Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 8/15/2019

Weekly Link 8/15/2019

This Week in Worship

Sunday, August 18, 20199:30am- 10:30am in the Children’s Church

“A Call To Gladness”  

The theologian Frederick Buechner tells us “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Understanding one’s call can be part of a lifelong journey, yet many clues exist in our earliest years when we stop to consider how we are drawn to authentic play. How might we reclaim our divine spark through the spiritual practice of play? Further, how might we integrate this playful knowing as we seek to transform deep hunger and suffering in our broken world?

Facilitated by: Jennie Mulqueen

Worship Associate: Susan Batson

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

Spiritual Practice #6 of the Link Summer Series: Laughter

Having laughter as a consistent part of your life is essential to wellness. 

According to Help Guide: “Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.”

Laughter stimulates your endorphins, draws you into relationship and eases judgment.  Create ways to get a good laugh.  There are countless opportunities on the internet to find comedians or talk shows devoted to amusement.  There are summer festivals with performances and amusement rides.  There are comedies in theatre and film.

Learn what encourages you to laugh and seek friends or companions who you can laugh with.  It makes a world of difference.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Summer RE and Youth Break: Formal youth and religious exploration programming will resume on September 8 when regular worship services start again. Enjoy your summer, and remember to make time for spiritual practices – especially practicing gratitude!

It is time to register your child or youth for classes next fall! The Religious Exploration Committee requests all families to register your child or youth before attending classes. Please use this link to our online form: Online registration form (or paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway).

Events, News and Announcements

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There is an urgent need for Foster parents in our Milton/Quincy/Boston area. Cambridge Family & Children’s Service is having an upcoming free training class for prospective Foster Parents called MAPP.

Interested? For more information contact

First Parish Funds Coordinator, Noreen Dolan, at 

Phone:   (617) 696-1214

Email:  Miltonresidentsfund@gmail.com

https://www.helpfamilies.org/whatwedo/intensivefostercare/videos.html

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In 2019 ¡CelebrateMilton! hosted our 25th annual event, and distributed nearly $5000 in grants. Our event seeks to bring our community together to showcase the rich diversity of our town. Our grants further support that goal by providing funding to individuals and organizations who help bring our mission to life inMilton.

As our event continues to grow, we’d like to welcome additional Board members to our group.

Our Board members share a variety of roles, including:

Working with the local schools to secure student volunteers.

Assisting local businesses and not-for-profits who want to exhibit at the event.

Event promotion through local newspapers and social media.

Coordination of event entertainment.

If any of these roles interest you, if you’d just like to learn more, or just want to help out on a less formal basis, please contact Lori Bilewicz at loribilewicz@yahoo.com.

We meet 6 – 7 times a year to plan the annual event, review nominees for Community Builder Awards, and to make diversity-related grant decisions.

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Summer Projects

by Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

As summer winds down, the last “big” project is kicking off next week- the inside painting of the parish hall. Painting will take 3 weeks- but it will be done by Ingathering Sunday. I hope you can enjoy the new refreshed space during the annual pancake breakfast. 

During the painting, the parish hall is closed. We’ve relocated our renters, and won’t be taking on any new rentals during those few weeks. Thanks for your understanding as we get this much needed project done!

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Courageous Conversations

TONIGHT!!!

August Celebration and Concert

Thursday, August 15th from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Parkway United Methodist

158 Blue Hills Pkwy, Milton, MA 02186

RSVP here

Join our potluck celebration of Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice. Invite friends and family to join our commemoration of our racial awareness work. There will be a free concert. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck.

Sign-up for Church Directory Photos!

First Parish Members: There are just two dates left to get your picture taken:

Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14th.

Be sure to sign up ASAP. Slots are filling quickly!

Please use this link to choose your spot:

https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/yr4jj9pk/

You can reach out to Leslie with your questions: lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com

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Rev. Lisa Ward, Minister

August 11-19 on study leave

Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

August 16-27th on vacation

Megan Benders, Administrative Assistant

In the office on Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Education

Return to regular hours on August 20

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Back in the Fall

Tim Steele, Music Director

Back in the Fall