Watershed is FPCW

Eco-Stewards Montana 2011

2011-06-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

Friends,
Thanks for the many prayers- we had a gift of a week June 2-9, 2011 in Montana for our Eco-Stewards Program “Living With and From the Land on the Crow Reservation: Sustainability and Reconciliation through Agriculture, Health and Green Building.” Check out the Eco-Stewards Blog to see an excellent 8 minute audio-slide show Becky & Bolton put together, and remember all our wonderful 12 Eco-Stewards in your prayers, especially our three summer interns over the next 8 weeks (Gerard, Dave and Andrew). Enjoy these next two weeks as they will be the longest days of the year! Peace on earth, Rob

An Advent Prayer for Climate Justice

2010-12-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Friends,
It is once again Advent. And this week while the Climate Change negotiations continue in Mexico, something seasonally hopeful is emerging thanks to our sisters & brothers in the Episcopal side of our Church. They are meeting in the DR this week to bring representatives from the Global North and South together to say as Christians who take the call to Earth Stewardship seriously, we will pledge to commit ourselves as fellow members of the Body of Christ to reduce our emissions even in the light of our nation's failures to make such faithful decisions. Our friends Chris Morck and Willis Jenkins (both have preached at Watershed in the past) are helping in this process and are present in the DR this week. We pray for them and all those involved - and here is a prayer that comes to us from them that I thought helpful to share: (hope to see you at FPCW this coming sunday for Advent 3 "We Listen" at 5pm.)
An Advent Prayer of Hope
O God, Creator, Sustainer, Judge and Lover of all your Creation,
Inspiration and Life-giver through Jesus who shares with us in Earthly life,
We acknowledge our utter dependence upon You and Your creation for life itself.
We thank You, we praise You for the mystical workings of the whole community of life, and
express our sorrow for the pain we cause to You and Your whole creation.
As we live through Advent,
we seek new hearts and understanding to live more gently as part of Your Creation.

We humbly beseech you, O Holy Spirit, O Wisdom,
to move through Earth and her wondrous community of life,
to touch and enliven this gathering of your faithful,
that they may amplify your life-giving Word.
Bring Your power, Wisdom and judgment alive in all those who are tired, fearful or cynical.
Pierce the hearts of those leaders of nations gathered in Cancun
that they may gain new understanding from the troubled, beleaguered waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Grant to the world’s leaders, having failed their task in Copenhagen,
a heightened sense of urgency to govern responsibly,
to protect Earth Community
from our stubborn, dangerous path of wanton consumption of Earth’s gifts,
the waning legacy of Your ancient, precious creation.
This we pray in the name of Jesus, who keeps leading us through the darkness, teaching us new ways, bringing us to the Light.
AMEN
–from Members of The Earth Care Ministry
of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Episcopal, Burlington, VT, USA
Sylvia Knight, The Venerable Catherine Cooke, Robert K. Wright,
Travis Puller, Elizabeth Emerson, James P. Vos,
David H. Turner, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Bloomer

ONE ~ 5pm

2010-09-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Friends,
After 3 years and 140 Watershed services at 7pm at FPCW, we are engaging in something NEW. Beginning this sunday September 26, 2010, we are moving to ONE worship service at 5pm - and this will continue each week. Watershed is far from ending, it is helping to once again birth something new at First Presbyterian Church of Waltham. Our morning service and 7pm service will merge to become one so that we can together better listen for, and join the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. This is an exciting change, and we invite you all to be an active part in it. Please join us for the first service this coming sunday - as we together will "listen now for the gospel - alleluia - it is God's word that changes us - alleluia!!"

peace be with you, Rob

Food and Faith Forum - Tuesdays 5:30-7pm, 9/21-10/26

2010-09-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Friends- please join us for this exciting forum:

"Just Eating": A Food and Faith Forum: Tuesdays 5:30-7pm, Sept 21-Oct 26, 2010 First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, 34 Alder Street. Free and all are welcome.

The Waltham Ministerial Association is sponsoring this 6 week forum on "Just Eating" to explore together the important connections between what we eat and how we live as people of faith. As an interfaith community, we'll come together to share some food and discussion on topics such as the spiritual aspects of eating, global hunger, healthy eating, food and our environment, and building community through how we eat. For more information or to sign up, please contact Rob Mark at robfirstpres@gmail.com, 781-893-3087 or Sara Irwin atrevsara@christchurchwaltham.org

Labor Day Watershed Monday Sept. 6, 7pm

2010-08-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Friends,

As is our "custom", we will shift Watershed to Monday Sept 6 at the usual 7pm, in honor of the Labor Day long weekend. Let us gather together that monday to swap stories of glimpses of the Spirit at work in each of our summers. This will be Rob's first time back at Watershed after South Africa. peace be with you.

Bergsig visit

2010-08-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe today marks 3 full weeks in South Africa. We continue to feel graced to be here. While in KwaZulu-Natal we sang "siakhudumisa" and "we are marching in the light of God" with some schoolchildren - super moving! Becky posted some photos on her site (click here) of a moving return visit to the Bergsig Primary School where I first helped teach english in 1993. I've been incorporating the story of my first visit to South Africa in my weekly sermons here - as I tell people how my life was changed during that experience - and faith in Christ found. Our prayers continue to go with you all - south african birds are telling us we are missing some moving watershed worship services since this summer! Nkulukulu's blessings. much peace, Rob (Photo with Glen Rose who I "taught" with in 93, and is still a faithful teacher at Bergsig!)

Hope and hardship in Khetani Township, South Africa

2010-07-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

Friends, we have had a wonderful and moving first week in South Africa. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Please click here and take a look at Becky's recent post about a specific visit we had to a township in KwaZulu-Natal. I preach tomorrow here in Tarkastaad in the Eastern Cape at a Presbyterian church. God's peace and sala kahle,

Rob & Becky

South Africa - Ubunye Fellowship

2010-07-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Becky and I will be in South Africa on a mission partnership pastoral exchange between our Presbytery of Boston and the Amatola Presbytery of South Africa from July 13-Sept 1. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve the church and learn from others in different contexts as to how church is "being done" and responding to real community needs. Here is a map of the general area. Queenstown is one of the places we will be hosted in a church member's home. I will be preaching at 3 host churches and visiting church gardens, HIV/AIDS clinics, and other projects. We fly into East London on the coast. We will keep Watershed and FPCW in our prayers while gone - and look forward to swapping stories upon return. We may post some photos/ updates here as able (not sure of internet availability). Peace be with you, Rob & Becky

no watershed 5/16 and Eco-Stewards West Virginia 5/16-23

2010-05-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Friends,
This sunday we'll have just one combined service at 10:45am - and no watershed. We'll be back to both services for Pentecost on 5/23.
Also, please keep an exciting group of 12 Eco-Stewards in your prayers, as we are gathering in West Virginia from May 16-23 for our TENDING THE GARDEN: A FAITH RESPONSE TO PROTECTING & RESTORING MOUNTAINS, COMMUNITIES & RELATIONSHIPS training. Keep tuned in on our week at http://ecostewardsprogram.wordpress.com/ - thanks to Becky!
(you can tune in on Sunday 5/16 at 11am to http://www.whrb.org/ and hear Rob preach at harvard's memorial church on "A Leaky World's Cup")

earth week thoughts

2010-04-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

Friends,

My father-in-law passed on this NYtimes article related to earth day - by John Tierny, and it got my juices fired. Give it a read – and see if any of my thoughts below make sense to you:

To many of these points I agree. Never can the movement of eco-stewardship of the earth shun technological innovation on principle alone. Clearly, technological solutions have been a critical part of the equation. However, an important (dare I say crucial) missing sound bite to this mantra is the important role of a moral framework for decision making around using such technologies. This is where I feel so strongly the church (and other faith communities) can/should play a key roll. For instance, with genetic modification, if not for the voices of some faith communities, our system that encourages larger yields on ever increasingly smaller (or more degraded or mono-cropped) land (efficiency) would have left the final word to companies like Monsanto who may someday control (and copyright) all natural seeds - and thus make it illegal for small farmers to practice holding seeds year to year - all in the name of efficiency (while ultimately for profit and power - and thus adding to the list of agro-businesses that become "too big to fail").

Now, that being said, if innovative companies work hand in hand with small farmers AND larger farmers (with controlled use of genetic modifications and engineering) - AND communities of faith who have the moral mandate to care for the least of these in communities and developing countries - what I feel would be very sustainably communities might result.

I'm for nuclear IF we can develop a sustainable plan for the waste (and not put it on Indian reservations only!?)

I am also for faith communities helping teach instill the lessons I learned my parents - simplicity, thrift, and using less in the first place.

At Watershed last night, during Station 4 of our rogation liturgy (Visions of Sustainability), we sat around a table together and used crayons, watercolors, pencils and magazine cut-outs to creativily depict how we sensed God calling us into new visions for living, and lifestyles that represented greater sustainability. The pictures that came out in just 10 minutes brought me a lot of hope for our shared, alternative future. May we remember we are as God’s stewards, and have to get good at it.

Holy Earth Day and Charles River Clean Up

2010-04-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

It has been 40 years since the first Earth Day, and we join the rest of our planet this day to give thanks for the utter gift of Creation. This day is indeed holy, because it is a divine gift - just as the earth is holy as it also is a gift. We are called to be tillers and keepers and stewards of it (Gen. 2:15). May there be healing in all the places of fragility and degradation on our planet.
Here is a powerful reminder of a need for such healing (thanks to my mother -in-law for passing along):

We have a great chance to help respond as God's eco-stewards: THIS SATURDAY - for our annual Charles River Earth Day Clean-Up Day. Please show up at FPCW at 8:30am for some nourishment, and then we'll head to Logan Park off Woerd St. in Waltham to begin the clean-up at 9am. After all the Spring flooding, there is lots to be picked up. Free T-shirts to those who join us!
And this sunday, come to church and celebrate Earth Sunday with a special Rogation liturgy (come at 7pm to watershed to find out what this means). We'll have some special music from Violinist Angela Leidig (who will be planning at Oasis May 14) at our morning service 10:45am.
GARDEN BOXES - we've begun the process of making 3 new garden boxes to put out front of our church this season to grow veggies & plants. Let us know if you want to lend a green thumb!
And let's mark our calendars for 10-10-10 action day (we are planning an faith service day in Waltham):

Also check out the earthday link to take some legislative action, as our Presbyterians for Earth Care encourage us. Or check out the Environmental Ministries eco-journey blog.
Or, if you know any 20-30-somethings, there is still time to apply to the Eco-Stewards Program in West Virginia, May 16-23, 2010 or for some PAID summer long internships.

A shout out from our "sister city" of New Bedford:

holy saturday - holy silence

2010-04-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

On this day when we keep a special silence, while Jesus lies silent in the grave, this icon seems to speak profoundly. Details below. Please join us at 7pm for our "intentional agape meal" tonight, followed by the great vigil of easter, the service of the light. Tomorrow's one easter service is at 10:45am.
About Icon, written by W.H.McNichols: "The title of this icon is "Jesus Christ Redeemer Holy Silence." Icons of Holy Silence are found in Greece dating back to the 14th century, but interestingly, they seemed to begin appearing with more urgency in 19th century Russia- this itself is a clue to the importance of this icon, as a prayer for then and now.

Holy Silence ("Hagia Hesychia" in Greek) was commissioned be a "picture of unconditional love." The first thing to notice about Holy Silence, with a pleasant sense of shock and surprise, is that it pictures a female angel with the letters "IC XC" on either side of the top of the image announcing this is Jesus Christ. Although some icons of Holy Silence are more obviously male, this one appears to me clearly female. This is not unusual, since icons portraying angelic wisdom or "Hagia Sophia" are found dating back also to the 14th century. In the Hebrew Scriptures wisdom is more often female. And in the New Testament, "The Divine Wisdom" (I Cor. 1: 30), became an appellation given to the Son of God by Byzantine theologians. Behind her lovely flowing hair, in the aureole or halo is an eight pointed star: six, points for the days of Creation, one for the day God rested, and the final point for the "Day of Eternity" to come. This type of icon, also known as "The Silence of God," is a symbolic depiction of Christ as an eternally youthful angel - or even, as in this example, a female angel. The image was developed in 18th and 19th century Russia, and is associated with the Prayer of the Heart (the Jesus Prayer = "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, sinner that I am").
Icon "written" by William Hart McNichols

A celtic blessing for Holy Triduum

2010-04-01T12:56:00.001-07:00

Holy Week Begins

2010-03-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Friends,
Join us for Palm Sunday tonight at 7pm - where we will join in a procession of the Palms, and also begin our contemplation of the cross. We will also take up the One Great Hour of Sharing offering - a special offering of our Presbyterian USA denomination to help with disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Check out the video below.
And also, please join us for our various Holy Week services, to help prepare yourself to fully celebrate in the promise of Easter's resurrection.
Maundy Thursday 4/1, 6pm begins with soup, shared service with Beth Eden Baptist, and closing foot washing liturgy
Good Friday 4/2, 7pm
Easter Vigil 4/3, 7pm begins with Agape Seder Meal, followed by vigil at 8pm
Combined Easter service 4/4, 10:45am

A Call to Action: Interfaith Community Forum on Housing & Homelessness

2010-03-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

Friends - please consider coming to this event and show our support for those working on housing and homelessness issues in our community. Our church has pledged to bring out at least 5 people.

need work? great part-time opp's - census 2010

2010-03-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Census 2010 One Day Job Fair

Saturday March 6, 2010

Location: Charles River Public Internet Center (154 Moody St. Waltham, MA)

Time: Walk-In all day between 9:30am-3pm

What to Bring: A valid, original Driver’s License AND your original social security card, OR a valid, original U.S. Passport

There are three parts to our application process, which take up to 2 hours:

v Fill out an application

v Verification of valid, original IDs (IDs requirement stated above)

v Take a 30 min timed test (practice test online at www.2010censusjobs.gov)

ALL positions are Flexible, Part-Time (15-40 hrs/week) and Temporary:

v Clerical Work ($14/hour)

v Field Work ($18.50-$20/hr)

To Sign-up for Testing: Please call 781-577-2950 directly (or 1-866-861-2010) WALK IN ALSO WELCOMED!

APPLY NOW!

Flexible Hours & Good Pay

Must pass written test

Charles River

Public Internet Center

(Park in municipal parking)

March 6, 2010 9:30am-3pm

Call TODAY

1-866-861-2010

Info and practice test, go towww.2010censusjobs.gov

US Census Bureau is

an Equal Opportunity Employer

Eco Stewards Training 2010 West Virginia - help spread the word!

2010-02-26T12:03:00.000-08:00

Lent begins

2010-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

As the purple of lent has once again come to us, let us remember to pause, to stop, and remember the gifts of God that come to us each day, each moment. The gifts that are all around us. The freshly fallen snow clinging to branches, the bright blue morning sky, the voice of a friend, the smile of a stranger. Lent is an invitation - a gift - to us to stop, to slow down, to breath deeper, to listen and look for signs of God's beauty and grace that is all around.

watershed on MONDAY 2/15 (not sunday 2/14), St. Valetine

2010-02-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

Friends - just a reminder that Watershed will be on MONDAY 2/15 at 7pm and not Sunday 2/14.

And, an icon for Valentine's day. May love abound.

YOGA!

2010-02-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Come join us every tuesday from 4:30-5:30pm in our Watershed space for beginner's yoga taught by Lauren Star. This is a wonderful way to begin to better engage and care for your body. As we know, an important part of the spiritual journey is care of our own bodies. And if you can, consider staying around for 7pm bible study on tuesdays as well to complete the body and mind spirit-care!

Annual Meeting & Lunch Sunday 1/31

2010-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Please join us for our Annual meeting and lunch, beginning after our 10:45 morning service, around 12:30pm this sunday. Watershed will follow at 7pm with a service in the spirit of Taize. Hope to see you sunday.

Take Action for Haiti - FAMILY

2010-01-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

Friends,
In addition to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance through the PCUSA, I encourage those who are interested in supporting a more local (out of Boston) non-profit that is doing wonderful work on the ground in Haiti - planning especially for the coming months and years with a focus on education, please see the appeal letter below from FAMILY, and consider supporting. Our friend, and my dear brother, Dr. David Mark is a coordinator for this group.

Dear Friend:

As the tragic magnitude of the earthquake damage to Haiti's capital city is revealed, the world mourns with this beleaguered Caribbean nation, already the poorest in the hemisphere. We encourage all of you to join with the many valiant organizations working tirelessly to mitigate the ongoing profound human suffering. We direct you to our website (www.familysystem.net) for a list of ways you can help organizations whose on-the-ground work is vital in these crucial first days and weeks.

But we also want you to consider the importance of joining with us in continuing a second wave of support, one that will be needed for many more years to come. To prevent a widespread crisis of despair, tangible expressions of hope-- in the forms of schools, jobs, infrastructure and more-- are needed in Haiti. FAMILY is at work to do just that.

In the heart of the Artibonite Valley, forty miles north of the earthquake's epicenter, a quiet revolution has already begun. FAMILY is at work with local and international partners to develop a robust educational system in the commune of Verrettes. And with the fallout from this week's disaster, our work has become that much more urgent.

We anticipate that there will soon be significant internal migration within Haiti, as people depart the capital for the provinces, including large numbers of students whose secondary schools in the city have been destroyed. So we have decided to compress our time line for bolstering the local educational system both in Verrettes and in the region south of Port au Prince. With a new sense of urgency, we will work on three key initiatives:

Build more schools. As a result of our extensive survey of schools and teachers in the spring of 2009, we identified multiple areas within Verrettes-- especially in the mountainous regions on the outskirts of the province-- where kids simply couldn't get to school. Our school-building plan will improve capacity and create local jobs.

Scale up our Teacher Training Academy. Our summer seminar series was a stunning success this year, and provided professional development to hundreds of local preschool and elementary teachers and principals. With support from the Ministry of Education and DePaul University School of Education, we will promote a culture of quality teaching through a two-year, part time, certificate-granting program. This is the first step in the creation of the FAMILY Tuskegee Institute of Haiti – our long-term goal.

Expand youth peer mentoring. As older secondary school youth return from the city, we will integrate them into our network of over forty youth groups, engaging them in projects of community service and peer mentoring in a program patterned after the successful City Year Program in the US.

We strive for local capacity building. Our work in Verrettes is done through partners on the ground-- by Haitians, for Haitians. And we form strategic alliances with relevant government ministries to ensure sustainability and replicability of our efforts. FAMILY is results-driven. We are committed to ongoing monitoring of our programs through a well-developed planning and evaluation infrastructure which involves the community in establishing and monitoring results. And our education program fits into a comprehensive plan for systemic change.

History will regard January 12th as a profound inflection point for Haiti. For now, our world has come together like a family in a heartwarming display of solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering. However, the need for continued support will persist long after the glare of the news cameras has faded. Haiti's future – and ours – depends on the continuing realization that we are one family. Your tax-deductible contribution can help us continue this valuable work. We invite you to join us as we work with others to build a robust and resilient educational system in Haiti.

In solidarity,

Pierre Noel, Riche Zamour, Hal May
and the rest of the team at FAMILY

www.familysystem.net

Watershed on Sunday 1/17 (not monday 1/18) & Haiti Community Meeting & MLK Day

2010-01-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

Friends - just to be clear - we have Watershed on Sunday 1/17 at 7pm. On Monday, MLK day, there is an event at Brandeis University honoring the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special program "A Heart Full of Grace" at the Shapiro Campus Center Theater. All are welcome to attend and seating starts at 6pm.
There is also an interfaith meeting to discuss local relief efforts for Haiti on Sunday 1/17 at 6pm at the New Covenant Church of Cambridge at 527 Main Street in Waltham at 6pm. New Covenant has a significant Haitian American population and was founded by Rev. Thomas and Esther Saint-Louis.
And here is another specific way you can help Haiti - go to this website of the non-profit FAMILY, a group that my brother David Mark helps to organize. They are on the ground in Haiti doing important work.

Ecuador & Haiti

2010-01-13T18:14:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your prayers for our travel seminar re-thinking mission here in Ecuador - all went quite well. I will bring back more photos and stories when I return. But for now, let us all keep Haiti in our prayers. See Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for additional ways you can help.

Ecuador Epiphany

2010-01-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

So, they came from the east. From great distances. They came from Iraq and Iran. Afghanistan? They took their cue from nature. A star was their first guide.

They were clearly motivated by something deep within them – a great motivation.

For what does it take leave your own kingdom, your own responsibilities, your own 9 to 5…. Give all that up, and begin a great pilgrimage to a foreign land bringing expensive gifts to a new born?

Epiphany.

a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.

b. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization:

from Greek epiphaneia, manifestation

On Jan 6^th of each year, the Christian calendar marks as Epiphany to remember this historic trip of the Magi – some 2 years after Jesus’ birth. This January we once again celebrate the Epiphany of our radical savior who was born into poverty in order that we might all be set free - and for peace to come upon our earth. As so many places around our world - especially the very same lands from which the Magi first came - are embroiled now in war, we set our hearts to prayer again. We ask in this new year and decade of 2010 that the Prince of Peace would again be realized, and that we would each get in our hearts the true essence of his coming. In this new year, may we look to nature for signs of the Spirit, and may we response to the call to bring the gifts we have each been given and use them to help set others free - to help bring more peace on earth.

I covet your prayers as I am leading a group of Harvard & Yale students to Ecuador on January 4 for a week-long travel seminar Re-thinking Mission, Sustainability and Globalization. I will indeed bring greetings on behalf of Watershed & FPCW, and look forward to sharing with you all the experiences we will have in Ecuador. We will be there over Epiphany - so in prayers for peace and gift-bearing from our varied spots on this planet, we will be in communion. peace on earth, Rob

Happy Soltice, darkness and light

2009-12-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

Today is the shortest day of the year. Indeed, the light is about to prove more powerful than the darkness, as we move into celebrating the Incarnation. As we do, let's pause this day and not pass too quickly by the darkness. For here where it is hard to see, where we feel the weight of the world, where the path is unknown before us, it is right here where we can often best listen to the hunger deep within we have for the Divine. May we have that hunger to seek God, and indeed, follow Mary's example of bearing God into the world through Christ. From here on, the light will grow stronger! peace on earth.

no watershed tonight / Christmas Eve 6pm

2009-12-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Advent 4! What beautiful snow that is falling. Unfortunatley, due to Waltham's city ban on all parking, we can not have Watershed tonight. However, for those who are interested, we are having a small gathering & mini-service at Carol Mullen's apartment at 4:30pm today. 100 Warren Street, Apt. A104 if you want to join us. peace on earth - and see you at our Christmas Eve Service at 6pm at FPWC.

advent conspiracy

2009-12-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

I found this helpful last year - so thought I would share it again. Thoughts? Indeed - let's be less consumptive and more relational this season. peace on earth.

Copenhagen

2009-12-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

Friends, let's keep those making decisions in Copenhagen about our planet's future related to climate change in prayer this week. And click here to keep posted on the latest from our fellow Presbyterian Bill S-J who is on the ground at these meetings. And please consider joining a 350.org vigil this weekend: friday 6pm in boston, Saturday 5pm newton, Sunday vigils and 350 bell ringing around the area - check 350.org
Check out the videos (1), (2) of the COLD vigil we kept on Friday 12/11/09 (rob will buy you a fair trae coffee if you can find him, email him with what minute he is featured...:)

An Advent Journey: tuesdays

2009-12-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

"I am about to do a new thing" ~Isaiah 43:19

Friends, be sure to join us each Tuesday from 7-8pm during this Advent season as we think, talk, pray, and sing together about how God is doing a new thing in our midst here in Waltham.

Changing World, Emerging Church

2009-11-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

This weekend be sure to attend Presbytery Day at Needham Presbyterian Church where together we'll examine our "Changing World, Emerging Church". Former moderator of our denomination Rick Ufford Chase will be our keynote speaker. Rob will be leading a workshop as well. We'll be closing worship in Watershed-style - so please join us!Contact presbytery office to register.

"using religion to go green" & transcending boundaries

2009-11-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

The Harvard Crimson just wrote a good article on some of the local religious response to climate change has been taking shape. Check it out here.

Also - let's remember to keep the Transcending Boundaries Conference in our prayers next weekend in Worcester. Our very own Vickie & Sammi will be leading a workshop.

Young activists begin sleep out at Boston Common

2009-10-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

They plan to sleep out in tents in protest of dirty non-renewable energy that heats our homes and offices and churches UNTIL our state legislators make choice to make MA at state committed to renewable energy resouces. Go Leadership Campaign! And we were there as part of the voice for the religious community to help them out (Rob even prayed for them at their first "illegal" campout on the common) - and the wonderful Boston Globe wrote about it! Shall we hold Watershed one of these sundays with them on the Common and join them in an overnight???

350 a great success!!

2009-10-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who prayed and supported the 350 efforts today. A global success for sure! 5200 some actions in 182 countries worldwide. May earth-healing come. Here are some brave fpcers!

climate action day Oct. 24th 11:30am

2009-10-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

Friends - we need you! God's planet earth needs you!!!! Please, come join us this Saturday, Oct. 24th for our local day for Climate Action in the spirit of Bill McKibben's www.350.org. We will gather at FPCW at 11:30am (donuts will be on hand!) to take up our "climate change is a moral issue" banner and march to the center of town commons gazebo to have a rally & vigil at noon. Legislators and folks from other faith communities and the farmer's market will gather and together we will raise our voices to say let's ACT regarding climate change. As people of faith we believe this is indeed an important moral issue and relates to our call to be good stewards of God's gift of creation. We will march RAIN or SHINE - please don't fret about the weather - for the climates sake! :) Please also sign up at: www.350.org/node/8161 Let Rob know if you'd like to help carry the banner! Feel free to bring some instruments/ drums/ bells. And take a moment to watch this great video clip on this movement. peace on earth!
The Sound of 350 from 350 Faith on Vimeo.

Climate Convocation Sunday Oct. 18 at Harvard and NEW DEACONS & MEMBERS!

2009-10-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

After celebrating the ordination of 2 new deacons (yeah Lauren & Jenn!) this sunday morning at 10:45 service, please join us at Memorial Church at 2pm for a Climate Convocation with Bill McKibben and local greater boston clergy as we talk specifically how climate action is a matter of Christian faith. And of course, finish off the day back at Watershed at 7pm at which we will welcome 3 new members to our church!

justice and peace shall kiss Oct. 4

2009-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Come join us this sunday for World Communion Sunday and our PCUSA Peacemaking sunday. Our theme comes from Psalm 85 - "justice and peace shall kiss each other." Check out this info on the peacemaking offering that will be taken the next 2 sundays. Peace be with you!!

Each congregation is encouraged to retain 25 percent of the Offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within the church and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by presbyteries and synods, and 50 percent is used by the General Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

Sunday Sept 13 Fall Beginning!

2009-09-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

This coming sunday will see lots of buzz around FPC! Morning service at 10:45, followed by a congregational meeting to set up a board of deacons (11:45-noon), followed by an all church Fall Cookout/ Church Picnic (noon-1pm), followed by an hour of intentional community building (1-2pm), then a New Members class (3pm) - and finally - yes - WATERSHED at 7pm to finish off a Fall solid kick-off sunday!
Hope to see you sunday.

watershed at 6pm this sunday - Song-Sing

2009-08-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

"Over my head, I hear music in the air!"
Warm up them vocal-chords and bring your favorite watershed-song/hymn requests. This sunday it's a simpler 6-7pm service of music n' prayer. Please keep the church leadership in prayer sunday as they have a planning retreat in the afternoon.

garden boxes!

2009-07-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful campers at Camp Wilmot who stayed at our church as part of their Eco-Service Adventure Trip this past week, we have 2 new garden boxes out front! Special thanks to carpenter extraordinaire Sara as well - without whom we could not have functioned. We also had a wonderful time canoeing along the CT river in Vermont (and learning about the Connecticut river watershed thanks to becky!). Thanks for your prayers!

NEW CO-PASTOR LIZ!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-16T11:57:00.001-07:00

We are super blessed and excited to have pastor Liz on-board with us here at FPCW! Here are some photos from her installation sunday end of June, 2009. Check out John's photos here.

Watershed MONDAY July 6 (not sunday July 5)

2009-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that due to the long weekend of patriotic-fanfare, we have watershed on Monday July 6th 7pm, not Sunday July 5th. If you are around, come join us for sunday morning worship as it is our new co-pastor Liz Leavitt's first sunday!!! Morning services in July and August are at 10am.

Faith and Climate Change

2009-06-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Come to watershed this sunday - the summer solstice - and hear Dr. Bryan Mark, glaciologist from Ohio State University, speak to us about what it means to be a Christ-follower in the midst of a rapidly changing climate. Bryan also happens to be a father - so we will celebrate him and all our fathers as well! Let's keep Bryan in our prayers as he is back in the Peruvian Alps doing his research.

trinity and pride

2009-06-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today is trinity sunday - a day we celebrate the radical communion that is our God - and to which that relational God calls us all. Today is also More Light Sunday - and in that light, remember next week on Sat. June 13th, we will be taking part in the Boston Pride Parade. Talk to Alanna if you can join us at our table or in the parade. Peace be with you, in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer - Amen.

pentecost

2009-05-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

This sunday at watershed we celebrate the mysterious Spirit at work in our midst as it is Pentecost sunday. We will also get a chance to give a special offering to to help youth. Check out this clip that explains specifically how the offering will help. See you sunday.

new co-pastor!! And next watersed MONDAY 5/25

2009-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Aleluia Amen! Our Presbytery of Boston last night voted to concur with the motion from COM to call Liz Leavitt to FPCW as our next co-pastor! We are graced to have Liz join our community of faith. Rob is very happy to have a fellow co-pastor to serve alongside in this collective ministry. There will be chances for Watershed to meet Liz once she begins at the church in July.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to Memorial Day, there is NO WATERSHED on Sunday 5/24 - it moved to MONDAY 5/25 at 7pm. We'll have a taize service together.

congregational meeting 5/10/09 12:30pm

2009-05-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Friends - come this sunday after the morning service to join in on the special called congregational meeting to vote on the report of the Transitional Committee and to meet the person they have nominated to call as next co-pastor. Please join in on this very exciting day!!

Camp Wilmot this summer!

2009-05-07T07:49:00.001-07:00

Charles River Earth Day Clean Up 2009

2009-04-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who helped out in this year's clean-up! Watershed certainly was well represented! It was especially meaningful to all pray together after we got our hands dirty for the health and recovery of our beloved Charles River watershed.

Ministry for Earth Community - harvard 4/24

2009-04-15T12:48:00.001-07:00

Come join us and hear our friend Prof. Willis Jenkins speak at this Harvard Divinity School & Memorial Church of Harvard sponsored event on Friday 4/24, 8am-5pm, come for any portion if you can.

halle, halle, halle-luiah!

2009-04-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
What a powerful set of services we took part in at FPWC this past week - ending in that ancient creedal crescendo of the church - Christ is risen indeed, alleluia! Thanks to all who took part in these services. And let's remember Wendell Berry's words spoken at our agape-seder meal before our Easter Vigil - let us indeed "practise ressurection" the rest of this year together!

holy saturday - holy silence

2009-04-11T06:18:00.001-07:00

On this day when we keep a special silence, this icon seems to speak profoundly. Details below. Please join us at 7pm for our "in the spirit of agape-seder" tonight, followed by the great vigil of easter, the service of the light.
Title: The Holy Silence (Byzantine-style icon)
Medium: Egg tempera and gold leaf on gessoed board
Size: 11" x 14" x one inch thick
Date Created: 2006

Statement: This type of icon, also known as "The Silence of God," is a symbolic depiction of Christ as an eternally youthful angel - or even, as in this example, a female angel. The image was developed in 18th and 19th century Russia, and is associated with the Prayer of the Heart (the Jesus Prayer = "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, sinner that I am").

The upturned hands are folded in a prayerful gesture of receptive silence, and the gaze turned to the side in contemplation. An 8-pointed star in the halo indicates divinity.

a celtic blessing for the holy triduum (3 days before easter)

2009-04-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

Holy Week

2009-04-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the entire Palm Sunday service.
Please join us this holy week - a week we get to walk the journey of Christ, day by day, step by step - together. Here are the details:

Thursday, April 9: Maundy Thursday Service, 7:00pm. Join us for this service of tenebrae where we'll hear from scripture and share in communion together while the candles are gradually extinguished, and we leave in darkness.

Friday, April 10: Good Friday Service, 7:00pm. Join us for this simple, contemplative, and commemorative service as we remember Jesus together.

Saturday, April 11: Easter Vigil Service, 7:00pm Agape-Seder, 8:00pm service. Join us for our Agape-Seder Meal - a simple, intentional, and symbolic meal we share, remembering together God's grace and mystery as we break fast together (while fasting is not required, you may consider trying it on Saturday - or even skipping one meal, or eating less that day). Vigil begins at 8pm with a bonfire outside the church where we light the new Christ Candle for the year. A moving service we hope you can join us for!

Sunday, April 12: Easter joint Service, 10:45 AM. No evening service. Christ is Risen! Join us for one joint service this day at 10:45am (there will be no Watershed service on Easter). This is another chance to give to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

Eco-Palm Sunday! HOLY WEEK BEGINS

2009-04-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Come join us this sunday for Palm Sunday to begin the powerful journey of Holy Week. We will have our PCUSA-sponsored eco-palms again this year. We are also hosting all three services during the week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil (with Agape-Seder meal preceding). All services begin at 7pm. May we walk this week together in solidarity and hope.

Earth Hour - turn of thy lights!!

2009-03-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Let's remember to turn off our lights this saturday from 8:30-9:30pm to raise awareness around global warming and cast our "vote" as stewards of God's planet. (and as such, don't forget to help support those in need by attending the Community Day Center spaghetti dinner and raffle at 5:30-7:30pm that same night!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1BsNvEXqo

Bed of Branches - Andrew Mudge

2009-03-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Friends - keep track of our friend Andrew Mudge's snowshoe tracks as he treks across Labrador with the Innu. Click here and let's keep him and them in our prayers.

One Great Hour of Sharing

2009-03-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

We have the chance on Palm sunday and Easter to give to this important offering. It suports the work of our church in mission in many real ways. Check out the video clip.

Watershed service 3/22/09

2009-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Click here for link to last night's Lent 4 watershed service. Let's keep the Presbytery of Boston meeting tonight in our prayers.

six years of war in iraq

2009-03-19T19:35:00.001-07:00

Let us not forget, we are a people at war.
Let us not forget, to repent of war.
Let us not forget, to work to turn swords into plowshares.
Let us not forget, the young on all sides we put in harms way.
May the refrain we sing so often, "I ain't gonna study war no more" be actualized...now.
Prince of peace, come.
Our Lady of Peace for Iraq: currently 99,452 civilian deaths, 4258 confirmed US deaths.

spring clean & potluck

2009-03-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Friends! Tomorrow, March 20, we experience vernal equinox - the beginning of Spring. SO, besides taking in the beautiful change New England seasons afford us (have you seen any buds peeking out yet??), let's get together to tiddy up our church. Sunday March 29 at 2pm, we'll all gather to do what we can to clean and spruce up the building. Then, if you can, stay for an all-church potluck at 5pm prior to Watershed.
BYO gloves... :)

wendell and protest

2009-03-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers. I had the privilege of going down to DC on my "day off" this past monday to join in the Capitol Climate Action day where we gathered, rallied, marched, and protested the coal fired power plant that powers the Capitol and many surrounding buildings. It was an inspiring experience joining some 2500 predominately young adults committed to help change our country and move away from dirty coal that pollutes, destroys mountains, and changes our climate - to more sustainable ways of living. It was my honor to shake Wendell Berry's hand and tell him how much he has inspired our community of faith here at Watershed in Waltham. His humilty was felt as he thanked me for my words - and I thanked him for his witness. The police did not arrest anyone of us in this massive civil disobedience (no permits were obtained for this march, as it was intended to symbolically shut down the coal plant for the day) - as there were too many to arrest - a success indeed. Bill McKibben (www.350.org) and James Hansen (NASA) were also there. Photos are of some fellow Waltham activists I ran into, Wendell Berry, and others. May there be eco-peace soon!

Carbon Fast for Lent

2009-03-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the wonderful organization Tearfund ("Christians passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives - overcoming global poverty") - we have a great link that gives us daily ACTIONS this Lent that relate to healing our planet, and reducing poverty. Check it out - click here.

Ashes

2009-02-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

Come join us for an Ash Wednesday service this Weds. 2/25/09 at the Presbyterian Church at Burlington, MA at 7:30pm. There will be a meditation, singing, the imposition of ashes, and communion. A meaningful way to begin our Lenten journey together. Hope to see you there.

Gratitude and Creation

2009-02-21T11:35:00.002-08:00

Friends - come join us today in this event. I'll be helping lead the gathered in sharing our eco-testimonies (yes, PCC inspired!)

MONDAY 2/16 (not sunday 2/15) / God and Global Warming

2009-02-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the long weekend (if you have it) - and come to church on Monday 2/16 instead of sunday for watershed - same time and place, 7pm.
I just went to a talk called "God and Global Warming" at harvard yesterday - hearing from Rev. Richard Cizik & Dr. Eric Chivian who are working to close the gap b/w evangelicals and scientists. Cizik was formerly with the National Association of Evangelicals, but was recently fired for his more "progressive" views (including voting for obama...)?!! A good talk, and hopeful alliances and progress in the ways of Earth Stewardship - here's some info if interested.

fellowship & Spirit

2009-02-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

This week we begin Church Life: Fellowship & Spirit - this all-church gathering takes place on Wednesday evenings 7-8:30pm (2/4, 2/18 - and then each Weds. in Lent). Please come join us as we take a look at some songs, poetry, biographies and guided issue discussions (i.e. environmental racism, poverty, economic transformation, etc.) together. Prayer, fellowship and a sampling of some spiritual disciplines will also be explored. peace!

Let us SERVE!

2009-01-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve" MLKjr.
In the spirit of MLKjr., and with the added emphasis on service that our new president is calling our nation to, we got the chance to bring a wonderful group of Harvard students (grad and undergrads) to serve lunch on Martin Luther King Day to our guests at the Community Day Center. Carol also faithfully joined us! Here are some photos.

prayers and celebration

2009-01-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

Friends,
As a member of our church Larainne reminded us today, as we celebrate the new hopes for CHANGE in our country this day, let us remember to pray for the entire Obama family - that they would find peace in this new transition and roll as leaders. May we all respond to this call to collective service and sacrifice together. And I pass along this clip also shared with me today of Obama speaking at the UCC convention back in 2007.
In God's grace, yes we can!

snow, annual meeting, Martin Luther King Jr., and inaguaration

2009-01-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Friends,
Due to the beautiful fresh snow falling today, our morning service and WATERSHED at First Presbyterian are canceled today. Waltham's snow emergency and parking ban makes it impossible for us to park and have a gathering. We'll be sorry to miss each other tonight - but hopefully back together next week. Enjoy the snow today! (we highly encourage making snow angels and/or snow caves as is possible... :)
We have our Annual Meeting next sunday 1/25 at 12:30pm. It is a potluck - so please let Rob know if you can bring something. If you can't, no worries - just show up and find out more about how our congregation makes decisions and hear reports from 2008 and help envision 2009 together! If it is snowing again and we have to cancel morning service - the annual meeting will be changed to Sunday Feb. 8th at 12:30pm.
Enjoy the snow!
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." MLKjr.
The Waltham Ministerial Association is sponsoring its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Service at 7pm tomorrow, Monday 1/19 at the Covenant Congregation Church in Waltham, 375 Lexington Street (I'll be taking part in worship leading, and Rev. Tom Maehl will be preaching the sermon). Especially in light of the historic occasion of Tuesday's inauguration - this MLK service should be one not to miss. There will also be a day of service at the Community Day Center tomorrow - where Harvard Students will be coming out to make and serve a lunch at 1:15. Please join us if you'd like.
And on Tuesday, please take a moment to pray for the Obama family. Pray for their health, safety and spiritual formation as they begin this new journey. And pray for our nation - for humilty, a new direction, hope, and a conversion to the workings of peace in our world.
As you enjoy the snow - today's lectionary psalm is 139 - take a look at it and contemplate how God knows you, and what that means to you.
And finally - some gifts to you. I strongly urge you to take a few minutes to click on these links, and be inspired anew with the prophetic words of our saint for justice, in the spirit of Christ, Martin Luther King, especially as we move together through this historic week:
1. Up to the Moutain speach (night before his death)
2. Vietnam, anti-war speach
3. How Long, not long!
4. Up to the mountain - Patty Griffin's song in the spirit of MLKjr.

“A genuine revolution of values means in the final analysis that our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies….This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all [peoples].”

– Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
peace on earth, Rob (PS - a longer video clip i've not yet watched)

watershed is on tonight!

2009-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Friends - we are on tonight at 7pm - parking can be found at the school at Alder & Moody (as of 3pm there is still a no-parking rule in waltham due to snow).
peace,Rob

New year's peace and PRAYER

2009-01-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

When I wished one of our Iraqi friends happy new year at watershed last week, she replied "Qul aam wa antoum bi khair" which in arabic means "every year and you are well". I like that focus on wishing us peace not just this year - but every. We especially wish peace for the Middle East right now - may there be a cease-fire and lasting peace agreement.
This THURSDAY at 5-6pm please drop in as we hold a time of prayer in support and solidarity for Pastor Jean - who is our prophetic voice into the way of equal rights and justice for all God's people. Feel free to drop in for just a few minutes, or the entire hour. If you can't make it - please pray for her and for justice wherever you are.
Let's continue to follow those epiphanal stars this new year (and subsequent new years),
Rob

echoing mary...

2008-12-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you all!
Check out Rob's recent sermon at Memorial Church, Echoing Mary.

a tribute to Jean!

2008-12-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

This past sunday we gathered to say thank you, we love you, and go into retirement in peace to our dear sister, Pastor Jean. What a legacy! A true "rock" Jean has been for the past 14 years for First Presbyterian - a rock we are all inspired by, and will dearly miss. One of our friends from the Day Center aptly summed up who Jean is for so many, "Jean - you are our Queen of the Streets!!" She indeed has been such a friend and advocate for those living on our Waltham streets - and certainly someone who has ministered faithfully to us all - making us all feel so welcome, saving lives. May we all aspire to live similar lives of faithfulness, courage, compassion and advocacy on behalf of those on the underside. Our prayers, thoughts, and love go with you Jean! Enjoy retirement!

Hope to see you all 12/21 at 3:30pm for Caroling, and then an all church Soup Supper at 5:30pm, and Watershed at 7pm for 4th Advent sunday.

12/24 Christmas Eve service at 6pm with candles & Jean's final sermon!

12/28 Regular Watershed at 7pm (Rev. Bart Kelso will be joining us)

Check out the links in the previous post for some tips for a more just, simple, and peaceful Christmas.

In the hope & love of Mary's Son,

Rob

The coming...and rethinking Christmas

2008-12-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

The Latin root for Advent means (advenio) means: to come. The coming of Christ is what we are celebrating now, in this new liturgical year. The colors have gone from green to purple (symbolizing both royalty and death). New things are afoot. We wait actively. We prepare. We open our eyes. And we are challenged from last week's service to remember in our waiting TO DO. What is that one thing you've committed to DO during this Advent season? As you think about celebrating, let's remember our earth - and the call to simplicty and faith. Here are some useful links to think again about what this season is all about.

National Council of Churches - The LOW CARBON 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS

Redefine Christmas - let's rethink our gift-giving practises...

Did you hear about what people are CONSPIRING to do this Advent? Advent Conspiracy

Hope to see you for Advent services at Watershed. Remember Dec. 14 there is NO WATERSHED - as it's one joint service celebrating Pastor Jean's 14 years of faithful service to our church. That service is at 3pm.

peace on earth, Rob

gratitude

2008-11-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart.

Friends, we have much to be grateful for - from the air we breathe, to those around us. This year I am indeed thankful for you all - and Watershed, and First Presbyterian. Many blessings this week to you all, and hope to see you for the beginning of Advent this sunday. peace, Rob

350: climate change and the church

2008-11-15T20:07:00.000-08:00

Come this Thursday at 7pm at Andover-Newton Theological school to hear Bill McKibben speak about the church's roll regarding climate change and his 350 Project. Let's carpool.

“350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.
We’re planning an international campaign to unite the world around the number 350, and we need your help. We need to make sure that the solutions the world proposes to climate change are to scale with the level of crisis that this number represents. Everyone on earth, from the smallest village to the cushiest corner office, needs to know what 350 means. The movement to spread that number needs to be beautiful, creative, and unstoppable.”

what a week!

2008-11-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

It's been an historic week my friends! Let us give thanks for a peaceful election, and pray for our new president elect Barack, and his family - and for the hope and challenges that lie ahead. May we all be willing to work hard to live out these ideals of hope and change. As we do so, we remember it all begins with loving our neighbor - in the PLACES and communities in which we are situated. And we are hear in Waltham - at First Presbyterian. With this in mind, we remind you that tonight at Watershed (11/9), we'll celebrate Stewardship Sunday where we get to dedicate the pledges for 2009 that we feel called to make to help support the ministry of this particular community of faith. Oh, and we may hear something from Bono as well...

new director!

2008-10-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

With thanksgiving we welcome Eben Forbes as the new director of the Community Day Center! (photo pending...this one is an icon of someone else...:)

Come on by Watershed this week and you might just see a wedding photo or two...

birthday & peacemaking & a wedding...

2008-10-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WATERSHED!! Oct. 7 is our ONE YEAR birthday! Thanks be to God, and to all of you for your support in this new adventure in faith and community building. We have a second week to give to the PCUSA Peacemaking offering this coming week. Rev. Bart will cover 10/12 and Rev Elliott will cover on 10/19. I will be away... on my honeymoon!! Many thanks to you all for your prayers and best wishes to Becky and I. See you in a few weeks. -Rob

(Tree of Life)

presbytery blessings

2008-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Friends - thanks to all who helped make our hosting of Presbytery of Boston a blessing to many! It was a joy to host and all be gathered under one roof - our varied & faithful small piece of the body. Hope to see you this sunday!

lots o' buzz around this church n' some good info

2008-09-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Friends! This harvest-moon September is a busy month - lots of life in and around our church these days. Don't miss our own Melissa Myers and others play at the Oasis Coffeehouse this friday at 7:30. Also, the autumn equinox is 9/22 - the same day as we are hosting Boston Presbytery! Please remember to pray for the unity and peace of our church - and to come lend a hand to ensure the evening meeting goes well. We'll be at the church from 5pm onwards...

Larainne sent this around - a 30 second video that very much honors God's children - please check it out! And for those who missed James Carroll's editorial in the Boston Globe - I recommend it as it relates a bit to what we've been talking about at Watershed. There's a church clean-up at 9am this Saturday in preparation for Presbytery. FINALLY - hope to see you at Watershed this sunday.

some beautiful faces of firstpres!

2008-09-07T03:07:00.000-07:00

Next Watershed - MONDAY Sept. 1

2008-08-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Remember that Watershed is moved from Sunday Aug. 31 to MONDAY Sept 1 - Labor Day at 7pm. Same service, one day later so people can enjoy the long weekend and still make worship. Hope to see you then.

transition prayers

2008-08-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

Friends - let's keep the Community Day Center in our prayers. Today was my official last day as Executive Director, as I prepare to make the transition to Assistant Chaplain at Harvard. I am so deeply grateful for all the dear friends I have met here in the basement of our church, and have been privaledged to work with such a deeply committed Board. I am so encouraged to be a part of this church that sees solidarity with the disenfranchised as a central part of the gospel. Let's pray for the search for the new director.

Picnic-it-up! and New Members!

2008-08-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, the infamous church picnic is upon us!! But friends, this one is unlike others you may have attended - we're off to pastor Jean's house in Mansfield - she and John live on several acres of trees n' peace. They have a superb garden - and I imagine we'll be tasting of its "fruit" a bit! So, bring along a dish/ salad/ dessert to share - and meet at the church at NOON this Sunday, 8/17 - and we'll carpool to reduce out carbon emmissioning. Drop Rob and email if you are coming - so we know who to wait for. ALSO - this Watershed 8/17 at 7pm please come to support Carol Rowe and Larainne Wilson who will be joining our church as new members!! Come help us welcome them as part of Watershed service. Hope to see you then - and enjoy the sunshine this week.

this weekend

2008-07-30T19:32:00.001-07:00

Friends,

Back from our wonderful Celtic Eco-Adventure Trip to Cape Breton (photo from St. Ann's Bay United Church) - this weekend lots going on: Friday Oasis Coffeehouse with Jason Harrod & Jake Armeding - NOT TO MISS. These 2 are amazing. Then Saturday morning stop by the Waltham Farmer's Market - Watershed will be there just to meet people, and our own Kim Davidson will be playing on their stage at 11am. Sunday, artists reception 2-5pm. And then Watershed at 7pm - quite possibly with Jason Harrod supplying some music, Prof. Willis Jenkins some eco-theology, and Scottish Rachel super-camp-director some news from Wilmot. See you!

independence day...

2008-07-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

New Bedford declares Fossil Fuel Independence Day this year. What things might we each seek to become independent/ free of? Consumption, materialism, nationalism, patriotic self-righteouness, self-loathing, fear? In humility, may we become more of a country where this quote is applicable to all - "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free."

In this light - check out Becky's set of articles on the New Immigrants of southcoast of MA: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SPECIAL62

eco-labyrinths & farmer markets

2008-06-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Presbyterian Conservation Corps went great! Thanks for the prayers. This photo is of some of our Eco-Stewards getting the chance to try out some new spiritual practices like walking the labyrinth in the midst of God's creation. Come this sunday to Watershed for our continuing What is Presbyterian/ What is Watershed class for 30 minutes after the service. Also, if you are around - join Rob at the Waltham Farmer's Market (moody & main) this Sat 6/21 9am-noon - we'll be giving our free Fair Trade coffee on behalf of Watershed and the church to continue our goal of reaching out to our community.

upcoming

2008-06-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Watershed moves along this summer - with same 7pm sunday service times. A few upcoming events: Presbyterian Conservation Corps - keep Rob in prayer as he helps lead this year's Eco-Stewards events in PA and NY June 5-11. What it means to be Presbyterian - come join us starting after Watershed June 15 for 30 minutes for some talks on what this church & watershed & membership is about - we'll continue this for 3 weeks. Waltham Farmers Market: starting Sat. June 21, we'll set up a table serving free fair trade coffee at the market this summer - 9am-2pm, to help meet our community and spread some of the good news of what is happening at 34 alder street. peace be with you all!

Watershed Memorial MONDAY 7pm

2008-05-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

Friends, since a handful of you will be away on Sunday, with monday as holiday - we are simply moving Watershed to Monday May 26th, same time and place - 6:30pm for coffee and 7pm for service. As we remember this weekend, and honor, let's also remember that call to spread peace in this world.

pentecost & burma

2008-05-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

This sunday 5/11 we celebrate Pentecost - the ending of the easter season, and the day we commemorate the early gathering of Christ follower's visitation by the Holy Spirit (acts 2:1-4) Elliott Hipp will be sharing with us, and some special music by our own Melissa Myers. We'll also be taking a special offering to support those in Myanmar. See you then.

Watershed takes ACTION to care for our Charles River Watershed - April 26th

2008-04-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

Let's gather together and clean up our Watershed!!! This Saturday at 8:30am we're gathering at church for some coffee & snacks before we set off to pick up trash as part of the 9th Annual Charles River Day Clean Up Day - from 9-noon. Please bring some gloves if you have them, extra trash bags (although they usually provide them), and boots/ shoes you can get dirty or even wet if need be. This is a kid-friendly day, and a lot of fun. For those who have time, we could go out for a pizza together afterwards - or simply stay for part of the time if you can't stay the duration. This will be one more practical way we can put our faith and mandate this Earth Month to care for God's creation into ACTION.

HAPPY EARTH DAY today!!! Psalm 104 is a great read today and this week!

Earth Sunday - april 20th

2008-04-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Earth Sunday 4/20/08 - come join us for Watershed at 7pm. The national council of churches theme this year is The Poverty of Global Climate Change. Come join us to focus in on the earth and our role in faith - and also hear special guest & movie-maker Andrew Mudge sing some Mason Jennings for us. Remember too at 1:30-3:30 we'll watch the documentary Renewal - a movie about various faith group's responses to the ecological crisis. There is also an artist's reception from 4-6pm in our Oasis Gallery. Feel free to drop in anytime for some art n' goodies. A full day - please join us for some or all. And let me know if you want an organic watershed t-shirt for Charles River Day Clean up 4/26 at 8:30am. peace on EARTH.

Earth Month Begins

2008-04-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

April is Earth Month at Watershed and First Presbyterian. Each service we'll focus on not only what it means to practise ressurrection this Easter season, but also on what it means to practise earth-care as we attempt to tred lighter on this one world we've got. Be sure to check out below for upcoming eco-events. See you sunday.

Earth hour - a Fast from Energy - this Sat. 8-9pm

2008-03-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

Imagine how much energy can be saved if the entire world fasted from energy use for just one hour? We have the chance to do our small part this Sat. 3/29 from 8-9pm. Find some friends, light some candles, go for a night walk, or go to bed early...whatever - it will make a difference. And then join us sunday for Watershed and the first sunday of this Easter season. http://www.earthhour.org/downloads/EH_728x90.swf

alleluia!

2008-03-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

Christ is risen indeed. Easter peace!

A word from Wendell Berry (excerpts from Wendell Berry’s Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, 1991) :

So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Ask the questions that have no answers. Plant sequoias. Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit…
Listen to carrion - put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?…
Practice resurrection.

holy week

2008-03-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Each day this sacred week has special significance. Let's all take an intentional moment each day this week and pause in the midst of our busy lives and simply contemplate the mystery of GRACE. And as you can, please join us for the ecumenical community services starting tonight (Maundy Thurs.) (listed below), and especially the EASTER VIGIL starting at 7pm with an Agape (love)-Seder-esque meal, and then 8pm service starting with bonfire outside. There will be an optional post-service late night vigil-to-Easter in Watershed style - please let Rob know if you are interested. Together we walk in solidarity this week with Christ and the poor, through death, and into new life, new HOPE.

eco-palm sunday

2008-03-15T07:30:00.001-07:00

Friends- come join us sunday night at 7pm for palm sunday - "eco"-style. http://www.pcusa.org/palms/ And today (sat) is the 5th year anniversary of the war in Iraq - let us pray for peace to come just like Jesus came into Jerusalem on that donkey. Radical peace. See you sunday. (also still looking for a reader for Maundy Thurs tenebrae service, and one for Easter Vigil as well...let me know if interested).

call to peace-prayer / holy week help/ prophetic voice of Carroll

2008-03-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

This friday 3/7 at NOON, we are joining many Christians around the country to uphold Iraq and her peace in our prayers. Take a moment in the midst of your day to pray - or come join us at the church for a short vigil together.
Also, since March is here, we are approaching what we consider Holy Week. This begins with (Eco-) Palm Sunday on 3/16, and then we are joining the wider Waltham community for a services starting with a Tenebrae service (service of the lights) on Maundey Thurs at Beth Eden Baptist (7pm), Good Friday at Immanual Methodist (7pm), and then we host an Easter Vigil Service at 8pm on 3/22. This will be proceeded by a unique AGAPE-SEDAR-ESQUE meal at 7pm. Please join us.
Also- we need a reader or two for the Tenebrae service on Maundey Thurs - any takers? please let me know.
And finally - James Carroll's Constantine's Sword was amazing - a serious must see for anyone who desires deeper peace and reconciliation in our globalized and religiously divided world. Especially powerful during this seasonal approach to Easter.
Hope to see you for Watershed this sunday 3/9 at 7pm for 5th sunday in lent and some Taize.