The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

religious

News acorns

Christmas trees on sale

Starting on Saturday, Dec. 3, Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 will be selling Christmas Trees and wreaths from 3–5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Lincoln and Codman Roads. Trees will range from 4′ to 10′ and Scouts will also be selling both decorated and undecorated wreaths. After Sunday, the tree lot will be open on Wednesday nights from 7-8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. until trees sell out.

Christmas events at First Parish in Lincoln

Touch of Christmas fair
Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Parish House auditorium, 14 Bedford Road (across from Bemis)
Homemade holiday crafts, evergreen wreaths decorated with natural materials, jewelry, antique and collectible treasures, and more. 

Christmas tree lighting
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.
Rainbow chairs, 4 Bedford Road (across from the library)
Join us to light the Christmas tree in front of the church after the Touch of Christmas Fair. We’ll get in the mood with some holiday carols and enjoy hot chocolate. Santa says he’ll swing by and say Hello or maybe Ho Ho Ho!

Christmas Eve services
Saturday, Dec. 24
Church sanctuary, 4 Bedford Road — livestream at fplincoln.altarlive.com
— 5 p.m.: A service for all ages. Families with younger children are welcome, but so are those who want the full Christmas experience before dinnertime. Special music, lessons and carols, and a short message. Service led by our co-ministers.
— 9 p.m. (with special music at 8:30 p.m.):  Candlelight service featuring the First Parish choir, special music, and lessons and carols. Service led by our co-ministers.

If you intend to join us in person, let us know by taking this brief survey, indicating the number in your group and which service you will be attending.

Tree lighting and service at St. Anne’s

Come to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. for a short, but poignant service at which we remember those who are no longer with us at Christmastime by hanging white ornaments in their honor. Bring your own or hang one of ours, then marvel at the lighting of the tree. For those interested, this is followed by a Blue Christmas service in the sanctuary at 5 p.m., when candles, quiet, and prayers allow participants to reflect in love, grief, and joy. Communion will be available if requested. We welcome everyone from all walks of life and faith. For more information, visit StAnnesLincoln.org or email parishoffice@stanneslincoln.org.

Library-sponsored events

An evening with mystery writers
Join us via Zoom on Thursday Dec. 8 from 7–8:30 p.m. for an evening with mystery writers Sulari Gentill, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Eva Jurczyk moderated by Rachel Raczka of the Boston Globe. Everything was fine until it wasn’t — a scream in the library, books gone missing the first day on the job, a secret threatening to tear apart a perfect life. Register here.

Talk on New England bike rides
Author David Sobel will give a Zoom presentation on his new book, Best Bike Rides in New England, on Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 7-8 p.m. He’ll reveal some of his favorite rides, discuss the variables he uses when designing a ride, explain how to design rides using online tools like Map My Ride or Strava, advocate for incorporating bike riding three to five times a week into your personal wellness goals, and suggest a great ride in or around your community. Register here.

Film screening: “Umberto D”
The Lincoln Library Film Society presents Umberto D. (1952, Italian with subtitles) on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. This neorealist masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica follows an elderly pensioner as he strives to make ends meet during Italy’s postwar economic recovery. Alone except for his dog, Flike, Umberto’s simple quest to satisfy his basic needs — food, shelter, companionship — makes for one of the most heartbreaking stories ever filmed, and an essential classic of world cinema.

“A Christmas Carol”
Join actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby on Friday, Dec. 16 from 1–2 p.m. in Bemis Hall for a funny, heartfelt journey through Charles Dicken’s classic A Christmas Carol. This one-hour adaptation shows Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from a grumpy, selfish misanthrope to a generous and kindly man full of the spirit of Christmas.

First Parish in Lincoln gets a dynamic duo

Nate Klug and Kit Novotny, co-ministers at the First Parish in Lincoln.

The First Parish in Lincoln began enjoying a two-for-one deal when Rev. Nate Klug and Rev. Kit Novotny — high school sweethearts who grew up in Wellesley — started their dual ministry in August.

Though both have an affinity for the arts, they came to their religious careers by slightly different routes. Novotny calls herself a “cradle Congregationalist” — her parents were lapsed Catholics who later joined a United Church of Christ (UCC) in Wellesley Hills. “The church was our community with a lot of my best friends growing up,” she said. “My parents were super involved and I was a pretty spiritually interested kid.”

Klug, meanwhile,  grew up without any religious tradition. “It was quite a surprise to me,” he said. “I kind of stumbled on faith on college.” After a friend’s father was killed, “I was just asking a lot of big questions… I got this germ of faith which was quite weird for my family.”

Both Klug and Novotny went to the University of Chicago, After graduating with a degree in English, Klug was interning for a literary magazine in Chicago when his editor invited him to a church service. “I was blown away by the sermon,” he said. “Eventually I was at a moment where a spiritual commitment was something I was ready for.”

Novotny, who majored in theater and anthropology, was involved in theater and improv in Chicago and was an intern at the famous Second City comedy club in that city for a year after she graduated. She also worked at comedy club in Iowa during her first ministerial job after grad school. “There’s definitely sermon fodder in standup,” she said with a laugh.

After they graduated from Yale Divinity School and were ordained in the UCC in 2013, they applied for a few jobs as a couple but eventually wound up serving as ministers in separate churches in the San Francisco area. A couple of years ago, they began looking for jobs back east so that they and their preschool-age daughters could be closer to their families (“we have four very enthusiastic grandparents in the Boston area,” Novotny said).

Because of the pandemic, Klug could continue his other work in California even after they moved to Massachusetts about a year ago and began looking for church posts locally. A poet and essayist as well as a minister (his latest book is Hosts and Guests: Poems), Klug teaches remotely in the MFA program at Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif., and in the creative writing at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Novotny is also a writer and a certified yoga instructor with training in trauma-sensitive yoga.

As seminary students, both had mentors who’d worked as co-pastors, so when they learned about the FPL opening, they approached it as a team. “We kind of introduced the idea to the search committee here,” Klug said. “They were really rigorous and diligent about finding out what it would be like. It was a real process of discernment on both sides [in asking] does the church want to take a leap of faith on both of us and vice versa?” They found that FPL is “a really creative place, a community church with a big spiritual tent — it seemed like a place that might be open to this kind of creative ministry model.”

As for the division of labor, the couple will split most things 50-50 and trade off preaching. “You can come to it a little more fresh when you don’t have to do it every week,” Novotny said. “The community will get a little more diversity of voice since we have slightly different styles.”

Both will do pastoral care visits and adult education. “This congregation is very interested in learning and are voracious readers,” Klug said.

They also have a few ideas for new approaches and events to engage the community. Klug will lead a group called “Poetry for Seekers” while Novotny will lead “Coffee and Compassion,” where she and participants can reflect on what requires compassion in the world and learn about tools for connection and emotional resilience. The pair is also co-authoring a blog, and they’ll take turns hosting “Theology on Tap” discussions at the Tack Room each month, with the first one scheduled for September 23. The events are open to all, including those who aren’t church members or who don’t live in Lincoln.

“Our first priority is building relationships and connections,” Novotny said. “Religion has a lot of baggage, some of it well deserved, that might keep people from walking through the door. There was a loneliness epidemic happening even pre-Covid, and religious institutions have been declining in popularity. I think there’s a longing where people aren’t all getting those needs met, so hopefully the church can keep reinventing itself” to foster those connections.

News from the pews

First Parish in Lincoln (UU/UCC)

4 and 14 Bedford Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • Sunday, April 3 at 10 a.m. — Rev. Jenny Rankin will lead worship and we will hear from the Ministerial Church Team, who will announce the candidate they’re putting forward. Rev. Jenny will lead in reflecting on how this has been “A Long Time Coming.” Links to register to join worship in-person in the sanctuary or to join us via Zoom can be found at fplincoln.org.
Religious Exploration
  • Our Sunday School of Magic and Mystery will have a seminar in wand-making this week. Last week’s foray into the “Forbidden Forest” allowed us to collect some sticks to whittle into our own wands (there are extras for those who weren’t there last week or you can bring a stick from home). If we could wave a magic wand, what would we want to change in this world? How could we use our powers for good? If the weather is fine, we’ll be meeting on the playground.
Beyond Sunday

(details and links available on the FPL Lincoln website)

  • Coffee with the Minister — Thursday, March 31 and April 7 at 10 a.m. Bring your coffee! Jenny would love a chance to see you on Zoom.
  • Sacred Texts: From Jesus to Christ — Thursday, March 31 and April 7 at 12 p.m. Join us for a Lenten sacred texts series exploring the different ways Jesus was viewed in the early church. We will trace the origins of the “doctrine of Christ” and think about the different ways we are encountering the divine in our own lives this Lent.
  • Quiet Walks — Friday, April 1 at 1:30 p.m. Weekly contemplative walks in and around Lincoln.
  • Weekly Meditation — Tuesday, April 5 at 4 p.m. For up-to-date information, contact Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com to receive the weekly meditation emails. Buddhist chanting begins at 3:45 p.m.; join via Zoom, call in, or if you simply want to join us in spirit, you can sit independently at the same time, meditating for 20 minutes, then reading the selection and reflecting upon it.

St. Julia Parish (Catholic)

St. Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston
St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • Weekend Masses — Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Julia; Sunday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at St. Joseph; 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at St. Julia. Mass is now live streamed. We will continue to post Masses on Facebook and our website.
  • Weekday Mass — Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m. at St. Julia.
  • Lenten Confession & Mass —Wednesday evening, April 6 is the final Lenten confession at 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph.
  • Eucharist Adoration — Fridays, noon–1 p.m. in St. Julia.
Holy Week schedule
  • Holy Thursday Mass (Thursday, April 14) – 7:30 p.m. at St. Julia
  • Good Friday (April 15) — Stations of the Cross, 12 p.m. at St. Julia and 3 p.m. at St. Joseph. Liturgy, 7:30 p.m. at St. Julia.
  • Easter Vigil (April 16) — 7:30 p.m. at St. Julia (no 4 p.m. Mass)
  • Easter Sunday (April 17) — 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at St. Joseph (no 5 p.m. Mass); 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at St. Julia.
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
  • Sunday, April 3 — Grades 1-5, high school. Grade 6 will host Mass followed by a Build the Faith workshop, making rosaries with grade 7 and 8. Rosaries will be on sale.
  • Monday, April 4 — Grades 1-5.
Stations of the Cross
  • Friday, April 8, 7 p.m. — Stations of the Cross led by Deacon Rafe, St. Julia.
  • Booklets for a self-guided Stations of the Cross are available in the back of St. Julia. The church is open for Stations weekdays 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
St. Anne’s in the Fields (Episcopal)

147 Concord Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • Sunday, March 20 at 8 a.m. — Spoken Holy Eucharist (in-person)
  • Sunday, March 20 at 10 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir, in-person and live-streamed at www.stanneslincoln.org.

News from the pews

First Parish in Lincoln (UU/UCC)

4 and 14 Bedford Rd.

Worship
  • Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. in person in the Sanctuary at 4 Bedford Rd. and live-streaming on Zoom (see website for registration and links). This Sunday: “Repairing the Breach” looking at Lent through the lens of liberation theology and the life and work of Oscar Romero.
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
  • Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. in person in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Rd. Join us for “Sunday School of Magic and Mystery” as we head into the “Forbidden Forest” (please dress for being outside).
Beyond Sunday
  • Thursday, March 31 at 10 a.m. — Coffee with the Minister. Bring your coffee! Jenny would love a chance to see you on Zoom.
  • Thursday, March 31 (and Thursdays in Lent), 12-1 p.m. — Sacred Texts: From Jesus to Christ. Join us for a Lenten sacred texts series exploring the different ways Jesus was viewed in the early church. We will trace the origins of the “doctrine of Christ” and think about the different ways we are encountering the divine in our own lives this Lent.
  • Friday, April 1 at 1:30 p.m. – Quiet Walks. Meeting locations vary; call to inquire (781-259-8118)
  • Tuesday, April 4 at 4 p.m. —Weekly Meditation. Email Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com to receive the weekly meditation emails. Please note all these ways you may join. Buddhist chanting begins at 3:45 p.m.

St. Julia Parish (Catholic)

St. Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston
St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Road, Lincoln

St. Joseph Church in Lincoln will re-open for Sunday Mass starting on April 3. The 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday Masses will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s in Lincoln.

Worship
  • Weekend Masses — Saturday at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m. This is the final weekend for all Masses at St. Julia.Next weekend, St. Joseph’s will open. Mass is now live streamed. We will continue to post Masses on Facebook and our website.
  • Weekday Mass — Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m. at St. Julia Church, Weston
  • Lenten Confession & Mass —Wednesday evening confession at 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln continues thru Lent, with April 6being the final time.
  • Eucharist Adoration — Friday, March 18, noon–1 p.m. in St. Julia Church
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
  • Sunday, March 27 — Grades 1, 3-8, high school session. Grade 2 will attend workshop in the afternoon.
  • Monday, March 28 — Grades 1-3 & 5 (no Grade 2; they will have attended the workshop on Sunday.
Stations of the Cross
  • Booklets for a self-guided Stations of the Cross are available in the back of St. Julia Church, Weston. The Church is open for Stations weekdays 8:30am – 4pm. 

St. Anne’s in the Fields (Episcopal)

147 Concord Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • Sunday, March 27 at 8 a.m. — Spoken Holy Eucharist (in person).
  • Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir (in person and live-streamed at www.stanneslincoln.org).

News from the pews

First Parish in Lincoln (UU/UCC)

4 and 14 Bedford Rd.

Worship
  • Sunday, March 20 at 10 a.m., in-person in the sanctuary at 4 Bedford Rd. and live-streaming on Zoom (see website for registration and links). This Sunday: “Finding Faith in the Little Things,” a Celtic-tradition inspired worship service.
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
  • Sunday, March 20 at 10 a.m., in-person in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Rd. Join us for “Sunday School of Magic and Mystery” as we consider the role of prophesy in religion and learn some “Divination” techniques.
Beyond Sunday

Details and Zoom links available at www.fplincoln.org.

  • Thursday, March 17 at 10 a.m. — Coffee with the minister via Zoom.
  • Thursday, March 17 (and Thursdays in Lent) from 12–1 p.m​. — Sacred Texts: From Jesus to Christ. Join us for a Lenten sacred texts series exploring the different ways Jesus was viewed in the early church. We will trace the origins of the “doctrine of Christ” and think about the different ways we are encountering the divine in our own lives this Lent.
  • Friday, March 18 at 1:30 p.m. — Quiet Walks. This Friday, the Quiet Walkers will meet on Old Sudbury Road in Lincoln about a quarter-mile west of the toy rocking horses. Once more, we will cover some trails that we’ve been on before (including up on the drumlin) as well as some new territory.  The walk itself will take slightly over an hour with some elevation changes.
  • Tuesday, March 22 at 4 p.m. — Weekly Meditation. Contact Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com to receive the weekly meditation emails. Please note all these ways you may join. Buddhist chanting begins at 3:45 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. (in person) — Lenten Contemplative Services. Continue the Lenten season with a special midweek service featuring contemplative music, readings, and a time of prayer and ritual. The season of Lent offers a time to reflect on where we are and to return to that which grounds us. This service will be offered in the Sanctuary at 4 Bedford Rd.

St. Julia Parish (Catholic)

St. Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston
St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Road, Lincoln

St. Joseph Church in Lincoln will re-open for Sunday Mass starting on April 3. The 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday Masses will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s in Lincoln.

Worship
  • Weekend Masses — Saturday at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m. All Masses continue at St. Julia Church in Weston for now and are live-streamed. We will continue to post Masses on Facebook and our website.
  • Weekday Mass — Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m. at St. Julia Church, Weston
  • Lenten Confession and Mass —Wednesday evening confession at 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln continues through Lent, with April 6th being the final time.
  • Eucharist Adoration — Friday, March 18, noon–1 p.m. in St. Julia Church
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
  • Sunday, March 20 — grades 1–8 and high school session. Grade 4 will host Mass with a gathering afterwards.
  •  Monday, March 21 — grades 1–3 grade 5 (no grade 4; they will have attended the Mass and gathering on Sunday). 
Stations of the Cross
  • Booklets for a self-guided Stations of the Cross are available in the back of St. Julia Church, Weston. The church is open for Stations on weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.  

St. Anne’s in the Fields (Episcopal)

147 Concord Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • Sunday, March 20th at 8 a.m. — spoken Holy Eucharist (in person)
  • Sunday, March 20th at 10 a.m.  — Holy Eucharist with choir (in-person and live-streamed at www.stanneslincoln.org)

News from the pews

First Parish in Lincoln (UU/UCC)

4 and 14 Bedford Rd.

Worship
  • Sunday morning worship at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary at 4 Bedford Road. Guest Minister Mary Margaret Earl from the UU Urban Ministry will preach with open conversation after the service. In-person with masks or via Zoom. Links and information available at FPLincoln.org.
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
  • Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Road. This week: Sunday School of Magic and Mystery will study “Charms.” Throughout time, people have infused all sorts of items with the property of bringing good luck… four-leaf-clovers, rabbits feet, coins, mementos, specific routines. What are charms but a form of prayer? We’ll make our own charms and learn some wand-waving charms techniques this Sunday!
Adult Education

Details and Zoom links available at www.fplincoln.org

  • Coffee with the Minister — Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. on Zoom
  • Sacred Texts: From Jesus to Christ — Thursday, March 10 (and Thursdays in Lent), 12–1 p.m. Join us for a Lenten sacred texts series exploring the different ways Jesus was viewed in the early church. We will trace the origins of the “doctrine of Christ” and think about the different ways we are encountering the divine in our own lives this Lent. March 10 is the season opener.
  • Quiet Walks — Friday, March 11 at 1:30 p.m. This Friday the Quiet Hikers will explore a new and not well known wilderness area on the Concord/Acton line. The hike will be slightly longer than usual and could take as long as an hour and a half. Enter 155 Black Horse Place into your GPS or go out Route 2 to the traffic circle next to the prisons and take the Route 2A exit. Your first right (not counting some private roads) will be Commerford Road. As you approach the end of Commerford, you’ll see the sign for Black Horse Place on your right. Go a very short distance on Black Horse and you will see the parking on your right. As always, park “efficiently.” We hope the ice will be gone but prepare for mud.
  • “The Poetry of Lent” Retreat — Saturday, March 12, 1–4 p.m. Meet in the Stearns Room at 4 Bedford Rd. for an afternoon of reflection, writing, and ritual guided by the poetry of Mary Oliver and inspired her instructions for living a life: “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” We will deepen into the Lenten season, which invites us to return to our truest selves and reconnect with that which we hold sacred. Come be astonished with us. Click here to RSVP.
  • Sip Talk Learn — Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m. We need a few more three-minute storytellers for our last STL of the season. Do you have a travel adventure, a SWAP shack story, a passion or a hobby to tell us about? More than 50 people have told their stories since we started in 2019. Please sign up and share yours by contacting Tucker Smith (tuckerwsmith@gmail.com). Please join us on Zoom just to listen if you don’t have a story!
  • Weekly Meditation — Tuesday, March 15 at 4 p.m. on Zoom. Contact Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com to receive the weekly meditation emails.

St. Julia Parish (Catholic)

St. Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston
St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Road, Lincoln

St. Joseph Church in Lincoln will re-open for Sunday Mass starting on April 3. The 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday Masses will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s in Lincoln.

Worship
  • Weekend Masses — Saturday at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m. All Masses continue at St. Julia Church in Weston for now. Mass is now live streamed. We will continue to post Masses on Facebook and our website.
  • Weekday Mass — Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m. at St. Julia Church, Weston
  • Lenten Confession & Mass — Beginning on Wednesday, March 16, there will be confession at 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln
  • Eucharist Adoration — Friday, March 18, noon–1 p.m. in St. Julia Church
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
  • No classes on Sunday or Monday, March 13 and 14 (classes resume the following week)
Adult Education
  • Little Rock Scripture studies return on Tuesdays, and run from 9:30–11 a.m. in the Parish Center.  The focus will be on the Book of Revelation.
  • Fr. Bob Braunreuther, SJ will lead a study of the four gospels every Thursday morning in Lent beginning on March 3 from 11 a.m.–noon. 
  • Small Groups — On Wednesday evenings from 7–8:30 p.m. in Lent, there is a Small Group focusing on the Catholic tradition of prayer forms.

Please contact cmcgarry@stjulia.org for details on either Bible study series.

St. Anne’s in the Fields (Episcopal)

147 Concord Road, Lincoln

Worship
  • St. Anne’s will hold a hybrid Holy Eucharist service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 13. The service will be both in-person and live-streamed, which can be accessed via the church website at www.stanneslincoln.org.

News acorns

Holy Week at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church

Palm Sunday (March 28)

  • 8 a.m. — In-person Holy Eucharist (click here to register)
  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor firepit service (click here to register)

Maundy Thursday, April 1

  • 7:30 p.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist

Good Friday, April 2

  • 12 p.m. — Live-streamed Service
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor service (click here to register)

Holy Saturday, April 3

  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed morning prayer
  • 10 p.m. — Live-streamed Service of Light

Easter Sunday, April 4

  • 9 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 11 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir in the parking lot
 

Farrington offers nature-themed programs

Join Farrington Nature Linc and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Thursday, April 22 from 2–­3 p.m. via Zoom for “Owls Up Close,” a virtual version of “Eyes on Owls.” Naturalists Marcia and Mark Wilson will introduce everyone to six live owls up close and personal, followed by some owl call practice with a hooting lesson. They’ll highlight the owls’ unique adaptations, habitats, and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look for owls yourself. All are welcome at this family friendly program. Register here to receive the Zoom link. This is a free program, but donations are encouraged and help us bring this program to the community. Viewers may purchase copies of Mark’s book, Owling (signed and personalized by the author) by emailing eyesonowls@earthlink.net.

Join award-winning producer, film composer, and author Ruth Mendelson of Lincoln to discuss her new book, The Water Tree Way, on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8:15 p.m. The main character Jai (pronounced “Jay”), filled with spunk, stealth, and courage, leaves everything she’s known to embark on a hair-raising journey. A 240-page children’s book intended for readers of all ages, the story exalts the triumph of the human spirit as experienced by a girl who can be none other than her unabashed self. Register here.

Upcoming talks in “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” series

Artist Evelyn Rydz will speak on “Close Attention: Exploring a Creative Practice Inside and Outside the Studio” on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. Exploring the vulnerability and the resiliency of natural and cultural ecosystems, Rydz invites viewers and participants of her projects to imagine a different future — one shaped by our connections and care for local and global communities. Her talk is part of “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces,” a free virtual speaker series featuring prominent speakers whose are advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the benefits of time in nature.

Also in the series:

  • Monica White, author of Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement, on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
  • J. Drew Lanham, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, on “Coloring the Conservation Conversation” on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Dr. Lanham will highlight what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. He will discuss how conservation must be a rigorous science and evocative art, inviting diversity and race to play active roles in celebrating our natural world.

Register here and get more information about the presentations and speakers. The series is organized by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Farrington Nature Linc, The Food Project, Mass Audubon, and The Walden Woods Project. Additional support is provided by the Ogden Codman Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club, and the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

News acorns

Library reopens by appointment

The Lincoln Public Library is now open to the public by appointment. For appointments for adult services, call 781-259-8465 and press 3. For children’s services, press 4. The first hour of appointments on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays are reserved for patrons over 60 or with other high risk factors. Appointments will be for 30 minutes and can be made up to a week in advance. Face coverings are required for all patrons over 2 years old. For details including hours of opening and for contactless pickup of library materials, click here.

L-S to hold virtual pops concert on Friday

The L-S Music Department presents its annual pops concert on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m. This year’s virtual event will feature live performances by orchestral group cohorts interspersed with video performances from choral, band, and jazz groups. Cohort A will perform “Libertango” and “A Salute to Michael Jackson” Cohort B of Orchestra (shown in this rehearsal photo) will perform “Gabriel’s Oboe” from “The Mission” with guest soloist Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong on clarinet. They will also perform “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The combined student cohorts will perform “We are the World.”

Cohort B of the L-S orchestra in rehearsal.

The video with students from the symphonic and concert band groups will perform “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire as well as the “Theme from Star Wars, The Mandalorian” by Ludwig Göransson. The jazz video will showcase students from the combined symphonic and concert jazz ensembles performing “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Louis Prima. Chamber Singers will perform “Short People” by Randy Newman. Treble choir will sing “Go the Distance” from the movie “Hercules” and the concert choir will perform “I Want You Back/ABC,” a Jackson Five medley. Valentine Quartets will also perform a capella, sharing the popular songs the groups prepared for their annual Valentine’s Day performances.

The concert will air in both Sudbury and Lincoln on Comcast channel 9 / Verizon channel 32, and will live-stream at this link. To learn more about the LSRHS Music Program, visit L-S Friends of Music at www.lsfom.org.

Drive-in Evensong at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields will host its second drive-in Evensong service on Sunday, March 14 at 5 p.m. During the service, which originates from the monastic hours, the choir offers certain portions while the congregation joins in the prayers, hymns, Creed and responses. In the lower parking lot, each singer will sit in their car with a wireless microphone while Music Director Jay Lane conducts from the upper lot. The singing and pre-recorded organ music are mixed in real time and the results are broadcast over an unused FM radio frequency. Parishioner Tom Vollaro is the sound engineer. This 45-minute service will feature Walmisley’s “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis in D minor,” Wesley’s “Lead me, Lord,” and a hymn everyone can sing together. Read about the choir’s first drive-in Evensong in The Boston Globe.

Modernism Week online event offered

Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln is encouraging attendance at Modernism Week in Palm Springs, an online version of its annual celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture online. Programs are for sale until March 15 and stream through March 31. Go to modernismweek.com for tickets and information.

Get ready for Lincoln Youth Soccer

The Lincoln In-Town Soccer program will kick off the spring season in mid-April. All Covid-19 safety measures from the fall season will continue into the spring and the program will follow and adhere to the Massachusetts state regulations to ensure safety for kids and parents. The season for grades K-2 will start on either April 10 or April 17 on Smith Field depending on field conditions, with K-1 at 8 a.m. and Grade 2 at 9 a.m. If you were registered for the Fall 2020 session, you are already enrolled for the spring season.

The program is also looking for more boys in grade 3 even if they were not enrolled in the fall. Register at www.lincolnsoccer.com.

Library programs coming up

The Lincoln Public Library is offering the following programs via Zoom, in addition to others previously announced in the Lincoln Squirrel. See the library’s website at www.lincolnpl.org for details on all programs.

eBook Help
Fridays, March 12, 19 and 26 from 2–3 p.m.
Would you like to read or listen to library books on a Kindle or iPhone? Elizabeth Creighton and Kate Tranquada can show you how to borrow e-books and audiobooks and are available for troubleshooting as well. Contact Kate at ktranquada@minlib.net to get the Zoom link.

What is Racism?
Wednesday, March 17 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
School-aged children are invited to join us for a discussion about racism led by Wee the People, a Boston-based social justice group. Kids notice skin color and sense that it matters, and they have questions about how and why. Together we will explore how racism isn’t just one thing, but a problem with many parts working together — problems that take more than individual kindness to solve. Breaking down the fundamental concepts of skin color, race, racism, and injustice, kids will learn how they can help to notice and disrupt racist systems. Email dleopold@minlib.net to get a Zoom invite.

“Stunning Spring Perennials” with Joan Butler
Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m.
Whether you garden in sun or shade, learn about how to combine them for best effect in the garden from Joan Butler of Enchanted Gardens. Her gardens have been included in several garden tours and feature a combination of native plants. For a Zoom invitation, please email Lisa Rothenberg at lrothenberg@minlib.net or call the library at 781-259-8465 ext. 202. This program is made possible with funding by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

The Friends of the Lincoln Library offers home delivery of books and other materials to Lincoln residents who are unable to come to the library in person. Patrons may order up to six library items at one time (including DVDs, CDs, spoken-word CDs, and two-week new releases). Patrons may use the Minuteman online catalog to request materials, or they can call the library to request specific items or general selections (e.g., “please send me five mysteries by women authors”). A volunteer from the Friends delivers requested items on need more information about home delivery, contact the Reference Department at 781-259-8465 ext. 204 or email lincoln@minlib.net.

News acorns

Interfaith Taizé service on Feb. 26

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).

Weekend Winter Carnival fun

  • The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a free online chess tournament as part of the Winter Carnival weekend on Saturday, Feb. 27. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; matches run from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. All levels are welcome. You’ll need to create an account at Chess.com to participate. Once you have a username, you will need to join the Lincoln Mass Chess Club. There will be a beginners section (999 and under rapid rating) and a section for those with more experience (rapid rating at 1000 or over). There will be four rounds. Each player will have 15 minutes per match plus 10 seconds per move (rapid 15/10). It will be helpful if you play a few rapid 15/10 matches prior to the tournament so that your rating is fairly accurate. There will be trophies for first and second place for both sections. 
  • The Lincoln Family Association and the Kat Chapman Band are hosting a family-friendly acoustic concert and dance party on Sunday, Feb. 28 from 10–10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Costumes welcome! Those who register can pick up a kazoo and glow stick in the Codman Barn ahead of time (one per per child while supplies last; mask required for pickup). Click here for the concert Zoom link.

No commuter trains from March 1–April 30

The MBTA has informed the Town that there will be Service Changes on the Fitchburg Line so that upgrades can be made for Positive Train Control for a safer commuter rail. No trains will be running on Lincoln’s Fitchburg line from March 1 through April 30 so the MBTA  can make Positive Train Control safety upgrades. Shuttle service will be provided Monday through Friday (since there is currently no weekend train service, there will be no shuttle service on the weekends). For more information and the schedule, click here.

News acorns

Drive-in choir worship service

All are welcome to St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m., when the church choir will offer a drive-in Evensong service. Evensong is a service primarily led by the choir, with the priest chanting pieces and the congregation singing hymns. Choir members will sing into microphones in their cars, and the congregation, sitting in their own cars, will tune in to an unused FM radio station and hear the singing in real time.

Kathryn and Bryce Denney of Marlborough figured out the equipment and procedures needed for Driveway Choirs, and they took it on the road for the first time at St. Anne’s in August. For more information, contact Music Director Jay (jay@stanneslincoln.org) or Communications Director Kristina DeFrancisco (kristina@stanneslincoln.org).

Free flu shot clinic for Lincolnites

The Town of Lincoln will offer a free drive-through flu shot clinic on Monday, Nov. 9 from noon–4 p.m. at the Lincoln North office park at 55 Old Bedford Rd. for Lincoln residents and school children ages 3 and up (the high-dose vaccine for seniors will not be offered at this clinic.) To participate:

  1. Review the available time slots and sign up (indicating the number of appointments needed for your car) by clicking here. Slots after 2 p.m. for school-age children and their families.
  2. Bring with you a completed Walgreens Patient Consent form and a health insurance card for each person to be vaccinated.
  3. Arrive at Lincoln North five minutes ahead of your appointment. After getting vaccinated, park your car and get a snack or just hang out for 15 minutes in the waiting area. 

Donate Thanksgiving staples to food pantry

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston will be distributing all the trimmings for a turkey dinner, plus a grocery card to buy the turkey this year, to food pantry clients in Lincoln and Weston. Click below for more details and to sign up to participate. Click here to donate nonperishable Thanksgiving food and/or a grocery card.

Council on Aging activities in November

Here are some of the November activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For more information and a full list, including regular meetings of groups and online chats with town officials, see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

  • Line dancing with Katrina Rotondi — Wednesdays at 11 a.m. On November 4, the class will be held in person in the Pierce House tent. November 11 and 25 classes will take place via Zoom.
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield webinar — Friday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m. for anyone transitioning into Medicare or who is already on Medicare and wants to understand the various types of Medicare plans. Topics include the timeline for enrolling, pros and cons of Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans, and an explanation of Medicare Part D. To register, call Amy at the COA at 781-259-8811 by Nov. 4.
  • SAIL fitness classes with Derry Tanner, retired nurse and certified personal trainer in SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), on Fridays starting November 6 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 
  • Chair yoga — Mondays starting November 9 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 

Learn media literacy for gender-based violence prevention

Rachel Matos

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a Zoom program on “Unmasking Media.” The conversation will challenge participants to examine the messages they receive about consent, relationships, power dynamics, and violent behavior from movies, TV shows, music, and more. The workshop aims to identify harmful media while providing the skills to take action in practicing media literacy as a key piece of gender-based violence prevention. Facilitated by Rachel Matos, the outreach and prevention manager at Voices Against Violence. Click here to register in advance (required). For more information, please email infodvrt@gmail.com.

“Aging with Wisdom” retreat

Olivia Hoblitzelle

The First Parish in Lincoln will host “Aging With Wisdom,” a half-day online retreat on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m.–noon. led by teacher, therapist and writer Olivia Hoblitzelle. Participants will explore the gifts, challenges, and emotions of aging through teachings, meditation, and small group sharing to discover the opportunities for growth and deepening wisdom in our elder years. Register by Monday, Nov. 9 at by emailing  sarah@fplincoln.org. There is no charge, but donations are welcome to support the costs of this event. Click here for details.

Get a Surprise Bag from the library

For everyone who’s missing out on browsing the shelves, the Lincoln Public Library is now offering “surprise bags.” Discover a new author or genre, or  try a totally different reading/watching experience. Each bag will contain a combination of fiction and nonfiction titles, a DVD, a music CD, and maybe a magazine. Topics include cooking, healthy lifestyles, history, armchair travel, guilty pleasures, and hodgepodge. Call the Reference Desk at 781-259-8465 x3 to a bag for contactless pickup.

Drumlin Farm’s Pomponi promoted

Renata Pomponi

Mass Audubon announced that Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi has been named Director of Mass Audubon Metro West as part of the organization’s pledge to become a more effective, efficient, and responsive organization. In this role, she will continue to oversee the Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln as well as Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton, Habitat Education Center in Belmont, and Brewster’s Woods Wildlife Sanctuary in Concord (not yet open for visitation).

Pomponi, a Sudbury resident, has become a well-known figure in the area since she was elevated to the Drumlin Farm director position in 2015, after having served for eight years in education and visitor-engagement roles at the popular wildlife sanctuary and working farm. Prior to joining Mass Audubon in 2007, she spent 12 years as a management consultant, specializing in strategic planning and business development in Fortune 500 organizations. She holds a PhD in technology management from MIT.