Old First Reformed UCC

05/28/2026

Join fellow community members this Saturday, May 30th, at the Inaugural Senior Resource Fair, hosted by Councilmember O'Rourke's Office!

There will be Grocery Giveaways, Workshops, Vendors, and Fitness Classes, all geared towards older Philadelphians.

The event is free and open to the public. More information in the comments.

05/26/2026

Billi C. asked us to share this. If you need more info., contact her….

05/17/2026

A group of Old Firsters enjoyed an informative tour of the Museum of the American Revolution after lunch at National Mechanics. We spied an image of Old First’s original building among the museum’s collection

05/12/2026

"Happiness"
by Jane Kenyon

(as shared in the SALT* e-newsletter)

There’s just no accounting for happiness,
or the way it turns up like a prodigal
who comes back to the dust at your feet
having squandered a fortune far away.

And how can you not forgive?
You make a feast in honor of what
was lost, and take from its place the finest
garment, which you saved for an occasion
you could not imagine, and you weep night and day
to know that you were not abandoned,
that happiness saved its most extreme form
for you alone.

No, happiness is the uncle you never
knew about, who flies a single-engine plane
onto the grassy landing strip, hitchhikes
into town, and inquires at every door
until he finds you asleep midafternoon,
as you so often are during the unmerciful
hours of your despair.

It comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
It comes to the lover, to the dog chewing
a sock, to the pusher, to the basket maker,
and to the clerk stacking cans of carrots
in the night.

It even comes to the boulder
in the perpetual shade of pine barrens,
to rain falling on the open sea,
to the wineglass, weary of holding wine.

04/24/2026

We're in the process of renewing our Mission & Vision Statement for Outreach Ministries (we've accomplished much; what more does God want from us?). These commitments from a pastoral letter from the Southern New England Conference Minister reminded me of Mission & Vision goals...

04/23/2026

We have spoken about how White Christian Nationalism isn't Christianity so much as a antithetical movement that uses Christian symbolry / language / form to disguise what it's really up to. The proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. Here's a real life example of why and how the White Christian Nationalist movement is out of the wide bounds of what can be considered the church...

https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/04/21/cities-church-and-its-white-christian-nationalism-deserve-scrutiny/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRW8MNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFObnFCaEUycW9LOUpjcm5ac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr6XmjryCRsvEHBG4z6OWFkyMKVfjduZGgMwdw8wf6F0wRryZfJj30rJcVtB_aem_vk-2eW01GGNiKSP419SL7g

Cities Church is not your run-of-the-mill Jesus-loving Christian church.

04/20/2026

One of you asked for the text of the "Modern Day Psalm" by Zach Ford that Theo and I read as the end of worship yesterday. It can be found on the https://worshipwords.co.uk/ website.

A Modern-day Psalm

We do not stand against,
We stand for:
Love, inclusion, life, and dignity,
Offering a hand to those in need,
Or a shoulder to those who weep.

We do not stand against,
We stand with:
The fearful, the oppressed,
The rebels and truth-tellers,
Those who take action.

We do not stand against,
We stand for:
More truth, more justice,
The right to be yourself,
To choose, deny, or claim.

We do not stand against,
We stand as:
Lovers, parents, children,
Accountants and word-weavers,
The numberless priesthood,
Of unending love.

Worship Words provides progressive, inclusive and relevant resources for today's church. Creative & refreshing, adaptable, free and without copyright.

04/20/2026

I just wrote a comment on this proposed change -- making any family ineligible from HUD housing programs if one person's immigration status is an issue. Currently, if grandma is over 62, it doesn't matter if she's undocumented. But if they change that rule. tens of thousands of families will be made ineligible for their housing. 37,000 children across our nation could lose their homes because of this Administration's desire to change the rules.

You too can write and register your opinion / concern. But all the comments need to be received by tomorrow!!!

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that impacts the housing of mixed-status families. This rule would fracture families and faith communities -- you have until April 21 to respond!

04/19/2026

There is so much ugliness in our world today, it‘s important to look deliberately for the persisting beauty breaking in.

Likewise, if you want a break from all the chaos, corruption and cruelty, church is a gathering to recognize, to celebrate, to incarnate peace and justice, compassion and honesty. Join us!