Change: The Need for Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Thank You For Reading the Weekly Update from First Parish in Taunton View this email in your browser

All Are Welcome to Join Us For Service This Sunday
November 20 - 10:00 am

Here is a sneak peek at what's in this week's update:

- This Sunday's Service and Youth Faith Formation
- Chalice Thrift Deals
- First Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance
- All Ages November Faith at Home: The Spiritual Practice Gratitude
- Matthew Mission Food Pantry November Needs
- 3rd Annual Holiday Bazaar
- 8th Annual Forest of Light

Change: The Need for Thanksgiving and Gratitude
Led By Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh
Our mission at First Parish Church in Taunton is to
Inspire, Connect, and Serve

Fostering a spiritual practice of gratitude and thanksgiving on a daily basis can be a source of resilience and energy in our lives, including during times of change and challenges. Let's inspire and connect and serve together in worship and through our annual Thanksgiving potluck after church on Sunday.

This Sunday in Youth Faith Formation

This week our Chalice Children and our Youth Group will continue exploring our theme of change.

Chalice Children will be creating fluffy slime as a way of engaging with and exploring our theme of change, and our focus on gratitude and thanksgiving. As each ingredient is added, they will talk about the things that have been added to our lives that they are thankful for, as well as explore how we are changed as different things are added to our lives, just as the glue is changed to a bit more with each ingredient that is added until the slime is created.

Youth Group will continue exploring how with a little imagination, they can create positive change in the world around them. This week youth will finish up working on their Holiday Social Justice Project for our Matthew Mission Food Pantry. Childcare is available from 9:45 - 11:15 am

Childcare Attendant: Emily Keegan
Leading Chalice Children: April Rosario and Holly Morehouse
Leading Youth Group: Nancy Clark

This Sunday After Church

All are welcome to join us for our annual Thanksgiving Potluck Coffee Hour immediately after service (11 AM). Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us and bring a dish to share.

Click here to learn more about our Children, Youth, and Adult 2022 - 2023 Faith Formation Programs

Temperatures are dropping fast!! Be sure to stop in the Chalice Thrift Store Fridays from 10 AM -2 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM-Noon and stock up on all your Fall and Winter Wear.

We are so proud to be able to host Taunton's first Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on our lawn this Sunday at 5 PM. All are encouraged and welcome to attend, so please feel free to share widely.

Our Matthew Mission Food Pantry is seeing an increase in visitors every single week! The Food Pantry has had so much demand that we can now only give one bag of groceries per customer (previously 2 bags), with customers ranging from seniors to small children. To help our neighbors in need we want to remind everyone that any and all gifts are gratefully welcomed.

We are grateful to our regular volunteers, including First Parish members Sandy Levine and Bonnie Harmon, and would like to remind anyone who would like to volunteer one Saturday a month 9:20-11:30, to reach out to Emily or Norm.

Above is our latest donation wish list.

All Ages Faith at Home: The Spiritual Practice Gratitude

This month we invite everyone into The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude by participating in 30 days of Gratitude. Click the button below for 30 different Gratitude Acts for both kids and adults, as well as a 30-minute Gratitude Yoga Video.

All Ages Faith at Home: The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude

3rd Annual Holiday Bazaar

Now is the time to donate items to our online Holiday Shop! This is a fun way to raise money for the church while getting handmade goodies from your talented friends here at First Parish Church. Please send in what items, food, or services (anything from cookies, to paintings, to an hour of gift wrapping or babysitting, would be welcome!) you can donate to Emily Weiland, who is setting up our online shop, as soon as you can. You'll be able to shop starting at the end of the month and can pick up your items on Sunday, December 18.

First Parish Church is excited to announce a reimagined enchanted FOREST OF LIGHT display on the grounds of First Parish Church, located on Taunton's historic Church Green. Join us this holiday season and be a part of bringing magic to life!

This year our lawn will feature a holiday village with beautiful trees and shrubs wrapped in lights, glowing stars hung from the trees, lanterns casting light patterns on the ground and a walkable luminary labyrinth. These display items are available for sponsorship by individuals, families, organizations, and businesses. This revisioning of our display was inspired by the national shortage of real Christmas trees, a desire to be more economically accessible to the community, and an effort to be more sustainable and climate justice friendly. Our Forest of Light display opens Saturday, Dec. 3, and is free for all to experience this holiday season.

To sponsor part of our 2022 Forest of Light, simply fill out our online sponsorship form by clicking the button below. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the church at 508-822-2107 or send us an email at office@firstparishtaunton.org

2022 Forest of Light Sponsorship Form

To see a complete list (including dates and times) of all the Holiday Events coming up at First Parish, please click the button below. And as always please know that everyone is invited and welcome, so be sure to bring family and friends!

To see a complete list (including dates and times) of all the Holiday Events coming up at First Parish, please click the button below. And as always, please know that everyone is invited and welcome, so be sure to bring family and friends!

2022 First Parish Holiday Road Map

Donations, Pledges, and Amazon Associates

You can also support First Parish every time you shop on Amazon! Simply click the link below before you shop.
See our FAQ page for more info

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First Parish Church in Taunton · 76 Church Green · Taunton, MA 02780 · USA