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
“All Souls and All Saints: We Remember Our Beloved Dead”
Worship Assistant: Amy Kavadlo
Usher: Julie Blackburn
Social Hour: Mike and Tasha Bello
Music: Tim Steele
Audio: Nina Truog
Sunday’s offering will be given to service and ministry of First Parish.
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.
These days have been so gorgeous, haven’t they? Leaves ablaze and falling, blue skies often, cool but not cold. New England in its glory. Many cultures and religious traditions choose this time of year to remember those who have died. Perhaps it is the poignancy of the moment, seeing the natural shift into winter’s stillness that calls to mind those who are themselves now still. Or perhaps the beauty of autumn pulls on our hearts as do the memories of those we loved who are gone.
In worship this Sunday we will name those dear to us who have passed from this world, and light a candle in their memory. Please bring photos of those who have died, including pets, if you wish, and place them on the altar tables at the start of worship. Those who are joining us from home will have an opportunity as well to name their beloved dead.
It is a good thing to do, this remembering. Calling to mind the memories, feeling grateful for what we shared, accepting what we didn’t get to do, say, or share, giving thanks for their lives- and for our lives too.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday, and share this poem by Billy Collins that I have always liked.
The Dead
The dead are always looking down on us, they say, while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich, they are looking down through the glass-bottom boats of heaven as they row themselves slowly through eternity.
They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth, and when we lie down in a field or on a couch, drugged perhaps by the hum of a warm afternoon, they think we are looking back at them, which makes them lift their oars and fall silent and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes. Faithfully,
Rev. Tricia
Music For Sunday
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing a traditional Gospel song called “The Storm is Passing Over” by Dr. Charles Albert Tindley, arranged by Barbara W. Baker. Daon Drisdom will also be offering a haunting solo called “Beginnings” by African American composer Frederick Tillis, who taught at UMASS Amherst from 1970-1997.
Religious Exploration
Religious Exploration classes are in session this Sunday. We look forward to our Spirit Play, Holy Days and Holidays and Friends and Neighbors students joining us in the meetinghouse and then proceeding to classes. Our Coming of Age class meets at 4pm.
Still need to register your child? The registration form can be found here.
Events and Meetings
Trunk or Treat at First Parish!
Saturday, October 29 4:00 pm–5:00 p.m.
First Parish is holding a fun Halloween activity
for members, friends, and the community.
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 2nd Outdoor First Parish Harvest Gathering is almost here (November 5th). Start planning your appetizer, your song (if you want) and your warm outfit. You can find more details and RSVP in the Evite that was sent on Wednesday 10/19.
Hope to see you there!
On Sunday, November 6th at 3pm Milton Community Concerts will be presenting an afternoon of world premiere performances by composer Carol Koffinke in a program called “Sharing Ourselves, Reuniting Our Voices: The Music of Carol Koffinke”. Four professional soloists and a violinist will be joined by a combined choir of churches from around the South Shore, including our own Meetinghouse Choir and the UCC Norwell choir.
Among the premieres is a cycle called “The Five Elements” in which each soloist personifies one of the elements of Air, Water, Fire, Earth, and Quintessence. A combined premiere utilizing both choir and soloists is “Life”, a universal exploration of our universal life cycle: Birth, Prime, Awareness, and Real. All the music is beautiful, tonal, and accessible. Ms. Koffinke is a local composer living in Scituate, MA, and will be in attendance at the concert.
Tickets are $20 general, $10 senior, and free for 18 and under.
Visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com to see all the details.
News and Announcements
The worship service on October 30th will center on honoring and remembering our beloved dead. Please bring photos of those you have known and loved to church Sunday.
Volunteer Opportunities
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, November 19th.
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, November 9th 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 !!
Beyond First Parish
UKRAINIAN RELIEF CONCERT
On this Saturday, October 29 at 7pm there will be a concert of music featuring Ukrainian Composers and American composers with Ukrainian heritage in order to raise money for Ukrainian Relief. Soprano Olga Lisovskaya will join tenor David Won, pianists Felix Lubarsky and Timothy Steele, and others in this free concert at UCC Norwell, 460 Main Street, Norwell, MA. Donations will be accepted to support Children in Ukraine through Sky Philanthropy.
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:
Book Group with the book THE FENCE
This is the chilling Boston story of violence against a police office by other police officers and the subsequent cover-up. The police officer beaten was Michael Cox, Boston’s current police commissioner.
Join us on Zoom, Tuesday night 11/15/22 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.
The Fence is available as an ebook from Milton Public Library and can be purchased on Amazon.
Your CCTRJ Book Group Hosts, Debbie Alsebai, Annette Correia, Ann Hunt and Pat Neves
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.