Statement from Brookline Interfaith Clergy: Standing Together for Justice and the Protection of Immigrant Communities January 28, 2026 As faith leaders in Brookline, we stand together at a moment of deep moral urgency. We stand with our immigrant neighbors, and we stand against injustice wherever it occurs. We stand together, fearful for the soul of our country, and yet we commit ourselves to act — to fight for a world where human dignity is honored, and all are safe.

Keith Kirchoff: Encountering the Divine A solo piano recital that explores musical expressions of faith through the centuries. This program explores the richness of the Christian faith through six musical expressions and denominations. Reaching as early as the “Age of Reason” and as recent as the present day, this program draws upon different eras and faith traditions to contemplate the wonder and mystery of the Divine.

Join your friends at First Parish in Brookline for a special Christmas Eve service, as we weave Charles Dicken's timeless and meaningful "A Christmas Carol" story into our traditional service of carols and candles. The service begins at 5pm in our sanctuary on Walnut Street and streamed live online. Feel free to arrive early for the best seating. There will be professional childcare services provided for the little ones.

Join us on Sunday, Dec 21st at 11am, for a Winter Solstice Service to celebrate the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.  Many cultures throughout the world have marked the changing of the seasons through celebrations of solstices and equinoxes; today we draw particular inspiration from earth-based spiritual traditions rooted in pre-Christian European practices as a part of our regular Sunday worship. Service will also include our expansive Festival of Lights, in which at the appointed times we light the menorah, Advent wreath, and Kwanzaa kinara.

On December 19, join First Parish in Brookline in our annual Christmas Caroling tradition on the Boston Common. Spread Christmas cheer to the last minute shoppers and general passerbys through merriment, song, and classic carols. Everyone – regardless of musical background or age – is encouraged to join. There are plenty of sleigh bells for the kids and music will be provided.

Tonight here at First Parish in Brookline, 382 Walnut Street, we will be hosting the first of three game nights! We will have games from cornhole to cards, Azul to Catan, for you to play, learn, or teach, and also bring your own! This is an all-ages free event - everyone is welcome.

Our Sunday Religious Exploration class youth along with our Immigration Justice Committee put together these very informative posters to spread the news about the food drive underway for our partners at La Colaborativa. Please drop off items requested in the list below at either of our church entrances by November 21st.

DANCE EARLY. SLEEP HAPPY!!! WHEN: November 8, 2025, 6 - 9 pm WHERE: First Parish UU Brookline, 382 Walnut St., Brookline WHO: EVERYONE! This is an All-Ages Dance!

Get ready for a spooktacular time at Halloween Hoot! in Brookline - spooky fun for all ages! Saturday, October 18 · 6 - 9pm EDTFirst Parish in Brookline Halloween Hoot! in Brookline: FRIGHT-LITE FUN FOR ALL AGES Come join us at First Parish in Brookline for a spooktacular time at our Halloween Hoot! event. Get ready for a night of festive and family-friendly fun.

First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Brookline happily welcomes a new arrival: our very experienced nursery care provider, Noreen Harris. She will be looking after infants through pre-K children so their primary caregivers enjoy time in the sanctuary with music, readings, and reflections on other things than diapers and Cheerios. We're very pleased to be able to be able to enrich the lives of all people - of all ages!

Celebrate 90 years of a true legend: jazz pianist Ran Blake. This solo piano concert will feature Blake himself, as well as performances by Brian Friedland and other surprise guests! First Parish and our Music Director Keith Kirchoff are excited to launch a new concert series! Featuring local musicians with ties to the Brookline community, this series celebrates a love of music.

For the rest of June, through end of August, all of our Sunday services will be at 10am, and held in Lyon Chapel. See the schedule of services in the image below.

The People’s Café and the Immigration Justice Committee at First Parish Church in Brookline, are hosting a fundraiser for the Immigrant Family Service Institute (IFSI) on May 31st, at 7pm. The People’s Café has been fundraising for progressive groups in the Boston area for many years by offering dinner and a musical performance. (Donations are voluntary.) Funds have been raised for Centro Presente, Chelsea Collaborative, City Life/Vida Urbana, climate change groups (e.g., the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, 350 Mass…), EPOCA’s Jobs Not Jails Campaign, The Prison Book Program, Hands Up United, etc.

Hosted at First Parish in Brookline (Directions) Saturday, May 10, 10am - 4pmSunday, May 11, 12:30 pm - 2pm An exhibit and sale of original paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photos, prints, and jewelry plus a special Artistic Treasures Room full of eclectic art, hand-crafted & antique jewelry, unique collectibles & more. Gifts for every budget! GROWING COMMUNITY THROUGH ART All proceeds will go to maintain the historic First Parish building, widen our community, and promote charitable initiatives.

Our Pathfinders class (ages 8-10) enjoys being outside, interacting with nature, and learning their place in the world. They created this poem, with the guidance of a very happy volunteer teacher: Spring is....green promisemowing lawnsthe joy of riding my bikefeeling hot againexploring in the woodsgoing to the Arboretumtravelling to Texas on spring breakallergies...Celebrating my birthday!hearing more bird songsmelling hungry skunks - By members of the FPB Pathfinders class, March 2025

Called by Love, Sustained by Community, Committed to Justice HOURS: Part-time: 20 hours, 12 months COMPENSATION: Base salary is $32,500. Salary commensurate with experience. Start Date: July 1-August 1, 2025 (flexible start)This position will remain open until filled. OVERVIEW First Parish in Brookline, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, with a small but vibrant and growing religious exploration program, seeks a Children and Youth R.E.

From GLADD.org: Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise awareness about transgender people. It is a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the disproportionate levels of poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces compared to cisgender (non-transgender) people. International TDOV was created in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall.

Our annual canvass begins this coming Sunday, March 16 with an opening testimonial by Elena Garofoli, co-chair of the Canvass. See you today in Brookline at 11am in-person and online!

Back by popular demand, folk dance guru Marcie van Cleave will lead us all in folk dances from all over. Join us on Saturday evening, March 15th! No experience necessary  Free and open to all at the First Parish in Brookline, 382 Walnut St. Light refreshments offered. Donations welcome. See you there!

As we step into the month of Ramadan, we wanted to share some information about Ramadan. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Friday February 28, 2025, and will end on the evening of Sunday March 30, 2025, with the exact dates contingent upon the sighting of the moon. Ramadan is a month of fasting, reflection, and connection observed by people around the world.

UU Indigenous Solidarity Team Gathering: Footprints Along the Path to Truth-Telling, Relationship, and Repair Monday, Feb. 24th 7pm - 8:15pm (75 mins) Share our Facebook Event First Parish in Brookline is literally on an ancient Indigenous path, only blocks from where a tribal village, burial ground and planting field once were. But the church and town have little evident memory of the native Massachusett people who were violently dispossessed of the land four centuries ago by white English settlers and their militia.

The following story was written and shared by Rev. Joe Cherry. It was originally planned to be shared in-person during our "Time for All Ages" section of our Worship service. Since today was cancelled due to the snow/ice/rain storm, we decided to post this only for all to appreciate and share, in honor of Black History Month. The story I’m going to tell you is about a typical day in a life.

From Rev Joe: Due to the weather, I'm cancelling service this morning. I really hate to cancel two weeks in a row, but this weather prediction for this morning did not turn out to be the false alarm that last week's weather prediction was.  I apologize for both the late notice, and the fact that you may be getting multiple emails from me this morning about this.

Most religious communities consider themselves welcoming. That is, after all, the Golden Rule’s point. Among Unitarian Universalists, the meaning is more specific. At First Parish, the congregation has participated in an extensive, intentional and ongoing process to better understand gender and to live into a radical hospitality that welcomes and creates true sanctuary for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer people. This educational process is ongoing. We extend our welcome to you.