33471357

Oh Sweet Forgiveness!, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service October 6, 2024 10/07/2024

Oh Sweet Forgiveness!, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service October 6, 2024 Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister Worship service given October 6, 2024 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 In her sermon Marta will take up nuggets of wisdom from the Jewish High Holidays. Rosh Hashanah began on Wednesday evening, October 2 Yom Kippur begins Friday evening, October 11. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Native Land Conservancy of Mashpee, MA, founded in 2012, is the the first land trust east of the Mississippi led by Indigenous people. Their mission is to "protect sacred spaces, habitat areas for our winged and four-legged neighbors, and other essential ecosystem resources to benefit Mother Earth and all human beings." 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33361522

Second Drafts, Second Chances, by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, worship service September 29, 2024 09/30/2024

Second Drafts, Second Chances, by Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, worship service September 29, 2024 Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education Worship service given September 29, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 So you had a bad first go of it. Luckily there’s always the Second Act. Join Stevie this Sunday as we explore trying again. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Gould Farm, www.gouldfarm.org, in Monterey, MA, founded in 1913, is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery and independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33262787

The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service September 22, 2024 09/23/2024

The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service September 22, 2024 Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister Worship service given September 22, 2024 Prayer by Elizabeth Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 This Sunday Marta will consider the question of truth and deception in our times. What is the truth? When have your felt deceived? When have you deceived? 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Gould Farm, www.gouldfarm.org, in Monterey, MA, founded in 1913, is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery and independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33170827

What is Your Role?, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service September 15, 2024 09/16/2024

What is Your Role?, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service September 15, 2024 Worship service given September 15, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 As we look towards the election in November, as we protect and fight for democracy, what role will each of us play? Using Deepa Iyer’s social change ecosystem map, Rev. Erica will invite each of us to think about what, in particular, we might offer. 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. This Sunday half of the offering supports Gould Farm, www.gouldfarm.org, in Monterey, MA, founded in 1913, is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery and independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care. 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. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/33072987

In Our Time, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service September 8, 2024 09/09/2024

Whither Blows the Wind?, by John Hodges, Worship Leader, worship service September 1, 2024 09/01/2024

Interdependence and Tenacious Love, by Megan Anderson, Worship Leader, worship service August 25, 2024 08/26/2024

Interdependence and Tenacious Love, by Megan Anderson, Worship Leader, worship service August 25, 2024 Worship service given August 25, 2024 Prayer by Ruben Hopwood, Worship Leader https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 How does reflecting on our belief in the interdependent web of life help us as Unitarian Universalists to attend to Disability Justice in our own congregation? Drawing on writings by Julia Watts Belser and Reverend Monica Coleman, this sermon reflects on the connection between our UU principles and the principles of Disability Justice as well as the connections between members of our faith community. During the summer our worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Megan (she/her) is a rising senior at Mount Holyoke College. She is a Psychology & Education major and a Music minor. Her family first brought her to First Parish when she was in elementary school, and she still does her best to attend services when she’s home from college! She is still actively involved in other UU spaces, co-leading her campus faith group and working on Star Island in the summers. She enjoys swimming in the ocean, discussing plays, and writing poetry when inspiration strikes. 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 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/32742127

Respectfully Yours, by Jitendra Singh, Worship Leader, worship service August 18, 2024 08/19/2024

The Future Is Not Yet Written: The power of imagination in confronting the climate crisis, by Mary Babic, Worship Leader, worship service August 11, 2024 08/12/2024

The Future Is Not Yet Written: The power of imagination in confronting the climate crisis, by Mary Babic, Worship Leader, worship service August 11, 2024 Worship service given August 11, 2024 Prayer by Elizabeth Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 What does it mean to be open to the world? It is at once terrible, gorgeous, life-threatening, life-affirming, tragic, comic. How much light do we let in? In confronting the climate crisis, we need to confront the terrible reality; and then do the hard work of imagining a whole new future. A bit of Joanne Macy’s work, a bit of climate communications science, a tiny bit of joy. During the summer our worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Mary Babic is committed to the power of storytelling as a means for sparking social change, and to centering and elevating the voices of people who are most impacted by inequality, injustice, and exclusion. Before joining Dayenu, she worked for more than a decade at Oxfam, where she traveled across the country to hear from farmworkers, poultry workers, fisherfolk, BIPOC activists, and countless others on the frontlines of climate disaster response and fights for justice. 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 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/32541272

Spiritual but Not Religious, by Julius Pereli, Worship Leader, worship service July 28, 2024 07/28/2024

When Life Feels Like a Greek Tragedy, by Lori Kenschaft, Worship Leader, worship service July 21, 2024 07/21/2024

Joy, the Essence of the Soul, by Willa Taber, Guest Speaker, worship service July 14, 2024 07/15/2024

Joy, the Essence of the Soul, by Willa Taber, Guest Speaker, worship service July 14, 2024 Worship service given July 14, 2024 Prayer by Wendy Page, Affiliate Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join the First Parish Welcoming Congregation Committee to hear a personal story of discovering joy and learning to cultivate an enlivened life no matter your age or circumstance in life. Willa Taber is a resident of Arlington and was a speaker on the Trans Day of Visibility panel this past March. We are delighted to welcome her back to First Parish. During the summer our worship is led each week by a person or group from within our congregation. The Welcoming Congregation Committee (WCC) was appointed in 2023 to provide guidance and leadership on maintaining FPUU’s designation as a Welcoming Congregation. Members are long-standing members of FPUU that include several individuals who have identities within the larger LGBTQ+ umbrella as well as members who are allies of those communities. We have been working for nearly two years on bringing opportunities for our congregation to become more intentionally inclusive of and aware of LGBTQ+ people and concerns in every aspect of congregational and community life. As part of our ongoing efforts to fully integrate LGBTQ+ people concerns, and lives into the worshipping aspect of the congregation as well, we are honored to lead an online summer service. 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 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/32138162

Union Work as Spiritual Work, by Avon Lewis, Worship Leader, worship service July 7, 2024 07/08/2024

(P)reaching Across the Aisle, by Steve Kropper, Worship Leader, worship service June 30, 2024 07/01/2024

(P)reaching Across the Aisle, by Steve Kropper, Worship Leader, worship service June 30, 2024 Worship service given June 30, 2024 Prayer by Elizabeth Hunter, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Why in tarnation would anyone (P)reach across the aisle? 1. Characters in other bubbles are more entertaining. 2. It keeps America from splitting in two. 3. Realistic math. Horse trading or stalemate. 4. Ponder my values, I’ll ponder yours. 5. Certainty is sanctuary. Crossing the aisle is lonely. During the summer our worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Steve Kropper leverages a Cornell MBA as a start-up entrepreneur in telecom and clean energy. The product of a mixed marriage between one family of Republican Vermonter engineer-entrepreneurs and the other with a union organizing grandfather who won 40,000 votes for Congress on the Socialist ticket,. A former AMC hut boy on Mt. Washington, Steve has hopped freight trains and hitchhiked across the US. He has worked on Democratic presidential campaigns since 1976 and helped to retire the last GOP House member in New England. Steve makes his home in Lincoln and hais two adult daughters who endured his parenting messages that they are ‘confident, assertive and independent,” until it’s true! 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 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/31960872

Prayer as a Propeller, by Ebonié Smith-Cooper, Worship Leader, worship service June 23, 2024 06/24/2024

Prayer as a Propeller, by Ebonié Smith-Cooper, Worship Leader, worship service June 23, 2024 Worship service given June 23, 2024 Prayer by Ebonié Smith-Cooper, Worship Leader https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 For many years Ebonié has used prayer as a tool in their spiritual practice toolkit. The idea of prayer may not be at the top of everyone’s centering exercise. Ebonié is hoping to invite you to reconsider this tool through their storytelling and passion of this spiritual practice. Ebonié has been a member of FPUUA for almost 10 years. They have taught RE, made a bounty of pies for the Pie Palace fundraiser, and currently serves as a member of the Committee on Ministry. When Ebonié is not coaching and cheering on their beloved soccer team you can find them cooking a hearty meal for their family and friends. During the summer our worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Ebonié Smith-Cooper shares her life with her spouse, their son, and our Goldendoodle. She has been a member of First Parish for almost 10 years. Ebonié feels called to a life of service and works everyday to move in that direction. In her free time she enjoys coaching in-town sports, listening to audiobooks, and playing card games with her family. 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 2024, the Giving First recipients are the ArCs Cluster, a local refugee support group, and the Immigrant Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization in Malden, MA. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/31868232

What’s Possible?, by Jo Guthrie, Worship Leader, worship service June 16, 2024 06/17/2024

Pride in Bloom!, with Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service June 9, 2024 06/11/2024

Coming of Age Sunday, with Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, worship service June 2, 2024 06/05/2024

Social Justice and Planting Seeds, by Yvette McDonnell, Guest Speaker, worship service May 26, 2024 05/28/2024

Social Justice and Planting Seeds, by Yvette McDonnell, Guest Speaker, worship service May 26, 2024 Worship service given May 26, 2024 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Yvette McDonnell, Interfaith Chaplain and Spiritual Companion Ritualist, inspires with stories of sowing seeds of change and nurturing a summer garden. Yvette (she/her) is an Interfaith Chaplain who has dedicated her life to helping others. She earned her Master's degree in Social Change from Starr King School for Ministry, with certificates in Chaplaincy and Interfaith Studies. Yvette's ministry is centered around love, healing, and an intuitive understanding of ancestral wisdom that honors the many ways of knowing in the world. Her background in Social Justice helps her support those who have been marginalized by society and companion those who are interested in exploring their biases. Yvette is an educator, Spiritual Companion Ritualist and proprietor of Soul Tapestry LLC. She encourages people to breathe slowly and savor each moment, so that they can bring integrated awareness into their lives. Yvette specializes in guiding people who are interested in creating rituals to guide, protect, celebrate, and mourn the many aspects of life. 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 May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center. This Sunday half of the offering supports the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/31495122

To Disagree Well, by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, worship service May 19, 2024 05/20/2024

A Velveteen Kind of Love, by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, worship service May 12, 2024 05/13/2024

Shinn Service -- Social Justice, by Dr. Michael Curry, Guest Speaker, worship service May 5, 2024 05/06/2024

Shinn Service -- Social Justice, by Dr. Michael Curry, Guest Speaker, worship service May 5, 2024 Worship service given May 5, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Each year, one Sunday is devoted to the social-justice-themed Shinn Service, with a guest providing the sermon related to their own social justice work and interests. Dr. Michael Curry is currently the President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers, serving over one million patients out of over 300 practice sites. He plans to stay and participate in “Reverberations” on Sunday, the after-service event that will dive a bit deeper into his sermon. Dr. Curry has received numerous local and national awards for leadership and advocacy and is frequently requested as a keynote speaker and panelist on a wide range of civil rights and health policy issues. In 2022, he received the Trailblazer Award from the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA), as well as a leadership award from the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. He is a regular commentator on the local Public Radio Broadcast/WBUR Boston, WGBH Radio, as well as on television with WGBH, WBZ, and New England Cable News/NBC Boston, on a wide range of political, cultural, and social issues. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from New England School of Law, and later graduated from the inaugural class of the Executive Leadership Council’s Pipeline to Leadership Program. 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 May 2024, the Giving First recipient is Neighborhood Birth Center. This Sunday half of the offering supports the Neighborhood Birth Center, which offers comprehensive midwifery care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period by integrating an independent community birth center in Boston’s healthcare and community landscape. The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/31144673

Reflections on Facing History and Ourselves, by Lara James, Guest Speaker, worship service April 28, 2024 04/29/2024

Reflections on Facing History and Ourselves, by Lara James, Guest Speaker, worship service April 28, 2024 Worship service given April 28, 2024 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 The Alliance of First Parish supports those who have given much. This Sunday, Lara James, of the organization Facing History and Ourselves, reflects on looking backward and looking forward and what we each can do to make communities more inclusive, resilient and hopeful. 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 April 2024, the Giving First recipient is the Living Legacy Project. The mission of the Living Legacy Project (https://www.livinglegacypilgrimage.org/) is to provide experiential education about the American Civil Rights Movement that challenges, inspires, and equips people from diverse backgrounds and identities for justice work in their communities and beyond. Despite gains made by the American Civil Rights Movement to ensure that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or color, have access to human and civil rights, much work remains. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) continued to be imprisoned at a higher rate than white people, subjected to police overreach, experienced more poverty, and had fewer opportunities. Protecting voting rights to eliminate mass incarceration takes committed activists and organizers willing to take stands against injustice. The remaining half of the offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. /episode/index/show/fpuuarl/id/31033543

Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts

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