The service at the First Parish in Lincoln on “Rally Sunday” on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. will include a blessing of the backpacks for our children and joyful music from the choir. With a bit of history during the service, and cake afterwards on the lawn, we’ll also be celebrating the 275th anniversary of the church.
On Friday, Sept. 22 from 1–3 p.m., meet at the famous “twisted tree” in front of Lincoln Public Library for a special Quiet Walks and Poetry for Seekers collaboration. We’ll walk for a mile or two in the neighborhood, stopping four or five times beneath particular trees. Beneath the shade of each tree, we will hear a poem that in some way honors or features that tree species. In between each poem, we will walk in silence. At the end, we will gather in a circle and reflect on what we saw and heard. If the weather looks questionable, email Rev. Nate Klug (nate@fplincoln.org) for the latest updates.
State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury), whose district includes part of Lincoln, will hold virtual office hours for constituents on Monday, Nov. 20 in virtual meetings via from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Any constituent who wishes to speak with him can sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing his legislative aide Ravi Simon at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Constituents signing up for a meeting must provide their full name, address, phone number, email, and their discussion topic so Rep. Gentile can prepare.
State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-13th Middlesex) will hold virtual office hours on Friday, Jan. 22. Meetings will take place via Microsoft Teams video call from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing Rep. Gentile’s legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Constituents signing up for a meeting must provide their full name, address, phone number, email, and their discussion topic. Please provide all necessary details in describing the topic of discussion so that Rep. Gentile may prepare for the meeting.
State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) will hold virtual office hours on Friday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m.–noon. Any constituent who wishes to speak to Rep. Gentile can sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing his legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Please provide your full name, address, phone number, email, and discussion topic.
The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. in the Bemis Hall map room to elect six delegates and four alternates to the 2024 State Democratic Convention in June. Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Lincoln who are 16 years old as of February 15, 2024 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates. All are welcome but only registered Democrats may vote.
At the state convention at the DCU Center in Worcester on June 1, delegates will place a candidate name on the statewide primary ballot in December. Those interested in getting involved with the Lincoln Democratic Committee should contact Travis Roland at travisroland89@yahoo.com or Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com. Young people (ages 16-35), those with disabilities, people of color, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/massdems-convention.
Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 284293). For details, see “CapCom, CPC spending proposal to be aired on March 11.”
The Lincoln PTO will host a town election candidate forum on Tuesday, March 12 from 7–9 p.m. in the Lincoln School Learning Commons. It will also be accessible via this Zoom link.
Candidates will have three minutes to introduce themselves and present a substantive statement of their platform. Moderators Rob Stringer and Sarah Cannon Holden will then direct questions to candidates that were submitted on cards filled out by attendees shortly after they arrived, or that are posed via the chat function on Zoom. Candidates will have two minutes to respond. The LPTO can’t guarantee that there will be enough time to get to all the questions.
The forum is intended not as a debate but as an information session and meet-and-greet whereby voters can get acquainted with candidates and their views. Candidates have been asked to refrain from addressing or referring to fellow candidates and to refrain from campaign speeches or speechifying.
The candidates scheduled to participate in the forum are as follows (each seat is for a three-year term):
Select Board:
- Incumbent Jennifer Glass (jlrglass@mac.com)
- Frank Clark (clark@gmail.com)
Planning Board:
- Incumbent Gerald Taylor (gatlincoln@gmail.com)
- Sarah Postlethwait (sarah@bayhas.com)
Upon arrival, attendees should stop at the LPTO table to fill out a name tag before settling into the Learning Commons. Volunteers will also offer audience members question forms and pencils prior to entering the Learning Commons. Attendees will be invited to join in a collective round of applause for all the candidates at the beginning and end of the Introductions round and are asked to refrain from cheering for anyone candidate during that round.
The Youth Programs Committee at the First Parish in Lincoln is hosting an interfaith candlelight vigil on Wednesday, March 20 from 6–7 p.m. at the white church for all children lost in both the Palestinian and Israeli communities. Children can bring a bird they’ve made for a specific child (see Birds of Gaza for ideas) or for children more broadly. Craft kits with various art supplies to create birds are still available outside the side door of the Stone Church. Birds can be fashioned out of any medium you choose (clay, paper, your own materials, etc.). A short prayer will be offered at the vigil that is appropriate for all ages.
Click here for a list of candidates. For Election Day information, click here.
State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) will hold virtual office hours on Tuesday, March 26 from 1–3 p.m. Any constituent who wishes to speak to Rep. Gentile can sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing his legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Please provide your full name, address, phone number, email, and discussion topic.
A memorial for the late Susan Sugar will take place on Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m. in the First Parish Church across from the library, with a reception to follow. Sugar died on Nov. 7, 2023 at the age of 90 (click here for her obituary).
Residents are invited to meet Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. DiZoglio, a former member of the Mass. House and Senate, is sponsoring a ballot question allowing the auditor to audit the state legislature and will explain the need for transparency on Beacon Hill. Come join us for an informative short presentation and time for questions. Hosted by the Democratic Town Committee.
Join Ministry Associate Sarah Klockowski and the Racial Justice Advocates for a special screening of “The Law and the Prophets” (2023), a compelling and thorough documentary exposing the systems of oppression that Palestinians face in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel. This film features interviews with eight individuals, both Palestinian and Israeli, who explain the laws and policies of the occupation. On her recent solidarity trip to the West Bank, Sarah met four of these modern prophets.
After the screening, we will be joined via Zoom by the filmmaker, Rev. Dr. Joshua Vis, and Rev. Chris DeBlaay. Josh and Chris are peace activists working to educate Americans on the realities of the occupation of Palestine. They lead tours to the region and, along with Sarah, were part of the 23-member delegation that traveled to the West Bank and East Jerusalem in late February. They will present material connected to their recent visit to the West Bank as well as insights from historians, activists, and other thought leaders.
If you will be joining us virtually, please Click here to register in advance for this meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join.
First Parish in Lincoln is hosting international Buddhist teacher Shantum Seth on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. Seth was ordained as a Dharmacharya (Dharma Teacher) by the renowned Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) in 2001. He teaches in India and across the world, and leads pilgrimages, called “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” and other multifaith and transformative journeys. He is actively involved in social, environmental and educational programs, including cultivating mindfulness in society with educators, law enforcement, and socially responsible corporations.
Seth will speak about “The Path of the Buddha… Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World.” He will lead a guided meditation in Thay’s tradition, share his experiences walking with Thay in the footsteps of the Buddha, and discuss a new community to realize Thay’s vision in India: Plum Village II.