Table of Contents

This Week in Worship

• Message from Rev. Lisa Ward
• RE Info
• News and Announcements
• Events
• Social & Environmental Justice
• Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

December Worship Theme: Hope

“Joy in One’s Heart”

Worship Assistant: Elise Henricks

Greeter: Charlie Franich

Audio: Eli De Angeli

Flowers: Bebe Seymour Williamson

Social Hour: Brigitte Miller and Nancy Devine

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.

This week’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.

It’s cold, flu and covid season! 

In order to keep our community healthy, we encourage the wearing of masks at worship services if you have cold symptoms or have been exposed to a communicable illness. Masks and Hand sanitizer will be available at all church entrances if needed.

I found myself challenged this week about “being the change I want to see in the world” (Gandhi reference)

Last week, upon hearing the news of the murder of UnitedHealth Care CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, I went numb. My first reaction was not that it was a tragedy. I had mixed feelings, which unnerved me. 

We are all capable of the many emotions that humans feel. That includes forms of rage and retribution, forms of helplessness and disillusionment. It’s important to register our feelings, recognizing that they are not always what should guide our choices.

Our culture normalizes violence more and more these days. The anonymous and irresponsible nature of the internet has us feeding malice, victimhood and fatal othering. This is dangerous for all of us.

I registered my uncomfortable realization that “comeuppance” was a part of my mix of emotions. I then registered my ability to let that thought go, to not agree with it, and challenge myself to the world I want to see.

Years ago, I was gifted with advice from a friend who was against capital punishment, as I am. I shared with him ways people justify righteous punishment unto death. I asked him, “how do you reconcile those arguments?” He said simply, “capital punishment makes murderers of us all”.

I also recognized, in coaching myself, that the ends do not justify the means. As Martin Luther King so aptly reminded us, the means must be in harmony with the ends. You cannot use brutal tactics to gain civility. And, of course, Gandhi reminded us that “an eye for an eye” will make everyone blind.

In these tumultuous times, it’s important to be compassionate with our own imperfect responses to fear and despair. It is equally important to recognize that we have a choice in the way we work these reactions through.

In Care, Rev. Lisa

Music This Week

This Sunday the choir will be singing an inspirational arrangement of a popular African American spiritual, “Hold On”. This was arranged by Eugene Thamon Simpson, who taught for many years at Rowan University and Glassboro State College in New Jersey. He was an active composer, choral conductor, singer, and curator for the collection of composer Hall Johnson for 31 years. Daon Drisdom will also be singing “Spring Will Come Again” by Leonard Bernstein, with a text by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Religious Exploration

Dear RE Families,

As we know December is a BUSY time of year for families, we wanted to give you a schedule of events for the month!

Dec 15th: Music Workshop: the kids will learn a song together and sing it in big church, led by Claudia and Penny 

Dec 22nd during Worship:  Stocking Stuffing for Migrant Children: the kids and teachers will stuff stockings together.

Dec 22nd at 4pm– Annual Christmas Pageant – A NEW DATE AND TIME – If interested in participating, please contact Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org or Steve Yakutis at steve.yakutis@gamil.com

Dec 24th at 5pm in Parish Hall – Family Gathering for Christmas Cheer. In lieu of the pageant (on the 22nd this year) come gather for an hour in Parish Hall for a bit of singing, playing and candle lighting to mark Christmas Eve. All ages welcome.

December 29th– No RE classes. Children under 10 welcome to go to the nursery.

News & Announcements

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

10/27 UU Urban Ministry $600.98

11/16 Right Question Institute- $442.62

11/24 IFSI $884.47

12/08 BIJAN Beyond Bond Fund $1,961.46

The First Parish kids have been learning about immigration through their monthly Wee the People Workshops. To connect the kids with their faith in action and support the church’s larger commitment to immigrant rights, during RE time on Sunday December 22nd, the kids will be making holiday cards and stuffing Christmas stockings to be given to immigrant children arriving at the Boston Welcome Centers. We invite the congregation to leave items to donate for stocking stuffers in the Narthex of the Church (where the name tags are) between Sunday December 8th to Sunday December 22nd. Items that would work well for stocking stuffers include:

Socks – children’s size

Crayons 

New small toys 

Stickers 

Packets of (nut free) candies or cookies or animal crackers 

Please reach out to Jennie Lofgren (Jennifer.LofgrenDVM@Gmail.com) or Tracey Robinson (tdr02186@gmail.com) with any questions.

Events

Bridging Dinner — Friday, December 13th 5:00pm-7:00pm

Come celebrate the Holiday Season with our friends from Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan. Our next Bridging Dinner is set for Friday, December 13 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall at First Parish Milton. We will be catering from a local Mattapan Restaurant. The cost is $25 per adult. Children are free. Financial assistance is available. Childcare will be provided.

Navigating the Political Climate

Next Meeting is TBD

Contact Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org if interested.

Saturday, December 14th 10:00am-2:00pm

Thank you to those of you who have already reached out and volunteered to help with the Fair. What we most need now is :

Baked Goods for bake sale table

Chili, corn bread & cheese for lunch

Mittens and Hats for the Holiday Freecycle table

Little Items: soap, lotion, jewelry, etc for children to give as gifts.

You can use this Sign-up Genius for both lunch and bake sale table.

We can still use volunteers. Reach out to Leslie if you want to help; lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com

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 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, 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, Marked MRF. Provide the donor name and mailing address if a tax donation letter is requested. The goal is to distribute all gifts and items before 12/13/24.

Family Gathering on Christmas Eve 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Come gather by the fire in Parish Hall. Bring a plate of Christmas goodies if you can. We’ll have hot beverages available. We’ll meet informally, sing carols together and share Holiday Cheer. All ages and all manner of singing voices are welcome.

Social & Environmental Justice

Next date: December 18th

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

Please sign up whenever you can help out by clicking on button below.

We are counting on your support!

Beyond First Parish

Warm greetings from the UUUM! As we are feeling the temperatures drop, I hope everybody is staying warm and has their Thanksgiving food shopping done!  

We’re happy to share this month’s Delegate Update with you. There are a few volunteer opportunities this month that we would appreciate you sharing, if possible. Thanks in advance – we appreciate you.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

DeeDee’s Cry Annual Toy Drive – December 15, 2024

DeeDee’s Cry is hosting its Annual Toy Drive on Sunday, December 15, 2024, from 2–4 PM, and we need your help to make it a success! Volunteers are essential to creating a welcoming and joyful experience for the families we serve.

We’re looking for support with:

• Set-up and decorating to create a festive atmosphere
• Sorting toys to ensure smooth distribution
• Managing the line to keep things organized
• Greeting and assisting families through the process
• Clean-up to wrap up the event

Volunteers are needed as early as 10am–11am for setup and as late as 5pm to help with clean up. Whether you can stay the entire day or just part of it, your time and energy will make a difference!

Please contact Robert Jones (rjones@uuum.org) if you are interested in volunteering. 

FAFSA ASSISTANCE

Are you familiar with the FAFSA student financial aid process? Students from our youth program have asked for help with this part of the college application process, and if you can help we would love to hear from you.

If you are able to help, please contact Robert Jones: rjones@uuum.org

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.