From Rev. Claire

Worship Themes 2022-23

September – The Secret of Life October –  Creativity November –Transcendence December – Lost and Found January – Connections February – Heat March – Mortality April – The Unknown May – Story June – Bloom September – The Secret of Life – three poems inspired this theme: “The Secret” by Denise Levertov; “Secret of Life” … Continued

A Transition in Our Worship Offerings

This message is from the Worship and Music Action Team and Rev. Claire about our plans for online worship going forward into the next church year. We sent a message to our most frequent Zoomers (usually about 40 or so each Sunday) before sharing this message with the rest of the congregation. May 2022 Dear … Continued

From Rev. Claire

February 16, 2022   Dear Follen, Yesterday I began a “mini-sabbatical” and vacation time. I’ll be on leave from now until March 11th. I planned this time back in August in conversation with lay leadership, and now I am very grateful for the foresight! The timing was specifically planned for a less busy time of … Continued

Reading and Sermon from September 26

September 26, 2021 Worship Theme: Sanctuary Rev. Claire Feingold Thoryn   Call to Worship: Claire Good morning! I was praying for the sun today. Praying, and checking every weather app and website I could. I started following meteorologists on Twitter. And here we are. I don’t think prayers change the weather—but I’m going to keep … Continued

Help Write a Community Poem

Where are you from?  Beryl and I would love to share some snippets of where you are from during our Ingathering service on September 13. What things, places, smells, words, images, and memories make you who you are? Write your own “Where I’m From” poem or just jot down a few words–short is fine! Send … Continued

June Spiritual Exercise: Fire

June – Fire “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” –Albert Schweitzer Reflect on a person who rekindled your spark when you needed it the most. Is … Continued

May Spiritual Exercise: Ritual

May– Ritual Your ritual this month is one of gratitude and mindfulness. At sunrise—if you are an early bird—or sunset, if you prefer—take a moment to look at the sky. Stop the hustle and bustle and go outside if at all possible, for at least one brief minute. Breathe. Look at the sun rising or … Continued

April Spiritual Exercise: And Yet

April – And Yet (Easter) The Sufi tradition and Jewish folklore have stories about a phrase that is true in all situations; these words bring joy to sad moments and sadness to joyful moments. This profound phrase is: “This too shall pass.” Find ways to say “this too shall pass” in sad and happy moments … Continued

A Letter from Rev. Claire: COVID-19 Update

March 12, 2020   Dear Follen members and friends, Since last week, The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world. Our MA Department of Public Health has now advised that we avoid large gatherings. More information and requests from the Lexington Department of Public Health and Lexington Public Schools may be shared tonight via … Continued

February Spiritual Exercise: Loyalty

February – Loyalty This is a juicy one. One synonym of loyalty is fidelity: faithfulness. We can be faithful to a person, an ideal, a promise, a way of life… We can be faithful spouses, faithful friends, faithful recyclers… there are a lot of ways to practice loyalty and fidelity. Faithfulness is something many humans … Continued