Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 8/14/2025

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Weekly Link 8-14-2025

Table of Contents

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

This Week in Worship

Forest Walk

Led by Chris Clifford

(There will be no zoom)

Forest

On Sunday August 17, 2025 anyone interested is invited to join Chris Clifford on a short walk in one of the less traveled segments of the Blue Hills reservation. 

We will meet at 9:30 on Ridgewood road less than a mile from First Parish and travel a loop on quiet paths. We will see remnants of past habitation and the resilience of nature. This is a walk, not a hike but sturdy footwear, long pants, water, and bug spray are necessary. The walk is suitable for young and not so young and if you are willing, shine or rain. 

Parking is readily available at the trailhead. I will have my silver Honda CRV parked there at 9AM.

If you would like to know something about Forest Bathing or shinrin-yoku check the links below.

The science of forest bathing: 5 ways it can boost health and lower stress : Life Kit : NPR

What Is Forest Bathing? Potential Benefits

This week’s offering will be given to the service and ministry of First Parish.

Religious Exploration

Religious Exploration Registration is Open!

We’re so excited to welcome children and youth back to Religious Exploration (RE) this year! Our RE program offers a fun, meaningful space where kids explore big questions, build friendships, and grow in spirit and community. Whether your child is new to RE or returning for another great year, we invite you to register now so we can plan a welcoming and well-supported program for everyone. Classes begin Sept 14th! Register at the link below. Questions? Contact Susannah Bales at redirector@fpmilton.org

Now Accepting Applications for RE Assistants & Nursery Workers!

Do you love working with kids? Want to make a difference while having fun and building community? We’re looking for caring, curious, and dependable people to join our Religious Exploration (RE) team as classroom assistants and nursery workers! RE Assistants support our lead teachers, help create a welcoming environment, and get hands-on experience in a dynamic multigenerational setting. Open to teens (16+) and adults. The time commitment is Sunday morning and we can work with your schedule. Training and support provided! Whether you’re new to RE or a longtime participant, we’d love to hear from you. Register at the link below. Questions? Contact Susannah Bales at redirector@fpmilton.or

RE Registration Form

RE Permission Form

RE Volunteer/Staff Application at FPM 2025-26

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

InGathering and KickOff Banner

Join us for InGathering, our joyful fall gathering to reconnect as a community and celebrate the beginning of a new year in Religious Exploration. This all-ages event is a time to ground ourselves in the values that root us, lift each other up with wings of support and joy, and mark the start of our shared journey together. Whether you’re brand new or returning, we’ll come together with our multigenerational service, then a special coffee hour that will feature music, treats, games, and even a BOUNCY HOUSE! Join us for family fun and meaningful ritual designed to welcome children, youth, families, and friends into a new season of learning, growth, and connection. Come see your friends, meet some RE teachers, explore what’s ahead, and help us build the circle of community once again—all are welcome!

Summer Worship 

And now for something completely different.

My name is Chris Clifford and I am hoping you will join me for summer worship in the woods.

Not the meditative pace of forest bathing but definitely not trail running.

On Sunday August 17, 2025 anyone interested is invited to join me on a short walk in one of the less traveled segments of the Blue Hills reservation. 

We will meet at 9:30 on Ridgewood road less than a mile from First Parish and travel a loop on quiet paths. We will see remnants of past habitation and the resilience of nature. This is a walk, not a hike but sturdy footwear, long pants, water, and bug spray are necessary. The walk is suitable for young and not so young and if you are willing, shine or rain. 

Parking is readily available at the trailhead. I will have my silver Honda CRV parked there at 9AM.

If you would like to know something about Forest Bathing or shinrin-yoku check the links below.

The science of forest bathing: 5 ways it can boost health and lower stress : Life Kit : NPR

What Is Forest Bathing? Potential Benefits

News & Announcements

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

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

Reminder:

Regular Sunday service resumes on September 7th at 10:30am. Please consider getting involved:

First Parish is in need of volunteers for worship assistants, greeters, and social hour hosts.

If interested in signing up please use Sign up Genius link.

We have appreciated your help in the past and hope you can help again.

Thank you in advance.

Information for the viewing & memorial service for Robert Buckland

Visiting hours will be at Dolan Funeral Home (Lower Mills), 1140 Washington St, Dorchester on Friday, August 15 from 5-8pm. A funeral service will be held at First Parish Milton, 535 Canton Avenue on Saturday, August 16 at 11am. Following the service, there will be a burial at Milton Cemetery and a luncheon at First Parish. Relatives, friends, and colleagues are warmly invited. 

The service will not be live streamed, however, a recording can be sent at a later date. Click here for Robert’s obituary

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s honor to Riverside Community Care, 270 Bridge Street, Suite 301, Dedham, MA 02026 or online: https://www.riversidecc.org/support-riverside/

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
Summer Office Hours

Rev. Lisa Ward:

Vacation: July 28-August 10

Study Leave: August 11-18

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

Susannah Bales

Vacation: August 9th-16th

Sherri Moldaver

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

Vacation: August 4th-August 7th

Kevin Harnden

On vacation August 11th-15th

Monday-Thursday 8am-11am

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.