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To our merry band of amazing elves,
What a magical day we had together on Saturday!
Thank you SO much for your incredible energy, thoughtfulness, creativity, and problem solving skills. Thank you for your generous contributions--craft materials, snacks, and the treasure of your time. And thank you especially for the kindness and attention given to our children. It was a beautiful, crazy afternoon.
We had more than 110 children make their choice of 17 crafts, made possible by the work of more than 90 volunteers, plus the many families who brought their children.
If you have any feedback (or favorite moments or photos to share--we love those!), please send them our way. We try to incorporate as many suggestions next year as we can. Or you can email us year-round at elf@firstparish.org.
Thank you for making the Children's Holiday Craft Workshop such a memorable event!
In gratitude,
Your Head Elves,
Kimberly Brainerd, Kristin Moore, Jeanne Williams 🎄
Moms’ Night Out Annual Holiday Cookie Swap
Friday, December 7, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Parlor
Bake a batch or two and come swap cookies and recipes with fellow members of our community. Please bring a dozen or more cookies (the amount you wish to exchange), a label listing the ingredients and a snack or drink to share. Celebrate the season, enjoy a fire in the fireplace, and take home some delicious treats for the holidays! RSVP to Leah Russell, leahkrussell@gmail.com or 978-266-1216 (email preferred).
Holiday Concert and Tea
Saturday, December 8, 3:00 p.m.
This year’s Holiday Concert and Tea, sponsored by the Women’s Parish Association, will add special sparkle to your holiday season. The a cappella singing group, The Conchords, will entertain you with a variety of seasonal and popular songs. Following the concert, enjoy a festive tea. There is no charge for this event. Attendees, please bring a plate of sweets to share, if you can. Bring family and friends for a joyful afternoon! Contact the office at 978-369-9602 or Dian Pekin at pekindc@comcast.net by December 5 for reservations. All men, women, youth, and children are warmly invited!
Calling all angels!
Sunday, December 9, 10:00 a.m., in the Sanctuary
The world needs more angels--come join our angel choir! This Sunday, December 9, our yearly tradition of joy, the Little Angels Choir, will be transformed to include the whole congregation. In the service, during the Message to Children, all those who feel angelic are invited to don a halo and join the choir. Halos provided.
Secret Santa
Each year, First Parish reaches out to the Walden Street School, the Eliot Center, and UU Urban Ministries to provide Christmas Wish lists from their clients. At coffee hour on Sunday, December 9, you will have an opportunity to select from these lists. After purchasing the present(s), you return them, unwrapped but tagged with the person’s first name and organization, to First Parish. The deadline for delivering the gift to First Parish is Sunday, December 16. The gifts will be delivered to the organizations before Christmas. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Brack at brackrobert@gmail.com or 508-735-6394 (e-mail preferred).
Men’s Winter Clothing Drive
As they prepare for their upcoming participation in the CityReach program, our Coming of Age group is collecting warm winter clothing to distribute to Boston’s homeless population. L, XL, and XXL sizes are especially needed.
We are collecting:
- Men’s warm coats & jackets,
- Men’s sweatpants and hoodies,
- Men’s boots and shoes
- Gloves and hats
- NEW women’s bras and underwear in all sizes
- NEW men’s underwear, undershirts and socks
Please NOTE: We are NOT collecting women's clothing! City Reach has an overabundance of women's clothing. We are collecting new women's bras and underwear in all sizes, as well as men's underwear and undershirts. These are very much needed. *Please drop your donations off in the Coat Closet by Wednesday, December 12.
Christmas Cheer with UU Urban Ministry
Tuesday, December 11th, 6-8 pm
10 Putnam Street, Roxbury, MA
Join the UU Urban Ministry for an evening of fellowship featuring caroling and an old fashioned Christmas tree lighting. This event will feature voices of our First Parish in Concord’s Choir, led by Beth Norton. You and your family are invited to:
- Bring a friend (or more)
- Bring an ornament to adorn a tree
- Perhaps bring a dessert (if so, please share your selection in advance)
- Bring CHEER in your Spirit to eat and be merry!
- Or, bring yourself only and enjoy some good fellowship.
Questions? Contact Marvin Venay, Director of Congregational and Volunteer Engagement at mvenay@uuum.org or 617-318-6010, ext. 214.
Welcoming a Guest at Your Table
Return boxes by Sunday, December 16
Over the holiday season, we invite a “Guest At Your Table”, a traditional fundraising practice for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. UUSC’s grassroots partners make a big difference in their communities, and so does your participation in GAYT. This year’s program theme is “Justice Across Borders”. Boxes will be distributed today and will be available in the front office after that. Please return your box on Sunday, December 16 so our UU Tweens class (Grades 4 & 5) can count your contribution. Otherwise, please write a check for the amount payable to UUSC. For more information, visit uusc.org Questions? Email Rev. Amy Freedman: afreedman@firstparish.org
Bake Sale at Coffee Hour
The 8th grade UU Explorers class will be holding a BAKE SALE next Sunday, December 16 during coffee hour. Stay tuned to hear which worthy non-profit they will be supporting with the sale's proceeds, but please plan to stop by their tables to support a good cause! Cash or checks are welcome.
Holiday Tea Party
Sunday, December 23, 10:15-11:00 a.m.
Children are invited to a Holiday Tea Party during regular RE time. Children who play an instrument are welcome to bring it to accompany singing of “Jingle Bells” and/or “Deck the Hall”! Amy and Dawn will share their favorite holiday stories. There will also be crafts to enjoy. Tea and cookies will be served. For families with allergies – the cookies will be nut free.
Neighboring Activists Bucket Brigade
The Bucket Brigade is a long-standing collaboration between First Parish and the Concord Council on Aging. Youth decorate buckets, fill them with sand/salt and then deliver them to the doorsteps of seniors for their use throughout the winter. We will decorate buckets this Sunday, December 9. On December 16, following the Choir Anthem and Children’s Message, they will fill and deliver the buckets to 35 local seniors who requested them. If your child would like to participate, please complete a Permission Form download HERE and return forms to Amy in her mail slot or by email ASAP so we can arrange for drivers. Please be in touch if you have any questions: afreedman@firstparish.org
Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 23, 1:00 p.m.
Come help bring holiday cheer to our parishioners and others who can’t get out this season. Singers of all ages welcome! We will meet in the Parlor on Sunday, December 23, at 1:00 p.m. and then carpool to area nursing facilities to sing. Afterward, we’ll head back to First Parish to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate together. Feel free to wear festive attire and bring cookies to share. Please sign up by calling the church office at 978-369-9602 or by emailing Rev. Amy Freedman at afreedman@firstparish.org. Drop-ins are also welcome!
Discover More:
Descriptions of our programs for children and youth including schedules for each age-group can be found on our website:
http://firstparish.org/wp/learning/re/
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