This Week in Worship

Sunday, January 6th, 2019

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

“Finding Unity in an Age of Division”

Our Guest Minister This Week

Eamon Aghdasi is a Baha’i from Milton, MA and his community’s representative to the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association (MICA). A lifelong Baha’i, he has served on the elected councils of various other local Baha’i communities, in diverse capacities. Like many of his fellow Baha’is, Eamon is a believer in the importance of dialogue and unity across races, nationalities, and religious communities, and is an enthusiastic supporter of of Milton’s “Courageous Conversations for Racial Justice” organization. His professional background is in business and economics, having spent nearly a decade as an emerging markets analyst in the fields of banking and investment management. Eamon is native of Massachusetts, and currently lives in Milton with his wife and three children.

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

Hello 2019!  And we are off and running!  The Ad Hoc Mission Statement Committee has many opportunities planned to hear how members want to shape the guiding framework of our faith community.  We hope to have a mission statement drafted for a vote by the Annual Meeting in May.  More information to come soon.

This is the perfect time for members to express what it is you believe First Parish is about, what we might focus our energies around and what gifts or messages we might embody for the world.

The first offering for discernment is a series of short surveys – three in the next three weeks – that can be done at home and in around 10 minutes.  We know you are busy….that’s why we need to be focused about how First Parish in Milton engages our lives. We’ve focused each survey on an aspect of a faith community’s life:  Spiritual, Service, and Social.  The links to the surveys will be sent to members and contributing friends.

A congregational mission statement is a North Star for our journeying together.   What is our purpose, our agency, our gift to ourselves, each other and the world?  How do we enhance our lives with and for each other in faith community?

I look forward to our conversations, our wonderings, our engagement.

Blessings, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Nursery care will be available from 10:15 to 11:45 am in the Link hallway for infants and toddlers up to age 3.

On Sunday, January 6, all children from preschool through grade 8 will begin in the Meetinghouse and then move to the Children’s Church for a multi-age worship service centered on transitions and new beginnings with special musical guest Franc Graham.

Reminder: The Spaghetti Dinner and Karaoke/Bingo night is coming up on Friday, January 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall.

Our Whole Lives Program (Grades 8 and 9, parental permission required): The Our Whole Lives class will meet on Sunday, January 6, from noon to 1:30 pm in the Children’s Church. Please drop off and pick up your youth from the front of the building so they can use the Children’s Church entrance as all other external doors will be locked.

Guest At Your Table (GAYT) is the UUSC’s annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about their work to advance human rights. UUSC works in over 25 countries, with over 75 grassroots partners, so there are thousands of individuals involved in and who benefit from their work.

GAYT is an opportunity to celebrate grassroots partnership, support human rights, and learn about the work of the UUSC. Each time you sit down to eat a meal throughout the holiday season consider contributing a few coins to those less fortunately circumstanced. Contributions to GAYT should be brought in for collection on January 13, 2019.

Register your child or youth! The Religious Exploration Committee requests all families to register your child or youth before attending classes. Please use this link to our online form: RE Registration Form (or paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway).

Spaghetti Supper and Karaoke Night! Friday, January 11, will be a fun-filled night with a spaghetti supper, beginning at 6:30pm, and karaoke, beginning when the first person steps up to the mike! A $5 dinner donation per person is suggested. Proceeds will help fund a spring youth service trip to CityReach Boston.

There will also be karaoke and bingo, as well as plenty of opportunity to chat and unwind after the busy holiday season. Bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring your voices and enjoy!

MUSIC THIS WEEK

This Sunday the choir will be singing a moving litany called “Let It Begin Now”.  Jennifer Sgroe  and Grace Allendorf will be presenting “The Road Not Taken” with a text by Robert Frost in a musical setting by Randall Thompson.

Events, News and Announcements

Join us this Sunday, January 6th, after worship in the Parish Hall for our Monthly Potluck Social Hour!

The next Social Circle gathering will be on January 12th, from 3-5 at Leslie MacPherson’s home. It will be low-key snacks and drinks — Pot Luck. Leslie will provide mulled cider and cookies. Bring a little nibble of whatever sounds tasty. Leslie lives in Quincy in the Hough’s Neck part of town, and a walk down by the beach and seawall is also an option for those who are interested, weather permitting. Note; house has two dogs who are friendly and can sometimes be rambunctious! Let Leslie know if you want to come!

Milton Community Concerts

On Saturday, February 2nd at 7pm MCC and First Parish of Milton is proud to present Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid” with live organ accompaniment by virtuoso organist Peter Krasinski.

Mr. Krasinski is known the world over for his live improvised accompaniments to silent films. Following a recent tour of Japan he now comes to Milton to celebrate the 60th installation anniversary of First Parish’s beautiful Schlicker pipe organ.

Tickets are $25 general/$15 seniors/free for 18 and under. Pay at the door.

(Snow date: February 16).

Courageous Conversations is a monthly series of dialogue-centered programs on racism and privilege designed to address racial healing and justice in our town. Each month the Courageous Conversations leadership team in partnership with the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association brings together a diverse group of people representing a wide array of life experiences, circumstances, and choices. All events are open to the public—anyone can attend a meeting whether or not they have attended in the past.

 Monday, January 21st, 2019 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Concord Baptist Church, 180 Blue Hill Avenue, Milton. Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.

Milton Interfaith Clergy Association invites you to participate in the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.

MainSpring in Brockton

We are looking for volunteers to cook and serve at Mainspring on Sunday, January 20th. If you are interested, please stop by the Social Action table at coffee hour and signup!!

Snow Closing Information

Winter is coming. Just a few reminders about how First Parish handles Sunday worship and weekeday office closings. On Sundays, we will make a snow closing decision by 8 a.m. Look for cancellations in several places:-First Parish Milton Website-First Parish Milton UU Facebook page

-Channel 5/WCVB television & website

If the Milton Public Schools close for snow, so does the First Parish office. 

If you don’t see cancellation information, we are open.

Worship and Meditation at First Parish 

Sunday Worship Weekly

Worship, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Weekly Meditation Offerings

Sundays, Silent Prayer and Meditation, 9am in the Children’s Church

Thursdays, Silent Prayer and Meditation, 7pm in the Children’s Church

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays

Sundays through mid June

• Worship, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
• Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
• Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)

The link to SignUp Genius is: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday1

You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.