This Week in Worship

Sunday, March 4, 2018
Theme: Resilience
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

So this Sunday is what’s lovingly named, “the Sermon on the Amount”. Many congregations are in their stewardship campaigns, and as occurs every year, some ministers post condolences or descriptions of dread; either because they themselves don’t like to talk about money, or they believe they are preaching to folk who don’t like to talk about money. I say, let’s change the frame. The stewardship sermon is not “talking about money”, it’s celebrating the value of the congregation in people’s lives. The stewardship sermon is not a trudging through obligation and responsibility; it’s about affirming the abundance of shared resources and the agency possible in dedicated treasure. It’s about participating in the power of interdependent support.

Through the years I’ve seen the “ah hah” moments arise in congregants that we are all in this together: no matter how much one can give, the act of giving is the energy needed for the life of the congregation. Obligation and responsibility flow naturally from a place of value, and an understanding of co-creation.

So, I like talking about your value and the value of the Parish. I like asserting that our endeavors make a profound difference in the way we live our lives for and with each other. I like the teamwork, the shared ministry, the wise interdependence. Come take notice of who we blessedly are. See you Sunday!

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

OFFICE TRANSITION NEWS

Please welcome Susan Mahoney to our office staff. Susan is our temporary administrative assistant. With a fond farewell to Kathy Tracey, as she ventures toward new paths, Susan will be filling in with that vital administrative support while we are in search for a church administrator. Kiki Giatis is with us, transitioning the Director of Congregational Life position, through March 30th. Please mark your calendars for a celebration of Kiki’s service to the Parish at the March 18th Fellowship Hour after worship.

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 Toya. Stop by and say hello!

Religious Exploration for Sunday, March 4: 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 Principle #6: We should work for a peaceful, fair, and free world. We will be singing some social action-related songs and making posters for upcoming social justice events.

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 Supper and Karaoke Night!

Friday, March 2, 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! There will also be activities for all, 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!

A $5 dinner donation per person is suggested. Proceeds will help fund a spring youth service trip. This evening will be co-hosted by the Youth Group and the Hospitality Committee.

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

This week’s youth programming:

Reminder: This Friday is our final fundraising spaghetti dinner after being rescheduled from January. We are asking youth and adult helpers to arrive at 5pm with a jar of vegetarian sauce and a loaf of crusty bread for garlic bread. Hope to see you all then!

Coming of Age, 10:30am – 12pm

This week’s class will include mentors! We will be looking inward and considering our own thoughts and beliefs around God.

CAT – Community Activity Time, 12-2

We will be focusing on community building through games and activities! Please join us for some snacks and team building.

Events, News and Announcements

REMINDER – Notices for The Link need to be sent to both office@fpmilton.org and director@fpmilton.org. It is how we make sure your announcement is included each week. Please send your announcement on Tuesdays for inclusion

in the Thursday edition of The Link and Sunday announcements. Bear with us during our transition period.

Green Team Meeting

Saturday, March 3 from 3pm -5pm PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME!

This workshop, led by Hale and Tucker Smith, will be the presentation of research gathered by the Green Team and friends on the land, water, air, waste, energy, and food resources engaged within First Parish Milton’s interconnected web. We hope you will join us for this penultimate workshop at which we will begin to crystallize a vision for taking action to work for environmental justice!!

Fair Foods – Saturday, March 10

Meet at 10:00am in the church parking lot

Courageous Conversations

Meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 7pm- 9pm

at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan.

The discussion will be on race and law enforcement. All are welcome to come.

SATURDAY NIGHT MARCH 24TH – First Parish Fun Raiser

“ALL THAT JAZZ!!” – 6:30-10:00pm

$10.00 Donation at the door. Appetizers, desserts, jazz tunes, raffle, silent auction and some live auction items too!

SILENT AUCTION!!

Vacation homes, restaurants, books, painting donated by our own Diane Sawyer, Boston Baroque subscriptions and much more! Look below for a sneak peak of even more items.

• 4 tickets to the performance “Later the Same Evening” by American composer John Musto and in the new black box theater at the New England Conservatory!
• 3 private 1 hour Yoga instruction with Tatiana Tosi
• 2 Bottles of homemade Wine
• Family Photo Portraits!
• Vacation rentals in Provincetown, a Maine Cottage, or a New Hampshire Farmhouse!!!
• REQUEST FOR AUCTION ITEMS: If you have something you would like to donate: a service, concert tickets, an interesting item sitting in your attic, sports tix, gift certificates, please contact Jen Pinkus.

ALL ARE WELCOME. JOIN THE FUN!

For more information, contact Ruth Heiden

March for Our Lives

Saturday, March 24, 12pm – 5pm in Boston

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Please contact Linda at Lindacarneygoodrich@yahoo.com for more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour. For more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour.

“Sing For Their Supper”, an annual concert fundraiser of the Milton Community Concerts (MCC), was a wonderful success. The word is spreading: 110 people attended, raising over $2500.00 for the Milton Resident’s Fund and Food Pantry. Thank you, Tim Steele and the MCC Committee, for organizing this event.

THE FIRST PARISH ARTS GROUP is planning to see the play “The Humans” on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:30 PM at the Shubert Theater in Boston. Carpooling from FP will be arranged. Orchestra seats are $73 or $61 for seniors. Balcony seats are $41. Tony award winning play “The Humans” by Stephan Karam is an uproarious, hopeful and heartbreaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. All are welcome.

Please contact Laurie Macintosh or Deb Alsebai to purchase tickets and coordinate carpooling.

Weekly Meditation Offerings

Sundays, Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

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

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.