First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Northborough, Massachusetts
Our Beliefs and Worship Services
"The bond of unity in a church is not a shared belief but a shared worship. Worship (worth-ship) is an act of reverence for what is regarded as of great or supreme worth. In the ultimate analysis, this is but another way of capturing the real meaning of love... Worship in a Unitarian setting becomes a shared act of celebration expressing our love for things of worth - those values by which and for which we live, in whatever picture-language they may be symbolized.
-Phillip Hewett
Welcome to First Parish
Our Beliefs and Worship
Our Religious Education
Our History
Our Minister
Our Staff and Governance
Our Calendar and Programs
Where to Find Us
Unitarian Universalism
Our religious heritage speaks of both reason and intuition as sources of our beliefs. We support the unique spiritual journeys of all people. Our faith is clearly rooted in liberal Jewish and Christian traditions, yet we find deep wisdom in the rich variety of religious and humanistic traditions from around the world. We find insight in science, culture, and literature, as well. Our members and friends include people with Western, Eastern, and secular faith traditions. Our living tradition is one of liberty and justice. We claim personal freedom in religious practice and expression, as well as freedom to advance our mission in the world.
As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote:
More information about Unitarian Universalism is available at the websites of the Unitarian Universalist Association or the Clara Barton District of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.
Weekly Services
Services start at 10:30 AM. Each service lasts for approximately one hour. Services begin with the lighting of our chalice. They include spiritual readings, singing of hymns, and performances by our choir or musicians within our community, as well as a sermon by our minister on a relevant-to-life topic.
Our community has a long tradition of lay leadership. Every service includes an opportunity for members and friends to share joys and concerns with each other, and many services include open dialogue. In addition, each month, one service is led by a member or friend of First Parish or other community member.
Dress ranges from business casual to completely casual with everything in the middle. Children are welcome to attend the service or go across the walk to Parish Hall for Religious Education classes or childcare in our nursery.
Coffee, tea, light snacks, and conversation follow each service. Visitors, members, and friends are encouraged to attend and know each other better.
April 27, 2008: Passover Seder
This Sunday will be our annual celebration of Passover with a Seder in Parish Hall. Ministerial intern Erica Baron and others will lead the service.
This is an all-age service. Children of all ages are welcome to attend.
May 4, 2008: Pulpit Swap: From Fire to Lamplight
We will welcome Reverend Cynthia Maybeck, minister at the Trinity Church in Northboro while Erica goes to Trinity. This is the first pulpit swap between the churches since 1911! We look forward to welcoming Cynthia to our Meetinghouse as she leads us in worship.
Cynthia will weave together stories of faith and healing to inspire her listeners. She is an ordained American Baptist minister who also holds standing in the United Church of Christ. She has served Trinity Church as pastor since 1999. She is President of the Northborough Interfaith Clergy Association and a member of the Northborough Rotary Club. She lives in Trinity's parsonage with her wife Elaine Fadden and their dog Toby. Her greatest joy is tromping in the woods with a bouncy dog.
Children are invited to attend the service or go across the walk to Parish Hall for Religious Education classes or childcare in our nursery.
May 11: Mother’s Day - Nurturing the Next Generation
Children are invited to attend the service. After the Minister's story time, Religious Education teachers will escort participating children to Religious Education class. Nursery-aged children are welcome to stay in the Meeting House for the entire service, be brought over to the nursery by a parent after story time, or begin the morning in the nursery.
May 18: Religious Education Sunday
The annual celebration of Religious Education, with Margaret Tabor, RE Director and the students.
This is an all-age service. Children of all ages are welcome to attend.
May 25: A Time For Remembering -
Memorial Day is a time when we allow ourselves to remember those we have lost, and to especially honor those who have died in military service. This service will be led by Erica Baron, Ministerial Intern, and Justine Sullivan, President of the congregation.
Children are welcome to attend the service or go across the walk to Parish Hall for childcare in our nursery.
June 1: Flower Communion
This is a day for rituals! We’ll have our annual flower communion service, so please bring a flower to share. We’ll welcome new members into the congregation. And we’ll have the annual ritual of the annual meeting! Erica Baron, Ministerial Intern, will lead the service.
Children are welcome to attend the service or go across the walk to Parish Hall for an alternate Religious Education activitiy or childcare in our nursery.
April 27, 2008
Passover Seder
May 4, 2008
Pulpit Swap: From Fire to Lamplight
May 11, 2008
Religious Education Sunday (Lay-Led)
May 18, 2008
Mother's Day: Nurturing the Next Generation
May 25, 2008
A Time for Remembering
June 1, 2008
Flower Communion
Recent Services
April 20, 2008
Earth Day (Lay-Lead)
April 13, 2008
Annual Animal Blessin Service (Lay-Lead)
April 6, 2009
Hymn Auction: GBLT Life and Issues
March 30, 2008
The Jester has Lost his Jingle (Lay-Led)
March 23, 2008
Resurrections
March 16, 2008
Learning to Love the Weeds
March 9, 2008
Stewardship and Generosity
March 2, 2008
How can we learn to find the spirituality in all aspects of our life?
February 24, 2008
What is Our Story
March 2, 2008
How we can learn to find spirituality in all aspects of our life
February 17, 2008
Being Called to Respond
February 10, 2008
Christmas Present, Take 2
February 3, 2008
Idolatries of the Mind and Spirit
January 27, 2008
Jefferson's Bible and Yours
January 20, 2008
Remembering the Sixties (Lay-Led)
January 13, 2008
The Environment and Our Way of Life (Lay-Led)
January 6, 2008
What is Humanism?
December 30, 2007
The Flaws in Perfection and the Wisdom of Excellence
December 24, 2007, 7:00 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 23, 2007
An Unpageant
December 16, 2007
A Christmas Gift from Our Student Minister
December 9, 2007
A Time of Rest and Renewal
December 2, 2007
Annual Christmas Concert
November 25, 2007
Poetic Reflections on Death (Lay-Led)
November 18, 2007
Come Ye Thankful People Come
November 11, 2007
What Will We Do?
November 4, 2007
Universalist Spirituality
October 28, 2007
Monsters and Ghosts that go bump in the Night
October 21, 2007
A Faith Worth Sharing (Lay-Led)
October 14, 2007
Association Sunday: Now is the Time
October 7, 2007
Into the Garden
September 30, 2007
Returning Home (Lay-Led)
September 23, 2007
Unitarian Universalist Service of Yom Kippur
September 16, 2007
How Do You Articulate Your Faith of Unitarian Universalism?
September 9, 2007
Service of Ingathering
Come as you are and be welcomed.
First Parish Unitarian Universalist
40 Church Street
Northboro, MA 01532 USA
Phone: (508) 393-6422
Fax: (508) 393-8938