Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 2/21/2014

Weekly Link 2-21-14

Heart
February Worship Theme

Bonds of Love

We often invoke the power of love as a religious theme. Sometimes we’re talking about affection, sentimentality. And often we use it as shorthand for the power of that which ties us to one another and is more powerful than just a fleeting “good feeling.” This month, we reflect together on the different kinds of relationships through which we experience the divine: marriages, friendships, parent/child relationships, and mentorship.

This Week in Worship

Sunday, February 23, 2014
10:30am WORSHIP

Leading service this Sunday Matt Meyer with music by Tim Steele

Our Song to Sing

Matt Meyer will lead us in an energetic exploration of rhythm, music, and justice. What does the experience of music tell us about how we live out our faith in the world? What does it tell us about the community we build together? Join us this Sunday for rhythm and song, quiet reflection, and an experience of the holy in music.

Matt is a musician and community organizer who has lead hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He is a member of the UUA’s Council on Cross Cultural Engagement and is also a founding resident of the Lucy Stone Cooperative in Roxbury.

This Sunday Rev. Parisa Parsa will be preaching at the former
Leap of Faith partner church in Richmond, Virginia.

Rev. Parisa will be away February 16-23. She will return to the office on February 24. If you have a pastoral need during this time, you may call her cell phone or email her to be put in touch with a local colleague.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Workshop Sunday

Passages will go directly to their class room.

Youth chat will gather in the youth room.

Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

All other Children will start in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their workshop.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the office at office@fpmilton.org.

“By building relations we create a source of love and personal pride and belonging makes living in a chaotic world easier.” Susan Lieberman

If you belong to a First Parish group that meets informally and have space for additional members, we’d love to know. We’re interested in the focus of your group, when you meet and whether or not you might have room for others. If you have information to share, questions to ask, or would like to chat, please contact Melinda Collins at (617) 852-6389.

News and Announcements

New Member Orientation Class
Sunday, February 23 (noon – 2pm)

We will be meeting in the Chase Parlor and lunch and childcare provided. Please email Kiki Giatis at director@fpmilton.org with any questions.

artIt’s back! The first art/creative salon of 2014 is Fri, February 28, 7pm.

So put that date on your calendar!

Agenda includes brainstorming artist/material/technique ideas for the future, discovering each other’s talents/aspirations for the group, and Superfun surrealist art games!

Examples:

MusicMusic Lovers…Take Note!

It was recently discovered that our beloved First Parish organ is in need of a fairly major repair. In order to help get this costly job done without breaking our bank, the Music Committee is cooking up some opportunities for you to participate in this cause – beginning with Café Blue Hills on March 1st. Stay tuned for more!

Saturday, March 1st, 7 to 10pm in the Parish Hall

Please join us on Saturday, March 1st from 7 to 10 pm for a night of home-made music by members of our own First Parish congregation.  We’ll have some light refreshments, and donations will be gratefully accepted to help with repairs to our First Parish organ.

Admission is free but please come prepared to donate generously to help with the repairs to our First Parish organ.

If you are interested in performing or willing to help with set up, please see Charlie Franich of the Membership Committee or send him an email at pemaquid@aol.com.

Luminaria, a woman’s a cappella group originally formed from a First Parish small group ministry, has now been singing for nursing home and hospice patients for about two years.  If you know of anyone who might benefit from this caring music ministry, we’d love to offer our services.  Call Patricia Ostrem at 617-696-4186.

Separated and Divorced Support Group

Sunday, March 2 in the Chase Parlor from 12noon – 1:30pm

This group will be meeting the first and third Sundays of the month.

Caring Committee

Our Caring Committee helps connect and respond with compassion to the expressed needs and concerns to members of our community.  Please consider ways you might help out when needed.  Volunteers may help drive someone to doctor’s appointments, church or church events; make a meal and deliver it, help with simple home repairs.  Check out all the possibilities, including joining the Caring Committee.  Forms are available on the information table located in the Parish Hall.  We are grateful to all those that already have been a great help with a variety of needs including those on short notice.

Annual Budget Drive FY15

We are grateful to the following 44 households for making their commitment to the Annual Budget Drive FY2015. We have raised $152,970.00 (59%) of our goal of $260,000. Thank you for your generosity!

Debbie Alsebai
Mike & Tasha Bello
Mary Blanchette & Jim May
Bob & Anne-Marie Buckland
Chris & Karla Clifford
Harris & Melinda Collins
Robin & Rob Coyne/Savage
Nancy & Dan Devine
Mallory Digges
Donna Drewes
Frances Field
Charlie Franich & Ruth Hannon
Leah & Pat Gallivan
Andrea Geyling & John Moore
Dale Golembeski & Amy Kavadlo
Beth Gray-Nix
Beth & Keith Greenawalt
Walt & Sandra Hagenbuch
Ann Hallett
Ruth Heiden & Marsha Maurer
Elise Henricks & Tony Dutzik
Tom Hess
Wayne Johnson & Diane Fallon-Johnson
Deborah Larson Venable & Richard Venable
Laurie Macintosh
Ursula & Bill MacMillan
Scott McIsaac & Suzanne Durrell
Brigitte & Eric Miller
David Morse
Gillian & Matthew Najarian
Amy Norton
Mark & Patricia Ostrem
Glenn Pavlicek & Anita Penta
Kimberly Perez Gern & Kent Gern
Sue Phillips & Tandi Rogers
Jennifer Pinkus & Jay Beaulieu
Chris & Dottie Pitt
Tracey Robinson
Tim Steele and Elizabeth Steele
Jeff Stoodt & Lisa White
Andy Strang
Russ Tremaine
Bebe Williamson
Allison Zippay & Jim Kelly

If you’ve received a pledge form, please turn it in or mail it to the church office!
Pledges all due by February 28!

MeditationMeditation meets weekly Sundays and Wednesday

Meditation continues Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm-7:30pm as well as Sunday from 9:00am-9:30am both meet in the Children’s Church.

All are welcome to join us and enjoy some peaceful, restful quiet.

KikiKiki’s Corner

Annual Budget Drive – There are blank forms outside the office on the bulletin board and on the Information Table in the Parish Hall. In late April/early May, you will receive a letter from the office confirming your pledge amount and updated information on automatic payment options. Please remember to return a pledge form by February 28. Thank you for giving generously.

Nursery hours: The nursery is open on Sunday mornings from 10 am – 12:00 am to take care of children ages 4 and under. It is also open during First Parish events when childcare is provided. The nursery is staffed by two babysitters each week. The nursery room is locked at all other times.

Office Closings for Snow. (Hopefully we won’t have any more of these) We follow the lead of the Milton public schools to close because of snow. We typically will make note of this on our website and Facebook page. I do work remotely from home. So keep sending your e-mail to director@fpmilton.org, I am checking and responding to e-mail even while it snows.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook! “Like” our page www.facebook.com/FirstParishMiltonUu 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. The link to SignUp Genius is:

Sign Up Here!