Rev. Lisa Ward has been our settled minister since August of 2016. Ordained in 1992, Rev. Lisa has served congregations in New York City, Queens, White Plains, NY and Harford County, MD. A graduate from Union Theological Seminary in NYC, she has engaged in social justice initiatives throughout her career… 
Table of Contents
- This Week in Worship
- Message from Rev. Lisa Ward
- Music
- Religious Exploration
- News & Announcements
- Events
- Social & Environmental Justice
- Beyond First Parish
Sunday, May 10th Service
May Worship Theme: BEAUTY
“Unity Sunday at First Parish”
“Parenting as a Spiritual Practice”
Worship Associate: Dottie Pitt
Greeter: Mark & Patricia Ostrem
Social Hour: Mark & Patricia Ostrem, Natalie Monroe, Craig Perzan
Audio: Alex Feliz
This week’s offering will be given to the Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund. The Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund (the Bond Fund) raises money for immigration bonds to free people in ICE prisons in Massachusetts and Rhode Island or those detained elsewhere who are from or returning to MA. Since 2018, they have raised over $1.5 million, to bond out hundreds of people, and helped with legal fees for many others. Bonds can range anywhere from $2,000 to more than $20,000 per person. The Bond Fund works with families and other bond funds across the country to get our people out of ICE prisons. Together we will continue to free people from immigration prison, reunite families, and keep our communities together. Erica Erdenesanaa will speak on their behalf.
Learn more about the Fund here.
NOTE: Because this Share the Plate falls on Mother’s Day, we know many of you will be walking in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace and not be in church for worship. Even when in you are not in church, please contribute to our Share the Plate recipients and thank you for your generosity!
Prayers – If you are attending the service on Zoom and would like a prayer included, please email Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org by 5:00pm on Saturday.
In 1879, Unitarian forebear Julia Ward Howe wrote a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in the wake of her experience of the brutality and devastation of the Civil War. “Arise, all women who have hearts,” she begins, “whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: ‘We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience…From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, “Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.”
The full text can be found here: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/holidays/mothers-day/the-original-mother-s-day-proclamation
Realizing that mothers, especially in her time, were the people who primarily raised their children in their formative years, Julia wanted women to come together internationally to claim the common needs of peace, understanding and justice.
Though such a general congress was not formed, Ms. Howe proposed a women’s day for peace in 1872, which was celebrated on June 2 for the next 30 years. In 1913 Congress then declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother’s Day.
So this Sunday, when the Hallmark imperative of Mother’s Day captures the attention of much of the nation, remember that the cause of peace was its original intention. What’s more, see below for an opportunity to put that cause toward action in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music
This Mother’s Day weekend the music during worship will explore themes of Motherhood. Jeff Stoodt will be singing “A Child is Born” by Thad Jones, with lyrics by Alec Wilder. Grace Allendorf will be singing a song which was recorded by Whitney Houston, called “The Greatest Love of All”, by Michael Masser. The postlude will be a piano piece called “Mother’s Sacrifice”, written in 1909 by a black woman named L. Viola Kinney. It won a prize in an Original Music Contest in Kansas at the time. While this piece is the only composition of hers still in existence, it can be found in the Library of Congress.
“Celebrating Asian Composers and Performers: An AAPI Concert” Saturday May 9th
On Saturday, May 9 from 2-5 and 6-9 Milton Community Concerts presents a family-friendly como-and-go-as-you-please FREE benefit concert: “Celebrating Asian Composers and Performers: An AAPI Concert”, in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. Donations will go to support the Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation. Dinner will be available for purchase in the Parish Hall from 5-6. Twenty-seven Asian performers will be sharing their time and talents for this event, including tenor David Won, who will be singing songs of composer Dr. Hyun Kook between 3:00 and 4:00. This concert is family-friendly, and you may come and go as you please.
Religious Exploration
The nursery is open on Mother’s Day weekend, but there will not be RE class. Instead families are invited to the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace!
The deadline to register for Summer Program is 5/31! Register here.
Want more ? Find all things Kids and Youth on the RE Linktree. For more information on any of the above contact Susannah at redirector@fpmilton.org or call 470-223-0337
News & Announcements
The Warrant for the Annual Meeting was emailed to all members this week. If you’d like a copy mailed to you, please contact Susan at manager@fpmilton.org.
The Annual Meeting will be a bit different this year. We will be hosting the Annual Meeting in the Meetinghouse. After worship on May 17, we will head outside for a church picture, then head back to the Meetinghouse for the Annual Meeting. Lunch will be in the Parish Hall after the meeting. Childcare- with an earlier lunch time- will be available during the meeting.
Hosting the meeting in the Meetinghouse allows members to attend via Zoom (and be able to vote, provided their camera is on) as well as provide listening devices to those who need them. For those attending by Zoom, we will be using the same link that we use for Sunday service. However, we will end the Zoom meeting after worship service, and then reopen the meeting- using the same link- approximately 10 minutes later for the Annual Meeting.
The full Annual Meeting report, with committee reports, will be available next week.
SOCIAL HOUR hosts needed:
May 24
If you are new to hosting or need a refresher, don’t worry! A member of the Hospitality Committee will answer your questions, and provide instructions.
Social & Environmental Justice
Louis D. Brown Mother’s Day Walk for Peace May 10th
For over 20 years First Parish members have supported the Louis D. Brown Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester. We have donated proceeds from a Share the Plate service as well as signed up as a walking team at the event.
The Louis D. Brown organization serves as a center of healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss.
We will be donating our April 26th Share the Plate in support of Louis D. Brown Institute. We will also be gathering on Mother’s Day morning as the FP Milton walking team to walk the 5k route through Dorchester.
For more information contact Pat Gallivan: pl.gallivan@verizon.net or Ellen Barr eriosbarr@gmail.com.
ELEVENTH HOUR STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY
Monday, May 11th
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
This monthly event will repeat at First Parish Church in Milton UU, 535 Canton Avenue. Bring your favorite signs from May Day or NO KINGS 3.0, your Singing Resistance voices, percussion, friends and neighbors to amplify messages of Community and Resilience. Take a break from your Monday-as-usual routine, stand up, and JOIN. It’s family-friendly and lively at rush hour.
**The next event will be held Thursday, June 11, 6-6:30 p.m. at the same convenient venue in Milton’s town center. Spread the word.
NEXT DATE IS MAY 20TH
As in the past, First Parish will be making and delivering lunches to MainSpring (Fr. Bill’s Brockton site) at two locations in Brockton. We have been asked to provide 70 lunches on the third Wednesday of each month. The drop-off location will remain at the lower parking lot of FP, and will take place between 12:40 and 1:00. Drivers this year will be Cynthia, Ellen, Mary B., and Pat.
The Social & Environmental Justice committee thanks you for your continued participation in this effort.
Pat & Tracey
Beyond First Parish
Stay Connected
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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.