This Week in Worship

Sunday, October 1, 2017 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

October Worship Theme – Spiritual Practices

Minister Rev. Lisa Ward

September energy, a new beginnings time in our culture, is vibrant at First Parish, Milton. Committees are focusing on initiatives for the year, Religious Exploration programs have launched, new ideas are circulating for ways to gather, to deepen in community and express our faith. This, of course, calls for an infrastructure to support the initiatives and streamline volunteer time and opportunities.

To that end, a new avenue has formed: Adult Enrichment Programming. I will serve as the point person this year. As ideas abound, an organizing principle helps them come to life. Here are simple perimeters for member initiatives that will help (this is an evolving program – feedback welcome).

The initiative needs:

• At least one member, preferably two, as spearheads to meet with Rev. Lisa
• Articulation of a clear connection with faith exploration or faith community deepening needs
• Clear scheduling and communication avenues (note: the link and announcements are best used only for initial announcements. E-mail lists, Facebook posts, etc., will be needed for on-going communication)

Stay tuned for a return of the spiritual writing course, new interplay offerings, an arts/theatre group (described today in the link), ad hoc book groups…feel free to share ideas with me. Let’s see what emerges.

Blessings,

Rev. Lisa Ward

Religous 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 year our caregivers are Daisy and Grace. Stop by and say hello!

Religious Exploration for Sunday, October 1: 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 preschool through grade 8 gather together for a worship service in the Children’s Church after we leave the Meetinghouse. This week’s Children’s Church worship will explore UU Source #4: Christian and Jewish teachings. We will be learning about the fall Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Following the service we will be decorating a sukkah hut for Sukkot, which occurs this year on October 4 to 11. Please join us!

Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Youth Chat and youth group do not meet this weekend.

Youth Room Makeover: Kudos to Sara Elizabeth, Alex Engel, and multiple youth and youth parent helpers who worked to repaint the youth room walls a cheerfully vibrant green this summer. The paint and a jazzy new rug were funded by a generous donation to the youth from last March’s Cafe Blue Hills evening. Liz O’Rourke-Harris donated a very gently used couch and loveseat from her workplace, replacing some seriously tired old furniture. Many thanks to Catie and Paul Casaz for helping me drag the old stuff down the twisty second floor stairs. Enjoy these before and after photos!

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Beginning October 17: Coming of Age for Grades 9 to 11.This year we will be offering the Coming of Age program to help youth (and their mentors!) learn more about Unitarian Universalism and articulate their own beliefs. Please contact me at restaff@fpmilton.org if you would like to register your youth or if you would like to serve as a mentor.

Child care opportunities at FP Milton: Please email restaff@fpmilton.org if you are interested in being part of the child care team. We have occasional opportunities during the year for child care assignments after the service on Sundays or on afternoons/evenings throughout the week. In your email please give us your first and last names, email address, cell number, and confirm that you have completed a babysitting certification program.

News and Announcements

When: Thursday, September 28, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Where: Church of Christ in Milton, 330 Edgehill Rd Milton, MA 02186 (Street Parking is available along Adams St.)

This month’s event will center around a discussion of implicit bias and storytelling as a tool of dismantling oppression and liberating ourselves from racism and white supremacy. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please contact Rev. Maurice Davis at 617 322 1567

Sunday, October 1

Celebrate Milton – Come Visit the First Parish table staffed by our fabulous Social Action Committee at Pierce Middle School from 12 noon – 4 pm

Adult Enrichment Programming

NEW GROUP FORMING within our Adult Enrichment Programming

The First Parish Arts Group!

If you love thought-provoking art/theater, please join us! One performance per month will be scheduled. We will create opportunities to discuss the themes rendered. Folks can carpool in together from First Parish or meet us at the theater. The monthly offerings will be varied to accomodate varied fiscal abilities. If you want to join any of these awesome theatre adventures please email Laurie Macintosh at lauriemacintosh77@gmail.com to be on our elist.

The first theatre offering is for Oct 5th: Constellations at the Central Square Theater. Please contact Laurie asap so tickets can be secured.

Co-chairs Laurie MacIntosh and Deb Alsebai.

The beloved Harvest Supper returns

Come one, come all to the 3rd annual First Parish Harvest Supper. This well-loved event is a wonderful way to celebrate the new church year. A time to renew old friendships and make new ones.

What to bring:

• a dish for the pot luck
• the whole family
• your appetite

Door prizes and games are all part of the fun! Great conversation, music, food and drink. Don’t miss it! On-site childcare available from 6 pm – 9 pm. Evite was sent out last week. Take a minute to confirm your attendance at this event.

Thursday evening Meditation will resume on October 5th, 2017

Sunday morning Meditation is available, please enter the Children’s Church on a self-led quiet meditation from 9:00 – 9:30 a.m.

The Membership Committee is bringing back Circle Suppers

Coming Soon!

Circle Suppers are social potluck events intended to promote deeper, stronger connections within First Parish’s community. Hosts provide a main course and coordinate what guests contribute (appetizers, salads/side dishes, desserts, beverages). Willing to host a supper mid-October until Thanksgiving: contact Tucker Smith tsmith62676@gmail.com

Once we have six hosts/venues and dates, sign-up at our table during Social Hours.

Social Action Committee News

Upcoming & Ongoing Events

The Green Team

Meetings will be held on third Thursdays 7:30-9pm: October 19, November 16, January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19, and May 17. There are still slots open on the team.

Our agenda this year is to identify and recommend environmental projects for First Parish Milton to undertake 2018-2019. We will ground our work in spiritual practice and awareness. Think about joining our dynamic team; while attendance at meetings is recommended, it may not be necessary for you to get involved

Green Team Members: Walt Hugenbach, Christa Ayoub, Hale/Tucker Smith, Peter Schneider, Lisa White, Jeff Stoodt, and Jennie Mulqueen.

Email Jennie for questions.

Together we can make a difference.

Sign up during social hour to volunteer with Social Action on upcoming Saturdays:

• October 14, 2017
• November 11, 2017
• December 9, 2017

Fair Foods Inc. rescues surplus fruits and vegetables from Boston industry source and distribute the food to those in need. (www.fairfoods.org )

The Social Action Committee is looking for volunteers to prepare and serve meals at Father Bill’s in Quincy on the following dates:

• Dinner, Sunday, October 22, 2017
• Lunch, Saturday, November 11, 2017

For more information contact Peter Schneider.

The Courageous Conversations Team, in partnership with the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association, Milton Reflecting, and Milton for Peace, invites you to a monthly series of dialogue-centered programs on racism and privilege designed to address racial healing and justice in our town. Now more than ever, we must engage in this critical work of recognizing and dismantling racism in our society.

For more information, please contact Rev. Maurice Davis at 617 322 1567.

Kiki’s Corner

Kathy Tracey, our administrative assistant, will be working in the church office Monday through Thursday from 10 am – 3 pm. We’ve extended the office days an hour because of our increased activity within the faith community. This means Kathy will no longer have hours on Sunday mornings.

We’ve set up office supplies in the Library for volunteers to access. Ushers will do the collection count in the library. Forms, calculators, etc. are in a green box marked “Sunday Collection”. Check the freezer for coffee if you are a social hour host.

Our voice mail system was repaired this morning (Thursday). It may be early next week before you hear specific staff greetings but you are able to leave a voice mail. You are still welcome to email the minister or a staff member if you cannot reach them by phone. Thanks for your patience over the past couple of weeks.

STAY CONNECTED

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

REMINDER THE LINK DEADLINE IS TUEDAYS

“Brevity Matters” – Peter Bowden, Social Media Guru and wise UU

Deadline for submissions is Tuesdays. You need to address email to both office@fpmilton.org and director@fpmilton.org to assure your announcement will be included in the weekly Link. Written announcements for the Sunday Order of Worship are derived from the announcements for The Link. We, from time to time, will also publish non-church events with a connection to a member of the church. Your submission may be edited due to space requirements. We recommend that you submit no more than 1 – 2 paragraphs.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays

SUMMER SUNDAYS

June 25 – September 3
Worship, 9:30 am in the Children’s Church
Silent Prayer & Meditation, 8:30 am in the Children’s Church
No Religious Exploration Program , Nursery Care, Choir Rehearsal

Beginning Sunday, September 10

Worship, 10:30am 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, 6:30pm in the Children’s Church

SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)

The link to SignUp Genius is:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday?1472051612751