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Schedule of Events
Continuing Education at 9:15 am in the Parlor
Creation and Awe
John Buehrens teaching
In the biblical tradition, every Sabbath is a time to stop and ponder the creation in awe and gratitude. But in Judaism the start of the new year, Rosh Hashanah, the “birthday of the world,” is an especially good time to do so. This fall John will use most of our Sunday mornings 9:15 sessions to go through the Hebrew Bible, covering all of its major themes in progressive interpretation and poetry. We begin with Genesis 1 and with “God’s Grandeur” by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Paperback copies of John’s book, Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals, will be available for only $10. Everyone is welcome.
Worship at 10:30 am
RETURN TO THE HOME OF YOUR SOUL
John Buehrens and the Whole First Parish Family
Bring the whole family. Bring visitors and friends. Bring with you a small amount of water, gathered from some place of spiritual refreshment that you visited during the summer months. (Should you forget, cups of water will be provided to help symbolize that place and experience.) There will be wonderful music from Chris Pahud, Vivian Montgomery, Molly Housh Gordon, and from all of us singing together – songs like Pat Humphries’ “Swimming to the Other Side,” and “Peace Like a River.” The waters we bring will be mingled (in a revised ritual this year). Interspersed with music there
will be short reflections, stories, prayers, poems, and messages — melded into a reminder of how we mingle the diversity our lives to form a Beloved Community, one where we drink from “A Deeper Well,” as Chris will sing, and where, as Rumi points it, “when you do things from your soul/ you feel a river moving in you,/ a joy.” The title comes from a song by Shlomo Carlebach written for Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish Days of Awe: “Return again, return again, return to the home of your soul.”
Children join their families in the Sanctuary.
Infant childcare available.
POTLUCK PICNIC IMMEDIATLY AFTER CHURCH
This is a First Parish Ingathering tradition. Weather permitting, we gather on the front lawn; otherwise, in Parish Hall. We provide sandwiches and drinks. You bring either a snack food, a side dish, or a dessert to share. Plus a willingness to help with chairs, cleanup, and whatever else may be useful.
ANNUAL YOUTH GROUP BARBECUE
A big, warm welcome back to our fantabulous Youth Group! We've got a great year ahead of us, and we'll be kicking it off with our annual youth group welcome BBQ on September 12. All high school age youth are invited. Check for details at www.uuneedham.org and on the 'First Parish Needham Youth Group' Facebook page. Youth who have Facebook accounts should be sure to join this group, as we post lots of updates there. We also keep in touch by email, and youth and parents who wish can get in touch with youth adviser Molly Housh Gordon at internmolly@gmail.com.