Sprouting Seeds – Seanan Fong
Welcome to First Parish in Cambridge
First Parish in Cambridge is a multi-faith, spirit-filled congregation devoted to love and justice. We are moving joyfully into a multiracial, multicultural, justice-making future. We embrace all ages, races, classes, abilities, sexual orientations, gender presentations, and ethnic and religious backgrounds. Honoring all the faith traditions of the world, we support each person’s path to wisdom and spiritual growth. Whoever you are, wherever you are on the journey of life, we welcome you into our hearts.
If you’re here for the first time, we invite you to fill out a visitor card located in the pew and leave it in the collection plate. We’ll sign you up for our weekly e-mail announcements and monthly newsletter. All are welcome to join us in Helverson Parlor following the service for refreshments. Please take a yellow cup so we can recognize and greet you.
For those attending with children, you are welcome to worship as a family or children ages 4 and under are welcome in our Nursery in the Parish House. An usher can direct you to Nursery staff. Registration is required.
Activity boxes for older children are also available from the ushers. For more information, please speak to today’s newcomer liaison.
Today’s Worship Participants
Rev. Fred Small, Senior Minister
Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Life Coordinator
Seanan Fong, Ministerial Intern
Jonathan Barnhart, Music Director
The First Parish Choir
Jennie Fitch, Worship Associate
Valerie Fullum, Deacon
Alison Altman, Newcomer Liaison
Chemical Sensitivity Policy
This is afragrance-freeparish. Thank you for not wearing any of the following during your visit: cologne, after shave lotion, perfume, perfumed hand lotion, fragranced hair products, and/or similar products. Our chemically-sensitive congregants appreciate this.
Share the Plate in March
Our Shared Offering recipient this month is The Autistic Self Advocacy Network which seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy the same access, rights, and opportunities as all other citizens. They work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of their own lives and the future of their common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure their voices are heard in the national conversation. For more information, visit autisticadvocacy.com.
\
TODAY following the worship service! Congregational Meeting to Vote on Youth Housing
We will hold a congregational meeting today after worship in the meetinghouse. The sole purpose of the meeting will be to vote on approving the youth housing project. All who are involved in First Parish are invited to attend, but only members in good standing will be able to vote.
Pastoral Prayer
Congregants may request to have their personal
joys and sorrows named and lifted up in Sunday’s Pastoral Prayers by sending an e-mail, by noon on Friday to You may also fill out a Pastoral Prayer Request Form and leave it in the Pastoral Prayer Box by 10:30 am on Sunday mornings. (Forms and the box are in the Mass. Ave. foyer.) If you would like your message in our announcements and monthly newsletter, please
e-mail the Pastoral Associates at .
Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family of longtime member, Bill Dotson, who was killed after being struck by a car in Arlington earlier this week. Bill was 91. A memorial service has not yet been planned. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family in care of Bill’s daughter, Sheila Keene, 15 Randolph Avenue, Brockton, MA 02302.
Pastoral Care (Circle of Care)
The Pastoral Associates, supported by Circle of Care volunteers, help to provide care to First Parish members and friends during times of need by providing meals, rides, and other help. The Pastoral Associate in March is Linda Jurras. You may contact her at .
Religious Education for Children and Youth
Please join us following the Story for All Ages.
· Our Nursery opens at 10:15 for children under 4 on the Second Floor
· Preschool returns to the Baldwin Room
· K-1 meets in the Chapel
· Grades 2-3 meets in the Barn Room
· Grade 4-5 meets in the Gallery
· Grade 6 meets in the Landing Level Rm.
· Youth Group meets at noon in the Gallery
· OWL 7-8 meets at Friends Meeting tonight.
It’s the Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Please join us for our traditional children’s Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Youth Group, immediately following the worship service on April 5. They and the Easter Bunny need your help!
Please donate candyin the marked bins onSunday, March 29 and April 5so the youth can stuff and hide eggs! Small, individually wrapped candy is preferred. Thanks for your generosity!
On that day, children should bring baskets and gather in the Library for directions. Youth Group will decide by April 4 whether the Egg Hunt will take place indoors, or in theOld Burying Ground. Children of different ages will have separate areas to hunt for eggs, and the youngest children will have their chance first. Parents and guardians, please help your child(ren) pay attention to their location and timing.
This Week’s Church Events Calendar
Monday, March 306:30 PM / SJC Film Screening / Chapel
Tuesday, March 31
11 am –
7 pm / Tuesday Meals Program / Helverson Parlor
7:00 pm / Young Adults Group / Barn Room
7:00 pm / Buddhist Meditation / Gallery
Wednesday, April 1
6:00 pm / Sanctuary Boston Worship / Barn Room
7:00 PM / RE Committee / Landing Rm
7:00 PM / Cambridge Forum / Meetinghouse
Thursday, April 2
7:00 PM / Social Justice Council / Landing Rm.
7:30 pm / Choir Rehearsal / Meetinghouse
Saturday, April 4
6:00 PM / Passover Seder / Parlor
Upcoming Events
Monday, March 30, Film Screening
Viewing and discussion ofBringing Down a Dictator, sponsored by the Social Justice Council will be in the Chapel from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. This powerful award-winning documentary tells of the nonviolent overthrow of Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic by his own people, who were fed up with the corruption, human rights abuses, and war-mongering under his regime. First Parish member Elke Jahns-Harms will facilitate a conversation on why nonviolent action tends to be more effective than violent action, and invite participants to relate those concepts to some of the protest movements of today. Elke received her PhD in International Relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts, and recently taught a course on nonviolent resistance movements at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Passover Seder – Saturday, April 4
Join the First Parish community for aPassover Seder on Saturday, April 4th at 6 pmin the parlor. The seder meal tells the story of the exodus from Egypt and journey to freedom... but in a fun, participatory way. In the Jewish tradition, there's always lots of storytelling, singing, eating symbolic foods, and sharing with friends.
Visithttp://tinyurl.com/PassoveratFP15to RSVP and list a potluck item you can bring (the link may be harder to access on smart phones, so use a computer if possible). If you have questionsm, email Sara at .
Women Writing Together — April 6
Come rekindle your spirit through free-writing together with women in a safe, non-critical, friendly writing group. Our next few biweekly meetings are Mondays April 6 and April 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., held in the Landing Level room. Questions? Contact:
Women’s Book Group — April 7
The Women’s Book Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Chapel. The book for April 7th is a biography of one of our UU patron "saints":Margaret Fuller: A New American Lifeby Megan Harshall. The book for May 5th isGirl with the Pearl Earringby Tracy Chevalier. We are a friendly low-stress group. You don’t have to read every book, just come when you can! For more information, pleaseemail
.
“Cracking the Codes”— April 12, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Join us for a special film screening and discussion on the the causes and consequences of systemic inequity in America. Widely acclaimed as both challenging and uplifting, “Cracking the Codes” will help us to disentangle internal beliefs, attitudes and pre-judgments within, and to build skills to address the structural drivers of social and economic inequities. We will deepen and shift the framing of racial disparities from focus on individuals to institutional and structural injustices.
Susan Shepherd and Ministerial Intern Seanan Fong will be facilitating. Sponsored by the Transformation Team. Snacks will be provided. We will discuss how we can apply what we learn to relationships at First Parish.
Longtimers/Seniors Breakfast – April 19 at 9:00 am
Our next breakfast for First Parish longtimers and seniors will be Sunday, April 19 from 9 – 10 am in the Parlor. Please arrive on time — breakfast will start promptly at 9 — and bring guests. Contact Elizabeth Kline or Jane Sturtevant for more information.
Firmly Rooted in Community!
Becoming firmly rooted in First Parish's community opens the door to unique opportunities to learn, grow and share our gifts with one another. The members of First Parish count on one another to help build and maintain beloved community and commit to our covenant, programs, and historic building. One of the first steps towardbecoming firmly rooted in our vibrant communityis to attend our next Exploring MembershipClass onSunday, May 17th from 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM.We'll get to know each other better and talk about Unitarian Universalism and what makes First Parish so special. We can't wait to see you!
Abilities and Access Book Discussion – June 21
Save the date! The Abilities and Access team invites you to a discussionof"Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence" by John Hockenbury to be held onJune 21st at12:30pmin thechapel. Questions, requests for special acomodations, or requests for child care? Contact: .
Safe Congregation
At First Parish we covenant to welcome all people to the table, to nourish and serve each other and to respect and honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person. To achieve these goals it is essential that we maintain a safe environment that protects children and adults from harm while fostering their spiritual growth. We encourage anyone who has witnessed or experienced verbal, sexual or physical abuse at First Parish to contact the appropriate team:
· SafeCongregation@firstparishcambridge org
(for issues involving adults), or
·
(for issues involving those under 18).
·
First Parish Staff and Leaders
Senior Minister Rev. Fred Small
Ministerial Intern Seanan Fong
Minister Emeritus Rev. Dr. Thomas Mikelson
Music Director Jonathan Barnhart
Director of Religious Education Mandy Neff
Youth Coordinator Jeremie Bateman
Nursery Care Coordinator Lace Campbell
Nursery Care Coordinator Jeremy Schwartz
Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis
Sexton Roland Ellies
Community Life Coordinator ……...Rev. Mykal Slack
Tuesday Meals Volunteer Coordinator….Seth Robinson
Tuesday Meals Kitchen Coordinator ……Pam Cannon
Tuesday Meals Assistant ………………Brian Downes
Executive Director, Paine Senior Services Liz Aguilo
Social Worker, Paine Senior Services…...Maureen Harty
Director, Cambridge Forum …………Patricia Suhrcke
Standing Committee 2014 – 2015
Chair: Susan Shepherd
Vice Chair: Peggy Kraft
Treasurer: Ernie Sabine
Clerk: Linda West
Members at Large: Julie Duncan, Brittney Gardner, Grey Lee, Nassira Nicola, Mark Pickering. Rashid Shaikh
Annual Fund Drive in Full Swing
We’ve reached the half-mark in our drive toward 100% participation in pledging! Heartfelt thanks to those of you who have pledged.Visiting stewards have enjoyed face-to-face visits with many and made new connections within the congregation. You’ll find pledge forms in the pews and foyers that can be placed in the offering basket or handed to a member of the Stewardship Committee (Don Tucker, Linda West, Karin Lin, Susan Shepherd). You can also pledge online athttp://firstparishcambridge.org/giving/annual-fund-campaign.
First Parish bylaws require members to have a contribution of record in the last twelve months to vote at congregational meetings. You need not be a member of First Parish to pledge! If you find value here and wish to support this community, your financial commitment is welcomed.
* denotes Fair Share pledge
Carol Agate
Ian Agranat & Carol Hani*
Maria Altamore
Alison Altman*
Howard Bauchner and Chris
McElroy
Ted Bischoff & Margaret Drury*
Jennie Blodgett
Chris Bobel & Thomas Hartl
Barbara Ceconi
Linda Clark
Ann Daily*
Lisa Dobberteen
Julie Duncan*
Claryce Evans*
Jean Farrington
Joanna Fink*
Jennifer Fitch & Andrew Drane*
Corinne Foster
Davida Fox-Melanson & Leo
Melanson
Valerie Fullum
Charlene Galarneau & Don Tucker
Denise and Manuel Garcia
Brittney Gardner*
Cushing Giesey & Jan Ellertsen*
Marcus Graly*
Pepper Greene
Jennifer Griffith*
Suzi Grossman
Catherine & Eric Haines
Grace Hall*
Alan Hamilton*
Marcia Hams & Susan Shepherd*
Steve Hanna
Daisaburo Hashizume and Jinghua
Zhang
Dan Hogan
Stacey Jackson Flammia & Giovanni
Flammia
Lois Josimovich
Peter Kelsey & Ginger Ryan
Ernie & Connie Kirwan*
Elizabeth Kline*
Gloria Korsman
Peggy Kraft*
John Kwoka
Brenda Leahy
Grey Lee*
Bruce & Susan Leslie-Pritchard*
Karin Lin & Cade Murray*
Jennifer Linares*
Ellen Liner
Karen Lombard & David Case
Dorianne Low*
Eileen Maher
Ryan McMahon*
Mary Lou Mehrling
Grier and Irene Merwin
Heidi Meyer
Shelby Meyerhoff*
Sheila Norton
Susan Nye*
David Pap
Shaun and Ondina Paul
Mark Pickering
Katrina Piehler*
David Ray*
Beth Reagan*
Andrew Richardson
Jessica Roffe*
Charles Rogers
Kathryn and David Rosenberg
Ernie Sabine*
Renée Saindon
Susanna Schroeder
Rashid Shaikh & Sharon DeVos
Suzi Sluyter
Fred Small*
Anne Smith
Cynthia Smith & Steve Imrich
Michele Sprengnether
Andrew Stein
Tamina Stephenson
Hannah Stites*
Natalya & Greg Stratton*
Jane Sturtevant
Eileen Sullivan*
Patrick Sullivan*
Bill Torcaso
Sandra Uyterhoeven
Lisa and Howard Van Vleck
Dorothy Vetter
Mara Vorhees & Gerald Easter*
Nan Waldstein
Tim Warren
Mark David Watanabe
Linda West*
Sylvia Wheeler
Borghild Whittington
Mike Wiggins
Henry Winslow
Marcia Yousik