Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- This Week in Worship
- Briefly with Bev
- Religious Exploration
- Music
- News & Announcements
- Events
- Social & Environmental Justice
- Beyond First Parish
Sunday Service October 1st
Recalculating
When Rev. Bev decides to go a different way than her GPS tells her to go, this is what she hears. “Recalculating.” And she swears that sometimes there is an edge to the mechanical voice, a judgment connected to Rev. Bev’s inability to follow simple directions. As we start this first year of interim ministry here in Milton, let’s take a little time to recalculate. No judgment, no sarcastic tone, just a brief pause to recalculate our spiritual direction and find our “true north.”
Worship Associate: Dottie Pitt
Social Hour: Debbie Alsebai, Laura Reis, Kaitlyn and Adeline
Pedotti
Audio: Holden Driscoll
This week’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
Briefly With Bev
Reflecting on Times Such as These
As I sit and ponder the fact that we are approaching another election
season in a series of elections that feel like the outcomes get more and
more impactful on our everyday lives as well as our future, my immediate
thought is “what can I possibly say?” As rights continue to be taken from
us, perhaps for generations, and as our very democracy, as well as our
planet, is at risk, my next thought is “I have nothing.” Perhaps you have
been there too, felt that way at times in your life.
Since it is the middle of the night and what I would normally do to clear my
head (go geocaching) is not an option, instead I started wandering around
the house, thinking about nothing, thinking about everything.
And on the kitchen table I saw two stickers. They must have come in the
mail recently and we had not decided what to do with them, so on the table
they remain. And here were my answers. Here is what matters most in
these times, right now.
This is no time for apathy. We must allow ourselves to feel what we are
feeling and then let those feelings lead us into actions. Whatever your
emotions about the way things are right now – angry, scared, sad – let those
emotions drive what you do next. And there are things that can be done:
1. Make or buy a sign and display it proudly – Love Is the Answer,
Climate Change is Real, Black Lives Matter, Believe the Science –
whatever says what is foremost on your mind.
2. Check out “UU the Vote” on Facebook or their website for some
ideas. It may be too late to send postcards but it is not too late to text
or phone folks in swing states.
3. Explore and follow through on ways to make your home, your
community, and First Parish Milton more environmentally friendly.
And in this time, right now, perhaps most importantly, confirm that you
are registered to vote, check out the ballot now to give yourselves time
to carefully read the questions you will be asked to vote on, and then
VOTE. In Massachusetts you can quickly check your status and the
Remember, my friends, we are in this together. We will get through these
continuing difficult times, together. And, I believe that one day, one election
cycle, we will look back on this time as a temporary test of our patience and
resilience. A test that we will all pass with flying colors as long as we stick
together.
With Love and Peace,
Rev. Bev
Religious Exploration
Click here to shop items to be delivered directly to church.
We’d love to bring everyone to Muse Paint Bar in Dedham on Nov. 1 from 3-5pm, but we need to have at least 10 folks before we reserve the space! Wanna go?
Want more ? Find all things Kids and Youth on the RE Linktree. For more information on any of the above contact Susannah at redirector@fpmilton.org or call 470-223-0337
Music
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing “Love is the Spirit of This Church”, by British composer Paul Ayres. The text is a popular covenant for UU congregations, written in the late 1800’s by James Vila Blake. Guest soloist Reed Demangone, a countertenor, will join us for a solo during the offertory called “On Music”, by American composer Ben Moore. Mr. Moore wrote this song as “an affirmation, especially to those who dedicate themselves to a life in music”.
MILTON COMMUNITY CONCERTS
On Saturday, October 3 at 7pm Milton Community Concerts presents the thirteenth annual “Sing For Their Supper”, a free benefit concert to support the Milton Food Pantry and Milton Residents Fund. This year’s concert will feature ten outstanding singers who will each present their favorite opera and musical theater selections. Admission is FREE, and a free-will offering will be taken to support these two important organizations.
News & Announcements
Please join us for the All Church Council on Friday, October 23rd at 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall. We request that at least one representative from each committee attend, but all church members and friends are welcome! In addition to learning about committee priorities for this church year, we will have a facilitated exercise by Rev Bev, and an introduction to the Breeze app by Jen Pinkus and Lisa White. The meeting will last from 6-8 p.m.
We will have a light supper of pizza and salad. Please join the fun.
PLEASE RSVP by Monday, October 19th so that we can plan for the food. RSVPs can be sent to Susan at manager@fpmilton.org. If you need childcare, please let us know. We have sitters lined up in case we need them.
Any questions about the meeting? Please contact Nancy Devine at Ndevine11@gmail.com
Events
Social & Environmental Justice
Help Get Out the Vote — Postcard Writing on Oct. 4
On October 4, join us in the Parish Hall after Social Hour to help get out the vote for the midterms. Teaming up with Reclaim Our Vote, we’ll write postcards to voters in underrepresented communities in swing states and encourage them to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
Bring your energy and we’ll supply the rest – including stamps and the script for the postcards. There’s nothing more democratic than voting!
(Can’t stay for the event? Pick up a packet and write the postcards at home – but you’ll need your own stamps.
Eleventh Hour Standout
Because these times are rife with significant issues — take your pick: global wars, jobs, healthcare, trans rights, affordable housing, healthy food access, ICE OUT, immigration — this monthly event offers a brief time to unite. So: BYO signs, flags, chairs, singing voices, percussion, friends, and neighbors. 30 ENERGIZED minutes will amplify continued resilience and resistance. Quoting Katie, a dedicated participant, “I believe events like this are important because they fuel us in this marathon and give us chances to connect with one another… feeling filled up with energy and courage, with a heart of renewed hope.” The next event will be on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11. All are welcome; bring your neighbors; stand out and speak up.
Father Bills & Mainspring
Wednesday, October 21st is the start date
As in the past, First Parish will be making and delivering lunches to MainSpring (Fr. Bill’s Brockton site) at two locations in Brockton. We have been asked to provide 70 lunches on the third Wednesday of each month. The drop-off location will remain at the lower parking lot of FP, and will take place between 12:40 and 1:00.
The Social & Environmental Justice committee thanks you for your past efforts and we hope you are able to join us again this year.
Click here to Sign up
Beyond First Parish
Join First Parish Friends to see the musical “Operation Mincemeat” at the Colonial Theatre on October 25th at 6;30 PM. Debbie Alsebai will be leading a group to carpool to the theater and potentially have a Potluck diinner beforehand.
‘Operation Mincemeat” is the true story of the secret mission that won World War II. The show won an Olivier Award and Tony for the Best New Musical. Entertainment Weekly said it was the #1 Broadway Show in 2025!
Email Debbie Alsebai at Alsebai@verizon.net or text tel:(617) 821-9460 with number of seats, seat location and at cost group price you prefer.
Please note there is no elevator to the Dress Circle or Balcony.
- Orchestra $155, $140 or $118
- Dress Circle $100 or $78 (Senior >65 and Students $80 or $70)
- Balcony $62 and $51 (Senior >65 and Students $62 or $51)
Tickets are limited so get your orders in ASAP
The Message
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
The CCTRJ Book Group will be reading “The Message” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The author takes us on three pilgrimages—to Dakar, Senegal; Columbia, South Carolina; and Palestine—exploring how the stories we
tell can either expose or distort our realities. Please join us for a discussion on untangling ourselves from destructive myths and embracing the
liberating power of truth.
October 6th: 7:00 PM – 8:30PM (Zoom),
Discuss Parts I, II, and III
October 26th: Time and location TBD (in person vs on Zoom)
Discuss Part IV.
Please register Here or email CCTRJbookgroup@gmail.com
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, 10:30 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: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44ACA728A02-64605820-copy#/
You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.