This Week in Worship

Sunday, December 3, 2017 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Hope Abides

December Worship Theme – Intention

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

OK. Here we go, into the winter holiday season. Christmas music and decorations are now set up mid- November in our culture, slowly edging out Thanksgiving, which is a caveat in general – let’s not bypass gratitude and abundance.

One of the traditions that keeps abundance alive at First Parish Milton is the Milton Resident’s Fund Holiday Gift Project. Beth Gray-Nix is the First Parish contact assisting a town-wide endeavor to bring gifts to hundreds of children in Milton. At coffee hour there is a sign-up sheet to purchase age appropriate gifts from a list that Diane Ferrari, the social worker who administrates the Milton Resident’s Fund, has identified.

The Milton Residents Fund’s mission is “to assist poor, low income and other Milton individuals and families in need and/or crisis by providing support, financial assistance and referrals to local community agencies.” Approximately 300 families and individuals are served each year. This is an endeavor primarily funded by trusts set up by Parish members and has been in existence for almost 70 years.

This is an impressive service offered the town of Milton, something First Parish has been instrumental in creating and maintaining. Let’s keep the good work going however we can. Consider signing up to buy a gift this holiday season and enter into the circle of generosity of the Milton Residents Fund.

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

• Nursery and toddler care is available every week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This year our caregivers are Daisy and Grace. Stop by and say hello!
• Religious Exploration for Sunday, December 3: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to the Children’s Church. Please note that our Children’s Church service ends at 11:40 am.
• Once a month children in all grades gather together for a worship service in the Children’s Church after we leave the Meetinghouse. This week’s Children’s Church worship will explore UU Source #3: Wisdom from the World’s Religions and Source #4: Christian and Jewish teachings. We will be learning about the Three Miracle Births of Jesus, Buddha and Confucious. The stories told about these births have a surprising number of similarities!
• See the Youth Yacking column for news on programming for grades 9 through 12 this week.
• Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Spaghetti Dinner and Holiday Craft Night on Friday, December 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Youth-sponsored Spaghetti Dinner includes pasta, meatballs, salad and bread for $5 per person (gluten-free pasta available). Proceeds will help fund youth participation in a spring service trip to Heifer Farm in Rutland. Fun for folks of every age!
But wait, there’s more!!!

Create fun and decorative holiday crafts! In addition to the wonderful spaghetti dinner on Friday, December 1, the whole family can join in to make a flurry of handcrafted items from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All materials will be supplied, just add your creative imagination! Hosted by the Religious Exploration Committee.

Calling Pageant Performers of All Ages: The 2017 First Parish Christmas pageant is right around the corner! During the 5 pm Christmas Eve service we will be offering a favorite FP script, “The Christmas Miracle,” last performed in 2012. There are parts for people of all ages, with varying rehearsal needs. Please email bridget@sitkoff.net if you, your child or youth, or your whole family would like to be a part of our pageant! Additionally, let us know what level of involvement would work for you – we have everything from main roles that will need several rehearsals leading up to the pageant, to simple speaking parts that only need one extra rehearsal, to crowd roles that can be learned during our Christmas Eve walkthrough.

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. GAYT boxes are available in the Stebbins Parlor and outside the Parish Hall. Contributions are being collected now through January 7, 2018.

Youth Yacking!

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Coming of Age, 10:30am – 12pm
Meeting in the Activities Room

This week’s Coming of Age class will include both youth and their mentors! We are going to reflect on what has carried us here and what will carry us forward. Where have we as individuals been and how will this affect where we go?

There is no CAT (Community Activity Time) after church this Sunday.

News and Announcements

Saturday, December 2nd
Premium Fraser Fir Trees Pick Up
9am – 12noon

There are a few trees still available for purchase.
Please contact Roger Gray if you would like a tree.

Milton Community Concerts

Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 7pm

MCC PRESENTS A MUSICAL RECORD-SETTER

On Saturday, December 2nd at 7pm Milton Community Concerts has invited back a musician of unbelievable talent in its concert “Record Setter”. Cory Pesaturo is a musician who has played numerous times at the White House, has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman (playing a piece with Johnny Depp), has performed with Quincy Jones, Winton Marsalis and the Dropkick Murphys, has won World Championships in Acoustic, Digital, and Jazz accordion (the only person ever to do so), and recently set a Guinness World Record for continuous accordion playing (32 hours, 14 minutes). He is featured in a recent commercial for Southwest Airlines which focuses on his record-breaking marathon performance in Austria. Come hear this fabulous entertainer in the First Parish Meetinghouse. Tickets are $20 general/$10 seniors/Free for 18 and under. miltoncommunityconcerts.com.

Annual Holiday Gift Project

Become Part of the First Parish Milton Tradition
Sign up this Sunday, December 3 during Social Hour

Gift Project Update:

We got an ok start last week, with signups for 37 children. There is a total of 206. I hope everyone can help out over the next few weeks. Presents are due Sunday Dec. 10th. Please bring your gift to the Meetinghouse between 10 am and 12 noon.

Give your kids the opportunity to experience generosity over the holidays. If you have questions please e-mail Beth Gray-Nix at bgraynix@comcast.net.

Thanks Beth Gray-Nix & Tracey Robinson

First Parish FUN Raiser – First Planning Meeting

Sunday, December 3rd – in the Parlor
11:45am – 12:45pm

Please join us! You can help out a little or a lot. Every bit counts! We will be going to hold a dynamite FUN Raiser on Saturday March 24th, and hope you’ll volunteer to be on the committee!

The next Courageous Conversations will be held Monday, December 4th from
7 – 9pm at Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills
(18 Shoolman Way, Milton).

Wednesday, December 6th

Vespers Service for Healing and Resilience
Children’s Church – 6:30pm to 7:15pm

Come join Rev. Lisa for a healing and resilience chapel service in the Children’s Church, Wednesday, December 6th from 6:30-7:15 pm. In a world where we can feel afraid and hopeless, this is a time to reconnect with your strength, your power and your wisdom. It is a simple gathering for silence, meditation and song. This is a monthly series to be held the first Wednesday night of the month.

Friday, December 15th, 2017

4:30pm – 6:30pm in the Parish Hall

Fire side Chat on behalf of the Holiday Blues

For anyone “feeling the blues” this Holiday season, let’s sit together by the fire, sharing our stories and enjoying some hot chocolate and cider.

All are invited to join CUUPS on Sunday, December 17th at 3:00pm as the wheel of the year turns to Yule.

This celebration of the Winter Solstice will include prayer and meditation, songs and music, and old-fashioned candle-dipping followed by a pot luck social hour.

First Parish aprons for sale!! What a wonderful holiday present. Aprons are $20 each or you can buy two and donate one to the First Parish Kitchen. We encourage you to wear them when helping at Fair Foods, Father Bills, Community Servings, The Mother’s Day walk or even hosting coffee hour. Aprons can be found at the Social Action table at coffee hour.

Friday, December 1
Holiday Craft Night and Spaghetti Dinner
6:30 pm

Saturday, December 2
Christmas Tree Pick Up
9am – 12noon – First Parish

Saturday, December 2
Milton Community Concert – “Record Setter”
7pm – First Parish Meetinghouse

Sunday, December 3
FUN Raiser Meeting
11:45am – 12:30pm – Parlor

Monday, December 4
Courageous Conversations
7 – 9pm at Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills
(18 Shoolman Way, Milton).

Wednesday, December 6
Verspers Service for Healing and Resilience
Children’s Church – 6:30pm to 7:15pm

Saturday, December 9
Fair Foods, Inc.
Meet at First Parish Milton at 10 a.m.

Sunday, December 10
Milton Holiday Gift Program
Please bring your gifts to church (10 am – 12 noon)

Friday, December 15th
Fire side Chat on behalf of the Holiday Blues
4:30pm – 6:30pm – Parish Hall

Sunday, December 17
CUUPS Yule/Winter Soltice
3:00pm – Parish Hall

Social Action Committee News

Check out the Social Action Calendar at the information tables in the Stebbins Parlor and Parish Hall Foyer.

Sign up during social hour to volunteer with Social Action on upcoming Saturdays:

• December 9, 2017
• January 13, 2018
• February 10, 2018
• March 10, 2018

Fair Foods Inc. rescues surplus fruits and vegetables from Boston industry source and distribute the food to those in need. (www.fairfoods.org)

Upcoming Events

• January 15th -Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Projects to be announced.
• January 15th 6:30pm – Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Courageous Conversations, Concord Baptist Church in Milton
• February 4th 5-7pm – Courageous Conversations at Parkway Methodist Church.

Kiki’s Corner

Ushers Needed Sunday December 10!
Please contact me or Mallory Digges if you can help out.

The month of December will fly by and we will be into the new year before you know it. The Link and Announcements deadlines change a bit because of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Here are some things to keep in mind if you are submit information for The Link, request checks, or come to the office from time to time.

Deadline for The Link/Sunday Announcements

• Tuesday, December 5 – emailed on December 7
• Tuesday, December 12 – emailed on December 14
• Tuesday, December 19 – emailed on December 21
• Thursday, December 21 – emailed on December 28
• Thursday, December 28 – emailed on January 4

Check Requests (for mailing or pick up by December 21)

Monday, December 11

Office Closing for Christmas and New Years:

• Friday, December 22 – Monday, December 25
• Friday, December 29 – Monday, January 1

STAY CONNECTED

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

REMINDER THE LINK DEADLINE IS TUEDAYS

“Brevity Matters” – Peter Bowden, Social Media Guru and wise UU

Deadline for submissions is Tuesdays. You need to address email to both office@fpmilton.org and director@fpmilton.org to assure your announcement will be included in the weekly Link. Written announcements for the Sunday Order of Worship are derived from the announcements for The Link. We, from time to time, will also publish non-church events with a connection to a member of the church. Your submission may be edited due to space requirements. We recommend that you submit no more than 1 – 2 paragraphs.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays

SUMMER SUNDAYS

June 25 – September 3
Worship, 9:30 am in the Children’s Church
Silent Prayer & Meditation, 8:30 am in the Children’s Church
No Religious Exploration Program , Nursery Care, Choir Rehearsal

Beginning Sunday, September 10

Worship, 10:30am 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, 6:30pm in the Children’s Church

SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)

The link to SignUp Genius is:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday?1472051612751