Special Services & Rentals
The Meeting House is open to anyone in the community for services marking a life passage; and as a church community, we hold special Sunday services to mark special occasions in our church year.
Weddings and Services of Union
Old Ship Meeting House is a beautiful setting for a wedding or service of union; there is no requirement that one be a member of First Parish, Hingham. For information on availability, please contact the office. To plan a service, please contact our minister.
We have an account on Pinterest “Old Ship Church” which contains many pictures of past weddings performed at Old Ship.
Memorial Services
Through the centuries, the quiet grace of the Meeting House has been the site of countless memorial services, celebrating the lives and marking the deaths of our members and friends. Please contact our minister, for details, or to discuss a service.
Child Dedication
This lovely ceremony welcomes new babies or older children into our Old Ship, First Parish community. Parents may choose to have a child dedicated during a regular Sunday worship service, or in a private ceremony. Please contact our minister if you wish to arrange a child dedication.
Christmas Eve
On this festive night of the year, the Meeting House is filled to the rafters with family and friends in a service that has become a beloved tradition for many.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service
A tradition of many decades, the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is sponsored by the Hingham Hull Religious Leaders Association and held on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. Clergy and other religious leaders from a variety of congregations in Hull and Hingham will participate in the service, including representatives from Congregation Sha’Aray Shalom; Temple Beth Sholom; St. Paul’s Catholic Church; Glastonbury Abbey; Christ Church United Methodist; St. John’s Episcopal Church; First Baptist Church; Hingham Congregational Church; House of Prayer, Lutheran; First Church of Christ Scientist; First Parish in Hingham, Old Ship Church (Unitarian Universalist); Second Parish in Hingham (Unitarian Universalist); New North Church; the Bahai Faith; and the Wellspring Multi-Service Center in Hull.
Water Communion
“Members bring to the service a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources.” (from the UUA website)
New Members Sunday
In the spring, we formally recognize and welcome individuals who have made the choice to become members of First Parish, Hingham.
Coming of Age Service
Usually in late Spring, this special worship service is the culmination of our year-long Coming of Age program. The Coming of Age ceremony usually features the youth reading their statements of personal belief (credo statements) and provides the youth and their mentors a chance to share what they have learned, and gives the congregation an opportunity to affirm their accomplishments.
Flower Communion
“The Flower Communion usually takes place in the spring. In this ceremony, members of the congregation are asked beforehand to bring a flower to the Sunday service. Upon entering the sanctuary, each person places his or her flower on the altar or in a shared vase. The flowers are blessed by the minister or congregation during the ceremony, and the sermon usually reflects upon the flowers’ symbolism. At the end of the service, each person brings home a flower other than the one that he or she brought.”Reginald Zottoli wrote “The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet. Our common bouquet would not be the same without the unique addition of each individual flower, and thus it is with our church community: it would not be the same without each and every one of us. Thus this service is a statement of our community.” (from the UUA website)
Summer Worship Services
Every week during the summer, lay-led worship services are held at 10:30 a.m. in the Meeting House. Structured but informal, these services are coordinated by our Worship Committee. For information or to lead a service, please contact Karen Churchill
December Vespers Services
Wednesday evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas we hold our annual Vespers services at 6:30 in the Old Ship Meeting House. A gently lit Meeting House, readings, music, and plenty of silence for quiet contemplation, all contribute to a peaceful pause in the midst of the holiday season. All are warmly invited!
Winter Solstice Poetry Circle
This season’s Crossing Time is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year which heralds the return of light. Leave the busyness of the holiday rush and come share and replenish creative energy. Bring a poem to read or speak or simply come and listen. The choral quintet Crossroads will perform some winter carols and poetry set to music. Come and bring a friend. All are welcome. For more information contact Elizabeth Torrey.
The Old Ship Meeting House may be used for weddings, lectures, concerts or other occasions by residents of Hingham, and by others, subject to the availability of the building and the approval of the minister of Old Ship. Requests for use should be made through the Office (781-749-1679).
Our minister officiates or co-officiates at weddings or memorial services for non-members as well as members of Old Ship. If he is not available, we will refer you to other members of the Unitarian Universalist clergy.
The Meeting House is open to be seen by anyone on Sunday mornings during the school year, from 9:30 to 11:30. Our Sunday services are at 10:30. Please call our office if you have any questions. We will do all we can to make your wedding a joyous occasion!
Music
Any music for the service should be arranged well in advance with our organist and Music Director. Should you wish to use other musicians, you are strongly advised to confer with the organist and her fee will be required. Soloists and other special music requests may require increased or additional fees.
Wedding Rehearsal
A rehearsal is necessary for weddings and should be arranged with the Office and coordinated with the minister and the organist.
For wedding photos and other ideas for weddings, check out our Pinterest page!
Fees
For information regarding fees and other costs you can contact the Office.