Upcoming Events
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Mental Health & Spirituality Group Join us each Sunday 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the Tower Room for sharing how our struggles and our faith inform each other. The group is open: you may attend as often or as little as you like, and newcomers are always welcome. Talk to or e-mail Terry McKinney (temckinney@msn.com) or Carter West (stbosal@arczip.com)
Prayer and the Practice of Meeting God has a new name and a new time. All are welcome to join the Contemplative Prayer Small Group, which will meet throughout the summer at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel, starting on Sunday, July 4. The group is open so all are welcome to come regularly or just drop in once. The group is organized around a 30 minute stretch of silence couched in brief chanting, psalmody, and a simple liturgy of spoken prayer. If you are looking for a time of communal silence to connect on a more intimate level with God and community then this small group might be a perfect fit. Please join us! For more information, contact First Church Deacon Adwoa Lewis-Wilson at adwoalw1@gmail.com.
The Kyrie Devotional Group Join us on Sunday evenings through the summer from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (July 11 – August 29). Look for us any - or every - Sunday in a corner of Margaret Jewett Hall, whether you are coming off the road and missed morning service, care to share a need, have a thirst, or just feel like lifting your voice in music or prayer, seeing a new – or familiar – face. If you wish to worship in a participatory way, sing from the Jazz 5:30 songbook or the hymnal, bring an instrument, play the Steinway, or offer a new song; reflect on Scripture, the lectionary, or a strife-filled or faith-filled poem, hear about First Church news you may have missed or overlooked...we welcome you! The group is open, including newcomers and visitors. Email Lolita at kyrieeleison3000@yahoo.com.
Summer Cookout at the Parsonage - Save the date! On Sunday August 22nd, Dan and Nancy will be hosting a summer cookout at the parsonage. After church and refreshments on the lawn, please plan to head down to 44 Garden St for a fun and casual afternoon of food and fellowship. Kids and families are more than welcome. This will also be an opportunity to say farewell to our beloved church member Frances Whistler before she returns to England on August 31 after six years here in Boston.
UTE’S FIRST SUNDAY! SEPTEMBER 5TH Although she doesn’t officially begin her ministry with First Church until August 31, our new Minister of Spiritual Formation, Ute Molitor, has already been dropping by the church to deliver books and office furniture. Her first Sunday in morning worship will be September 5. We’ll be further welcoming her and offering opportunities for us all to get to know one another on Regathering Sunday, September 12, and throughout the fall. Let’s keep Ute and her family in our prayers throughout these summer months, as she finds some time for Sabbath rest and prepares for this exciting new ministry adventure!
SAVE THE DATE - FALL FIRST CHURCH FAMILY RETREAT
October 9, 3:00 p.m. ─ October 10, 1:00 p.m., Craigville Conference Center
Save Saturday, October 9 ─ Sunday, October 10, for a fabulous 24 hours on the Cape with First Church families! Parents and children of all ages are invited to gather for fellowship, faith practices, and plenty of fun. Activities for the multigenerational group will be mixed with adult discussion and child-centered programming. We’ll all stay together in the Lodge, a large building with plenty of bedrooms and meeting space, including a beautiful porch with views of the marsh. The beach is close by, and all meals are provided in the Conference Center’s dining hall. This is a great opportunity to continue building relationships as a church community, as we share in Christian faith practices together. E-mail Sarah Higginbotham to add your family to the list of those attending. More information, including a registration form, will be coming in September, but we want to know now if you plan to join us. Best news of all … this Family Retreat is FREE! All expenses are covered by a generous grant to First Church from the Valparaiso Project. Sign up now!
TUESDAY NIGHTS AT FIRST CHURCH Coming this fall is a new opportunity to gather during the week. Tuesday evenings, 5:30 ─ 7:00 p.m., will become your chance to bring the family to church for relaxed and prayerful fellowship over a simple supper. We’ll offer a brief time for practicing your faith during the week and provide resources for taking those practices back to your homes. Come every week or just once in a while; bring friends who might be looking for community, or just bring your appetite for a good meal. See you then!