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
November 28, 2021
“The Hope of Holding It All”
Facilitated by: Rev. Lisa Ward
Worship Associate: Franc Graham
Music: Tim Steele
Social Hour Host: Richard Venable
Greeter: Deb Alsebai
Usher: Dale Golembeski & Amy Kavadlo
Audio: Brynne Mershon
Tent Crew: Richard Venable
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.
Sunday’s offering will be dedicated to the services and ministry of First Parish.
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.
It was a joy to share a service with the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association, as we celebrated the volunteer honorees of the year for faith and civic institutions in Milton. It was a virtual ceremony, through a webinar hosted by Milton Access TV. It was wonderful to see the pictures of Claudia Wellington and Pat Neves, our honorees this year, on the screen among the many who give of themselves for the betterment of all our lives.
There were technical difficulties and, unfortunately, a faulty link that kept some would-be viewers from attending. This is the way of these times, as we know. Doing the best we can with what we have, reaching for connection considering Covid protocols. I realize more and more that these times call for deep and abiding practices of forgiveness and gratitude. Things are different then we’d like them to be. Also, things to be savored are being noticed more than in our busy pre-covid lives.
I was asked to give a blessing to the honorees and to all who give of their time, talent and treasure as volunteers. Here is the blessing I offered:
Blessed honorees, and all who give of their time, talent and treasure:
May your efforts of care return to you manifold,
And the grace of connection carry you through times of doubt.
May the love that inspired your service envelop you in its wisdom
To guide your life.
May the courage that compelled you to reach beyond your own need
Cradle you in abundance and uplift your ways and walking.
Thank you for sharing your gifts among us
Thank you for honoring our days with your talent,
Thank you for building community and a network of care
For the good of all.
Blessings Be.
Rev. Lisa
Religious Exploration
This Sunday we are rounding out Holding History month with Not My Idea as well as some seasonal stories, a bit of UU history and seasonal observances. A full and fun morning! Remember to dress your children in layers. We’ll be in the courtyard, ready to go at 10:30!
UUSC’s Guest At Your Table begins!
As just about everyone who attended worship last Sunday will attest, the Religious Exploration children did an excellent job distributing Guest At Your Table collection boxes and Stories of Hope booklets. Not all of the boxes made it home. If you forgot yours, or need us to send you one (especially the people attending worship online), or need more information, please email Molly at dre@fpmilton.org. Families of one or more are invited to take part.
Molly B. Nolan, Transitional Director of Religious Education
Music Selections This Sunday
This Sunday Dianna Wilson, Grace Allendorf, Daon Drisdom, and Rosemary Zander will be singing an arrangement of a familiar anthem, “We Are” by Ysaye M. Barnwell, arranged by Jim Scott. Ms. Barnwell is a prolific composer and singer, having sung with the a capella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock from 1979-2013. Grace Allendorf will also be singing a song by Jerome Kern, “Yesterdays”.
Christmas Eve at First Parish
Two Services:
5:00 pm- Outdoor Family Service
10:00 pm -Indoor Meditative Service
All ages welcome at both services.
Thinking outside the box, First Parish is adapting our successful Pageant-in-a-Box Christmas Pageant to be held outdoors so that all ages may participate and attend safely. This is an all hands on deck operation. The cast is easily expandable to include extended family or friends who may be visiting. However, if you know you and/or your family want to be part of the cast, please shoot Molly an email (dre@fpmilton.org) about who and what ages are planning to be in the cast. If you want to participate, but not be in the cast, please email Sherri at office@fpmilton.org and let her know who wants to volunteer and what they’d like to do (if preferences are known).
The outdoor pageant will be held at 5:00 on Christmas Eve, followed by a hot chocolate reception for cast, crew and attendees. The indoor traditional candlelight service will be held at 10 PM in the Sanctuary.
Table of Contents
News, Announcements and Meetings
1.Youth Gathering
2.Member Orientation/Reorientation
3.Imaginarium
4.Social and Environmental Justice News and Events
5.Milton Community Concerts Season Announcement
6.Prison Book Program
7.UU Urban Ministry Architecture Series
 |
First Parish would like to thank you for donations to the following organizations:
Prison Book Program: $ 885.47
Thrive GULA: $1,308
Help us strengthen our social media presence!
Here’s a few things you can do:
Like and Share our Facebook posts.
If you take pictures at events, please share with the office at office@fpmilton.org.
Pictures taken in landscape work best!
Young Adult and Youth Gathering
Parish Hall
Sunday, November 28th –12:00 pm-1:30 pm
Are your young adults going to be in town this weekend? If they grew up in First Parish Milton or would be a newer visitor and would like to meet other young adult UUs, Shareen and Ayla Alsebai are organizing a get together to catch up with each other and share what they’ve done since “graduating” from First Parish with our youth. Light refreshments will be available.
To RSVP or for more information, please text Shareen at 617-291-4927.
Upcoming Events
Member Orientation/Reorientation
 |
This month, Rev. Lisa and the Membership Committee will be leading a two-part gathering on the history of Unitarian Universalism and what it means to be UU at First Parish.
These will serve as both a pathway for those who want to join the church AND we are opening it up to all in the church who want to come and learn more about us and our history. Have you always wondered how we became the Unitarian Universalists ? Did you know that in addition to our seven Principles, we also have six Sources ? This is your chance to go deeper into our history.
Interested? Have Questions? Contact Leslie MacPherson at lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com.
November 30th 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Session 2: UUs at First Parish
A brief history and focus on UUism at First Parish
led by Leslie MacPherson, a lifelong Universalist
Imaginarium
Meetings are generally on the Third Saturday in the Meetinghouse (masks required at this time)
10:00 am-12:00 pm (next meeting: ) December 18th
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
News from S & EJ Committee
“Condor and The Eagle” Documentary
First Parish Lexington invites us all to watch this powerful film, free or by voluntary donation, any time through Nov 30th. It brings alive wisdom and courage of trans-continental Indigenous leaders working for climate justice. A vivid film to inspire and heal.
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, December 11th
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 on weekdaysfrom 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
Calling all Father Bill volunteers!
Next date is MONDAY, December 6th
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
Sign up to volunteer on Sign up Genius
Milton Community Concerts is now offering the opportunity between now and December 31st to view any of the live stream concerts from this past year for free. Just go to the website to find the link, and to donate to the concert series if you are so moved. You will also find a listing of upcoming concerts for 2021-22.
Book Drive Still going now till December 15
You may donate gently used and new paperback books in the following categories:
Nonfiction: dictionaries (in all languages), thesaurus, almanacs, trade skills, business, hobbies, self-help, sports, spirituality and books by LGBTQ authors and people of color.
Fiction: Westerns, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction.
To learn more about the program, visit prisonbookprogram.org
“Do you love our historic meeting house?? This is a program for you!! For those interested in old Boston churches, architecture, and the Urban Ministry, zoom on in – starting Monday Nov 1!”
The Treasures of the Meetinghouse series
Episode 2
December 6th 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
In the second installment of the “Treasures of the Meetinghouse” series, historian, Thomas Plant, will discuss First Church Roxbury’s historic Hook & Hastings organ. This mid-nineteenth century organ was taken apart and removed from the Meetinghouse to undergo a full cleaning and restoration. Now after months of work, the organ has returned. We will discuss the history and significance of the beautiful Hook & Hastings organ.
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.