This Week in Worship
Sunday, December 17, 2017 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
The Tyranny of Busy-Ness
December Worship Theme – Intention
Minister
Rev. Lisa Ward
At this point the December Holidays are in full swing. Messages to feel joy, see the light, be giving, hold onto family are everywhere; in shopping mall signage and radio commercials, in elevator music and Hallmark TV specials. Some of us, though – probably many more than is acknowledged – are not up to feeling full joy. In fact, the holidays can trigger grief, loneliness, sense of scarcity and despair. It is true that remembering the light and finding warmth is what this season is about, and that can be found, as well, when opening up about our losses or feeling lost.
So this Friday we are putting some logs on the fire in Parish Hall and opening the space from 4:30-6:30 pm for folk who may be feeling the Holiday Blues to come round and spend time together. You can come and be silent or speak aloud of your state of being. We can learn from each other ways to cope or simply be together, which is one way to feel warmth. Drop by anytime from 4:30-6:30 pm. There are many ways to feel blessings during the holidays.
Rev. Lisa
Religious Exploration
Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration
- Nursery and toddler care is available this week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This year our caregivers are Daisy and Grace. Stop by and say hello!
- Religious Exploration for Sunday, December 10: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to their classrooms. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am.
- Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “Rhea and Lummi: How the Solstice Began.” Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Super Heroes: Bible People curricula, meeting in the Children’s Church. This week will be the saga of Solomon building his Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. Grades 6 through 8 are following a curriculum called Friends and Neighbors, meeting in the Activity room. This week the class will continue discussing Christianity and Catholicism.
- See the Youth Yacking column for news on grades 9 through 12 this week.
Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.
Sunday, December 17
Collection Day at Social Hour
Winter coats, scarves, hats & mittens needed!
Our Friends and Neighbors class (6th to 8th graders) want to help the Pierce Middle School coat drive. Please donate new or gently used winter gear, all sizes, at social hour on December 17. Class members will take the items to the middle school for distribution to the needy in this cold season. Any items you can contribute will help keep someone warm this winter!
Youth Yacking!
Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor
This week’s youth programming:
Coming of Age, 10:30am – 11:30am
This week, COA is going to be exploring diversity and unity! What does it mean to you? How does it affect your beliefs? How do we support one another when we, at times, might believe very different things?
CAT (Community & Activity Time), 12pm – 2pm
CAT is going to be a fun (and delicious!) send off for everyone into the holiday season with cookies and holiday games! As this is our last CAT of this calendar year, let’s party and bond!
News and Announcements
Friday, December 15th, 2017
4:30pm – 6:30pm in the Parish Hall
Fireside Chat on behalf of the Holiday Blues
For anyone “feeling the blues” this Holiday season, let’s sit together by the fire, sharing our stories and enjoying some hot chocolate and cider.
First Parish FUN Raiser – First Planning Meeting
Sunday, December 17 – in the Parlor
11:45am
Please join us! You can help out a little or a lot. Every bit counts! We will be going to hold a dynamite FUN Raiser on Saturday March 24th, and hope you’ll volunteer to be on the committee!
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The decorations in the Meetinghouse and around First Parish were done by Myrtle Flight. Thanks to Myrtle for her time, design and decorations.
All are invited to join CUUPS on Sunday, December 17th at 3:00pm as the wheel of the year turns to Yule.
This celebration of the Winter Solstice will include prayer and meditation, songs and music, and old-fashioned candle-dipping followed by a pot luck social hour.
Christmas Eve Services
Sunday, December 24
- Sunday Worship at 10:30 am
- Christmas Eve Pageant Service at 5 pm
- Christmas Eve Music Service at 10 pm
Start the New Year with the First Parish Green Team
Mark your calendars!
Join us on Saturday January 6th 4-7 PM
for an inconvenient sequel Truth To Power
A decade after Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth brought climate crisis into popular culture, this follow-up film shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution and how we can get involved. The film will be followed by a lively discussion and potluck dinner.
Follow up workshop
Saturday, Jan 13, 1:30 – 4:30
Our Place in the Web of Life
led by Rev. Lisa Ward
This is the first workshop in a highly engaging series offered through the spring that can help us discover what environmental justice means to First Parish Milton and our community. Participants look deeply at the consequences of their actions on people and their environment through – music, participatory research, visual mapping, ethical reflection, mediation and ritual. If you are volunteering at Fair Foods in the morning, join us for hot soup served at 1:30
Friday, December 15th
Fireside Chat on behalf of the Holiday Blues
4:30pm – 6:30pm – Parish Hall
Sunday, December 17
CUUPS Yule/Winter Soltice
3:00pm – Parish Hall
Sunday, December 24
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am
Christmas Eve Pageant Service at 5 pm
Christmas Eve Music Service at 10 pm
Wednesday, Jaurary 3
Vespers Service for Healing and Resilience
7:30 pm – 8:30pm – Children’s Church
Saturday, January 6
Green Team Film & Potluck Discussion
4:00pm – 7:00pm – Parish Hall
“an inconvenient sequel Truth to Power”
Saturday, January 13
Fair Foods – 10:00am
Meet at First Parish
Saturday, January 13
Green Team Workshop
1:30pm – 4:30pm – Parish Hall
“Our Place in the Web of Life”
Social Action Committee News
Check out the Social Action Calendar at the information tables in the Stebbins Parlor and Parish Hall Foyer.
Start the New Year with the First Parish Green Team
Mark your calendars!
Join us on Saturday January 6th 4-7 PM
for an inconvenient sequel Truth To Power
Follow up workshop
Saturday, Jan 13, 1:30 – 4:30
Our Place in the Web of Life led by Rev. Lisa Ward
Sign up during social hour to volunteer with Social Action on upcoming Saturdays:
Meet at First Parish Miilton at 10 am to go over to Roxbury together.
- January 13, 2018
- February 10, 2018
- March 10, 2018
Fair Foods Inc. rescues surplus fruits and vegetables from Boston industry source and distribute the food to those in need. (www.fairfoods.org)
First Parish aprons for sale!! What a wonderful holiday present. Aprons are $20 each or you can buy two and donate one to the First Parish Kitchen. We encourage you to wear them when helping at Fair Foods, Father Bills, Community Servings, The Mother’s Day walk or even hosting coffee hour. Aprons can be found at the Social Action table at coffee hour.
Upcoming Events
- January 15th -Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Projects to be announced.
- January 15th 6:30pm – Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Courageous Conversations, Concord Baptist Church in Milton
- February 4th 5-7pm – Courageous Conversations at Parkway Methodist Church.
Kiki’s Corner
If it still seems darker than usual around the campus, it is. The lights in front of the meetinghouse and the light at the Social Worker door are not working. We are aware of the problem and ordered new lights. Hopefully the lights will arrive shortly and our electrician will take care of their installation by early next week.
Holiday Deadlines for The Link, and Office Closings
Deadline for The Link/Sunday Announcements
- Tuesday, December 19 – emailed on December 21
- Thursday, December 21 – emailed on December 28
- Thursday, December 28 – emailed on January 4
Office Closing for Christmas and New Years
- Friday, December 22 – Monday, December 25
- Friday, December 29 – Monday, January 1
The office is open December 26 – 28 from 10 am – 2pm, but individual schedules may vary. If you are planning to visit the office, please call ahead.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!
REMINDER THE LINK DEADLINE IS TUEDAYS
“Brevity Matters” – Peter Bowden, Social Media Guru and wise UU
Deadline for submissions is Tuesdays. You need to address email to both office@fpmilton.org and director@fpmilton.org to assure your announcement will be included in the weekly Link. Written announcements for the Sunday Order of Worship are derived from the announcements for The Link. We, from time to time, will also publish non-church events with a connection to a member of the church. Your submission may be edited due to space requirements. We recommend that you submit no more than 1 – 2 paragraphs.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment
MINISTER OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Other times by appointment
The Church office is closed on Fridays
SUMMER SUNDAYS
June 25 – September 3
Worship, 9:30 am in the Children’s Church
Silent Prayer & Meditation, 8:30 am in the Children’s Church
No Religious Exploration Program , Nursery Care, Choir Rehearsal
Beginning Sunday, September 10
Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse
Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church
EVERY THURSDAY
Silent Prayer & Meditation, 6:30pm in the Children’s Church
SIGN UP GENIUS (formerly known as the Planner)
The link to SignUp Genius is:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday?1472051612751