Author: Lori Pandit

New Member/UU History Class/Conversation: On February 5^th from 12:30 to 145 we host a post church talk back focused on UU history, this particular churches history, and its present offerings. This discussion would be open to all but have a focus on potential new members. This would be something that our membership team, or membership leader if we don’t have one would focus on.

Knit-Wits Monday October 14th and 28:  Traditionally on the 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month a group of First Parish women meet from 2pm to knit and chat about the state of the world and their lives.  This is an open group. 

Pastoral Care Committee October 8th and 22:   On the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month from 10 to 11am meet on-line to plan and respond to the evolving concerns of those in our church struggling or ill. It is best to contact Caroline MacDonald for more information. 

Penultimate Church Pot-Luck Friday October 18: Traditionally on the Penultimate or 2^nd to last Friday night of the month the church hosts a night of fellowship and food.

Northborough Interfaith Clergy Association

Northborough’s Interfaith Clergy group meets monthly to pray together, to share resources, and to enjoy friendship with each other. We have representation from Church of the Nativity, First Parish Unitarian-Universalist, St. Bernadette’s, St. Rose of Lima, Trinity Church, Congregation B’nai Shalom in Westborough, and The Church of Latter-Day Saints in Marlborough.

The Interfaith Clergy Group also participates in a Voucher Program designed to serve those in need. Vouchers are available to Northborough residents or individuals related to one of our congregations. Recipients may receive free: gasoline @(Peterson’s), groceries or lunch @ (Lowe’s), heating oil @ (Northborough Oil), and overnight lodging @ (Econolodge).

Worship Committee Meets on Monday Oct 8th from 4 to 6:30pm:  Traditionally this group meets on the 1^st Monday of the month to review and plan upcoming services and the ritual version of our collective spiritual life.

November 9 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – In the Meetinghouse

Let’s welcome Cara Brindisi to the stage of the Meetinghouse Arts Center!

Described as ‘perfect’ by John Legend and ‘hypnotic’ by Blake Shelton, Cara Brindisi is a vocalist with equal parts power and ease. After a decade of performances that include direct support for Chris Isaak, Tower of Power, Adam Lambert, and Dispatch, Cara brought her talents to The Voice stage season 22, landing her a spot on Team Gwen. Gwen Stefani acknowledged the soothing and effortless quality to Cara‘s voice as well as her gift for story-telling. Cara has been writing, recording, and performing original music for the entirety of her career, many of her songs inspired by her initial career as a Music Therapist. Her studies at Berklee College of Music led her to pursue this work, predominantly with those at end of life in Hospice. Somewhere between these two careers, the gentle and the glamour, lies the authentic feeling one is guaranteed when listening to Cara Brindisi perform live in any type of setting.

$25 at the door, $20 online.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Find out more about Cara Brindisi on her website.

On the 2nd Sunday of each month, Rev. Steve will host a roughly hour and 15 minute Adult Ed Theology program following church from 12:15 to 1:30  Like the writing group, each of these that 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 life, their past, and their beliefs.  No preparation beyond your own curiosity is required.  Like the writing group all are welcome and no pre-registration, particular beliefs, or understanding of “Theology” is required. 

Memoir Writing as a Spiritual Practice

First Monday of the month

In Person or on Zoom

7pm to 8:30pm

“You Addiction,” my former Korean-Australian friend Soo Been would tell me anytime I suggested I want a coffee, …a beer, …or even a snack.  I responded by saying quite indignantly that “I’m not “addiction” to anything.”  Truth is, I’m blessed enough to be able to go weeks without missing any of the above. 

However, on vacation with her years ago I came to realize that even if her assumptions about my consumptive habits were exaggerated, she might have led me to notice a habit I had not mentioned.  I had on that vacation realized that I might be a bit addicted to writing.  I caught myself sneaking back to the hotel, or out to a café with the excuse that “I just need to get a little work done.”  This was true, and I had had e-mails to check, and phone calls to make, but scrutinizing my deepest motivations, mostly “get a little work done” meant that I wanted to write.  Paying attention, I found it centered and calmed me.  This was something I hadn’t really known.  So, in light of this newfound awareness, and despite a remarkably pathetic grasp on grammar and punctuation, you might have picked up on, I want to share my addiction with you, and have you share what might be an addiction of yours with me.  

Class Schedule & Expectations:  This drop in class/group will meet monthly throughout the church year, at least to start on the first Monday night of the month at 7pm.  Perhaps a better time will reveal itself.  Each of these monthly gatherings will be an hour and a half long, and follow a repetitive pattern of checking in, sharing our “work” on the assignment and as time allows participating in a short exercise.  Because the writing assignments are personal, in the end all participants will have created the makings of a mini memoir.  In general, each of these pieces should be between one to three pages long.

If time affords it, the last quarter of our time together will be a chance to work on a writing exercise and conclude with a shifting of our gears to the next writing assignment.  A sampling of the class themes include “A Moth Worthy Story,” “The Importance of Place,”  “Unexpected Joy,” “Dream a little Dream of You,” and “A Poet but Didn’t Know It.”

The dates and topics are…

UU Writing Group Monday Night September 9th from 7pm to 8:30 @ church.  Our writing group, sessions are non-consecutive sessions that open to all, and will except for this first meet also begin to meet on Zoom.  This first topic, or writing homework is titled “Pet Story.”  All our welcome to come drop in on our writing group.  Participants who attend are encouraged to be prepared to share a 1 to 2 page (2-5 minute) personal piece about a pet but are also on this first session welcome to just verbally tell a story about a pet.  The first class will only be offered only in-person.  Subsequent classes will have a zoom option.