Good morning.  I’m so glad to be with you today to share some of the memories of this place that I love so much, First Parish in Concord.  You know, I’m sure if each of you were asked, you would remember the first time you walked into the Parish Hall or into the Sanctuary, and … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Lillian Anderson

Hi I am Bruce Blumberg, and I want to take a couple of minutes to talk about what First Parish means to me. Wasn’t last week’s service great? And it revealed an essential truth: being part of First Parish has the potential to fundamentally change people’s lives. In Anna’s case, it was her visit to … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Bruce Blumberg

I, like so many, have struggled through Covid-19. I’m lucky enough to be part of a wonderful school that I truly love. I transferred in during 10th grade and became deeply enmeshed in the community, but considered my time to be limited and precious given I only have three years. Losing my junior year spring … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Anna Whitney

I miss being together with you all! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Leah Russell and I grew up in the UU tradition.  Several years ago, when it was time to find my UU church for my family, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to find a place that was … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Leah Russell

Good morning everyone. My name is Jeff Brainerd and as we embark on our Annual Pledge Campaign I wanted to share a little bit about what’s on my mind. I know I don’t have to tell anybody here this, but this has been such an unprecedented, and challenging, year. And it’s no less true for … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Jeff Brainerd

Good morning, First Parish family and friends.  This year’s Annual Campaign theme of “Here Together, Never Alone,”  at first struck me as odd: aren’t we in fact NOT together, and aren’t many of us feeling isolated from one another?  Before we had to go online, First Parish was THE place for me to be together … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Peter Nobile

Good morning First Parish friends.  I send you a big air hug, as Liz has taught us to do. We’ll be back in our balcony perch before long, but I miss seeing all your faces. John and I signed the book in 1988, thirty-three years ago, and First Parish has been an anchor in our … Continue reading 2021 Pledge Testimonial – Dinny McIntyre

Good morning and I am glad to be with you today. Let me start by telling you a quick story.  You’ve probably have heard this, but it bears repeating.  There once were 3 blind people and an elephant.  They were asked to describe what the elephant looks like.  One felt its ear and said an … Continue reading 2020 Pledge Testimonial – Tom Wilson

Today I’ll tell you a story from back in 2008, when the First Parish building was being renovated. Our congregation met at Kerem Shalom, the synagogue on Elm Street. My heart was heavy that year and I wanted to attend services. I couldn’t because of my work schedule. One weekday, hoping for comfort, I dropped … Continue reading 2020 Pledge Testimonial – Mary Ann Barton

While my church-going life has been quite brief I have always believed churches, at their best, support, enhance, and change lives. And I would suspect that is the order in which many people experience church: first supportive, then life-enhancing, and ultimately life-changing. For me it was a bit reversed. My life was changed almost the … Continue reading 2020 Pledge Testimonial – Tim Whitney