Rev. Lisa Ward has been our settled minister since August of 2016. Ordained in 1992, Rev. Lisa has served congregations in New York City, Queens, White Plains, NY and Harford County, MD. A graduate from Union Theological Seminary in NYC, she has engaged in social justice initiatives throughout her career… 
Table of Contents
- This Week in Worship
- Message from Rev. Lisa
- This Week in Religious Exploration
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“I’ll Take Door Number 2, no no 3”
Guest Minister: Tom Kemp
Worship Assistant: Penny Partridge
Advent Candles: The Scranton-Feliz Family
Greeter: Lisa White
Social Hour: Didi Emmons & Marie-Laure Brown
Music: Tim Steele
Audio: Colin Glazer
Sunday’s offering will go to the service and ministry of First Parish.
Masks are optional for vaccinated people in the meetinghouse; masks are still required for those who have not been vaccinated. Respect and consideration should be given to all regardless of their masking choice.
The UUA is undertaking quite a comprehensive discernment of who we are and how we name our values as a denomination. All congregations are invited to weigh in on the process that will lead to two successive votes during the 2023 and 2024 General Assemblies for possible revision.
In the 2020 General Assembly, delegates voted to begin a review of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is the covenant of values between and among UU congregations. It currently contains our seven Principles and six Sources. You can find the current document here.
As a living faith, our denominational by-laws, established in 1961, call for Article II to be reviewed every 15 years. It is an agreed upon practice of regular review of the core tenets that shape the culture of our faith tradition. In 2020, an Article II Study Commission was formed. They have proposed a draft of new language for Article II. You can find the new draft here .This has quite a different feeling and flow about it.
For the past several months, the First Parish’s Racial Justice Task Force has been speaking of the possibility of adopting an 8th principle to the present principles and purposes. This may seem like a confusing parallel course. The work of the 8th principle has helped inform the discernment of Article II. I recommend we keep with our discussions around the 8th principle, as it is helpful in our discernment as a congregation dedicated to anti-racist and anti-oppression work.
In the next few months, we have the opportunity to talk of the core values of our faith, how they impact each of us and how they might send a transformative message as a people of faith engaged in the world. Stay tuned.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music For Sunday
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an old favorite, Randall Thompson’s “The Road Not Taken”, with text by Robert Frost. Randall Thompson was a prolific composer of choral music and taught at Wellesley College, The Curtis Institute of Music, and at Harvard University (where one of his students was Leonard Bernstein). Tom Kemp will also be offering a solo during the worship service.
Christmas Weekend at First Parish
We are offering 3 services Christmas weekend: 5:00pm on Christmas Eve, 10:00pm on Christmas Eve, and 10:30am on Christmas Day. Please see the details below.
All ages welcome at all services.
First Parish Christmas Eve Pageant
5:00 pm – All ages are welcome
The planning for this year’s outdoor pageant is well underway. The pageant is a fun re-imagining of the Nativity. It’s a participatory, family-friendly event. The cast is easily expandable to include extended family or friends who may be visiting (even at the last minute!). Sign up today to be a cast member (singing, speaking, or non-speaking) or to provide musical accompaniment by emailing Steve Yakutis (steve.yakutis@gmail.com). There’s a rehearsal on Sunday, Dec 18th right after church.
There are other ways to help too. We need: guides to assist the audience, help with set-up and break-down, and cookie bakers. Email Sherri at office@fpmilton.org and let her know what you’d like to do.
The outdoor pageant will be held at 5:00 on Christmas Eve, followed by a hot chocolate reception for cast, crew and attendees.
In the event of inclement weather, pageant will be held inside sanctuary.
Christmas Eve- 10:00pm Indoor/Hybrid Meditative Service
Our traditional candelight service- come into the meetinghouse or join on Zoom where we will share reflections, sing carols, lift up the prayerful message of peace for the world. Zoom link will be shared as time nears closer.
Christmas Day- 10:30am service
Join us Christmas Day for an in person only service in the Sanctuary.
Please sign up if you would like to be a worship assistant, greeter, or usher at the 10:00 pm Christmas Eve service.
Religious Exploration
This Sunday is a Solstice Tale and Storytelling Workshop:
Just in time for the Winter Solstice, award-winning storyteller Diane Edgecomb brings to life “Loon’s Song” a dramatic Native American solar myth from the Northwest Coast. Featuring six different birds and animals as active characters in the tale, the story explores the power of community to overcome the power of the very first winter with its companion spirits of darkness and cold. This engaging story features Diane’s “embodied” style of telling where she enacts all the scenes. The tale will be followed by a companion workshop in engaged storytelling technique. Sure to be fun – everyone will get a chance to participate in creating animal characters and embodying a story. Diane is a superb storyteller and workshop leader. Please join us for this event. All are welcome!
Events and Meetings
MILTON COMMUNITY CONCERTS
Saturday, December 10th 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Thanks to all of you who were able to attend Saturday’s MCC concert, “Let’s Celebrate”. This was a “room-run” rehearsal for an upcoming live event by White Snake Projects at WGBH studios (1 Guest Street) in Boston this coming Saturday, December 10th at 3:00 pm and 7:00pm
If you would like to attend this event you can get half-price tickets by going to whitesnakeprojects.org and using the Promo Code “MCC”. We’re happy to report that $450 was raised to support the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center this past Saturday.
From the Membership Committee Walking Group
Like to walk and chat ? First Parish Membership is starting up our walking group again. Dianna Wilson will gather interested walkers at noon on December 11th at the entrance to the Pope John Paul Park in Dorchester.
Contact Dianna for more information: diannaw710@gmail.com
11th Hour Calling Monthly Stand Out for Climate Action & Justice
Sunday, December 11, 6:00 p.m. -6:30 p.m.
First Parish Church lawn
Standing out publicly states that we care about the climate emergency; community action; environmental justice;100% clean, renewable energy to power our lives; and municipal response planning wherever we live. Show up, drum, chant, learn. BYO posters and percussion. It will be dark: dress reflective/neon; headlamps; flashlights. And BTW we regulars have fun doing it !
HOLIDAY BLUES BRUNCH
Saturday, December 17th
10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Home of member Deb Alsebai
More details on sign-up genius.
The holidays are heightened times. This can mean deep grief, loneliness or a sense of isolation. Let’s gather for some good food and fellowship. We’ll socialize and share coping ideas, including some programming offered by Rev. Lisa. This is a time to honor together however we are this holiday season. Please sign up on the below link for planning purposes. All ages welcome.
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. Generally we distribute in increments of $25 and $50. Donations can be left in the grey box in the church hallway. Provide the donors name and mailing address if a tax donation letter is requested.”
Noreen K Dolan, MSW, LCSW
Fund Coordinator
News and Announcements
Mindful Holiday Ideas – 2022
In this season of hope and light may we be mindful of ….
The fragile state of our planet
All those who struggle to find food and shelter, safety and justice
The peace we find within our own hearts
Consider new ways to make your holidays (and year ahead) more mindful, healthy, ecological, and less stressful. Check out the Buy Less Give More guide from the Public Interest Network AND visit our own First Parish Milton website for a homegrown list of ideas.
From your friends on the Social and Environmental Justice Committee
Did you forget something ?
The kitchen has a collection of “abandoned” travel mugs. If you are missing one, please find on the counter. Do not forget to leave with them after social hour.
A girls black “North Face” windbreaker jacket and gray scarf were found in Parish Hall. Thank you.
Volunteer Opportunities
Hospitality Committee in Need of Social Hour Hosts
The hospitality commitee needs your help for 2023! We’d like to continue to offer hot beverages and snacks after Sunday services each week. Thank you in advance for your help!
Please consider signing up in sign up genius if you are interested. And as always thank you to all those who have helped in the past.
Fair Foods
Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that would otherwise be wasted and uses it to feed our communities. We volunteer together unloading and sorting food and packing bags once a month.
The next volunteer date is Saturday, December 10th.
If you want to volunteer, please sign up on Sign up Genius by Thursday
evening before the event. Start time and locations vary depending on Fair Foods’ needs, but typically start at 8:30 a.m. at their warehouse at 70 Amory Street in Roxbury.
Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 with any questions or for more information.
First Parish Milton volunteers provide bagged lunches to MainSpring adult shelters in Brockton twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Members of the Social & Environmental Justice committee will make the delivery to Brockton.
Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day. One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton. Please note how many meals you are making in comments. We are looking for 70 lunches for each delivery day. Lunches should include sandwich, fruit, drink, snack/chips and sweet/cookies.
The next delivery day will be on Wednesday December 21st and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 and 1:00 PM.
If you haven’t made lunches in a while OR if you are a new volunteer, sign up on MainSpring Sign Up Genius or contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net for more info.
Thanks to all the volunteers that have made this program a success for more than two years !!
Looking to assemble a group of volunteers to cook and serve an evening meal at MainSpring or Father Bill’s sometime this Winter/Spring.
Contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net if interested.
Beyond First Parish
GIFT BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
“Milton Grows!”is a year-long programming initiative of Milton Public Library. Two book discussions will take place in 2023. January (date TBD) will feature Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future by Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and special U.N. Climate Envoy). The second, March TBD, will be Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy (professor of “bugs,” author. lecturer). Inspirational books, both – consider gifting, or getting, or checking them out!
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.