This Week in Worship

Sunday, November 29 Worship @ 10:30 am in Meetinghouse

Guest Preacher: Johannah Murphy

In the Hindu story of Yashoda and Krishna, Yashoda does not realize how holy her son Krishna is until she happens to glance the entirety of the cosmos in his mouth. Though in this story the cosmos exist solely in one god, I like to think that pieces of the cosmos exist in all of us, existing amongst the inherent worth and dignity that every person also carries. Though all of this may exist in us, often its hard to see, feel, and difficult to uncover. What do we do in these times? What do we do when our hearts know that there are cosmos glowing and worth shining yet suffering and injustice has covered it up? This week we explore with hearts of fresh gratitude, how to unearth the cosmos, the good in all, even when it has been deeply buried.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, November 29

• NO Religious Exploration Classes this Sunday
• All Children and Youth are invited to attend the service
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger
• Please Don’t forget to Bring your donations of white socks!

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.

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

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.

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!

Saturday, December 5th World Market Holiday Sale and Brunch — 9 am – 1 pm 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.

Collecting White Socks for the Homeless

The First Parish Junior Youth Group will be visiting the Outdoor Church on Sunday, December 6th. They have a sock collection for the Outdoor Church. Please bring in your new white socks by December 4th. Boxes for sock drop off can be found throughout the church

Community Events

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

Ministers in Search Will Soon Know More About Us

The Ministerial Search Committee has completed the online Congregational Record (CR) that ministers look at to determine whether they are interested in applying for our vacancy. The construction of our packet, containing much more information than the record, is well on its way, and will take the form of a password-protected Web site.

During December, UUA ministers in search look over all the CRs published online by UUA and indicate which churches they are interested in. They indicate their interest directly to the UUA Transitions Office. On January 4th, the UUA Transitions Office will provide the MSC with a list of ministers who are interested in our vacancy. That’s when we begin the process of reviewing ministerial records from those interested in First Parish. When we determine there is mutual interest, we exchange packets.

So, beginning in January and continuing through mid-April, the Ministerial Search Committee will be operating in confidential mode. During this period we will be reviewing candidate materials, interviewing candidates and spending weekends with our top choices, including visits to neutral pulpits where candidates will conduct services.

Not to worry – Confidentiality is not secrecy. We will communicate as much generic information as we can. More on what’s ahead in the next weeks.

Please feel free to contact the members of the Ministerial Search Committee anytime.
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!