This Week in Worship

Sunday, July 19

Summmer Worship @ 10:30 am in Parish Hall

Worship leader this week is Jennie Mulqueen

“Resuscitating My Facebook Profile”

In the digital age and beyond, can we keep our relationships real and meaningful, can we tell our stories with sincerity and truth? Like many, I come and go on Facebook. I come seeking connection, and often go feeling dejected and isolated. How can we choose to create authentic and sustaining community, balancing the virtual and the real?

The Nursery is closed for the summer.

All children are welcomed to attend the service.

Next Week: Sunday, July 26 – Rev. Hank Peirce

Religious Exploration

NO Religious Exploration during the summer. We will be back in the Fall! Please register your child/children for the 2015 – 2016 season.

First Lego League

Sunday afternoons 1-2:30 starting this fall

We are forming a new team for kids who will be between 8 and 12 years old next school year. We will be meeting on Sunday afternoons starting in late August. First Lego teams are limited to 10 members. To register, or for more information, please contact Bridget Sitkoff.

News and Announcements

Activities continue during the summer at First Parish Milton.

*Parking lot paving project completed*

Please remember that two programs continue to meet throughout the summer.

Monday evenings at 7:30. Join Elyse Foster for Yoga in the Parish Hall. The group meets all year.

Sunday mornings at 9 am and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm. Meditation in the Children’s Church for 30 minutes. Questions? Contact Tracey Robinson

Our Committees are Working and Planning

There is great activity amidst what many consider the quiet season at church. Many of our lay leaders are hard at work all summer long. The office is working on a vareity of projects, some in conjunction with lay leadership and some planning for next fall (particularly Miriam Saavedra in her role of Religious Educator and Kiki Giatis on office infrastructure).

Committee Retreats: The Parish Committee retreat is July 17 and 18. Membership Committee retreat is August 16. Worship Committee is August 29. Search Committee has already completed their retreat with Laura Graham. and the RE Committee had their retreat in June. All good preparations to talk more deeply and plan for an exciting fall.

Committe Work continues. Trustee’s have their regular committee meeting in mid-August. Hospitality also has plans to meet during the summer.

David Leggett, our new Treasurer, has been transitioning with Kathy Fagan, outgoing Treasurer, our bookkeping consultant and the office. Lots of good work already done in a short period of time.

Roger Gray, our B&G chair, has been working with vendors so the paving project was done while we have few groups in the building. We have several other projects that we hope to accomplish during August.

Worship Committee Chair, Leslie MacPherson Artinian, has been diligent to make sure Sunday worship goes off without a hitch Thanks also to worship leaders Elise Henricks, Jeff Stoodt and David Egan, Jennie Mulqueen for making the service happen.

September and October Activities

Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

• Sunday, September 6 – Worship Begins again in the Meetinghouse
• Sunday, September 13 – Ingathering!, RE Teacher Training
• Saturday, September 19 – First Parish Orientation
• Sunday, September 27 – RE Classes begin
• Saturday, October 3 – The Return of the Harvest Supper
• Sunday, October 4 – Membership Sunday
• Friday, October 30 – First Parish Halloween Party

Beyond our Walls – Connecting with other UU organizations

Rev. Molly Housch Gordon (formerly at First Parish Milton, now minister in Columbia, MO) last week wrote in the local newspaper,The Missourian, “about my delight at the Supreme Court’s ruling which allows for federal recognition of same sex marriage and about how that joy has galvanized me toward all the work that still remains.” Her message was picked up by the Standing on the Side of Love campaign. All this happening after the Supreme Court decision allowing same sex marriage in all the U.S.

Link to The Missourian | Link to Standing on the Side of Love

Foundation Beyond Belief #blacklivesmatter Conference

Dear Boston-area UU friends and colleagues,

At the Portland General Assembly two weeks ago, I was proud to represent my local congregation as a delegate when we approved the Action of Immediate Witness entitled, “Support the Black Lives Matter Movement”. The Ware lecture by Dr. Cornel West was a highlight of the week, and the “die-in” demonstration at the close was inspirational. Click here for more info.

As part of the UU Humanist Association’s response to this call of support, we are co-sponsoring the Foundation Beyond Belief’s Humanism at Work / #blacklivesmatter conference that will be in Boston in just a few short weeks, on July 25th at the Park Plaza Hotel. Join us as we discuss the secular and humanist response to systemic racism and hear from black leaders about how we can take action to help address the issue. More info.

As a thanks for our sponsorship, the Foundation Beyond Belief has allowed us to offer a $99 registration (normally $125) to Boston-area UUs. Please contact Noelle George to take advantage of this opportunity. Noelle is also looking for some local volunteers to help pick up speakers from the airport and do other tasks and has a limited number of free registrations available in exchange.

Highlights from GA 2015

More than 5,000 UUs gathered in Portland, OR June 24-28 for this year’s General Assembly (GA). Highlights included:

Adopting the Statement of Conscience on Reproductive Justice A Sacred Public Witness event in collaboration with Lummi Nation focused on climate justice An inspiring Ware Lecture by Cornel West A rally following the overwhelmingly supported Action of Immediate Witness on Black Lives Matter.
To read full reports, check out UU World’s coverage. For videos, scripts, and workshop materials from the event, visit UUA.org. The UUA has also provided this press release, which can be adapted by congregations for use with local media.

Every Saturday, 10am-1pm: Fair Foods at the UU Urban Ministry

Building Community through Healthy Food. Volunteers needed to work with Fair Foods to sort, package and sell healthy, low cost fresh produce. You will work with and meet many of our Roxbury neighbors. Lemonade, gardening, and cooking demonstrations too!

Mondays and Wednesdays, July 6-Aug 15, 10am-noon: Gardening with Young People of Roxbury

The Roxbury Youth Program Summer Employment Program and Youth Against Mass Incarceration will be working in the gardens from 10am-12pm. They welcome volunteers to work side-by-side with them.

Saturday, July 11, 1:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 15, 1 pm: Jazz concert on the UUUM lawn

A neighborhood music, arts, and culture festival featuring The Makanda Project, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Steel Band,Citywide String Orchestra, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and more! Please join us! We are looking for congregations to host an arts and crafts table for children at these events.
Come early to get a bag of produce from Fair Foods!

We are looking for congregations to host an arts and crafts table for children at these events.
Come early to get a bag of produce from Fair Foods!

Kiki’s Corner

Summer Season at the Office – Update

The office is open Monday – Thursday 10:30 am – 2 pm through September 3. Rev. Hank Pierce, Kiki Giatis, Miriam Saavedra, and Kevin Harnden all will be taking time off and vacation during July and August. Tim Steele and Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz will return in September.

Hank is away until Tuesday, July 21. If there is a pastoral emergency, you may contact the office during business hours or call Kiki at 617.216.2218. Miriam is away from July 14 – July 23. Kiki, Miriam and Kevin are not in the office on Sundays through August.

Best to check with us if you are planning to drop by the office.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

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

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!