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

“Transcendent Peace”

Worship Assistant: Dottie Pitt

Greeter: Elise Henricks

Audio: Alex Feliz

Flowers: Bebe Williamson

Social Hour: Heather Scranton

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 be given to the BIJAN Beyond Bond Fund. The fund is used to assist immigrant families with legal fees, emergency hotel stays, and other critical services. The Boston immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) is a community of faith communities, individuals, and other activist groups working to reduce the escalating harm of our immigration system in the current political context. Tracey Robinson will speak on its behalf.

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 arrived in the office today after three days with colleagues in a study group. We were studying democracy and our responsiveness to these times. It was nourishing to come together as colleagues, and inspiring to share resources, care and courage with one another. Here’s a blessing read at one of our chapel services by Jan Richardson from her book The Cure for Sorrow, entitled “Blessing of Hope”.

“So may we know the hope

that is not just for someday

but for this day—

here, now, in this moment

that opens to us:

hope not made of wishes

but of substance,

hope made of sinew and muscle and bone,

hope that has breath and a beating heart,

hope that will not keep quiet and be polite,

hope that knows how to holler

when it is called for,

hope that knows how to sing

when there seems little cause,

hope that raises us from the dead—

not someday

but this day,

every day,

again and

again and

again.”

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

The choir anthem this week is an anthem by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy called “Da nobis pacem” (Grant us peace), originally written for chorus and orchestra. There will also be two solos by Hunsaker soloists Daon Drisdom (Kurt Weill’s “Lost in the Stars”) and Carina Digianfilippo (“Hope is the thing with feathers” by Ephrem Feeley).

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 8th: RE classes will meet as usual

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: Ornament making: the kids and teachers will make holiday ornaments 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

“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 December 10th

Meeting by zoom from 7:00pm-8:15pm on Tuesday, December 10th. Contact Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org for the zoom link.

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.

There will be boxes in the library at church for donated items, and 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.

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.