This Week in Worship

November 10, 2016 @ Meetinghouse @ 10:30 am

November Worship Theme: Spirituality

Our Faith in Action Speaker this week will be Amanda Tobey, Chair of The Caring Committee. The Committee responds with compassion to the expressed needs and concerns of the members of our community, and reinforces our awareness of our connections with each other.

Message from Rev. Lisa

First, everyone, BREATHE. We knew there would be a divided nation whatever the election outcome. It is safe to say that this was a shock to many with the added difficult reality that the popular vote claims one candidate, Hillary Clinton, while the electoral vote claims President-elect Donald Trump. This is how our political system works. This is the day we are in.

At a prayer service last night for hope and healing for the nation, there were many tears, emotions were lifted up aloud and we shared the anxiety of transition with one another. This political season has been particularly disturbing with name-calling, bullying behavior, lack of truth telling and outright disregard of wide swaths of citizenry. This means that we need to take our position as citizen to heart and find ways to manifest a society of mutual respect, equanimity and vibrant interdependence. This means that the faith we hold dear, which aspires to the democratic process, will help us engage the attentiveness and wisdom within to manifest a just and compassionate world. In short, we need to get busy, folks. This is a wake- up call.

For the first time a businessman who has no experience in politics or the military will become this nation’s President. It is a daunting job which requires a great deal of support. Let us pray that he is up to the task and will find the help he needs. Let us pray that the system which has weathered all kinds of administrations continues in the genius of checks and balances. Let us find each other able to lift up the voices that need to be heard and engage our lives in gratitude for each other. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Let’s make it so.

In Faith,

Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse
Director of Religious Education

Religious Education classes for November 13

• Preschool through grade 8 begin in the Meetinghouse. RE classes end at 11:40 am. Children in second grade and younger need to be met in their classroom by a parent. Older children will be released at the end of class to go to Social Hour in the Parish Hall.
• Preschool through grade 1 will meet in the Activity Room on the lower level for the Spirit Play program.
• Grades 2 through 8 will gather in the Parish Hall after the Story for All Ages to make cookies for the upcoming Christmas Cookie Basket program organized by the youth group. More information will be coming soon about how everyone can be involved in baking cookies, creating festive cookie baskets, and delivering the baskets on Christmas eve to local service organizations.
• Our Whole Lives class is not meeting today.
• Youth Chat (grade 9 through grade 12) will meet in the second floor Youth Room from 10:30 to 11:30 am, followed by Youth Group (grades 9 through 12) from noon to approximately 1:00 pm.

News and Announcements

Faith Deepening Survey

Our Remembrance Sunday altar has been put away for another year. If you contributed to the altar with your personal momentos, please pick them up from the meetingthouse this Sunday. We will box up any leftovers and have them available during social hour on Sunday, November 20.

Friendship Sunday

November 13, 2016

This is a day focused on inviting family and friends to First Parish to share a cherished part of your life with them. The goal is to invite them into a bit of your heart’s journey, simply as an affirmation – to spread the good news of your experience in this community.

We have set up the Chase Parlor as an additional space for viistors this Sunday with special treats, showing of a 3 minute video on Unitiarian Universalism, an opportunity to meet Rev. Lisa and members of church leadership.

This link explains some of the benefits of inviting friends to our special faith community.

http://growinguu.blogs.uua.org/organizational-maturity/asking-friends-to-worship-oh-my/

Fair Foods Is Back!

Join your friends in helping to supply nutritious food to people in need in Roxbury by volunteering with the social action committee at Fair Foods – a nonprofit distributor of surplus food in Boston and beyond. On Saturday, November 12, we will meet at First Parish at 9 a.m. and travel to the UU Urban Ministry in Roxbury to volunteer repackaging food for the community. Please e-mail Tony Dutzik to sign up or for more information.

Holiday Gift Project – Milton Residence Fund

Our Annual Holiday Gift Project starts Sunday, November 13!

This is our opportunity to help the children of Milton through the Milton Residence Fund Holiday Gifts Program, sign up to give 1 or more gifts. Come to social hour to get instructions and a gift tag for a boy or girl of your choosing. All presents/gift cards should be dropped off on Sunday, December 11.

Questions? please contact Beth Gray-Nix at: bgraynix@comcast.net

The Link Deadline will be Sunday November 20th for the Thursday, November 24 edition of The Link

LAST CHANCE

Deadline: November 11, 2016

Faith Deepening Survey

• Have you filled out the survey yet?
• We are still looking for your feedback!

Here is the Survey Monkey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V752FWS

Meditation in the Children’s Church — Twice a Week

• Thursdays nights from 7:00 pm -7:30 pm
• Sunday mornings from 9:00 am -9:30 am

Holiday Fair Trade Sale and Brunch and Christmas Tree Pick Up

When: December 3, 9 am – 12 noon

11th Annual Christmas Tree Sale

Pre-order your grade A1 premium Fraser Fir Christmas trees today! Trees are $65 and payment with pre-order is preferred. Trees will be cut down first week in December and will be available for pick up Saturday, December 3th during the Holiday Fair Trade Sale and Brunch at First Parish. Pick up a preorder form in the Parish Hall on the information table and place completed form and check in the gray box outside of the office. First come, first served.

Holiday Fair Trade Sale and Brunch

Membership Committee will sponsor breakfast foods and we hear arrange for another visit from Santa.

Leslie Macpherson Artinian and the Social Action Committee (Dave and Linda Goodrich, co-chairs) will be selling goods from Equal Exchange and SERVV. All items are fair trade and profits will benefit a social action organization. Sale will continue on Sunday at coffee hour

Volunteer Opportunities for FP Milton Community

Offer to bring food to help out the Membership Committee (contact Deb Larson Venable if you can help)

Sales force need for SERVV items Saturday and Sunday. (contact Dave or Linda Goodrich if you can give an hour or two of your time)

Kiki’s Corner

Quick Notes:

• Please note the early deadline for The Link for Thanksgiving week. It is Sunday, November 20.
• Looking for information on the website under Member’s Page? THe login is members, the password is miltonuu. You can find a variety of information including our most recent directory. If you have updated your email, phone or other information recently, let Kathy Tracey know at office@fpmilton.org.
• I will be on vacation from November 17 – November 27

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

• Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

• Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays.