In April, we welcome the arrival of Spring as we celebrate the theme of “Rebirth.” Throughout the month, our Sunday services and programming provide opportunity to examine our own sources of hope for change.

On Sunday, April 5, we celebrate Easter with a Sunrise Gathering at 6:30am on the Charles River near the Dartmouth Bridge overpass. This casual gathering leans into the cycles of nature. Coffee and baked goods provided. Then, at 11am, we gather for a service that engages the Christian Easter story through a Unitarian Universalist lens of reimagining its meaning for people of all faiths and no faith tradition. Following the service, there will be an eco-friendly Easter Egg hunt.

We celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the American Unitarian Association on Sunday, April 12. Our Unitarian Universalist Association President, Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, will be with us and preach a sermon with the Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, Vice President for Communications and Development, on honoring our legacy and claiming the possibility of the present and courage for the future. Special music by the First Church Boston Choral Ensemble with guest musicians enhances the celebratory service. A reception will follow.

For more than a decade, we have supported Sanctuary Boston, a progressive spiritual community of vibrant worship and real connection. This year we share an Intern Minister, John Newhall, who will be preaching at the Sanctuary Boston service on Wednesday, April 15, 6:30pm. Join in-person at First Church or online.

To mark Earth Day, we gather with other area religious groups for an interfaith sacred celebration of “One Sun, One Earth, One People.” Meet on April 19, 1:30pm at the Embrace Memorial, Boston Common, before marching to St. Paul Cathedral for a program with guest speaker, Bill McKibben. Eboníe Smith-Cooper, Intern Minister, will lead a group from First Church to the Common at 1:15pm.

Our new event, “Café Underground,” returns on Monday, April 20, 7-9pm. Bring your guitar, your zither, your secret poems, political cartoons, or stand-up comedy to this pop up, open mic community monthly event. Free to attend. Please register to attend.

As part of events honoring the 250^th Anniversary of the American Revolution, Rev. Stephanie will lead a service and a “Read with the Rev” event on Sunday, April 26 exploring Nina Sankovitch’s new book, Not Your Founding Father.  What role do radicals play in times of rebirth and revolution?

Finally, the month ends with the first of two Minns Lectures on “The Bible and Sexuality,” by the Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner on Wednesday, April 29, 7pm. The Lectures will survey the Hebrew Bible and Christian Scriptures for their surprising and varied messages about sexuality – sometimes troubling, often life-affirming, and always rich. Learn more and register here to join in-person or by Zoom.

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