Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 11/15/2013

Weekly Link 11-15-13

Hospitality

Hospitality – how we greet the stranger – is a central part of religious and cultural practices all over the world. The promise of “radical hospitality” – hospitality as a way of being, that in fact grounds our being – is one we have sometimes talked about in this church. What forms does hospitality take when we are willing to go deep with it? How can we know ourselves in the stranger, and how can we make peace through this practice?

This Week in Worship

Sunday, November 17, 2013

10:30am WORSHIP

November 17, 2013

Faithfully United
Rev. Parisa Parsa with Emma Jean Moulton and the Meetinghouse Choir

We continue our exploration of radical hospitality by exploring what it means to join ourselves together in this faith tradition, and what this faith can offer our world. We will welcome our partner Leap of Faith travel team from Augusta, Maine and lift up and celebrate the joy of our shared faith.

This week’s offering will go to joint efforts of the UUA and UU Service Committee to aid those most affected by Typhoon Haiyan. To give online, please follow this link: http://www.uusc.org/HaiyanResponse

Are you a parent of a teen who could use some extra support? Please contact Rev. Parisa to discuss some upcoming possibilities here at church. minister@fpmilton.org or 617-698-6329 x102

Cradles to Crayons

First Parish Milton is partnering with Cradles to Crayons to collect new and like-new essential children’s items, especially warm winter gear for their Gear Up for Winter neighborhood collection drive. Take a moment to clean out your closets and bring in any gently used coats that you will not need! Taking donations until Thursday, November 21, 2013.

Your donations of quality children’s items will help support Cradles to Crayons’ Gear Up for Winter program, in an effort to help children living in homeless or low-income situations have the essentials they need. Questions? Contact Kathy Fagan.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Spirit Play I & II (Pre k – 2nd grade) will meet in their classrooms.

3rd – 6th Graders will begin in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their Religious Education classes.

7th Graders will meet in the Library.

Youth Chat will meet in the youth room

Children’s Church Service Project

Sunday, November 24, 2014

After a lively and thoughtful discussion, the children who attended Children’s Church on October 6 voted to have a bake sale to raise money for the poor. They are very enthusiastic about this gift they will give to the community. The bake sale will be held during social hour on November 24. Typical social hour fare will be lighter on that day, so please consider supporting the children in RE classes as they fulfill their service pledge. Br

News & Announcements

Friday, November 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Cultural Exchange Potluck/Meet the Augusta, ME Leap of Faith Team

Parish Hall

The Parish and RE Committees invite you bring a potluck dish that reflects an aspect of your heritage, or has meaning to you. This will also be a great opportunity to share your personal or cultural significance of the dish you bring as well as welcoming the Augusta, Maine members of the Leap of Faith team. A great evening of good food and good company.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Follow the link for more information http://www.evite.com/l/83M8aaraVx

Leap of Faith

From Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17, we at First Parish will be hosting visitors from the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, Maine, as part of the Leap of Faith program. Leap of Faith pairs healthy congregations that face challenges in meeting their aspirations for growth with congregations that may have experienced similar challenges in the past – all with the goal of creating opportunities for mutual learning and support.

What does this mean for you? First, it means that you are personally invited to join in the two congregation-wide events we’ll be sharing with our Augusta friends: the Cultural Exchange Potluck scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Parish Hall, and worship and social hour on Sunday, Nov. 17. Please be there to welcome them and make them feel at home at First Parish.

Holiday Gift Project

It’s that time of year again when First Parish participates in the Milton Residence Fund Holiday Gifts Program. You can sign up in the Parish Hall on Sunday, November 17, Sunday, November 24 and Sunday December 1. All presents/gift cards should be dropped of onSunday, December 8. For questions please contact Ruth Heiden at: r.heiden@comcast.net

The Art/Creativity Salon
Friday, November 22 at 7pm in the Parish hall

Join us for an evening of art making and play. The Art/Creativity Salon is a monthly gathering for people to explore different kinds of art in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Each month, different members will introduce a new art technique, material, or concept for the group to try without the pressure of preconceived notions of success. The goal is to simply play and see what develops. Discover a talent you didn’t know about, find a new art-buddy that speaks your language. Join us! Questions? Contact Andy Crum

Lotsa handsA Lotsa Helping Hands

For The Harnden Family

There has been a Lotsa Helping Hands website set up to support Kevin Harnden (our First Parish sexton) and his wife Barbara, as Barbara receives treatment for recently diagnosed cancer. Please consider signing on at the following link: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/710246 . Kevin and Barbara are very grateful for the support of our community during this difficult time.

Friday, November 15th, 2013

Milton Community Blood Drive

10:30am-3:30pm

Milton Public Library Keys Room

476 Canton Ave.

Milton, MA  02186

Redcrossblood.org

Sunday, November 24th from 4- 5:30pm

The Milton Interfaith Clergy Association (MICA) invites the Milton community to its 7th annual, “Thanks for Giving” Celebration at St. Mary of the Hills Church, 29 St. Mary’s Road, Milton.

The highlight of this celebration will once again be the presentation of “Thanks for Giving Volunteer of the Year” Awards by Milton’s community and religious organizations.  MICA is proud to host an event that honors the service of those who make their lives a testament of generosity by giving of themselves.  At the same time, with Thanksgiving approaching, the gathering will also serve as a reminder of the ongoing issues of poverty and hunger by raising funds for the Milton Residents’ Fund, which benefits families in need in Milton and collecting food for the Milton Food Pantry.

The celebration will be followed by a simple supper of soup (meat and vegetarian) and bread hosted by Milton’s Faith Communities.

We hope that many will attend as it is an honor to acknowledge all of our community’s volunteers.

Save The Date!! Saturday, December 7th

Handcrafting Justice Fair and other Holiday Events. Volunteers needed to help with the sale and breakfast.

Handcrafting Justice Fair-Trade Sale, 9am- 1pm Also Sunday, December 8th from 11:30 am – 1pm.

Handcrafting Justice is an international project that empowers woman in the developing world to lift themselves out of poverty through the creation of unique handmade goods. Sale features 100% Fair Trade products from Africa, Asia, & Latin America: toys, Home Décor, Pottery, Cards & Gifts, Bags, Purses & Indigenous Art.

First Parish volunteers are needed for this sale. If you are able to help out, please contact Elise Henricks: tonyelise@earthlink.net

Membership Breakfast

While doing your shopping, enjoy some time for fellowship and brunchhost
ed by the Membership Committee. Contact Charlie Franich, pemaquid@aol.com if you would like to help with the breakfast.

Christmas Tree Sale

Pick up your grade A1 premium Fraser Fir Christmas trees. Trees must be pre-ordered and prepaid. Forms are available around the church to order a tree.

dollPledge Reminders as of 10/31/2013 were mailed out this week.  Please e-mail me at director@fpmilton.org or call me at617.698.6329 x 104 if you have questions.

Check out the table in the back of the Parish Hall with an assortment of information.  You will be able to pick up fliers for the Bake Sale, Handcrafting Justice Sale, and Cradles to Crayons drive.  Order a Christmas Tree to be picked up on December 7th.  Update your e-mail address, ask for a nametag.  If there are other regular items you would like to see or if you want to showcase for a few weeks, let me know at director@fpmilton.org.