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

Weekly Link 8/8/2019

This Week in Worship

Sunday, August 11, 2019

9:30am- 10:30am in the Children’s Church

“The Power of a Dream”

A reflection on a lifetime of working with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the impact of the dream that started it all.

Facilitated by: Joe Ayoub

Worship Associate: Mallory Digges

Musician: Emma Jean Moulton

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

minister@fpmilton.org

Our summer series of spiritual practices will continue next week. 

With the spate of recent mass shootings, in Gilroy CA,  El Paso TX, and Dayton OH, it is important that we pause in recognition and resolve as a faith community.

Thirty-four dead and scores injured as a result of 3 separate acts of domestic terrorism in a week’s time.  It is a hopeful sign that these shootings are being framed in the vernacular of terrorism and that the common denominator of white supremacy ideology is now in mainstream conversation.

It is important to speak of “ideology” instead of minimizing these acts of violence as random episodes by lone shooters.  This approach ushers in the humility of human nature and the accountability of interdependence.  We are all capable of violence and can be swayed by predatory, fear-based persuasion.  We are all responsible for the cultural climate and moral grounding of our civic life.

The current rate of 4.43 deaths per 100,000 people in the United States is four times higher than the rates in war-torn Syria and Yemen.  We simply, demonstrably, irrefutably have too many guns in circulation.  Rhetoric of bias, dehumanization and bigotry flows from our highest political office with tepid repudiation from law makers.  We are simply, demonstrably, irrefutably enabling predatory, fear-based hostility, which endangers lives.

So what can we do.  We can recognize that this calls for transformation of culture which neither happens overnight, nor by one single act or initiative.  We need to enter in as a nation, stop stalling, steadily shedding distortions and finding solutions.  We can disclaim the “mental illness” distraction that keeps the approach blame-based and removed from cultural transformation.  In the same way, we can defy the capital punishment response, which simply promotes state sponsored violence and not any real deterrent.  And we can name bigotry when we see it, “us” and “them” reasoning when we feel it, and inaction when lip service has no follow through.

We can do this with and for each other in our faith community, practicing faith, love, and compassion to build a just and healthy world.  We can find, form and feel a culture of harmony in diversity,  a practice of welcome in multiplicity and a discipline of faith in our ability toward dignity, celebration of life and peace.

This I pray.  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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Great news! The phones are being replaced next Wednesday, August 14th. 

While the installation is happening, we will not have phone service from

10:00am-12:00pm on 8/14/19.

During those two hours, we can be reached by email at office@fpmilton.org

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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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Summer Projects

by Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

The front of the meetinghouse is now 90% completed. Window frames and doors still need to be painted, but the major restoration of the front is done. I hope you’ve had a chance to come by and see it on Canton Ave.

The office staff is eagerly awaiting the completion of next week’s project- a new phone system! To keep our costs low, we’re moving to a voice over IP (VoIP) phone system. Using VoIP means that we don’t need to deal with the financial or phyiscal overhead of a lot of hardware- all we need is new phones and an internet connection. On August 14, our phone lines will be down from 10am-12pm as we make this swap. You can email us during this time. Thank you for your patience in this transition!

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Courageous Conversations

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: Our first photo session happened this past Tuesday and was a huge success! 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

Tuesdays/Wednesdays 8:30-4:30, Thursdays 8:30-12:30pm

Megan Benders, Administrative Assistant

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

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Education

On vacation until August 10th

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Back in the Fall

Tim Steele, Music Director

Back in the Fall