This Week in Worship

CHRISTMAS EVE: Saturday, December 24th

Services in the Meetinghouse at 5 pm and 10 pm

• 5:00 pm Service for all ages, with original music, a modern rendering of the pageant (with a bountiful cast of players), carols and candlelight.
• 10:00 pm A Meditative Service with anthems sung by the Meetinghouse Choir, reflections, carols and candlelight.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE: Sunday, December 25th

• 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

A cosy Christmas service, with shared reflections and carol singing. You are welcome to attend in your pajamas. Hot chocolate and cider served after the service.

Message from Rev. Lisa

As I contemplate our upcoming Christmas Eve services, I am deeply aware of how important it is for us to dwell in community. You are each a part of the promise of life. That is much of what honoring Jesus’ birth and ministry is about. We incarnate peace: we make choices and follow intentions that can give peace eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch and feet to move. Beyond the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we are meant to engage the tender work of life affirmation with and for each other.

Allow yourselves to affirm your own precious life. Allow yourselves to believe that your aspirations for peace have an impact on the whole of consciousness. Let us encourage each other’s innate wisdom for peace on earth, goodwill to all. Let us find ways to manifest this consciousness in our lives.

Feeling blessed in your company,

Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse
Director of Religious Education

First Parish Pageant Players – Dress Rehearsal begins at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 24 in the Meetinghouse.

• Nursery care will not be available during the worship services on December 24, December 25 and January 1.
• Religious education classes, Our Whole Lives classes, Youth Chat and Youth Group will not meet on December 25 or January 1.

Save the dates:

Youth Group-sponsored Spaghetti Dinners will be offered on Friday, January 6 and Friday, February 3 from 6:30 to 8 pm.
All proceeds go towards funding youth group participation in a spring service trip organized by CityReach Boston.

News and Announcements

Monday Night Yoga – On Hiatus

No Monday night yoga the next two weeks because of the holidays. We will resume on January 9th

Caring Committee

The Caring Committee is looking for a couple of new members due to some recent resignations. This group provides a vital link to the rest of the congregation in coordination of parish care. If you think you might be interested in joining this vital committee, please contact

Amanda Tobey, chair or Kiki Giatis.

NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

The next Social Action Committee meeting is: Sunday, January 8 at 8:30 AM.

Racial Dialogues

The Social Action Committee along with Milton for Peace is hosting a dialogue on race on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.

Join the Social Action Committee together with Milton for Peace and Milton Race Dialogues in attending The Scottsboro Boys, a musical based on the true story of nine African American boys jailed in 1931 for a crime they did not commit.

Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 PM or Wednesday, January 18 at 7:30 at the Calderwood Pavillion in the South End. The cast gives a short talk after the show.

Tickets are $50 or students $25. Purchase tickets through Deb Alsebai.

MOTHER’S MARCH IN WASHINGTON AND BOSTON

We are in the process of securing a bus to bring us to and from the Women’s March in Washington on January 21, 2017.

We would leave Friday night, march on Saturday and drive back Saturday evening. The roundtrip fare is approximately $85. The office can provide help toward the cost if needed. Another group of us will be participating in the Boston march on the same day.

The next Fair Food date is Saturday, January 14.

RENEWAL HOUSE

We will be holding a drive for the month of January to collect supplies for Renewal House, a domestic violence shelter for individuals and families who are fleeing violence.

Items needed: laundry detergent, Downy softener, paper towels, toilet paper and sandwich bags.

Kiki’s Corner

Office Schedule during the Holidays

The office will close on Thursday, December 22 at 3pm and reopen on Tuesday, December 27 at 10 am. Hours will be from 10 am – 1 pm. The last week of Decmeber is a generally quiet time. Staff may be away or working from home. I will be out on December 27 and 28. Our bookkeeper is away now until December 29. If you are planning to drop by, please call the office to check that someone will be available for you. The office will also be closed on Sunday and Monday, January 1 and 2. We are back to regular schedule on January 3rd.

Happy Holidays one and all!

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!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

• Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

• Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays.