Practical Groups
These groups do useful, practical things, and most have few or no meetings. New volunteers are always welcome!
Purpose: To coordinate art shows in the Parlor and Narthex display window, and to host receptions.
Membership: New participants welcome.
Contact: Carol Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, Debby Lewis, Peggy Gardiner, and Steph Miserlis, at artshow@firstparish.info
(Meets regularly in September, intermittently the rest of the year)
Purpose: To plan the annual family retreat held at the Ferry Beach Retreat in Saco, Maine, and to establish policies and practices as needed.
Membership: New participants welcome, including Youth Group members.
Contact: ferrybeach@firstparish.info
(as needed – changes with the seasons, obviously!)
Purpose: To beautify First Parish’s grounds by watering and tending the gardens.
Membership: New participants welcome, of any age.
Contact: gardens@firstparish.info
(Meets weekly in October and November, intermittently the rest of the year)
Purpose: To organize and run the annual Harvest Moon Fair, First Parish’s largest fundraiser, which occurs on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Membership: New participants welcome. Dozens of volunteers are needed to prepare for, run, and clean up after the Fair, and there’s a place for everyone.
Contact: Aaron Kitzmiller, fair@firstparish.info
(Cooks on and before Arlington’s Town Day each September)
Purpose: To raise spirits and money by making chili for Arlington’s Town Day.
Membership: All he/him/hises welcome.
Contact: David Desjardins, Aaron Kitzmiller, and Greg Ruccio, manmadechili@firstparish.info
Purpose: To oversee the Memorial Garden and Remembrance Corner.
Membership: New members welcome.
Contact: Barbara Tosti, memorialgarden@firstparish.info
Purpose: Helper Bees assist the Property Committee with special projects, such as raking leaves or fixing sanctuary chairs, without joining the Property Committee. Look for announcements of special shared fall and spring work days.
Membership: New participants welcome.
Contact: property@firstparish.info
(Meets as needed)
Purpose: To make thoughtful decisions about the participation of an individual in First Parish activities when there is a substantive reason to consider whether that individual might pose a threat to others.
Membership: Appointed by the Parish Committee, with Rev. Marta Flanagan as an ex officio member.
Contact: SCC@firstparish.info
(Meets the fourth Monday of the month, September–June)
Purpose: To develop and monitor safe practices and emergency protocols in our building.
Membership: New participants welcome.
Contact: safety@firstparish.info
(Sundays, 9 a.m.–noon)
Purpose: To warmly welcome attendees on Sunday mornings, provide information to attendees, and help the service flow in a smooth, safe, and orderly fashion.
Membership: Ushers are trained and work with roughly 30 assistant ushers who help with greeting twice a year. Open to all, grade 5 through adults, introverts and extroverts. If you enjoy welcoming people, please talk with or email the usher coordinator.
Contact: Kate Tranquada, ushercoordinator@firstparish.info
Purpose: To help the First Parish provide hybrid worship. Team members facilitate Zoom during Sunday Worship, including operating the sanctuary cameras during worship. They can be available to help individuals or groups feel more comfortable using Zoom and other technologies and can provide training sessions to the community
Membership: New participants welcome.
Contact: TechHelp@firstparish.info