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.

Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm at the Meetinghouse Arts Center – First Parish Northboro

Come listen to Dr. Ira Helfand, President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), speak about this important subject on Wednesday, April 16, at 7pm.

We will continue to stand in support of democracy through April, from 6pm to 7pm. We’ll gather in front of the WWI war memorial on the corner of First Parish lawn. Do join us! And bring your friends!

Saturday, April 12 • 4pm – 5:30pm • Parish Hall

Revitalize your Soul with Ancient Energy Medicine. The Healing Sounds of 7 Chakra Crystal Singing Bowls, Tibetan Sound Bowls, Handmade Native Drum & Flute, Steel Drum, Chimes ở grinch Gong. With Special Guest Zack Black.
Please contact Charlie @508-440-7200 to pre-register/pre-pay. Send payment via Venmo ($55) @SoulShineHealing8

**PLEASE BRING MAT/BLANKETS/PILLOW/ANYTHING YOU NEED FOR EXTRA COMFORT, WATER & DIVINATION TOOLS YOU MAY WANT FOR YOUR JOURNEY **

Saturday, April 5, 2025 – 6pm

Join us for a night of live storytelling and community at the Meetinghouse Arts Center. Tell Me a Story will take place in the Meetinghouse on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 6pm to 8pm. We expect eight to ten 5-min stories to be presented live in front of the audience.
If you want to submit a story, contact Heather and Jean at tellmeastorymac@gmail.com
Find out more details at the link below.

Tuesday, May 13, 7pm – 9pm

Described this way “Friendly jams for friendly people, led by our fun faculty performers.”  On occasional Tuesday Nights from 7 to 9pm Groton Hill opens up a few rooms of its inspiring beautiful facilities to people who want to come play and or just listen to people jamming together.  Seemingly different genres of music, (usually they are Irish, bluegrass, and Jazz) are played in different rooms, and people are invited to roam about from room to room with a pint in their hand.  Seems worth a try. 

Prior to the open sessions there are also Intro to Bluegrass, Intro to Jazz Improv, and Intro to Traditional Irish Playing are all classes that meet right before our jam sessions! It’s the perfect way to study these joyful and collaborative art forms and then put what you’ve learned into practice. Learn more and register on our classes page.  For more info go to https://grotonhill.org/pages/jam-night/  People can meet at church 630 to carpool or just meet Steve at 7pm at the Groton Hill Arts Center at 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton, MA (I (SW) will not leave from church)  

We will leave church at 12:15pm to carpool for a field trip to the Worcester Art Museum. People may wish to meet us there at 12:45pm in the lobby. We plan on being back by 3pm. All are invited and will pay separately at the museum. The Museum’s address is 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609.

Please stand with us for democracy and peace through the month of April — every Monday, 6pm-7pm.

We’ll gather in front of the WWII memorial at the corner of Church St and Whitney St. in Northborough.  Candles provided, or bring your own light.

Inspired by our UU values, First parish hosted our first Vigil in support of democracy and justice on February 17th, 2025, Presidents Day!

More gatherings will be held 

Monday, February 17, at First Parish Northboro, from 5pm to 6pm.

Join us for an hour at dusk and stand witness for democracy and justice.

First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Northborough Massachusetts,
40 Church St., Northborough, MA

UU Writing Group will meet on Monday February 3 rd from 7 to 8:30am. Our writing
assignment for this month is to write from the prompt… “Something Illegal I did.” We will also
as always hear any past writing assignments from those who were unable to attend prior
meetings. The group is held both at church and offered on zoom. The zoom link is
https://zoom.us/j/96449910738

Theology Discussion Group: Sat Feb 8 th from 10 to 11:30am

Regularly on the 2 nd Saturday morning each month Rev. Steve (I) have hosted an hour and a half
Adult Ed Theology program from 10 to 11:30 Each of these sessions stand independently and
are open to both our members and outsiders. Each session will have a meditative piece, an
academic/educational component, and a reflective piece designed to aid people exploring their
past and their beliefs. No preparation beyond your own curiosity is required. Come. No RSVP
required.

Saturday February 8th EcoTarium Museum trip 12:15-3:30pm ($19 entry price)

We will leave church at 12:15 to carpool together or meet at the Ecotarium in Worcester at 12:45 a field
trip to the EcoTarium Science Museum. There is no need to RSVP for this event. We will get
tickets at the door on our own on that Saturday. Free to go online, or to local libraries for the
possibility of discounts or free tickets. The Ecotarium is located at 222 Harrington Way,
Worcester, MA 01604 508.929.2700  info@ecotarium.org
Rev. Steve has office hours on Monday’s and Friday’s from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Best to call
or text to see that he is not out of the office, but on Monday’s and Friday’s he is regularly at the
church or about town. (617) 852-2292

Other Events Coming Up

March 23 rd, 2026, Be the Change: Activist Dinner Party:
A Living Theatre Service

With Rev. Steve and a broad cast of your First Parish friends. In an age of endless problems; the infomercials with the sad eyed children; the news of a mounting trash heap floating about the pacific, how do you keep fresh? What is the psychological perspectives and tools that prevents nihilism? How
do you balance the desire to savor life with the call to save it.
*This service/Theatre production is an opportunity to get your head and soul on right at a dinner
party with some great souls. It will most likely take place in the Parish Hall, quite likely in an in
the round arrangement.

A series on Death and Dying titled “End of Life Planning for All of Us:
Getting Emotionally and Practically Prepared”

Coming on Saturdays March 1 through March 29

Led by Licensed Certified Social Worker, End-of-Life Doula and First Parish Church newcomer Pamela Gasek, with support from Rev. Steve Wilson this series will involve 5 90-minute workshops. Each of these workshops will combine elements of the practical and emotional aspects of aging and death. Find out more here.