This Week in Worship

Sunday, November 22 Worship @ 10:30 am in Meetinghouse

Theme: Vision

My friend Tim Bridwell lives in Paris and wrote this.

“Saturday morning in Paris. The postman rang with a package. As I descended the stairs he backed away from the door. His face was drawn, his expression weary as he asked for the name of the destinataire. He passed the package to me. “Courage,” I offered. “Merci,” came his reply, so weak, as if he considered the futility of gratitude in times such as ours. He exited back onto the street, this city in a State of Emergency.
Even the most mundane act as this has been transformed.”

Courage is something that we know about, after the marathon bombing it was courageous to head back into the city. It was also courageous not to let a few people color our way of seeing and being in the world. Reading about politicians, including our own Governor, who want to prevent refugees of war to come to our state is anything but courageous, it is cowardice.

Have courage my friends, have courage.

This Sunday we will be celebrating the dedication of Kate and Amanda’s daughter Quinn and will have our yearly cornbread communion. It will be a wonderful Sunday.

See you in church,

Hank

Religious Exploration

Sunday, November 22

• Spirit Play Pre K – 2nd grade — Go directly to their class room at 10:30am
• SGM 3rd –6th Graders — Will begin in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their Religious
• Exploration class
• Junior Youth Group 7th –8th Graders — Meet in the Parish Hall at 10:30am
• Youth Chat — Youth go directly to their class at 10:30
• Youth Group will be meeting at noon
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger

Calling all Unitarian Universalist Teens!

Join with the youth in the Roxbury Youth Program for Environmental Justice in the City, a year of learning, sharing, and justice making as we explore the intersections of environmental and racial injustice. Facilitated by ACE (Alternatives for Community and Environment), a Roxbury-based non-profit. 2nd Wednesdays: Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 9, April 13, May 11, 6:00-7:30pm, Dinner Included.

Save the Date: Saturday, January 23rd from 10am-2pm we will be hosting an Anti-Racism Conference at the UUUM. Stay tuned for more details!

News and Announcements

Thanksgiving week office schedule

The office will be open on Monday and Tuesday (November 23 and 24 from 10 am – 3 pm. The office will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Kiki will be on vacation returning on December 1. Rev. Hank will be around and is available by cell phone in case of a pastoral emergency. Deadline for The Link and Order of Worship is Sunday, November 22. No exceptions.

November 22th from 4- 5:30pm

The Milton Interfaith Clergy Association (MICA) invites the Milton community to its 9th annual, “Thanks for Giving” Celebration at St. Mary of the Hills Church, 29 St. Mary’s Road, Milton.

Kathy Fagan is our“Thanks for Giving” honoree and we invite folks to come and celebrate her! We hope that many will attend as it is an honor to acknowledge all of our community’s volunteers.

Kathy Fagan has worn many hats for both the Town of Milton and First Parish Milton UU. Town roles have included: Member of the Board of Selectmen, Library Trustee, Library Building Campaign Co-Chair, Library Foundation Director, Town Government Study Committee Member and Town Meeting Member. Kathy has also generously shared her skills and volunteer hours with First Parish, most recently serving as Treasurer for four (4) years and as a Member of the Parish Committee. Kathy and her husband Martin Bauer have two children, Brian and Molly, who are carrying on the family values of compassion and service.

Holiday Gift Project – Pick up gift tags beginning this Sunday, November 22nd

Our Annual Holiday Gift Project sign-up starts this Sunday! 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 13. Questions? please contact Beth Gray-Nix.

Collecting White Socks for the Homeless

The First Parish Junior Youth Group will be visiting the Outdoor Church on Sunday, December 6th. They have started a sock collection for the Outdoor Church

• The OC gives out approximately 3,000 pairs of socks each year.
• Socks are important to homeless people because the majority of ailments facing the homeless are foot-related.
• New, white socks are especially important because: a) you can visibly see when they are dirty and need to be changed b) the dies in colored socks can irritates cuts or ulcers folks might have on their feet.

Please bring in your new white socks by December 4th. Boxes for sock drop off can be found throughout the church.

Friday night December 4, from 6:30 to 8:30

Please join us for First Parish Craft Night

Kick off the Holidays with an evening of fellowship and fun! Craft activities for young and the young at heart, you can learn a new skill, share one you love or just sit and enjoy the company.
We will have a light supper available of chili, corn bread and salad. Come reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Come one and all!

Annual Chrstimas Tree Sale Orders Due by November 22. (This Sunday)

Reserve now and come pick up Saturday December 5th 9am-12noon at the Holiday Fair Trade Sale and Brunch. Forms and instructions available on the Information Table at church and in the Parish Hall foyer. Only two more Sundays to order.

• Fraser Fir 6-7 feet in height from Granite State Farm in New Hampshire
• Trees cut down first week of December; cannot get any fresher
• All proceeds benefit First Parish Milton
• $65.00 per tree

Saturday, December 5th Holiday Fair Trade Sale and Brunch @9am-1pm at Parish Hall

A new version of Handcrafting Justice event is being planned. Here are the details so far

• Handcrafted Fair Trade Items from two organizations SERV.org and Thrivegulu.org
• Chocolate and Coffee Gift Items from Equal Exchange
• Brunch thanks to our Membership Committee
• Children Craft Activities and some other surprises
• Christmas Tree Pick Up (Carriage House Area) Order your tree by Nov 22.

Gift items will also be available for sale on Sunday, December 6 before and after the worship service. New leadership for this event – Leslie MacPherson Artinian, Membership Committee chaired by Richard and Deb Larson Venable and Social Action Committee chaired by Dave Egan. We are looking for additional volunteers to help with SERRV sale on Saturday. Please contact Leslie.

Community Events

TENOR DAVID WON

FEATURED IN FIRST PARISH CONCERT

Korean tenor David Won will be featured in a solo recital, “Languages of Love” at First Parish Church on Saturday, November 21 at 7pm. Admission to this concert is free; a free-will offering will be taken.

Mr. Won was invited to be a featured soloist this year at the September 11th Memorial Ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse and received much acclaim. He is also well-known for a recent YouTube appearance which garnered more than 120,000 views (check out “uber opera man” or “best uber ride ever”), as well as a meeting with tenor Ronan Tynan and a feature on a local television newscast.
This recital, also featuring pianist Timothy Steele, will include popular songs, art songs, and arias from around the world.

Cultivating the Wonder of Nature in Childhood

When: Tuesday, December 1 6pm

Where: Thacher Montessori School

A talk by noted author and environmental educator, Dvid Sobel. Co-sponsred by the Mary M.B. Wakefield Charitable Trust. For more information contact Shakira.

The Search Continues

We are in the final touches before we publish materials for prospective ministers: they will see the Congregational Records for all churches in search on December 1st, and decide where they want to apply.

Our focus is therefore moving to the Congregational Packet Web site that we’ll share with those ministers with whom we are interested in talking, after we receive their applications the 1st week of January. We appreciate in advance all of you who have filled out and who are filling out media release forms (available on the table at social hour each week) so that we know whether we may include you on our site: we want to have a lot of good photos and videos to show prospective ministers who we are.

After having looked at our belly buttons for the past few months, we look forward to starting to look out to the wealth of UU ministers looking for new opportunities in the new year. January will be VERY BUSY for us as we review ministerial records, exchange and review packets, conduct Skype interviews, check references, and decide on our top candidates — all by the end of January.

Have thoughts to share? Feel free to contact any member of the Ministerial Search Committee.

Your Ministerial Search Committee:
Debbie Alsebai, Charlie Franich, Franc Graham, Elise Henricks, Jim May, Brigitte Miller, and Tracey Robinson.

Kiki’s Corner

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Looking for a few good men and women to help out at three upcoming events at First Parish. Very limited time commitment, great folks to work with and you probably will have many laughs and some fun along the way.

1) Holiday Fair and Brunch – There is a great team developing from Membership, Social Action and individual efforts by Leslie MacPherson Artinian. See above for details on all that is being planned. Help needed on the days of the event – December 5 and December 6.

2) Stewardship Party Event – scheduled for Saturday, January 30. Looking for fun and energetic party planners. Will also need folks to help the day of the party! Contact Tony Dutzik or Dottie Pitt.

3) FP Fundraiser – Saturday, April 2. More party planning and help needed for the day of the event. Check in with Ruth Heiden, Ruth Hannon or Carolyn Newman if you might be able to help out with this function.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

STAY CONNECTED

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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!