worshipWORSHIP and RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
  
May 14th 11:00 a.m.
 
For Each Child - Andrew Coate and Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris 

This multigenerational service focuses on family and community. We begin with the dedication of nine children of First Church, celebrating them and their families and their presence among us. We conclude with a celebration of Flower Communion, honoring the diversity and beauty of this community as symbolized by the flowers we bring and share. (Please bring a flower to add to the vases on the greeter's table near the main sanctuary doors. At the conclusion of Flower Communion each of us is invited to take a flower different than the one we brought - a symbol of the diversity of people and gifts that are First Church.)
 
Child care will be available in the nursery if needed following the dedications.

May 21st 11:00 a.m.
  
Moments of Praise - Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris


This will be a simple service of readings, reflections and music - moments of praise for the web of life and the songs we sing to remember and celebrate it. Following the service, we gather for the Annual Congregational Meeting.

The Choir will sing Frank Ticheli's "Earth Song" (2006):

       Sing, Be, Live, See..
      Music and singing have been my refuge, 
      And music and singing shall be my light...

E ach Sunday child care is available for children three and younger with Jessica Ondras.   


A time of fellowship in the Parish Hall/Dining Room follows the worship service each Sunday. If you can serve as a host for a Sunday, please contact Paul Miller at pmmille2@yahoo.com.

Becoming a Sanctuary Church

sanctuary
In the face of looming threats to immigrants, we affirm our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  As people of conscience, we declare our commitment to translate our values into action as we stand on the side of love with the most vulnerable among us.
 
Guided by these words from the Declaration of Conscience affirmed by First Church at the congregational meeting in January of this year, our Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) has worked to develop a means by which we can be part of the new Sanctuary Movement supporting persons who are undocumented and at risk of deportation. On May 14 following the service, SJAC invites you to a conversation about the possibility of First Church becoming a Level 2 Sanctuary Congregation. A resolution prepared by SJAC has been discussed with the Standing Committee. With Standing Committee support, SJAC will bring this resolution to the Annual Congregational Meeting on May 21. Copies of the resolution (full text available here ) will be available this Sunday. Please join us for conversation on the 14th led by SJAC Immigration Justice Team member Meg Howard.
warrantAnnual Congregational Meeting
Warrant 
Suffolk ss
            To Alice Hawley of the City of Boston in the County of Suffolk and said Commonwealth, Clerk of the First Congregational Society of Jamaica Plain - Unitarian which has come to be known as the First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist. 

Greeting:

            In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required forthwith to warn all members of the First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist qualified to vote in Parish affairs, to assemble in at the Parish House, in the part of Boston known as Jamaica Plain, on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 12:30 in the afternoon, by posting a certified copy of this warrant in the Porch of the Meeting House, ten days prior to said meeting; then and there to act on the following articles, viz:

Second,          to receive and vote on a budget for FY17/18
Third,             to vote on candidates for Standing Committee  a
nd 
Fourth,           to receive annual reports on the state of the church
Fifth,              to transact any other business that may legally  come
                     before 
this meeting.
 
Whereof, fail not and make due return of the Warrant and of your doings thereon, on or before said day: May 21, 2017
 
Standing Committee:                
Nancy Ahmadifar
Chuck Collins
Laurie Corkum                                   
Alice Hawley, Clerk
Giulia Norton, Chair

Annual Report - Request for Info

Annualreport It's that time of year again! Committee Chairs, please get your piece of the annual report to Marjorie no later than Monday, May 15th. Please send the information in a Word document (as other formats make it hard/impossible to combine) with minimal formatting. If you have any questions, please contact Marjorie at firstchjp@aol.com
 
Mother's Day Walk for Peace
This Sunday, May 14


  peace First Church invites your participation in the Mother's Day Walk for Peace in Boston on Sunday, May 14th. The Walk is a fundraiser for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, a community-based organization that aims to create more peaceful communities through unity and healing. 

Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, $1,046 was raised to support, actually exceed!, our team's fund raising goal. Thanks to another generous donor to the Peace Institute it is possible our donation will be matched dollar for dollar!


Last year's First Church walk participants!

To register for the Walk or to donate, use this link  to access the First Church JP-UU page, or google the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute website. For more information see, call, or email Nancy Ahmadifar,  617-909-8626,  ahmadifarn@gmail.com .
Witnessing Whiteness
May 15th and 22nd


whiteness Leaders of Black Lives of UU have called on our congregations to take up the tasks of teaching/learning about white supremacy. 
FIRST CHURCH at THE FOOD PROJECT
SATURDAY, May 20th


foodproject We have the opportunity to spend the morning of Saturday, May 20 in Beverly, Mass learning about our food system and working to prepare gardens with the folks who run The Food Project. This is an organization working to bring fresh affordable food to "food deserts" in our cities and suburbs in eastern Mass.
This is a volunteer opportunity for adults and children (5 years and older with adult supervision). Please bring gardening gloves and your lunch. We leave First Church about 8:30 am and work from about 9:30 to 12:30 that day. We will car pool, so if transportation is an issue, we can probably find you a ride. Please contact Carol Bell at  cbell2@partners.org
Sponsored by the Social Justice Action Committee.
newmemberNew Members'Ceremony
Sunday June 4th


On June 4th, as part of Sunday's service, we'll celebrate the decision of those among us who have decided to join our church as members and officially welcome them with a pledge, reflections on the significance of joining, and the signing of our historic membership book. Interested in becoming a member of First Church? If you've been thinking about becoming a member or want to know more about what membership means, please contact Paul Miller pmmille2@yahoo.com   or anyone else on the Welcoming Committee.  
welcomeWelcoming Breakfast 
Sunday June 4th at 9:30 a.m.


All are welcome to join us in the Dining Room at 9:30 on Sunday, June 4th, for a Welcoming Breakfast. This event is open to all: Everyone from first-time visitors to longtime members and friends are welcome! We'll share a delicious morning meal as we build community by becoming better acquainted. We'll also lavish a little extra attention to those souls who are joining the First Church that day. Bring your appetites, and we'll provide food and beverages. Children welcome! Please RSVP to Paul Miller pmmille2@yahoo.com Longtime members & friends, let Paul know if you can bring a dish.  
An Indigenous People's History of the United States 

bookgroup Please join us in a collective reading and discussion of historian  Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz'  important book  An Indigenous People's History of the United States . The Social Justice Action Committee is exploring ways in which we can as individuals, and as a congregation, work to deconstruct the insidious influence of white supremacy that pervades our culture. We see an honest review of our origins as a nation as consistent with this work. Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris will be ordering copies of the book from Beacon Press for a discounted price in early May. 

Please contact her or Jom Michel ( jom45@aol.com ) if you are interested. The book group will meet once at the end of May, and again in June - exact dates and times TBD.
Spring Caroling at the Shattuck

BLM
 
The monthly Vigil for Black Lives takes place in front of First Baptist Church on Centre Street on  Thursday June 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.
Join us for song, prayer and silent witness!  
FOOD PANTRY
pantry
The Food Pantry is wrapping up a very successful year at the end of June.
We will not be open during the months of July and August, re-opening on September 21st.  We've pulled together a list of other Food Pantry sites and resources which will be available to our guests. Should you know of anyone in urgent need of food please contact Gwyn directly at gwyn.helie@comcast.net   and I will arrange something.

Also, we WILL participate in the Three Squares New England Ride for Food on September 24th. It's a great bike ride with three mileage options. Being able to fund raise through this ride has made a big difference in our ability to give out three items or twelve items (to approximately 60 folks twice a month !) Please consider riding, supporting a rider, or just donating to our cause. We'll soon have the updated version of the website to send out. Contact Gwyn  at  gwyn.helie@comcast.net  or Monroe at  MHeyman02130@aol.com  for more info.  

Thank you!
CARING COMMUNITY
caringAnne Rogers is the Chair of the Caring Community. Please let her  know if you need help from Caring Community or if you are willing to provide help to those who in need. Thank you.

Phone: 617-285-4472
eventsfcjpUPCOMING EVENTS
at First Church JP

Song Beat Circle
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