This Week in Worship

Sunday, February 15 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Worship Leader – Rev. Hank Peirce

Intergenerational Service

Snowsnowsnowsnow!

We have so much snow and there is more on the way, BUT we had planned a very special Sunday service with a special speaker, Laura Graham, the Mass Bay District’s Ministerial Settlement Representative. Yet having Laura come and speak to us is so important to the process of searching for a new minister we have changed the date that she will be here. So NEXT Sunday the 22nd Laura will come and give the sermon, she will stay afterwards to lead a questions and answers session and then will meet with the Parish Committee.

Does that mean that there is no church this Sunday? Of course there is church this Sunday, unless the Governor closes the roads. You can always check Channel 5 list for updates. The biggest rule for all of you is that if you don’t think its safe for you to travel, don’t travel to church, we would much rather have you safe at home.

Because I love driving in snowy weather so much my family and I will be spending part of next week’s school vacation in Montreal. During that time the Rev. Rebecca Froom of the United First Parish Church in Quincy will be “on call” for pastoral emergencies. If you are in need of pastoral assistance please contact Kiki at the office (x105) and she will put you in contact with either our Pastoral Care Committee or with Rev. Froom.

Be good, do good,
Hank

The Worship Theme for February is Love

February 22nd Getting a Settled Minister – Laura Graham

Laura is a layperson from the Concord church and is the Mass Bay District’s Ministerial Settlement Representative,. She is a lively and engaging speaker and she will address the congregation on the process of calling a new settled minister.

Please stay after the service for a question and answer period with Laura. There will be an abbreviated coffee hour so we can begin the Q&A about 11:45. Childcare has been arranged for anyone that needs it. This is your opportunity to learn more about the search process.

Note on Parking

DO NOT PARK ON ENGINE ROAD if you cannot find a space in the parking lot. The Milton Fire Department needs to have a clear path out to Thacher in an emergency. We were visited last Sunday during the service by the Milton police. We encourage folks to use parking spaces around Town Hall as an alternative. We, like the rest of the Greater Boston area, have lost a percentage of spaces due to the snow pile up.

The time has come to submit your Pledge!

There are several ways to get us your completed pledge form.
Drop off your pledge form at church.
Send it via the U.S. Post Office.
Make your pledge HERE.

Blank pledge forms are in several places at the church including the office bulletin board and the information table outside the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, contact the church office or a member of the Stewardship Team.

We are grateful to those who have already made the commitment for next year. Thank you for your generosity.

News and Announcements

Thanks to all who participated in this year’s Chocolate Auction – those who defied the snowstorm to bring in the fabulous items we bid on, those who got into the spirit of the
bidding, the strong group of bidders that stayed to the bitter end, and those that helped set up and put away. A wonderful group effort. Another good time was had by all, and we raised a whopping $1600 even for the Jericho Road project!

Your humble Auctioneer,

Chris Pitt

Kiki’s Corner

We are now in our third week of snowzillas, blizzards and all things winter. I hope that people know to either check the website for the banner, look at channel 5 for closing information or check our facebook page for information. Please take note about parking on the campus. We have lost many spaces to clear snow. Please do not park on Engine Road so the Fire Department can get down the road. We think we have been keeping up with email and general requests. If we have forgotten something please let me know.

The office is closed on Monday for President’s Day. Miriam and Hank will be away this week. If you need something this week, please email me or leave me a voice mail at extension 105. I expect to be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if we don’t have another snow storm.

Kevin Harnden has done a magnificient job with keeping the walkways clear and making sure the campus has been plowed by our vendor. We are having some other small issues in the building – please be careful with the Meetinghouse and Parish Hall doors. We are having the roof raked on the Link.

SOCIAL ACTION/SOCIAL JUSTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Father Bill’s. We have three additional dates for cooking and serving at Fr. Bill’s.
The dates are: Saturday Feb. 28th, Sunday March 22nd, and Saturday March 28th. The Youth Group is interested in the 3/22 date but you can always feel free to join the group. If interested, please contact Pat Gallivan via email or at 617-696-6406.

UU Urban Ministry. Are you interested in helping the Urban Ministry? Here are some opportunities. Rev. Rebecca Hinds, has set the following communication. Please contact her directly for more specifics. If you have interest in organizing a group and need help spreading the details (via Link, Order of Worship Announcement), let Kiki Giatis know.

Bethany House, our transformational living community for young adult women, is in high need of furniture right now. Desks, desk chairs, beds, bedside tables, and dressers. If you know anyone in your congregation who might be able to donate one of these items please help us out by spreading the word.

In addition, the Bethany House residents are planning a Spread the Love event for February 14th. They will be filling backpacks with necessities and distributing them to the homeless on the streets of Boston. We are collecting winter hats and gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, wipes, candy, granola bars, socks, etc. If you or a group from your congregation would like to collect and donate some of these items we would greatly appreciate it!
Finally, our Roxbury Youth Program is going on a series of college visits over February School Vacation again this year. We are looking for congregations to donate bagged lunches for the youth on one or more of the following days: Feb 17, 18, or 19. If you or a group from your congregation would like to prepare bag lunches for the youth please let me know asap!

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!