Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Reverend Lisa
• RE
• Events
• Social & Environmental Justice
• Actions for Justice and Democracy

This Week in Worship

Penny and Tasha are beginning their ninth decade on planet earth. Come and hear their musings as they take a look back, and to the future, with 80 years behind them.

Please join us for service at 9:30am.

Led by: Penny Partridge & Tasha Bello

Music: Jen Grant

Audio: Alex Feliz

Please log in at 9:20, to give some lead time for the service at 9:30. You will be muted, but you can communicate through the chat box. If you do not have zoom on your computer, please download it ahead of time. It is free.

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I was talking to a software engineer who had just returned from an “open source” convention.

“Open source” is an internet application that is open to all for free. It is a gesture of the aspiration to freely share information to promote shared knowledge. He commented that the baseline for kindness was higher than average there.  People at the convention generally want to use their skills for the good of all.

This is becoming rarer and rarer in our culture these days which centers around materialism and competition.  However, the good news is that, in the face of such blatant predation, many people are organizing a counter cultural ethical base that promotes shared being.

First Parish is one of those organizations. We are not alone. In listening to the news, be sure to seek out those who want more kindness and cooperation within humanity. Share what you know. Believe in the power of equity and inclusion.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

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Religious Exploration

Important Upcoming Dates:

Sunday September 7 @ 10:30 in Meeting Houes
Multi-generational In Gathering Service

Sunday September 14 @ 10:30 in Meeting House
Teacher Commissioning & Religious Exploration Classes Begin

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News & Announcements

Upcoming Summer Services 9:30am (in Meetinghouse except as noted with *)

Summer Services start on June 15th at First Parish Milton UU 9:30 AM (in Meetinghouse except as noted with *)

8/3        Steve Yakutis & Friends: Songs of Protest* (in Children’s Church)

8/10      Elise Henricks: Walking Our Labyrinth* (in courtyard)

8/17      Chris Clifford: Blue Hills Forest Bathing*   (location TBA)

8/24      Lisa White: Music from Our Hymnals

8/31      Penny Partridge: Navigating in the Sea of Dementia

Join us online from anywhere; but if you can, please come in person.

* Not available online

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Happy Summer!

The First Parish Milton Worship Committee wants to help people get to know our community. We propose to do that by letting them see us on a screen show of photos of us when they first enter the front doors of our church and enter the Narthex. Please send us your pictures by August 29.  Show us how you participate in community with others at FPM or with the larger community through FPM.

Use of Pictures: We do not intend for these pictures to be used on social media, just in the church Narthex.

Where to send: Please send pictures to FPMphotos65@gmail.com. Help us get to know you and each other and maybe help potential new members better understand who we are and picture themselves spending time with us.

Need ideas ? Send us pictures of:

• Social hour
• Your wee ones playing in the nursery
• You and your child ringing the church bell
• The art projects done during religious exploration 
• Your family making sandwiches for Mainspring, 
• You and your friends helping at the yard sale or celebrating at the end of it 
• The church picnic
• The holiday pageant
• The Mother’s Day walk
• The chocolate auction
• The valentine making party
• The harvest supper
• Game night
• Circle Suppers
• The Christmas market
• The Easter egg hunt
• The monthly eleventh hour calling
• The women’s march 
• Trips and events with friends met at First Parish
• The upcoming Disappeared in America standout at the state house 
• The interfaith blood drive
• The choir and other phenomenal singers helping get centered during services 
• The Milton Community Concerts
• The FPM Annual meeting 
• Your time at the UU general assembly 
• A few of you reorganizing the flower closet or the RE closet 
• The people in your Committee meetings
• Pictures of a meaningful service you’ve attended

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Window Replacement

In the next two weeks, First Parish is having the windows in the Parish Hall, kitchen, and Chase Parlor replaced. If you happen to pop by in this time, you’ll notice that the kitchen looks a bit disorganized. Do not fear! We simply have to move things around to give the window installers space to do their job. To that end, please do not move anything back to the countertops, or in front of any of the windows in the next two weeks. We will take care of moving everything back to its normal place when installation complete. Thank you for your help with this!

Social & Environmental Justice

STANDOUT — SAVE THE DATE

11th HOUR CALLING FOR DEMOCRACY

Monday, August 11, 5:45 p.m.

535 Canton Ave., First Parish Milton

Join us for a rousing Drumming Circle — no experience required — in preparation to stand out and stand up for Democracy. Bells of alarm will ring from the historic steeple at 6:11 p.m. for eleven minutes.

Bring yourselves, neighbors, sound-makers, signs, flags, voices, and energy. 

This is a family-friendly event repeating monthly. Thursday, September 11 is next — location to be determined.

[Note: Milton Indivisible sponsors a weekly Wednesday standout 4:30-6:30 p.m. in East Milton Square.] 

Show that we are resolved, resounding, and resilient in challenging times.

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Actions for Justice and Democracy

Support Rosie’s Place

Hello! My name is Sophie McEttrick and I am a rising Senior at Milton High School. This summer, I’m participating in the Summer Justice Institute at Rosie’s Place, the women’s shelter in Boston. Within this program I am organizing a service project. I decided to create “Stay Kool Kits” for the women that contain water, sunscreen packets, wipes, hats, etc. Hopefully with the super hot weather around Boston, these kits will provide a small amount of comfort. But in order to do so, I definitely need some help. Donation boxes will be placed at the Milton Public Library and this church! Any and all donations will help. Additionally I’ll attach a link and QR code to the GoFundMe to gather money for the supplies! Thank you all!

Link to Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/dcd10228

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THE REV. ZENETTA ARMSTRONG RETIREMENT CELEBRATION WEEKEND

Dinner – Saturday July 26, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Holy Eucharist – Sunday July 27, 2025, 10:30 AM (see attached flyer) 

All events will be held at

The Church of the Holy Spirit, Mattapan  

*See flyer below

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Join us for the 10th Annual Peace B’Que as a helping hand and make the event a success!

Let’s roll up our sleeves, share stories, sip cool drinks, and make a difference, together. 

The Peace B’Que is our free summer celebration in Dorchester, designed to provide a safe, fun-filled afternoon of food, music, games and connection for residents and visitors alike. Its goal is to foster community spirit and promote peace through a joyous, inclusive gathering. 

Saturday, August 9 (Rain date August 10) | 2 PM – 5 PM

Multiple roles available

RSVP below, and email MCCawley@LDBpeaceinstitute.org with any questions.

RSVP Here

Rev. Lisa Ward:

Vacation: July 28-August 10

Study Leave: August 11-18

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Susan DeMinico: Summer Hours for July and August

In office on Tuesday & Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays.

Vacation: August 8th-18th

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Tim Steele

Returning in September

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Susannah Bales

Starting 7/7/25

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Sherri Moldaver

In office Monday thru Thursday 8:30am-1:30pm

Vacation: August 4th-August 7th

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Kevin Harnden

Monday-Thursday 8am-11am

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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 – 1:00 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

SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)

The link to SignUp Genius is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44ACA728A02-57884860-20252026#/

You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.