Our Minister

Rev. Marta I. Valentín

telephone:
(978) 486-3044

e-mail: interim@fculittle.org

Open Office Hours:
Tuesdays 10 am to noon

Rev. Marta I. Valentín

From the Pulpit

Sermons and Worship

Leading and Growing (September 28) 
For some of us at FCU, leadership is something we count on, we’re grateful for, and we hope we’re never called upon to provide. But don’t we all have the potential -- and perhaps the obligation -- to provide leadership in some capacity and at some time? During this lay worship we’ll explore the role of leadership and how many have stepped forward to find a positive growth experience and an opportunity to give of themselves in a personal and fulfilling way.
Dying and Rising: Transitional Ministry (September 21) 
What is it we are all about to do together? Rev. Marta explains transitional ministry, its core, developmental tasks, and ultimately,
its goal. In the process, she will call us into a covenant so we can begin the work of affirming our highest good during uncertain times.
Inquiring Minds Want To Know (September 14) 
Rev. Marta shares her journey that led her to First Church Unitarian, highlighting both her external and internal credentials.
Ingathering Service – 11:00 only (September 7)
As has been our custom for the past several years, we’ll be having a water communion at our Ingathering Service. Please bring a little water from a meaningful summer experience. It could be from your vacation or stay-cation. You’ll be asked to jot down a few words explaining the significance your collection has to you. Rev. Marta leads us in this first service of the FCU church year. This Intergenerational Service is at 11:00 a.m. only and there is no children’s programming; however the nursery will be open to all children 3 years of age or younger.
Turn, Turn, Turn (June 22) new
As the summer opens before us, we say farewell to one another and to Interim Director of Religious Education Molly Kobelenz, Ministerial Intern CJ McGregor, and Minister Fred Small. Rev. Fred Small leads. 11 am only.
Religious Education Sunday (June 15)
This will be our traditional family service honoring all the volunteers who teach and assist in our programs for infants, children, and youth. Come celebrate our young people and those who help them grow. Rev. Fred Small leads. 11 am only. Join us for the All-Church Spring Picnic following service.
The View from New Orleans (June 8)
Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina, how are the people of New Orleans faring? Participants in First Church Unitarian’s relief trip to New Orleans will report on what they saw, heard, and felt. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Welcoming All Children (June 1) 
Author Sally Patton tells us "our love and acceptance can change the world for children who are perceived as different." Unitarian Universalists can be models—we can lead the way. Opening the doors of our churches to all children, no matter their disability or struggle, will move us one step closer to healing the world. Today is also Recognition Sunday, when new members are formally welcomed by the congregation. And at 11 o’clock, we’ll dedicate Katie Baxter! Ministerial Intern CJ McGregor preaches and leads worship with Rev. Fred Small.
Cultivating Compassion (May 25) 
The mind so readily sees the stranger and the other as enemy. When anger and condemnation clutch at our hearts, how do we cultivate the spirit of compassion? Rev. Fred Small leads. Following each service there will be Conversations with the Minister in the Alliance Room.
The Ministers Explain Everything (May 18)
Fred and CJ will respond extemporaneously to your questions about Unitarian Universalism, theology, history, polity, ministry, church life, social justice, or anything else within the bounds of reason and discretion. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Good Grief (May 11)
We are bombarded with timelines, stages, good intentions and asked to "hurry up and grieve" when we suffer a loss. Understanding that grieving is healthy, transformative, and works differently for each of us can absolve us from our impulse to thwart this human need. Ministerial Intern CJ McGregor leads.
Connections: How Small Things Affect People (May 4)
The Senior Youth Group will conduct this service which will also include a Bridging Ceremony for the graduating seniors, Kelsea Whittemore and Phil Dumka. The Senior Youth Group leads.
Coming Back to Life (April 27) 
In the face of unprecedented ecological challenges, how do we transform despair and apathy into hope and action? Rev. Fred Small leads.
A Living Covenant (April 20)
Our covenant is printed in our order of service and posted on a bulletin board. What is required of us to make this a living covenant? Why is it important to learn to manage conflict in our community? These questions and others will be answered during this Lay Worship service. Mary Philbin, international educational consultant, will deliver the sermon. Mary has worked as an organizational consultant for over 20 years. Her experience includes both national and international training. She has delivered workshops on training trainers and project management and consulting on organizational issues such as conflict, stress, and cultural competence.
Household Economics (April 13) 
For most "economics" suggests investment, trade, taxes, profit, loss, and the cultivation of wealth. Economics is rooted in the Greek word oikos, meaning household, and signifies the management of a household--arranging what is necessary for well-being. Good household economics is about the well-being, the livelihood, of the whole household. What is necessary for our well-being as a congregation? On this Celebration Sunday, we’ll bring forward our pledge cards and celebrate our community. Ministerial Intern, CJ McGregor leads.
The Soul of Stewardship (April 6) 
Generosity is not so much what we give as who we are. Stewardship not so much what we spend as how seriously we take our mission and our commitment to the future. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Class Matters (March 30) 
The United States aspires to meritocracy transcending class, but inequalities still divide and wound us. Speaking from their own contrasting upbringings, Rev. Fred Small and CJ McGregor will reflect on the importance of class for Unitarian Universalists. (CJ's Reflection)
Good News (March 23)
To Christians, Easter brings the “Good News” of Jesus’ resurrection. Whatever our religious tradition, we all need good news to sustain us in hard times. Although good news can sometimes seem scarce indeed, the world abounds in goodness. In this family service of song and story, we’ll celebrate it together. (The 9 o’clock service will be designed especially for younger children and their families.) Rev. Fred Small leads.
The Cost of War (March 16) 
The United States occupation of Iraq has regressed from military triumph to administrative nightmare to human rights catastrophe. How can we bring an end to this unfolding tragedy? Rev. Fred Small leads.
When Children Leave (March 9) 
Our children are our treasures. Eventually, they leave after being in our keeping for many years. Some leave to pursue a college education. Some leave to work. Some die prematurely. This service addresses how these separations -- both before and after they occur -- impact children and their parents. It looks at the relationship of parent and adult child in the light of these changes. Lay led service.
A Congregation of Congregations (March 2) 
First Church Unitarian is one congregation among over a thousand in the Unitarian Universalist Association, which gathers annually in General Assembly. What role can our congregation play in the UU movement? Rev. Fred Small leads.
Crossing to Safety (February 24) 
We live in fearful and uncertain times. It’s natural to seek after security, but there are different ways to do this. The title of Wallace Stegner’s novel Crossing to Safety offers a clue on how we might find our way. Guest minister Rev. Frank Clarkson will preach. He is assistant minister at the North Parish of North Andover, Unitarian Universalist.
Back to the Present (February 17) 
According to Thich Nhat Hanh, mindfulness in the Buddhist tradition and the Kingdom of God in the Christian tradition are the same thing. Can we experience heaven in the present moment? Rev. Fred Small leads.
Coming to America (February 10) 
Immigration to a foreign country is difficult. This Morning we are hosting two men -- one from Iraq and the other from The Congo – who will share their experiences in immigrating to the U.S. We will hear about the isolation they experienced, the help they did and did not receive in establishing their new lives, and much more. Lay led.
Restoring Justice (February 3) 
The case of Fred Clay, serving a life sentence without parole in a Massachusetts prison, illuminates the failures of incarceration—and the need for restorative justice. This Sunday we’ll also dedicate new teachers in our religious education program and honor all our volunteers. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Guided By Faith (January 27) 
Most of us have beliefs that are not based on proof. It is faith, spiritual or otherwise, that guides us as we travel through unknown territories and unfamiliar areas of our lives. What is it we require of or seek from such a guide? CJ McGregor, Ministerial Intern leads.
The Grace of Doubt (January 20) 
Doubt is the partner of faith, the seed of curiosity, and an essential element of humility. This sermon celebrates the glory of not knowing. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Job and Arjuna (January 13) 
Two scriptures from two very different traditions Judaism’s Book of Job and Hinduism’s Bhagavad Gita both confront timeless questions of suffering, human will, and ultimate meaning. We’ll explore them together. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Service of Remembrance (January 6, 2008)
Today we continue our annual tradition of remembering those close to us who have died during the year past and celebrating those born or dedicated in the church.
The FCU Hymn Sing (December 30, 2007)
At the FCU hymn sing, we stuff the service with our favorite hymns, selected by the congregation on the spot and led by our indefatigable music director, David Lussier. Come with a song in your heart and a twinkle in your eye as we close out the year with the joyous sounds of our community.
A Christmas of Compassion (December 23) 
A Christmas of Compassion The Christmas story tells of the birth of a wondrous child in the bleak midwinter. Can the story inspire a rebirth of compassion in the winter of the soul? Rev. Fred Small leads.
Radical Hospitality (December 16) 
In the nativity narrative, there was “no room at the inn” for Mary and Joseph. How do we make room in our hearts and communities to welcome the stranger, the alien, the unfamiliar—and risk the possibility of change? Rev. Fred Small leads.
UU Urban Ministry (December 9)
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry Founded nearly 200 years ago on the principle of empowerment rather than charity, the UU Urban Ministry today concentrates on domestic violence and at-risk youth. UUUM Director Rev. John Hickey will preach on its vision, programs, and service opportunities.
Future Search (December 2) 
The weekend of November 16-18, more than fifty congregants met for fifteen hours to reflect on the past, observe the present, and envision the future of First Church Unitarian. Come hear the excitement, struggle, joy, and action steps of this dynamic conversation. Rev. Fred Small leads.
So What? (November 25) 
We will not be practicing being dismissive! We will be discussing the spiritual practice of saying "So What" and how this phrase affects the way we live and love in the world as Unitarian Universalists. Ministerial Intern, CJ McGregor leads.
Not to Be Served (November 18) 
In this family worship before Thanksgiving, we’ll reflect on gratitude, privilege, and service. We’ll also kick off our annual “Guest at Your Table” program to benefit the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Rev. Fred Small leads.
The New Youth Climate Movement (November 11) 
The challenges of global warming have inspired an extraordinary upwelling of youth activism. This sermon will report from Power Shift 2007, the national summit of thousands of youth climate leaders. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Pay Love Forward (November 4) 
Most of us have benefited at some point in our lives from the intervention, the guidance, and the love of a mentor. This person gave us what we needed, steered us where we thought we couldn't go—and for what? Several members of our congregation share their experiences of being mentored and mentoring, with Joe Mansfield and LarryLickteig identifying what to make of it and how we can return the favor.  Lay Led Service.
Now Is the Time (October 28) 
Recognizing that our religious values can help heal the wounded world, the Unitarian Universalist Association has embarked on a bold campaign to support congregational growth in numbers, diversity, witness, leadership, and spirit. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Spirit in Action (October 21) 
Spirituality without social action risks disconnection and narcissism. Activism without grounding in spiritual practice and reflection risks ineffectiveness and burnout. How do we cultivatean engaged spirituality?  Rev. Fred Small leads.
Sanctuary (October 14) 
Sanctuaries are widely known to be places that give us refuge, offer us shelter, a safe haven, and a place of safety. In religious an spiritual circles the sanctuary is a consecrated and sacred place. What makes a space a sanctuary? How do we measure up in creating such a space for one another? C.J. McGregor, Intern leads.
Seeing the Future (October 7) 
Every now and then it’s useful to step back from all the necessary tasks of religious community and ask ourselves fundamental questions. Why are we here? What have we accomplished? Where are we going? This sermon will introduce Future Search, the congregational process that will help us answer these questions. Rev. Fred Small leads.
Arts of Worship (September 30) 
Worship is an experience, but it’s also an art. Why do we bother to light a chalice? Why sing hymns? Why recite our covenant every Sunday? Why not put the prelude in the middle for a change? Why have a worship leader at all? Rev. Fred Small leads.
The Great Story (September 23)
Our guest, renowned “evolutionary evangelist” Rev. Michael Dowd, will explain how the cosmic creation story born of mainstream science bridges the rich diversity of Unitarian Universalist thought—from secular humanism to theism and paganism. (See “From the Parsonage” in this Bulletin.)  Fred Small leads.
The Unconditional Yes (September 16) 
Transcending belief, doubt, or denial is our fundamental stance as conscious beings—our relationship with reality. How do we respond to what Zorba the Greek called “the full catastrophe” of life? Do we say yes to all we encounter—yesto wonder, to mystery, to tragedy, to love?  Rev. Fred Small leads.
Community and Communion (September 9)
Our annual Ingathering, we’ll pour together the waters we’ve gathered over the summer in a Water Communion. (Please bring yours in a small container with a description of their source and meaning in 25 words or less.) We’ll welcome our new staff, Music Director David Lussier and Interim Director of Religious Education Molly Kobelenz, and celebrate the blessings and challenges of religious community. Fred Small leads.

Notes From The Parsonage


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