First Parish Church in Dorchester
Unitarian Universalist

Sermons

Reverend Art Lavoie, Minister

The Reverend Arthur R. Lavoie has been First Parish’s minister since 2005. He previously served as Interim Minister, First Parish Church Unitarian-Universalist, Bridgewater, MA, 2004-05; Interim Minister of Religious Education, West Shore UU Church, Cleveland, OH, 2003-04; and Consulting Minister, Sierra Foothills UUs, Auburn, CA, 2001-03. In 2000, he was awarded the Masters of Divinity degree from the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. Rev. Lavoie also holds the bachelor’s degree from Assumption College, MA and the master’s degree from Saint Joseph College, CT. He was granted Fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2000 and he was ordained in 2001.

Minister's Musings - Advent
This year Christmas falls on a Sunday and we will have Christmas themed services on Christmas Eve at 5 pm and Christmas Day at 11 am. This gives us the unique opportunity to celebrate the four Sundays of Advent, which in the traditional Christian calendar is a time of waiting and preparation for the glorious event of Jesus' birth at Christmas.

Whatever meaning we attribute to Christmas, we all have moments when we anticipate an important event or critical time in our lives. How we prepare for that event will affect its impact on us. The earth uses the fallow time of winter to prepare for the glory of spring. How do we use our time of waiting and preparation?

There are four Advent themes, hope, faith, joy and peace that Colleen and I will use as focal points for the four Sundays that precede Christmas. We will also begin each Sunday with an Advent ritual. We look forward to creating these reflective worship moments at this hectic time of year. Join us.

In Peace,
Art

Sermons in this series

Nov 27: Building Castles in the Air - Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern
As we enter into our first week of Advent we will look at our Hopes and dreams. We will explore why Hope is so important for our future but even more important to the foundation of our present moment.

Dec. 4: The Way to God Is Down - Rev. Arthur Lavoie
In difficult times we often have to face the challenge that confronts us. Sometimes we have to reach into the depths of uncertainty or despair to find our spiritual center and renewed meaning. The theme for our second Sunday of Advent is faith.

Dec. 11: From Despair to Joy - Rev. Arthur Lavoie
Sometimes our lives are filled with sadness and despair. It can be difficult to find the joy, yet it is achievable. Ludwig van Beethoven was deaf when he composed his ninth symphony, yet he was able to create a masterpiece. What great things might we be capable of if we could find joy, the theme of our third Sunday of Advent

Dec. 18: Seeking Peace - Rev. Arthur Lavoie and Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern
Peace, the word itself gives pause for we know that peace is an element of our deepest yearning both for ourselves personally and for our world. The Peace of Christmas, of what is to come, is right around the corner yet so far away. Join us as we conclude our Advent series with reflections on Peace.

UNDER CONTSTRUCTION! - PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR MORE SERMONS

2011-2012

2010-2011

The 23rd Psalm; It's a Love Story - Feb. 13, 2011, Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern
"There are times in life when we are the sheep. Will we brave enough to ask for help? And there are times in life when we are called to be shepherds. Will we be willing to be present during those difficult yet rewarding journeys of life?"

Find the Blessings - Feb. 6, 2011, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"Living in a place of blessing is about living with hope, with optimism, rather than with expectation."

We Have Always Done It This Way - Jan. 23, 2011, Colleen Squires, Ministerial Iintern
"It sends up a giant red flag that says WE RESIST CHANGE! And this message, well this message will cause the most pain."

Building the Beloved Community - Jan. 16, 2011, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"Throughout his ministry, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. championed the idea of a 'beloved community' built on mutual love, respect and caring. How can we build such a “beloved community” in our own lives, here in this place?"

The Four Freedoms - Jan. 9, 2011, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave an address to Congress during which he outlined four basic freedoms that should apply to every person in the world. Seventy years later, how we might continue to practice this bold vision of justice."

Who Are You in the Christmas Story? - Dec. 19, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"I think our task at this holy time is to stand in this story once again and see ourselves in its unfolding."

The Way - Dec. 5, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie and Ana Sorina Popa, Organist and Choir Director
"Daoists believe that there is a sacred unifying, guiding principle which is called “The Dao” that undergirds the universe. It is translated as 'The Way.'"

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word - Nov. 28, 2010, Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern
"We are a justice-seeking people, yet how do we as Unitarian Universalists seek to make amends in our personal lives? What can we learn from other world religions about reconciliation?"

Our Blessing Are Not Our Own - Nov. 21, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"... perhaps our 'Thanksgiving' can be more about the ways we transform the future than about remembering a complicated past."

The Soul of the Universe - Nov. 14, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"What would it mean for us to recognize that the Soul of the Universe existed at the center of our own nature?"

A Wide Place and a Warm One - Nov. 7, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"We are looking for connection; connection to our deeper selves, connection to others, connection to God, or transcendent mystery and wonder, connection to a way to be of greater service to the community."

Be afraid, be very afraid - Oct. 31, 2010, Lex Cade-White, Director of Relgious Education and Youth Coordinator

Beauty Around Us - Oct. 24, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"… the Universalist part of our faith reminds us that we are all saved or none of us are."

Strength through Diversity - Oct. 17, 2010, Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern
"I am a member of this faith because being UU encourages a true and sincere engagement with those of differing theological viewpoints."

The Beginning is Near - Oct. 10, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"First Parish Church has taken prophetic stances in our history. How will we accept that challenge today?"

The Song of the Thrush - Oct. 3, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie and T.J. Griffin, member of the Board of Trustees and the Membership Committee
"It’s wonderful to be a part of a religious community and still have the freedom to pursue my own path."

"My faith is something I want to have an active role in shaping, not something I want to get handed to me to just swallow whole."

The Tent of Abraham - Sep. 26, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"Can we again find the place in our hearts where our tents are open on all sides, where hospitality, welcoming and peace are our greatest gifts?"

Thali - Sep. 19, 2010, Rev. Arthur Lavoie
"I think the greatest tension in American society today is … within each of us, and in our society at large about individuality and sameness, about freedom and conformity."

Worship Team

Ana Sorina Popa, Organist and Choir Director

Lee Paczulla, Director of Religious Education (DRE): Lee is a second year seminarian at Harvard Divinity School and calls All Souls in Washington D.C. her home congregation. A native of suburban Philadelphia, Lee has a BA in Psychology and worked in youth development and community health advocacy for five years before returning to school. Lee taught RE and led the Children's Chapel at All Souls from 2008-2010. She is currently an Aspirant in the Unitarian Universalist fellowship process.

Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern: Colleen is a recent graduate of Andover Newton Theological School. Her ministerial internship is a hybrid site where she serves both the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM) in a community setting and here at First Parish in the parish setting. This year she will focus her attention at Renewal House the domestic violence shelter at the UUUM. And she will be working with the Hospitality and Care Task Force at First Parish to improve outreach to our current members and friends. Colleen's ordination ceremony will be held at First Parish in 2012.

Worship Team alumni/ae

Lex Cade-White
Director of Religious Education, 2009-11
Lex is now a ministerial intern at All Souls Church in Washington DC. First Parish is sponsoring her candidacy for the ministry.

Janet C. Bush
Ministerial Intern, 2007-2009
Rev. Bush is the minister of the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, Mass.

Tim Trussell-Smith
Director of Religious Education, 2008-2009
Tim is currently a seminarian at All Saints Parish, Brookline, Mass.

Michelle LaGrave
Director of Religious Education, 2007-2008
Rev. LaGrave is the minister of the First Congregational Parish, Petersham, Mass.