This Week in Worship

Sunday, January 25 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse led by Rev. Hank Peirce

Two years ago at this time the Cardinals in Rome were meeting to select a new Pope, in a few years we may see the selection of the next Dali Lama, technically he is found. As much as I find the selection of pope’s and Tibetan Lamas interesting I would not trade it for the way we select our ministers in our religious tradition. What a great gift to be able to select your religious leader yourself, along with your friends. It is a process where we go “all in,” each member of the congregation takes ownership of the church and its direction something that you will have the opportunity to do next year. We also take ownership by contributing our time, talents and our money. This coming Sunday we kick off our Stewardship drive where we are seeking 100% participation. So when asked please be ready to show your support of the democratic process in our living faith.

A reminder that I will be out of the office from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday morning attending the 113th annual meeting of the Fraters of the Wayside Inn. If you have a pastoral emergency please call me on my cell phone 781-475-9891.

See you in church!

Hank

Religious Exploration

Sunday, January 25, 2015 – Workshop Sunday

“We are a box of crayons each of us unique, but when we get together the picture is complete.”
From the poem “A Box of Crayons”

Last Workshop Sunday the children had an opportunity to explore diversity through “A Box of Crayons”. Lead by Myrtle Flight the kids created this poster showing their diversity.
This coming Sunday come explore, create and learn with Myrtle.

The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger

And now a couple of important reminders from the Parish Committee…

Small Group Meetings – Still time to Sign up at Social Hour! Confirm you attendance via Doodle Poll!

Saturday January 31, 4:30 to 6 PM Wine and Cheese at Walt and Sandy’s house in Dorchester

Sunday February 1, 12:05 to 1:30 in the Chase Parlor, First Parish Milton

Friday February 13, 6 PM Pot Luck Dinner in the Parish Hall, First Parish Milton

Doodle Poll

Questions? Contact Walt Hagenbuch for questions about the meetings. Contact Carolyn Newman for any questions on using the Doodle Poll.

ALL-CHURCH COUNCIL – COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND CHURCH LEADERS: SUNDAY JANUARY 25 at Noon

We will meet in the Parish Hall immediately after Social Hour, which will be shortened that day. A light lunch will be served at noon. We will convene at 1215 and end before 200.

We would like at least one member(and preferably more) of each committee to participate. Evites have been sent to committee chairs. Please be prepared to talk about what is happening in your committee. Hear about what is happening with the transition, our visit from our Ministerial Settlement Rep on February 15 and the process to select our Ministerial Search Committee.

Contact us to confirm you attendence . All are welcome – even if you are not currently on a committee.

We are at the beginning of our annual Stewardship Campaign – the time when we make the pledges of financial support that will sustain First Parish for the coming church year.

Congregational pledges provide more than half the money that pays for our church and its ministries – we hope to obtain nearly all of those pledge commitments in the next six weeks. You can help make the campaign a success in three ways:

1) Respond – If you are contacted by a visiting steward or invited to a stewardship gathering, please respond promptly. Come to church January 25, 2015 as we kick of the Stewardship Drive.

2) Participate – Our main goal this year is to achieve 100% participation in the pledge drive – demonstrating our commitment to First Parish and its future health. Please participate at whatever level of financial commitment is possible for you.

3) Give generously – Please consider whether you can deepen your financial commitment this year. If every family were to increase its pledge by just a dollar a day, we would meet our goal.

Pledge forms are availabe on the bulletin board outside the office and several other places around the building. Please return it by February 15. And be on the lookout for more information and updates in the weeks to come.

News and Announcements

Celebrate Imbolc
Saturday, January 31 @7pm in the Parish Hall

First Parish’s earth-centered spirituality group, the Great Blue Hill chapter of CUUPS, invites you to celebrate Imbolc. ALL ARE WELCOMED!

Imbolc is the halfway point between the dark of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a time of light and purification, when we celebrate with a ritual cleansing and a strengthening spell.

As usual we will share a potluck feast after ritual. Please contact Mark Whall to RSVP or with any questions @ 617 282 4075.

February 8 – 17TH ANNUAL CHOCOLATE AUCTION
St. Valentine’s Day, when we celebrate the patron saint of Chocolate, is once again just around the corner. At First Parish, that means it’s CHOCOLATE AUCTION time again!

Items to be auctioned are brought to the Parish Hall before church on the morning of the Auction, where they will be on display before the service and immediately after, before the Auction starts. Each item will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Children are permitted to bid, but only under the direct supervision of a parent, please. There will also be a Kids’ Raffle! All of the proceeds of the Chocolate Auction are donated to support the work of a local nonprofit service organization – to be announced shortly. This is a unique, fun and yummy way to raise funds for worthy local social action. Be there! Bring a guest – the more bidders, the merrier!

Any questions at all, call or email Chris Pitt.

SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO USHER

It’s time to USHER in a new year, which for First Parish means: OFFERING TO USHER! Right now, we desperately need members to sign up for hosting Social Hour AND USHERING during services.
COME ON, let’s all pitch in! CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP.

Music News

I HAVE A DREAM

During the morning worship service in Sunday, February 1st one of Boston’s leading operatic baritones, Philip Lima, will be singing a stirring rendition of Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, set to music by Lee Hoiby (composer of “Bon Appetit”). Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear this monumental work as we continue our worship theme of Justice and commemorate the beginning of Black History Month.

VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND CONCERT @ Sunday, February 8

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Sunday afternoon, February 8th at 4:00. The Meetinghouse will be the location for the next Milton Community Concert: “Opposites Attract: Classical Meets Jazz”. This concert will feature world champion jazz accordionist Cory Pesaturo and classical soprano Bethany Worrell in a program designed to kick off your Valentine’s Day celebration. Cory has performed four times at the White House and is the only person ever to have won first prize in international competitions for digital, acoustic, and jazz accordion. Tickets are $20 (no advance purchase) and free for 18 and under. For more information visit: miltoncommunityconcerts.com.

Kiki’s Corner

Missing – Hot Water Dispenser for Tea. We are hoping someone borrowed it and they just haven’t gotten it back to FP yet. Please bring Sunday or let me know if you have it.

Milton Times on January 15 carried many articles about First Parish. Read about the first Milton Community Concert – Dueling Diva. Amy Norton, Chair of the Caring Committee, wrote a wonderful piece on how to take care of one another. Check out the bulletin board – First Parish Members in the News. We regularly add printed items to the board both from the Milton Times and MyTownMatters. Check out the publications or our bulletin board.

For information that you would like to put in The Link or highlight in the Order of Worship Announcement, please email the information to both Kiki and Miriam to ensure it is seen in the office. Please note your announcement may be edited due to space constraints. We encourage brevity (one to two paragraphs max.) The Link goes out as an email blast on Thursdays and generally posted on our Facebook page First Parish Milton UU by Saturday and our website. Submission must be received by Tuesdays at 5 pm.

Because of the amount of activity happening in the next couple of weeks at First Parish, more details on some events will be published at length with the Order of Worship or as flyers on the information table. Lots of activity is a good problem to have.

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!