Celebrating Rev. John Gibbons's Ministry at First Parish on Bedford Common

A large crown assembled on Bedford Common to bid adieu to Rev. John Gibbons – Click to view a larger image

The day was sunny and warm, verging on hot, as close to 300 people connected to First Parish gathered Saturday to celebrate the ministry of Rev. John Gibbons. Gibbons is leaving, though not necessarily retiring (“I’m not ready to hang up my spurs yet”), after 31 years in the pulpit of the Unitarian Church.

People were crowded under every patch of shade on the Bedford Common to enjoy the program, which included First Parish Poet Laureate Lois Pulliam reading her “Ode to John Gibbons.”

John’s sermons? Wow, he had the gift,
And left no listener sad or miffed.
A sense of humor, too, was there,
With taste and wisdom both to spare.
He brought in famous guests galore:
Not one of them could prove a bore!
He had the knack of mixing in,
No matter where, no matter when.

Three men in black—Music Director Brad Connor with Ben Sears and Webb Tilney—reprised a past hit, “The Five Constipated Men of the Bible,” lacking only clerical collars. Their rendition ran to seven men, but there was no stopping them.

Sharon McDonald led a Stomp and Cynthia Mork sang Don Marshall’s “I Am the Very Model of the Modern UU Minister,” a riff on the well-known Gilbert and Sullivan patter song. The guest of honor was given a musical saw and bow; he then took requests for songs, which went largely unfulfilled.

There was a flea market table with memorabilia Gibbons is leaving behind. The Buddhas went quickly, the ponytail not so much.

Sales of ”Huh?,” Gibbons’ new book of past sermons, were strong with buyers lining up to get it inscribed. Sales of the book will benefit the Student Minister/Intern Fund.

Bedford Common was dotted with yard signs proclaiming “Johnisms,” such as “The Church Has Left the Building,” “No is a Complete Sentence,” and “It’s Not Like This Every Sunday.” Of course, there was cake and ice cream.

A commemorative drinking fountain has been installed along the Blinn Path which can be viewed from the minister’s study. It’s accessible to the tall, the medium, as well as the short (and furry). From here on out, it will be referred to as the Gurgling Gib.

~ Special to The Bedford Citizen, with special thanks to photographers Andrea Cleghorn, Bob Bass, and Colin Valentine