|
Welcome! |
Whether you are a guest, friend, or member to Arlington Street Church, Unitarian Universalist, we warmly invite you into the experience of
a congregation that strives to create a community of seekers and celebrates and nurtures a broad diversity of personal spiritual journeys.
Since its founding, Arlington Street Church has been "gathered in love and service for justice and peace." The ultimate meaning we can give to our experience together is to challenge one another to go forth from this spiritual community and work to transform and heal our lives and relationships, our community, and our world.
At Arlington Street Church we want you to experience the great music, the encouraging sermons, the friendly people, and the many educational opportunities for adults and children that are a part of our spiritual community. As you browse our site, we hope you get a personal and friendly look at our congregation. But we realize this is just a Web site. The best way to experience all that's here for you and your family is to visit us this Sunday! Welcome to Arlington Street Church, UU!
|
|
|
Coming Right Up! |
Covenant Renewal
Sunday, May 3rd, 11:00 AM
To include your commitment in the total announced during the worship service on Covenant Sunday, you must pledge on or before May 3rd. Brochures and pledge sheets can be found in the pews, at the Welcome Table during Coffee Hour, online at www.ASCBoston.org, and in the church office.
This year’s Covenant Sunday will feature special musical performances from the choir and a luncheon provided by volunteers from the Friday Night Supper Program.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment!
Annual Gala Celebration & Auction
Benefiting the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
With special guest Sandra Bernhard
Saturday, May 9th, 7:00 PM, The Roxy Theatre
Raise your voice in support of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus’ mission of creating a more tolerant society through the power of music. Tickets for this event can be purchased online at www.bgmc.org or by calling 617.542.SING. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, tasty hors d’oeuvres, festive silent and live auctions, and a featured performance by acclaimed actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard.
The BGMC is seeking volunteers to work behind the scenes to help make the event a success. Volunteers will receive complimentary tickets to the BGMC’s upcoming “TOTALLY 80’s” concert during Pride weekend in June. To get more information on volunteering, contact Guy Croteau, Volunteer Chair at volunteers09@bgmc.org or by calling 781.223.0209.
Women’s Spirituality Group
Sunday, May 17th, 2009, 1:00 PM, Perkins Room
Join the Women's Spirituality Group as we complete our discussion of Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1) by Neale Donald Walsch. We will also be soliciting ideas for future meetings and welcome your input! For information, or to join the email discussion and receive the study guide, contact wsg@ASCBoston.org.
|
|
|
The Wednesdays: Chekhov Short Stories |
Wednesdays, May 13th and 27th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Frothingham Library
Professor Alan Helms writes, “Though Chekhov was celebrated as a major playwright for most of the last century, in the past 25 years or so his fame has rested increasingly on his short stories. He began writing them as a young medical student in Moscow to make money for his down-and-out family, and he soon found himself so popular that writing fiction became as absorbing an activity as his medical career. ‘Medicine is my wife but literature is my mistress.’ By the time he died at the early age of 44, he had produced over 200 short stories — a body of work that almost permanently altered the form and profoundly influenced all of the writers who followed him: Joyce, Woolf, Faulkner, you name ’em. His fiction is celebrated for its economy, penetrating psychology, and amazing empathy. He is, in short, the Shakespeare of short fiction. If I could take only two writers to a desert island, I would choose Shakespeare and Chekhov without a moment’s hesitation.“
We’ll be using the Norton Critical Edition of Chekhov’s short stories which you’ll find for sale at Amazon & abebooks.com. Join Professor Alan and Rev. Kim for Chekhov; all are welcome, no shipwreck necessary!
|
|
|
Music@ASC |
Eli Epstein and “Inside Out” win National Entrepreneur the Arts Competition
Dear Friends,
For the past three years, Arlington Street Church has been hosting Eli Epstein’s “Inside Out” Concert Series, featuring his innovative, interactive, and informal approach to classical music, encouraging listeners to tap into the emotional essence and universal human experience that’s inherent in every work of art.
I’m thrilled that Eli has just been honored by winning the National Entrepreneur the Arts Competition. Read more
here.
Eli and “Inside Out” will be returning to Arlington Street Church for their 2009–2010 season. Stay tuned for more information on next year’s concerts!
Best, Mark Buckles, Director of Music
Zradci New Music Ensemble Concert
Friday, May 1st, 7:30 PM, in the Sanctuary
Come experience an evening of engaging and provoking music: the inaugural concert of Zradci, a new music ensemble based in Boston. Zradci’s mission is to bring to the public unique ways of presenting, performing, composing, seeing, hearing, experiencing and understanding music. The concert will include pieces by John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Frederic Rzewski, as well as music written specifically for this performance by living composers from around the nation. Arlington Street Church’s collaborative pianist Molly Wood is a founding member of this group and will be performing, along with several other colleagues. Reception in the Hunnewell Chapel to follow.
Brandon Brooks Cello Recital
Saturday, May 2nd 3:00 PM in the Hunnewell Chapel
Cellist Brandon Brooks returns to Arlington Street Church to perform a program that you do not want to miss! The concert features George Crumb’s mystical Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale) for amplified flute, cello, piano, and crotales. This transcendent piece is based on the songs of humpback whales and will be performed in near-darkness, with the speakers surrounding the audience. The concert also features Bach’s Third Suite for Solo Cello, Arvo Pärt’s spiritually minimalist Frates and Spiegel im Spiegel, Craig Walsh’s Pipeline Burst Cache for cello and digital media, and Judith Weir’s Unlocked based on early American folk songs collected by John and Alan Lomax in the 1930’s from prisoners in Florida and Alabama. Reception to follow!
Calling all Singers!
The Arlington Street Church Choir performs an array of challenging, evocative repertoire spanning dozens of cultures, and centuries of musical and liturgical history. We find that making music with and for our community here at Arlington Street is a central and beautiful part of our spiritual practice as Unitarian Universalists. Will you join us? Rehersals are Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Clarke Room. Feel free to speak to Director of Music, Mark Buckles, or email him at MBuckles@ASCBoston.org.
|
|
|
|
Built in 1861 as the first public building in Boston's historic
Back Bay, Arlington Street Church stands today as a pristine example of
19th century Boston architecture. Couple that with our ideal
location—across the street from the Public Garden and steps from
the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and the sites of Newbury Street and
Beacon Hill—and it's no wonder why we're a
popular spot for weddings.
As you plan your wedding day please consider Arlington
Street's stunning
sanctuary
for your ceremony. Our unique
sanctuary features a newly refurbished interior, 63-rank
Æolian-Skinner organ, Tiffany stained-glass windows, and
62-foot high vaulted ceilings.
Plus, our Unitarian Universalist faith embraces a wide range of
traditions. Whether you're dreaming of the most traditional ceremony or
have planned a unique celebration of your very own, Arlington Street
Church welcomes you with open arms.
Learn more...
Wedding Rentals |
Our Building and Windows
Our Organ | Our Faith |
Location |
Contact
|
|
|
Download Podcasts of Past Sermons |
Arlington Street Church is pleased to offer podcasts of past sermons through iTunes. If you already have iTunes installed on your computer, click on the link below to see a list of sermons available and get the ones you want.
Click to open the
ASC Sermon Podcast
in iTunes.
If you don’t already have iTunes, get it now and begin enjoying the insight and inspiration of ASCBoston wherever you may be!
|
|
|
Stay in Touch |
|
Arlington Street Church sends a short e-newsletter every other
Friday. Called
Snapshot, this e-newsletter highlights the major
events in the life of our congregation and makes keeping in touch
easy!
Note: Arlington Street
Church takes privacy very seriously. To learn more, read
our privacy policy here.
Sign up for Snapshot!
|
|
|
On Becoming a Member... |
Been coming to ASC and loving it? Well, maybe it's time to become a
member. We love to welcome new members into our beloved
community!
Let us know you're out there by
completing this simple form
.
To learn more about Arlington Street Church and Unitarian Universalism and explore membership, take one of our
Membership Classes also offered though the
ASCenter.
Finally, each and every member of Arlington Street Church and our greater community is
welcome to get involved in the dozens of
groups, classes,
committees and
musical opportunities at ASC—explore
and get involved!
|
|
 |
|
|
Worship Highlights! |
|
It’s Sunday morning at 11:00 AM!
Arlington Street’s members, friends, and guests experience worship through beautiful music, an inspiring message from the pulpit, sharing our sorrows and joys, quiet prayer and meditation.
Come and be inspired and nurtured for your spiritual journey!
|
|
|
|
|
Social Action Opportunities |
|
Vote to save the bell tower of our historic church in Quincy!
Vote early! Vote often! Today and once a day through May 17th (on your computer!) United First Parish Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Quincy, the “Church of the Presidents,” is one of 25 finalists for grants totaling $1,000,000 in the “2009 Boston Partners in Preservation” program. Awards will be made through an online voting contest now being conducted by a partnership of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express.
The winner receives a grant (maximum $100,000), and other awards will be made on the basis of project merit and efforts at community outreach. Your vote will help Unitarian Universalists in Quincy to restore the bell tower and improve the public corridor to the tombs of President John Adams, Abigail Adams, President John Quincy Adams, and Louisa Catherine.
The competition is fierce! Every vote is needed ... often! Each person can vote once a day, through May 17th. Please go to www.partnersinpreservation.com.
Thank you!
Visit our Social Action page to learn how you can get involved in Arlington Street Church’s social justice work.
|
|
|
Friday Night Supper Program Donation Bins
|
|
The Friday Night Supper Program now has permanent donation bins in the Parish Hall located next to the piano. Donations of food items (canned vegetables, beans and soup), toiletries, and
men’s clothing can be placed in these bins during the week, and will be picked up on Fridays. If you would like a tax receipt for your donated items please include your name, address, and dollar amount. Thank you for supporting the Friday Night Supper Program!
Learn more about the Friday Night Supper Program by visiting their Web site.
|
|
|
From the Pulpit |
Want to read the most recent sermons? Did you especially like a
recent "One Member's Journey" & pulpit editorial?
If so, visit the Sermons section of
Worship for an archive of selected sermons for the
current church year.
|
|
|
|
Click to open the
ASC Sermon Podcast
in iTunes.
|
Candles of Joy and Sorrow
|
Candles can be submitted online by ASC members and friends and will be included in our weekly Candles of Joy and Sorrow ritual during the Sunday morning worship service. Click here to fill out an online Candle Card.
|
|
|
Jubilee! |
Jubilee's commitment to advancing human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice is built upon ASC's mission of love and service for justice and peace. Through Jubilee we aspire to share these values beyond ASC's walls - developing new partnerships and strengthening relationships with spiritually enriching and justice-seeking work in our local community and throughout the world.
Projects receiving our support include Only A Child, Santuario, NOLA (New Orleans) Partner Church Coordinating Committee, Partakers Prison Education, and Villages Without Walls. |
|
|
|
|
