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
- This Week in Religious Exploration
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“Everything Matters”
Worship Assistant: Chris Clifford
Usher: Ellen Barr
Greeter: Dianna Wilson
Social Hour: Amy Kavadlo & Elise Henricks
Music: Tim Steele
Audio: Brynne Mershon
Sunday’s offering will be given to Fair Foods. Some of you know Fair Foods well as you have lent a hand (and muscle!) to assist with weekly food distribution. Tony Dutzik will provide information about FF’s ongoing contribution to the Dorchester community and where our gift may be directed specifically.
Masks are optional for vaccinated people 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.
As I write this, I realize that tomorrow marks the 21st anniversary of my ordination. October 14, 2001 was the date, one month after the September 11th attack and two weeks after my father died. A momentous time in our world and in my personal life. The ordination was held at First Church Jamaica Plain, my home church and the congregation that nurtured my call to ministry.
I had been a community organizer and a social worker prior to entering seminary. I liked that work yet overtime I couldn’t deny the nudgings toward work with a more explicit spiritual dimension. I’m glad I took the leap. It’s a meaningful, tough, heart-breaking, growth-full and fascinating calling.
Callings come in all shapes and sizes. And they often change over our lifetimes, and sometimes are elusive. To be able to know and follow one’s sense of calling- that is to say, what one feels one is meant to do- is a blessing. What do you feel is your calling right now? Do you feel some sense of calling in your paid work? Or is your sense of calling relationship-based? To be good friend, a good neighbor, a good parent, a good adult child to an aging parent, a good congregational leader? Is your calling to activism or to creating beauty or to philanthropy? Perhaps physical limitations confine you to home and you live a calling to pray for and support others via phone, email, text and letters. All worthy callings that meet the world’s need and build up the beloved community.
The work of being human is to discern one’s calling. Yet others can help us figure that out: by example, by listening, and by actively encouraging others to honor their sense of calling and purpose. When it comes to the “called ministry”, congregations are key factors. They can encourage those in their midst to consider this path when they seem suited, they help form minsters when they support ministerial interns, and they nurture and sustain ministry when they partner well with their settled and interim ministers.
Calling and love seem inextricably joined. The lyrics from the Chorus Line come to mind, “We did what we had to do… won’t forget, can’t regret, what I did for love.”
See you in church
Rev. Tricia
Music For Sunday
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing a movement from a new work by local composer Carol Koffinke, called LIFE. This piece explores the various phases we travel through during our lives. You can hear the entire work at a concert in the Meetinghouse on Sunday, November 6th at 3pm. Grace Allendorf will be the featured soloist this week for the movement which is called “Prime”.
Also on Sunday we will hear an original composition by Franc Graham called “Swim”. Franc will be joined by Claudia Wellington.
Religious Exploration
This Sunday, children will participate in a workshop on meditation and mindfulness with Mary Beth Callahan. Coming of age youth and potential mentors should plan to attend a get to know you gathering during social hour.
Still need to register your child? The registration form can be found here.
Events and Meetings
REMINDER!
Open to ALL!
Please join the Committee Chairs as we learn about Adaptive Change.
Friday, October 14th
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Trunk or Treat at First Parish!
First Parish is holding a fun Halloween activity
for members, friends, and the community.
Halloween is just around the corner!
On Saturday, October 29, bring your car to First Parish, decorate the trunk, and give
out candy to trick-or-treaters !
Prizes for trunk decorations include gift cards for Stevie’s Pizza, the Ice Cream Smith, and the Friends of the Milton Public Library Bookshop.
Ways you can participate:
• Decorate the trunk of your car and give out candy
• Donate candy
• Help out at the event (set up, direct cars to spots, clean up, etc.)
• Bring your kids and their friends in their Halloween costumes
to trick-or-treat from car to car
If you’re interested in helping, please let Lisa White know lisawhite1250@gmail.com
HARVEST SUPPER
SAVE THE DATE
The Hospitality Committee is busy making plans for the Harvest Supper which will take place on the evening of November 5th.
More details to come…
The 2022-23 season has just been announced!
Visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com to see all the details. The first concert is coming up in less than a month. It will feature four professional soloists and a combined choir in an entire program of new works by local composer Carol Koffinke. We hope you will attend this exciting concert on Sunday, November 6th at 3pm.
News and Announcements
First Parish would like to thank you for your donations. We are lucky to have your support !
- Syrian Refugee Family/MICA – $752
- Reclaim our Vote- $673
ATTENTION SINGERS !!
Milton Community Concert will be starting the season with an exciting choral concert on Sunday, November 6th at 3pm. The Meetinghouse Choir will be joining with the UCC-Norwell choir and choir members from other churches in the area. If you have sung in choirs in the past we invite you to join us. Just drop me a line at eliztim95@gmail.com. The featured piece on the program is a four-movement piece for chorus and four professional soloists called “Life”, by local composer Carol Koffinke (who will be in attendance at the concert). And to top it off, it will be a world premiere.
Please consider singing with us! I’ve even made some MP3 recordings which you can practice with if you like. Rehearsals will be on Saturday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm on 10/15, 10/22, and 10/29 (although you don’t have to attend all of them). The dress rehearsal will be on Thursday, 11/3 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm.
If you have friends who are singers please let them know as well.
Please contact Tim (eliztim95@gmail.com) if interested or if you have any questions.
All rehearsals will be in the Meetinghouse.
Volunteer Opportunities
Fair Foods
Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that wwould 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, October 15th.
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 on weekdays from early morning until mid-afternoon.Any questions or for more information contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685.
Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45pm-1:00pm 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.
The first delivery day will be on Wednesday October 26th and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 and 1:00 PM.
Any questions or for more information contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net
Beyond First Parish
ONLINE UU HISTORY SERIES – OPEN TO ALL!
Tuesdays, October 11th thru November 15th
7:00pm-8:00pm CT
Offered on Zoom Free
The Faith Forward program out of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas is excited to offer an online session of our UU History series for all congregations! This series is an incredible opportunity for all visitors, members, and friends to learn more about the rich and deep history of our faith. This series approaches history from the starting point of compelling stories and personalities; each session will focus on one or two people from our history. Participants explore the questions these people faced and make connections with their own lives and the world around them today. The overarching question is: how can history be translated into our religious life and practice?
To register, just use this link:
THEY TOOK THE DRUMS AWAY, BUT THEY COULD NOT STOP THE BEAT.
On Sunday, October 16 at 2:00 join members and friends of CCTRJ to attend the ArtsEmerson sponsored production of Step Afrika’s Drumfolk. Orchestra tickets are available for $35, Students $25 or Pay What You Can. The performance is 1 hour and 45 minutes and carpools are being arranged from First Parish UU Church in Milton or Walgreen’s Parking Lot on Morrissey Blvd.
When Africans lost the right to use their drums, the beats found their way into the body of the people. Inspired by the Stono Rebellon of 1739 and Negro Act of 1740, Drumfolk is a thrilling, percussive exploration of American history, placing a spotlight on the rhythmic cycle of life that bonds all of us together.
Step Afrika! have been called “masters of stepping” by the New Yorker and “electrifying talents” by the New York Times. Through music, stepping, tap, and ring shouts these remarkable performers recreate histories too often left in the margins. After their celebrated prior visits to Boston (The Migration, Step Afrika!), the troupe returns this fall with a celebration of the human spirit perfect for the entire family.
 |
|---|
 |
|---|
The FPM Social and Environmental Justice committee invites you to attend a multi faith webinar that divides into the links between environmental justice and racial justice. To facilitate connections and discussion, you are welcome to attend a group event to watch the webinar-on Thursday, October 20th at 1:30 in Chase Parlor. Please rsvp to Tracey tdr02186@gmail.com. For more information see below:
Environmental Justice is Racial Justice: Faith Communities Respond
Thurs, Oct. 20th 1:30-3:00 on Zoom
Across our country and our world, communities of color are impacted first and worst by pollution and climate-driven disasters, and among the strongest advocates for change. Learn how your faith community can stand with them. Join a panel of leaders on the front lines ofenvironmental justice featuring Dr. Robert Bullard, Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Rev. Dr. Deborah Conrad, and Rev. Betsy Sowers (Moderator).
Hosted by: the Creation Justice Community of The Alliance of Baptists, endorsed by Churches Thriving for Racial Justice. Co-sponsored by Creation Justice Ministries, The American Baptist Creation Justice Network, Environmental Justice Ministries – United Church of Christ, Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light, UU Mass Action, and Southern New England Conference UCC Environmental Ministries.
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.