Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, a minister and climate change activist, will lead worship at First Parish in Lincoln on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. and will speak on “Rising Up with a Faith: A Christian Response to Climate Change.” Bullitt-Jonas serves as Missioner for Creation Care in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ. Her latest book, Joy of Heaven, To Earth Come Down, is a collection of daily Advent-Christmas meditations on the sacredness of the natural world.
On Sunday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m., make an Advent wreath. Bring greens and a $10 donation for a green foam ring, candle holders, candles, and plates. At 4:30 p.m., all are invited to the Memorial Tree Lighting. At this simple prayer service, you can hang an ornament in memory of a loved one. The tree remains lit evenings during Advent. And at 5 p.m., St. Anne’s is hosting a “Blue Christmas” service of candle-lighting, music, and prayer designed to offer comfort and hope to those who are grieving or sad. A reception will follow.
Shop local for antiques, tableware, costume jewelry, crafts and baked goods. There will be many hands-on activities for children including Christmas cookie decorating, a fishing tree, a decorate-your-own-ornament activity, and a special children’s shopping room complete with holiday wrapping help. Santa will arrive at 11 a.m., and children can have photos taken on Santa’s lap. The fair will feature homemade holiday wreathes and centerpieces for sale made by dozens of volunteers the week of the fair. A lunch featuring Psalm soup, salad, and pita bread will be available for purchase at noon. Admission is free.
The church’s annual Christmas Lessons and Carols service is Sunday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. This annual service features stories read by clergy and parishioners, anthems sung by the choir, and hymns sung by everyone. Bring a treat to share afterwards at the festive reception. Christmas Eve services on Monday, Dec. 24 will be at 3 p.m. (family service), 7:30 p.m., and 10 p.m.
On Sunday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m., St. Anne’s will present a service of choral evensong, a beautiful Anglican liturgy in which the word of God is illuminated by music. The choir will chant the psalm and prayers, and offer the mystical “Collegium Regale” settings of the “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis” by Herbert Howells.
St. Julia Parish’s Centenary Gala will be on Saturday, May 4 in the St. Julia Parish Center Hall at 374 Boston Post Rd. in Weston (St. Joseph Church in Lincoln is part of the St. Julia parish). Dinner will be served at 7:15 p.m. with a cash bar. There will also be a raffle/silent auction. Tickets ($50 per person) will be on sale after Masses on March 30-31 and April 6-7 and in the parish offices until April 29. Ticket price is $50 per person. To reserve a table, please call 781-899-4734.
Enjoy a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on May 7 from 1–2:30 p.m. at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. Another walk will be held June 4. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.
Lincoln Academy with Bijoy Misra: nature and spirituality
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, May 20, at 12:30 p.m. when Bijoy Misra discusses “Nature and Spirituality.” Is nature spiritual? Does nature thrive on struggle for existence or provide a room for all? Are all objects equal in their existence? If an object in nature is equal to another object, then why does one survive but not the other? We examine these age-old questions from the perspective of our own life and experiences, traits in our own nature, and our own built-in spirituality. We look to the philosophers and the scriptures for their insight into equality. We examine whether spirituality lives in our own perception of the “other” object. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.
On Tuesday, May 28, the Climate Justice Ministry at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church continues its film series with “Redefining Prosperity.” The film examines Nevada City, home to harmful environmental practices until it was discovered by the “back to the land movement,” experiencing a second gold rush but with a different idea of gold based on nature, community, and a sense of place. A light vegetarian supper is served at 6:30 p.m. and the film screening begins at 7 p.m. Discussion follows as time allows. Free and open to the public.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with a Blessing of the Animals at the 10 a.m. service with Holy Eucharist and Choir. Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome, as are photos and stuffed animals. Other services on that day are Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a Contemplative Eucharist at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, Nov. 17 a 10 a.m., the First Parish in Lincoln welcomes Dover’s Pilgrim Bluegrass Gospel Band, who (together with choir director Ian Watson) will share their music as they perform a variety of traditional and contemporary songs to complement the order of service. Band members are Michele Sauter on mandolin and vocals, Geoff Sauter on five-string banjo and vocals, Bob Cocks on guitar and vocals, Francesca Wier on vocals, and Greg Algieri on upright string bass and vocals.
Join Rev. Jenny Rankin of the First Parish in Lincoln and a small group to reflect, consider your life through a “spiritual” lens and write about it in a “Spiritual Autobiography” course over five weekly sessions starting Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 7–8:30 p.m. in the parish house (14 Bedford Rd.). Through in-class exercises and short writing assignments, participants will consider the different chapters or stepping stones of their life’s journey up until now. Some things to consider: What have been the gifts and graces of your life? Where were the losses and hurts? How would you articulate your sense of the sacred, God, or whatever spiritual vocabulary do you use? What “language of reverence” do you speak? Email sarah@fplincoln.org to sign up.
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church will host a Haiti Art Sale on Sunday, Jan. 26 after morning worship (8 a.m. spoken Eucharist, 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with choir). Items made by artisans from Haiti will be for sale, and all proceeds benefit the artists who are helping support their families. That evening at 5 p.m., St. Anne’s is hosting a four-parish Evensong — St. Anne’s choir will be joined by choirs from Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord, and St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Sudbury. A reception will follow. All are welcome.
St. Julia Parish will offer outdoor Mass on the lawn (or under the tent in case of rain) on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. No reservations required. Please bring a blanket or chair and masks for attendees age 5 and up, as social distancing protocols apply. Parking is at the rear of the house or on the property on Weston Road.
The First Parish in Lincoln welcomes everyone to a virtual service celebrating the longest night of the year. Join us as we honor the darkness and await the light in community. Visit www.fplincoln.org/events for the Zoom link.
People of all faiths and people in search of faith are invited to join youth from St. Joseph’s/Julia’s Parish and the First Parish in Lincoln as they present a Taizé service on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Taizé is a monastic community in Taizé, France with an ecumenical emphasis as expressed on their website, which says the community “wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.” A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, and liturgical readings. There is no preaching. This style of prayer has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. Services are usually candlelit, so please have a candle ready when you join using this Zoom link (meeting ID: 954 7757 9039, passcode: 405331).