This Week in Worship

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Worship Leader: Matt Meyer

Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate or Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America.

A love of music and deep respect for its ability to stir and transform audiences is at the heart of Matt’s continuing devotion to understand more of the world’s cultures through the vocabulary of rhythm.

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

One aspect of church life is transition. It is in constant flow of volunteers, life events, growing families, changing circumstances. One part of the flow is staff changes. As was articulated in a letter to membership last week, the Parish Committee (PC), in evaluating staff size and fiscal needs, is phasing out the Director of Congregational Life and Administration position. This means that we will be saying good bye to Kiki Giatis at the end of March. In the words of Chris Clifford, PC chair: “Much thanks goes to Kiki for keeping groups connected, her infrastructure work in the office, her steady presence and her stewardship of our beautiful campus”. Kiki has been instrumental in orienting me, newly called to this congregation, in the life of First Parish. I consider her service an immeasurable gift.

I was also informed this week of another staff change. Kathy Tracey, our buoyant, ever-ready to help administrative assistant, will be moving on at the end of February. Her friendly manner on the phone, in the office, and towards vendors has added a wonderful presence in the office. She will be missed. I send best wishes for this new chapter in her life.

Suffice it to say, these next few months will offer a time in flux. With a steady eye toward infrastructure, strong presence in church leadership and understanding that transitions take time, we are, no doubt, entering into a new adventure.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

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 week our caregivers are Daisy and Bella. Stop by and say hello!
• Religious Exploration for Sunday, February 4: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the full multigenerational worship service in the Meetinghouse this week.
• Breakfast for Dinner! Friday, February 2 at 6:30 pm
• On Friday, February 2, the youth of First Parish Milton will host a fundraising meal to earn money for their spring service trip. This time, however, they will not be serving spaghetti. Join them for a real midwinter treat, breakfast for dinner! Wear your pajamas and slippers as you enjoy pancakes, bacon and other breakfast goodies. Gluten-free options will be available. Suggested cost is $5 per person. Linger after dinner to play board games together by the fireside. Bring your favorite board game to share and play!

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Our talented youth will prepare and serve a delicious “Breakfast for Dinner” fundraiser this Friday! Come in your pajamas, wear your slippers! Part of the evening’s entertainment will be playing board games, so bring your favorite game to share. Fun for the whole family: invite your friends, invite your neighbors! Dinner begins at 6:30 and ends at 8 pm. Suggested donation is $5 per person. All funds go toward the cost of a spring service trip for our youth.

Following the dinner the youth will have an overnight full of opportunities for reflection, fun and deep bonding.

Coming of Age class and CAT (Community Activity Time) do not meet this weekend. All youth are encouraged to catch up on sleep on Saturday and then attend the wonderful multigenerational service on Sunday 8 led by drummer extraordinaire Matt Meyer.

This Friday, we hope to have all youth join us for our first sleepover of the year! After the completion of the fundraiser dinner, we will be building community and having lots of fun all through the night. The sleepover will end at 8:30am on Saturday. Please let me know if your youth is coming or if you have any questions.

Due to the sleepover, there will be no youth programming this Sunday. As always, youth are encouraged to attend worship service.

Events, News and Announcements

SAVE THE DATE:

MEGA FIRST PARISH FUN RAISER, SATURDAY NIGHT MARCH 24TH

LIVE AUCTION!! SILENT AUCTION!!

Vacation homes, restaurants, books, painting donated by our own Diane Sawyer, NEC tickets, Boston Baroque subscribptions and much more!

REQUEST FOR AUCTION ITEMS: If you have something you would like to donate: a service, an interesting item sitting in your attic, tickets, please contact Jen Pinkus.

NEXT PLANNING MEETING:

Sunday, February 4th at 11:45 in the Parlor.

ALL ARE WELCOME. JOIN THE FUN!

For more information, contact Ruth Heiden

Sunday, February 4

Parish Hall, 3 pm

Hail Mid-Winter!

“…Imbolc is an honoring of what’s not present yet. It represents the words yet to be spoken, the potential in our spirits, the ‘calm before a storm’ of growth, the quiet before the show, and the unknown baby before its birth. Imbolc’s beauty is in its waiting and not knowing.” – Heather Greene, The Wild Hunt

Join First Parish’s Great Blue Hill CUUPS to celebrate, renew, and refresh on Sunday, February 4, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to the Imbolc ceremony and Pot Luck social hour to follow.

Annual Toiletry Drive for Renewal House

February 2018

The Social Action Committee is seeking gift cards and full sized toiletries for the parents and children who are clients at Renewal House, a shelter for those affected by domestic violence.

We will be collecting items through the month of February. Collection baskets for the drive will be at the entrances to the church and at the table by the stairs near the parish hall. You can drop off gift cards to the social action table during coffee hour. If you have questions contact Linda.

The Social Action Committee is seeking gift cards and full sized toiletries for the parents and children who are clients at Renewal House, a shelter for those affected by domestic violence.

Please donate full sized products. Do not contribute sample sized products or any product that has been used or opened.

These items have been specifically requested:

laundry detergent, liquid fabric softeners, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, food storage containers, sandwich and food storage bags.

Renewal House is also in need of gift cards to Stop & Shop and Walgreens

We will be collecting items through the month of February. Look for baskets at the entrances to the church and at the table by the stairs in the Parish Hall foyer. You can drop off gift cards to the social action table during coffee hour. If you have questions contact Linda.

Sponsored by Courageous Conversations

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Milton Public High School audortorium

25 Gile Road, Milton, MA.

Admission is free

Featuring local actor Johnny Lee Davenport as Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to sit on the Supreme Court, Thurgood spans Marshall’s impressive career as a lawyer, arguing such landmark cases as Brown v. Board of Education.

Sponsored by

Green Team Workshp #3 of 4: Ethics and Mapping Congregational Impact.

Building on mindfulness and gratitude, this workshop will take us outside our congregational walls to more deeply understand our congregation’s environmental impact as well as our interconnectedness.

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 1:30pm to 4:00pm – Parish Hall

Green Teem Workshop on Ethics

20th Annual Chocolate Auction – February 11, 2018

St. Valentine’s Day, when we celebrate the patron saint of Chocolate, is once again just around the corner. At First Parish, that means it’s CHOCOLATE AUCTION time again!

Looking for a tasty token with which to express your love for your Valentine? Or simply ready to satisfy your own sweet tooth?

Be at Church on Sunday FEBRUARY 11th for the Chocolate Auction. This event, which has become an annual tradition at First Parish, will take place in the Parish Hall right after the worship service. ALL members of the congregation are encouraged to bring some goodie of substance for the auction. Items may be home-produced or purchased. Chocolate is the essential ingredient. [For those of you who have a sweet tooth but not a chocolate one – perhaps someone else will do a Non-Chocolate Auction, but this is not that event…]

Please plan ahead – think NOW about what you might be able to contribute. All of the proceeds of this year’s Chocolate Auction will be donated to support the work of a local nonprofit food-related service organization – Fair Foods Inc. – which our Social Action Committee continues to assist This is a unique, fun and yummy way to raise funds for worthy local food-related social justice in action. Be there! Bring a guest – the more bidders, the merrier!

Live Our Values, Eat Our Chocolate!

Any questions at all, call or email your Humble Auctioneer, Chris Pitt.

Courageous Conversations to host:

Sunday, February 11th from 5pm to 8pm

Held at Parkway Methodist Church on Blue Hill Parkway

A discussion and potluck featuring Thomas Shapiro, wealth gap expert and author

A facilitated discussion on race, injustice, and the wealth gap in America. Discussion will feature a presentation by scholar Thomas Shapiro, wealth gap expert and author of Toxic Inequality: How America’s Wealth Gap Destroys Mobility, Deepens the Racial Divide, and Threatens Our Future. This event is part of a monthly series of dialogue-centered programs on racism and privilege designed to address racial healing and justice in our town. Now more than ever, we must engage in this critical work of recognizing and dismantling racism in our society

Milton Community Concerts

Saturday, February 24 at 7 pm

4th Annual Sing For Their Supper

This free benefit concert in the Meetinghouse features ten of the top opera singers in New England as they donate their time and talents in this program of opera and musical theater. All money raised will be given to the Milton Food Pantry and the Milton Residents Fund. Free admission, free-will offering. Visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com

3rd Annual Care Package Drive for our Young Adults

The Caring Committee and the Youth Group are teaming up for the third year to provide care packages to our young adults. This would include youth who are now in college, recently enrolled and serving in the armed forces, completing a year of community service like AmeriCorps, or off on their own just starting a first job. There will be a signup at coffee hour or you can send name, address, and any dietary restrictions to Amanda Tobey at amandatobey@gmail.com or 508-579-5118.

Also, we would graciously receive monetary contributions to offset the shipping costs and/or goods to fill the care packages.

The deadline for all donations is Sunday, February 4. Packages will be mailed/delivered the week of February 12.

Money Moment:

How many UU’s does it take to change a light bulb?

Did you know that there are 160 lights around the ceiling of the Meetinghouse? The cost for an 8-pack of bulbs is $14.

How many UU’s on ladders would it take to change all of those bulbs?

How much would it cost?

STAY CONNECTED

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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.