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
- This Week in Religious Exploration
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“What Is Prayer?”
Worship Assistant: Tom Kemp
Music: Tim Steele
Audio: Atticus D’Alessandro
Sunday’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
Masks are strongly recommended in the meetinghouse; masks are still required for those who have not been vaccinated. Respect and consideration should be given to all regardless of their masking choice.
Growing up in a humanist Unitarian Universalist church and household, I did not learn how to pray. In fact, I came to believe that prayer was a form of magical thinking. I had an unfortunate experience at a girl scout overnight camp as a tween when I did not know the Lord’s Prayer, feeling painfully shunned. I later learned the words to the prayer when there was a musical rendering on the pop charts in the 70’s. I simply learned it so that I wouldn’t experience that shaming isolation again. Not the best reason to learn a prayer.
It wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I became curious again about this phenomenon called “prayer”. I then stumbled around with the Lord’s Prayer, but the words did not resonate, so I translated it in a way that would open my heart to possibility.
It wasn’t until I trained as a hospital chaplain as part of my ministry training in my early 30’s that I came to understand the value of prayer for so many, including myself. I realized that the words were not as important as the intention, nor was there any one way to pray. It became clear to me that praying doesn’t necessarily change the circumstances, but it can change the one who is praying and it can ease a sense of isolation.
“Look for the answer to prayer not in what you get,” comments Rabbi Chaim Stern, “but in what you become.”
So what is prayer? Come share this musing with me this Sunday in worship.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music For Sunday
The Meetinghouse Choir will be presenting a melodic and lyrical anthem called “Whatsoever Things . . .”, arranged by Patrick Roszell, with a text from Philippians. This text will be particularly resonant for those of you who have seen the recent film “Women Talking”. Also Jennifer Sgroe and Daon Drisdom will be singing a duet setting of the Shaker song “Simple Gifts”, arranged by Phillip Lawson.
Religious Exploration
RE will meet this weekend. Spirit Play will be reading Mr. Gumpy’s Outing, while Holidays and Holy Days learns about Candlemas/Imbolc. Friends and Neighbors will be meeting and Coming of Age meets at 4pm.
Please see the offering below from Laboure College, a free training on teaching adults how to identify, understand and respodn to signs of mental health challenges.
Youth mental health first aid training to take place Feb. 10 at Laboure College, Milton
You are more likely to encounter someone having a mental health crisis than having a heart attack.
February 10, 2023, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This free training is a must do for anyone working regularly with, or parenting, youth ages 12-18. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.
We will cover:
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
- How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.How to connect the youth with help.
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying.
Coffee and lunch provided by the generosity of BID Hospital, Milton. Generous support also from Mike’s 5K.
If you have any questions, please email info@milton-coalition.org
Events and Meetings
From Membership Committee
First Parish Membership is starting up our walking group again. Dianna Wilson will gather interested walkers at 12:15 pm on Sunday, January 29th at the entrance to the Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester. Contact Dianna if you are interested in walking: diannaw710@gmail.com or 857-251-2485.
New Member Orientation
First Parish Membership will be offering an Orientation session at the end of the month. It will be held in two parts, over Zoom, on the evening of February 7th.
If you have wanted to become a member, let Leslie or Rev Lisa know that you are interested in attending. Let us know if you have questions,too! Lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com.
WELCOME BACK WITH WAFFLES!
We hope you can join us for a post holiday brunch February 5th, after the service.
We will be serving crispy, delectable yeast risen waffles hot off the press, both fully loaded gluten and gluten free versions, as well as sausages, fruit, coffee, OJ, and other treats.
Limit – 2 waffles a person (unless heavily bribed)
Hope to see you there !
COMING SOON! SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE FREECYCLE TABLE
What ? Imagine a small-scale, indoor, yard sale
When/Where ? during Sunday Social Hour starting February 5th in Parish Hall.
Why ? To share what we have but no longer need, want, or have room to keep; to bypass the solid waste stream
Who ? You ! All ages welcomed.
If a picture’s worth 1000 words:
Save The Date: Chocolate Auction, Sunday, February 12th @ 11:45 am in Parish Hall
A poignant event this year, as we honor the dedication of Chris Pitt, co-founder with Dottie Pitt.
Search out favorite recipes and bring a chocolate dish for the auction and/or a readiness to bid.
News and Announcements
Stewardship Month is Here !
The Stewardship Committee suggests that you ask yourself these questions in order to help you decide how much you can afford to give towards our upcoming FY2024 budget which begins on July 1st, 2023:
Why am I here?
Why do I give to this community?
Where does this community fit into my overall yearly giving?
Do I feel involved in the life of this church by my giving?
For how many years has my level of giving to this community remained the same?
Where would I like to see this community go in the future?
How can I help it get there?
Submit your FY2024 Pledge here
Feel free to give any feedback you would like to any of us on the Stewardship Committee
Charlie Franich pemaquid@aol.com
Mallory Digges maldigges@gmail.com
Eric Miller r.eric.miller@gmail.com
Mark Ostrem marko105@aol.com
As a series of atmospheric rivers continues to pour rain onto California, many parts of the state are facing flooding, mudslides, and more damage from winds and water.
The UUA Disaster Relief Fund is here for congregations affected by the storms, floods, and landslides, but we need your help now. The fund is near depletion and we have only just begun to hear from congregations in affected areas.
Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund
What’s all this talk about an 8th Principle?
As a Unitarian Universalist congregation, First Parish in Milton affirms and promotes seven principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. Our congregation’s Racial Justice Task force is supporting a movement within the UUA to adopt an 8th principle focused on racial justice. To that end we will hold a series of listening circles in January where members and friends can learn about the proposed principle. We hope you can join us.
All sessions will be on ZOOM and the link will be emailed to you prior to the session for which you register.
Thursday, January 26 – 7:00 pm
CANCELED on Sunday, January 29 – 12:00 pm
Feb 1st 7:00 pm
Feb 5th 9:00 am church
Feb 12th 7:00 pm Zoom
Feb 19th church
Feb 26th 12:00 pm church
Fair Foods
Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that would otherwise be wasted and uses it to feed our communities. We volunteer together unloading and sorting food and packing bags once a month.
The next volunteer date is Saturday, February 11th.
If you want to volunteer, please sign up on Sign up Genius by Thursday
evening before the event. Start time and locations vary depending on Fair Foods’ needs, but typically start at 8:30 a.m. at their warehouse at 70 Amory Street in Roxbury.
Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 with any questions or for more information.
First Parish Milton volunteers provide bagged lunches to MainSpring adult shelters in Brockton twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Members of the Social & Environmental Justice committee will make the delivery to Brockton.
Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day. One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton. Please note how many meals you are making in comments. We are looking for 70 lunches for each delivery day. Lunches should include sandwich, fruit, drink, snack/chips and sweet/cookies.
The next delivery day will be on Wednesday February 1st and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 and 1:00 PM.
If you haven’t made lunches in a while OR if you are a new volunteer, sign up on MainSpring Sign Up Genius or contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net for more info.
Thanks to all the volunteers that have made this program a success for more than two years !!
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.