General Interest

RE News This Week

OWL Thursday November 30, 6:15 – 8:30pm, Anne Smith Room OWL meets for its gender panel discussion (and dinner first) FUUY Unloads the Christmas Trees Friday December 1, 2:30 – 4:30pm Meet at the Follen parking lot, then come inside to the Anne Smith Room for hot chocolate and refreshments! FUUY Helps Tag the Trees Saturday December 2, 9am till finished Come … Continued

The Christmas Trees Are Almost Here!

Christmas Trees at Follen kicks off Saturday, Dec. 2, as we transform the parking lot and open for business. It cannot be done without your participation. Sign up to sell trees any day fromDecember 2 to Christmas Eve. Invite a newcomer to join you and introduce them to this Follen tradition. Help is also needed to price and tag trees … Continued

Congregational Survey for RE Leadership Search 

Please Share Your Thoughts and Ideas You should have received an invitation to complete the RE Leadership survey. Whether your children are cherubic infants, moody teenagers, or full-fledged adults – or you don’t have children – we want to hear from you. Please take 10 minutes to complete the Congregational Survey for RE Leadership. Your input … Continued

A New Letter from Our Partner Church

In November 2017, we received a letter from Follen’s Partner Church in Transylvania. Translated by Kathy Spang, the letter gives a full picture of current church life and events. It is addressed it to the members of Follen who visited last April and signed by the church’s minister, Rev. Jozsef Dimeny (right), and two church elders. … Continued

In the Interim: Down and Dirty

This has been a tough week from a number of perspectives:  my cousin passed away, and I traveled to Florida to eulogize and celebrate and mourn her.  She was a smart, incisive, funny person, much older than me, who had a career as a teacher and then philanthropist.  A person who spoke her mind, she … Continued

In the Community: Global Warming

Film and Panel Discussion on Global Warming:  Project Drawdown Monday, December 11, 7-8:30pm, Bedford Public Library Project Drawdown, a comprehensive plan to reverse global warming. “It will give you the best kind of hope, the kind that balances realism with radical vision.” Tom Athanasiou, The Nation There is no silver bullet for climate change because … Continued

December’s Worship Theme and Spiritual Exercise: “Promise”

Our Theme for December is Promise. This exercise is an opportunity for reflection. Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? Have you ever broken a promise to someone else? When you look back on the broken promises in your life, what did you learn from them? How have these broken promies affected your faith—in … Continued

Members’ Blog: Gary Smith Says “Take Joy”

“The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy. Take joy.” Take Thanksgiving Sunday, the 19th, nine days ago, at Follen Community Church in East Lexington. The second service is at 11:30 and we’re there a little after 11, and the doors to the sanctuary are closed, and … Continued

In the Interim: Days of Remembrance

I’m writing this piece on Monday, November 20th – a couple of days earlier than usual — because of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance – a day to honor all of the transgender individuals we have been lost this year and in the years prior to this one. Transgender Day of … Continued

Follen Youth Raising Funds for Italy Trip

Follen youth Ben, Isabella and Venice are in Madrigals (honors chorus) at Arlington High. The Madrigals and band are going to perform all over Northern Italy; schools, churches, etc. over February school vacation. The band leader is from Italy and has arranged for all their engagements. In order to defray the costs, the kids are participating … Continued