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On this annual celebration of our youth, come and listen as Caroline, Gaia, Ewan and Clark share their thoughts from their Unitarian Universalist upbringing. We will honor the transitions happening with our youth. The Joyful Noise Choir will offer their gift of music. This much loved service is always a highlight of our communal time together!
This Sunday, the youth of First Parish will present inspirational music for worship. The Joyful Noise youth choir, with soloist Helena Worden, will sing Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager’s hit 1982 song “That’s What Friends Are For.” Pianist Lucas Trementozzi will play Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Prelude No. 1 in C major , BWV 846” (from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I). Sammy Stern will sing the serene and beautiful boy soprano solo “Pie Jesu,” (from John Rutter’s Requiem) with the Sanctuary Choir. Derek Beutell will sing Leonard Bernstein's uplifting song “Something’s Coming” (from West Side Story). Sarah Beuttell, Caroline Kvaal and Rosie MacClary will sing Stephen Schwartz’s “Popular” (from the hit Broadway show Wicked).
Michael Bruce (guitar), Charlie Koons (string bass)Paul Reynolds (drums) and John Rogler (cello) will provide instrumental accompaniments.
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FPLex Budget Presentation & Q&A
May 19 After Worship
Ever wonder where the money you donate goes? On May 19 after the worship service, grab a quick cup of coffee and food and head back to the Sanctuary for a gripping presentation from Finance Chair, Omar Khudari, and Treasurer, Mia Roop. We will be voting on the budget at the Semiannual Meeting on June 2, so here is your chance to learn about the budget and ask questions.
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3 days to go | Festival of Colors (Holi) | Lexington Hastings Park | May 18, 2024 | 1 pm - 5 pm
21 Multi-cultural performances | 2 Live bands | 200+ Performers | 29 Sponsors | 7 Multi-cultural cuisines | 6 High-school Emcee's | Lots of outdoor games
Just as a multitude of colors springs up in nature with the onset of spring, human beings have been endowed with many colors. We see this very evidently in our Town of Lexington, home to people with ties to many different parts of the world. Our Festival of Colors aims to celebrate the many colors in our lives and the oneness of it all.
This will be a 4-hour program where
* You will enjoy family-friendly cultural presentations like dances (American, Mladost, Chinese, Taiwanese, Sri Lankan, and Indian), musical bands (Italian and Indian), etc
* You can relish cuisines from the vegetarian food stalls and an ice cream truck. (Honest, Bombay Brunch, Joy of Treats (sweets), Maitri Ice Cream, Szechuan Dumplings Restaurant, and others)
* Booths/vendors from different communities will display their wares and services
* Entertainment for all ages includes bouncy houses, henna, and face-painting booths
* Finally, we will play with dry organic powdered colors – a tradition from India where we welcome spring and greet friends by applying colors on each other’s faces and throwing colors in the air
We sincerely appreciate our performers, sponsors, food vendors, volunteers, and attendees. Please join us, and let's have FUN!!!
Click here find more information or buy tickets.
Click here for our overall program video.
There will be plenty of volunteer opportunities. If you would like to join us in helping organize this event, please sign up here.
All the proceeds will go to the Lawrence Homeless Shelter, MA, and Adarsh School at Govardhan, UP. Thank you. Let's have funnnnnnn. See all of you soon.
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The 14th Lexington Open Studios!
Two-Day - Indoor & Outdoor Event
Saturday and Sunday, May 18th & 19th, 2024
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Featuring artists who live, work, teach, create or are affiliated with the arts community in Lexington and neighboring towns!
- Visit artists at their studios Saturday & Sunday 11-5
- Munroe Center for the Arts Resident Artists will open their studios & will host guest artists
- LexArt will host member & guest artists
Three Galleries in Town:
- Gallery Twist
- Galaray House
- Francesca Anderson Fine Art
During Lexington Open Studios artists will provide opportunities for the public to view and purchase art created within the community; to interact with local artists, and to have access to artists’ working spaces. Our goal is to broaden the public’s exposure to and appreciation of, finished works of art, as well as the art-making process.
Get a map here!
LEXINGTONOPENSTUDIOS.COM
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Lexington United Against Antisemitism
The Spring Meeting of Lexington United Against Antisemitism will take place on Monday, May 20, 2024 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Follen Church UU, 3rd floor, 755 Massachusetts Avenue.
After a brief report on LUAA's recent activities, we will watch about 20 minutes of a thought-provoking videotaped panel discussion, then have conversations in breakout groups and all together. Feel free to watch the video ahead of time but it's not necessary.
How Antisemitism Fuels White Nationalism
Panelists:
Eric K. Ward, Sr. Fellow, Southern Poverty Law Center;
author of the article "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism"
Pamela Nadell, Director of American University Jewish Studies Program, expert on the history of American Jewish women
R. Derek Black, the subject of the book Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist
Daryl Johnson, expert on domestic terrorism, former intelligence analyst with the Department of Homeland Security
Questions? Comments? Contact us -- Steve Van Evera or Fran Jacobs (LUAA co-chairs) at luaa.lexington@gmail.com.
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Native Plant Sale Coming Soon!
Grow Native Massachusetts will be holding our annual Native Plant Sale right here at the First Parish in Lexington, on Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1.
This is one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated events we run. It was conceived as a way to give our community access to a quantity and diversity of native plants rarely found in a single retail setting. The sale is powered by our staff and numerous dedicated volunteers who, along with many of those who come to shop, are brimming with enthusiasm for native plants and knowledge to share.
We expect to have 5,000+ plants representing 100+ native species, including perennial wildflowers, ferns, grasses/ sedges, shrubs, and trees.
In the 2 weeks leading up to the event, you will see a flurry of activity over at 3 Harrington Road: event tents being set up, loads of plants being delivered and organized, signage put up to help get folks where they need to go. We work hard to make these plant sales safe and enjoyable for all attendees, our volunteers, and the surrounding community!
If you have questions about the event or would like to come check it out, visit https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/Native-Plant-Sale-2024
For the first time ever, this year we will offer a black garden plastic recycling program! The black plastic pots and trays used in the horticulture industry are not recyclable through municipal programs, but through a partnership with Van Berkum Nursery (NH) and East Jordan Plastics (MI), we will be able to send thousands of pots and trays to a facility that can turn them into new plastic for future use. A clearly marked collection area will be set up at the very back of the parking lot for 3 weeks post-plant-sale, where any and all black plastic plant pots and trays can be deposited. You are welcome to add yours to the pile, no matter where you got them!
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CHILDREN'S RE
There is no Children’s RE this coming Sunday, instead we have a youth-led service in which we honor those children and youth transitioning from one “stage” to the next.
Caroline and Annelie
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SUNDAY'S
SHARE THE PLATE
Named for a 15 year old who was the victim of violence in Boston, the Peace Institute in Boston provides support to the surviving members of a family who has lost a member to murder . They provide groups and individual counseling for these survivors,,help to pay funeral expenses, and a group called “Brothers on the Mend” for older teens and men who have experienced violence in their lives.Also, they run many programs aimed at preventing violence. Please dig deeply into your pockets to support this worthy cause.
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On Sunday, May 6, the Committee on Leadership and Service (COLS) hosted a deep dive discussion on the latest draft of the UUA Article II Bylaw revision that will be voted on at General Assembly this summer.
At the First Parish semi-annual meeting, we will be asked to vote on how we want our delegates to vote on the revision's adoption when they attend GA.
I've attached here the presentation that we reviewed last Sunday. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Yours in faith,
Erik Svenson
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Prepare to Vote on the Revised Article Two Proposal
A Love That Frees - Watch UUA President Sofia Betancourt preach about Love at the Center of Unitarian Universalism and read more about the Article Two Report to prepare to vote at our upcoming Semiannual Meeting on June 2.
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Thursday, May 16th
7:30 - 9:00
MEDIA BIAS will be the focus of this Thursday's Building Bridges meeting. The January 2024 "Media Bias Chart" will provide a visual graph - with "Reliability" along the vertical axis and "Political Bias" along the horizontal axis. We'll also watch the two short videos below with time for discussion after each.
Media Literacy: Know Your Sources & Media Bias
Total ~11 minutes (Note 8:53- 9:53 covers the "Media Bias Chart")
Political Media's Bias, in a Single Chart
Total ~5 minutes (interview with creator of the "Media Bias Chart")
ZOOM Link
Passcode: Reunited
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Ferry Beach Retreat
for
Memorial Day Weekend 2024
Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27
First Parish in Concord &
First Parish in Lexington
As we have for many years, First Parish in Concord and First Parish in Lexington will have an official retreat together at the Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center in Saco, Maine over Memorial Day Weekend. Families, couples, and singles of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend! The joint Ferry Beach Retreat Committee is busy making plans for our weekend!
Registration is by a new process that has two parts this year as follows:
1) Register and pay for lodging, meals, and fees directly with Ferry Beach, using the this website that is specific to our weekend: FB Registration. Information about lodging options are also found on the Ferry Beach Website. If you prefer, you can call 207-282-4489 x1 to speak to a member of the Ferry Beach registration team and register that way. Be sure mention you are a member of FP Lex to get the special rates they are offering us.
Registration is first come, first served, so the sooner you register, the more choices you’ll have for lodging! Please register soon and latest by May 9, if at all possible.
2) Complete your Registration by filling out our Google form (Registration, Part 2) with info that will come directly to the joint Planning Committee. Please find the form here: FP Info Form
Activities that we’ve loved over the years are being planned again – Sunday night Talent Show, Croquet Tournament, Sand Structure Contest, Bingo, Bracelet Making. Let the Planning Committee know if you’d like to offer an activity or help with something!
Information is available here: Ferry Beach Registration! - First Parish in Lexington (fplex.org).
If you have questions about Ferry Beach, especially if you have never attended before, feel free to contact your co-chairs:
Deb Weiner Soule (djweiner101@gmail.com) or Elisabeth Jas (svenjas@msn.com)
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Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom and Everywhere
Strong Hanscom Message Needed NOW!
The Draft Environmental Impact Report by the developers of the proposed 3 x hanger expansion of Hanscom Airfield for use by private, luxury jets is deeply flawed and filled with misinformation and omitted information, including the claim that the buildout will add NO additional carbon to the atmosphere. The public outcry needs to be loud and clear.
The deadline for comments has been extended to
June 14th.
This is a promising sign.
Please, please – if you haven't already – submit a comment to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office! This will send a strong message to Massport and the Healey Administration that a fair, sustainable future for ALL must come first.
Use this link for everything you need to write a powerful comment for the Draft Environmental Impact Report.
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From choir rehearsals to Soul Matters, Building Bridges to Meditation Group, Urban Ministry to Democracy Team, Climate Action Team to Youth Groups and all of the other wonderful ways to get involved here at First Parish, please check the church calendar. | Submissions for The Weekly Update are due by the end of day, Mondays. To submit an article or information for consideration, please use this form. | |
