First Parish Universalist Church--Stoughton, MA

	First Parish Universalist Church 790 Washington Street, P. O. Box 284, Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072 (781) 344-6800	Worship: 10:30 AM Children's Chapel: 10:30 AM Church School: 10:45 AM

Welcome

Now in its 264th year, First Parish Universalist Church is a liberal religious congregation that has evolved out of a fascinating religious history. First Parish Universalist Church is a Ballou Channing District Honor Society and a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Our Mission Statement
We, the people of the First Parish Universalist Church of Stoughton, Massachusetts, gather to create a community which encourages the lifelong journey toward personal and spiritual growth. We accept, respect, and celebrate one another's individuality, together with the common spirit of life which connects us all. Through our sharing and worship together, we hope to find peace and strength for daily living. We strive to make our faith come alive through service to others and care of the earth.

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Read Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz's article, A Little of that Human Touch, featured in the Winter 2008 issue of the UU World.



		Universalist Parsonage 98 Bassick Circle Stoughton, Massachusetts Christmastide 2008
Dear Friends, The great Unitarian preacher John Haynes Holmes of the CommunityChurchin New York once wrote: “Most of us are fleshly beings. We live in the world of physical sensations and material objects. But this is the world in which we can most easily be reached and injured. We delight in the body—but the body can fall sick, and be wounded, and suffer pain, and grow old, and in the end must die. We cling to money—but money can be stolen, or lose its value, or swiftly disappear. We spend a lifetime perhaps in accumulating property—but property can be dissipated, or destroyed, and finally at death must be altogether surrendered. What wonder, then, in such a world, we are unhappy and most of the time consumed with fear?” But this is not our only world, Dr. Holmes reminds us. At Christmastime, that other world draws closest to our physical world, and the Word is made flesh and comes to dwell among us, and the very Earth is suffused with wonder and enchantment and the very glory of God. Then it is that we have our keenest inkling of this other world—the world of the spirit-- in which we live, and move, and have our true being. This is, perhaps, the sacred truth at the heart of faith—not just the Christian faith or the Jewish faith from which it arose-- but of all the world’s great faiths: Fear not. Be not afraid. For the Spirit that dwells at the heart of the universe dwells within us, as well. It is the torch; we are the candles kindled from that holy fire. Though the darkness of this world may surround us, we know that beyond the dark (and within the dark) there is that perfect love which casteth out all fear. May you dance with the Mystery again this Christmas season. Elizabeth joins me in wishing you all a joyful, blessed Christmas, and a healthy and peace-filled New Year.
		God bless, Rev. Jeffrey B. Symynkywicz

Many Lights

Our lights may be only flickering flames,
but they are not unlike those flames
which people have looked to from ages immemorial
to guide them through the darkness of the night.

Even a small flame can illumine uncertain steps.

Flames brighten and make warm
our spirits and our world.

Flames remind us
of Sabbaths long past,
and of our own place in life’s great procession.

In the glow of the flame we cherish
the memory of those who have come before us:
May their courage and their wisdom
be remembered always, may it warm our hearts.

May the holy festivals of all of the world’s peoples
shine their lights upon us this day.
May their lights illumine our own celebrations.
May they inspire us ever to continue our work
for that great Sabbath of Peace.

Amen.

jbs
12/8/96 12/21/03 12/28/08