This Week in Worship

This Week in Worship

Sunday, January 25, 2018
January Worship Theme – Truth
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

I heard on the news the other day a commentator who offered that the US “moral covenant as a nation” is that “your kids do a little better than you did.” When I hear that, I realize that the sentiment is usually about financial security. Our nation, still addicted to growth and “more”, gives messages to its citizens that their children should have larger houses than we do, better benefit packages than we had, and sleeker cars…I just don’t resonate with that, and I believe that we need to have a different vision about what a “better life” means.

Of course, I hope that my children will have secure and vibrant lives, that they will meet each day with trust and intrigue about what life has to offer. I just don’t buy into the capitalist mandate that makes us all consumers who rate our lives by how much stuff we have.

First Parish’s Green Team is helping start the dialogue about an important aspect of our legacy to our children: sustainability of life. There is a twenty minute video that I highly recommend, as part of the education offered by the team. “The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM. There are many aspects of our legacy that we as a faith community are addressing: dismantling racism, economic equality and love of neighbor (immigration). We can’t do it all at once, but we can do a little at a time. Check the video out and the continued education offered by the Green Team.

Blessings Be,

Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

• Nursery and toddler care is available every week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This week our caregivers are Daisy and Toya. Stop by and say hello!
• Religious Exploration for Sunday, January 28: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to their classrooms. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am.
• Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Super Heroes: Bible People curricula, meeting in the Children’s Church. This week will be the account of Elijah, Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth. Grades 6 through 8 are following a curriculum called Friends and Neighbors, meeting in the Activity room. The class is currently learning about Islam and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

See the Youth Yacking column for news on grades 9 through 12 this week.

Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Time to bring back your Guest At Your Table boxes! Please bring in your Guest At Your Table boxes. Change is welcome, or you may include a check payable to the UUSC with GAYT on the memo line. So far the children have counted over $200 in change from the boxes. Let’s see how big a ripple for good we can make with our combined small change!

Breakfast for Dinner! Friday, February 2 at 6:30 pm

On Friday, February 2, the youth of First Parish Milton will host a fundraising meal to earn money for their spring service trip. This time, however, they will not be serving spaghetti. Join them for a real midwinter treat, breakfast for dinner! Wear your pajamas and slippers as you enjoy pancakes, bacon and other breakfast goodies. Gluten-free options will be available. Suggested cost is $5 per person. Linger after dinner to play board games together by the fireside. Bring your favorite board game to share and play!

Events, News and Announcements

Saturday, January 27th

10 am – 1 pm

Bystander Intervention Training

First Congregational Church of Milton, 495 Canton Avenue, Milton

Sponsored by:

SAVE THE DATE:

MEGA FIRST PARISH FUN RAISER, SATURDAY NIGHT MARCH 24TH

LIVE AUCTION!! SILENT AUCTION!!

Vacation homes, restaurants, books, painting donated by our own Diane Sawyer, NEC tickets, Boston Baroque subscribptions and much more!

REQUEST FOR AUCTION ITEMS: If you have something you would like to donate: a service, an interesting item sitting in your attic, tickets, please contact Jen Pinkus at: jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com

NEXT PLANNING MEETING:

Sunday, February 4th at 11:45 in the Parlor.

ALL ARE WELCOME. JOIN THE FUN!

For more information, contact Ruth Heiden

Sunday, February 4

Parish Hall, 3 pm

Hail Mid-Winter!

“…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 First Parish’s Great Blue Hill CUUPS to celebrate, renew, and refresh on Sunday, February 4, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to the Imbolc ceremony and Pot Luck social hour to follow.

Annual Toiletry Drive for Renewal House

February 2018

The Social Action Committee is seeking gift cards and full sized toiletries for the parents and children who are clients at Renewal House, a shelter for those affected by domestic violence.

We will be collecting items through the month of February. Collection baskets for the drive will be at the entrances to the church and at the table by the stairs near the parish hall. You can drop off gift cards to the social action table during coffee hour. If you have questions contact Linda.

The Social Action Committee is seeking gift cards and full sized toiletries for the parents and children who are clients at Renewal House, a shelter for those affected by domestic violence.

Please donate full sized products. Do not contribute sample sized products or any product that has been used or opened.

These items have been specifically requested:

laundry detergent, liquid fabric softeners, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, food storage containers, sandwich and food storage bags.

Renewal House is also in need of gift cards to Stop & Shop and Walgreens

We will be collecting items through the month of February. Look for baskets at the entrances to the church and at the table by the stairs in the Parish Hall foyer. You can drop off gift cards to the social action table during coffee hour. If you have questions contact Linda.

Sponsored by Courageous Conversations

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Milton Public High School audortorium

25 Gile Road, Milton, MA.

Admission is free

Featuring local actor Johnny Lee Davenport as Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to sit on the Supreme Court, Thurgood spans Marshall’s impressive career as a lawyer, arguing such landmark cases as Brown v. Board of Education.

Sponsored by

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 10am

Meet at First Parish

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 1:30pm to 4:00pm – Parish Hall

Green Teem Workshop on Ethics

20th Annual Chocolate Auction – February 11, 2018

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!

Looking for a tasty token with which to express your love for your Valentine? Or simply ready to satisfy your own sweet tooth?

Be at Church on Sunday FEBRUARY 11th for the Chocolate Auction. This event, which has become an annual tradition at First Parish, will take place in the Parish Hall right after the worship service. ALL members of the congregation are encouraged to bring some goodie of substance for the auction. Items may be home-produced or purchased. Chocolate is the essential ingredient. [For those of you who have a sweet tooth but not a chocolate one – perhaps someone else will do a Non-Chocolate Auction, but this is not that event…]

Please plan ahead – think NOW about what you might be able to contribute. All of the proceeds of this year’s Chocolate Auction will be donated to support the work of a local nonprofit food-related service organization – Fair Foods Inc. – which our Social Action Committee continues to assist This is a unique, fun and yummy way to raise funds for worthy local food-related social justice in action. Be there! Bring a guest – the more bidders, the merrier!

Live Our Values, Eat Our Chocolate!

Any questions at all, call or email your Humble Auctioneer, Chris Pitt.

Courageous Conversations to host:

Sunday, February 11th from 5pm to 8pm

Held at Parkway Methodist Church on Blue Hill Parkway

A discussion and potluck

3rd Annual Care Package Drive for our Young Adults

The Caring Committee and the Youth Group are teaming up for the third year to provide care packages to our young adults. This would include youth who are now in college, recently enrolled and serving in the armed forces, completing a year of community service like AmeriCorps, or off on their own just starting a first job. There will be a signup at coffee hour or you can send name, address, and any dietary restrictions to Amanda Tobey at amandatobey@gmail.com or 508-579-5118.

Also, we would graciously receive monetary contributions to offset the shipping costs and/or goods to fill the care packages.

The deadline for all donations is Sunday, February 4. Packages will be mailed/delivered the week of February 12.

STAY CONNECTED

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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 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
• Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

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.