This Week in Worship

Sunday, October 13, 2019

10:30am – 11:30am in the Meetinghouse

One Among Many

Our Annual Animal Blessing

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

On September 21st, 2014, some 400,000 people marched on Central Park West in New York City to highlight the U.N. Climate Summit.  During this time there was the launching of the Climate Ribbon initiative, an international arts ritual “to grieve what each of us stands to lose to Climate Chaos, and affirm our solidarity as we unite to fight against it”.  Some have likened this climate justice initiative to the AIDS Memorial Quilt which began in the 1980’s.  It is a way to bring our whole selves into the grief and hope for change through artistic expression for and with one another.

The ask is simple:  write on a ribbon what you love and hope to never lose to Climate Chaos, and display the hope for others to see.  There are various ways that the message is passed on in these initiatives aroud the globe. 

During last Sunday’s Children’s Church, Laurel and our Religious Exploration children and youth began a First Parish Climate Change Ribbon initiative.  Opportunities to add your voice will be available during coffee hour.  The ribbons will be hung along the hallway link, to add to the educative display created by the Green Team.  Instructions for participation will be posted on the hallway link.

Addressing climate change is a call to all of humanity.  As we each engage in varied ways to change our habits, increase our understanding and pay attention to earth’s messages of transformation, we can find a way through.  There is no time to waste. Let’s engage our wisdom toward a healthy interdependent world.

Blessings Be, 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 through age 3.

On Sunday, October 13, all children from preschool through grade 8 will attend the entire Animal Blessing worship service in the Activities Room. Pets welcome! If you can’t bring your pet, bring a photo, collar or favorite toy to be blessed instead. Photos on your phone are fine.

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

Youth Chat does not meet on Sunday, October 13. Next meeting will be on October 20.

Coming of Age does not meet on Sunday, October 13. Next meeting will be on October 20 (youth only) from noon to 1:30 pm.

Possible Service Activity for all high school youth, or for youth-mentor pairs on October 14 (Columbus Day) from 9 to 11 am in the Meetinghouse. Community volunteers will be assembling Blessing Bags for unhoused people in need. This is an optional activity.

Save the Date: The Haunted Halloween Hallway will happen on Friday, October 25. Set-up begins at 5 pm. Pizza will be available. The hallway will be open for partygoers from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Clean-up should be done soon after 9 pm.

        Halloween Dance Party

Friday, October 25th

7pm – 9:00pm

The RE Committee is hosting its 10th annual Spooktacular Dance Party. Costumes, dancing and fun for all! Tell your friends, bring the neighbors, this is a party for everybody.

Experience the Eerie Haunted House created by our ghastly youth group — Go through it if you DARE! (You can request the full scare or a calmer version if you prefer.)

Treats and helpers needed: Sign up here if you can help with setup or cleanup, or provide grisly Halloween-themed snacks and desserts.

MUSIC SELECTIONS

It’s important for us as part of the natural order to honor our fellow creatures. To that end, for the blessing of the animals this coming Sunday, I will be including some of my favorite melodies that have ever been dedicated to animals throughout history, ranging from the traditional and sentimental to the hilarious.

Annual Animal Blessing

October 13th, 10:30am, Meetinghouse

This day we honor two legged, four legged, winged and slithering beings amongst us with an animal blessing.  You’re welcome to bring your pet to the worship service.

If your pet does not play well with others you can bring a photo or a stuffed animal. All ages welcome.

Community Climate Action Forum

Tonight! October 10, 6:45 – 8:45 p.m.

Milton Public Library, Keys Community Room Downstairs

476 Canton Avenue 

[notes: venue is elevator accessible; additional parallel parking, curbside, along Canton Avenue]

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You went on strike!  Now what?  How can you get Massachusetts leaders to take strong action on Climate Change?  Whatever your age or stage in life, become a citizen advocate-activist.  Come, learn more about carbon pricing and key policies to get our Commonwealth off fossil fuels.  There is power in acting together.  

Spread the word.  Bring friends, neighbors, colleagues, and your favorite method for taking notes.  

Sponsored by: Sustainable Milton; Milton Interfaith Clergy Association; Clean Water Action; Campaign for a Clean Energy Future; Climate X-Change; Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light

Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice

October Service Project: Blessing Bags

When:  Monday, October 14th, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Where: First Parish Milton, Activities Room

Courageous Conversations seeks volunteers to help assemble Blessing Bags for people who are unhoused. Blessing Bags are filled with hygiene items, travel snacks, winter clothing, and more.We seek donation of supplies, as well as volunteers.

Toward Social Justice

This summer, the Social Action Committee retreated to Cynthia Guise’s garden to make plans for the coming year.  Our first big change is that we are recommending a change to our name from the Social Action Committee to the Social Justice Committee.  (The official name change will require a bylaws change in the spring – in the meantime we will “try on” the new name this year to see how it fits.) 

Some of you may ask:  what is the difference between Social Action and Social Justice? Here’s one simple explanation from Rabbi Joseph Meszler:

Social justice is different from social action. Social action meets the world where it is, and includes such things as making sandwiches for the homeless and participating in clothing drives for people in need. Social action is about assistance or even just awareness.  Social justice is about advocacy or trying to change the world into the way it ought to be. Creating alliances, lobbying legislators, and changing policies are efforts toward social justice.

We will not stop “doing” social action (Fair Foods, Mainspring, Third Sunday donations, etc.) but we want to move Towards Social Justice.  “Serving the world” is important but “Changing the world” is more important than ever before.  Stay tuned to future columns for more about our revamped themes for this year:  Economic Justice, Racial Justice, Climate Justice, and Immigration Justice and how YOU can get involved.  

Tracey Robinson and Pat Gallivan, Co-Chairs, Social Justice Committee (fka SAC)

Help needed for Mainspring!

Looking for additional volunteers to prepare and service a meal at Mainspring in Brockton on the evening of October 20th.

For more details, contact Peter Schneider at peterlschneider@gmail.com

EXPLORING AGING TOGETHER

Second and Fourth Wednesdays of the Month

11 am to 1 pm, (Bring a Bag Lunch)

Chase Parlor (next to the kitchen)

Open Meeting.  Come when you can.  Newcomers welcome.

What can we learn from each other as we age? We all have stories within us of facing the unknown and navigating changes, of adjusting to loss and appreciating what’s before us. We will meet twice a month to share our wisdom, our queries, our wonderings.  Each session will focus around a theme.  Next meeting’s theme: Trying new things.

More questions?  Contact Penny Partridge at ppartridge9@icloud.com.

FAIR FOODS

Fair Foods is a nonprofit organization that rescues nutritious wholesale fruits and vegetables about to be discarded for distribution to members of the community. Join First Parish’s Social Justice Committee for our monthly volunteer day with Fair Foods at the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, 10 Putnam St. in Roxbury. Arrive in Roxbury at 10:30 or e-mail Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com if you’d like to join a carpool leaving from First Parish at 10 a.m. or if you have any questions. Upcoming dates include the following Saturdays: November 9, December 14 and January 11.

Lifetouch Photos!

If you selected to have your 8 by 10 photo delivered to the church instead of your home, it is in the office. Please stop by during the week during office hours to pick up your photo, or find them on the table on the library on Sunday morning.

Save the Date 

5th Annual Harvest Supper

Saturday, October 19

Parish Hall

6:00 pm

We welcome all to this time-honored and beloved First Parish event!  Please bring your favorite dish for the pot luck, beer or wine to share, and your friendly faces.  Connect with friends, old and new, enjoy the music and the great food.  Bring the kids!  

Pat Neves will be hosting karaoke after dinner.  We’ve asked committees to prepare a song that represents their work for First Parish.  But anyone who wants to sing is welcome.  Grab some friends and find a song!  (You can find the karaoke version of any song on youtube).  If you’re planning to sing, send your song info to Pat at pjneves7@gmail.com.

Remember to RSVP to the evite sent out last week

Dish to Pass at Myrtle’s Oct 26

Come to a Circle Social dinner at the home of Myrtle Flight, Saturday October 26 6:00 PM to ? Bring a dish to pass and join friends for an evening of fun and conviviality. No agenda, no itinerary, just a pleasant evening with friends, family and acquaintances. Sign up in the Parish Hall during social hour after church service or on the Membership Committee bulletin board in the Link.

If you are interested in hosting a Circle Social event, contact Richard Venable at r2venable@gmail.com or 617-792-4124.

World Market Holiday Craft Fair

December 7th, 2019

 9:30-1:30

Parish Hall

Local crafters encouraged to contact the

church for an application. Crafts only,

no food or mass-produced items.

$35 per table

Contact: office@fpmilton.org

617-698-6329

Silent Prayer and Meditation

Silent Prayer and Meditation will restart on TONIGHT at 6:00pm in the Children’s Church.

Sunday morning Silent Prayer and Meditation will resume October 13 at 9am in the Children’s Church.

Claiming Our Spiritual Leadership

Saturday, November 2, 2019

9:00am-3:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

90 Holden St

Worcester, MA 01606

For more information click here

Contact Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org if you would like to attend