This Week in Worship

Sunday, January 24 Worship @ 10:30 am in Meetinghouse

At the end of every Christmas Eve service I am reminded of one of the downsides of being an interim minister. Seeing the faces of returning college students chatting and reconnecting with each other after months away from home; these old friends getting to show off to their pals that somehow in the last few months they have become grownups. They may not be any taller, they may not be any wiser, but somehow they seem more grown up. I remember those years at college and reconnecting with the folks I had grown up with on Christmas Eve. People still recognized you, but they also recognized the change that had magically occurred while I had been away at UMass, I suppose it is one of miracles of the season.

So how is this a downside? Well it just reminds me of the temporary nature of my position with all of you. As you have all no doubt realized I like being with people, I like seeing how we age and change and how the connections we make grow deeper. I guess I also like being a part of the lives of people of our faith. Knowing all this about me, then many of you must know how excited and proud I was to so many of our young people take part in the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association’s service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday night. Thank you Sadie Leggett for your voice, thank you Katherine Steele for your beautiful solo and congratulations to Will Macmillan for being one of the four winners from the High School for his poem about Rev. King.

Seeing all of them up front at the service, and seeing so many of you there as well, is one of the upsides of being your interim minister.

See you in church,

Rev. Hank

P.S. A reminder of where we post when Sunday worship and activities are cancelled due to snowstorms.

We post to the snow closing network on Channel 5, WCVB-TV. We are listed as First Parish Milton. We will also post on our First Parish Milton UU Facebook page and home page of our website, www.fpmilton.org,

Your safety matters, so always do what is best for you even if we are open.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, January 24

• Spirit Play Pre K – 2nd grade – Go directly to their class room at 10:30am
• SGM 3rd –6th Graders – Will begin in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their Religious Exploration class
• Junior Youth Group 7th –8th Graders – Meet in the Parlor at 10:30am
• Youth Group 9th – 12th Graders – Meet in the youth room at 10:30am
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

RE TEACHER LUNCHEON on JANUARY 31st in the Parlor

Shortly following the service, all current and interested teachers in the Religious Exploration program please come enjoy lunch with your peer spiritual guides for our children and youth. This will be an important time to renew our covenant and vision, exchange stories and ideas, as well as hear from our new Religious Educator, Anne Principe. She looks forward to giving her support to our Religious Exploration Program in the next 6 months, and we look forward to hearing her insights and ideas for enriching and enjoying our multi-generational relationships. RSVP regrets only.

Stewardship Campaign 2016

“Nothing shall ensure the welfare (and interests) of your religion except generosity and good disposition.” – The Prophet Muhammad

You should have received a stewardship package by mail. Materials are also available at church. Pledges may be made online on the member’s page of the website. Come be part of the fun at our Stewardship Celelbration on January 30.

News and Announcements

Caring Committee Sunday

Showing Your Care for One Another

First Parish is a Caring Community. The Caring Committee facilitates care giving within the community by matching needs with volunteers. Periodically the committee updates the bank of volunteers and this Sunday parishioners are asked to complete a volunteer form listing tasks that they might be willing to fill for a fellow parishioner. When there is a need an email will be sent and, if it is a time you can help, you will be sent the details. Many thanks for the caring you show each other. Other times forms are available on the Information Table in the Stebbins Parlor or on the bulletin board next to the office.

Caring Committee & Youth Group Partner again for Care Packages

The Youth Group and the Caring Committee are partnering again this year to send packages to college-aged youth. If you know of a college-aged youth who has been involved with First Parish and would appreciate receiving a care package, please email or give their name and mailing address to a member of the Caring Committee or a member of the Youth Group. This information can be emailed to Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz at youthadvisor@fpmilton.org or to Amy Norton at amy.norton@comcast.net. Stay tuned for more information as this project develops.

Reminder – ALL Church Council – January 24 – 12pm

The Parish Committee invites Committee Chairs, committee members and everyone with in interest in our shared future to the next All Church Council Sunday January 24, 2016 from noon till 2PM. A light lunch will be provided. Don’t forget to bring items for the Renewal House toiletry drive and complete you Caring Committee Volunteer form as well.

Help Us Create Camp Run-a-Muk
(decorating items needed)

Camp Run-a-Muk’s decorating team (aka Membership Committee) is looking for props to adorn First Parish’s mess hall for the Stewardship party, Saturday, January 30. If you can loan us any of these items, please contact Tucker Smith / 617-361-1734.

• one tent – 6 to 9-feet square with entry at both front and back (old-fashioned canvas type with wooden support poles would be GREAT but synthetic fabric/metal poles OK)
  one kayak or canoe
• a bunch of folding camp/spectator chairs
• two or three picnic table benches (only, not tables)
• anything else — vintage coolers, old oars, flags, banners, camp uniforms, buckets, camp lanterns, etc. etc. etc.

Our Stewardship Celebration will be January 30

S’More Fun”~ Saturday Night, January 30

Beat the winter blues with summer fun at Camp Run-a-Muk – First Parish’s stewardship celebration on Saturday, January 30 in the Parish Hall. Music, dancing, food, games – and a chance to win awesome door prizes for those with a turned-in pledge card.

Please RSVP to the Evite you received or by e-mailing Tony Dutzik.

Hail Mid-Winter! Saturday, February 6 7:00 pm

“…Imbolc is an honoring of what’s not present yet. It represents the words yet to be spoken, the potential in our spirits, the ‘calm before a storm’ of growth, the quiet before the show, and the unknown baby
before its birth. Imbolc’s beauty is in its waiting and not knowing.” ~Heather Greene, The Wild Hunt

Join us to celebrate, renew, and refresh on Saturday, February 6, at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to the Imbolc ceremony and Pot Luck social hour to follow. Please contact me for further information and to let me know if you plan to attend.

Blessed Be,

Pam Dorsey
617-698-0057

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS

Renewal House Toiletry Drive
January 2016

Toothbrushes and toothpaste, Floss, Mouth wash, Shaving cream and razors, Loofahs (lots of loofahs!) Body wash, Soap, Body lotion, Hand lotion, Deodorant, Laundry detergent, Fabric softener – New, Unused and Regular Sized

We are grateful for the response already received. Look for baskets and bins in the Narthex and Parish Hall Foyer.

Mentors Needed February to May
Mandatory Training – Saturday, January 30
from 1 – 3 PM UU Urban Ministry

We are in great need of mentors right now. We are working with Boston Partners in Education this year to offer a “Power Lunch” mentor model at the Timilty Middle School in Roxbury. UU volunteers will be matched with a 6th grade child (or two). The goal will be for you to meet once a week for the spring semester (Feb-May) from 12:00-12:45pm to read with your mentee. (Depending on the child, you might read aloud, they might read aloud, or you both might read at home and discuss the book together). Tues, Wed, and Thurs are best. It looks like a lot of weeks, but please keep in mind you will not be meeting with your mentee during school vacation weeks, holidays, or standardized testing weeks.

BPE will be offering a mandatory and comprehensive mentor training for all mentors on Saturday, Jan. 30th from 1-3pm at the UUUM.

If you would like to sign up please fill out this application on line.

For the “Group Affiliation” tab be sure to select UU Urban Ministry.

For further information on Renewal House and Focus on Children projects, please contact Social Action Committee member, Linda Carney-Goodrich.

Hey Theater Lover’s!

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with other First Parish friends and attend the fabulous production of Pippin at the Boston Opera House on February 14 at 6:30 PM. There are awesome seats in the orchestra and front mezzanine for $63 each and seats in the middle mezzanine for $38 each. It is recommended for anyone 6 and over. Pippin is a high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical! This unforgettable new production is the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival. If you are interested in getting tickets please email Debbie Alsebai or catch me at coffee hour. (-: There is a bunch of us going right from the Valentine’s Day concert at the church so join us and we will carpool in together.

The Search Continues

News from the Ministerial Search Committee — Narrowing the Search

Your Ministerial Search Committee has started talking to interested ministers. Although we continue operating in confidential mode, we want to tell you that the process and the candidates are truly fascinating, each in their own way. We continue to conduct preliminary Skype interviews with those ministers that look best to us this week, and we already know that it’s going to be a hard choice! It will be interesting to tally up the cumulative number of hours your committee has put into this search before we narrow down the field to just a few that we will pre-candidate.

What’s Next? In February and early March, when you look around the sanctuary, you will see that members of the Ministerial Search Committee are often missing. Rest assured that we are not abandoning you! We will be spending that time either planning for or hosting one of our pre-candidates and attending a service at a neutral pulpit church. This will help inform our decision as we move from many to just one candidate to recommend to the congregation.

Even though to date very few of you have, please know that you may contact the members of your Ministerial Search Committee with questions or concerns:

Debbie Alsebai, Charlie Franich, Franc Graham, Elise Henricks, Jim May, Brigitte Miller, and Tracey Robinson.

We need stuff for the First Parish Silent Auction FUNraiser!

Saturday, April 2, 2016, 7 PM

We need stuff for the First Parish Silent Auction FUNraiser!

When: Saturday, April 2, 2016, 7 PM

Do you know someone who –

• owns a restaurant or store or a gym?
• has season tickets to the Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots or to the Symphony?
• has a vacation home they would be willing to donate?​

Are you or is someone you know –

• an artist or poet who could donate some work?
• a musician or performer who could donate entertainment or lessons?
• a gardener or landscaper? a baker or chef? a piano tuner? babysitter?

You don’t need to know the person or business to ask! Businesses are often willing to donate their services or products for a good tax deductible cause and it is good advertising for them!

Help us make this night of silent bidding a success for First Parish. Please let Ruth Hannon know what you can offer.

More Ideas: themed gift baskets, spa services, acupuncture or massage services, handyman services, tutoring, special meals, wine tasting, golf outing, sports equipment, gym membership, etc. Use your imagination!

Kiki’s Corner

There is lots happening at First Parish. Pleaase take time to read through the Link.

Remember to bring toiletries for Renewal House, think about how you might be part of the volunteer extension of the Caring Committe, come to the All Church Council.

LOST AND FOUND ITEMS. We are piling up many lost and found items on the coat racks in the Parish Hall. They range from scarves, water bottles, plates/platters, toys, notebooks. Please start to reclaim these items. We want things to go home with their original owner. By the end of February we will recycle/donate any unclaimed items.

STAY CONNECTED

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

EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!