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… 
This Week in Worship
October 24, 2021
“Beloved Community”
Facilitated by: Rev. Lisa Ward
Worship Associate: Katie Vhay
Music: Dzidzor Amorin
Audio Engineer: tbd
This will be a hybrid service. You are welcome to join us in the Meetinghouse (masks required for those over 5 years old and childcare will be available). If you prefer, you are welcome to join us via Zoom.
Please see the zoom link below. 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.
Staying Warm in the Meetinghouse
As the autumn days grow colder, we recommend you dress warmly for worship in the Meetinghouse. In order to keep our air circulating, we will need to keep a few windows open. Remember that our forebears worshipped through the winter with little heat, using an occasional foot stove (heated tin box) or other local remedies.
Might you have an extra throw to donate or lend as long as we need to keep a few windows open?. You can bring one by on Sunday morning or in the office on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Amazing, all the different ways this pandemic is inviting us to be in this together and to connect in creative ways.
This Sunday’s collection will go to the service and ministry of First Parish.
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First Parish would like to thank you for donations. We are lucky to have your suppoort !
Fair Foods $1,043
UU Urban Ministry $999.19
Right Question Institute (amount coming soon)
Some of you may have noticed that I have added a “nature’s wisdom” reflection before our time of stillness in worship. This was in response to a workshop I attended at Kripalu, entitled “Mindful Outdoor Experience”. With the exponential increase of digital interaction and focus on screens, we have come to a time when there is an entire network of teachers, guides and counselors who remind us of our relation to and in nature. “The living earth speaks to the interconnected life systems on our planet,” reads one Kripalu article. “In our modern times we humans are becoming more and more disconnected from the very system that gives us life. This separation is impacting the quality of our lives as well as the quality of life our planet can sustain.”
According to data from DataReportal, the average American spends 7 hours and 11 minutes looking at a screen every day. The numbers vary in different reports, but in all reports, the numbers are alarming. We are less and less connected with the outdoors, less and less liable to have a screenless down time, unless we are sleeping. And, of course, with the pandemic, there has been an increase in screen use.
The pandemic and climate change heralds the need for humility about how we relate to nature, our sustenance, and earth, our home. Though it may seem counter-intuitive in the face of what feels like threats to our existence, gratitude and wonder are what will orient us to healthier lives. Paying attention to what nature can tell us will bring wisdom to our ways and walking.
So I gave myself the assignment to seek nature’s wisdom, bit by bit. I may not understand the whole of the mysterious harmony that guides Being, but a steady noticing, here and there, can help us connect to the astounding gift of our interdependent lives.
This I pray. Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Religious Exploration
Religious Exploration for Children takes place Sunday mornings outside in our courtyard. This is likely to be the case through early winter. The temperatures are up and down in this transitional time of early autumn. Please dress your children in layers, maybe include lightweight gloves.
Religious Exploration for Children begins in the courtyard when worship begins and ends when worship concludes. Please sign your child(ren) in on the Contact Tracing Sheet before you head into worship.
Tent Team sets up and takes down the larger tent we use for RE. It takes 5-10 minutes to set up at 9:30 and another 5-10 minutes to take down at the end of coffee hour. If you are able to help with raising and lowering the tent please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-2021 and sign up.
Creepy Carriage House is this Sunday 24 October at 6:30 PM!
If your young person is doing set up or working the event please have them arrive at 4:30. If you are planning to attend, please arrive at 6:30.
In the month of October, in worship and Religious Exploration, we lift up and explore cultivating Relationship. From the Soul Matters Small Group Ministry resource:
I believe every inch of America is sacred, from sea to shining sea. I believe we make it holy by who we welcome and by how we relate to each other. Call it my Muslim eyes on the American project. “We made you different nations and tribes that you may come to know one another,” says the Qur’an.
Eboo Patel
Molly B. Nolan, Transitional Director of Religious Education
WELCOME TO OUR NEW GUEST MUSICIAN, DZIDZOR AMORIN
This Sunday we are happy to welcome pianist/composer Dzidzor Amorin, who will be taking over for Stuart Ryerse this year as a regular guest musician during worship:
Dzidzor Amorin (pronounced jee-jore uh-more-in), is a pianist, producer, arranger, and composer currently studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. From jazz and electronic, to classical and orchestral, Dzidzor performs and composes music in a variety of styles and genres. Dzidzor is currently pursuing a dual degree in Film Scoring and Contemporary Writing and Production. He grew up in Tyler, Texas and his parents are from Ghana.
Table of Contents
For Events, News and Announcements
- Upcoming Meetings
2. FREE Community Event Exploring Art at the Eustis Estatate
3.Sunday Service Production Team-Help Needed !
4.Milton Diversity Equity & Inclusion Survey
5. Meditation
6.Yoga
7.Membership Committee Event
8.Hospitality Committee Event
9.S & EJ Committee News
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Imaginarium
Meetings are generally on the Fourth Thursday in the Meetinghouse (masks required at this time)
7:00pm-9:00pm (next meeting: October 28)
The Imaginarium is a group that explores our monthly worship themes through discussion, stories and creative play. We meet once a month, crafting ideas and experiences inspired by the themes. Come, enjoy the shared wisdom, creativity and connection. Each meeting stands on its own. Interested? contact the office: office@fpmilton.org.
Grief Support Group
Four Tuesdays: Oct. 19 & 26, Nov. 2 & 9
7:00pm – 8:30 pm
Through Zoom at this time
Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward
When we lose a loved one through death, the world is different, our lives shift in meaning, our ground is shaken. We can feel isolated by our grief. We can also feel a lack of strength or initiative to find a way through. One way to help adjust to the new reality and find our inner resources is to share our journey of loss and recovery with others. There are many ways that we grieve and many kinds of losses. This group is focused on loss due to the death of a loved one. The loss can be recent or from years gone by. We ask participants to commit to at least three of the sessions, no new participants after Oct. 26.
FREE Community Event Exploring Art at the Eustis Estate
All Ages Welcome
1424 Canton Ave., Milton
Sunday, October 24, 2021 ~ 3:00pm-5:00pm
Join us at the Eustis Estate for a special afternoon for families to explore the grounds and the outdoor sculpture exhibition, Looking Back with 2020 Vision, representing artist reactions to many of the issues that were on our minds in 2020: a global pandemic, calls for action around racial and social justice on an incredible scale, and environmental concerns.
Art is a powerful way to process and heal.
This event is recommended for children 12 and older.
Note: some of the artworks in the exhibition are of a sensitive nature that may not be appropriate for children younger than 12.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Bring snack or bag lunch.
- Spend some time exploring the exhibition and the museum.
- Opportunity to reflect on our experience
This FREE event is sponsored in collaboration with First Parish Milton, Unitarian Universalist 535 Canton Avenue, Milton and The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 525 River Street, Mattapan.
Sunday Service Production Team- Help Needed!
We are looking to expand our Sunday Service Production Team at First Parish with an additional adult mentor and a fourth youth team member. This team is doing things at First Parish that we’ve never done before to make sure Sunday Services reach our community wherever they are.The mentor will work with Eric Miller to make sure our hardworking youth are supported and help with technical updates, answering questions to church staff, and coordination. Someone with a good knowledge of computers will be very helpful in understanding the production system. The youth team member would learn how to run a broadcast production with audio, video, and lighting! Someone who is a Freshman or Sophomore in high school this year would be ideal to join our current team that is made up of a Senior, a Junior and a Sophomore. This is a PAID position for the youth, with approximately 3 hours of time expected on a rotating basis on Sundays for $60/week.Every team member does not work every Sunday. Please contact Susan at manager@fpmilton.orgfor more information, or encourage candidates to to contact her directly.
Did you know Milton has an Equity & Justice for All Advisory Committee? To assist the Committee’s work advising the Town Select Board, we have prepared a survey aimed at better understanding Milton resident attitudes on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. If you are a Milton resident, please take part in the survey below:
https://forms.gle/r2EedQ2upkE8zCEU8
You may share this with your Milton network; this is an individual not household, survey – as long as residents are over the age of 18, multiple individuals in a household may take the survey.
Meditation
All are welcome to join for 30 minutes of silent meditation/prayer on:
Thursday evenings at 6:45 pm-7:15 pm
Sunday mornings at 8:30am-9:00am
Newcomers and friends welcome.
Please contact Tracey at tdr02186@gmail.com if you have questions or want to join us!
Classes with instructor Elyse Siegmann!
Online via Zoom (see link below) till further notice
This is a NEW Zoom link!
6:30 pm Monday evenings
From Membership Committee
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We are having our next Cooking With Steve and Debbie on 10/29
On Friday, October 29th, from 6:00pm-7:30pm, you can join us via Zoom and watch them make Jack-O-Lantern (healthy!) stuffed peppers and Spooky Mummy Calzones. You can cook along with us or just watch the fun. Recipe for peppers is below. If you want the recipe for the calzones, you can write to Debbie and request it:
Halloween stuffed peppers recipe
Questions: Ask Leslie! lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com
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From S & EJ Committee
Calling all Father Bill volunteers!
Next date is MONDAY, October 25th!
Volunteers acquire food and pack 10-20 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day (every other Monday).
One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton.
Sign up on our Mainspring Sign up-please indicate number of lunches you will bring.
If you require more information or have questions please contact Peter Schneider at peterlschneider@gmail.com
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, November 20th
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 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
Sign up to volunteer on Sign up Genius
UU Monthly Action Hour
Next one on Thursday, October 28th 12:00 pm
Do current news headlines overwhelm you? Do you find it challenging to make time to DO SOMETHING, like signing petitions, calling your legislators, or sending emails about issues you care about?
UU Mass Action’s monthly action hour is for you! Some members of First
Parish’s Social and Environmental Justice Committee have taken part in past
months. Justice issues include immigration, climate, economic, indigenous
people’s, and more… all aligned with front line community partners and
Mass Power Forward. Templates and scripts are ready made: all we need is
you! Make a sandwich and tune in here.
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.