echoing mary...

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

a tribute to Jean!

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

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

"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

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!

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!

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...

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

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

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!

Next Watershed - MONDAY Sept. 1

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

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!

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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.