Category Archives: Congregational Happenings

Easter Sermon, April 8, 2012: “Going Home”

Posted on by

Rev. Terry Burke:

Bunnies. Our order of service today has on its cover a stylized Easter bunny. They’re one of my childhood associations with Easter. I didn’t know anything about the Jesus Easter story. I was like the young kid in the old joke about Easter. During the service, a minister asks a child to tell the story of the holiday. ‘Wasn’t Jesus killed by the Romans and people were very sad.’ ‘Yes, that’s right.’ ‘And he’s placed in a tomb, and after three days .. ‘

‘Yes, go on.’ ‘He comes out and sees his shadow and there are six more weeks of winter!’ That’s about how much I knew about Easter. Continue reading →

Share

Trans Forming Faith

Posted on by
What are the intersections of transgender identity and religious experience?  How does being trans impact faith formation?  And what lessons does that experience hold for all of us?  These questions will be explored in a worship service led by Jamez Terry, founder of the Tranny Roadshow and MDiv candidate at Harvard Divinity School. 

Service followed by a workshop titled Understanding (Trans)Gender Identity

In this interactive workshop, led by Jamez and Julia Terry, participants will gain an understanding of gender identity, how it fits into all of our lives, and how we can talk clearly about it with one another.  We will explore what it means to be transgender and how, as a faith community, we can become more welcoming to all of the people in our midst.  Unsure what the words even mean or how to begin talking about it?  This is the place for you.  Know a little bit but have questions or want to deepen your understanding?  It’s the place for you.  Already have a nuanced understanding of gender and trans identities but wish to have more public conversation about how to fully live into our role as a Welcoming Congregation?  Yes, this is the place for you, too!  Please join us after the service on April 15. RSVP for the workshop to firstchjp@aol.com   
Share

Clothing Swap

Posted on by
Nothing to Wear!?!?!
Do you stand in front of your overflowing closet every morning and struggle to pull together an outfit?  You’ve got a closet full of clothes, and nothing to wear!
How about you clear out everything you don’t love and everything that doesn’t fit, and trade it in for a whole new-to-you wardrobe?  Wouldn’t it be lovely to open your closet and just ADORE everything you see there?  You can do it – at a clothing swap! Continue reading →
Share

What’s Happening at First Church ~ Special Services

Posted on by
Sunday, April 1st

11 a.m. Sunday Service: Please join us for our Palm Sunday service. Communion will directly follow the regular service..

Religious Education:  All children (4+) are invited to participate in Mick’s Third Annual Passover Seder.  This is an “educational” Seder, intended to introduce children to some of the stories, symbols and rituals of this rich Jewish tradition.

4 p.m. Lenten Musical Meditation:  an hour of calm  organ music played by our Music Director as an opportunity for seasonal prayer and reflection in our beautiful sanctuary.

Thursday, April 5th 
6 p.m in the Sanctuary: A simple communion service for Maundy Thursday. We use grape juice for reasons of inclusion, all are welcome.
6:30 p.m.  Passover Seder  in the Parish Hall.  

Friday, April 6th  
7 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Service.  A service of darkness, where we extinguish candles after lessons of modern day crucifixions.  The service stops in darkness to resume on Easter Sunday.

Sunday, April 8th 
7 a.m.  Graveyard Easter service, led by Rev. Marshall Hawkins in the parish cemetery.
            
11 a.m. Easter service led by Rev. Terry Burke with special music.  
Share

Minister’s Report – March 16, 2012

Posted on by

Rev. Terry Burke writes:

Besides the usual, some of the things I was up to this week included:

  • meeting with Rabbi Joseph Berman of Jewish Voice for Peace;
  • having dinner with Jim Solomon, Scoutmaster of Troop One West Roxbury and long-time head of our kitchen crew for the Fellowship Dinner;
  • attending the Jobs With Justice annual fundraiser dinner at Suffolk Downs (“I got a horse right here, the name is Paul Revere…”);
  • talking to our Worship 101 group about sermons and organizing a service around a theme; and
  • preparing for and co-leading (with Ghanda DiFiglia and Alice Kociemba) our weekend church retreat at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham.

I also spoke about my Camino pilgrimage at a house service for my friend Phil Jacob’s church in Canton. Phil and I are both board members for the Massachusetts Committee for Interfaith Worker Justice.

Share

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

Posted on by

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!
Continue reading →

Share