Sunday, October 12, 2025 10:30am -12:30pm
Join us as we celebrate the restoration of our historic steeple.
Refreshments, acknowledgements, stories and more.
It’s a morning of gratitude from us to you, the Citizens and Town Officials of Northborough.
You made this historic renovation possible!
First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Northborough
40 Church Street, Northborough, MA
On the ride to and fro to Northborough from Lexington, and the inverse, about 500 yards from the top of Barefoot Red often curse myself for not slowing down enough to not rumble hard and a little too fast over the train-tracks that cross the road. I am forgetful, and they are terribly marked. I am working to remember to slow down.
Nevertheless, they have become my least favorite train tracks in the world. I don’t even know if trains use them anymore.
However, I like train tracks. And one quirky thing I like about them is that they are both one thing tracks made up by two separate rails. I have long been bemused by the fact that train tracks are really two metal bars that technically never touch but are paired together for thousands of miles.
I am struck by both how perfectly parallel they must be to one another for there not to be disaster. Think about it. All it takes is for one of those metal rails to be a few inches off its normal spacing from its partner, and all hell breaks loose. Rumbling over them and threatening the undercarriage of my Prius, I have come to wonder why that particular spacing was chosen.
Returning home, I searched the all-knowing wizard known as google to discover that nearly all US railroad tracks are set to be 4 feet, 8 and a half inches apart. I hadn’t known that. Nor that that seemingly random number was used as the standard because 56 and ½ inches was the measurement the English used when they first started building their rail system. As it turns out the engineers of the railroad system- the math guys not the train captains- were largely ex-pats from Britain. These former Brit’s brought with them that seemingly quirky 56 and a half inch standard because that was the spacing the tram tracks in the pre-steam locomotive era used.
Kinda cool right. As it turns out those English tram tracks were laid down with that unique width because those early English trams were constructed using many of the same tools that built the horse drawn carriages in the pre-industrial era.
I had fallen down the rabbit hole.
As it turns out, the coolest part of all this is that those pre-industrial English carriages and the wagons that for generations preceded them were built to that particular width in order to match the ruts in the ground that the standardized Roman chariots had left behind roughly a thousand years prior. And, the span of those Roman chariot axels were built to that particular size in order to best manage two horses striding side by side.
So, the question might be building in your head “What Rev. Steve is so religiously inspiring about that?
Nothing directly. Nothing except that railroad tracks are a great example of how we humans’ piece by piece, one layer at a time adapt the past to meet the future.
Today, although many feel we are backsliding, and I believe in some very real and dangerous ways we are, I believe that with a longer view, the view that one has when develops when one traces back contemporary train tracks to horse drawn chariots, is that the arc or direction in which we are moving is in general, forward. One of ragged improvement and imperfect adaptation on what was after another. Civilization has been built doing nothing more than making one more painfully imperfect step after another.
Unitarians and Universalists have a long-standing belief in and commitment to taking what we have inherited from the past and improving upon it. We still do. It might be the truest thing about who we are.
So, in light of evolving train tracks and our ever adapting UU tradition I encourage you to remember that although there are powerful voices and trends pulling us back towards autocracy and threatening democratic norms, when viewed from a higher vantage point, we will likely return to a new normal.
In the same way that the evolution of train travel-no doubt amidst some failures, disasters and setbacks have gotten faster, safer more fuel efficient and comfortable, we are from the broader perspective offered by history consistently growing more tolerant, interconnected, sensitive, and just. It’s just true.
I understand that writing this might feel like a failure to read the moment. Or even to be insensitive to those who could directly be impacted by the political changes expected. I understand. I wish we were not here. This moment is the kind of bad that can make you pay attention. However, it is also worth asking. is not the very moment we are in, with far broader perspective be read as a temporary reaction to a culture increasingly sensitive and emotionally in tune with those who don’t
progress. I believe it is.
The fact is that all around us there is a process of not natural, but human selection as to what ideas, customs, and traditions we will carry forward means that we can to a large degree control the world that will be. That is an incredibly important thing to know is know is true. And it is. Humans largely control the world we live in. Not completely, there are volcanoes and asteroids, but largely. And we are too slowly for sure, but getting better.
Amidst news of ongoing wars in the Middle-east and Europe, and the increasing distress faced by and regarding migrants, and the internal deconstruction of the federal government, the future can, and very well might get bleak. All while that is happening, let’s pause for one wistful moment in the war for the soul and future of our species, that the statistics regarding preventable diseases, homicide rates, global poverty, and infant mortality world-wide are all improving.
I don’t intend on painting a Pollyanna world view. Terrible things do, can, and always will go wrong. However, the general arc of history is irrefutable. Around the globe Tolerance, environmental-awareness, lifespans and education rates- particularly for women- are all on the upswing. History in the long term will likely lean more that way.
I know it doesn’t always feel it now, and of course I could be wrong, but perhaps for a moment let’s pause to catch our breath that the vast condition that most humans live with and under is far better than it used to be.
I know this perspective is hardly the makings of a rousing gospel tune. Far more likely the perspective of an observer with privilege, but in the long view, we humans are getting smarter, heathier, more tolerant, and believe it or not, kinder. Please don’t forget that.
So, the question might be building, “What Steve is so religiously inspiring about that?
Nothing directly. Nothing except that railroad tracks are a great example of how we piece by piece, one layer at a time, we adapt the past to meet the future.
Today, although many feel we are backsliding, and in some very real and dangerous ways we certainly are, the truth is, with the perspective gained by tracing back train tracks thru trams and horse drawn chariots, history tells us that in general, we are improving.
In the way wagon ruts become train tracks is evidence that we have control over what we choose take, or not take from our past to build the future. That hasn’t changed.
When I lose sight of this and faith in us, what inspires me is to look back. When we fail to look back on the so many stupid, destructive, inhumane things that we either don’t do anymore, or do less than before, the story of progress gets lost.
Sure, there are some voices and trends pulling us back towards autocracy and threatening some democratic norms. That’s true, and they are surely disturbing. However, viewed from a higher vantage point, the truth is- even if it is slower than we wished-history tells us that we are consistently growing more tolerant, more interconnected, more sensitive, and more just.
I understand that writing this can feel like a failure to read the moment; or worse an effort to be insensitive. But if one believes that the very moment we are in, is itself a reaction to the larger trend of compassion, interconnection, awareness of others, and broadening acceptance of more and more types of people hope to keep working can be found. At least it keeps me moving.
Writing Group Monday August 4th from 7 to 8:30pm @ church “That Embarrassing Moment.”/ “My First ___?”: This month’s writing subject is a writer’s choice. Either write a one to two page 2 to 5 minute personal story that fits under the title of “That Embarrassing Moment.” Or “My First ____ something.”
There will be no Theology Discussion Group in August in Northborough.
Death with Dignity: As most, of you know, my Dad passed a few months ago. A life he didn’t want to be in to have to watch himself decline and lose his faculties. And yet, oddly and cruelly enough he had to. The law demanded it. The National group Death with Dignity, working locally in Massachusetts has pushed a bill called the “End of Life Options Act (H2505)” forward past what has been called a key legislative hurdle. The Joint Committee on Public Health voted to advance the bill, and it now moves to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
The push, largely from conservative religious voices is always strong. They have money, and it is as you might understand the sentiment of being “for life” is an easy banner to live under, until you are knee deep in a life you don’t want to be in anymore, and don’t have the option of ending it without religious sanction. Nearly every UU, and our broader denomination in many statements have promoted the right to peacefully and with dignity end your life. In that spirit, it would be great if members of The Joint Committee on Public Health could hear from those UU’s who believe this is moral issue. In that spirit…
Please take a moment today to thank those in the Joint Committee on Public Health who voted YES on H2505. Your heartfelt message encourages lawmakers to stay committed and influence their colleagues as the bill moves through the next stage.
As you have and will hear, there were seemingly impossible challenges, and hurdles that led our religious ancestors to hand us this building, and this legacy.
There were gaps in time when there were years of no services, money problems, failed ministries, and questions about how to maintain the building. And there were times of thriving, growth in attendance, and a powerful influence over the town and its future. Lots of twists and turns happened to get us to here. However, alongside the easy to note events of when new buildings were built and long successful ministries got started were the endless work, done by the now nameless volunteers.
What I also know, simply because it is true of every church, is that all throughout First Parish’s Church history there was generation after generation of hearty people. Volunteers, who like our generations Jeanne Cahill, Gordon Hart, and Celia Brown, in an unbroken line made the church thrive and/or at least always survive.
I encourage you in this march through the history of notable events remember that there were a continuous line of unnamed, unsung people that kept the church going. Let’s pause for a sober moment to remember, if not in name, in spirit that for 200 years, parishioners have done whatever was necessary for us to be here today.
The silent bulk of every church’s history is made up not by what any minister or President said, not when new pews were installed but what unnamed and unheralded volunteers and church leaders did.
Please pause in tribute to all those people women and men who got up to ring the bell on cold church mornings, coordinated meals for sick folks, set up tables, and taught Sunday School, and ran zoom sessions.
It is always the people who interrupt their day to in one generation meet the local blacksmith and in another the electrician that matter most. Props to all of them and to the present generation of Donna’s Lise’s, and Dave’s who just do what’s necessary. There is never enough thanks given to the people who quietly step up do what is necessary, but here is at least one.
As we head towards finding ways to celebrate our new and improved steeple, and revel in the fact that we no longer fear standing directly under the bell for being in a very unwelcome way being a part of First Parish’s history, I have had fun and found it helpful to grasp the scope of time we are dealing with to imagine all the varieties of clothing that First Parish members spanning more than the roughly 12 generations of American’s must have been wearing as they served the church in all the ways people do, cause they must. That’s a lot of wardrobe changes.
Any costume designer commissioned to dress actors for the movie version of our history would be taxed.
First Parish Northborough of course has its own unique journey, but even today as we honor it, it must be said that it is part of something larger. Our service on August 10th, 2025 will touch on that. In that service we will also hear a reading of Allan Finnegan’s poem “If I could Change the World” read at the Worcester No Kings Day June 12th.
An evening of music with Namoli Brennet
by Rev. Steve Wilson
In our monthly theology discussion group, I always start with a guided meditation. It gives us a
chance to settle into our bodies and breath. Today, not really knowing what I was doing, I stumbled into creating what I think of as a guided cultural meditation for all of us. Something that might just feel during pride month, as a small moral win. This win in this dark time of political loss is of course imaginary. However, during this time of political retreat, I encourage you to settle in, relax, take a deep breath. If you weren’t reading I would invite you to close your eyes and join me on this early summer vacation trip. (Pause)
Today, I would like you to allow yourself to believe that we here in our little UU church with the red doors have been invited to preview the opening of a new amusement ride called “The Golden Age of Marriage.” What some of the park’s publicity has come to call “an info-taining journey thru the history of marriage in the western world.” This controversial ride is about to open at the equally controversial Amusement Park called “The Real Eden.” A 35-acre park that was designed specifically to promote religious tolerance and progressive values in bible belt, red state America.
“The Real Eden” was a project built with grants from the Gates Foundation, the ACLU, the PEW charitable trust…and -as we have heard too, too many times from watching PBS “the support of people like you.” It was conceived as a cultural alternative to the wave of religiously conservative theme parks and monuments that have been constructed across the nation over the last 25 years.
Those who initially proposed the park were motivated by a growing belief that religious liberals needed to provide a more culturally sensitive and modern option to parks like “The Ark,” a recreation of Noah’s Ark in Williamstown Kentucky, and “The Creation Museum.” In Cincinnati, Ohio. The final push that made “The Real Eden” a reality was the announcement of plans to begin building an “American Heartland Park” in rural Oklahoma. Yeah, that’s for real. Upon hearing the news of yet another vacation option dedicated to “Promoting Real American Values.”
The President of the UUA was caught on a live mic at a National Interfaith gathering saying… “What The F&%^%!” A statement that went viral. That’s not real, but conceivable. As part apology, part trauma bonding, part natural demographic, UU’s have been among the first of “This is Eden’s” loyal supporters.
Remember, this is an imaginary tour.
“Eden” -as it has come to be more commonly called- has a similar footprint and look to many large amusement or theme parks. Its’ obviously provocative name was chosen for being potentially both the most intriguing and offensive name to fundamentalists and the parks immediate neighbors in Stone Mountain Georgia. The team that named the park believed that with such a name there would be the near guarantee of some free publicity created by the inevitable protesters who expected a bible-based experience.
Eden was laid out to intentionally mimic Disney World and Disney Land’s differently themed sections. However rather than “Tomorrowland” and Frontier themed areas, Eden has areas with names like “Religious Tolerance Town,” “Science is not a conspiracy Land,” and “Human Rights Ville.”
In addition to 17 different educational amusement rides, Eden will soon offer opportunities to sit in on live lectures from well-known advocates for progressive causes. Plans are underway for upcoming weeklong residences from the famed Cosmologist Neil DeGrass Tyson, Religious Historian Karen Armstrong, Pakistani Teen activist Malala Yousafzai, and The Dahli Lama. Throughout Eden’s sprawling acres of attractions, food courts, and outdoor stages, actors roam about portraying respected historic champions of human rights. The brochure and website respectively contain lovely photographs and short Tic-Tok style video of actors who portraying Gandhi, Pema Chodron, Amy Goodman, and Jesus are seen engaging with guests.
At this completely LEED ecologically certified park, food courts are committed to selling exclusively organic and healthy refreshments. Moreover, consistent with the values promoted within all members of the growing staff receive a living wage and respectable benefits. Because at Eden the phrase “values come first,” helps set all policies all the souvenirs sold are required to meet strict “Fair Trade” guidelines and the Park administration ensures that all the plastics used come from recycled materials. As a comic touch even all the furry mascots representing endangered animals wear a badge that says, “I was raised in a free range/cage-free manner.”
That always creates a chuckle. Guests and traveling school groups are invited to participate in an ongoing experiment to soon completely power the park via solar, wind and other sustainable energy sources.
To help guide people around, the sprawling amusement space “This is Eden” is laid out in an intuitive and color-coded manner. Rainbow colored street signs direct people quite intuitively to the LGBTQ-AI themed “gayborhood,” and dirt paths bordered by wildflowers lead visitors to the ecological themed area titled “No Planet-B”.
Pertinent to us today is that constructed in the area where “Human Rights Ville,” “Religious Tolerance Town, and “the gayborhood” all meet is the soon to open attraction titled “The Golden
Age of Marriage.” Please consider this a preview for a sermon that will mimic this imaginary
educational ride.
NOTE- This month, on Sunday, June 8, we will participate in my imaginary sermonic tour of
Marriage through the Western world.
Organized by the Northborough Cultural Council, Open Studios day helps shine a spotlight on art and its many forms in our small town, and the Meetinghouse Arts Center will be a part of it.
To mark the occasion, we’ll celebrate our the new Ted Lilley arts show opening with a reception: come and meet the artist, soak in the colors and textures exhibited in our gallery, enjoy light refreshments. Saturday, May 17 @ 11:00 am EDT
Find out more about our featured artist at https://tedlilleystudio.com.
Find out more about Northborough Open Studios at https://northboroughculture.org/northborough-open-studios-2025/
Find out more about Meetinghouse Arts Center Events at https://meetinghouseartscenter.org/events/
I was recently asked to officiate at a ceremony of a couples who want to renew their vows.
I was also recently in a conversation with someone who reported that they were in a room with a
mix of both recent American citizens originally from other countries, and birthright US Citizens.
The short point being that how and why’s of American civics, how the branches of government
work; and the understanding of the basic principles of was better understood by the foreign born
than the Native-born citizens.
It got me thinking…
What if like jury duty, registering for the draft, and filing taxes, periodically native born
American citizens were required to take a refresher course in American Civics, or participate in a
renewal of vows.
What might those look like. What might we as Americans be asked to reflect on? What would
or should a renewal of vows a native-born American citizen might be asked to attest to look like
Here are a few to chew on…
I vow to hold true that a balance of power between our legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of government has been a greater source of stability than inefficiency for our
government.
I vow to hold true that any government or politician that seeks to control the freedom of
the press should be themselves held suspect of wanting more control than our government has
historically been willing to grant leaders.
I vow to be cautious of any leader, party, or agenda who seeks to constrain, disarm, or
dismantle the regulatory arm of government, as motivated by an exaggerated desire for their own
economic freedom or political control.
I as an American Citizen commit to being wary and resist those who wish to violate the
delicate balance of power that has existed for 250 years.
I vow to be wary of politicians whose temperaments and behavior suggest that they are
driven by an excessive narcissistic and/or anti-social behavior,
I vow to be wary of politicians who make political appointments on the basis of loyalty
over competency.
These are just a few. As we witness the speedy, seemingly reckless challenge to so many long-
standing American norms I invite you, to periodically pause and ask yourself, as you already
likely are, what the real motivations might be for any newly proposed change in law.
The First Parish Memorial Day Fair is returning this year with all your favorite activities: plant sale, book sale, yard sale and strawberry shortcake! Mark you calendars for Monday, May 26, 10am-2pm.
Vigils for Democracy will continue every Monday. We’ll gather in front of the WWI war memorial on the corner of First Parish lawn every Monday, from 6pm to 7pm. Do join us! And bring your friends!
Opportunity for between 7 and 10 fellow Massachusetts UU’s and to Travel and Live with Rev.
Steve at GA in Baltimore. We would be leaving Thursday Morning June 19 and returning on
Tuesday night June 24 th. The overall cost of this trip not including spending money, but including
registration (which you will do on your own) would be about $1200, overall trip I would guess if
you’re frugal: $1400.
Ok, I’m intrigued, but want another layer of detail? Ok, here is more of the scoop.
Housing (If we go): I have rented a Verbo (house) about half a mile from the Convention
Center in Baltimore. The house has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, with 3 queens and two King Beds (It
says it sleeps 12, but that would involve strangers sleeping in the same bed. I think with a couple
couches; it more realistically sleeps 10).
If you want to look at the house or a map it is https://www.vrbo.com/3607613 It is .6 miles or ½
mile from the convention center in a safe neighborhood with great reviews. I can cancel this
“Vrbo” by June 5 and If I don’t have 7 committed people, by May 10 I will cancel the house
and likely the whole trip. I suppose there is a chance I might just rent the van, and let people do
housing on their own at the hotels.
*Total Housing cost for the 5 days we would stay in this Vrbo is $3400. Per person-with 10
people going-the cost would be $350 each. With only 7 people the cost would be roughly $525
each.
GA Registration: You will need to register on your own and choose your comfort of risk as to
whether you/we together are going…
From April 1 – May 15 the cost for registering for GA is $475. After May 15 th the registration
cost rises to $540. Note- GA wording suggests you may cancel your registration for GA for a
fee of $50. (I do not see a deadline for that. but that is not a promise from me.)
I/we will not go with less than 7 people. I/we will go if 7 or more people commit. If going
together is the only way you think you will go to GA, I would encourage you to wait until May
10 to register. I will clarify whether we are going will all those who express interest on May 11 so people will have time to register or not, before the rates go up on May 15. Registration is
online.
Transportation: I am planning on renting a 12- or 15-person van for the trip and doing a pick-
up and drop-off at all the churches I serve (Billerica, Northborough, and Bernardston) on
Thursday morning June 19. Between 8 and 11am. The Van is roughly $2000 for the 6 days we
would be gone plus roughly $300 gas. I would plan on doing AM and PM drop offs and return to the house with the van. Note- GA begins on Thursday, so we will be missing most of the first
of 4 days. Believe me GA is pretty intense Fri, Sat, and half day Sunday is enough.
On Monday I/we will drive to DC for a full day of sightseeing, returning to our Vrbo Monday
night for a Tuesday AM departure.
Transportation Costs Total 2,300 potentially divided by 10 $225 per person. If we only have 7
people the cost is $300 each.
*In most cases I can cancel the van free of charge by June 18. Travelocity number: 73077680255410
Your potential Costs in more detail:
If you register for GA before May 15, it is $475. + $300 for Transportation + Housing 3 or 400.
Making your total costs to be about $1150 before any food or spending money is allotted for. In
general I think 1500 is a realistic budget. Sorry, “Wilson Travel” is a non-profit, low overhead
operation and thus, no scholarships are offered with this proposal. All I get out of this is the
pride of getting parishioners to GA, and the chance for a mix of people from my three churches
to have some crossover and a fun road trip.
As I said, I/we will not make this trip with any fewer than 7 confirmed travelers. I will ask for
no deposit money, before we go, but I will ask for a firm confirmation. An email expressing interest, is ok, but I really would prefer a phone call. Inevitably questions will need to be asked. Call Rev. Steve.
