Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 2/20/2015

Weekly Link 2/20/2015

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, February 22 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Getting a Settled Minister – Laura Graham

In moments like this I’m reminded of an old Russian proverb “The church is close, but the road is icy. The bar is far, but I will walk carefully.”

This Sunday we have the wonderful Laura Graham with us. She will help to explain the process that a church goes through in order to find the best minister. After the service she will lead a Q and A. You will really enjoy this Sunday, don’t miss it!

And remember to walk carefully wherever you go.

– 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 – We expect there will be challenges this Sunday. We have lost a big percentage of spaces in the lot. Please consider looking for alternate spaces in the Town Hall/Fire Department area. We hope that our spaces will be used by those that need to have the shortest walk to the church.

We also know that the Fire Department needs access to ENGINE ROAD.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Workshop Sunday

  • Kids will start out in the Meetinghouse
    K – 7th graders are invited to attend a workshop this coming Sunday. We will be exploring our 7 UU Principles through games and activities.
  • Passages – 2nd graders will be meeting this coming Sunday in their classroom at 10:30am.
  • NO OWL or Youth activities this Sunday, all youth are expected to attend the worship service.
  • The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

News and Announcements

First Parish Stewardship Identity Variations (CMYK)It’s Time to Pledge! First Parish Stewardship Campaign Ends March 1

First Parish’s annual stewardship campaign is coming to a close, and we need your help!

The stewardship campaign is the time when we make our commitments of financial support for the next church year, which starts in July. Those commitments are critical – they shape our plans for worship, religious education, social action and much more. By filling out a pledge form, you’re voting “yes” to sustain and expand the life changing work of our church and UU’ism in the world.

So far, 53 families have pledged a total of $160,000 for next year. If you have already submitted a pledge, thank you! But if you haven’t, please help us reach our goal of 100% participation in this year’s drive.

The good news is that the Stewardship Team has extended the deadline for pledges until March 1. So if you’re still digging out from the snowstorms, there is still plenty of time to pledge. Doing it is easy. You may have received a pledge form in the mail, and if not, there are plenty available at church.

You can drop off your pledge form at church, send it by mail, or make your pledge on-line on the website, If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Tony Dutzik, Kiki Giatis, or any member of the Stewardship Team.

All the best,

Tony Dutzik
On Behalf of the Stewardship Team

A reminder about where to find snow closing information for First Parish in Milton.

If the Milton Public Schools close for snow, so does First Parish. Sundays we realize are trickier. We will call it by 8 a.m. on Sunday. Look for cancellations in three places.

Channel 5, WCVB television. Look for First Parish – Milton. Check their website if you want to get automatic, direct notification through the TV station.

Check our website. We put a banner on the home page with closing information.

Check our Facebook page. First Parish Milton UU. We will post cancellations there.

KikiKiki’s Corner

Be Patient on Sunday

There are a variety of challenges for this coming Sunday morning. Hank, Miriam and Tim have been away this week. It will be the same printed Order of Worship we originally scheduled with Laura Graham for 2/15. But there will likely be impromptu changes during the service. Please come early to give you time to deal with our parking situation. All shall be well. A sense of humor and flexibility will be good things to bring with you.

Say Thank You

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. They are not working well and we are having difficulty finding a permanent fix.

The Link

Submission Deadline Tuesdays at 5 pm. Please email the information to both Kiki and Miriam to ensure it makes the publication. Please note your announcement may be edited due to space constraints. We encourage brevity (one to two paragraphs max.) The Link goes out as an email blast on Thursdays and generally posted on our Facebook page First Parish Milton UU by Saturday.

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!