THEODORE PARKER CHURCH

The Plazuelas-Parker Project — Next Steps
2022-12-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 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
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 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.

Family Game Night
2023-03-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Parish Hall, 70 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States

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 | Maine

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!

Music on Centre presents Guy Davis
2023-10-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Guy Davis is a two-time, back-to-back Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues, a musician, actor, author, and songwriter. Guy uses a blend of roots, blues, folk, rock, rap, spoken word, and world music to comment on, and address the frustrations of social injustice, touching on historical events, and common life struggles. His background in theater is pronounced through the lyrical storytelling of songs “God’s Gonna Make Things Over” about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, “Welcome to My World”, and “Got Your Letter In My Pocket”. His storytelling is sometimes painful, deep, and real, an earthy contrast to modern-day commercial music, meant to create thought, underlined by gentle tones from his guitar or banjo fingerpicking. [from Guy’s website]
Admission is $25. Cash preferred; cards are okay. Outstanding refreshments available during intermission.

Family Game Night
2023-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Maine
All are welcome to our monthly RE Community Game Night, from 6-8 pm 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.

Laura Dowd Memorial Concert with the The Hot Water Quartet
2023-10-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Theodore Parker Church sanctuary, 1859 Centre Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Join us as we remember and celebrate the life of Laura Dowd, beloved longtime member of Theodore Parker Church who passed away in 2021. This first Laura Dowd Memorial Concert honors Laura’s longtime role in the music ministry of this congregation and her love for supporting local musicians and community.
Our musicians for the evening will be The Hot Water Quartet, a collection of gifted musicians performing fresh compositions in the jazz idiom. First forming as the house band for a long-running public jam session, the HWQ has long been an integral part of the Boston jazz community. The band is made up of saxophonist Brett Walberg, pianist Matt Marcus, bassist James Heazlewood Dale, and drummer Henry Godfrey (former TPC musician), all mainstays of the New England jazz scene. They’ll be premiering new pieces and thoughtful arrangements of standards.
The concert is free and will take place in the sanctuary.

Winter Fair
2023-11-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Shop local! Our fabulous Winter Fair is your one-stop shopping center for unusual gifts and crafts, tasty treats (including local honey), our famous jewelry table, and much more. Come early for a great selection.

Celebration of Life for Stan Gross
2023-11-26 14:30 - 16:30 | Church Sanctuary and on Zoom
Please join us in person or on Zoom to remember and celebrate the life of our beloved Stan Gross on Sunday, November 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Stan’s obituary can be found here.

Music on Centre presents Rob Flax's Boom Chick Trio
2023-12-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Multi-instrumentalist and educator Rob Flax describes his music concisely: “I play things with strings, I hit stuff, and I sing.” Behind this simple tag line lies a rich depth of genre-bending, from classical and jazz violin to bluegrass fiddle, to blues and rock influences, and beyond. Rob performs his original music solo (with looper pedal) and with his Boom Chick Trio, and he plays as sideman and session musician in many other projects. Rob is also the inventor of the Chessboard Drum Machine.
Admission is $25; cash preferred, cards are okay. Outstanding refreshments available for sale during intermission.

JourneyDance: A Spiritual Practices and Adult RE PRogram
2024-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
This winter, we are welcoming guest facilitator and UU minister Jill Cowie in a three-part pilot program called JourneyDance, an experiential movement and dance workshop that embodies spiritual practice through movement. All ages and movement abilities are welcome.
The first session is Monday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall. Please arrive a few minutes early and bring a blanket for your comfort on the floor. The dance is available to anyone regardless of ability to pay. An optional donation is welcome via Venmo or by cash at the door.
Click here to register.
For more information on Jill, please go to empowerthrumovement.com
For more information on JourneyDance, please go to journeydance.com

Local Talent Showcase!
2024-01-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
Music on Centre is featuring four acts displaying an impressive range of musical talent right in our own backyard. Here is some of what you can expect.

Tom Smith — With his quiet, classic folk style, Tom Smith captivates his audience with original songs that sound like they have come from the Pete Seeger or Tom Paxton songbook. He is proof of the fact that folk music is a living tradition that feeds on new songs that speak of people’s wants, needs, struggles, and triumphs.

Adam and Marcia Feldman — Adam and Marcia have been making music together for more than 28 years after graduating from Berklee College of Music, with a concentration in jazz. They play a variety of music styles as a duo and with other exceptional musicians around New England and beyond. Adam on keyboard, Marcia on classical guitar, both on gorgeous vocals.

Andrew Innes and The Reluctant Ramblers — This talented and versatile group consists of Andrew on guitar and vocals, Kim Patch on fiddle, Eric Smalley on upright bass, and Tim Obetz on pedal steel. Playing mostly Andrew’s original songs, their musical repertoire covers genres like indie-folk, blues, Americana, and bluegrass. Their lively performances have been a favorite at many local venues, by themselves or playing with other Boston-based bands.

Brian Cartwright and Karen Sauer — Brian on guitar and Karen on piano offer an eclectic repertoire that spans the centuries up to the present day. In addition to the variety of their selections, Brian’s arresting voice and their harmonies add to the delight of their performance. Based in West Roxbury/Roslindale, both have played professionally, singly and as a duo. They make music spontaneously everywhere they go and love to jam with other musicians.

Tickets are $20; $10 for ages 21 and under: $40 maximum per family. Cash preferred, cards okay. Tasty refreshments will be available at intermission. Free parking available on the street, in the Bank of America lot, and in the municipal lot at the end of Corey Street. Reserve your ticket/more info: musiconcentre@gmail.com

Community Game Night
2024-01-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
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 drinks will be provided. RSVPs to Rose or Brandi are welcome!

JourneyDance
2024-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Theodore Parker Church parish hall, 70 Corey St., West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
This winter, we are welcoming guest facilitator and UU minister Jill Cowie in a three-part pilot program called JourneyDance, an experiential movement and dance workshop that embodies spiritual practice through movement. All ages and movement abilities are welcome.
The second session is Monday, February 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall. Please arrive a few minutes early and bring a blanket for your comfort on the floor. The dance is available to anyone regardless of ability to pay. An optional donation is welcome via Venmo or by cash at the door.
Click here to register.
For more information on Jill, please go to empowerthrumovement.com
For more information on JourneyDance, please go to journeydance.com
