This Week in Worship

Sunday, December 23rd, 2018

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

“Sing We Now of Christmas”

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

One of the musical offerings in the 10 pm Christmas Eve service features a popular reading by Howard Thurman, entitled “The Work of Christmas”:

“When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.”

This is a calling to birth and embody the mission of the Christmas narratives.  As we enter into our own mission discernment in the new year, what might our agency look like?  What might First Parish in Milton birth and embody as a faith community?

Meanwhile, come celebrate with us this weekend.  We have a service of carol singing on Sunday the 23rd, the pageant at the 5 pm family service on the 24th and a meditative service at 10 pm on the 24th.  There is special music planned for both Christmas Eve services: original music in the 5pm, and several choral offerings at 10 pm.

Hope to see you and safe travels for those who will be out of town.

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 to age 3.

On Sunday, December 23, most children from preschool through grade 8 will remain in the Meetinghouse for the entire worship service about Christmas Carols. Our eleven main pageant actors will be downstairs from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the Activity Room practicing for the Christmas Eve pageant.

Christmas pageant dress rehearsal: Monday, December 24, at 3:30 pm in the Meetinghouse. The pageant service will follow at 5 pm.

Our Whole Lives Program (Grades 8 and 9, parental permission required): The Our Whole Lives class is on holiday break. Next class will be on January 6th.

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).

MUSIC THIS WEEK

On Sunday, 12/23 the morning service will be brimming with Christmas Carols, sung by the congregation and the choir. You may even learn a few things that you never knew before about these popular carols. 

On Christmas Eve at 5pm come hear the Christmas Pageant featuring our youth. They will be presenting a story called “A Christmas Tapestry” by Patricia Polacco with original music by Stuart M.V.S. Ryerse, a song for Christmas and Hannukah called “Here in My House” by Aline Shader, and lots of Christmas carols.

On Christmas Eve at 10pm the Meetinghouse Choir and Hunsaker soloists will be presenting a wide variety of holiday music along with guest flautist Wei Zhao, including a beautiful setting of “Christmas Light” by a former organist at our church, Edward H. Hastings.

Events, News and Announcements

Join us for Christmas Eve Services!

December 24th, 2018 in the Meetinghouse

5pm Service- Pageant, Carols & Candlelight

Music performed by Stuart M.V.S. Ryerse

10pm Service- Choral Music, Reflections & Candlelight

Music performed by Music Director Tim Steele

Holiday Gift Card Donations for Milton Families in Need  

My Brother’s Keeper and the Milton Residents Fund are partnering in order to ensure all Milton families in need of holiday gifts for their children can get them. Those who would like to support our program during the holidays can donate gift cards – Target, grocery store or others. We have found that gift cards collected at the holidays have been a huge help to families struggling throughout the year.

Gift card donations can be put in the grey box outside of the church office.  Please label the envelope: Holiday Gift Program. Contact Noreen Kearney Dolan, LCSW for more information.  Email: miltonresidentsfund@gmail.com

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.

Tuesday, January 1st, 2019, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Church of Our Saviour, 453 Adams St, Milton. New Year Drumming Circle.

You are invited to join the New Year Drumming Circle. There will be a potluck meal.

 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 13. 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.

Effective 12/19/18, Wednesday Evening Service of Centerting is cancelled until further notice.

The church office will close on Monday, December 24th, 2018 at noon and on Monday, December 31st at noon.

The church office is closed on Tuesday, December 25th, 2018 and January 1, 2019. 

Yoga is cancelled on both Mondays, December 24th and 31st.

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.