The Alliance is the women’s organization in our church, with a mission to support the women in our congregation, and through that support to advance the interests and efforts of our entire church. Formal membership in The Alliance is open only to women, but Alliance activities are inclusive across gender and age: men attend meetings as guests and as speakers, and The Alliance is supportive of, and supported by, the youth and children of First Parish. The Alliance hosts several programs each year from October to May. Most programs are held on Friday evenings. For more information, contact alliance@firstparish.info.

Click here for the list of Alliance Board Officers and more information about our charitable 3-year Giving Plan.

Alliance Programs & Gatherings 2020-2021

Boxed images of smiling Alliance Board at Zoom meeting

Save these dates and join us! 

Fridays: Oct 2, Nov 13, Jan 8, Feb 12, Mar 12, Alliance Sunday Service-Apr 11, Alliance Annual Meeting-May 14

ALLIANCE ANNUAL MEETING AND PROGRAM

Friday, October 2, 7:00-8:30pm

Our business meeting will review the nominated Board officers for the year, confirm the budget, and determine the beneficiaries of our Giving Plan.  The meeting will be followed (at 7:45PM) by a program.

Joan Martin of the Board of the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters, why it is still relevant today
The LWV and the 19th Amendment for the women’s right to vote are in their 100th anniversary year!

Joan will speak about the history and goals of the League and explain how the League has established its positions on current issues. Discussion will follow. Please join us with questions!

Robin Schoenthaler
Friday, December 4, 7:30-9:00PM

Dr. Robin Schoenthaler Dr. Robin Schoenthaler will update us on the latest information about COVID before the holidays. She practices at the MGH Department of Radiation Oncology at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA and has a particular interest in treating women with breast cancer. She is the Director of Medical Education at Emerson Hospital and Chair of the Medical Education Committee.

Julie Dahlstrom
Friday, January 8, 7:30-9:00PM

Julie Dahlstrom Julie Dahlstrom, a member of First Parish, is clinical legal fellow at Boston University School of Law where she oversees the Human Trafficking Clinic, which was named one of top 25 most innovative clinics by preLaw magazine in 2014. The clinic is unique in its focus on holistic, multi-disciplinary lawyering and building sustainable law enforcement partnerships.

Diane Taraz
Friday, February 12, 7:30-9:00PM

A First Parish favorite, Diane Taraz will present a program of songs and stories with the Civil War as a backdrop.

TIME TRAVEL TO THE FUTURE: Preparedness Planning Throughout Life (a program co-sponsored by the Alliance and STAR)
Friday, March 12, 7:30-9:00PM

We will travel through time, in a multi-perspective discussion of how to plan for and through life’s transitions. Together we will imagine and create the kind of end-of-life “road map” we may wish to leave for our loved ones and community. Take a look at this very thorough checklist as a reference point, and join us for a panel discussion with Rev. Erica Richmond and First Parish community members Kathy Kemp and Alice Austin. They will share their perspectives on “being prepared”. In small group reflection we can each consider what further planning we may wish to take action on, and how best to gather and communicate “need to know” logistical, spiritual and practical information for those who will see us through and past our final days.”

[LINKS TO PROGRAM DOCUMENTS]

Our program is open to all. Questions are welcome via alliance@firstparish.info.

Marta Varee Pearson It’s Not a Card, It’s a whole deck: how racism harms us all
ALLIANCE SUNDAY SERVICE – April 11

Marta Varee Pearson is the winner of the 2020 UUWF Sermon Award for her sermon, Georgia Blew My Mind in 2019: Moving Past Dreams to Action. I cringe when I hear people say, with disdain in the voices, “Why are they playing the race card again?” I want to help people realize that the “cards” are a very real fact of our everyday lives and the lives of our children & grandchildren; actual events that have and continue to affect and wound us. Until then it will continue to be us vs. them, and we all pay a price. Why do UUs who are on the right side of race issues need to hear this? To gather the cards to share with people on the wrong side of the issue. Marta Varee Pearson is the winner of the 2020 UUWF Sermon Award for her sermon, Georgia Blew My Mind in 2019: Moving Past Dreams to Action. Marta brings 40+ years as an informative, entertaining, dynamic Speaker, Trainer and Life Coach to her presentations. She’s trained & coached psychologists & social workers; business executives & staff; teachers, school staff & administrators as well as Individuals, couples, foster & other parents. She made multiple expert appearances on national television programs, has 14 years as a Trauma Recovery Therapist plus 20 years as a Life Coach in her background & is an author. After residing in the Pacific-Northwest, New England, Border-South & the Mid-West Marta resides now in Tampa Florida. A UU since birth, even though she didn’t know the denomination existed, Marta joined her first UU congregation more than 35 years ago & is now a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Fellowship at Large (CLF). She has presented workshops & messages from Maine to Hawaii from WA State to FL & places in between. She can be reached at trainingwithmarta.com@gmail.com. She invites all to view her website: trainingwithmarta.com.

ALLIANCE Annual meeting and Program

with Elizabeth Hunter and Jo Guthrie

Friday, may 14, 7:30-9:00PM

The Alliance will hold its Annual Meeting to review the Board officers for the coming year and vote on the budget for the coming year. Our program will follow with Elizabeth Hunter who, working closely with Jo Guthrie, founded Theater@First in 2003. Theater@First is a totally volunteer theater company based in Somerville. Elizabeth and Jo will talk about the theater’s origins, accomplishments, role during the pandemic, and plans for the company’s future.

For more on upcoming performances: https://theatreatfirst.org/