The Wise Women meet two Wednesday evenings a month to design and create
the annual First Parish Raffle Quilt. This exhibit showcases some of
our individual projects.
For more information about The Wise Women, please contact any of the exhibitors
or Wendy Page.
Students from Arlington's sister city in Japan, Nagaokakyo, visited First Parish and brought our Sunday service to a lovely conclusion by leading us all in a circle dance around the sanctuary. Many First Parish families are involved with the exchange program and the congregation has enjoyed special visits for several years.
A showcase of the varieties of First Parish musical talent followed
by an intergenerational romp through "Pirates of Penzance."
Festivities and fantastic community spirit highlighted the Mardi Gras
goods and services auction. Live music provided by a jazz ensemble and
the UUlations, snacks during the silent auction and home desserts during
the live auction, along with ample time to socialize and dance made a wonderful
party and a fine fund-raiser.
Invited
to come sing in New Orleans by visiting minister, Alex Mercedes, and Marta
Valentin of the UU Church in New Orleans, director Laura Prichard and a good
portion of the choir spent Memorial Day weekend visiting the city, contributing
to restoration efforts, meeting many members of the UU and Community churches,
hearing lots of stories and singing for the afternoon church service..
Each year in fall a sizeable portion of First Parish spends a weekend
at the Ferry Beach Conference Center. Captions welcome for this feature!
Check in with the webeditors if you'd like to talk us through the pictures
and perhaps add some favoriets of your own.
Quilters and fabric artists contribute in many ways to our church
-- hangings in the sanctuary, cushions in the parlors, and a wonderful
community quilt raffled each year at the Harvest Moon Fair. This Art Wall
exhibit showcased the work of many of our quilters.
Installations and ordinations are an important
part of life at First Parish and Reverend Carlton Elliot Smith's installation
was a memorable service. Welcoming his family from all over the country
was special for the congregation as well.
In November
the entire church joins forces to entertain the town with a grand fair -
shops, food and music draw crowds all day and First Parish members and friends
get to know each other in new roles.
In early
September each year, Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington becomes a carnival
for a single Saturday. Entertainment vies with civic groups for attention
and local groups and restaurants provide good food. First Parish joins the
fun with savory and sweet -- men make and sell chili; musicians pitch in
to make the locale special and First Parish bakers provide pies for the major
fundraiser for social action projects during the year.
Art Wall by Wise Women Quilters, 2008