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Happy Holidays! Yes, we must stay safe and well, and part of that is staying connected to each other. Our community has never been more important than during this pandemic. Now, with the holidays here, we are there for each other to provide light in this season of darkness and comfort to anyone who might feel alone. In that spirit, I must tell you about what the choir is doing.
Besides singing for our services, many choir members are coming together on Zoom every other week to sharing what we are doing and thinking. We do this at our usual choir meeting day and time, just to be predictable. Understand that at a choir rehearsal pre-pandemic, we have to be focused on learning new music. We seldom take time to really connect except if people get there early or stay late. Right now, with all of us present on Zoom, we might actually be more in touch with each other than ever! It is pretty awesome.
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Shout out and thank you to this community far and near! We delivered $2075 of Target gift cards and $1000 of Stop and Shop gift cards to the Grow Clinic for their distribution to their families. Separately, Dr. Adolphe messaged Beth how moved she was by our 22nov service and requested copies of Rev. Wendy's homily and readings. She is grateful for the longevity of this relationship. (special thanks to Vicki Siska for her foresight in 1983!)
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Wednesday, December 16, 7:00-8:30
Listening Deeply to Poetry, The Stillness Edition
Join us as we gather once again on Zoom to read and reflect on 3 poems using an adaptation of the Christian tradition of Lectio Divina. The basic idea of Lectio Divina is to deeply listen to a text by reading it multiple times with different questions in mind each time. This month, we will engage in a deep reading and reflection on 3 poems related to stillness.
Everyone is welcome! You need not have attended before, and there is no need to prepare anything ahead of time. Just bring yourself, perhaps a love of poetry or a longing for deeper spiritual engagement, and an openness to listening in community.
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How can we better help one another in times of struggle?
Do you or someone at FPW need temporary assistance to get through a challenging time? The Fellowship Committee has established an FPW Caring Circle that can offer help. We can set up a Meal Train site where you can list needs for meals, rides or other services during short term difficulties and distribute the information to the congregation via email. For more information, simply email care@fpwatertown.org and let us know how we can he
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Don't want to miss a service or fun community photos?
"LIKE" the First Parish of Watertown Facebook page, accessible from the FPW website or from this link.
Questions about the FPW FB page? Reach out to Beth Tappan-deFrees or Carole Katz.
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Christmas Eve
Service and Candles
This year there will be one Christmas Eve service - on Zoom - at 5pm on December 24th.
If, for some reason, you are unable to attend the service at 5pm, fear not! We plan to record the service, post it on YouTube, and make it available only to those who have a link. Once posted, we will send out the link as soon as we are able, so that you can watch it later that evening or later that week.
At the end of the service, we will hold the traditional Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Ceremony, lighting our candles as we sing Silent Night. If you would like to participate, you may (of course) use your own candles OR you can get a candle and paper drip-catcher from First Parish.
Church candles and drip-catchers will be available to pick up from the church at the following times:
Thursday, December 17th from 5pm-7pm
Saturday, December 19th from 12pm-6pm
Wednesday, December 23td from 2pm-7pm
If you would like to have a church candle/s, but are unable to stop by during those times, please fill out this form or contact the chruch office and we will arrange to have candles brought to you.
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FPW Winter Solstice Service
On Monday evening December 21st at 7:30pm, the Fellowship committee will host our lay-led Winter Solstice celebration to mark the seasonal end of the ever darkening night.
We will look for Hope in the Light of Day, reflecting through poetry, magic, music, story and art - remembering with awe our place in the ever spiraling cycle of time.
We hope that you will join us! Watch your email for your Zoom invite as the day draws near!
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Sunday Services are currently being held on Zoom. Please contact office@fpwatertown.org by Saturday for this week's link or to be added to the weekly mailing.
The theme for December is Stillness
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The Green Sanctuary Committee seeks new members. If you are interested, please join us via Zoom (of course) on Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM.
Contact Kathy Button button@brandeis.edu for more information.
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Website Upgraded to Support the
Ministerial Search Process
The First Parish website has undergone a major
upgrade to support the ministerial search process. Check out the website’s new look by clicking here.
The upgrade includes a completely new home page, more intuitive navigation prompts, and new pictures to show the energy and diversity of the FPW community. Initial responses from congregation members and the Search Committee have been very positive.
Judy Kamm, speaking for the the Search Committee, said “… we are delighted and grateful that prospective ministers are able to see FPW at its best. We can’t help but feel pride and affection for our church community when we see ourselves reflected so well online.”
The Communications Committee organized a website working group that included Chuck Dickinson, Kate Hanson-Plass, Sue Sours, Allison Hewett, Sheri Kennedy, Neil Johnson, and Ben Jerome. It has met on a bi-weekly basis since mid-August to complete the website upgrade. The working group particularly appreciates the efforts of Kate Hanson-Plass, the church webmaster, who is primarily responsible for bringing the upgraded website to life.
But there’s more to be done – improvements will continue throughout the year. FPW members and friends are encouraged to share ideas, content, and pix to keep the upgraded current and lively. Send your suggestions and feedback to Chuck Dickinson (Chair, Communications Committee) at cdickins@verizon.net.
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“Charles River Birds”
2021 Wildlife Calendar
Now available, featuring the natural beauty of
and appreciation for our feathered friends
Photographs by Carole Smith Berney
Calendars open to 11” x 16” with a colorful photograph of a beautiful bird featured for each month. To order, please contact me at csberney@rcn.com or 617-319-4654 and please specify number of calendars, your address, and whether you would like me to mail to you, or if you would be able to pick it up yourself at my home in Watertown. Price: $20.00 per calendar payable by check (plus an additional $5.00 if you need it mailed to you).
Selected photos from the calendar are featured below.
Thanks for your interest in my work and in the wildlife around us!
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Join the first Watertown Climate Summit sponsored by Progressive Watertown on Sunday, December 13th from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. The summit will include representatives from all of the Watertown groups working on issues related to Climate Change. Learn what other groups in the Watertown Community are doing and how we can work together. There will be presentations and discussion.
Contact Eileen Ryan for the Zoom link.
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Winter Coat Drive, Saturday Dec 12th, 12-3pm,
100 Parker St., Watertown.
Contact WatertownMutualAid@WaysideYouth.org
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This year’s Social Action Holiday Gift Fair has gone virtual!
Thank you for joining us for what has been a holiday tradition at the First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist for many years. It may look and feel very different this year, but the opportunity remains the same: you can do your holiday shopping and benefit others at the same time!
And this year, given the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic, choosing to do your holiday shopping this way is more important than ever.
100% of the proceeds from your purchases will benefit the participating organizations and artisans.
HAPPY SHOPPING AND BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOURS!
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