Services at 10:00 A.M. on Sundays
The mission of First Parish is to sustain a safe home for our spiritual growth and to support each other as we put our beliefs and principles into action.
Upcoming Services
March 2, 2014
A Religion of Freedom: The Unitarians
Susan-Lynn Johns, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
From its beginnings in Transylvania in the 1500s, to its merger with the Universalist church in 1961, the Unitarian philosophy has been controversial. Unitarians rejected the concept of the trinity—the belief that God was father, son and holy ghost. Interestingly, this wasn't a required Christian belief until 325 CE when the Nicene Creed was adopted, and while it is hinted at in the New Testament, it is not stated specifically as a belief. Many Unitarians were associated with the transcendentalist movement of the 1820s and 30s. Among the transcendentalists’ core beliefs was the inherent goodness of both people and nature. Numbered among Unitarians and Transcendentalists were Emerson, Thoreau,
Whitman Hawthorne, and Melville. Susan-Lynn takes a look at the Unitarians in the Part II of her discussion of our UU heritage.
March 9, 2014
Living into our Dying
Linda Schneck, Guest Speaker
Janice Luce, Musician
Though much is taken, much abides; and thoughWe are not now that strength which in old daysMoved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,One equal temper of heroic hearts,Made weak by time and fate,But strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. —Ulysses, Alfred Lord TennysonHow might we live into our dying in the “fullness” of time? Might our dying be experienced asthe culmination of our lives? Linda Schneck is a musician and composer, educator and music-thanatologist who works in end-of-life care for those suffering with acute or chronic disease, aswell as those living within Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She shares about the healingpower of sound, and the abiding strength and glory of the human spirit as, in the midst ofseeming diminishment, we enter into a greater fruition.
March 16, 2014
Rev. Abigail Stockman, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
Rev. Abigail will be leading the worship service on this date. Information about service notreceived at press time.Rev. Stockman currently serves as the consulting minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congre-gation in Franklin, NH. Rev. Stockman has previously served in full time ministry at UnitarianUniversalist congregations in New York and Maryland. She also has a community ministryhere in Orleans County, currently serving as the chaplain for the Islamic Worship group atNorthern State Correctional Facility and also working with the Newport Community Justice Center where she co-facilitates the First Steps support group for women making changes intheir lives and serves on one of the Reparative Justice Boards. In addition to her ministry Rev.Stockman is a classical harpist who plays with the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra. Rev.Stockman lives in Irasburg.
March 23, 2014
Cabin Fever Reliever Extravaganza
Ken Michelli and Susan-Lynn Johns, Masters of Ceremonies
Do you have any idea of how much talent resides within our little congregation? Well...you’reabout to find out at our very first Annual Cabin Fever Reliever Extravaganza! Members per-forming will be Lynn Leimer Flint, Paul Gavin, Karen Hennig, Susan-Lynn Johns, and JaniceLuce. They will be joined by friends who’ve graced us with their talents in the past: Ruth-AnnFletcher, Jerry Johnson, Molly Moore, and April Streeter. As if that weren’t enough,you’ll beregaled by the First Universalist Parish Ensemble. The group features Susan Brassett, Lisa C.Erwin, Paul Gavin, Paula Graveline, Chris Maginniss, and Maestro Ken Michelli. Be sure to join us for this very special morning as we worship in a different way through music, poetry.And story. No sermon...just fun!
March 30, 2014
Striking a Balance
Annual Sap Communion
Susan-Lynn Johns, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
In her reflection on climate change last month, Susan-Lynn focused on the future and the difficult days we have ahead of us in preserving our planet. But this doesn't mean we need to live in a state of perpetual fear or despair. The present moment can provide us with the strength and joy to carry on without forgetting what we need to do to insure we have a future.Buddhism has taught the concept of mindfulness for centuries. Can we tap into this idea and create a peaceful interior life despite the chaos presented to us by the 21st century?This Sunday we will once again have our traditional New England Sap Communion as we share the bounty of our maples.
March 2, 2014
A Religion of Freedom: The Unitarians
Susan-Lynn Johns, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
From its beginnings in Transylvania in the 1500s, to its merger with the Universalist church in 1961, the Unitarian philosophy has been controversial. Unitarians rejected the concept of the trinity—the belief that God was father, son and holy ghost. Interestingly, this wasn't a required Christian belief until 325 CE when the Nicene Creed was adopted, and while it is hinted at in the New Testament, it is not stated specifically as a belief. Many Unitarians were associated with the transcendentalist movement of the 1820s and 30s. Among the transcendentalists’ core beliefs was the inherent goodness of both people and nature. Numbered among Unitarians and Transcendentalists were Emerson, Thoreau,
Whitman Hawthorne, and Melville. Susan-Lynn takes a look at the Unitarians in the Part II of her discussion of our UU heritage.
March 9, 2014
Living into our Dying
Linda Schneck, Guest Speaker
Janice Luce, Musician
Though much is taken, much abides; and thoughWe are not now that strength which in old daysMoved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,One equal temper of heroic hearts,Made weak by time and fate,But strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. —Ulysses, Alfred Lord TennysonHow might we live into our dying in the “fullness” of time? Might our dying be experienced asthe culmination of our lives? Linda Schneck is a musician and composer, educator and music-thanatologist who works in end-of-life care for those suffering with acute or chronic disease, aswell as those living within Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She shares about the healingpower of sound, and the abiding strength and glory of the human spirit as, in the midst ofseeming diminishment, we enter into a greater fruition.
March 16, 2014
Rev. Abigail Stockman, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
Rev. Abigail will be leading the worship service on this date. Information about service notreceived at press time.Rev. Stockman currently serves as the consulting minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congre-gation in Franklin, NH. Rev. Stockman has previously served in full time ministry at UnitarianUniversalist congregations in New York and Maryland. She also has a community ministryhere in Orleans County, currently serving as the chaplain for the Islamic Worship group atNorthern State Correctional Facility and also working with the Newport Community Justice Center where she co-facilitates the First Steps support group for women making changes intheir lives and serves on one of the Reparative Justice Boards. In addition to her ministry Rev.Stockman is a classical harpist who plays with the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra. Rev.Stockman lives in Irasburg.
March 23, 2014
Cabin Fever Reliever Extravaganza
Ken Michelli and Susan-Lynn Johns, Masters of Ceremonies
Do you have any idea of how much talent resides within our little congregation? Well...you’reabout to find out at our very first Annual Cabin Fever Reliever Extravaganza! Members per-forming will be Lynn Leimer Flint, Paul Gavin, Karen Hennig, Susan-Lynn Johns, and JaniceLuce. They will be joined by friends who’ve graced us with their talents in the past: Ruth-AnnFletcher, Jerry Johnson, Molly Moore, and April Streeter. As if that weren’t enough,you’ll beregaled by the First Universalist Parish Ensemble. The group features Susan Brassett, Lisa C.Erwin, Paul Gavin, Paula Graveline, Chris Maginniss, and Maestro Ken Michelli. Be sure to join us for this very special morning as we worship in a different way through music, poetry.And story. No sermon...just fun!
March 30, 2014
Striking a Balance
Annual Sap Communion
Susan-Lynn Johns, Worship Leader
Janice Luce, Musician
In her reflection on climate change last month, Susan-Lynn focused on the future and the difficult days we have ahead of us in preserving our planet. But this doesn't mean we need to live in a state of perpetual fear or despair. The present moment can provide us with the strength and joy to carry on without forgetting what we need to do to insure we have a future.Buddhism has taught the concept of mindfulness for centuries. Can we tap into this idea and create a peaceful interior life despite the chaos presented to us by the 21st century?This Sunday we will once again have our traditional New England Sap Communion as we share the bounty of our maples.
