Gathering as a group is our foundational DNA as Boston’s oldest institution, which was founded on July 30, 1630, by a group of Puritans who pledged to “walk together” in “mutual love and respect one to the other.” Nearly 400 years later, the spirit of this 1630 Covenant continues to be at the core of who we are as a voluntary association of people committed to values of love, justice, and helping one another. In the month of May, we celebrate the gift of coming together with others in multiple ways. If you are looking for the power and possibility of joining with others in shared values, we invite you to join us!

The opening weekend begins with a FUNdraiser on Saturday, May 3, 5pm-7pm. All are welcome to enjoy the evening of fun as well as bid on some fabulous items and experiences.  Opportunities include a Custom MFA tour, handknit socks or shawl, kayaking on the Charles River, or multiple options for eating with others! For a more intimate evening of reflection on our monthly theme of “grace,” you may join the monthly Covenant Circle on Monday, May 5, 7pm.

Institutionally we are organized from the bottom-up with Members of the congregation holding the ultimate governing power. In other words, we promote the use of democracy in our congregations and the larger society! On Sunday May 4, we welcome in a group of new Members in Sunday Service at 11am. Each new Member will receive a copper Following the service, Members will gather for a special meeting to update our Bylaws in ways that better reflect and serve our congregation in the 21^st century. Later in the month, on Sunday, May 18, Members will vote again to elect the Standing Committee (governing board) and Officers to represent the congregation in the coming year(s).

As a congregation, we also affiliate with other congregations to form the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations.  On Sunday, May 25, we celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the founding of the American Unitarian Association (AUA) in Boston.  You can learn even more about Unitarian history in our 2025 Minns Lectures  which aim to narrate a new story surrounding anti-racism efforts by earlier beginning with the significant Unitarian presence at the “rehearsal for reconstruction” in Port Royal, SC during and after the Civil War, through comfortable white silence as Reconstruction crumbled, into the 20th century founding of organizations like the National Association of Colored Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

In a moment when challenges to institutions are front-page headlines, we are grateful for the ongoing ability to freely gather in support of our nearly 400-year old institution