THEODORE PARKER CHURCH

Community Canines: Dog Body Language and Stress-free City Living
2022-10-23 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Join us on October 23 at 3 p.m. for this presentation from acclaimed dog trainer Aubrey Sperry followed by Q&A.

Workshop: Beyond Categorical Thinking
2022-11-05 10:00 - 13:00 | On Zoom
This UUA-facilitated workshop is designed to promote inclusive thinking and help us examine our own individual biases, and open our hearts and minds to the fullest range of ministerial candidates. All are warmly invited to attend. We ask that you register in advance for the BCT at this link. More information: ministersearch@tparkerchurch.org

The Starting Point: A Group for Newcomers & Deeper Connections
2022-11-06 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-11-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Are you new to TPC? Thinking about joining as a member? Been attending for a while but are interested in delving deeper into your spiritual journey, Unitarian Universalism, or community connections? This is a group for you!
Rev. Jo will lead this small group experience with the Welcoming Ministry Team, which offers folks a chance to reflect on their own spiritual journeys, learn about Unitarian Universalism, and explore ways to connect with community life.
The curriculum is designed for four sessions, but we may condense the material. The first two sessions will be Sundays after the services on November 6 and 20 — Rev. Jo will talk with participants about when to schedule potential additional sessions. Please RSVP to Rev. Jo by November 4.

Family Game Night
2022-11-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Parish Hall, 70 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
We’re bringing back a beloved event from pre-pandemic times: RE Community Game Night! All are welcome to join this evening of board game fun. Bring your favorite game to share, or just show up ready to play. This event is focused on the children and families of our congregation, but folks of all ages are welcome to join in. Pizza and other snacks will be provided.

Salvadoran Student Leader Visits TPC
2022-11-13 11:30 - 13:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Join us after coffee hour on November 13 for a talk with Salvadoran student leader Fran Omar. Fran, who is now a grad student in social work at El Salvador’s National University, will be visiting Boston as part of a national tour sponsored by the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. He will be updating us about the situation in El Salvador in light of the continuing “state of exception” in which 56,000 mostly young people have been arrested and held, without due process, in overcrowded prisons. Two youths from our sister community of Plazuelas have been arrested in these sweeps.

Winter Fair
2022-11-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
The Winter Fair is your one-stop shopping destination for crafts from around the world, fabric art, holiday items, next-to-new jewelry, delicious edible treats and baked goods, and much more. We look forward to welcoming the community after the pandemic hiatus.
For more information about reserving a table and learning details of what items will be available, contact one of the coordinators: Carol Allen, Jennifer Buchwald, and Jennifer Bottomley.
We’ll see you at the fair!

Music on Centre Presents Singer-Songwriter Kate Campbell
2022-12-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Parish Hall, 70 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
Coming to us from the Mississippi Delta via Nashville, Kate brings a memorable, beautifully balanced evening of song and story that defies categorization, because it is a tale of us and our country. The daughter of a Baptist preacher, Kate’s formative years were spent in the very core of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and the indelible experiences of those years have shaped her heart and character as well as her songwriting. Over her 18-album career, her music and songs continue to inspire and excite a growing and engaged audience.

“Her literate songs artfully skirt the border between country and rock with a few blues twists…a major talent…simplicity, sincerity, and sophistication run rampant.” BOSTON GLOBE

Tickets can be reserved at musiconcentre@gmail.com or purchased at the door from 6:30 on the evening of the show. Desserts and beverages for sale before the show and during intermission. Free easy parking nearby. Masks optional. For more information, call 617-327-0542

Minister Search Update
2022-12-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Church Sanctuary, 1859 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
The Minister Search Committee will hold an Informational Meeting on Sunday, December 4, from noon to 1 p.m., to report back to the congregation on our past five months of work. We will present the results and some observations from all you have shared with us, about your hopes, dreams, and concerns for TPC and our next settled minister. We will also update you about next steps in the search, as we begin the process of candidate identification and interviews. And, we will leave time for your questions as we complete this first phase of the search. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary and on Zoom, so all are able to participate. We hope you will join us!

Family Game Night
2022-12-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-03-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Parish Hall, 70 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
All are welcome to join this evening of board game fun. Bring your favorite game to share, or just show up ready to play. This event is focused on the children and families of our congregation, but folks of all ages are welcome to join in. Pizza and other snacks will be provided.

The Plazuelas-Parker Project — Next Steps
2022-12-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Parish Hall, 70 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
In the wake of the presentation by Fran Omar at TPC on November 13, people have asked, “Given all that Fran told us about what is happening in the country, what should be our next steps to support our sister community in Plazuelas?” We’ll gather in the parlor at noon, right after fellowship hour, to discuss this question. Bring your coffee and your good ideas! Contact Kevin, Alison, or Deb for more information.

Arlington St. Church and The Sanctuary Boston's Carol Sing Service
2022-12-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, United States
Rev. Jo warmly invites members and friends of Theodore Parker Church to join her at the December 21 carol sing, jointly hosted by The Sanctuary Boston and Arlington Street Church. Learn more about the event here. The service will be held at Arlington Street Church at 351 Boylston Street and on Zoom.

Congregational Meeting on the FY24 Pledge Campaign
2023-01-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Church Sanctuary and on Zoom
The Board and Stewardship Team are hosting this important meeting to introduce the congregation to the financial implications of our ministerial search ahead of the annual pledge drive. We will launch our FY24 campaign in February, a month earlier than usual — and it will look a little different from past years. Please plan to attend in person or on Zoom (this is the same Zoom link as for the worship service). We’ll get started after a short break for virtual breakout rooms, coffee and fellowship.
For more information, contact Board chair Carey Toran or Stewardship co-chairs Gretchen Dietz and John Lambert.

Racial Justice Task Force Film Series: "Birth of a Movement"
2023-01-15 17:30 - 19:00 | On Zoom
Birth of a Movement brings to life Boston’s long history as a center of abolition and a force for racial equality. In 1915, William Monroe Trotter, a little remembered leader in the Black radical tradition, led the struggle to ban D. W. Griffith’s notoriously racist film, The Birth of a Nation.
Trotter advocated mass action as a tool for racial justice, and the protests in Boston set the stage for the modern civil rights movement.
Feel free to invite friends. Zoom link here.
The Zoom theater opens at 5:15 and the film will begin at 5:30, with a half hour of discussion afterwards. An RSVP to rjtf@tparkerchurch.org is appreciated but not essential.
See you at the movies!

Family Game Night
2023-01-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132

The Starting Point: A Group for Newcomers & Deeper Connections
2023-02-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Are you new to TPC? Thinking about joining as a member? Been attending for a while but interested in delving deeper into your spiritual journey, Unitarian Universalism, or community connections? This is a group for you!
Rev. Jo will lead this small group experience with the Welcoming Ministry Team, which offers folks a chance to reflect on their own spiritual journeys, learn about Unitarian Universalism, and explore ways to connect with community life.
You’re welcome to join even if you didn’t attend the first two sessions. RSVPs appreciated to Rev. Jo at minister@tparkerchurch.org.

Music on Centre presents Dean Stevens with Rachel and John Nicholas
2023-03-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Launching its spring concert series, Music on Centre presents this not-to-be-missed double bill: Dean Stevens with Rachel and John Nicolas.

Those of you who have attended past Sweet Chariot Festivals at Theodore Parker Church will remember the inspiring and thought-provoking songs, sung in English and Spanish, by beloved favorite, Dean Stevens. Dean is not only the regular sound guy for the Music on Centre concerts, but also a lay leader of Community Church in Copley Square, a Central American and Immigrant rights activist, and the purveyor of delicious El Salvadoran coffee at the Roslindale Farmers Market.

John and Rachel Nicolas, who live in midcoast Maine, came to our attention at the Sweet Chariot Festivals and have since expanded their touring and recording. Their style might be called country folk accompanied by smart lyrics, fine instrumental skills and well-honed harmonies.

Admission is $20. Cash preferred. Credit card payments possible. For information or to reserve tickets, go to musiconcentre@gmail.com.

Social Justice Work Discussion
2023-03-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
The committees involved with social justice work will be sharing their collaborative approach to this work at Theodore Parker Church. Please plan to join us to be part of this discussion starting at noon in the parlor.

TPC Committee Fair
2023-03-19 11:30 - 12:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Have you wondered how you might contribute to TPC? Do you have special gifts, such as social media know-how or experience with health and safety procedures, that we could use in our Communications and Community Safety Teams? While you snack on food and coffee after church on March 19, come and talk to people from our different committees and teams and learn how you can participate in making TPC a special community where we all share responsibility for the community we grow together.

The 2023 Theodore Parker Lecture: Rev. Rahsaan D. Hall on "Policing Black Communities, 1854-2023: Changing Public Safety Narratives"
2023-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Church Sanctuary and on Zoom
Rahsaan Hall is an advocate for community engagement, legal reform, and racial equity.
He has served as Director of the Racial Justice Program for the ACLU of Massachusetts,
Deputy Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice, and
Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County. He is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal
Church and is on the board of the Who We Are Project and the Hyams Foundation.
A Q & A and reception will follow the lecture.
Assisted listening devices will be available.
Masks required for in-person seating.
Register here to attend in person and on Zoom.

UU Advocacy Day
2023-03-28 | On Zoom
UU Advocacy Day with the Massachusetts state legislature is Tuesday, March 28. This is your chance to meet with your representatives (on Zoom) and urge them to support good legislation on a variety of issues. Let’s have a lot of TPC participation! To register and learn about the issues, click here.

Music on Centre presents the Heather Pierson Trio
2023-04-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Since their appearance at Music on Centre four years ago, the Heather Pierson Trio has gained wide acclaim across the country, wowing audiences at festivals and music conferences and adding to their CD output, now numbering more than 14 albums.

Heather is a pianist, singer/songwriter, song leader, and performer whose inspiring live performances and growing catalog of releases delve into Americana, blues, New Orleans jazz, vocal chants, instrumental piano, and folk. Best known for her ease at the piano and her bell-tone vocals, Heather’s songs and musicianship embody joy, honesty, playfulness, and a desire to share from the heart. Heather is joined by the immensely talented Shawn Nadeau on bass and Craig Bryan on drums.

Admission is $20. Cash preferred. Credit card payments possible. For information or to reserve tickets, go to musiconcentre@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Film: Racially Charged: America's Misdemeanor Problem
2023-05-07 17:30 - 19:00 | On Zoom
America’s Misdemeanor Problem exposes how our country’s history of racial injustice evolved into an enormous abuse of criminal justice power. Thirteen million people a year — most of them poor and people of color — are abused by this system.
Through first-person accounts of those charged under the Black Codes of the Reconstruction era paralleled with the outrageous stories of people trapped in the system today, the film brings to light the unfolding of a powerful engine of profits and racial inequality. With the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, this film provides historical context and examines America’s history of racist oppression.
Presented by the TPC Racial Justice Task Force. Join on Zoom.

Family Game Night
2023-05-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Massachusetts

Music on Centre presents Windborne
2023-05-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church sanctuary, 1859 Centre Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
“The most exciting vocal group in a generation,” Windborne’s captivating show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony, while the absolute uniqueness of their artistic approach brings old songs into the present. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable.
With a 20-year background studying polyphonic music around the world, Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, and Will Rowan share a vibrant energy onstage with a blending of voices that can only come from decades of friendship alongside dedicated practice. The ensemble shifts effortlessly between drastically different styles of music, drawing their audience along on a journey that spans continents and centuries, illuminating and expanding on the profound power and variation of the human voice.

But there’s another, crucial dimension to Windborne that guides and roots their artistry. They are adherents to folk music’s longtime alliance with social activism, labor and civil rights, and other movements that champion the oppressed, the poor, and the disenfranchised. Their songs burst with lyrics that, while penned decades or centuries ago, still ring true in modern times, and Windborne’s dynamic harmonies breathe new life into these songs.

Admission is $25. Cash preferred, but credit card payments are possible. For information or to reserve tickets, go to musiconcentre@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Budget Preview Meeting
2023-06-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Church Sanctuary and on Zoom
Mark Ferrenz, chair of the Finance Committee, will give a presentation on the FY24 operating and capital budgets prior to the annual meeting on June 11. This is a great opportunity to ask questions so you can cast an informed vote.

Annual Meeting
2023-06-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Church Sanctuary and on Zoom
The agenda of the Theodore Parker Church annual meeting includes:

Report of the Board chair
Approval of the 2023-2024 operating and capital budgets
Vote on proposed bylaws
Election of 2023-2024 officers

Members are encouraged to attend in person or online. In order for business to be conducted, a quorum must be present in person and online. Only members may vote.

Family Game Night
2023-09-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
All are welcome to our monthly RE Community Game Night, from 6-8pm in the parish hall. This isn’t just an event for kids! If you’re a member of the congregation who doesn’t currently have young kids, but you’re interested in being more connected with our kids and their parents, please do come. We’ll have pizza and drinks and a range of board games set up for anyone to play, or you can bring your own game from home to share.

Church Retreat at Ferry Beach
2023-10-13 - 2023-10-16 | Ferry Beach Conference Center, Saco, Maine
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) has invited TPC to join them for a three-day retreat at the Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center, near Saco, on the beautiful coast of southern Maine. We are excited about this new venture and hope you will consider joining us. All are welcome.
On the agenda: s’mores around the campfire, arts and crafts, sports, talent shows, discussion groups, singing, dancing, biking, sand sculpture building, apple-picking, walks through the woods, and wonderful meals with friends, all on miles of beautiful, sand beaches.
The retreat will be held on the weekend of October 13-16. For more information, contact Brandi Hopkins.
Here is the link to sign up: Ferry Beach Registration 2023. Per person rates are on the form.
What’s Ferry Beach place like? Ferry Beach is a small UU conference center on a seven-mile stretch of sandy beach in Maine. It’s a collection of mostly renovated wood frame buildings from the last century. The main building has a lobby with a fireplace, comfy chairs and a wrap-around porch that faces the ocean. There is a huge dining room with a nice, big porch where we share catered meals.
What do we do? Some of us stay put at the beach all weekend, playing volleyball, basketball, doing puzzles, creating arts and crafts, or engaging in deeper dive discussions around significant issues. Others venture out to enjoy museums in Portland, apple picking, environmental ecology trips, kayaking, or shopping at the outlets. We cheer brave performers at the talent/no talent show. Mostly, we form deeper connections with each other through shared meals, play, and the beauty of the ocean.
Basic Ferry Beach information:

Housing is in rustic wooden buildings with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Some units have been renovated.
The drive takes approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. Ferry Beach is available to us from 4pm Friday until 2pm Monday.
Humans only, NO pets allowed.
Others may be added to your room to maximize the number of people we can fit in.
Room assignments, information, and directions will be emailed on or around October 9th.
The room assignment team works hard to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Applications are processed in the order received and incomplete applications will be processed last.
If fees are a problem, reach out to the FUUSN or TPC contact. Confidential scholarships may be available.

Questions?

FUUSN: Jacki Rohan at 617-285-3879 or fuusn.ferrybeach@gmail.com
TPC: Brandi Hopkins at 267-261-8394 or brandi.stoffregen@gmail.com

Activities: Our activities schedule depends on YOUR creativity and generosity. Please contact the appropriate person to volunteer to run an activity for children and/or adults. They will coordinate with each other to provide one schedule for all!

FUUSN Activity Coordinator: Emily Gelbert at 617-512-2150, fuusn-ferry-beach-activities@fusn.org
TPC Activity Coordinator: Carol Allen at 617-327-0542 (no texts), ceallen99@mac.com

We need all of those wishing to attend to have their forms and payments returned By September 25th! If you wish to sign up online here is the link: Ferry Beach Registration 2023. Kids age 8 and under are free!
