Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 12/10/2015

Weekly Link 12/10/2015

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, December 13 Worship @ 10:30 am in Meetinghouse

The Worship Theme for December is Peace

Next week marks the two hundred and fortieth anniversary of an event where a group of one hundred and sixteen men dumped three hundred and forty chests of tea into Boston Harbor, while over two thousand people watched from the sides of the wharf. The crew of the boat were ordered below, the Governor’s Cadet Corp were guarding the tea, but did not raise a musket to stop it. In three hours it was over, no damage to the ships occurred and some of the “Mohawks” even swept up after words. A British Admiral watched the whole thing from his bedroom window and the only defense he could muster was to shout as the “Mohawks” marched under his window, “Tomorrow you’ll still have to pay the piper!”

Not what we have been led to believe, eh? Seems like everyone knew what was going on, and who was involved. Why it sounds almost dull. You know when Gandhi met with the British viceroy in 1930 after the Indian salt protest campaign; Gandhi took some duty-free salt from his shawl and said, with a smile, that the salt was “to remind us of the famous Boston Tea Party.” We often think that non-violent action started with sit-ins in the 1950s and 60s yet these stories show that isn’t true. It is also true that 2000 years ago Jesus and his band of followers were upsetting the status-quo, with words and actions that were more radical and powerful than any military of the time. I hope to see you this Sunday when I speak about the importance of the Prince of Peace.

See you in church,

Hank

Religious Exploration

Sunday, December 13th

  • 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 Parlor at 10:30
  • Youth Chat 9th – 12th Graders – Meet in the youth room at 10:30am
  • The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger

Religious Exploration

Small Group Ministry classes need Magazines!

If you have any magazines you are ready to recycle please send them in. We are looking for kid friendly magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, Family and Kid Magazine, Outdoor Magazines. They can be dropped off in the office. Thank you!

Youth Group Happenings

This year the youth group will be holding a first time service project for the Christmas season. We are organizing the collection of homemade or store bought holiday cookies and snacks to pack up and deliver to local fire stations, police stations, and hospital emergency rooms on Christmas Eve. We hope to thank our community’s first responders for their invaluable work – especially at the holidays. Baking a batch of Christmas cookies? Make an extra dozen or two for us. Looking for a fun family activity on your way home from Christmas Eve church service? Sign up to deliver a basket to your local police department! It’s a simple and fun way to say thank you at Christmas time. Youth will be in the parish hall at fellowship hour to answer all of your questions about this great project. Thanks!

News and Announcements

Ushers Needed for Christmas Eve! — If you are interested in ushering during the Christmas Eve Srevice at 5:00pm please let us know.

Thank you,
Miriam

Milton Residents Fund Holiday Gift Project

Looking for 3- 4 Adult Volunteers, Saturday, December 19

On that day, gifts are delivered to Milton families in the front of the Meetinghouse. Please contact Diane Ferrari, Coordinator of the Martin-Swift, Milton Residents and Parish Members Fund, at 617.696.1214 for all details and scheduling time. It is a good way to be part of the true meaning of the holidays.

Coffee Hour

Missed buying coffee and chocolate at last week’s First Parish World Market Holiday Fair? Bought some but want more? You are in luck. There are a few items left from the sale and we would like to get it ALL SOLD so it will be available during Coffee Hour this Sunday, 12/13.

The proceeds from these items will go to First Parish, as well as benefitting farmers. There is a limited selection but it includes: packages of coffee, chocolate bars, containers of spiced cocoa, handmade gift wrap, jewelry and bars of Shea butter soap. These make great gifts. If you have questions, please email Leslie.

Sunday the youth group will continue their annual gift wrapping fundraiser!

The youth group will be available to accept gifts to be wrapped starting at 9:45 am and wrapped gifts will be ready after church service. Wrapping is done in exchange for your donations. Not sure what to pay? We’re happy to give you a suggestion. Hope to see all of you and your unwrapped presents soon!

Community Events

milton art center

Small Works Show – Holiday Sale & Party – Pat Neves Sings!

Opening Reception: Friday, December 11, 6-8pm

Wine, light refreshments, and entertainment by Milton vocalist (and First Parish member) Pat Neves.
Beautiful art work in a variey of media by emerging and established artists. All work is priced to sell, and will be sold “off the wall” so you can take it with you.

Gallery Hours: Friday 3-5, Saturday 12-4 December 8 – 20th.

Support Art in Milton! Don’t miss this chance to shop locally for unique and beautiful gifts!

First Parish in Brookline Invites you to Las Posadas Celebration.

On behalf of First Parish in Brookline, I extend a warm invitation to you and your congregation to join us for the celebration of Las Posadas on Saturday, December 19th beginning at 2:30 p.m. This is a free event and all are welcome!

We hope you can join us!

In Community,
Rev. Maria Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa
Assistant Minister, First Parish in Brookline

The Search Continues

News from the Ministerial Search Committee

Ready, Get Set…

We approach the holidays with great anticipation: Our Congregational Record is live, and the UUA has confirmed that they will release names of interested ministers to us ( as well as to other congregations in search) as early as January 2nd. That’s also when we’ll be able to review the credentials of those ministers.

We are furiously putting together the beautiful photos, videos and important information we have about our congregation and the geographical area we serve into the Congregational Packet, along with the information we’ve gleaned from the survey. We’re organizing the information we’ve gathered to ensure the information is available in an easy to navigate website. The packet will not be public; it will be available only to ministerial candidates selected by the Ministerial Search Committee. Please consider giving us the permission to use photos of you in the packet: sign the media release form.

As always, feel free to contact the members of your Ministerial Search Committee with questions or concerns:

Debbie Alsebai, Charlie Franich, Franc Graham, Elise Henricks, Jim May, Brigitte Miller, and Tracey Robinson.

Social Action Committee Needs You!

Want to Save the World? “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
-Mother Teresa

The First Parish Social Action Committee is currently involved in the following projects through The U.U. Urban Ministries in Roxbury and Father Bill’s & Mainspring in Quincy.

  • Father Bill’s & Mindspring: First Parish volunteers will help prepare and serve a meal to our neighbors in need. Date: TBD
  • Renewal House: Two projects: (1) The First Parish Social Action Committee will be organizing a toiletries drive to collect items to give to the Residents of Renewal House. (2) Purchase of Mother’s Day gift for a woman living at Renewal House
  • Fair Food Inc: First Parish members will meet one Saturday a month, from 10 am – 1 pm, to help distribute food. Join us Saturday, December 19. Contact davidegan@comcast.net
  • Boston Public Schools: Focus on Children: Individual volunteers will work with UUUM staff for out of school-time program for at risk students from Timilty Middle School in Roxbury.
  • Jericho Road Roxbury: Individual First Parish Members will be teamed up with a non-profit, who is need of your unique talents.

If you are interested in joining us for one of this fun and transforming events, please contact: David Egan, Social Action Chair or after church during Coffee Hour.

Details are available HERE. Flyers on the Information Table in the Stebbins Parlor and in the Parish Hall Foyer.

Kiki

Kiki’s Corner

Wonderful World Market Fair Sale and Brunch – A collaboration of committees and individuals. Leslie Artinian MacPherson, Deb Larson-Venable, Richard Veneable and Dave Egan were the primary coordinators for the day. But it took a village for a successful event! Thanks to those that brought items for the brunch without being asked. Here is a (hopefully complete) list of individuals that were responsible for the brunch, sale, and ambiance on Saturday and sale on Sunday. Congratulations to all involved.

Parish Hall Activities and Brunch: Deb Larson-Venable & Richard Venable, Paula & Michael Bennett, Julie Blackburn, Tasha & Mike Bello, Tucker Smith, Laurie Bilyeu, Liz Bennett, William Bennett, Myrtle Flight, Charlie Franich, Mark Whall

World Market Sales Force: Leslie MacPherson Artinian, Dave Egan, Natalie Monroe, Mike and
Tasha Bello, Pat Gallivan, Elise Henricks, Zane Baker-Poverno

Wrapping Station: Dianna Wilson, Julie Baker, Debbie Alsebai and Youth Group members.

Furnace Conversion Update: The first step in the conversion will be to have the gas meter swapped out on Monday, December 14. We will be without hot water and the use of the stove while this is done. Williams Energy arrives December 21 to prepare for the actual furnace swap the week of December 28. The buidling will be without heat probably from December 28 – 30 (3 days). This was scheduled when the building has lighter usage (no nursery school or toddler music program). But the campus is not closed that week. We still have 3 evening groups, our church staff, the Martin, Swith and Milton Fund coordinator and one day program scheduled to use the building that week. We will be happy when it is all done and our long-time oil furnace system is retired. Stay tuned for updates on this work and our schedule for the week beteween Christmas and New Year’s.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

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!