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

“Preparing the Way”

Worship Assistant: Lisa White

Advent Candles: Trista & Ana Marquez

Greeter: Jonah Beukman

Social Hour: Amy Kavadlo & Jen Pinkus

Music: Tim Steele

Audio: Nina Truog

Sunday’s offering will be given to Thrive Gulu. THRIVE Gulu assists communities in post-conflict northern Uganda to heal from the traumatic effects of war, sexual exploitation, extreme poverty and the resulting loss of opportunities.

Masks are optional for vaccinated people in the meetinghouse; masks are still required for those who have not been vaccinated. Respect and consideration should be given to all regardless of their masking choice.

So…let’s talk about freedom of speech. The Twitter hubbub has brought the issue once again to the forefront, as has the recent seditious conspiracy charge in relation to the January 6th attempted insurrection. Speech has the power to incite, dangerously mislead, or misrepresent reality. With speech comes responsibility, something that is far less championed than rights.

An anonymous quote that has circulated in social media states this poignantly: “Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom. It’s adolescence.”

“Free and responsible” is the whole package of interdependent living: claiming self and shared being. We do not always know the impact of our speech, but we can be mindful, learn from others and have a willingness of accountability. And responsibility is not only about what we choose to say, but about what we choose to repeat, or even what we choose to fill our air space.

This is a good reminder for UU’s in living into our fourth principle: “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” We do not believe whatever we want to believe whenever we want: we search for the truth of our beliefs in the living of our lives in community.

Let us welcome accountability and the learning thereof. It is a path toward a vibrant, justice-centered life.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Music For Sunday

The choir anthem this Sunday “Earth’s Endless Treasures” by Ellen Hansen-Ellis. Ms. Ellis recently retired from the faculty at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, OH. Grace Allendorf and Jennifer Sgroe will also be singing “The World is Full of Poetry” by David L. Brunner, with a text by James Gates Percival. This duet was written in 1996 and is included in a set of choral pieces called EARTHSONGS.

Christmas Weekend at First Parish

We are offering 3 services Christmas weekend: 5:00pm on Christmas Eve, 10:00pm on Christmas Eve, and 10:30am on Christmas Day. Please see the details below.

All ages welcome at all services.

Christmas Eve- 5:00pm Service

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 email Steve Yakutis steve.yakutis@gmail.com 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 what you’d like to do. We could use help with the following: guides to assist the audience, set-up, break-down or cookie bakers.

The outdoor pageant will be held at 5:00 on Christmas Eve, followed by a hot chocolate reception for cast, crew and attendees. There will be NO Zoom option for this service. The service will be 100% outside and accessible for those with wheelchairs, strollers, etc.

Christmas Eve- 10:00pm Indoor/Hybrid Meditative Service

Our traditional candelight service- come into the meetinghouse or join on Zoom where we will share reflections, sing carols, lift up the prayerful message of peace for the world. Zoom link will be shared as time nears closer.

Christmas Day- 10:30am service

Join us Christmas Day for an in person only service in the Sanctuary.

**In addition please sign up if you would like to be a worship assistant, greeter, or usher at the 10:00 pm Christmas Eve service.

Religious Exploration

RE classes return this week, with Yule and the solstice for our younger classes and a continued exploration of world religions for our middle school youth.  Coming of Age meets at 4pm in the youth room.

Our workshop program continues this winter with a storytelling workshop highlighting the winter solstice (12/10), an environmental justice workshop featuring turtles and sustainable development (1/8), and a drumming circle (2/12). We encourage you to share our workshop programs with your children’s friends and neighbors – these programs are open to all. Flyers are available at social hour – please feel free to take some to share!

Infant & Child CPR babysitting course offered December 28 & 29 from 9:00am-12:00pm open to girls & boys ages 11-15 years old. Cunningham Hall (75 Edge Hill Road) Cost is $30.

Hands on 2 day training with a Fallon Ambulance certified instructor

• Certification in Infant and Child CPR
• Infant and Child CPR card
• A babysitters bag complete with a flashlight, mini first aid kit and family interview forms

LUNCH (PIZZA AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED on Thursday)

**Limited Space Available**

MILTON RESIDENTS ONLY!

Registration:

Please be advised that we are now only taking on-line registrations for all of our programs. They are on a first come first serve basis. Please register early.

To access the online registrations click here

Events and Meetings

This coming Saturday, December 3 at 7pm come hear a sneak-preview of a concert event which the Boston Globe is describing as one of the Top Ten Holiday Concerts in Boston for 2022. In “Let’s Celebrate” White Snake Projects is presenting four short musical dramas which highlight four culturally diverse holiday traditions. Professional singers from around the country will be taking part in this evening of newly-composed music. Admission is “Pay As You Can” (suggested donation of $20), and the net proceeds will go to support the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. 

“A Braided Light” tells the story of a woman recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s as she looks forward to the arrival of her family in time for their celebration of Havdalah, a Jewish ritual marking the end of Shabbat. “Firecrackers” takes place during the Spring Festival as a new lunar year is celebrated in China and around the world. “Samiir’s Feast” tells the story of Samiir, who came to America to escape death in Somalia, and is now celebrating his first Christmas in America; it reminds him of his favorite holiday, Eid al Adha. In the last piece, “Rosa”, a young girl who is an adopted child, once separated from her family at the Mexican border, learns her origin story after making an offering on the Day of the Dead.

For more information visit https://www.miltoncommunityconcerts.com/

Open Trustees Meeting Sunday, December 4th 12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Chase Parlor

All welcome!

11th Hour Calling

Monthly Stand Out for Climate Action & Justice

Sunday, December 11, 6:00 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

First Parish Church lawn

Standing out publicly states that we care about the climate emergency; community action; environmental justice;100% clean, renewable energy to power our lives; and municipal response planning wherever we live. Show up, drum, chant, learn. BYO posters and percussion. It will be dark: dress reflective/neon; headlamps; flashlights. And BTW we regulars have fun doing it !

From the Membership Committee

Like to walk and chat ? First Parish Membership is starting up our walking group again. Dianna Wilson will gather interested walkers at noon on December 11th at the entrance to the Pope John Paul Park in Dorchester.

Contact Dianna for more information: diannaw710@gmail.com

HOLIDAY BLUES BRUNCH

Saturday, December 17

10:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Home of member Deb Alsebai

More details on sign-up genius.

The holidays are heightened times. This can mean deep grief, loneliness or a sense of isolation. Let’s gather for some good food and fellowship. We’ll socialize and share coping ideas, including some programming offered by Rev. Lisa. This is a time to honor together however we are this holiday season. Please sign up on the below link for planning purposes. All ages welcome.

Sign up Genius Link

The Milton Residents 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 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 gift, sneakers, bedding or winter clothing. The following would be particularly helpful: grocery (Shaw’s or star market work best), target (as they sell everything), Dicks Sporting Goods (for athletic needs of teens,) Gamestop as several older youth have only listed video games on their holiday wish list, TJ MAxx/Marshall’s or Amazon. All else would also be gratefully accepted. Generally we distribute in increments of $25 and $50.  Donations can be left in the grey box in the church hallway. Provide the donors name and mailing address if a tax donation letter is requested.”

Regards,

Noreen K Dolan, MSW, LCSW

Fund Coordinator

News and Announcements

Did you forget something ?

The kitchen has a collection of “abandoned” travel mugs. If you are missing one, please find on the counter. Do not forget to leave with them after social hour. Thank you.

Mindful Holiday Ideas – 2022

In this season of hope and light may we be mindful of ….

           The fragile state of our planet 

           All those who struggle to find food and shelter, safety and justice 

           The peace we find within our own hearts  

Consider new ways to make your holidays (and year ahead) more mindful, healthy, ecological, and less stressful. Check out the Buy Less Give More guide from the Public Interest Network AND visit our own First Parish Milton website for a homegrown list of ideas.

From your friends on the Social and Environmental Justice Committee

Volunteer Opportunities

Hospitality Committee in Need of Social Hour Hosts

The hospitality commitee needs your help! We’d like to continue to offer hot beverages and snacks after Sunday services each week. Thank you in advance for your help!

Please consider signing up in sign up genius if you are interested. And as always thank you to all those who have helped in the past.

Fair Foods

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 10th.

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.

Sign up here!

Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 with any questions or for more information.

First Parish Milton volunteers provide bagged lunches to MainSpring adult shelters in Brockton twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Members of the Social & Environmental Justice committee will make the delivery to Brockton.

Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day. One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton. Please note how many meals you are making in comments. We are looking for 70 lunches for each delivery day. Lunches should include sandwich, fruit, drink, snack/chips and sweet/cookies.

The next delivery day will be on Wednesday December 7th and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 and 1:00 PM.

If you haven’t made lunches in a while OR if you are a new volunteer, sign up on MainSpring Sign Up Genius or contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net for more info.

Thanks to all the volunteers that have made this program a success for more than two years !!

Sign up here

Looking to assemble a group of volunteers to cook and serve an evening meal at MainSpring or Father Bill’s sometime this Winter/Spring.

Contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net if interested.

Beyond First Parish

Holiday Book Fair

Sunday, December 4, 2011

1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Crafts, cookies, story time

Book sale (Barefoot Books)

Each child will recieve a free book and

milk and cookies !

East Congregational Church

610 Adams St., East Milton

www.eastchurch.org

GIFT BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

“Milton Grows!”is a year-long programming initiative of Milton Public Library. Two book discussions will take place in 2023. January (date TBD) will feature Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future by Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and special U.N. Climate Envoy). The second, March TBD, will be Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy (professor of “bugs,” author. lecturer). Inspirational books, both – consider gifting, or getting, or checking them out!

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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.