About OPC:  A Message from Jon Bliss

Old Parish Church (OPC) had its beginnings in the early 1800’s as a common meeting house for the town’s Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists. When your neighbors are close by, and when the success of a community endeavor depends on civility and pragmatism, you tend to ingrain habits of thoughtfulness which transcend partisanship or theology. But regions change and communities fluctuate. Weston is less agrarian and more culturally diverse than it was just 50 years ago. One might ask: Is a church like OPC relevant in a local – not to mention global – landscape radically redefined over the past 100 years?

With the early community of faith and our own history in Weston as guides, we try to be a congregation in which the seeker and the convinced believer can grow in understanding together. Enough harm has been done in the name of “doctrinal purity” – and a great deal of good is left to accomplish in the name of peace. Peace, of course, begins with us. It begins when a believer in the Trinity sits down with a skeptic and listens as much as she talks. It begins when a cross-wearing, Bible-quoting liberal finds common ground with a reticent Yankee conservative. It begins when a community does the work of compassion, caring for each other, visiting each other, trusting each other.

Today, more than ever, the world needs the central message of the Gospel story: That God – whoever and whatever God may be – has invited us to be co-creators in the world, and there is no time to waste. Co-creation means working for deep justice – not superficial equality; holding the earth in reverence; and dreaming of the world our descendants will inhabit. On this journey, judgment, intolerance and greed have no place; while hospitality, fairness, and generosity are the common virtues, because when we practice them we know more about our own hearts and the capacity of our souls than we ever thought possible.And God is about what is outrageously possible.

Enjoy the beautiful image of our church and church community found on this site, as well as the comments of members and the information about our congregation.

If any of what is contained here speaks to you, we invite you to join us.