Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 5/11/2018

Weekly Link 5-11-18

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, May 13, 2018
Theme: Faith
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Rev. LisaMinister

Rev. Lisa Ward

It was a privilege and a pleasure delivering the invocation at the opening of Milton’s Town Meeting last Monday. Civic consciousness is something I value as a citizen and as a Unitarian Universalist. Our faith is grounded in applying who we are to the lives we live. Our seventh principle: “respect for the interdependent web of which we are a part”, applies not only for our individual choices, but for our promotion of civic engagement. This, of course, is different than partisan engagement, which would violate the separation of church and state. Even though there is often an assumption of liberal politics amongst UU’s, it is not an accurate picture. A wide spectrum of political beliefs are present in our larger faith community. What we do share, as affirmed in our fifth principle: “the right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and the society at large”,is the deep and abiding belief that our voices count and that we have a responsibility to share our truths, with the humility that dwelling in diversity may mean we do not always get our way. So attending town meeting amongst citizens who care about the health and well-being of their town is a welcomed gift of democracy.

Here is what I said:

God of All Naming and Being: may your presence be known in this gathering of civic community.

Thank you for this opportunity to come together, and for those who have chosen to serve the town of Milton.

May creativity flow in navigating our diversities

And compassion guide us toward deep listening.

May truth abound and joy be near

As we focus in on the health of our ways and walking together.

In the name of all that is holy I pray. Amen.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

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, May 13: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the full multigenerational worship service in the Meetinghouse this week.

Register your child or youth for Fall 2018! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth for our upcoming worship year. Accurate registration information really helps us plan class sizes and locations. Paper registration forms are available during social hour or on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Events, News and Announcements

The Caring Committee meeting has been moved from 5/10/18 to 5/17/18 at 7:30 in the library.

MAKE SURE YOU FIND A SLOT TO SHARE YOUR VIEW! MEETINGS ARE FILLING UP, SO GO TO SIGNUPGENIUS AND ADD YOUR NAME. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The Worship Committee is holding seven roundtable conversations with members of First Parish on this important question: Should the cross be the central focal point of our worship space? Please go to signupgenius.com to participate in one of these conversations. There will be up to 8 people in each conversation and two facilitators from the Worship Committee. We hope everyone will participate. If needed, we will add more dates for the end of May and June.

Please join us for the 22nd Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace: “Dignity and Compassion for All”

The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace is a celebration of our potential to create more peaceful communities. Every year families from across the state and region walk together toward peace. Join us on Mother’s Day to demand dignity and compassion for all families impacted by murder.

The Mother’s Day Walk is also the Peace Institute’s most important fundraising event. We’re asking you to invest in community-based solutions to a complex problem.

All walkers must register. Registration cost this year is $10 per walker, however no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Where?

Town Field Park, Dorchester Ave, Fields Corner, Dorchester, MA

  • Registration Begins: 7:00 am—Meet at church 7:30 am to drive over together, or meet us there—look for our FP Milton sign
  • Opening Remarks: 8:00 am
  • Walk Begins: 8:30 am
  • Finish at Government Center: approx. 1pm. You don’t have to walk it all! Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.

How can you sign up?

Go to https://www.mothersdaywalk4peace.org/ and register as a participant to join in our team, First Parish Milton. As this is a fundraiser, we are also seeking donations.

What is our fundraising goal?

We’d like to raise $1000 for the Louis D Brown Peace Institute.

We’d also like to have at least 50 walkers signed up from First Parish!

Please join us!

FIRST PARISH WELCOMES MEGAN BENDERS

Our office staffing is now complete with the addition of Megan Benders as our half-time administrative assistant. She joins Susan DeMinico, our Office Manager, for a strong and responsive staff team. Please be sure to introduce yourself when you come into the office during the week.

Looking Ahead to Next Year –

Help Still Needed for First Parish Committees

If you’re new to First Parish or haven’t been involved for a while with the good work that our church committees do inside our walls and outside, check out this list. These committees could use your energy and expertise –

  • · Building & Grounds Committee
  • · Caring Committee
  • · Membership Committee
  • · Personnel Committee

As we prepare for the Annual Meeting on May 20, and look forward to the next church year, if you might have an interest in the work of any of these important groups, or have questions about what they do, please call Chris Pitt, Chair of the Nominating Committee (617-803-5608) this week. He will answer your questions, or direct you to committee chairs who can, and will help you get involved. Committees provide unexpected opportunities to meet new people and expand your experience. Be a part of what makes First Parish tick.

The Nominating Committee

First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 23, 9 am – 1 pm

First Parish is hosting its first-ever yard sale on Saturday, June 23. Start cleaning out your attic, garage and closets. You can declutter and help raise funds for First Parish at the same time!

We’re looking for volunteers (lots of volunteers!). Can you help? We need people to:

  • · donate furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, household goods, etc. that you no longer need
  • · be on the organizing committee (first meeting is May 17 at 7 pm)
  • · staff the drop-off hours during the week of June 17
  • · work the tables and move items around on June 23th

If you can commit 2 hours or 20, we’d appreciate your help!

Keep watching this space for more information over the coming weeks. And email Jen Pinkus to sign up to help or for more information.

MainSpring in Brockton

The Social Action Committee is seeking volunteers to prepare and serve dinner at MainSpring in Brockton on Sunday, May 20 from 3PM-6PM. Sign up at the Social Action table during social hour or email Peter.

MOTHER’S DAY FREE BENEFIT CONCERT

Milton Community Concerts presents “Women’s Voices: A Rally for Rosie’s Place” on Mother’s Day, May 13th at 3pm in the Meetinghouse. This is a free benefit concert to support Rosie’s Place, the first women’s shelter in the US, located in Boston. This program will feature female artists and composers, as well as music addressing many issues facing women today and in the past. Performers include vocalists Jennifer Sgroe, Nyah Macklin, and Emily Tweedy, and dancers from Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. For more information visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com.

There will be no yoga on Mondays in June.

SUMMER SERVICES

Summer is coming! And that means lay-led summer services at 9:30 am in The Children’s Church. Is there some aspect of your spiritual journey that you have wanted to share with the congregation? Is there some part of your social action work that you would like to present to others? This is your chance! Please email Mallory Digges if you have interest in leading a service.

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.