Rabid dogs. Haunted tractor trailers. Killer clowns. This is what we have come to expect from Stephen King. With fifty-four novels and 350 million books sold, there is something we find compelling about his stories which transcends the genre he is most associated with - horror.
 
King, who grew up Methodist, admits that he “choose[s] to believes God exists," but that "religion is a dangerous tool.” Perhaps it’s not so strange, then, that his book tour for his most recent novel is making a stop at First Baptist Church in Newton, MA. What’s an irreligious, horror book doing in a church?
 
An excerpt from Sleeping Beauties (Scribner, release date September 26, 2017) could have been spoken by any number of people in the last twelve months of tweets and protests: "And once you did become aware, once you did wake up to the reality of your life, how could you live a second longer without screaming it out loud?"
 
In the last year, our country has been invited to examine itself, to look at our dark side, our "shadow." We are "waking up." A series of ongoing disruptions is awakening us to a picture of ourselves which is difficult to look at. I have this same experience when I look in the mirror each morning. It’s not what I’d hoped, it’s part of "waking up," and it even makes me want to scream a bit. 
 
In the small Appalachian town which is the setting of Sleeping Beauties, the protagonist Evie is different from other women. She is immune to a "sleeping disease" which afflicts other women.  If woken, these sleep-diseased women become feral and wreak havoc. In Washington D.C, New York City, Boston, and every major city in the U.S., The Women’s March held in January gathered 1 in every 100 Americans for what has been called the largest one day protest in history. In our case, however, it’s not the women who have been asleep, nor are they feral, but organized,  articulate, and peaceful.
 
Our institutions are in need of a little couch time - banking, healthcare, education, and religious. These institutions were created to help and we are reimagining them all in order to serve us better, especially those who have been hurt by the institutions themselves. The primary employer in Evie’s Appalachian town is women’s prison. Is this too obvious?
 
Sleeping Beauties may offer us an honest look in the mirror we prefer not to see. Religion does the same thing. Men act like women owe them something because they came from their own ribs (Adam and Eve), God does seems to play games with Satan (“the accuser” in Job), and people do kill scapegoats (Jesus). Life is full of uncertainty and religion is simply what we do to deal with the uncertainties of life. We’re all religious. It’s not certainty about the existence of God that makes you religious, nor does certainty about the non-existence of God make you not religious. We deal with the uncertainty by playing frisbee on Sundays or by drinking too much or by talking to therapists. It’s not all good, but it’s all religion. 
 
In this sense, Sleeping Beauties is a religious book. It is Stephen and Owen King holding up a mirror for us, and it might scare us a bit.

"Seeing red" is often associated with anger and aggression, but this Sunday it will be connected to nothing but joy and goodness.

Peggy McLoughlin will join us during our 10 am service this Sunday for one of our Red Chair Conversations. Peggy's yoga classes have been meeting here at First Baptist Church for 20 years. She and Sean will discuss yoga as "body prayer" and teach some simple chair/office yoga that you can use throughout the week. Click here to learn more about her classes.

​This Sunday is also a Red Wagon Sunday. The last Sunday of every month we invite everyone to bring non-perishable food, baby products, hygiene items, and pet supplies to our 10 am worship service. Everything is donated to the Centre Street Food Pantry. Yes, we bring it to them in a red wagon. There is a reason for the name. Click here to see a list of items currently needed.

Are you unsure about Christianity, but just want to learn some practical things about yoga? Please join us. Do you just want to help out those in need? Everyone is welcome, no exceptions.

This past Sunday, August 14, Heather Palmer delivered our second Soapbox Sermon of the month. She was gracious enough to let us post the text of the message here for you to read. If you were present Sunday, surely you'll agree it is worth considering again. And if you could not join us Sunday, her fascinating personal story and message about hoping against hope is worth a read.

Get Ready for God: Grounded in Christian Faith
Delivered by Heather Palmer on Sunday, August 14, 2016
First Baptist Church in Newton

When I was very little, I knew exactly what God looked like. He had a longish face, a ruddy complexion, and curly, dark chestnut hair. Later I realized that this face actually belonged to the manager of the Baptist mission station in China where my father was a medical missionary. I still have a Christmas card that my parents sent home to England in 1939. It's hand written on thin airmail paper, with a small black and white family photo attached. There I am - the newborn baby - with my two older sisters, and my parents, looking very thin and very worried. By then, World War II made it too difficult to get back to England. Besides, the Japanese Forces occupying China allowed my father's medical work to continue, and his patients desperately needed him. Even after Pearl Harbor, when we and other enemy refugees were interned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, I felt safe - because I was with my parents and their faith, hope, and love pervaded our family life. I remember the vigorous singing during church services in the camp - especially the carol "While Shepherds Watched their Flocks" and the Easter hymn "Jesus Christ is Risen Today.'' After the war, we sailed back to a "homeland" that I had never seen, where they prayed in the same words and sang those same carols and hymns.

While I was growing up in a grimy suburb of London we attended a Baptist church two, sometimes even three, times each Sunday, and a vigorous youth group on Sunday and Monday evenings. I was baptized when I was 12 and given as my personal text words from Paul's letter to the Galatians "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Lives in me." I learned to practice daily Bible reading - from the only translation we had - the King James Bible. To this day, when I recall Bible passages they come to me in that translation.    

In high school, I joined the student-led Christian Union and shared experiences with girls from different Christian denominations. And when I got to University, I met intellectually stimulating theology, new Bible translations, and a dazzling array of Christian devotional styles and religious music. The vibrant Divinity school there was awash with the excitement of theological revolution. I joined Christian student groups and read much popular, and some formal, theology books. In my Bible reading, I learned that I should seek what the writer meant by digging into the historical context. I bought a concise Bible commentary and a Bible word dictionary. I came out of these experiences with a deep commitment and a systematic liberal theology framing my faith. 

With hindsight, it was a rather intellectual framework - a faith of ideas and actions: "I believe this, therefore I will do that." But, almost as an afterthought - of course - with God's guidance.

A Framework for Belief and Action
That framework carried me through the next phase of my life. I met my husband, Philip, when he came to my medical school on a summer exchange program from his medical school in Virginia. After a long distance courtship, we married 52 years ago, and I came to the States. Our residency and fellowship training soon brought us to Boston. My daily Bible reading fell by the wayside. But we joined church activities on the social justice issues of the day – civil rights and protest against the Vietnam War.

Soon, we found ourselves in the tug of war between work and family. By the time our two kids reached elementary school, we had settled in Newton and joined First Baptist Church. We became Sunday School teachers. Philip, with his gentle patient manner, was much better at it than I was! We served on various church committees. We couldn't attend mid-week study groups at church, but I usually read the book proposed for study. We faced various crises, of course - illnesses in our family, and some serious, bruising, challenges at work. But Bible readings that we shared in church, the sense of support from our church community, and our nightly prayers guided us through some wrenching decisions.

I worried that the culture in which our kids were growing up was overtly anti-Christian. And there was no youth group at First Baptist Church in Newton. I had a Jewish friend and neighbor, with kids the same age as ours, and she explained how the Seder and other home religious practices strengthened her kids' religious identity and sense of self-worth. So, taking that example, we invented our own practice of home worship. It began with an Advent wreath. For each Sunday of Advent, we had a theme with a brief phrase to remember. After dinner, we took turns reading passages from the Bible related to the theme. And we had an activity. For instance, on the first Sunday we had the room in darkness, then each lit our candles and talked about Jesus as the light coming into the darkness that had separated us. Then we added a Lenten series.

Again, each Sunday had its activity. For instance, early in Lent we planted dead looking seeds into little pots and then watched as they sprouted as we moved toward Easter. Finally we added year round what we called "Candle-time," which we kept up until our kids left for college. Every Sunday after supper we lit our own candle, shared reading of the lectionary passages, and then went round the table asking each person "Is there anything you want to thank God for or ask God's help with?" Recently, I learned with pleasure that our kids have warm memories of this home worship.

Christianity of the Heart
By the time our kids were out of the nest, and we had reached Medicare age, that framework of systematic liberal theology was feeling a little faded and church life seemed very routine. Then, immediately after Philip retired, 13 years ago now, came the biggest and final challenge of our married life. Philip began to develop dementia complicated by neuromuscular rigidity and disturbed behavior. I threw myself into doing everything I could to support him and thought I was managing brilliantly. But after 4 years, as his illness progressed, after many nights of lost sleep and troubled days, I wiped out. I woke with a complete memory loss – I could not remember what had happened even the second before. My daughter summoned an ambulance that got me to hospital where her then fiancé met me. Our son flew in from California. And church members helped us find support services for Philip. After about 6 hours, and several diagnostic tests, but without any treatment, my memory function returned.  But I knew I had exceeded my physical and emotional limits.

The intellectual framework of faith that had brought me thus far was not enough for the road ahead. With many sources of support now in place, including a couple of good angels that God sent to us, I began to get more rest, and resume physical exercise. On any given day, exercise can seem burdensome or unnecessary. But, if practiced consistently over time, it builds flexibility and strength. So, with the help of a therapist, I now began "practicing" relaxation exercises to build flexibility and strength in my handling of emotions and feelings. As with physical exercise, I learned to use these exercises even when I didn't feel I needed them. It proved easy to fit relaxation practices with Christian words and images from those stored in my mind. 

I couldn’t tell of course what would happen next. God doesn't promise that we will not suffer, but does promise that God will be there to help us bear the suffering and show us the way forward. Through activities and discussions at First Baptist Church in Newton over the past few years, we are rediscovering spiritual exercises that have long existed in Christianity. Along with many of you, I find that these spiritual exercises, when practiced consistently over time, build spiritual flexibility and strength. By God's grace, as we face serious challenges, we are together going deeper into the Heart of Christianity. We are joining the Church that is emerging among the tumultuous changes that catapulted us into this century.

It is a new phase of God's relationship with us. As our reading from Isaiah said "God says 'Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. See, I am about to do a new thing'.” Those worship practices that had faded are not just to help us find Gods' guidance - they need to be revived to help us find God and God to reach us. God wants to clean out all that hinders love in us, to surround us with light so that we can see clearly and deeply, and to set us afire with love so that we can do God's work. 

In his book The Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg explains loving God in terms of human relationships. When we love someone, we reach out to them, we pay a lot of attention to them, and we want to be with them and share everything with them. Just so, to love God, we wake up with God, we fall asleep with God, and in between share everything with God. This doesn't cut us off from life. Instead it enriches life as we become aware of the depths where we feel God's constant love and guidance.

How does this play out in daily life? Let me give a couple of examples. During Philip’s long slow decline I had to face difficult decisions that I could not discuss with Philip as we always would have done. Nine years ago, it became clear that his large size - he was 6 foot 5 inches tall and 260 lbs. - and his increasingly severe disability made it dangerous for us to keep him at home, even with two aides coming in to dress and shower him in the shower we had installed in our dining room. As I researched skilled nursing facilities, I also prayed constantly. I learned of a facility nearby that focused on quality of life, and the empathy of its staff. As I walked for the first time into the bright entryway, I heard clearly in my head, in just the voice that Martin Luther King had used in a famous sermon, "The Promised Land.” I knew that I had found the right place. Philip was there for the remaining 6 years of his life. His illness progressed to include difficulty speaking and swallowing. But the staff, the two good angels I mentioned earlier, and other families there supported us and cared for us both. And when his life ended 2 years ago, the community of First Baptist Church in Newton was there to help us celebrate his life.

Here's another example from daily life. Philip had sudden and frightening episodes of respiratory distress and the need for continuous oxygen. By reverting to simple and ancient practices I found I could be mindful of Gods' constant presence and loving kindness. Orthodox Jews bless God many times a day as they experience God's gifts. As children we sang "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings see what God has done." So, some evenings when I returned from visiting Philip, worried about some new downturn in his condition, I would sit down before bed and list all God's blessings for that day, and then all the worries that were disturbing me. The first list was always longer than the second. The actual writing was helpful, along with remembering the words that we read from Matthew: Jesus offers to share with us the yoke that bears the burden. Having, as it were, laid my burden before God, I found I could sleep.

I began daily Bible reading again, helped by having a daily lectionary website on my phone so wherever and whenever I can find a few minutes I can read and re-read the daily readings. On any given day, the readings may not make much impression, but every so often a passage or phrase leaps out at me as the word I need that day. So I print it out and carry it with me. Even in these early stumbling steps along this new way, I find I am learning to go below the surface of life, and get closer to those depths where we meet God. Things fall into perspective, and I find God showing me the way. 

I often turn to Psalm 42, that we read this morning.  
"Why are you cast down, 0 my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God.” 

Hope. That word hope is everywhere in the Bible, from one end to the other. What does hope really mean? The passage we read from Romans tells us: Abraham, though he knew his body was "as good as dead", "hoped against hope" that he would become the father of many nations. But this hope was not just vague wishing-the passage goes on to say Abraham was “fully convinced that God was  able to do what he had promised.”

I don't know what further challenges the future holds, but I do know that God will keep the promise to be with me to the end. I don't have to decide everything, or know everything now. I can trust God to show me the way. I believe the same is true for our church community. We don't know where we'll have to go, but we can be sure that God will lead us throughout our journey.    ·

So now when I hear those words from Psalm 42, I no longer hear them as a cry of despair and resignation:
“Why, are you cast down O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God”
Instead I hear it in a new and unorthodox translation as a call to be prepared:

What’s the matter with you? What are you fretting about? Get ready for what God will do!

​~Heather Palmer

Summers may be associated with longer lazy days, vacations, and recovery from harsh winters, but things have not slowed down here at First Baptist Church in Newton. The year is just half over, but so much has already happened in our community. Take some time to read over all we have done so far, remember favorite events, read about things you may have missed, and get excited for the future.

Annual Business Meeting

Our church had its annual business meeting Sunday, February 7, at 11:15 AM. While that may not sound very exciting, that yearly event is very important in the life of the church. During the meeting the proposed budget was passed. There was also be voting on new Council and Ministry Team members. It is truly what launches the church into the new year. And you can click here to read the Annual Report from 2015, in case you missed it.

Lent: Clearing Out the Clutter and Getting Flipped

Lent was a time for renewal during a tough year. We cleared out some clutter and made room for new growth in our lives. This included some of you giving Soap Box Sermons on the Beatitudes, and a Maundy Thursday gathering where we shared a simple meal of soup and bread before a candlelit service in the Chapel. 

During this time we were also visited by author, speaker, and pastor Doug Pagitt. He co-hosted an OPEN Network "Open House" lunch with our Senior Minister Sean Witty. That was followed by an evening of readings, music, light refreshments, and conversation. Our own Lynn Bailey Witty performed and Doug spoke about and read from his new book Flipped. We still have some free copies available in the church office, in case you missed the wonderful event. Doug Pagitt then ended his visit by speaking during worship on Palm Sunday.

Saved From Sacrifice

During April and May, some in our community gathered at each other's homes to discuss Mark Heim's book Saved from Sacrifice and discuss why Jesus died the death that He did. It was a time of open honest conversation on a topic that is difficult to understand within our hearts or explain to others. 

Red Wagon Sundays

We have continued to gather non-perishable food items on the first Sunday of each month. The following Saturday, we put the food in a red wagon and walk it down to the Centre Street Food Pantry with children in our community. They then get to help stock the shelves. It is a great lesson in generosity. 
​
Resurrecting the Resurrection

Senior Minister Sean Witty followed up Easter by giving a series of reflections on resurrecting the resurrection, rescuing it from "professionals" who have kept it for themselves instead of making it available for everyone. As he put it:

Wrapping Up Sunday Gatherings

The Open Circle Bible Study, led by Mark Heim and Lloyd Clarke, read the the Gospel of Luke together.  The Science and Religion course, led by Dick Ransom and Phil Rounseville, discussed A Fine-Tuned Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology by Alister E. McGrath, and The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins. Both wrapped up this Spring after an exciting year. Both will resume in the Fall, with the latter group switching topics to exploring Jewish, Christian, and Muslim versions of Biblical stories.

Red Chair Conversations

​Red Chair Conversations are a chance during Sunday worship for special guests to have a more relaxed conversation than a typical sermon allows. The conversations are moderated by Sean Witty, and also offer those in attendance  a chance to be part of the dialogue and an active participant in church life. Everyone listens, engages, and asks questions.

So far, Rabbi Or Rose of Hebrew College shared his reflections on the challenges and possibilities of Jewish-Christian dialogue and joint action in contemporary life.  Adam Hearlson, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship and the Director of Wilson Chapel at Andover-Newton Theological School, joined us for preaching and conversation on June 12. And our own Eunice Wilson joined Sean to talk about Compassion in Action Ministry here at First Baptist Church.

Common Cathedral

Speaking of Compassion in Action, some from our community recently served lunch and participated in worship at the Common Cathedral on the Boston Common. Common Cathedral ministers to the homeless population of Boston, and their friends. They handed out ​100 turkey sandwiches, 80 egg salad sandwiches, 100 individual size packets of fig newtons, 100 pieces of string cheese, 1 gallon of grape juice for communion, 200 paper cups, 200 napkins, a big can of powdered lemonade mix, and a birthday cake.
 
It was truly an example of compassion in action.

Wide Eyed, Big Tent Christianity

There has been a lot of talk about wide eyed, Big Tent Christianity around this church lately. Sean Witty has been clarifying his vision for this community - how it can be a place where wonder still exists that truly welcomes all by creating a space for believers and seekers, for the faithful and the faithless, and for the saints and the sinners. Wide eyed people are astonished easily. They are awake and aware. They have not lost their sense of wonder. They are curious and willing to ask questions without fear; questions that could easily be dismissed as childish, naive, or obvious. Big Tent Christianity nurtures hope and courage by creating room for doubt and uncertainty. Big Tent Christianity welcomes strangers.

Blue Ribbon Sunday

June 5 was our annual Blue Ribbon Sunday. After worship in the Sanctuary we enjoyed delicious Blue Ribbon Barbecue and live music. It rained this year, so we had to stay inside. But the food was still delicious and the music still got everyone moving. 

Matsiko World Orphan Choir

The Matsiko World Orphan Choir performed in the Chapel on Friday, July 8.  The chapel was completely full that night with some of our non-vacationing folks attending. But most attendees were members of the Newton community. It is great that so many came and supported the event.
​
The performance by the children was simply marvelous.  They are free with their singing, dancing, and especially hugs. 

Baptisms and Bibles

On Father's Day, in addition to recognizing fathers and those who have been fathers to us, we celebrated several baptisms, our graduates, and gave 4th graders Bibles during worship. It was wonderful to see so many extended family members with us that day.

Remembering Orlando

After the tragic mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida we remembered all the victims and lives lost by lighting 50 candles during our Sunday worship. 

Pokémon Go and Practicing Generosity

By now you probably know a few people playing Pokémon Go, the mobile game taking the world by storm. During a few days when the sun was bright and the temperature in the high 90s, we sat at a picnic table on the lawn with a bunch of ice cold bottles of water and cans of Coke. A sign with the church’s logo and name was put next to the table, along with “PokéStop, Free Drinks” to welcome people to our space. It was a simple way to show some generosity to people who were passing by our space.

August Soap Box Sermons

Thanks to all the positive feedback from Soap Box Sermons during lent, they are returning for the entire month of August. Each Sunday you (yes, you) are encouraged to share for 8-12 minutes on a topic and Bible passage of your choice. Churches now have a unique opportunity to become “communities of interpretation,” where the Bible and the world can be interpreted as a community, not simply by the “professionals.” In this type of church, soapboxes are brought inside and multiple voices can be heard as an expression of Christian faithfulness. In this setting, creedal confessions of faith can still be useful and honored. Though Christian identity is not defined by what we assent to verbally, but how we live together. How we live together becomes the objective and the measure of our faith.

So much has already happened here at First Baptist Church in Newton, and the year is only half over. We look forward to new experiences as a community during the rest of the year! And these are just a few of the highlights from the year so far. What is missing? Share your own memories in the comments below or let us know what you hope to see in the future.

By now many of you will have seen pictures on Facebook of the Matsiko World Orphan Choir performance in the chapel on Friday, July 8.  The chapel was completely full that night with some of our non-vacationing folks attending. But most attendees were members of the Newton community. It is great that so many came and supported the event.
​
The performance by the children was simply marvelous.  They are free with their singing, dancing, and especially hugs. The picture of them saying goodbye to Lois Arthur on Saturday morning is a particular highlight.

The success of their three day stay at First Baptist Church would not have been as successful and effective if you had not all gotten behind the process.  Thank you for bringing sleeping gear, helping set up, buying and cooking food, helping hang child art, etc.  This certainly was a church effort!

Much sleeping gear is still in the Evert's Room downstairs.  Be sure you pick it up on Sunday.

In gratefulness to all of you.  
Eunice Wilson, 
for the Compassion in Action Ministry

Until next year's performance:

The Matsiko World Orphan Choir is performing on Friday evening, July 8, from 7:30 - 9 PM here at First Baptist Church in Newton. The event is free and supports a good cause, so don't miss it! The choir consists of children from Liberia, Peru, and India. Their mission is to share a message of hope for the world's 600 million orphaned and at-risk children by performing energetic and dynamic cultural dances in full vibrant costumes and songs that are primarily original. They have performed all over the United States in schools, churches, professional sporting events, multicultural events, and more. You can see them perform and learn a little more about the group in this video:

There is no charge for this event. However there will be a basket for donations, plus a chance to purchase homemade goods (hats, bags, dolls, jewelry) from the children's countries. CD's and T-shirts will also be sold.
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Our church will be offering hospitality to the 22 member choir and their 7 chaperones. They can stay with us at the church in sleeping bags and air mattresses we provided. Or, if able, you can  host 2-3 members and a chaperone at your home. We will provide dinner before the show, bedtime snacks, and breakfast on Saturday morning.  A few people have already offered food for the night. Please contact the church office at (617) 244 - 2997 or info@fbcnewton.org if you can can help with any of the following:

• Food – dinner, bedtime snacks, breakfast
• Sleeping bags/air mattresses brought to church
• Hosting overnight at your home
• Sleeping overnight at the church Friday night to help chaperone

We look forward to seeing everyone at 848 Beacon Street in Newton Centre on Friday July 8 at 7:30 PM so we can show this wonderful group our full support!

Speaker, author, and pastor Doug Pagitt's visit to First Baptist Church in Newton is upon us. Mark your calendar to come to one, some, or all of these exciting events.

Friday March 18, noon, Chapel - Doug Pagitt will be co-hosting an OPEN Network "Open House" lunch with Sean Witty at First Baptist Church this Friday, March 18. Come learn more about this progressive non-denominational church and leaders network, and get a free lunch.

Friday March 18, 7 PM, Chapel - This will be an evening of readings, music, light refreshments, and conversation. Feel free to bring your favorite libation or sweet treat. Singer-Songwriter Lynn Bailey Witty will perform and you'll learn about Doug Pagitt's book Flipped. We'll have free copies of the book for you as a "thank you" gift for coming. 

Sunday March 20, 10 AM, Sanctuary - Doug will be speaking during Palm Sunday worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday, March 20, at 10 AM. Please join us and stay after worship for good conversation.

If you want to attend or have any questions, email Senior Minister Sean Witty: sean@fbcnewton.org

See you at First Baptist Church in Newton!
848 Beacon Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459

1. Author/Speaker/Pastor/Convener Doug Pagitt and Singer-Songwriter Lynn Bailey Witty

I first became aware of Doug almost 20 years ago.  He was part of a gathering of “young leaders” who were interested in grappling with some of the same questions I had about church, Christianity, and community.  Since then, we’ve bumped into each other every few years and I’ve been inspired by his work - writing, speaking, facilitating his church (Solomon’s Porch), and other creative endeavors. We connected again a couple of times last year and decided his latest book (Flipped!) offered the right opportunity to collaborate.  You can learn more about Doug here:   www.dougpagitt.com

A few years before I became aware of Doug, I met Lynn Bailey, who eventually became Lynn Bailey Witty!  Lynn is an accomplished creative wildfire - singing, songwriting, painting, acting, and more.  Friday night, she'll share some new and some familiar material in an ideal, intimate setting for live music.  You can learn more about Lynn here:  www.lynnbaileywitty.com

2. Free book, Free food and Free laughs

When you invite friends over, you don’t charge them for food, right?  Well, consider this an evening with friends - readings, music, light refreshments, conversation. Feel free to bring your favorite libation or sweet treat.  We’ll have a copy of Doug’s book for you, a sort of  “Thanks for coming” gift. 

Laughter at a church?  “Organized religion” is an oxymoron.  Whoever came up with that term had apparently lost their sense of humor.  We’ll have fun together.  Doug has a great sense of humor and I laugh a lot when I’m with him.

3. Learn About Doug’s book Flipped!

So, yes, we’re a church, which means different things to different people.  Truth be told, we’re not all that excited about the word sometimes.  On the other hand, most of us are quite “wooed” by Jesus.  Some of us are entering a season of curiosity and “faith”, some of us are exiting a collection of bad ideas we’ve inherited.  Mostly, we want to "learn to love well” and find being with others who want to “learn to love well” is important.   

Doug’s book takes some stories from the Bible and “flips” them in a way that might not have been considered widely.  I’ve found the book to be accessible, even inspiring, to both my friends who have a very specific way of reading and interpreting the Bible and others who are just curious, even skeptical.  I like that.  We all need each other, right?

4. Meet Fun, Thoughtful People

Friday nights can be weird.  We want to “do something” but we’re so often so tired we want to just stay home.  Plus, we’re New Englanders.  We only pretend to like people. Ok, maybe that’s not fair. We just believe in “keeping it real” and appreciate others who do as well.  We want to have conversations about things that matter, but have trouble finding places…spaces…to do that.  On Friday night, I expect you’ll meet some people who want to “keep it real"... be honest and talk about things that matter…and have fun at the same time.

5. What Else Are You Going to Do?

Seriously.  Try something new. Get out. Worst case scenario? You get a free book, hear some live music, and still have time to hit Union Street afterward.

Email me if you want to learn more:  sean[at]fbcnewton[dot]org

See you Friday
7p in the Chapel at FBC
848 Beacon Street