We often speak of First Church as a kind of extended, chosen family. There is no time in the year when that feels to me more apt than at our annual Fellowship Dinner. Here we all are, enjoying the reliably wonderful food that George Wardle prepares with scout-like precision, experiencing tomato aspic, breaking bread with friends, laughing together, and singing good-night to Irene. Continue reading
New members’ book-signing ceremony on Sunday, January 6th
Interested in becoming a member of First Church? On January 6th we’ll be having a book-signing ceremony as part of that Sunday’s service. The “book” dates back to 1882 and has been signed by all new members since then. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a member, or just want to know more about what membership means, please contact Abby Kreuger at dear_abby@comcast.net or anyone else on the Welcoming Committee.
Welcoming Breakfast – Sunday, January 6th, 9:30 a.m
All are welcome to join us in the Dining Room on January 6th for a Welcoming Breakfast. Longtime church members, first-time visitors, and everyone in between are warmly invited to attend. We’ll be celebrating the joining of new members to our church that same Sunday. Share a delicious morning meal with us as we build community and get to know each other a little better. Bring your appetites, and we’ll provide the food and beverages. Children are welcome! Please RSVP to Paul Miller (pmmille2@yahoo.com). Longtime members, let him know if you can bring a dish.
The 15th Annual JP Crafts Fair is right around the corner! Keep an eye on our crafts fair page for links to this year’s vendors and artists.
Please join RE families for a get together this Sunday, October 21st in the Parish Hall from 4:30 to 6:00. Come and decorate a lantern or finish your own, share supper and go parade. Pizza will be provided.
History Talk by George Wardle, Church Historian, October 11, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm in the Dining Room of First Church in Jamaica Plain
Come learn about our church from its founding at the end of the colonial period to today.
The history of the First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist, began before there was a place called Jamaica Plain and before there were Unitarian churches in America. Come learn how the church’s founding defined what would come to be known as Jamaica Plain and how this church was involved with the beginnings of the American Unitarian Association.
While the church has had periods of great vitality, twice the church just barely survived periods of great hardship when there was no minister, 1786-1793 and 1972-1983. It is a remarkable story of women and men beginning with Sarah Pemberton who is credited with organizing her neighbors to create this new church.
Thanks to Judith Garfunkel and Margaret Suby, our church yard is full of beautiful blooms!
Charge to New Members
We are a welcoming congregation. That means both that we extend a particular welcome to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and Queer people, and also that we are delighted to see anyone who chooses to join us. Those who wander in to explore, to consider, to visit, to check us out, or to take a spiritual break, are truly welcome.
But the welcome we extend to new members is something quite different. You came back. You kept coming back. Again and again. You are no longer visitors. Today you have chosen to become a part of the family of First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist. We welcome you home and hope you will find with us the personal community and the spiritual haven a church can provide.
You are joining us at a crucial moment in the history of this congregation. Quite frankly, we need you. Our spirit is strong and our outreach in action is broad. But what the Strategic Planning process made clear is that if we are to thrive, we need to find more people who will join in taking responsibility for this inspiring community and this historic building.
By becoming members today, you strengthen us. You increase the ways in which we can build our religious education program, sustain our social action, and deepen our worship together. Most of you are young, by my admittedly elderly standards. We welcome your energy and your ideas.
Joining the church represents the end point of a process of introduction, a period of trying out and getting to know. Congratulations on your arrival. It also represents a starting point for greater involvement and responsibility. There is work to be done. We are deeply grateful to have you with us.
Andrea Fleck Clardy
June 10, 2012
9:30 a.m. Welcoming Breakfast: Join us in welcoming new members and new friends at this welcoming breakfast in the Parish Hall. Longtime members are invited to bring a dish to share.
11:00 a.m. Sunday Service: Rev. Burke will give a homily on transitions as we celebrate the previous church year. We’ll hear from the Family Choir, the Standing Committee Chair, and welcome new members as we also recognize transitions in the lives of our youth.
12:30 p.m. Congregational Potluck: All are invited to join us in sharing food and laughter.
During our 11AM service we will hear from the Family Choir (you can join the rehearsal at 10AM if you are in or have ever been in a family), welcome new members and hear a charge to them by our board chair Andrea Fleck Clardy, listen to a short homily by Rev. Terry Burke on transitions, do a Bridging blessing ceremony for graduating senior Lucy Burke, and dance a spiral dance.
Following the service, there will be a potluck. Come join the fun, and bring some food to share!
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:
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!