First Parish History
Did you know that the 325-year history of First Parish is very closely linked to the history and founding of the town of Weston? Read on to learn more about a history that spans over three centuries: the founding of…
Search Results
Total 145 results found.
Children’s Programs (K-8th)
First time visitor? Welcome! We ask that all visiting families fill out this church school Quick Check-In formĀ with names, contact info, and allergies. Regular/active family? If you are a regular member or participant in the First Parish Church School, please…
Warming Up to a New Ethic
Warming Up to a New Ethic A sermon by the Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell The First Parish Church in Weston Unitarian Universalist October 14, 2018 The 21st Sunday after Pentecost / Blessing of the Animals THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH…
Our Partner Church – 450th Anniversary
First Parish Church in Weston has been a long supporter of the Partner Church movement, in which a UU church here in the United States is paired with a Unitarian church in another part of the world, most often in…
Self-Guided Tour
Welcome to the First Parish Self-Guided Tour! This page has been optimized for viewing on both a desktop browser and a smartphone; click or tap on the station title to open that section of the tour. Click or tap the…
As Jesus Taught Us to Pray
As Jesus Taught Us to Pray A sermon by the Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell The First Parish Church in Weston Unitarian Universalist September 23, 2018 / The 18th Sunday after Pentecost / 14th of Tishrei, 5779 THE FIRST PARISH…
Music Director Bill Sano to Retire in June
A letter from Jeff Barz-Snell:Ā This week I must announce that a major and beloved chapter is coming to a close here at First Parish Church: Bill Sano has announced he will be stepping down as Music Director in June.…
Bowl Ponderings
At times it amazes me that the biggest annual sporting event in our country involves two teams of 11 men donning helmets and plastic armor.Ā Dressed as colorful gladiators each team attempts to move by force and wits an odd-shaped…
A Reflection on the latest international climate meeting (COP 27)
Like some of you I am glad to see that the latest international climate meeting concluding in Egypt (on November 20) is now receiving some attention by media here in the US. Ā I have a degree in energy and climate…
Connecting with International Institute of New England (IINE)
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND (IINE) Established in 1918, the International Institute of New England (IINE) is one of the oldest and largest resettlement agencies in New England with sites in Lowell, Boston, and Manchester, NH. It has strong ties…
Covid-19 Policies
Statement as of January 2023: We are a church; a faith community. Because of our population, which has a relatively high proportion of at-risk people compared with the rest of the population, and because of our level of concern for…
Meditation & Spiritual Practices
What we are is Godās gift to us.Ā What we become is our gift to God. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ ~ ~ Faith and spirituality are not just about attending church on Sunday mornings (or tuning in on Zoom);…
Worship ā Orders of Service
If you are viewing a worship service that has already passed and a link to the Order of Service is not available here, please contact our Church Office at Info@FirstParishWeston.orgĀ to request the PDF. SPRING Orders of Service June 15, 2025…
High School Programs
9th ā 10th Grade: Coming of Age (Covenanting) As our youth turn the corner to adolescence, we invite them to participate in Covenanting Class, our very popular coming-of-age program. Covenanting is intended to help young people think and speak about…
Your Children’s First Visit
At First Parish, we offer childcare and programming for all ages from birth until high school graduation. On Sunday mornings, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are cared for in our professionally staffed nursery. Children in grades K-12 participate in the religious…
Hotlines for Support
24/7 Crisis Hotlines If you’re on a mobile device, tap the phone number link to call the hotline. HOTLINE NUMBER 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 Text: 988 The Trevor Project (LGBT youth suicide hotline) 1-866-488-7386 Text: 678-678 Domestic…
Make every day Earth Day!
Celebrate Earth Day all month long! Enjoy these local events and programs about nature, the environment, and sustainability. First Parish events are marked in blue. Art Exhibit by Shared Habitat Earth (S.H.E.) Weston Public Library ā 87 School Street, Weston…
End of Year Reflections and What the Minister is Reading
This has been quite a year for many of us as we individually and collectively emerged out of (or into a new phase) of the Pandemic.Ā There have been stories and events that left us sad and frustrated (like the invasion…
Hate Has No Home Here
Hate Has No Home in Weston First Parish supports the message of the Hate Has No Home Here movement; to post these lawn signs and posters “to declare neighborhood residences, businesses, and places of community free from hate speech and…
Natural Disasters & Extreme Weather
Several years ago I was in the South Street Sea Port district of southern Manhattan and I walked by a strange sign posted about 9 feet up on the outside wall of a restaurant.Ā The sign had a red line…
Why I Go to Church
Why I Go to Church A sermon by the Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell The First Parish Church in Weston Unitarian Universalist September 09, 2018 The 18th Sunday after Pentecost / Homecoming Sunday THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH IN WESTON Unitarian…
Your First Visit
WELCOME TO FIRST PARISH WESTON We foster open hearts and minds and welcome people from different backgrounds and perspectives. As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we practice a free-thinking and action-oriented faith. As an over 320-year old…
NewĀ Exhibit in the Mary Jo Rines Gallery! ā “Love, Grace, Hope: The Power of Art”
Love, Grace, Hope: The Power of Art The Art Committee welcomed mixed media painter Pamela Chiasson to the Mary Jo Rines Gallery this past Sunday for the launch of her show Love, Grace, Hopeā¦ The Power of Art. On view…
New Exhibit ā the Work of Mary Jo Rines
The Ā First Parish Church in Weston Art Committee announces a new exhibit in the Mary Jo Rines Gallery: Seeing Things Anew ā The Work of Mary Jo Rines The Mary Jo Rines Gallery at First Parish was named for its…
Join us this Christmas season!
There is so much going on at First Parish this month! Here is a schedule of our upcoming events, and links to pages with more information; be sure you subscribe to our weekly newsletter for timely updates. You are warmly…
Supporting Refugee Resettlement
Come, you who are blessedā¦Ā for I was hungry and you gave me food,Ā I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,Ā I was a stranger and you welcomed meā¦Ā Ā Ā (Mt. 25:34-35) With violence and unrest in Ukraine, Africa, Afghanistan, Syria,…
Congregational Life
Programs That Help Us Connect, Grow, and Serve Learn more about how to get involved at First Parish to connect with one another, grow your mind and spirit, and serve your community. First Parish is a self-governing church, which means…
Anti-Racism & Black Lives Matter Resources
References & Resources These are some resources that the First Parish Social Justice Task Force has collected on various topics including Black Lives Matter, diversity, and anti-racism. Read a couple of articles or watch a quick video, or dive deeper…
Black Lives Matter ā Join the Dialogue
Why We Display a āBlack Lives Matterā Banner First Parish Church in Weston November 2020 Statement As our country faces the painful consequences of its history of systemic racism recently ignited by the deaths of African Americans by law enforcement,…
Home
Blessed are the Peacemakers ā on Jimmy Carterās Passing and Epiphany
“Blessed are the Peacemakers ā on Jimmy Carterās Passing and Epiphany” Click here for an Order of Service
On Defending Democracy…
We kicked off a six-month book and discussion group last Friday, based on the historian and blog writer Heather Cox Richardsonās latest book, Awakening Democracy.Ā At the start of our meeting I invited everyone to introduce themselves and share one…
Variations on a Prayer
Versions of the Lord’s Prayer for the fall of 2024: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. ~ T.S.…
Art Gallery Test
This is an experiment with recreating versions of the Rines Art Gallery website using WordPress. In particular, the first section is a variation of the home/landing page, and the second section recreates an artist’s page (using Mary Jo Rines’ page…
Ten Days of Gratitude ā DAY 2
ā DAY 2: PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE US ā We give thanks for the people who inspire us. We are grateful for those people in our lives whose words and deeds serve a prophetic purpose, calling us to be our best…
Weston Resettle Together
In 2023, a team of fifteen First Parishioners and local residents known as Weston Resettle Together began partnering with the International Institute of New England (IINE) and making preparations to support an immigrant family. Our team has collected furnishings and…
On Ukraine and finding ways to help
Sometimes our humanity is brought out by times of extremity.Ā That appears to be the case right now all over Europe and all over the world.Ā For example, the BBC had a report yesterday about the organized effort by people…
2025 Stewardship Campaign
Why do we need your support? The last several years have presented many challenges and changed some of the waysĀ that we gather and connect as parishioners at First Parish. Jeff and team have stayed active and continued to bring new…
Family Service & Supper
Are you and your family feeling frazzled, or like you need to hit a āresetā button? Are you looking for ways to connect to a sense of peace and hope? How would it feel to unplug on Sunday night and…
Melissa Greenlaw
I was glad that Tom asked me to share my spiritual journey with you this morning. As there are many things about 1st Parish Weston that Iām thankful to have in my life. I feel blessed to have found this…
Sue Newbury
I grew up in Wellesley and went to St. Andrews Episcopal Church where my parents, especially my Dad, were very involved. I loved our ministers and I loved singing in the youth choir. It was a big deal to get…
Community Service
Building on a legacy of nearly 325 years, First Parish Church is an active part of the Town of Weston and of Bostonās Metro-West area. Our ongoing commitment to community service is a core part of our congregationās culture and…
Music & Choir
Music is a very important element of Sunday Service, more so than at many churches. Our full choir and dynamic organ lead us with hymns and provide interludes as we transition through the many areas of our Order of Service.…
Summer Worship Consortium
In July and August, First Parish in Weston switches gears, and our Sunday programs feature a more relaxed worship and fellowship. This year, we are joining with local Unitarian Universalist congregations to host services this summer as part of a…
Ring the Paul Revere Bell to honor the earliest patriots
Patriots’ Day Bell Ringing Friday, Apr. 18 at 5:15 pm Join us to help ring our Paul Revere bell 250 times in recognition and appreciation of those who began the fight for self-determination and freedom! This should take about 15…
āGod is Non-Binaryā
Dear friends, This Monday (March 31st) is Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to recognize and honor our transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming family, friends, and neighbors. This weekend we put out new lawn signs which say āGod is non-binary: They…
Mental Health Resources
In crisis? If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Click the button for a list of one-tap phone numbers of hotlines (both 24/7 and those with scheduled hours) for mental health & crisis support.Ā Ā Hotline…
In Memoriam ā Rev. Harry Hoehler, Minister Emeritus
Memorial Service for Rev. Harry Hoehler Saturday, January 11th at 11:00 AM Watch the live stream of the service on Zoom. * * * * * In MemoriamĀ Rev. Harry Hoehler Minister Emeritus, First Parish Church in Weston * *…
Join us for Christmas at First Parish!
There is so much going on at First Parish for the holidays! Here is a schedule of our upcoming events, and links to pages with more information; be sure you subscribe to our weekly newsletter for timely updates. You are…
Four Recommendations for Election Day and Week:
This week and the coming days could be quite stressful for many people, including some of us reading this.Ā Over the next few days, I encourage all of us to do the following things: VoteĀ Ā Ā ā¢Ā Ā Ā BreatheĀ Ā …