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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251117
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251214
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UID:38974-1763337600-1765670399@uniteboston.com
SUMMARY:Pilgrimage to Taizé Community in France in March 2026
DESCRIPTION:Spend March 13–22\, 2026 immersed in the Taizé Community — an ecumenical monastic community in the French countryside known for its simple living\, contemplative worship\, and a radical commitment to Christian unity. Each year\, thousands of young adults from around the world gather there to pray through music\, engage in Scripture\, serve together\, and build deep friendships across cultural and denominational lines. \nThis pilgrimage is for young adults ages 18–35. We’re hoping to bring a group of Christian pilgrims from many different traditions across Greater Boston and beyond! \nHosted by Rev. Rita Powell\, Episcopal Chaplain at Harvard University\, with Rev. Kelly Fassett from UniteBoston co-hosting this experience. \nThe cost for the pilgrimage is $2200. We will do what we can to make sure finances are not a barrier for anyone who feels God’s invitation to join in this experience. \nSign up here. The final payments will be made in the spring but this is due December 10th along with a $500 deposit to claim your spot on the trip! Please email nbuice@hds.harvard.edu with any questions. \nJoin us in worship\, prayer\, fellowship — and a taste of God’s global church.
URL:https://uniteboston.com/event/taize-information-session/
LOCATION:First Parish 1446 Mass Ave\, First Parish 1446 Mass Ave\, Cambridge\, MA\, 02138\, United States
CATEGORIES:College Students,Featured,Pastors,Prayer,Social,Worship
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251222
DTSTAMP:20251215T211846Z
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UID:39696-1764892800-1766361599@uniteboston.com
SUMMARY:The 55th Season of Black Nativity
DESCRIPTION:Black Nativity welcomes ALL people\, far and wide\, into our circle of light. This is the Nativity story told through the lens of the African American experience\, but its message belongs to everyone who has ever needed hope\, ever sought home\, ever dreamed of a world where love wins. For 55 years\, we have been a gathering place where differences dissolve and humanity unites under the universal language of joy\, resilience\, and peace. \nBlack Nativity tells the story of the birth of the Christ Child from the point of view of Black Americans in the early twentieth century. Amid the hilly streets of Bethlehem\, a hotel with butlers and maids is set and filled with gospel music and gossipy chatter. In it the Holy Family find themselves surrounded by ordinary folk\nwho welcome their message and sing it with joy. Though based on New Testament gospels\, we offer the story as a testament to the joy of new births and to the hope that fills persons of “good will” from all traditions. Our message is one of transformation and spiritual uplift. \nInspired by Langston Hughes’ 1963 original production\, Boston’s Black Nativity retains the artistic direction of NCAAA Founder Elma Lewis; Director of Drama\, Vernon Blackman; Choreographer\, George Howard; and legendary Nigerian master percussionist\, Michael Babatunde Olatunji. The show’s music is set to the musical arrangements and adaptations of NCAAA Founding Music Director\, John Andrew Ross. \nOur 55th Anniversary Season features:\n75+ Voices Rising as One – Children and adults unite in glorious gospel harmonies that will move your spirit and stir your soul.\nThe Pulse of African Drums – Experience the dramatic pas de deux birth scene that happens live before your eyes\, propelled by the ancient rhythms that connect us all.\nA Living Legacy – Witness the continuation of artistic mastery passed down through generations\, from Elma Lewis to today’s visionary artists.\nFresh Energy\, Timeless Message – Gospel\, jazz\, and even hints of Hip-Hop breathe new life into this eternal story of hope.\n“Black Nativity is Boston’s Black community’s holiday card to the world” – a gift of transformation and spiritual uplift that has touched hundreds of thousands of lives across five and a half decades. \nDecember 5–21\, 2025\nThursdays: 7:30 pm\nFridays: 8:00 pm\nSaturdays: 2:30 & 7:30 pm\nSundays: 3:30 pm \n\nASL Interpreted Performances\nFriday\, December 5th — 8:00 PM\nSaturday\, December 13th — 2:30 PM\nSunday\, December 21st — 3:00 PM \n\nRobert J. Orchard Stage\nEmerson Paramount Center\n559 Washington Street\, Boston 02111
URL:https://uniteboston.com/event/the-55th-season-of-black-nativity/
LOCATION:Emerson Paramount Center\, 559 Washington Street\, Boston\, 02111\, United States
CATEGORIES:Children/Families,Community Outreach,Featured,Prayer,Social
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ORGANIZER;CN="The National Center of Afro-American Artists":MAILTO:themuseum@ncaaa.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251206T140000
DTSTAMP:20251130T014845Z
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UID:39419-1765015200-1765029600@uniteboston.com
SUMMARY:FaithWorks Vision Planning Saturday: Revival 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an exciting event where we’ll seek God’s vision for the future! At FaithWorks Vision Planning Saturday: Revival 2026\, you’ll have the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals\, plan for the new year\, and work on your own projects with the support of a community. We invite you to meet our committee\, learn more about our plans for 2026\, and have focused heads-down time to work. This in-person event is a great chance to connect\, inspire\, and innovate. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself!
URL:https://uniteboston.com/event/faithworks-vision-planning-saturday-revival-2026/
LOCATION:The Foundry\, 101 Rogers Street\, Cambridge\, MA\, 02142\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Outreach,Featured,Prayer,Social
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ORGANIZER;CN="FaithWorks":MAILTO:camille@camilleardant.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T210000
DTSTAMP:20251201T143724Z
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UID:39435-1766343600-1766350800@uniteboston.com
SUMMARY:Blue Christmas aka The Longest Night
DESCRIPTION:You are invited to our Blue Christmas service aka “The Longest Night” service – a quiet\, reflective gathering for anyone carrying grief\, illness\, caregiving stress\, loneliness\, or holiday overwhelm. It’s a space where people can pause\, breathe\, and find companionship during a season that can feel heavy in different ways.\n\n\n\nThe service will include music\, scripture\, prayer\, and personal stories of grief\, healing\, and hope—followed by a moment of remembrance and shared candle lighting\, offering comfort and connection for all who attend.\n\n\nAlthough Matthew 11:28 isn’t a classic Christmas text\, its message speaks powerfully into this season: ‘Come to me\, all you who are weary and burdened\, and I will give you rest.’ On December 21st we will hold space for that invitation—to bring our burdens to Jesus and allow Him to meet us in our sorrow and our longing.\n\n\n\nSunday\, December 21\, 2025 — 7:00 p.m.\nFirst Congregational Church of Rowley\n\nHosted by Community Conversations in partnership with the Missions Committee of First Church Rowley\n\n\n\nAll are welcome. You don’t have to navigate this season alone. Come as you are. (Please feel free to share!)
URL:https://uniteboston.com/event/blue-christmas-aka-the-longest-night/
LOCATION:First Congregational Church of Rowley\, 175 Main Street\, Rowley\, 01969\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Outreach,Featured,Prayer,Worship
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ORGANIZER;CN="Community Conversations":MAILTO:angie@illstandbyyou.net
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251224T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251224T110000
DTSTAMP:20251223T115952Z
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UID:39511-1766570400-1766574000@uniteboston.com
SUMMARY:Christmas Eve at ICE Burlington
DESCRIPTION:All are welcome to this event\, coordinated by the Massachusetts Council of Churches and supported by Bearing Witness at Burlington and UniteBoston. \nWe gather to worship with those Christians held inside the ICE facility\, to pray for the families and loved ones from whom they are separated\, and to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s birth\, in the very face of these injustices and terrors of current policies.  We will pray\, read of the birth of Jesus\, and sing hymns and carols.  We will witness to the light of Christ that comes into the darkness\, in our time and always. \n10 am – 11 am Christmas Eve 2025\n1000 District Ave. Burlington\, MA \nThis Christmas Eve\, we will unite the Body of Christ in worship.  \nWalls of detention facilities cannot divide the Body of Christ.  \nDocumentation status cannot divide the Body of Christ.  \nWe are united by Jesus Christ\, whose love is greater than anything that divides us. \nImportant Details: \nHere are the final details for Christmas Eve Day Worship\, to ensure that you can plan and have a clear picture of our gathering for worship. Also\, this gathering was featured in the Religion News Service – read the article here!  \nTRANSPORT and PARKING \nThis is by far the trickiest part of our plans. Please take public transit\, if at all possible. \nFor those coming from metro Boston: take the Red Line to Alewife and take the 350 Bus to Burlington Mall.  Get off at this stop: Burlington Mall Rd @ NE Executive Pk. Head down District Ave.\, which should be right in front of you. \nIf you drive\, please carpool.  You may plan to drop people off at 1000 District Ave.\, but please know that you cannot park at 1000 District Ave. \nPLEASE ALLOT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EXTRA FOR OFF-SITE PARKING. \nYour best option is to park at Simonds Park\, or the surrounding roads as marked. \nThe 350 bus stops at the corner of Cambridge St. and Bedford St.\, toward Burlington Mall/Alewife. It is only a 5-10 minute ride. Please arrive very early\, as the buses reduce in frequency after rush hour. \nThus\, another option: after parking near Simonds Park\, head to the Burlington Church UCC\, across the street.  Rev. Andrew Harris and the amazing leaders of the UCC Burlington church are offering shuttles to the ICE facility. \nOTHER PARKING OPTIONS: \nThere is very limited street parking along District Ave\, toward Burlington Mall Rd.  You may luck out\, but don’t rely on it! \n6 District Ave. parking is listed as a Free Parking.  It may be used by mall shoppers.  Not sure how security works there.  Park at your own risk. \nYou can try to park at Burlington Mall\, which is very close by.  However\, it will be quite full because of Christmas Eve shopping.  Additionally\, when we requested assistance with parking from mall management\, they declined to help.  If you do park there\, please go to the mall\, otherwise security may stop you.  They have been ticketing people who do not go to the mall.  Park at your own risk\, sadly. \nAdditionally\, there are other businesses and buildings in the office park on District Ave.  We do not know whether they will have security or whether they will tow.  It is Christmas Eve\, so it could go either way.  So\, again\, park at your own risk. \nWORSHIP: \nPlease understand that this is true\, sincere worship.  Please do not bring signs or engage with this event as a protest.  While those forms of witness are essential at other times\, this gathering is a service of prayer\, song\, and telling the story of Christ’s birth\, worshiping as closely as possible with those held inside.  So think of this as “going to church\,” and not “going to a protest.” \nROLES: \nClergy: you are welcome to vest and process.  Please wear whatever vestment is appropriate for worship in your tradition and appropriate to an outdoor\, ecumenical liturgy of prayer and worship\, without Communion.  Copes\, preaching robes\, Geneva robes\, cassocks and surplices\, or just street clothes.  If you are wearing a stole\, please wear white/gold or whatever color you wear for festive events.  (We are going for “joy in the face of crisis\,” as opposed to lament or uplifting the martyrs in the Spirit). \nHowever your tradition does it\, please show up like that.  The idea is that we all represent our particular denominations and traditions and trust that it will be beautiful in God’s eyes and a powerful reminder of how strong we are when we stand together in Christ. \nChoir: you are welcome to wear your robes (or not\, if that’s not your tradition)\, and to join a pick up choir.  Again\, we are not aiming for visual uniformity\, but diversity.  We are aiming to have one purpose\, not one “look.” \nWe will have a music director\, the incredible Eric Anderson Jr.\, who will conduct.  We may have a keyboard\, but please prepare to sing a cappella. \nOur hymn list: \n\nO Come\, All Ye Faithful\nO Little Town of “Burlington”\nJoy to the World\nAway in a Manger\nGo Tell It on the Mountain\n\nAcolytes/Vergers/Subdeacons/Altar Servers:  You are welcome to vest and process as well\, if you wish.  The more the merrier.  But please do NOT bring your crosses/candles/thuribles\, etc.  To avoid confusion\, we cannot have multiple people in those roles.  We will indeed have a censor\, worry not! \nGreeters: We need greeters to help welcome people in\, distribute bulletins (mostly electronically)\, distribute candles\, and provide a warm welcome.  Come as you are.  But come early. \nWeather: We plan to hold this event in any weather\, if at all possible.  Please dress and plan accordingly.  Wear many layers\, if you are not accustomed to being outdoors for long.  Especially consider wearing extra socks and thick shoes.  If you are vesting\, please wear thick layers under your robes.  We will be standing outside for over an hour in whatever weather there is. \nAbout the site: There is NO seating provided. This is an outdoor lawn in an office park\, and we do not have a way to bring in chairs.  If you require a seat\, you are welcome to bring one with you\, and anyone with mobility concerns or concerns about standing for an hour may sit right up front.  But we cannot provide chairs for everyone. \nINFORMED DECISIONS: \nWe invite you to take time to make informed decisions about whether this is the place for you to be.  We are gathering in a place that has been designated for First Amendment expressions. We are gathering to worship\, which is our First Amendment right.   It is protected by local law enforcement and longstanding agreements with DHS/ICE staff over many months.  We do not anticipate any issues with ICE staff or local law enforcement. \nBut while the Good News of Christ’s birth is full of hope\, we proclaim it at a place that launches much violence into our communities.  This facility is an active enforcement and detention center.  Please know ICE agents may be coming and going on their business.  If being in such a place might be unsafe for you or your loved ones in any way\, please consider those risks carefully.  This may be due to your experiences at the facility or others like it\, or your own documentation status\, or your own previous experiences with law enforcement\, or any other history or concerns.  We want you to take the risks you can bear.  Your presence does not need to be physical: if it is not the right decision for you to be physically present with us at the facility\, please join us in prayer from home or your home congregation.  God is everywhere and will unite us as the Body of Christ\, no matter where we are.  Video of the event will be made available shortly afterward. \nThanks also to our friends and colleagues at UniteBoston who are co-sponsoring this event\, and the clergy leaders of Bearing Witness at Burlington.
URL:https://uniteboston.com/event/christmas-eve-at-ice-burlington/
LOCATION:Burlington ICE Detention Center
CATEGORIES:Community Outreach,Featured,Justice,Pastors,Prayer,Social,Worship
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ORGANIZER;CN="Massachusetts Council of Churches":MAILTO:council@masscouncilofchurches.org
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