so, what about mary?

A teenage pregnancy. God becoming a baby. The longest night of the year. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Come this sunday 23rd to think together about Mary, the blues of Christmas, winter solstice and light our last advent candle. We also have a joint Dec. 24 christmas eve service at 6pm (with a coffeehour at 5pm before hand). Come to both and i'll be your best friend...(or at least take you out for coffee:) PEACE ON EARTH! -rob

Snow rocks... :) watershed canceled :(

Friends- what wonderful white stuff all about. We hope you've been able to enjoy this blanketing of God's grace (ah, with a little rain to top things off?!). Since there is still a parking ban here in Waltham, we are CANCELING tonight's watershed service. We're on again for next sunday the 23rd at 7:30pm- and then also a service on Christmas Eve at 6pm. If you happen to get a chance tonight, feel free to light a 3rd candle of advent - and as a devotional on today's scripture, check out: http://www.mtsm.org/preaching/homilies.htm and also, this song from Vienna Teng - called The Atheist's Christmas Carol- and ask yourself how it may speak to us this advent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4wVRcE5gIs&feature=related Also, the Christmas caroling that was slated for today is postponed until next sunday the 23rd- same bat-time, same place....

wait for the peaceable kingdom

Our second week of advent had us listening to Jason Harrod's "waiting for my day", hearing about Isaiah's vision of a peaceable kingdom where lion and lamb hang out, where the poor are cared for, and asking ourselves where are the contemporary John-the-baptists in our midst - calling us to prepare, turn around, and to wait in hope for something totally new. Come join us next week when we light the third candle...

Eyes Wide Open: advent begins

Join us tonight for the first sunday in advent - a time of waiting and opening our eyes. We'll listen to a little Bono (U2) and help set the tone for a spiritually centered holiday season.

Reign of Christ sunday nov. 25

This Sunday Nov. 25 is Reign of Christ (or Christ the King) Sunday. It is the last sunday in the liturgical year for Christians - as next week sees the beginning of Advent. We'll talk a bit about what kingdom means for us today. As always, Watershed starts at 7:30, but goodies are ready by 7pm. If you are back from thanksgiving visits - please come join us.

Last night we joined in with the Waltham Ministerial Association for an interfaith service focused on gratitude. Gratitude and what it means to radically welcome the stranger in our midst this year as we move through thanksgiving. Did the illegal immigrants we know as "pilgrims" really invite the Wampanoag American Indians to the "table" - or was it the other way around on that first meal of harvest harmony in 1621? And the call to find gratitude even in the midst of difficult life circumstances - check out W.S. Merwin's poem i read during the meditation: http://members.aol.com/notis/ceumc/witness.htm. May we all be grateful, aware, mindful of those who are in need, and at peace this week. See you next week for the regular 7:30 Watershed service.

Gratitude - thanksgiving service 7:00pm

Friends- please note- this sunday, Nov. 18 our Watershed service will join with the Waltham Ministerial Association for their Interfaith Thanksgiving service at 7:00pm - there is no 7:30 watershed service. I've been told I'll be giving the message that night however... so you may feel a bit of watershed anyway! peace, R

children & crow

Thanks to my brother Dave who came and spoke this past sunday. Montana stories and reminders of our true identy as children of God.

And some seriously amazing pumpkin bread...

Remember - next week there is an interfaith thanksgiving service at 7pm instead of regular Watershed worship. Hope to see you there.

saints n' tree climbers

What a special gathering we had last sunday! Thanks for all who came out - and for missing the first few innings of the Red Sox world series win. Thanks to Chris who came from Ecuador to speak to us about his work and that encouraging word that our God is simply all about relationship. Come join us this sunday as we celebrate the saints who have gone before us in this life and hear about a guy who climbed a tree. "How can I keep from singing" "when the saints go marching in!". peace!

la paz

Last sunday we gathered for a service in the spirit of the Taize community in France. And yes, there was some kickin' coffeebread post-service to share. This coming week, come at 7pm for coffee n' baked goods n' such - and then join us as we welcome chris morck from ecuador. He and his family are living and working there with the church and empowering indigenous leaders and doing great community work. We'll examine some Guayasamin (famous Ecuadoran painter who expressed suffering of the people in powerful ways) paintings. Solo Dios basta...

Awareness

Our second Watershed gathering took us to a place of greater awareness. As it was HIV/AIDS awareness sunday, we opened our eyes, we prayed, we sang, we lit candles. The icon we looked at is the Mother of God, Light in All Darkness. Here is a link that may be useful: http://www.bensbuzz.com/africaproject/ - from a theology project I worked on in seminary. Hope to see you next week when we'll gather for a Taize service. peace be with you.

our very first gathering

We had a wonderful first service on sunday oct. 7! We blessed the gathering space by burning some cedar. We talked about God's hesed - steadfast love, in the midst of the laments of life and the call to risky relationships. We also remembered the monks of Burma during this challenging time. And as it was world communion sunday, we focused in on a mahogany cross from Uganda. Hope to see you next sunday at 7:30pm. Come at 7pm for fair trade coffee & tea and homemade banana bread - yummmmm....

Watershed

Come. Rethink Church with us...

Watershed: A New Contemplative Worship Service Rediscovering Christianity's Roots

Who: You! ALL are welcome - we are an inclusive community and hope to meet you.
What: A unique service and a place where you can find a new community.
Where: This is a new service of the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, 34 Alder Street, Waltham MA 02454
When: Sunday evenings at 7:30pm beginning OCTOBER 7, 2007

PEACE be with you!
Contact: Rev. Rob Mark, robfirstpres@gmail.com, 781-893-3087