First Church and Parish - Dedham

Sunday Services at First Church and Parish: 

As with all Unitarian Universalist churches, First Church offers its minister a free pulpit.  While we don’t follow a lectionary or a proscribed liturgical calendar, some of the services throughout the year have special traditions or themes:

 

Opening Sunday:

Traditionally a "Water Communion" service where members of the congregation bring a sample of water from a summer vacation or some important place, and have an opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of these connections as we reconvene after the summer. This service is generally held on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

 

Thanksgiving Sunday:

On the Sunday before the holiday weekend members are invited to bring a loaf of bread that represents a tradition in their family, and the breads are shared as part of the service and served during social hour.

 

Hanging of the Greens:

Usually held on the first Sunday of Advent, during the service the church is decorated for the holidays by members of the youth group.

 

Christmas Pageant:

A holiday themed play performed by the children, Sunday school teachers and members of the choir is the center of worship during one of the Sundays in December.

 

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service:

Begins at 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve with caroling on the steps of the Meeting House. The 6:30 pm service is a traditional retelling of the Christmas story with carols.

Music Sunday: A service featuring extra musical selections by the choir, often several pieces of one of the larger choral works. Music Sunday in March, 2013 featured Ernest Bloch's Sacred Service, in collaboration with the First Unitarian Society of Newton.

 

Easter Sunday:

Church members may contribute money towards the purchase of flowers for decorating the church for this service, and may take home a plant after the service. Bring an Easter egg to hang on the Easter egg trees!

 

Children's Sunday:

The children of the church participate in a service designed by them and their leaders.

Coming of Age Service: The young people from the Coming of Age group make the service their own as the final part of their program.

 

Flower Communion Service:

Typically held in the spring, parishioners are invited to bring a flower to make a communal bouquet, and then take home a different flower after the service.

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Each week we play our singing bell to begin worship. You may hear that sound by clicking here. 

 

If you have been to worship and would like to offer feedback please fill out the Worship Evaluation Form and return it to the church office.