Author Archives: Web Editor

Weekly Newsletter – March 15

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All new items will be listed first in each section and preceded by three asterisks (***). Contact information for individuals is not provided in the online version of the newsletter for privacy reasons, but contact information is available through the church office.

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CHURCH HAPPENINGS

*** Sunday, March 18th***
Please join us with guest speaker David Dorney.

Rev. Burke will be co-leading the retreat this weekend and will not be present at First Church.

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Jamaica Plain Spring Fling Clothing Swap – Saturday, April 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

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An afternoon of “Fun, Fashion and Philanthropy” at First Church!

Recycle your gems and renew your wardrobe … for women and men, all sizes and all seasons.

Tickets are available for advance purchase online through Brown Paper Tickets ($12). Tickets at the door are $15 (cash only).

Swapping is not only a great way to revamp your wardrobe and have a ball – it is also a super environmentally-friendly thing to do. You’re diverting clothes from landfills, cutting carbon emissions, opting for fashion without exploitation and saving money!

Swapping is done on a one-for-one exchange. For each swappable item you bring, you’ll get a ticket. You can then go home with as many items as you brought!
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Fun in the Sun and Social Justice too! – Saturday, May 12

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The Social Action Group writes:

On Saturday morning, May 12, we will work at The Food Project farm in Roxbury. Everyone 12 years old and older who can weed, hoe, or plant, is welcome to come and learn about the farm and help plant food that will feed the hungry throughout Eastern Massachusetts. The Food Project provides free or low-cost food to homeless shelters and low-income buyers and also provides training in urban agriculture to inner-city youth.

We will work from 9:30 to 12:30 and then enjoy a picnic at the farm. See this page for more information.

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“Worship 101″ Report

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Rev. Terry Burke:

We had 6 people in our first “Worship 101″ class last night.

The class walked through the elements of our Sunday service and talked about the resources in our hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition. Participants are learning about what we do for worship as well as how we do it. They have the project of creating an order of service for a worship theme that interests them, as well as doing a simple sermon outline.

Ellen McGuire, our Music Director, will be talking to the group in a later session about music and hymns.

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New Spring Fair coming! – Saturday, June 2, 2012

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In a few weeks, everyone will have the chance to declare their support for one or more of our exciting fair opportunities. We need a variety of donations for a diverse set of fair tables. Sign-up sheets, along with more information, will appear in church in the next few weeks.

At this time, we are looking for commitments for:

  • Plant sale table: Please look around your garden and see what needs dividing or thinning.
  • Craft table: A group is actually forming that will meet to make crafts for this table. Anything you make on your own is equally welcome.
  • Book Sale: A great chance to thin out your shelves to make way for the new!
  • Bake Sale: Cakes, cookies, breads; if you bake it, we will sell it!
  • Goods and Services Silent Auction: A detailed description will appear soon on this webpage.
  • Vendor Rentals: Amazing crafts people will be selling again.  Maybe you or a friend wants to be one of them? E-mail JPCraftsFair@yahoo.com.

And, of course, we would love to see you on that day, helping at the bar-b-que lunch sale, the tables, set-up, or just stopping by to say hello and to buy from the vendors.

Much more information to follow!

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Sermon, March 4, 2012: “The Gift”

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Rev. Terry Burke:

This Sunday we’re going to do things a little differently.  Following my sermon, we’ll have a short period of what our friends the Quakers call “Worship Sharing.”  That’s when people speak out of the Spirit on a set topic, in this case, the sermon. They speak on the topic, and don’t respond to things that others have shared in the worship sharing.  I will ring a bell to start, and we’ll have 3 or 4 persons come to the mic to speak, talking no more than about a minute each.  I ask that you leave a period of about 30 seconds of silence between the speakers so as to speak out of the silence.
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Readings for Sunday, March 4, 2012

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Mark 1:9-15:

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.  After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

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Musical Mysteries

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Abby Krueger writes with a reflection on last Sunday’s service:

One of the great joys of time at First Church is hearing the music.  Even if you know nothing about music it is a powerful spiritual experience for many of us.  But, as you learn more about it, it becomes even more powerful!   And we get chances to do so by listening and joining enthusiastically, and by explanations and teaching.

For example on Sunday we sang one hymn using another hymn’s tune.  How did Ellen know that would work? Continue reading →

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Update from Food Pantry

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Jane Zerby writes:

To food pantry volunteers and supporters:

We had a very busy day at pantry yesterday and I want to thank all of you who came to help. You were all terrific! 55 folks came through our doors, quite a large number for us, and we were able to give everyone fresh bread, fruits and vegetables, a wide assortment of staples, and an added treat: donated Girl Scout cookies which brought a smile to all.

Several folks were first-time visitors, so the word about our pantry is still spreading. As usual, our customers included people of all ages and races, speaking several different languages. I think we now have our procedures, and the food, better organized for an easier flow of traffic; we can more easily help people in wheelchairs or who have other disabilities. We’ve learned a lot in 3+ years.

Thanks again, so much, for all your help.

(More pictures after the jump!)

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Ibrahim Miari, “In Between” – Sunday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

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In Between is a semi-autobiographical one-man show that portrays the complexities and contradictions inherent in Palestinian-Israeli identity. On the precipice between two cultures stands Ibrahim Miari. His play recalls his childhood in Acco, memories of his Jewish and Palestinian grandmothers, of war, and of the struggle to shape and understand his own multi-faceted identity.

Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, First Church in Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, and JP Forum are co-presenting this production of In Between, which will be performed on Sunday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m. at First Church. To reserve tickets, call Allie at First Baptist (617-524-3992). Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. If you’d like to help promote the show, a one-page flyer for the performance may be found here.

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