Table of Contents
This Week in Worship
Message from Rev. Lisa
This Week in Religious Exploration
Events and Meetings
News and Announcements
Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
Volunteer Opportunities
Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“Bodhicitta”
Worship Assistant: Steven Yakutis
Faith Reflection: Didi Emmons
Greeters: Jennifer Grant
Flowers: L. Tucker Smith
Audio: Nina Truog
Social Hour: Karl Pastore
Please join us for service at 10:30am.
Please log in at 10:20, to give some lead time for the service at 10:30. 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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This week’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
A couple weeks ago, a woman called our office on a Tuesday to see if she could rent the Children’s Church for her mother’s memorial on Saturday (in four days). She explained that her mother used to play in what is now the Children’s Church when it was a school house building on the Forbes estate. In 1937 the building was moved to our campus to become the Children’s Church. Her mother expressly requested that her memorial be held there.
I mention this for two reasons. One, to lift up the power of history and the ripple effect of relationship that helps form our lives. The other, to lift up the synergy in our office staff team, as we were able to honor this heartfelt request with competency and care.
Susan DeMinico, our Church Administrator, fielded the request and contacted staff. The family coordinated the speaker and format, so my services were not needed. Sherri Moldaver, our Administrative Assistant, worked out the rental agreement. Kevin Harnden, our Sexton, prepared the space. And Tim, our Music Director, just happened to be available to provide the music. All this was done within four days, including an extra touch by Susan in helping secure a place for their reception. Beauty to behold. True care expressed.
I’ve been thinking these days of how important it is to find meaningful community. So much seems to be unravelling in the world, so much uncertainty, so much turmoil. The ways of the world right now can be overwhelming – too much to bear. That is unless we abide with each other, hold each other, find each other to share in the burden and the hope for a way through. Simple gestures, like rallying together to honor a family’s needs counter balances the pain and helplessness. Kindness has generative ripple effects.
So may it be. Amen.
Music This Week
This Sunday we will hear a collaboration between Hunsaker soloist Grace Allendorf, and one of our newest church and choir members, cellist Ben Warzesk. They will be presenting a charming arrangement of “This Little Light of Mine” by Ken Berg. You will also be hearing Put a Little Love in Your Heart by Jackie DeShannon performed by Franc Graham and Claudia Wellington.
Childcare during Choir Rehearsals
Childcare will be available in the nursery starting at 8:30am for caregivers to attend choir rehearsal. If you have any questions about joining the choir, please contact Tim at eliztim95@gmail.com. If you have any questions about childcare, please contact Louise at re@fpmilton.org.
Religious Education
We’re so excited to be offering a UU-themed week of summer fun this year! Our week will include play, worship, community, crafts, movement, and adventures as we learn more about our faith as Unitarian Universalists. Our community will mainly be folks at First Parish Milton, with plans in the works to bring in friends from nearby UU churches. Everyone is welcome at our week of summer fun, as long as they are fully aware that our week will be centered around UU values and incorporate UU traditions. Details:
-August 19th-23rd from 9-3 (with options for early drop-off at 8 and late pick-up at 4 – a previous communication said late pick-up at 9, which isn’t true. But, if your family needs more flexibility, we can have a conversation.)
-For children entering grades 1-6 (with some flexibility)
-Sliding scale $200-400 (financial support available)
-At First Parish Milton
If your family is interested, please use this form to express interest. More details will be coming in the next month! Email Louise (re@fpmilton.org) with questions. And definitely definitely email Louise if you are interested in helping out with this endeavor :)
Events and Meetings
TOMORROW Friday, January 26 from 6:00pm-8:00p.m
The All Church Council, a meeting of First Parish Committee Chairs, will take place on. All are welcome to join.
Hospitality Committee Meeting, Sunday, January 28th 9:30am
We will have a meeting of the full committee at the kitchen table to talk about upcoming events, and ongoing hospitality items (social hours, etc.).
We look forward to seeing you next week!
With best regards,
Allison, Marie-Laure, Anita, co-chairs.
Save The Date:
Chocolate Auction, Sunday, February 11th @ 11:45 am in Parish Hall
Time to dust off your favorite chocolate recipes!
MILTON COMMUNITY CONCERT UPDATE
Please save the dates for MCC’s final two concerts of the season:
Sunday, February 25 at 3:00 pm:
The Ninth Annual “Sing For Their Supper” concert to benefit the Milton Food Pantry and Milton Residents Fund
Sunday, April 28 at 3pm: “In Community: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Stories”
Message from Mary Blanchette
Fun Footstool Project
You may have noticed some of the footstools in the meetinghouse are worn and I have been thinking about recovering them. I did one with the help of a friend who knows what she’s doing and has offered to help with the rest. I think it would be fun to get a group together to recover the rest of them.
If you are interested in this fun and rewarding project let me know and we can make a date. It will be a nice way to spend a winter morning or afternoon. No experience necessary.
Contact Mary Blanchette at mbpa@comcast.net
Climate Action@HOME – upcoming discussions
The Climate team is planning monthly updates after worship for those who want to learn more about climate action. If you have topics you would like to discussion please contact Tracey Robinson at tdr02186@gmail.
February Date TBD – Heat Pumps: Come hear a panel of FPM members share info about their experience with installing heat pumps in their homes.
News and Announcements
ANNUAL BUDGET DRIVE
The Stewardship Committee announces that this year’s Annual Budget Drive has begun! The financial commitments that we hope to secure from our members and friends over the next two months will be used to cover First Parish’s operating expenses for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins on July 1st. Each household will be should have received an email from Stewardship asking for your contribution. Embedded in the email will be a “link” via which you can simply and easily submit your financial commitment for next year. We also include the link here for your convenience.
If you have already been a financial supporter of First Parish, we are very grateful. Our hope is that you would consider a 3% addition to the amount you contributed last year. If this is your first time making a financial commitment, we will be very grateful for whatever you choose to contribute.
Thank you,
The Stewardship Committee of First Parish in Milton—Charles Franich (chair), Rob Dahl, Mallory Digges, Eric Miller, and Mark Ostrem
It is cold outside but the FP kitchen is full of warmth!
Social Hour Hosts needed for:
Sunday, February 11 (need one more person)
Sunday, February 18 (two hosts needed)
Haven’t hosted before or need a refresher? No worries! A Hospitality Committee member will reach out to you the week before to answer questions and provide instructions.
Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
February 7th is the next date!
S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the first and third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches twice a month to support shelter guests.
See updated instructions on the Mainspring SignUpGenius page and signup whenever you can help out.
We are counting on your support.
The next Racial Justice Task Force meeting is:
Wed. Feb 28th
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Beyond First Parish
“Plastics is the New Coal” Wednesday, January 31st
Come out of the cold and into the warmth of Milton Public Library to listen to Kathy Raiz of Beyond Plastics on Wednesday evening, January 31.
Beyond Plastics is building a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve societal changes needed to save our planet from negative health, climate, and environmental impacts from the producing, usaging, and disposing of plastics.
This event is being held in the Keyes Room of Milton Public Library at 6:00 PM for socializing and light refreshments. The speaker begins at 6:30 PM.
All are welcome ~ spread the word! Sponsored by Milton Garden Club.
Join Us UU Urban Ministry Delegate Regional Meetings
Join Rev. Mary Margaret Earl and members of the UUUM Team to discuss how we can work together in new and meaningful ways in 2024 and beyond.
Together, we will discuss how your congregation wants to engage with the work of UUUM, how the UUUM can support you in this partnership, and look at the description of the role of a delegate created with thoughtful input from our Congregational Engagement Task Force – a group made up of delegates and others from member congregations.
Dates & Locations
To make it as convenient as possible for folks from our member congregations to be a part of these important discussions, we have scheduled 3 opportunities throughout the month of February. Join us for one of these meetings [with food/refreshments] with your fellow delegates and volunteers:
Thursday, February 8th (11:30am-1:00pm) at UU Society of Wellesley Hills
Thursday, February 15th (5:30pm-7:00pm) at UU Urban Ministry in Roxbury
Tuesday, February 20th (11:30am-1:00pm) at First Parish in Lexington
If you know in advance that you will be joining us please RSVP to development@uuum.org. But if you decide to be there last minute, you are still more than welcome. Please share this invitation with anyone who might be interested. A promo flyer is attached (JPG and PDF) and we encourage delegates and anyone interested to join us. Hope to see you!
SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION – REMINDER TO VOTE *
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024
On the ballot: MBTA COMMUNITIES ZONING ARTICLE 1.
Registered Milton voters will decide at the polls whether to amend the town’s General Zoning By-Laws to create an “MBTA Communities Multi-family Overlay District” and remain in compliance with state law. Inform yourself with facts (available on the town’s MBTA Community Zoning webpage and a Planning Board Public Hearing presentation from October). Please read and reflect on Article 1 through the lens of our shared UU beliefs and values… and VOTE
First Parish Milton’s Social & Environmental Justice Committee joined Affordable Inclusive Milton (AIM) and Sustainable Milton in supporting these articles to: address an acute housing shortage; expand multi-generational housing options and affordability; expand social and economic diversity; support smart growth through climate-friendly and sustainable development; boost the town’s tax-base through increased residential and mixed-use properties.
Note: Voters may apply for a mail-in ballot by contacting Milton’s Town Clerk That webpage contains an application to request a mail-in ballot, if they will be away or wish to vote from the comfort of home in winter time, as well as the actual language for Article 1
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, 9:30 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: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday1
You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.