Podcasts about lead minister

Abraham: A Man After God's PromisesGenesis 13Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Worship service given June 8, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister Offertory Music: "Benediction: When the Recall Sounds," music by Jennifer Kobayashi, words adapted from Rev. Dr. Vivien Pomeroy (1883-1961) Anthem: "Bidden or Unbidden: God is Present," music by Kenneth Seitz, words by Marta Morris Flanagan and Charles R. Duffy, spoken at their wedding on August 13, 2023 https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Join us for this special service!  Join us for song, reflection, music, and ritual as we say goodbye to Lead Minister, Rev. Marta Flanagan, and celebrate our annual Flower Communion.  Parish Minister, Rev. Erica Richmond, will be preaching.  Community-wide BBQ after worship! Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For June 2025, The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) will share half of the plate. For nearly 50 years, BAGLY has been a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community in Massachusetts. After serving over 200,000+ youth since 1980, BAGLY is recognized nationally for its pioneering role in creating, sustaining, and advocating for social support, leadership development, and health promotion programs for LGBTQ+ youth. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Abraham: A Man After God's PromisesGenesis 12:10-20Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Abraham: A Man After God's PromisesGenesis 12:1-9Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"I think repentance also involves agreeing with God regarding his mercy, his forgiveness, his grace. It involves a leaning in, instead of a leaning away. Listen: when you ask God for forgiveness, do you trust him to forgive you? Do you really? Or, every time you have one of those “flinch moments” do you beg his forgiveness all over again? I think a whole lot of us don't really trust God. We don't really trust his forgiveness, his grace. … Do you? Do you ever wonder whether your sins are too big, or maybe you have committed the same daggon sin so many times … that you have out-sinned grace, maybe? And … did you know that to reject God's forgive3ness is, in a sense, to cling to your sin in a different way? Not by loving it, because you don't, I hope. But by believing that your sin is more powerful than God's grace. Did you know that refusing God's forgiveness is a form of unbelief, often rooted in pride, or despair? I think, for a lot of us Jesus followers, we get the first part of repentance … agreeing with God by owning our sin, accepting our guilt, experiencing perhaps regret and remorse. In fact, for many Jesus follower that kind of defines their life with God. But, I think, maybe, a whole lot of Jesus followers resist that second part of repentance: agreeing with God by accepting … actually accepting his forgiveness, his grace." Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister

"Walk this Way" Ephesians 2:1-10Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

In this episode, Adam talks with Scott Smith, the lead minister of the Temple's Aries Ministry, associated with the Warrior, about the work of protection and Scott's work as a teacher and minister within the Temple. The post Voices of the Temple: Scott Smith, Aries lead minister appeared first on Temple of Witchcraft.

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given May 18, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Erica Federspiel Richmond, Parish Minister, preaching Reading: "Mrs. George Reece" by Edgar Lee Masters from Spoon River Anthology https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 This Sunday Marta Flanagan offers her last sermon as Lead Minister at First Parish. Marta has served First Parish since 2009.  On June 8 she is retiring from full-time parish ministry after 39 years of serving Unitarian Universalist congregations.  On Saturday, May 31 First Parish is honoring her in a celebration.  All are invited.   Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2025, Massachusetts Bail Fund will share half of the plate. Massachusetts Bail Fund (MBF) pays bail to secure freedom from pre-trial incarceration so that those who cannot afford their bail can be in their community to fight their case. Pre-trial freedom allows individuals, families, and communities to stay productive, together, and stable. Massachusetts jails are filled with people awaiting trial simply because they cannot afford bail. Sitting in jail on bail leads to longer incarceration times, lost jobs, lost housing, and devastating disruption to families. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

"Walk This Way"Galatians 6:1-5Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister, preaching Worship service given May 4, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Like a cool water for the thirsty, hope fills us, sustains us and grounds us. Like water, hope is difficult to live without, and yet it can't be ordered up or assured. Sometimes we have to wait for its return, sometimes we have to carry hope for each other. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For May 2025, Massachusetts Bail Fund will share half of the plate. Massachusetts Bail Fund (MBF) pays bail to secure freedom from pre-trial incarceration so that those who cannot afford their bail can be in their community to fight their case. Pre-trial freedom allows individuals, families, and communities to stay productive, together, and stable. Massachusetts jails are filled with people awaiting trial simply because they cannot afford bail. Sitting in jail on bail leads to longer incarceration times, lost jobs, lost housing, and devastating disruption to families. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Amy Smith, 2025 Shinn Speaker, preaching Worship service given April 20, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 In this sermon,  Dr. Amy Smith reflects on her experiences in international development and how those experiences have been influenced by the UU principles she grew up with. The Shinn Service honors Barbara Shinn (1912-1976) and her commitment to justice. Barbara served as chair of what was then known as the Social Responsibility Committee. An educator and leader, she had a passion for teaching children with disabilities. She displayed personal courage in the face of a debilitating illness, arthritis of the spine. This years' Shinn Service preacher is Amy Smith. Amy Smith is the Founding Director of MIT D-Lab, an innovative university-based program in international development and a senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is also the founder of the International Development Design Summit, co-founder of the MIT IDEAS Global Challenge, co-founder of Rethink Relief conference, and originator of the Creative Capacity Building Methodology. Amy's most recent work has been in Africa with displaced people, often in refugee camps. She works collaboratively with them as they identify problems and collectively create solutions. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist in the Follen Church in Lexington, MA. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For April 2025, the Giving First recipient is Community InRoads. Community InRoads‘ mission is to partner with and support non-profits serving the Lawrence and Haverhill, Massachusetts area by providing them with pro bono, professional expertise. Their goal is to empower and contribute to the capacity and gifts of the women, men, and youth living, working, and studying in those communities by fostering a sustainable network of effective non-profits dedicated to social justice and economic equality. Community InRoads is dedicated to fostering an effective network of nonprofits so that the men, women and youth in the Lawrence and Haverhill area have access to the resources they need to reach their fullest potential. They provide consulting, training, and board development opportunities at no cost to nonprofit leaders and boards of directors, so that they in turn can better serve community residents. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

"I am...am I?"John 14Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given April 20, 2025 Reading from "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" by Wendell Berry, read by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan and Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister Prayer by Rev. Tricia Brennan https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Come and celebrate in this complex time! On Easter Sunday Lead Minister Rev. Marta Flanagan will preach, the First Parish Choir will offer seasonal music, along with the Boston University Brass Quintet. During worship children pre-K to grade 6 will enjoy easter egg hunts and then return to the sanctuary for a sharing of matzah and grape juice with the entire congregation. As in the past, communion will be offered during our Easter service. First Parish has no creedal tests for involvement. Our communion is an open table. All are welcome. We each bring our own interpretations of the sharing of bread and wine. Our blessings will be translations of the Hebrew spoken every Friday Shabbat in Jewish homes. In keeping with Passover, the elements of our communion will be matzah and grape juice. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For April 2025, the Giving First recipient is Community InRoads. Community InRoads‘ mission is to partner with and support non-profits serving the Lawrence and Haverhill, Massachusetts area by providing them with pro bono, professional expertise. Their goal is to empower and contribute to the capacity and gifts of the women, men, and youth living, working, and studying in those communities by fostering a sustainable network of effective non-profits dedicated to social justice and economic equality. Community InRoads is dedicated to fostering an effective network of nonprofits so that the men, women and youth in the Lawrence and Haverhill area have access to the resources they need to reach their fullest potential. They provide consulting, training, and board development opportunities at no cost to nonprofit leaders and boards of directors, so that they in turn can better serve community residents. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

"Bottom line, guys, Mary is confused because she doesn't know the real Jesus. She is looking for the wrong Jesus … a Jesus of her own imagination … her kind of Jesus. She is blind to the real Jesus. And the real Jesus has to come after her, to break through her fog. You see, if Jesus had just sat back and waited for her to get it … You know, some of us are like, “You keep searching and eventually you will find,” right? “If you work at it hard enough, if you work at it long enough, you'll find the truth … your truth.” If Jesus had just stood there thinking, “I'll just wait here till she figures it out, till she discovers who I really am” … I don't think Mary would have ever found him. Because that's not how it works. Salvation is not about our finding him, it's about him finding us. God always loves us … first. God always nudges us, and draws us … first. God always calls us … first. And he always calls us, every one of us … first. Because God is prodigal with his grace. You've felt them, God's nudges. The real question is, how do you respond? So Jesus says to Mary, so gently, “Why are you crying?” Guys, he knew! Grief? Disappointment … they killed him! Were her tears because she felt broken? Was her hope gone, her direction gone, her purpose for living gone? Were they tears of unfaith, disbelief … stupidity?" Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister

"I am...am I?"John 11Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Scott Meyer, Lead Minister, brings a message from Chapter 31 of The Story. The message begins by confronting the common fears and anxieties that grip people today—financial struggles, health worries, relationship pain—and reveals that underneath it all lies the fear of death. Drawing from Revelation, the sermon emphasizes that Jesus, who conquered death and now holds the keys to it, invites us to live without fear because He transforms whatever He passes through. John's vision of Jesus in Revelation contrasts worldly power, like that of the Roman emperor, with the true authority of the Lamb who was slain and now reigns on the throne. The sermon celebrates Easter as the declaration that the tomb is empty, the Lamb reigns, and the story is far from over—it is the beginning of a new creation. Ultimately, the hope of Easter is that Jesus makes all things new, and no matter where we are in our personal story, He offers to rewrite it with grace, victory, and eternal life.

"I am...am I?"John 10Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister, preaching Worship service given April 13, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 We will sing that familiar hymn this Sunday, as over twenty new members are welcomed into First Parish. Rev. Tricia Brennan will reflect on what it means to join a faith community: how one joins a particular congregation with a history and a future, how one joins a particular faith tradition, Unitarian Universalism at this moment in time. What it means to be open to being changed, all of us. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For April 2025, the Giving First recipient is Community InRoads. Community InRoads‘ mission is to partner with and support non-profits serving the Lawrence and Haverhill, Massachusetts area by providing them with pro bono, professional expertise. Their goal is to empower and contribute to the capacity and gifts of the women, men, and youth living, working, and studying in those communities by fostering a sustainable network of effective non-profits dedicated to social justice and economic equality. Community InRoads is dedicated to fostering an effective network of nonprofits so that the men, women and youth in the Lawrence and Haverhill area have access to the resources they need to reach their fullest potential. They provide consulting, training, and board development opportunities at no cost to nonprofit leaders and boards of directors, so that they in turn can better serve community residents. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Scott Meyer, Lead Minister, brings a message from Chapter 30 of The Story.

"I am...Am I?"John 10:1-10Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Chris Stephens, Lead Minister of the Avenue G. Church, brings a message from Chapter 29 of The Story.

"I am...Am I?"John 9-9Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given March 23, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 On Sunday, March 23, our Lead Minister, Rev. Marta Flanagan, will consider what doing hard things can involve and call from us. The Time for All Ages will involve a telling of the story of Jonah. Note that our Lead Minister is retiring in June and this will be her third to last sermon. She preaches again on Easter Sunday, April 20 and on May 18 immediately before our annual congregational meeting. Offering and Giving First For March 2025, the Giving First recipient is the Resilient Sisterhood Project. Cambridge-based Resilient Sisterhood Project's mission is to educate and empower women of African descent regarding common, yet rarely discussed, diseases of the reproductive system that disproportionately affect them. They approach these diseases and associated issues through a cultural and social justice lens since they understand that poor knowledge of reproductive health is primarily related to health, racial, and socioeconomic disparities. RSP brings an expansive definition to and understanding of the word “women” to include transgender women, cisgender women, gender queer, and gender non-conforming people who have a female reproductive system. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

"I Am...Am I?"John 6Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"Upside Down"Matthew 7:13-27Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, preaching Worship service given March 9, 2025 Time for All Ages performed by Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister, and Sanjay Newton, First Parish Member Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Traditions, says the late poet John O'Donohue, are the memory of a community. Yet, ‘we've always done it this way,' can sometimes be grounding, and sometimes constricting. Join Rev. Stevie Carmody, as he dons his religious studies glasses, to explore how tradition forms and transforms communities, including First Parish Arlington. Offering and Giving First For March 2025, the Giving First recipient is the Resilient Sisterhood Project. Cambridge-based Resilient Sisterhood Project's mission is to educate and empower women of African descent regarding common, yet rarely discussed, diseases of the reproductive system that disproportionately affect them. They approach these diseases and associated issues through a cultural and social justice lens since they understand that poor knowledge of reproductive health is primarily related to health, racial, and socioeconomic disparities. RSP brings an expansive definition to and understanding of the word “women” to include transgender women, cisgender women, gender queer, and gender non-conforming people who have a female reproductive system. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

"Upside Down"Matthew 7:1-6Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Series: "Upside Down"Text: Matthew 6:25-34Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

This sermon was preached by Mark Ashton, Lead Minister of Christ Community Church in Omaha, Nebraska, on Leviticus 8–10.

"There are different ways of saying “again” in Greek. The one here is kind of odd. If you were to check it out in your Bible you'd probably see a little note next to the word “again.” If you go to the margin it will explain the note. It will tell you that the word “again” can also mean “from above.” “You must be born again.” Or, “You must be born from above.” One words, two definitions. And both work. Every one us was birthed once … physically. But you are not just a physical creature. We're kind of like “hybrids” – both physical and spiritual. And for us to be what we were meant to be, a spiritual birth … a “born again,” a “born from above,” is required, too. Our Creator must re-create, Jesus says. … So … have you been “born again … from above”?" Stephen Pattison, Lead Minister

Scripture:  John 1:18, John 1:2-9, John 1:40-42, John 2:7-10 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary: Scott Meyer, Lead Minister, brings a message from Chapter 23 of The Story. The sermon emphasizes how the presence of Jesus transforms lives. It explains that Jesus did not come to introduce a new religion but to fulfill and reveal God's nature, making Him accessible and personal. The message highlights four key aspects of Jesus' ministry: revelation (Jesus reveals God clearly), reconciliation (He bridges the gap between humanity and God), transformation (He changes lives and identities, as seen in Peter's story), and restoration of hope (He brings hope even in hopeless situations, like the woman at the well). The sermon concludes with an encouragement to invite Jesus into one's life, as His presence assures that "the best is yet to come."

Series: "Upside Down"Text: Matthew 6:16-18Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given February 23, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Tricia Brennan, Adjunct Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 This Sunday kicks off our annual Stewardship campaign. In her sermon Rev. Marta Flanagan will reflect on getting through in these times. The First Parish Choir along with the First Parish Bell Choir will provide music sustaining to the spirit with guest conductor Michael Bradley. If you would like to prepare for worship with a bit of music, click here for the Seekers singing an upbeat version of “We Shall Not Be Moved:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBMdHBRpVDY. Offering and Giving First For February 2025, the Giving First recipient is the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC). AYCC is a state-licensed, community-based mental health center serving Arlington youth (ages 3-21) and their families. AYCC is the leading provider of outpatient and school-based child and adolescent mental health services in Arlington, offering individual, group, and family counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. Central to its mission, AYCC is committed to ensuring that all community youth and families have access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and high-quality mental health care, regardless of their ability to pay. In the past fiscal year, 22% of our clients had public insurance or received grant funding to help cover the costs of care. In addition to mental health services, AYCC oversees First Step- a support group for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Series: "Upside Down"Text: Matthew 6:5-15Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"So... till death do us part: perseverance, endurance, faithfulness. That's what I preached 25 years ago. And it was solid stuff, I think. But we need to go deeper. Because it's missing, I think, maybe the most important part. Because... what if perseverance isn't measured just by time? What if endurance and faithfulness aren't measured just by time?" Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister

Series: Upside DownText: Matthew 6:1-4; 19-24Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, leading Worship service given February 9, 2025 Prayer by Bill Licea-Kane, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 On the Sunday before Valentine's Day, Marta will consider how to practice love in our time and at this chapter in our lives. *Note: This service was not filmed in the Meetinghouse and was only offered live online via Zoom due to inclement weather. Offering and Giving First For February 2025, the Giving First recipient is the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC). AYCC is a state-licensed, community-based mental health center serving Arlington youth (ages 3-21) and their families. AYCC is the leading provider of outpatient and school-based child and adolescent mental health services in Arlington, offering individual, group, and family counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. Central to its mission, AYCC is committed to ensuring that all community youth and families have access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and high-quality mental health care, regardless of their ability to pay. In the past fiscal year, 22% of our clients had public insurance or received grant funding to help cover the costs of care. In addition to mental health services, AYCC oversees First Step- a support group for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Series: "Upside Down" Text: Matthew 5:38-42 Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Rev. Stevie Carmody, Minister of Religious Education, leading Worship service given February 2, 2025 Prayer by Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 In the early twentieth century, Unitarian astronomist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin fell in love with the Universe, and followed that spark to a lifetime of discovery. Unitarian Universalists too have long nurtured the divine spark in each of us. Indeed, it's one of our countercultural “heresies.” Join us for an interactive and engaging Intergenerational Service that explores our searches for meaning. Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For February 2025, the Giving First recipient is the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC). AYCC is a state-licensed, community-based mental health center serving Arlington youth (ages 3-21) and their families. AYCC is the leading provider of outpatient and school-based child and adolescent mental health services in Arlington, offering individual, group, and family counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. Central to its mission, AYCC is committed to ensuring that all community youth and families have access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and high-quality mental health care, regardless of their ability to pay. In the past fiscal year, 22% of our clients had public insurance or received grant funding to help cover the costs of care. In addition to mental health services, AYCC oversees First Step- a support group for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Series: "Upside Down" Text: Matthew 5:27-30 Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"We are calling this little series, “First comes love, then comes …” And it's all about the kind of love we're talking about. If we're talking about agape, first comes love, then comes … sacrifice. First comes agape, then comes … gentleness. Of course, it does! First comes agape, then comes … humility. First comes agape, then comes faithfulness. And if you're talking about an agape kind of love … no kidding. Eros? No way. Agape? A God kind of love? Absolutely! The fact is, you can do sacrifice without agape. You can do gentleness, humility, and faithfulness without agape … at least for a while. But if you are practicing an agape kind of love, you cannot not sacrifice and serve. You can not be gentle and humble with your partner. You can not be faithful to your partner … till death do you part. I'll show you." Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister

“I like big Bibles, and I cannot lie!” This is the opening line from a viral comedy song / music video created by our Lead Minister, Dan Smith (Google “Baby Got Book X”). This internet banger is all about a dude who loves the Scriptures and is searching for a godly lady who feels the same way. Psalm 119 was also written by a poet who absolutely “delighted” in God's Word. It's the longest psalm (and chapter) in the entire Bible, and it's jam-packed with spiritual nuggets about developing a growing relationship with God. From basics to advanced tips, these messages are a great way to start the New Year!  #ILikeBigBibles 

“I like big Bibles, and I cannot lie!” This is the opening line from a viral comedy song / music video created by our Lead Minister, Dan Smith (Google “Baby Got Book X”). This internet banger is all about a dude who loves the Scriptures and is searching for a godly lady who feels the same way. Psalm 119 was also written by a poet who absolutely “delighted” in God's Word. It's the longest psalm (and chapter) in the entire Bible, and it's jam-packed with spiritual nuggets about developing a growing relationship with God. From basics to advanced tips, these messages are a great way to start the New Year!  #ILikeBigBibles 

Rev. Marta Morris Flanagan, Lead Minister, preaching Worship service given January 12, 2025 Prayer by Loren Gomez, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 Inspired by Sibylle Bosslet, First Parish Member and Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Prophet and Spy Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For January 2025, the Giving First recipient is Women's Lunch Place. Women's Lunch Place is a day shelter community in Boston for women experiencing poverty and homelessness. Trained staff and volunteers provide hundreds of women with two nutritious means a day, clean clothes and a fresh shower with a spirit of healing, hope and dignity. Advocates help guests with issues such as fleeing domestic violence, immigration status, housing, and increasing income. When you donate to Women's Lunch Place you make a difference in the lives of vulnerable women. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

Series: "Upside Down" Text: Matthew 5:17-20 Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

“I like big Bibles, and I cannot lie!” This is the opening line from a viral comedy song / music video created by our Lead Minister, Dan Smith (Google “Baby Got Book X”). This internet banger is all about a dude who loves the Scriptures and is searching for a godly lady who feels the same way.

Series: Upside Down Text: Matthew 5:13-16 Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"So, there are all these different “Bibles” out there, and all these spiritual gurus, motivational “life coaches,” all telling you how to live. And you pile on top of these the advice you are getting every day from TV and the internet, from TV stars and athletes who think that because they are talented and rich, you need to listen to them as they tell you what to think and how to live; and politicians who think they can tell you what to think and how to live. And all of you are probably deluged with advice from your moms and dads, and your brothers and sisters, and your friends as they tell you what to think and how to live. And, every once in a while, they give you some good advice. But, as Jesus' followers, we believe that if their advice contradicts what the Bible tells us … the Bible wins every single time. Right? And to so many, that sounds narrow, quaint, and stupidly arrogant. And … if the Bible was one of many options, they'd be right. But we think the Bible is … infinitely superior because we think the Bible is … fundamentally different. It's unique, one of a kind. I'll show you. We don't treat our physical Bibles with the same kind of reverence as some of theirs. We are not “bibliolaters.” We don't worship the book – it's just paper and ink. We do worship the God who speaks to us through it. We'll get back to that. But … I want to try to explain this morning why we think our Bible is so special, which will explain why we want you to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and pray it; so, here goes…" Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister

Series: Upside Down Text: Matthew 5:1-12 Speaker: Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

"Some of you guys came in here this morning pretty skeptical about Jesus. And when you hear his words, “I am The Way, The Truth, The Life, and no one gets to the Father without going through me,” you bristle. You want your own truth. You want your own way. … But … what if Jesus really was God, in a bod, stepping into our world to eradicate the barriers between us and God … barriers we are powerless to get by on our own? What if Jesus really did defeat death … for himself and for us? What if Jesus was right? Listen, guys: if you are on the wrong path, if you are going the wrong way, you won't get where you really want to go. If he really is The Way, The Truth, and The Life … now is the time, guys. Don't put it off. Never put off doing the right thing. It's the best this you will ever do for yourself, for those you love, and for our amazing God." Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister