• Continue to define and establish a recognizable public identity (our "brand") through the CONSISTENT use of the slogans and images we have chosen to identify ourselves with: the image of our historic Meeting House, "A Warm & Welcoming Place in the Heart of the City," and "Portland's Original Faith Community (gathered in 1674)"
• Continue to create a top-notch Sunday Morning Worship, Education and Fellowship experience.
• Develop and maintain a relatively simple, straight-forward, content-rich and easy-to-navigate website. "Easy to Navigate" means it should be as intuitive to read as a daily newspaper. "Content Rich" means it should invite readers to lose track of time as they follow interesting link after link exploring our virtual community in depth.
• Use various other inexpensive, “guerilla marketing” techniques to increase our familiarity, and to entice potential visitors to the web. As we do currently, we should continue to promote BOTH our main Sunday AM worship services, as well as concerts and other community events, and the public use of the Meetinghouse for weddings, funerals, and rites of passage.
• Our Public Outreach emphasis this year is two-fold. The general theme is to “Celebrate the Season at First Parish Church” (also “Join us round the Heart(h)fire at First Parish Church” and “Join Us for the Holidays at First Parish Church”), a season which begins with the Cider and Cornbread communion on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and concludes with the Burning Ritual on the Sunday after New Year. But we also want to promote our alternative EvenTide services (“twice the music, half the talk, same great message”) and help them establish a strong identity as well.
• Finally, we need to remember that everything we say in Church, everything we post to the web, everything we publish in the newsletter and bulletin or even say publicly to one another in the coffee hour is also potentially being heard and interpreted by someone brand new to our church, who has very little context for interpreting those remarks, is naturally a little inclined to be skeptical and suspicious of organized religion, and is trying to make up their mind about whether they really fit in here. So in all our communication with one another and the wider world, lets remember ALWAYS to focus on what the church can do for Newcomers, rather than what we expect Newcomers to do for us. Let’s remember to stay away from jargon, acronyms, and inside jokes; and let’s especially try to avoid those “cringe-worthy moments” which make the minister want to curl up in his wheelchair and shrink away to invisibility.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tentative First Parish Worship Topic Schedule 2008-09
[for planning purposes only. Speakers and Themes subject to change without notice. THIS PAGE WILL PERIODICALLY UPDATE! Please click on the highlighted title above "Tentative First Parish Worship Topic schedule, 2008-09" and bookmark THAT URL in your browser in order to access this page directly, rather than merely returning to the most recent post to this blog.]
September 7th - Ingathering Water Ceremony [INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special] - "From the Banks of the River Jordan to the Sheep Pool at Bethesda, God's Gonna Trouble the Water" - Tim Jensen, preaching.
September 14th “Progress, not Perfection” - Tim Jenen, preaching
September 21st “Rest Assured” - Will Saunders, preaching
September 28th "Salvation by...Bibliography?" - Tim Jensen preaching (Banned Books Week)
October 5th “Acorns of Faith” - Kitsy Preaching
October 12th "To Cross the Wide, Wild Ocean."- Tim Jensen, preaching
October 19th "Here There Be Dragons" -- Tim Jensen, preaching
October 26th "World Peace: a Wealthy Western Idea? - Charlie Grindle, preaching
November 2nd (Day of the Dead) [Kitsy Preaching & Tim]
[INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special]
November 9th "Tragic World, Comic, Vision" - Will Saunders, preaching
November 16th "A Living Faith" - Tim Preaching]
November 23rd (Cider and Cornbread/Child Dedications) [INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special] "Thank You. You're Welcome" - Will Saunders, preaching
November 30th (Advent) "By one elastic thread to thin tiwigs" - Karen Foley preaching
December 7th (Advent) "Naughty or Nice?” [Tim preaching] [Will available]
December 14th "No Gift Like Your Presence" - Kitsy Preaching. (Pageant in evening, Kitsy & Tim
EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL FIRST PARISH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
4:45 pm in the Meetinghouse.
December 21st "It Will Come Back" Charlie Grindle, preaching [(Solstice - INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special - Worship Committee]
Weds Dec 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
[Tim and Worship Committee. Kitsy?] [no Will]
Carols @ 5:30; Service @ 6:00 pm in the Meetinghouse
[CHRISTMAS DAY THURSDAY DECEMBER 25TH]
December 28th "Epiphanies Large and Small" - Kitsy Winthrop, preaching.
January 4th "An Adventurous Spirit" - Will Saunders, preaching. Burning Ritual [INTERGENERATIONAL]
January 11th "A Promiscuous Assembly of Believers and Seekers" - Tim Jensen preaching
January 18th (MLK Sunday) "There Comes a Time" - Kitsy Winthrop, preaching
January 25th "A Great, Good Place"
February 1 "Afflictive Dispensations of Divine Providence" - Tim Jensen preaching
February 8 "Mystics, Skeptics, and Dyspeptics" [Tim preaching] [Kitsy available}
February 15 "Love" [Kitsy preaching]
February 22 [Charlie Preaching] ( (no Tim)
March 1 "Mr Jefferson's Prophecy" - (1st Sunday in Lent) [Tim Preaching]
March 8 "The Man With Two First Names" - Wiill Saunders preaching
March 15 "Mr Jefferson's Legacy" - Tim Preaching
March 22 "Sisters in Spirit" [Kitsy preaching]
March 29 [Stewardship Campaign kick-off Sunday - "In Our Hands" -- Charlie, Tim, Kitsy and Will Preaching
April 5 - PALM SUNDAY "...the things that are God's" [Tim Preaching]
April 12 - EASTER [INTERGENERATIONAL] [Will Preaching]
April 19 - (Earth Day) Charlie Preaching
April 26 Will Preaching
May 3 Kitsy Preaching
May 10 "Wir Alles sind Gotts Kinder" - Tim Preaching. (Mother’s Day/Child Dedication) [INTERGENERATIONAL]
May 17 Will Preaching
May 24 "Cleric-2 Actual. Out" - Tim preaching [Memorial Day Weekend]
May 31 Charlie Preaching [Annual Meeting to follow]
June 7 Religious Education Sunday
June 14 Flower Communion
June 21 Father's Day (?)
June 28 Pride Sunday (?)
July 5th [No Service]?
July 12 Summer Services begin
July 19
July 26
Aug 2
Aug 19
Aug 16
Aug 23
Aug 30
Sept 6 [No Service - Labor Day weekend]
September 7th - Ingathering Water Ceremony [INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special] - "From the Banks of the River Jordan to the Sheep Pool at Bethesda, God's Gonna Trouble the Water" - Tim Jensen, preaching.
September 14th “Progress, not Perfection” - Tim Jenen, preaching
September 21st “Rest Assured” - Will Saunders, preaching
September 28th "Salvation by...Bibliography?" - Tim Jensen preaching (Banned Books Week)
October 5th “Acorns of Faith” - Kitsy Preaching
October 12th "To Cross the Wide, Wild Ocean."- Tim Jensen, preaching
October 19th "Here There Be Dragons" -- Tim Jensen, preaching
October 26th "World Peace: a Wealthy Western Idea? - Charlie Grindle, preaching
November 2nd (Day of the Dead) [Kitsy Preaching & Tim]
[INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special]
November 9th "Tragic World, Comic, Vision" - Will Saunders, preaching
November 16th "A Living Faith" - Tim Preaching]
November 23rd (Cider and Cornbread/Child Dedications) [INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special] "Thank You. You're Welcome" - Will Saunders, preaching
November 30th (Advent) "By one elastic thread to thin tiwigs" - Karen Foley preaching
December 7th (Advent) "Naughty or Nice?” [Tim preaching] [Will available]
December 14th "No Gift Like Your Presence" - Kitsy Preaching. (Pageant in evening, Kitsy & Tim
EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL FIRST PARISH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
4:45 pm in the Meetinghouse.
December 21st "It Will Come Back" Charlie Grindle, preaching [(Solstice - INTERGENERATIONAL] [shared/special - Worship Committee]
Weds Dec 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
[Tim and Worship Committee. Kitsy?] [no Will]
Carols @ 5:30; Service @ 6:00 pm in the Meetinghouse
[CHRISTMAS DAY THURSDAY DECEMBER 25TH]
December 28th "Epiphanies Large and Small" - Kitsy Winthrop, preaching.
January 4th "An Adventurous Spirit" - Will Saunders, preaching. Burning Ritual [INTERGENERATIONAL]
January 11th "A Promiscuous Assembly of Believers and Seekers" - Tim Jensen preaching
January 18th (MLK Sunday) "There Comes a Time" - Kitsy Winthrop, preaching
January 25th "A Great, Good Place"
February 1 "Afflictive Dispensations of Divine Providence" - Tim Jensen preaching
February 8 "Mystics, Skeptics, and Dyspeptics" [Tim preaching] [Kitsy available}
February 15 "Love" [Kitsy preaching]
February 22 [Charlie Preaching] ( (no Tim)
March 1 "Mr Jefferson's Prophecy" - (1st Sunday in Lent) [Tim Preaching]
March 8 "The Man With Two First Names" - Wiill Saunders preaching
March 15 "Mr Jefferson's Legacy" - Tim Preaching
March 22 "Sisters in Spirit" [Kitsy preaching]
March 29 [Stewardship Campaign kick-off Sunday - "In Our Hands" -- Charlie, Tim, Kitsy and Will Preaching
April 5 - PALM SUNDAY "...the things that are God's" [Tim Preaching]
April 12 - EASTER [INTERGENERATIONAL] [Will Preaching]
April 19 - (Earth Day) Charlie Preaching
April 26 Will Preaching
May 3 Kitsy Preaching
May 10 "Wir Alles sind Gotts Kinder" - Tim Preaching. (Mother’s Day/Child Dedication) [INTERGENERATIONAL]
May 17 Will Preaching
May 24 "Cleric-2 Actual. Out" - Tim preaching [Memorial Day Weekend]
May 31 Charlie Preaching [Annual Meeting to follow]
June 7 Religious Education Sunday
June 14 Flower Communion
June 21 Father's Day (?)
June 28 Pride Sunday (?)
July 5th [No Service]?
July 12 Summer Services begin
July 19
July 26
Aug 2
Aug 19
Aug 16
Aug 23
Aug 30
Sept 6 [No Service - Labor Day weekend]
Monday, September 1, 2008
THE ECLECTIC CLERIC - “Rest Assured”
***
Amidst all my idle summer daydreams of sailboats and red convertibles, the anticipated return of my One True Passion is looming just over the horizon. It's hard to believe it, but Labor Day weekend is nigh upon us, and that on Sunday September 7th our regular Church Program Year begins again at First Parish with the celebration of our Annual Ingathering Water Ceremony. My travels this summer have been less geographical and more of the metaphorical/inspirational variety, but I have a great title for my homily that first Sunday which reflects my inner journey: "From the Banks of the River Jordan to the Sheep Pool at Bethesda, God's Gonna Trouble the Water." (for those of you who feel the need to be forewarned, my texts will be Genesis 32:22-32 and John 5: 2-9.)
And then the following Sunday, September 14th, I'll be preaching on a topic I suspect may very well prove the theme of this entire year: "Progress, not Perfection." This was a motto one of my Oncology Nurses wrote on the white board in my room at the Gibson during my month-long hospitalization there last Spring, and it has certainly inspired me many times in the many months since. The progress that I've made since those days is considerable, yet "perfection" is likewise still a far sight down the road. But don’t expect me to preach that entire sermon now! You'll be hearing it in church (or maybe reading it on the web) soon enough.
Another thing that happened over the summer was that I filed a Long Term Disability claim under the terms of my UUA group insurance, which I recently learned has been approved. This basically means that I am now free to work as much or as little as I am able, while at the same time freeing up some payroll money that would have otherwise gone to compensate me, thus allowing us to bring in other ministers and additional outside help to assist me with the overall ministry of the church.
Again, I won't try to go into all the details here, but we are now in the final stages of assembling a fantastic team of clergy, program and support staff, and volunteer lay leaders who will not only allow us to continue "business as usual," but also represent a real opportunity for us to "take it to the next level." For my own part, for years I've boasted that I have one of those “perfect jobs” -- a job I love so much I can hardly believe I get paid to do it, and which I would gladly do for free if I could afford to. Now I actually get a chance to prove it in front of God and all of you. And with your help, I'm confident we can make it happen.
Last Spring, when I was suddenly and unexpectedly hospitalized after Easter, the amazing amount of affection and support I received from this congregation was truly overwhelming. I was especially proud of those of you who stepped up and came forward to help fulfill a few of my many ministerial duties: the members of the Worship Committee, our Office Staff, Church Officers and Governing Board Members, members of various Committees, the Greeters, the Ushers, and so many others who went the extra mile to make certain that when both Neighbors & Strangers arrived at our doors on Sunday mornings, they received the same quality experience of First Parish that they might have had I been here to greet them and lead them in worship myself.
And I also know (and appreciate) just how challenging this was, and how hard you all worked to complete that task successfully. You all did good, and you deserve both ample praise and a chance to put up your feet and take a rest. So consider this the first installment on the former; as for the latter, I hope that you all will rest assured that a little hard-earned rest is indeed assured. But let’s not plan on resting too long. There’s still plenty more work for us to do. And now that I’m feeling better rested myself, I can hardly wait to get back on the job again......twj
Amidst all my idle summer daydreams of sailboats and red convertibles, the anticipated return of my One True Passion is looming just over the horizon. It's hard to believe it, but Labor Day weekend is nigh upon us, and that on Sunday September 7th our regular Church Program Year begins again at First Parish with the celebration of our Annual Ingathering Water Ceremony. My travels this summer have been less geographical and more of the metaphorical/inspirational variety, but I have a great title for my homily that first Sunday which reflects my inner journey: "From the Banks of the River Jordan to the Sheep Pool at Bethesda, God's Gonna Trouble the Water." (for those of you who feel the need to be forewarned, my texts will be Genesis 32:22-32 and John 5: 2-9.)
And then the following Sunday, September 14th, I'll be preaching on a topic I suspect may very well prove the theme of this entire year: "Progress, not Perfection." This was a motto one of my Oncology Nurses wrote on the white board in my room at the Gibson during my month-long hospitalization there last Spring, and it has certainly inspired me many times in the many months since. The progress that I've made since those days is considerable, yet "perfection" is likewise still a far sight down the road. But don’t expect me to preach that entire sermon now! You'll be hearing it in church (or maybe reading it on the web) soon enough.
Another thing that happened over the summer was that I filed a Long Term Disability claim under the terms of my UUA group insurance, which I recently learned has been approved. This basically means that I am now free to work as much or as little as I am able, while at the same time freeing up some payroll money that would have otherwise gone to compensate me, thus allowing us to bring in other ministers and additional outside help to assist me with the overall ministry of the church.
Again, I won't try to go into all the details here, but we are now in the final stages of assembling a fantastic team of clergy, program and support staff, and volunteer lay leaders who will not only allow us to continue "business as usual," but also represent a real opportunity for us to "take it to the next level." For my own part, for years I've boasted that I have one of those “perfect jobs” -- a job I love so much I can hardly believe I get paid to do it, and which I would gladly do for free if I could afford to. Now I actually get a chance to prove it in front of God and all of you. And with your help, I'm confident we can make it happen.
Last Spring, when I was suddenly and unexpectedly hospitalized after Easter, the amazing amount of affection and support I received from this congregation was truly overwhelming. I was especially proud of those of you who stepped up and came forward to help fulfill a few of my many ministerial duties: the members of the Worship Committee, our Office Staff, Church Officers and Governing Board Members, members of various Committees, the Greeters, the Ushers, and so many others who went the extra mile to make certain that when both Neighbors & Strangers arrived at our doors on Sunday mornings, they received the same quality experience of First Parish that they might have had I been here to greet them and lead them in worship myself.
And I also know (and appreciate) just how challenging this was, and how hard you all worked to complete that task successfully. You all did good, and you deserve both ample praise and a chance to put up your feet and take a rest. So consider this the first installment on the former; as for the latter, I hope that you all will rest assured that a little hard-earned rest is indeed assured. But let’s not plan on resting too long. There’s still plenty more work for us to do. And now that I’m feeling better rested myself, I can hardly wait to get back on the job again......twj
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