T is for Turning Points.

One of our new Deacons, Rob Graves, suggested the worship theme that we’re using for Lent this year: Turning Points. Rob has spoken eloquently during his prayers about the turning points in his own journey. Our Lenten booklet, featuring submissions from many of you, also considers this theme.

Lent begins on March 5 this year (join Sarah Klockowski for our Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm!). Lent is a season in the Christian calendar which remembers Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the desert after his baptism.

Being baptized by John and entering the desert was a turning point in Jesus’ life, a moment of decision that prepared him for the rest of his ministry: his resistance to empire, his love for the vulnerable, even his betrayal by his friends. It was a moment when Jesus must have realized that more wasrequired. He reached deeper. He prayed harder. He gave things up that were hard to sacrifice. Jesus’ transformation wasn’t political—it was personal. But because he was an actor in the world, of course his turning point had political consequences.

Perhaps we are at a similar moment right now, as individuals. More is required of us, as we seek to respond to the dizzying destruction of federal infrastructure and the erosion of our already meager social safety net. Kit and I are so encouraged by the ways First Parish has already responded, through announcements and invitations to join protests, through increased commitment to our Partakers prison mentoring program, and through passionate conversations in sermon talk-backs.

In such moments, fumbling our way towards the next right thing, we find community and we find purpose. As a brave rabbi told his followers, there I am in the midst of you. May it be so.

With love,
Nate and Kit

Sermon Talkbacks and Twisted Tree Office Hours
Days/times will vary, so see weekly Staying Connection and our church calendar for details.

Your ministers (Kit, Nate and Sarah) want to hear from you! Our Sunday sermons are not meant to be monologues but to spark conversation and movement in our lives. In the spirit of deepening engagement and relationship, we will be offering semi-regular Sermon Talkbacks to reflect together on the previous week’s sermon themes. We hope to offer at least 1 a month as a start, and our hope is that these will either be hybrid in the Stearns Room or sometimes fully on Zoom. Stay tuned for days/times/details.

We also plan to offer open, drop-in Office Hours out in the community (most likely at one of the two Twisted Tree cafes), to create more opportunities for folks to informally seek support and connection during these tumultuous days. If you have a personal concern, the minister present can also make some time for confidential conversation. We will also have the chance to support one another. You are free to pop in for any amount of time in the window. As we experiment with days/times, feel free to share feedback. And you are of course always welcome to reach out to set up another time for a pastoral care conversation with one of us!

Sermon Talkback with Kit
Monday, March 10 at 12:00pm
Stearns Room & Zoom

Sarah’s Office Hours
Tuesday, March 18, 12:00-2:00pm
Twisted Tree at Lincoln Station

Nate’s Office Hours
Friday, March 28, 10:00am-12:00pm
Twisted Tree at deCordova