First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist

05/20/2026

Y2Y Summer Shelters: Volunteers Needed!

First Parish is happy to share a volunteer opportunity with our community (and building!) partner, Y2Y Network. The Y2Y Summer Shelters, which runs from June 15th to August 5th, provide volunteers with a unique opportunity to make a profound, personal, and positive impact on our guests’ stays. As a summer volunteer, you will play a pivotal role in the shelter’s daily operations, including helping to complete maintenance tasks, collaborating with staff on key projects, and addressing guests’ needs as they arise. Volunteers will typically commit to a single weekly shift, but we are always willing to work with your schedule. Please reach out to our email ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns.

05/11/2026

JOIN US TOMORROW!

State and Local Climate Progress: Where Do We Go From Here?
Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, First Parish in Cambridge Meeting House, 1446 Mass. Avenue

Come hear about our climate goals – where are we, where are we going, where is there some exciting momentum, where are there roadblocks, and how can we all move forward together?

Miriam Wasser, WBUR Senior Reporter for Climate and Environment, will lead the panel discussion. Our panelists will be:
Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization Resilience, Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environment
Julie Wormser, City of Cambridge Chief Climate Officer; and
Vickash Mohanka, Chapter Director at the Sierra Club Massachusetts

RSVP at: https://firstparishcambridge.breezechms.com/form/8b850a.
Attendance via Zoom will also be available for those who prefer to join us remotely.

Cosponsor: 350 Mass for a Better Future (Cambridge/Somerville), Sierra Club Massachusetts, Mothers Out Front

05/06/2026

Come hear about our climate goals – where are we, where are we going, where is there some exciting momentum, where are there roadblocks, and how can we all move forward together?

State and Local Climate Progress: Where Do We Go From Here?
Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, First Parish in Cambridge Meeting House, 1146 Mass. Avenue

Miriam Wasser, WBUR Senior Reporter for Climate and Environment, will lead the panel discussion. Our panelists will be:
Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization Resilience, Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environment
Julie Wormser, City of Cambridge Chief Climate Officer; and
Vickash Mohanka, Chapter Director at the Sierra Club Massachusetts.

RSVP at: https://firstparishcambridge.breezechms.com/form/8b850a. All event details are also available on our website here.

Attendance via Zoom will also be available for those who prefer to join us remotely.

Cosponsor: 350 Mass for a Better Future (Cambridge/Somerville) Sierra Club Massachusetts Mothers Out Front

05/05/2026

First Parish Member, Marcia Hams, took part in a demonstration as apart of the "Not With Our Money, Citizens!" campaign through the The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. This May, First Parish will be donating 50% of our weekly offerings to GBIO as part of our shared plate initiative. Through Marcia Hams and other first parish members, GBIO has been a crucial partner of First Parish, mutually enriching and living out our values.

Developments from the "Not With Our Money, Citizens!" campaign have received excellent press coverage, most notably at the national level via The Rachel Maddow Show! To get caught up and learn about the work this team is doing, check out the links below.

NEWS LINKS:
John Edgerton interviewed on Rachel Maddow Show (NOTE, you may need to connect to your cable or streaming provider to access): https://www.usanetwork.com/series/the-rachel-maddow-show?v=5f1cbd04-9de3-48bf-aac4-f29e48ea5060https://www.usanetwork.com/series/the-rachel-maddow-show?v=5f1cbd04-9de3-48bf-aac4-f29e48ea5060

GBH News covers GBIO press conference outside of Citizens Bank: https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2026-05-04/faith-coalition-protests-citizens-banks-work-with-detention-centers-operators

Pastor Dieufort "Keke" Fleurissaint interviewed by : https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/02/metro/clergy-ice-citizens-bank-protest/?p1=StaffPage

Photo Caption: Marcia Hams holds the large withdrawal slip as part of this stand out, alongside Rev. Ray Hammond from Bethel AME Church. GBIO Strategy Team, which Hams takes part in, are speaking.

04/30/2026

On Sunday, April 19, the congregations of First Church in Belmont and First Parish in Cambridge ordained Rev. Sophia Doescher, First Parish's Assistant Minister. This meaningful ceremony marks the completion of Rev. Sophia's ordination process and affirms the UU community's support of her religious leadership. Rev. Sophia shares a few words of gratitude and invitation below:

Thank you to all who could join me at my ordination! It was a celebration brimming with joy and love! A beautiful reminder of how our ministries and our communities are woven into the fabric of Unitarian Universalism; connected to all who have come before, and all who will come after. I'm incredibly grateful for your love and support at the ordination, and the thoughtful cards and conversations I've had with so many of you since.

If you were unable to attend but you would still like to experience the ordination, here is a link to the recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/IAMKI3fVHGI. As one of the ministers said in the ordination, this is a ritual that we can participate in across time!

04/29/2026

State and Local Climate Progress: Where Do We Go From Here?

Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, First Parish in Cambridge Meeting House, 1146 Mass. Avenue

Massachusetts and Cambridge both have plans to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions - with a goal of 50% reduction (from a 1990 baseline) for 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. Both the state and city have had significant accomplishments, but there have also been challenges.

Come hear about our climate goals – where are we, where are we going, where is there some exciting momentum, where are there roadblocks, and how can we all move forward together?

Miriam Wasser, WBUR Senior Reporter for Climate and Environment, will lead the panel discussion. Our panelists will be:

Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization Resilience, Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environment
Julie Wormser, City of Cambridge Chief Climate Officer; and
Vickash Mohanka, Chapter Director at the Mass. Sierra Club.
RSVP at: https://firstparishcambridge.breezechms.com/form/8b850a. All event details are also available on our website here.

Attendance via Zoom will also be available for those who prefer to join us remotely.

Sponsored by the First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, Environmental Justice Team

Cosponsored by Sierra Club Massachusetts; Mothers Out Front; and 350 Mass for a Better Future (Cambridge/Somerville).

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from First Parish in Cambridge to you! How are you marking this day for yourself and your community? Still looking for a place to do just that?

Join Join First Parish Cambridge’s Environmental Justice Team and Young Adults Group for a guided tree “re-connecting” walk: "A Tree Social A Tree Social in the Burial Ground: An Earth Day Workshop with First Parish in Cambridge." This workshop will take place on Sunday from 12:15 to 1:15 PM and is open to the public.

For all the details, check out this link:

Join First Parish Cambridge’s Environmental Justice Team and Young Adults Group for a guided tree “re-connecting” walk. Assistant Minister Rev. Sophia Doescher, Rob Moir of the Ocean River Institute, and others will lead a meet-and-greet with individual trees and the many interconnections that...

04/20/2026

A Tree Social in the Burial Ground:
An Earth Day Workshop with First Parish in Cambridge
Sunday, April 26, 12:15 to 1:15 pm, First Parish Main Office (3 Church St)

Join First Parish Cambridge’s Environmental Justice Team and Young Adults Group for a guided tree “re-connecting” walk. Assistant Minister Rev. Sophia Doescher, Rob Moir of the Ocean River Institute, and others will lead a meet-and-greet with individual trees and the many interconnections that embrace us all.

All materials needed will be provided. Gather at the main office of the Meeting House at 12:15 pm, which can be accessed through the 3 Church St door to First Parish in Cambridge. This event is sponsored by First Parish in Cambridge, open to the public, and all ages are welcome to join. Please note sound projection is limited and the ground of the Old Burial Ground is uneven.

See all details of the event here: https://www.firstparishcambridge.org/events/we-are-the-great-turning

See all details of Sunday worship here: https://www.firstparishcambridge.org/events/worship-2026-04-26

12/03/2025

There are lots of wonderful things happening this holiday season here at First Parish. Here's a highlight of this weekend's events:

09/23/2025