Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 6/1/2018

Weekly Link 6-1-18

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 3, 2018
Theme: Identity
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Rev. LisaMinister

Rev. Lisa Ward

We’re coming into June! We have two more full service worship services, ending, on June 10th, with a flower communion, send off of graduating seniors and our annual picnic. Hope to see you there. Summer services begin on Father’s Day, June 17th, in the Children’s Church at 9:30 am. Please note the time change.

While summer is a time for vacations, First Parish continues to have offerings. The worship committee has put together an appealing roster of summer services. A summer book group is forming, a biking group is finding traction and planning is in the works for a few walking meditation gatherings. The heritage committee will begin sorting through our archival materials in earnest this summer. If you are interested in any of these offerings, please do contact the office: office@fpmilton.org.

Stay tuned, as well, for our posting of summer office hours and vacation schedules, all in place by June 15th.

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, June 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 review the 7 UU Principles and continue working on creating banners for each Principle to hang in the Children’s Church space.
  • 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

Youth Chat and CAT (Community Activity Time) do not meet this week or next. Congratulations to our graduating seniors on June 3!

All youth are invited to attend the multigenerational Flower Communion Service on June 10, followed by the end of year congregational picnic.

Events, News and Announcements

OUR ANNUAL FLOWER COMMUNION IS JUNE 10TH

We invite you to bring a flower to share. The Flower Comunion is a traditional UU ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community.

Originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Flower Ceremony was introduced to the United States by Rev. Maya Capek, Norbert’s widow.

In this ceremony, we bless the flowers brought in by congregants and receive a flower to take home.

Summer Worship

SUMMER SERVICES BEGIN IN THE CHILDREN’S CHURCH ON 6/17. PLEASE JOIN US FROM 9:30-10:30.

*June 17 – Rev. Lisa Ward – “Reflections on Fatherhood”

Though a hallmark designation, theme days (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day) invite us to focus on aspects of our relational lives. Today we will dedicate an hour to contemplating, sharing and lifting up the role of fatherhood in our lives.

*June 24 – Deb Alsebai and Paul Casaz – “Childhood in White – What wasn’t said”

The Courageous Conversations group of Milton will explore some of the themes of Waking Up White, by Debbie Irving.

*July 1 – Israel Buffardi (HDS) – “Setting the Communal Table”

Guest preacher Israel Buffardi shares an experience of finding connection and a call to justice in a humble pot of zucchini soup; he will also lead us in a celebration of community, connection, and interdependence through story, song, and ritual.

*July 8 – Leslie Macpherson – “A Wide-eyed Theology”

As human beings, sometimes we go through our days, not questioning our perspectives, but if we see ourselves as resident theologians in the world, shouldn’t we UUs consider the places we come from?

*July 15 – Julie Baker – “Storytelling”

“The Moth” and “Story Slam” winner and storyteller extraordinaire Julie Baker will share how to embrace the stories you carry within and how sharing them can be transformative.

*July 22 – First Parish Green Team – “Sustainability for an Historic Church”

The Green Team invites you to join in a walking meditation around First Parish’s beautiful and historic campus, mindfully contemplating our role as stewards in the interdependent web of existence — bare feet, optional. Please bring a biodegradable “donation” for our new composting system, for example: fruit/veggie peelings or scraps; coffee grounds/spent teabags; wilted flowers; stale bread; egg shells; etc. (PLEASE, NO WEEDS, MEAT, BONES, DAIRY, or GREASE).

*July 29 – Jeffrey Stoodt – “What’s Christianity Got to Do With It?”

We will learn about how rooted in Christianity Unitarian Universalism is and consider its relevance today.

*August 5 – Chloe Briede (HDS) – “The School of Masters”

We will explore the life and death of the conductor Viktor Ullmann and ask ourselves how we make art in our own lives.

*August 12 – Courageous Conversations – “Color Blind”

The Courageous Conversations Group of Milton explores why saying “I don’t see race” is as racist as it gets.

*August 19 – Joe Ayoub – “It’s Not the Thought That Counts”

Good intentions are a good beginning, but do they really matter if they do not lead to action?

*August 26 – TBA – “Walking the Labyrinth

A First Parish member will lead a discussion and a walk around First Parish’s portable labyrinth.

*September 2 – Robert Johnson – “Finding God in Buddhism?”

First Parish member and practicing Buddhist — Robert Johnson — explores the theological aspects of Buddhism.

yardsale

SAVE THE DATE!!

First Parish Milton Yard Sale

Saturday, June 23, 9 am – 1pm

Start cleaning out your attic, garage, and closets – you can declutter and help raise funds for First Parish at the same time!

DONATION drop-off information

We are looking for gently used furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, books, lawn and garden items, “boutique” clothes, household goods, bicycles, and more…

DROP OFF: First Parish activities room – you may use the side door (near the carriage house parking lot)

  • Sunday: June 10, noon-2pm
  • Saturday: June 16, 9am-noon
  • Thursday: June 21, 3pm-7:30pm
  • Friday: June 22, 10am-noon

If these times don’t work for you, please Contact Jen Pinkus to arrange an alternate drop-off time. We can also arrange to pick up your items!

Can you help? We need volunteers to:

● serve on the organizing committee (meeting June 3, after church, 11:45am, library)

● staff the donation drop-off hours (June 10, June 16, June 21, June 22)

● staff the tables and help with set-up or clean-up on June 23rd

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

Contact Jen Pinkus if you would like to be involved.

The event is open to public – rain or shine – spread the word!

Parenting As A Spiritual Practice: Parenting Ages 5 and Younger

Saturday, June 23rd 10:30- 12:00

Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward

One resident theologian and parent of young children longed out loud for clarity around finding spirituality in the chaos of parenting. This is both possible and accessible in our everyday lives. At this gathering we will determine together what issues we can explore with one another. If there is enough interest, we will schedule monthly gatherings to set aside time to help each other find our way. Child care is available upon request.

Please contact the office to rsvp, please include the ages of the children who will attend.

MainSpring in Brockton Sunday, June 17th 3 – 6 pm

The Social Action Committee is seeking volunteers to prepare and serve dinner at MainSpring in Brockton from 3PM-6PM. We need 4 people to sign up. Register at the Social Action table during social hour or email Peter at peterlschneider@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE! Join us for our Annual Church Picnic, June 10th, 11:30 am -12:30 in the Church Yard and Parish Hall.

At the Annual Meeting we launched next year’s “Choose or Be Chosen”, our sign up for Sundays during the coming church year. While many folks just wait to be assigned a date, that can cause many complications. If possible, we really hope people will CHOOSE a date for ushering, flowers and hospitality, rather than BE CHOSEN. If you have child who is interested in chalice lighting, please sign him/her up as well. Voluntary sign up is the embodiment of our spirit of volunteerism and a commitment to our shared worship experience. So check your calendars and add your name! Sign up sheets will be in the Parish Hall through the Annual Picnic on 6/10.

Summer Book Club

Join our summer book discussion: WAKING UP WHITE by Debby Irving

An initiative of the First Parish Social Action Committee

in collaboration with Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice

Debby Irving grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, a predominantly white, upper middle class community. In this book, she shares her journey toward recognition of white privilege. This is an accessible book that invites deeper knowledge of our culture and our way through toward clarity, which is a necessary step toward transformation of our society at large.

We will meet every other Tuesday, starting June 12th, from 7- 8 pm in the library. The reading assignments will offer an easy pace through the summer. We will create opportunities for zoom conferencing for an option to call in for the discussion.

Please contact the office if you are interested, or speak with Debbie Alsebai. Debbie has copies of the book that you can purchase.

Fair Foods

Provides healthy produce to low income families in the greater Boston area. We compile bags of donated produce to distribute.

Meet to carpool in the First Parish lower parking lot, 10 am : Saturday, June 9.

Church Counsel Meeting

Friendly reminder: MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the all Church Council Meeting on Friday, June 8th at 6 pm in the Parish Hall. We encourage committee chairs and committee members to participate. Even if you are not on a committee, we invite you to be part of the discussion. All are welcome. Pizza and salad will be served. Stay tuned for more info closer to the meeting.

Mattapan Milton Neponset Community Celebration

June 28th – (7:00 – 9:00pm): Two Communities and a River: The Story of the Neponset Greenway Extension. An interactive community storytelling event with True Story Theater. All are welcome. Foley Senior Residences, 249 River Street, Mattapan.

The MMNC gathers as neighbors along the Neponset River to explore how to make the Greenway Trail Extension an opportunity to forge stronger relationships among residents of Mattapan and Milton based on mutual respect, understanding, and a common love of the beautiful river and greenway we share. The long-term goal is to understand, confront and eliminate structural racism and other forces that divide and disempower our Neponset Valley Communities.

Courageous Conversations Upcoming Dates

The next Courageous Conversations events will take place on Tuesday, June 19th from 7-9pm (Location TBD) and Thursday, July 26th at the Milton Public Library (Time TBD). The conversations will feature film screenings and discussions.

Bike Ride

Come join Tony Dutzik and Owen McGonagle on our first community bike ride. We will meet at 9 am on Saturday, June 16th at First Parish, to venture the roads together. We’ll start with a 12 mile ride, open to all levels of ability. All one needs is a bike, helmet, and great attitude. Water bottles are highly recommended. Come join us! Please contact the office if you are planning to come.

Email Address Update!

Susan DeMinico, our office manager, has a new email address.

Please update your address books!

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.