Make A Difference
Justice Work
Our Mission is to work with individuals and committees and other groups within our Church community and the broader community to fulfill the mandate of the June 2018 Proclamation on Racial Justice, including to:
- Provide ongoing, intentional learning opportunities for our members, friends and and the wider community to deepen understanding of systemic racism and possible ways to change it;
- commit to being an intentionally and proactively anti-racist congregation;
- commit to raising anti-racist children;
- acknowledge the need to continue to reflect on our own individual and collective roles in perpetuating systemic racism;
- commit, as a predominantly white congregation to study and reflect on white privilege and our own complicity in institutionalized racism;
- remain mindful of the interconnectedness of racism with other systems of oppression that impact people based on class, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, culture, religion, and language.
Black Lives Matter
First Parish Church Duxbury Statement of Purpose: Black Lives Matter
As an act of public witness and to affirm our commitment to racial justice, First Parish Church Duxbury wishes to make this commitment known to the Unitarian Universalist Association and the community overall.
The Box Project
The Box Project provides basic necessities such as food, household supplies, clothing and furniture to needy families on the South Shore. The program is one of the most popular social service opportunities at First Parish Church.
Each family served by the program is matched with four First Parish families. The client family fills out a monthly request form, listing their food, household, clothing and furniture needs. First Parish families purchase the items and drop them off at a church member’s home in boxes or bags labeled with a number assigned to the client family. If the requests are large or contain costly items, additional funds are provided by the Social Justice Committee. The items are then delivered by First Parish volunteers. In December, a special church-wide effort results in providing Christmas presents for the dozens of families served by the program. Each month, a list of clothing needs is distributed.
For information on how to help, contact Carrie Meier through the church office (781-934-6532) or email carriemeier@comcast.net
Guest at Your Table
Guest at Your Table is a major annual event embraced by many UU congregations as a way for adults and children to learn about and support social justice programs worldwide. Funds collected through GAYT program help the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) operate its many social and economic justice programs world-wide.
First Parish Church has a long tradition of supporting the UUSC, a powerful voice for human rights and social justice around the world for more than six decades. First Parish Church donates one dollar per member annually out of its operating budget to the UUSC. In addition, many people at First Parish participate in the annual Guest at Your Table (GAYT) fund-raising campaign to benefit the UUSC.
Combating Food Insecurity
As of spring 2023, FPC has a new program to address food insecurity. We are collecting
nonperishable food and personal care items for local food pantries to distribute.
Please bring one or more of the following items with you to church each Sunday to put in the basket near the door to the parlor:
regular or individual size toothpaste; toothbrushes; soap; shampoo; pasta sauce; canned tomatoes including diced, paste, sauce; canned vegetables; baked beans; boxed macaroni and cheese; Chef-Boyardee spaghetti or ravioli – individual or regular size; canned soup, bouillon cubes; bags of flour, sugar, salt, pepper; boxes of individual packets of oatmeal; peanut butter; tuna (white albacore).
A member of the social justice committee will deliver your donations to a local food pantry. Shopping for and donating these items is also a good way to introduce your children to UU principles.
Feeding People who are Experiencing Homelessness
The Social Justice Committee helps feed people in need in Plymouth by providing bag lunches every Tuesday. Each week, volunteers prepare sandwiches and desserts and deliver them to the shed by 10:00 on Tuesday morning. At the shed, the volunteers assemble the bag lunches which also include include fruit, juice boxes, and chips. Church member Bob Hughes takes the bag lunches to Plymouth each week and distributes them.
Click to view church member Liz Connors describe why she volunteers for this program
If you would like to join our team of volunteers, please contact Donna Savicki (dsavicki@comcast.net) or 781-585-8041). Thank you, Donna.
Instructions for Volunteers HERE
Sign up: HERE
FPC’s Environmental Working Group (EWG) encourages church members and friends to serve meatless meals. Follow the links below to some of our favorite recipes. If you’d like to join the EWG or if you have a recipe that you’d like to share, please contact Donna Savicki (dsavicki@comcast.net)
Click here for Delicious Meatless Recipes!
EatingWell.com is a reliable source for healthy recipes. Copy this link into your browser for “28 Vegetable Side Dishes That Are Perfect For Summer.”
The Green Team
JOIN THE GREEN TEAM – ADD GREEN POWER TO THE EVERSOURCE GRID
If you currently purchase your electricity from Eversource and are not planning to install solar panels anytime soon, the Social Justice Committee recommends that you visit http://www.energyswitchma.gov to see how you can increase the amount of renewable energy in the Eversource grid. You have many choices with regard to suppliers. Your options include the type (e.g., wind or solar) and amount of renewable energy they use, the length of your contract (if any) and the per kilowatt hour price you pay.
Share the Plate!
First Parish Church has a Share the Plate Ministry
What is Share the Plate?
Once each month First Parish will give our entire non-pledge collection to a member-nominated non-profit whose mission and values align with those of our church.
Why Share the Plate?
Our Unitarian Universalist principles call for us to work for justice and humanity. By reaching out and giving to the broader community, we are showing who we are and for what we stand. And Sharing the Plate is an important way for FPC to intentionally cultivate a habit of generosity.
With whom will we Share the Plate?
You tell us!
FPC members may nominate their favorite charities. Recipient organizations will be selected by Social Justice Committee members in consultation with the Minister. To nominate a recipient organization, please print this form Nomination form Share the Plate: Nomination form Share the Plate 2022-23 and return it to the church office.
