First Parish Northfield, Unitarian

Faith in Unitarian Universalism isn’t just an intellectual exercise: it’s “heart” work. This service features a sermon by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, as well as vibrant music, storytelling, and other worship elements that will help us to grow in spirit, in courage, and in generosity.

First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, will share this as our Sunday service on Sunday, May 30 at 10:30 am. A time for all ages is included in the program. Following the service, those who wish may stay connected for a social time.

This service can be viewed at any time by clicking this link:

https://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/loved-being

Join Franklin County UUs this Sunday, May 23, at 10:30am. In her last regularly scheduled service, worship leader Julie Payne Britton will explore the fullness of this passing time and the task that always and still lies before us:

“Finally there is light at the end of the COVID tunnel! At least in this country. At least in this state. At least in this community. And tempting as it may be to put this long, hard 14 months in the rearview mirror, doing so would make us miss something important — the chance to learn and grow and draw nearer to the Source of All. People are invited to bring a candle to light during our chalice lighting and there will be a Body Prayer for All Ages.”

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos

Members and friends of First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, will hold a special Chalice Circle, “Return to Community,” at 10:30 am on Sunday, May 16. This “Service Work Day” will be a hybrid event.

The goals are to revive and beautify the building and grounds of our church and build community with our inter-generational congregation. Those participating in person will follow Massachusetts guidelines for social distance, mask wearing, one-way traffic, and occupancy restrictions when indoors. Others may drive by to greet fellow parishioners from their cars.

The link for a survey form to see tasks and activities and sign up for the Chalice Circle is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-7zqJISDXnZBDQTKYLpXV0nCrd-XSUOGk5LGmGSajrM/edit?usp=drive_web – for more information send an email message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com.

Notes:

• 10:30-11:30 am: Young people will ring Church Bells at 10:30!

• Masks required

• Bring your own food/drinks

• Canopy Shelter available outside

• Tools: Arrive earlier if you have tools to share/loan for the day (David Smith will be there by 9:30 am)

• Paint: David will bring paint and sandpaper. If you have brushes, consider bringing 1 or 2.

• Kids are encouraged and welcome! Rev. Melissa will have sidewalk chalk for art and messages of hope

• All are Welcome to stay after for clean-up or to re connect with friends and the community

[Photo credit: John Phelan]

One of the historical teachings of Unitarian Universalism is that all people have a calling in this world. This Sunday, May 9th at 10:30am, we’ll look to the scriptural stories about Hagar for inspiration about what it might mean to be faithful to our own callings. We’ll lift up appreciation for mothers and mothering and have time for sharing joys and sorrows and for enjoying wonderful music. We’d love to have you join us. This service, led by Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer, will be multigenerational; children and youth are welcome to attend for the whole service and the first 20 minutes will be designed with people of all ages in mind.

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

[Painting: Frederick Goodall, “Hagar and Ishmael”, 1866]

This Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 10:30am, the Franklin County Collaborative of Unitarian Universalist congregations will gather online for a service led by Dan Tinen. He will speak about “Systemic Prosperity.” Tinen asks, “Is it possible to build a society that eliminates poverty? Several economists and the experience of different nations suggest that it is possible if we are willing to let go of outdated ideological concepts on both the left and the right and see the world, and our fellow human beings, in a whole new way.”

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos

This Sunday’s minister for the Franklin County UU churches is no stranger to our Valley. The Rev. Steve Wilson has been Minister for First Parish of Northfield and for the Bernardston Unitarian Church. He currently serves a church in California.

“UU Hero, Thomas Starr King: Neither a groovy rock band, nor bold nickname for an astronomer, Starr King was a prophet, politician, orator, and evangelist of liberal religion throughout the 1800’s. Thomas Starr King was such an important West Coast Unitarian that we named a Divinity School after him. Today we discuss him and his current relevance.”

Sunday, April 25th at 10:30am, Bernardston Unitarian Church is the Zoom host for the Northfield, Greenfield and Bernardston UU Collaborative. Rev. Steve Wilson leads the service from his ministerial post at Pacific Unitarian Church in Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA.

To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

To view the service on YouTube, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs/videos

On Sunday April 11th at 10:30 am, the Rev. Alison Cornish will lead the online worship service for Greenfield’s All Souls Church and First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian. To participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome. [PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Franz, Greenfield Recorder]

Unitarian Universalists have a wide range of beliefs about religious traditions, from UU Christian to “Jewnitarian” to agnostic. What deeper cross-cultural messages might we find in the Judeo-Christian holidays of Passover, Good Friday, and Easter?

On Sunday April 4 at 10:30 A.M., the three Unitarian Universalist churches of Franklin County (Bernardston, Greenfield, and Northfield) will join together for an online service titled “A Humanist View of Easter and Passover.”

Watch and listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FranklinCountyUUs

Or, to participate via Zoom, please send an e-mail message to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for a link. All will be welcome.

Mary Bowen will lead members and friends of First Parish of Northfield, Unitarian, in a Chalice Circle service on Sunday, March 28, 2021. Mary says, “I am grateful to be hosting this First Parish Chalice Circle. My topic will be ‘Living Soulfully and Morally in Uncertain Times.’ I welcome you all to be a part of this event and conversation.” The service will take place by videoconference at 10:30 am. Send an e-mail request to fpnorthfieldma@gmail.com for the Zoom link to participate.