“Neighboring Faiths” RE Update

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Mick Hirsch, Director of Religious Education, writes:

This past Sunday, our inaugural group of “Neighboring Faiths” kids shared with the congregation their experience over the month of January studying Judaism.  Our 10-13 year olds were most excited about their visit to a neighborhood Jewish temple, Nehar Shalom, just down the street from First Church in JP.  From that visit, where we were welcomed to a “good Shabbos!” our kids treated our own congregation to a special treat:  they taught us how to sing the signature spiritual of the Civil Rights Movement, “We Shall Overcome,” in Hebrew! Needless to say, both the kids and the congregation did a great job singing through the transliterated text.

Next Sunday, February 5, our Neighboring Faiths class will begin a month-long segment on Buddhism.

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Sermon, January 22, 2012: “Candlemas”

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Rev. Terry Burke:

Today we are celebrating Candlemas, a church holiday including the blessing of candles. This should be done closer to February 2nd, but it’s a little early as George Wardle will be preaching next Sunday. Later, for Candlemas, we will be sharing candles and flames as part of our service.

There are many related layers to the holiday of Candlemas. It’s associated with St. Brigid of Kildare, Ireland, whose distinctive cross is on the cover of our order of service. St. Brigid died in the 6th century, and legend has it that when the rite was being conducted to consecrate her as a nun, she was made a bishop instead. St. Brigid was noted for her concern for the poor. We used to celebrate Medieval Feasts at this church, and children of the parish once dramatized the story of the saint’s cloak. A stingy king promised as much land for the poor as St. Brigid’s cloak would cover – her nuns ran with its corners in the four directions as it magically covered his kingdom. There are still Brigidine nuns, and as part of their work they keep an eternal flame.

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Church retreat, March 16-18: “Seeking Your True Self: Embracing Your False Self”

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First Church’s annual retreat will be held at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Massachusetts.  In a supportive and confidential environment, we will explore the question of how we can live authentically, and how that can bring us closer to each other and to God. Come be part of our Spiritual Facebook!

The retreat will run from Friday evening, March 16th through lunch on Sunday, March 18th. The cost is $200 per person, with some scholarships available.

Terry Burke, Ghanda DiFiglia, and Alice Kociemba will facilitate this retreat. Please contact Mary Brady if you are interested in attending, and with any questions you might have.

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Weekly Newsletter: January 26

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All new items will be listed first in each section and preceded by three asterisks (***). Find us online at:http://www.firstchurchjp.org ;

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CHURCH HAPPENINGS

*** Sunday, Jan. 29th***
We welcome our church historian, George Wardle, as guest preacher.
Please join us following the service for coffee and light refreshments. Thank you to Thalia McMillion for hosting Coffee Hour.

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Reminder: Yoga at First Church!

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Join us throughout the year on Monday for Evening Yoga (6:45 – 8:15 pm) for 90 minutes of stretching, flexing and core strengthening (suggested donation: $15).

For you early birds who want to wake up your body while the earth is waking up, try the slow-flow class Thursday mornings, 7:30 to 8:15 (suggested donation: $10).

Please try to be on time, out of respect for other attendees. Some mats and props will be available to borrow. Bring a friend!

For any questions about yoga, contact Margaret Suby. All donations go to the work of First Church in our community.

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JP Forum, “Criminal Injustice: The High Cost of 3-Strikes Laws in Massachusetts” – Friday, January 27, at 7 p.m.

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In November, despite protests from community activists and legal experts, both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate passed “3-Strikes” bills that could have disastrous consequences for our communities. As this legislation speeds toward a final vote, opponents of that legislation urge that we educate ourselves about the rampant injustice of our criminal justice system and how 3-Strikes provisions perpetuate and magnify that injustice.

Join us in a panel discussion at First Church on the potential repercussions of the 3-Strike law for MA featuring key players in the debate:

Ben Thompson, Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, will moderate.

Come to listen, ask questions, and learn how you can take action!  This event is co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Forum and The Union of Minority Neighborhoods.

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JP Forum, “The History of Jamaica Plain and its First Church” – Sunday, January 29, at 5 p.m.

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First Church historian George Wardle will discuss the connections between Jamaica Plain history and its First Church at a JP Forum talk this Sunday, January 29, at at 5:00 p.m.

Jamaica and West Roxbury were synonymous until the creation of a new parish church on the “Pond Plain in Jamaica” within the colonial town of Roxbury.  Jamaica Plain was the Third Parish of Roxbury, it was the downtown of the Town of West Roxbury , and is now a neighborhood of the City of Boston and a postal district.  For seventy years, First Church was the only church in Jamaica Plain.

A simple bread and soup potluck will be shared.  Please bring two cans of vegetables or non-dairy vegetable soup to be mixed in the soup pot or bring breads, crackers, cheese, or fruits to accompany the soup. Coffee and water will be provided.  (Any extra cans of vegetables will go to the First Church Food Pantry which provides for those in need.)
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What’s Happening this Sunday, January 29, at First Church

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11 a.m. Sunday Service:  Join us for our regular Sunday service and a sermon by our church historian, George Wardle, entitled “How We Became Unitarian.” Join us following the service at “Coffee Hour” for coffee and light refreshments. Children’s religious education classes will be held during the service as usual.

5 p.m. JP Forum History Talk: The History Of Jamaica Plain and its First Church. Presented by George Wardle.  More information here.

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Weekly Newsletter: January 19

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All new items will be listed first in each section and preceded by three asterisks (***). 

Tonight: Choir rehearsal, 8 p.m.
 
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CHURCH HAPPENINGS
 
*** Sunday, Jan. 22nd***
Join us for a sermon titled Worthship. Please bring a candle to give away for this service, which will involve a celebration for Candlemas.

Please join us following the service for coffee and light refreshments. Thank you to Laura McCord and Tyler Lambert-Perkins for hosting Coffee Hour.

Semi-Annual Meeting
The semi-annual meeting will be held on Sunday, January 22nd 2012 at 12:30 in the afternoon at First Church. Topics will include updates from the Strategic Planning Committee and the Stewardship Committee, discussion on the Garden Project, and a report from the Finance Committee.

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