Barbara Ives, Lay Worship Leader

Worship service given August 31, 2025
Prayer by Barbara Ives, Lay Worship Leader
https://firstparish.info/

First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739

Empathy has been a big topic in recent social media spaces. Now, a new movement among Christian nationalists says that empathy is a sin. Barbara discusses this great tool for relating to one another, despite our differences.

During the summer our Zoom-only worship is led each week by a member of our congregation. Barbara Ives is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. She just started attending Arlington this last January. However, she grew up in the Wayland Church and then attended the Watertown church for many years. From 1997 to 2003 she attended Harvard Divinity school in hopes of pursuing UU ministry. Life took a different path and she did not get ordained. After many years being away from the church, coming back to Arlington feels like coming home. She is glad for this opportunity to exercise her ministerial muscles.

Offering and Giving First

The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For September, the Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) will share half the plate. Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) is the first and only organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence systemically. As a national nonprofit, they work to prevent sexual violence before it happens by addressing root causes like rape culture and systemic oppression. Their work spans policy advocacy, research, institutional reform, and community education to create lasting, structural change. SVPA partners with schools, workplaces, unions, and government agencies to implement evidence-based prevention strategies and is proudly led by marginalized survivors—including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled people—ensuring that their work is informed by the lived experiences of those most impacted.

The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive.