Upcoming Events
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“375 YEARS ON THE WAY,” A 10:00 Hour Series on our First Church History Sunday 10:00 a.m., Hastings Room Just who were Urian Oakes, William Brattle, and Abiel Holmes? One was 4th Minister and President of Harvard University! One was Pastor of First Church during the time of grave theological differences that led Cambridge (like many other towns) to have a "First Church" and a "First Parish"! Interested in learning more? Join Lindsay Miller, and Dan Smith for the final session in this short course in First Church's long and robust past. Catch it while you can, and while we are still in our 375th anniversary year! All are welcome!
2011 ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON Sunday, January 29, 2011 in Margaret Jewett Hall Hear ye, hear ye! Come one and all to the 377th Annual Meeting of First Church on Sunday, January 29, 2011, following morning worship! A delicious luncheon will lead into our meeting. We will celebrate another very full year of ministry, honor and thank one another for gifts discerned and shared, make decisions on fiduciary matters, share plans and visions. We will also pray and sing! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to put our Congregational polity into action.
COOKIES FOR COMPOST! Help raise funds for curb-side pick-up of our coffee hour compostables. Earth Stewardship Team will hold a bake sale before and after Annual Meeting on January 29th, 2012 and would love your donations of delicious baked goods to sell! Contact Nancy Kilburn at nkkilburn@comcast.net with questions. Thanks! --The Earth Stewardship Team.
MEN’S BREAKFAST Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 a.m. in the Hastings Room Gentle men of First Church! Join us for a hearty breakfast and even heartier conversations about topics that connect our faith to our lives and our world. One-time visitors, friends, and newcomers are always welcome. Questions? Contact Peter Byerly, p.byerly@comcast.net, or Paul Efthim, pwefthim@verizon.net. If you'd like to sign up for the Men's Breakfast e-mail list to receive monthly reminders, contact Kirsten Manville, parishadmin@firstchurchcambridge.org.
HAVRUTA LUNCH ON FEBRUARY 5th The Havruta Learning Initiative at First Church is offering a Lenten practice series based on texts from the gospel of Luke. On Sunday, Feb. 5th you are invited to an informational luncheon after church. Learn about the practice, meet the group leaders and sign up for a Lenten practice group. Space is limited so if you are interested be sure to sign up early. The deadline for sign up will be February 13th. You may also sign up by contacting Gaylen (gaylenmorgan@comcast.net) or Brent (brentbcoffin@gmail.com). Starting on the week of Sunday, February 26th three Havruta Practice Groups will be offered that will meet once a week during Lent (6 weeks, see schedule below). The groups will be led by teams of people who have been engaged in Havruta practice already. There will be a group on Sundays starting 2/26 that meets from 9-10:45, a group on Mondays starting 2/27 that meets from 10-11:45, and a group on Wednesdays starting 2/29 that meets from 7 a.m. to 8:45 (breakfast included). Groups will be kept small so please sign up early. You are welcome to join the lunch even if you are not sure yet if you can participate in a group. (Please note: Brent’s email was incorrect in last week’s bulletin. Apologies for any inconvenience that may have caused.)
TRAUMA AND GRACE In the light of Ute's departure, some of our conversations may raise trauma from previous experiences in our lives. What faith practices do we have that can help us to hold and make meaning of current and past traumas? What role can forgiveness play and what are some other options for healing? Some resources have been prepared to help individuals deal with these very issues. If you would like a copy of these resources or would like to explore the subject further, please contact Dan Smith (dsmith6@firstchurchcambridge.org) or Terry McKinney (temckinney@msn.com).
Social Justice Forum on Disability Sunday, February 12, 12:30 p.m., Hastings Room The next Social Justice Forum will be held after Morning Worship on February 12. Join us to hear updates from several of First Church’s social justice ministries and to consider some new directions for 2012! Led by our own Carolyn Thompson and Terry McKinney, this forum will focus especially on our call to be inclusive of persons with disabilities of all kinds. Check the bulletin for more details. A light lunch will be provided, and childcare will be available.
SAVE THE DATE! ALL ARE INVITED TO Mardi Gras Family Night Tuesday, February 21 The Family Night crowd invites the whole church to join us for a special Mardi Gras Pancake Supper on Fat Tuesday, February 21, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. We’ll gather upstairs in Margaret Jewett Hall on this occasion. Pancakes and maple syrup will be provided; bring cooked bacon, breakfast sausage, or potatoes, and fruit salad to share. We’ll decorate a colorful banner full of “Alleluias” that will be hidden in the sanctuary for the season of Lent, ready to reappear at Easter. Please RSVP to Sarah Higginbotham, shigginb@firstchurchcambridge.org, so she can plan for pancake production.
PROPOSED SHOWING OF “CENTERING PRAYER: A TRAINING COURSE FOR OPENING TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD” This course was developed by Father Thomas Keating, a leading proponent of Christian contemplative prayer, and the founder of the international organization Contemplative Outreach (http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org). A copy of this course (6 DVD's, a workbook, and other material) has recently been donated to First Church. Several members of the congregation have viewed the course at home; based on their enthusiasm, and general interest in Christian contemplative prayer within First Church, we propose to organize weekly interactive sessions for viewing the course and discussion of the material. This course has proven to be quite constructive for those trying to improve their attunement to spiritual experience and how such experience can be harnessed, so to speak, for discernment of of God's will and plans as it works in each of us! See the Amazon.com website for more information about the course (including reviews). We're now trying to get feedback on who might be interested in participating, what days and times would be most convenient, and suggestions for the format of these sessions--for feedback and more info, please contact Stan Goldin (stan_goldin@hms.harvard.edu).
Looking for opportunities to participate in the Sunday service? Each week the deacons invite people to greet at the doors and collect the offering. Contact deacons Mark Destler, Rachelle LaMaster, Susie Neubauer, or Chris Reynolds if this interests you.
Security Cameras First Church continues to a very busy, very public building in an urban setting. For the safety of children and other building users, our Buildings & Grounds Committee has been working with Newtowne School to augment and update our video security system that has been in place since 2004. If you want to know more, please talk to Dan Smith.
375th EXHIBITION Come see 375 years of First Church history through the lens of the six meeting houses where this congregation has worshiped. The exhibition, called "Keeping the Covenant in Harvard Square," is in the Tower Room, just off the narthex, or main entrance, to the church.
Did you know that 1 in every 45 children in America are homeless? Horizons for Homeless Children seeks fun-loving, dependable people to play with children living in homeless shelters in Greater Boston, including Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford. We partner with shelters to create Playspaces, rooms full of toys, books, and art supplies. Day and evening hours are available, Mondays through Fridays. A commitment of 2 hours a week is required for at least 6 months, and we’ll work with your schedule. Our next initial trainings are on January 31st and February 1st (both nights) from 6 to 9 pm, and then March 3rd from 9:30 am to 4 pm. For more information about the program, you can talk with Sarah Fujiwara or visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org. Thank you very much!
Ready to find out whether your home could lower its energy bill and reduce carbon emissions? Sign up today at coffee hour with other First Church folks for a free home energy audit. The audits conducted by Next Step Living will highlight recommended actions and explain the available financial benefits to residents offered by utility company programs. You are under no obligation to implement the actions recommended in the audit. How it works: When you sign up for an audit, you name will be submitted to the Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light organization (of which First Church is a member), then forwarded to Next Step Living (authorized by MassSave to perform audits and efficiency work). You will be contacted by NSL to schedule the audit. The audit is an opportunity to ask lots of questions and to hear about benefits such as free air sealing (the contractor will fill the cracks and openings that make your home chilly), 75% rebates on insulation and other approved measures, and 0% interest loan up to $25,000 to upgrade your heating or air conditioning system, energy efficient windows, and other approved work. By signing up through First Church you will have the advantage of knowing others who are deliberating about energy improvements and sharing information. More questions? Ask at the table today, or call Susan Redlich (617-661-6462).
Moving from Talk to Action: AN Anti-RACISM TRAINING The Massachusetts Conference, UCC is sponsoring a two-day training session, responding to a call from its 2011 Annual Meeting to "be proactive in learning about and taking action against racism." The session, facilitated by Allies for Change, will run from 9 a.m., Friday morning, February 10, to 5 p.m., Saturday afternoon, February 11, at Edwards House at the MA Conference, 1 Badger Road, Framingham MA. The cost will be $50 per participant, including all meals. Registration deadline is February 1, online at www.macucc.org/events. Please contact Dave Kidder (617-924-7236, flintkiddr@aol.com) if you plan to register and/or have questions.
JOIN SOLUTIONS AT WORK’S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD Are you a young professional? Solutions at Work is a Cambridge-based nonprofit addressing issues of homelessness, and is supported in part by First Church. The Board of Solutions at Work is starting a Young Professionals Board which will develop and implement creative ways to get their friends and colleagues involved in our work. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the opportunity to join our Young Professionals Board, please contact Alice Kidder at 617-276-6227. Thank you in advance for spreading the word. For other opportunities to serve, see the Mission and Social Justice handout at each entrance of the church.
STOP S. 2080 and H. 3818 "Three Strikes" provisions in the State Legislature These bills would deny parole to offenders with three convictions, and prevent access to rehabilitation services. The proposed amendments would overwhelm the Massachusetts criminal justice system with overcrowding, severely increase Department of Correction costs, and inflict disproportionate punishments. No research supports a link between longer prison terms and reduced recidivism. The Mission and Social Justice Committee urges you to sign a petition against "Three Strikes" by visiting www.smartoncrimema.org. Time is short! For more information, consult the handout on the tables at the entrances to the church, or ask Gay Harter at asharter@verizon.net, or Alice Kidder flintkiddr@aol.com.