Lenten Morning Prayer (March 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6)
Jaz Buchanan

Want to explore centering prayer as a spiritual practice? Discern a word or phrase that helps you ground yourself in the love of God as you start your day? During Lent, Pastoral Associate, Jaz, will be leading a time for prayer and silence (maybe some gentle music!) once a week in the morning via zoom. We are looking to meet on Wednesdays at 8am during Lent, but that can change based on the availability of the group.  


Telling Our White Stories (day and time tbd by those interested)
Carter West
 
Living in a racially conditioned world lands us in a lot of ambiguity.  White people experience both "being white," facts of life based on perceptions of skin color, and "whiteness," our status of privilege resulting from our historic oppression of others.  The latter summons us to choose justice, but the former condition just is.  Becoming a white anti-racist involves distinguishing between the two, accepting the anxieties and pleasures that come with being part of any race while facing our prejudices and our participation in racist social systems square on.  In that way, we can relieve any shame we may harbor over being white, freeing us for an anti-racist life.
 
This group will be based entirely in experience.  We'll tell our stories as white people engaging race, those involving our racism and those that don't, giving non-judgmental support.  We'll relate our lives inside structures healthy or toxic, our past and present encounters with BIPOC individuals and cultures, and our hopes for a new day.  And we'll enfold our individual stories in the great story, the gospel of God's renewal of life and overcoming systems of domination.  Group members will keep a guided journal and come prepared to share -- but sharing will be voluntary, NOT required.  Members will be strongly encouraged to attend all sessions and confidentiality will be strictly observed.

Troublesome Attitudes and Antidotes (time tdb, 5 Thursdays in March)
Hilary Hopkins and Lexi Boudreaux
 
In this 5-session Lenten group, we’ll examine attitudes and practices which limit our ability to truly see and work with each other.  Drawing on the work of Tema Okun on the characteristics of White supremacy culture,  we can try to discern how each of us embraces these characteristics, and prod gently at ways in which we can do better.  Okun suggests 15 characteristics that will fit neatly into five meetings.  We’ll meet on the five Thursdays in March,  at tbd time by those interested.

EcoFaith Book Group (Thursday, Feb 10 and Thursday, March 3 at 5 p.m)
Jim Brown

Join us for another fruitful round of reading and reflection as we dive deeper into the question of how we can be faithful stewards of all God's creation. This winter season we are reading The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and will meet by Zoom on Thursday, Feb 10 and Thursday, March 3 at 5 p.m. Please contact Jim Brown at jobrown773@gmail.com or Jaz Buchanan at jaz@firstchurchcambridge.org if you have questions!

Queer Open Mic (5 Tuesdays starting Feb 22nd at 6pm)
Ebony West

Happy New Year First Church! This year I will be hosting a queer friendly book club called Queer Open Mic! All are welcomed to join as we will bring our favorite queer friendly books to a safe environment and read our favorite passages from them. This will be hosted over Zoom once a week for the next five weeks starting Feb 22nd @6pm. Please email me with any questions you may have.


MAKE A HOME ALTAR (Sundays at 4 - 5 pm, February 13- 20- 27- March 6th.)
Henry Gates
 
Bless your home with an art creation that
is a symbol of spirituality. There will be four single hours in February,
6, 13, 20, 27 at 4 pm. Henry Gates will provide brisk, structured
guidance if you provide the materials. You will e-mail him for this
list and a general overview. His plan goes from darkness toward
the light; passing through initial chaos, onto color based feelings,
using design with words, ending with your symbol, in a frame.
We will end each hour with time for questions and comments.
Sundays at 4 - 5 pm, February 13- 20- 27- March 6th.