First Parish in Cambridge
Unitarian Universalist
3 Church Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-876-7772
Community Guide
Fall 2014
Our Mission
Awakened by worship,
nourished by tradition,
and united by love,
we strive to create a multicultural,
spirit-filled community that works for justice,
fosters spiritual curiosity and faith formation,
shares joy, heals brokenness,
and celebrates the sacred in all.
We welcome people of all beliefs, ages, classes, colors, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.
First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, is a progressive religious community located in the heart of Harvard Square. We walk diverse spiritual paths to find meaning and purpose in our belief in the worth and dignity of all people and the obligation to express our faith through acts of justice and compassion. We embrace all ages, races, classes, abilities, sexual orientations, gender presentations, and ethnic and religious backgrounds. We hope you’ll join us as we create a diverse, spirit-growing, justice-making community.
A Message from our Ministers
Inspired by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of Beloved Community, our congregation is dedicated to freedom, justice and spiritual growth. We hope each and every one of you feels ministered to here—that you feel known, loved, cared about, and cared for. We also hope you find your ministry here—how to use your unique gifts and talents in the service of others. In this ceaseless rhythm of receiving and giving, turning within and reaching out, in-breath and out-breath, we find purpose, meaning and peace.
If you ever need support or just a listening ear, please ask us:
Rev, Fred Small, Senior Minister
or 617-876-7772 x203
Rev. Lilia Cuervo, Associate Minister
or 617-876-7772 x204
Our Covenant
In Covenant with one another and all we hold sacred
we answer the call of love,
welcoming all people into the celebration of life,
searching for truth and meaning,
and striving for justice and compassion,
to nourish and serve each other, our community and our world.
Adopted by vote of the congregation November 9, 2003.
NuestroConvenio
Enconveniomutuo y con todo lo queconsideramossagrado,
respondiendo al llamado del amor,
invitamos a todos a la celebración de la vida,
buscamos la verdad y el sentido del ser,
ynosesforzamos para alcanzar la justicia y la compasión,
paraapoyarnos y servirnosmutuamente,
anuestracommunidad y a nuestromundo.
Adoptadoporvoto de la congregación el 9 de Noviembre del 2003.
Traducidopor Lilia Cuervo
Covenant of Right Relations
Adopted by vote of the congregation, June 6, 2010
In the spirit of right relations, we covenant to:
Acknowledge and celebrate our differences.
Listen compassionately, speak respectfully, and take responsibility for our actions and feelings.
Speak from personal experience, use “I” statements, and avoid judgment, generalizations, and offering unsolicited advice.
Deal directly with others to resolve conflict.
Strive to stay in relationship through conflict.
Fulfill our commitments, complete our tasks, admit our mistakes, praise each other’s successes, and say “thank you.”
Ask for help when needed and give help as able.
Assume the good intentions of others.
Sunday Morning Worship
Services are held every Sunday at 10:30 am. Dress as you feel comfortable. Nursery care for children under age 4 is available year round beginning at 10:15 am. Regular graded Religious Education classes for children and youth are held September through May.
Free parking is available in the Holyoke Center Garage and ends promptly at 1:00 pm.
A looping system is available for those whose hearing aids have T-coils. Assisted listening devices are also available. Elevator access is available by ringing the buzzer at the 1 Church Street entrance.
Our Sunday morning worship service is a multi-faceted experience. It is a time to celebrate the gifts of life, to share religious community, to affirm our moral values, to gain strength, to find comfort and to be challenged to create a better world.
Every service at First Parish includes a diverse selection of music. Recognizing that cultural diversity honors peoples' experiences and wisdom, we make music to celebrate many cultural traditions. Believing that music is a healing force on the planet, we use our voices and instruments for the care and stewardship of the earth. We make music so our children may grow to be expressive and poetic. We bring to life the sounds of ancient musicians, and we tell fresh stories with the music of today.
On Sundays, greeters are available at each entrance and will be glad to answer your questions or give you more information. A Newcomer Liaison is also assigned to each service and will help answer questions you may have about First Parish.
You can fill out a visitor card to receive our weekly announcements and our monthly newsletter which are sent out via email. You can also request a nametag so we can get to know you.
Sunday Shared Offering
We donate half of our weekly undesignated offering to non-profit organizations doing social service and social justice work in our local communities. Information about the recipient is in the weekly announcements and additional information is on our website and on the bulletin board in Helverson Parlor.
Sunday Morning Welcome Team
Every Sunday morning a team of wonderful volunteers provides friendly service to assist and welcome members, friends and visitors. This team of trained members helpsto prepare the Meetinghouse, greet newcomers, and serve as ushers during the service. If you would like to become part of First Parish’s Welcome Team, contact Senior Deacon, Katrina Piehler at or Rev. Mykal Slack, our Community Life Coordinator, at .
Social Hour
Everyone is invited to gather in Helverson Parlor immediately following the worship service for social hour. Informational tables are set up to highlight various programs, fundraisers and registrations. Tables must be reserved by contacting the church office at or 617-876-7772.
Pastoral Prayer
Congregants may request that their personal triumphs or disasters, their good fortune or ill, be named and lifted up in Sunday’s Pastoral Prayer by sending an email by noon on Friday to: . If this deadline can’t be met, you may fill out a Pastoral Prayer Request Form available in the narthex (Mass. Ave. foyer) and leave it in the Pastoral Prayer Box by 10:30 am on Sunday morning.
Amen, Axé and Blessed Be
To honor our spiritual and cultural diversity at First parish, we use various words to close prayers, blessings, and benedictions. “Amen”, an affirmation common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, means “may it be so.” In the Yoruba spiritual tradition, “axé” is the life-force that courses through everything in the universe. “Blessed Be” is used by many Pagans and Wiccans as an affirmation, greeting or farewell.
Programming
A variety of programming, including all-church education events, films, luncheons and special celebrations often take place following our Sunday morning services.
Semi-Annual Meetings
These meetings are when we approve our budgets, make key decisions and elect our leaders. Our next Semi-annual meeting will be held on October 26, 2014, beginning at noon in the Meetinghouse. Everyone is welcome to attend but only voting members will receive voting cards. Warrants, including the agenda for each meeting, are published in advance and posted on our website.
If you plan to attend any programs or meetings scheduled on Sunday afternoons, please remember that free parking in the Holyoke Center Garage ends promptly at 1:00 pm. On Sundays, metered parking is free and residential parking rules are suspended. Discount parking is available at University Place Garage (coupons are available in the office). Of course, to avoid parking issues we encourage using public transportation.
Religious Education
At First Parish in Cambridge, we’re dedicated to our mission – for Religious Education, that meansfostering spiritual curiosity and faith formationfor every child.New programs begin each fall. Please register your child(ren) in person during Sunday coffee hour or online at
firstparishcambridge.org/childrenyouth/
Be sure to sign up for the weeklye-news alerts by filling out a welcome card on Sundays or by e-mailing Janice Zazinskiat .
AYear in RE
Ingathering
Monthly Children’s Worship and Justice Projects.Children learn our Seven Principles and supportour Justice Partner of the year, chosen by the children each fall.
Multigenerational Services
These congregational worship services for all ages celebrate diverse holidays throughout the year. Our typical celebrations are:
September — Homecoming
October — Blessing of the Animals
November — Día de los MuertosGuest at Your Table
December — Christmas
January — Lunar New Year
Spring — Easter
May — Beltane
June — Flower Communion and our year-end
celebration, “Sundae Sunday”
Children’s RE Programming
On other weeks, children and youth attend age-appropriate group sessions on the themes of the year. Families worship together in the sanctuary thru the Story for all ages, then children attend age-based groups. For more about our curricula please visit firstparishcambridge.org/childrenyouth/
Youth Programming
Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 7 – 8
In collaboration with First Church and Friends Meeting, OWL meets weekly on Sunday afternoons.
Coming of Age - Grade 9
Coming of Agers meet in this capstone program to explore their own relationships with their faiths and to craft personal credos that are shared with the congregation in Spring 2015.
Meets at 10:30 am
High School Youth Group - Grades 9 – 12
Youth design their program with a balance of leadership, learning, fellowship, worship, and service activities each month.
Meets weekly at Noon in the Gallery
RE Program Expectations
All children are asked to sign our Children’s Covenant.
All youth are asked to sign a Code of Ethics.
Parents/Guardians are asked to commit to three things:
Regular attendance
Volunteering as a teacher
Financial support of First Parish
For more information about our program and our expectations of participants and families, please pick up a copy of our 2014-2015 Religious Education brochure. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or suggestions.
Bruce Leslie-Pritchard, Chair of the RE Committee
Mandy Neff, Director of Religious Education
Adult Faith Formation Opportunities
Our Associate Minister, Rev. Lilia Cuervo, will be offering two opportunities for adults in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. If you have ideas for other small groups or classes, contact Rev. Cuervo at or our Community Life Coordinator, Rev. Mykal Slack at .
To enroll for either of these opportunities sign up on our website under the Adult Faith Formation tab or contact Carol Lewis ().
SACRED SCRIPTURES
Using the book Anthology of World Scriptures by Robert E. Van Voorst as a guide, we will get acquainted with the major sacred texts of several religions and their authors. We will also enjoy watching a major documentary called “Looking for God in LA” which shows how a myriad of religious groups use their scriptures as the base of their spiritual and religious lives.
4 Sundays in October (10/5, 10/12, 10/19 & 10/26)
3:00—5:00 pm in the Barn Room
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
Several of our congregants and friends at First Parish are grieving the death of spouses, parents, siblings, and friends. When losses like those happen to us, our world often feels upside down, there is sadness, and even surprise at the range of intense feelings accompanying our grief. There is no need to go through this difficult period alone. First Parish invites you to participate in a Bereavement Support Group which will meet in a safe, compassionate environment. There, in the company of others going through their loss, (recent or not), you can let your natural grief process unfold and the healing begin, or continue in a conscious way if it has already begun.
Sundays, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, 2015
1:00 pm—3:00 pm in the Barn Room
Our Music Program
The First Parish in Cambridge music program strives to enrich the spirituality and deepen the Unitarian-Universalist values of musicians, congregants, and the wider community. Our goal is to perform music that connects with listeners’ hearts and minds in order to foster and cultivate the spirituality of all. Our vision is for everyone to find life-changing inspiration by singing, playing, or simply experiencing our music. We offer opportunities for all to participate in the musical life of the church.
The Choir
The First Parish Choir is a vibrant and growing chorus that provides choral music for all services at First Parish, except during the summer. Anyone with a love of choral singing is invited to participate; experience is recommended, but enthusiasm is required! We rehearse every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM (except during the summer). Optional rehearsals are held Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM.
Instrumental Music
Instrumental performance is an essential part of our Sunday morning experience. An instrumental prelude and postlude provide a calming way to begin and end the service. Our lighting of Candles of Joy and Sorrow is set to an improvised musical accompaniment on piano, organ, or Native American flute. Talented members of the congregation share their gifts through duets or solos. And our singing is accompanied by Fred’s guitar playing and/or Jonathan’s keyboards. If you have a musical gift to share, please contact our Instrumental Coordinator, Irene Merwin at
.
Gospel Choir
Lift Every Voice and Sing! Do you love to sing spirited and joyous music from the Gospel tradition? If so, please join our Gospel Choir, now in its fourth year, lead by guest director Linda Brown-San Martin. All songs are taught in the oral tradition, so the ability to read music is not required. For complete information on this exciting aspect of the Music Program at First Parish, please find the detailed brochure in the literature racks located in both the Mass. Ave. and ChurchStreet lobbies.
Musical Community Outreach and Service
Music is a wonderful way to reach out and connect with people. Every December, dozens of First Parish members and friends go caroling in area nursing homes and elderly residences in what has become a favorite tradition.
Inspired by the reactions of the residents, a number of us now lead regular monthly sing-alongs at Sancta Maria Nursing Facility in Cambridge. Please join us at our next sing-along! No rehearsal is required – the songs are fun and familiar, and we’ve got plenty of large-print song sheets for everyone. To learn more, contact ElkeJahns-Harms at
.
Our Invitation to You
Please come join us in musical celebration or contemplation at a service. Share your gifts as a singer, an instrumentalist, or an appreciative listener. We welcome you in joy and love. For more information about our music program contact:
Jonathan Barnhart—Music Director—
Steve Hanna or Mara Vorhees—Music Committee Co-Chairs
Communications
We utilize a variety of media for communications. Although a majority of our communication is done electronically, printed materials are available for those who request them. For any questions or information about communications at First Parish, please contact our Congregational Administrator, Carol Lewis at 617-876-7772 or .
Here are some of the ways we communicate within the congregation:
Announcements—weekly announcements are sent via email on Fridays. The same announcements are printed in the Order of Worship each Sunday.
Newsletter—Our monthly newsletter, The Meetinghouse News, is sent via email on the 1st day of each month. Printed copies are available in the 3 Church St. foyer.
E-lists—We have a general, moderated e-list for First Parish denominational announcements and parish information. E-lists are also available for program groups and committees.
Social Media—You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Website— In addition to a calendar of events, you will find an archive of past sermons, updated information on program groups and committees and usual information for visitors and leaders.
Guidelines for Publicizing Events
All official Program Groups and Committees can publicize meetings and other special events via our various communication channels.
Announcements—Written announcements (no more than 125 words) and Oral announcement requests (no more than 65 words) should be sent to Janice Zazinski, our Office Assistant at by Thursdays at 9:00 am.
Newsletter—Articles for The Meetinghouse News are due to Carol Lewis no later than 9:00 am on the 25th of each month. There is no word limit for newsletter articles. It is preferable to send articles as a Word doc attachment.
General E-List announcements should be sent to . These requests will be accepted (moderated) by one of the authorized group moderators.
Social Media—Requests for posting of events on Facebook and/or Twitter should be sent to:
Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Life Coordinator
Carol Lewis, Congregational Administrator
Website requests should be sent to Carol Lewis at
Membership
Weknowthatitisaprofoundlyimportantdecisiontojoinacommunity.AcceptinganinvitationtojoinFirstParish’scommunityopensthedoortoparticularopportunitiestolearn,growandshareourgifts.
There are three basic steps you need to complete to become a member:
- Attend one Exploring Membership session
- Submit application to the Standing Committee
Application forms are available on our website:
firstparishcambridge.org/get-connected/membership
- Make a financial pledge to First Parish.
Pledge forms are available from the office or online at:
firstparishcambridge.org/pledge
After you have completed theses three steps, the Standing Committee will vote to accept you into membership. New members are voted in monthly but arerecognized at the next scheduled New Member breakfast and the New Member Recognition Service. During that morning you will sign the official books of First Parish and First Church, a ritual affirmation and historical record of membership.
For more information on membership, see the brochure “Take the Path to Membership at First Parish” or e-mail Renee Saindon, Chair of the Membership Committee at or Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Life Coordinator at .
Carol Lewis, our Congregational Administrator can also give you details about the process or answer questions about pledging. She can be reached .