Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Rev. Lisa
• This Week in Religious Exploration
• Events and Meetings
• News and Announcements
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

“Beyond Charity”

Worship Assistant: Steve Yakutis

Greeters: Guy Pugh & Elizabeth Menne

Flowers: Liz O”Rourke Harris

Audio: Nina Truog

Social Hour: Jim May & Dale Golembeski

Sunday’s offering will be given to the Milton Welcomes Haitian Newcomers:  a group of Milton residents who are volunteering together to help families get on their feet. This new organization is sponsored by the International Institute of New England.

Please join us for service at 10:30am.

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.

At the November Milton Interfaith Clergy Association (MICA) meeting, I was elected President. I am honored to serve in this way with such a vibrant, caring group of clergy and faith leaders. We meet monthly, speaking of concerns, events and initiatives in the town which can be shared with our faith communities. 

The “Thanks For Giving” celebration on November 19, being held here at First Parish this year, is one of our annual town gatherings. At times we will hold vigils, meet with civic leaders and generate service initiatives. MICA is the strongest Interfaith group I have had the pleasure to work with.

Here is our mission statement, drafted soon after I arrived at First Parish:

“The Milton Interfaith Clergy Association cares about the spiritual life of all people in Milton. We strive to increase interfaith understanding. We build partnerships and connections between diverse faith communities, faith leaders, civic leaders, and organizations, so that, together, we can better promote justice for all people. We gather the community to both bear witness to brokenness and celebrate all that is sacred in our midst.”

 So may it be. 

 Blessings, Rev. Lisa

RE This Week

Music This Week

This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an anthem by Alex Gartner called “Your Heart is My Heart”. The text is by Sandra Thornton, based on a text she shared with her community of friends when she announced her cancer diagnosis. The message is both a solemn prayer for support and a declaration of strength reflecting her determination to fight. Michael Aoun will also be singing a setting of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon.

“EMBRACING CORETTA” DONATIONS

The benefit concert “Embracing Coretta” on Saturday, October 28 was held in support of the League of Women for Community Service. We are happy to report that $1,251 was raised through our audience donations. Milton Community Concerts thanks each of you who came to support the concert series and this worthy charity.

Events and Meetings

Harvest Supper Saturday, November 11, 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall 

We look forward to seeing you at the annual potluck Harvest Supper at 6pm, November 11, in the Parish Hall!  Don’t forget to follow this link to sign up genius to let us know what food item you will bring (entree, side or salad, dessert).

You might also consider a bottle of wine or other beverage to share. 

Our First Parish musicians will be on hand to serve up great tunes and jams. 

We look forward to a wonderful evening of fellowship and good food!

Childcare will be available.

Climate Action @HOME – upcoming discussions

The Climate team is planning monthly updates after worship for those who want to learn more about climate action. If you have topics you would like to discussion please contact Tracey Robinson tdr02186@gmail.

November 12 More about ELECTRIC VEHICLES – discussion led by Eric Miller.

December 10 How can I reduce PLASTICS? – discussion led by Mary Blanchette.

Join us November 12 and December 10 at 12 noon after social hour in the Chase Parlor.

First Parish Orientation! November 14th 7:00 pm

FP Membership Committee has scheduled our next Orientation session. If you’ve been coming to First Parish and are ready to sign the Membership book to become members, this is for you.

Our meeting will be via Zoom on Tuesday evening, November 14th at 7 pm

Anyone who is interested is welcome to join 

Please email Leslie if you would like to attend: lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com

Milton Interfaith Clergy Association invites you to attend the Annual Thanks for Giving Service on:

Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 4:00 pm hosted at First Parish in the Meetinghouse

We are honoring Volunteers of the Year for Milton Faith and Civic Organizations at this celebration.

*A light supper will be served in Parish Hall afterwards

Mark your calendars for a Holiday Fair you will not want to miss!  On Sunday, December 17 after the church service until 4:00 PM, the Membership Committee is envisioning a Holiday Fair where people of all ages can be in community, nosh on tasty treats, shop for meaningful gifts, listen to holiday music and support worthy causes. But we need your help to make it a reality! Look below to see how you can help. Maybe your committee can sponsor an activity? 

Food

– Coffee, Tea, Hot Cider and Healthy and tasty treats prepared for after church hunger

– Vegetarian and meat chili’s, salad and cornbread for sustenance

– Holiday bake sale table

Music

– Caroler’s for hourly opportunities for sing alongs

– Provide background Holiday music, either on CD or streamed.

Shopping

– Kids table or room: Where kids can purchase gifts for family and friends for a $1 or less.

– Holiday Resale table or room: Holiday Gifts or Decor you are ready to pass along to another family. (What does not sell will be given to the Refugee ministry.)

– Crafters: are you or someone you know a crafter that would like to present at our fair for $25 a table?)

– Holiday Gift Wrapping Station

– Fair Trade Products and Gifts

Entertainment

– Holiday Movies in the Basement Function Room with popcorn. Short fun seasonal movies where kids and adults alike can relax and take in some holiday cheer. At 2:30 come see Tom Kemp in the Hallmark Holiday movie “The Spruces and the Pines”. 

Worthy Causes

– Holiday tree to be set up the first week of December (Church, Foyer?) to be decorated with hats, gloves and scarves to be donated to the Refugee Project. Gently used winter coats, boots and outdoor attire are welcome too. 

– Coordinate donations to the Refugee Project

Pre and Post Event Opportunities

– Make a flyer

– Post on Facebook and other Social Media

– Distribute and Post flyers

– Make Crafts or Bake

– Sunday Morning set up at 9:00 AM and Clean Up at 4:00 PM

Contact Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net or 617-821-9460 for more information or to offer to help.

News and Announcements

We sincerely thank you for your generous gift to the organizations below. We are so lucky to have your support.

10/22/2023 Reclaim Our Vote $720.00

The Milton Resident’s Fund gratefully accepts financial or gift card donations throughout the year to assist families and individuals who are experiencing a financial crisis.

We especially need gift cards during November and early December to respond to holiday gift requests for those requesting additional assistance with the purchase of food or basic necessities, and teens/young adults/parents and seniors who have requested help with a holiday gifts, sneakers, or winter clothing.

The following would be particularly helpful: grocery (Shaws or Star Market work best), $25 target (as they sell everything), or Amazon. Gently used snow boots for teens and young adults as well as gently used snow jackets are also welcomed (leave in FP library marked MRF). Gift card donations can be left in the grey box in the church hallway. Provide the donor name and mailing address if a tax donation letter is requested. The goal is to distribute all gifts and items b 12/15/23.”

Regards,

Noreen K Dolan, MSW, LCSW

Fund Coordinator

November 15th is the next date!

S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the first and third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches twice a month to support shelter guests.

 See updated instructions on the Mainspring SignUpGenius page and signup whenever you can help out.

We are counting on your support!

Beyond First Parish

Join Mary Blanchette on Tuesday, November 14 for a talk by Byron Rushing at the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM), First Church Roxbury. This is part 1 of a series of Community Conversations. The theme for the year is how housing has contributed to racial inequity, especially in Boston, examining public housing, affordable housing and new models of housing. 

The Social and Environmental Justice Committee, FP Milton is co-sponsoring this event. Please let Mary Blanchette know if you are interested, and we can carpool. This will be a nice opportunity to become familiar with the campus of the UUUM and their work. It also honors the 8th principle. 

CCTRJ Book Group: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevido

Tuesday, November 14th

7:00pm-8:30pm

Join us for discussion about the in school experiences of a young Latina woman in high school who finds her voice writing poetry.

Bridging Dinner

Mark Your Calendars! Friday, November 17th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM the next Bridging dinner with First Parish and Church of the Holy Spirit will be held at Restaurante Cesaria at 266 Bowdoin Street, Boston 02122.

There is parking to the side of and back of their building. There will be traditional Cape Verdean cuisine that will be set up Buffett style so we can try many dishes for $25 per person. For those interested in staying longer there will be live music at 8:00 pm.

Please email Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net or call/text her at 617-821-9460 to sign up.

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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.