Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 2/24/2022

Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 2/24/2022

Table of Contents

  • Message from Reverend Lisa
  • This Week in Worship
  • This Week in Religious Exploration
  • This Week in Music
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Events
  • News, Announcements and Meetings

This Week in Worship

“The Art of Hospitality”

Facilitated by: Rev. Lisa Ward

Worship Associate: Katie Vhay

Music: Tim Steele

Audio: Brynne Mershon & Atticus D’Alessandro

Worship Services are hybrid

Join us in person or on Zoom.

Please see the zoom link below. 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.

Sunday’s offering will be dedicated to the services and ministry of First Parish.

Message from Reverend Lisa

Lisa Headshot

Russia has launched an all-out war on Ukraine Wednesday night, with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air. It is the largest military conflict in Europe since 1945. European nations aligned in condemnation to what Denmark coined as “an abhorrent breach of International law”. Many are not surprised, but deeply disheartened by this devastating choice.

One resident theologian commented that, with a hint toward a possible lifting of the Covid disruption in our lives, we are thrust, once again, in another global disruption. This inane choice to go to war sends fissures throughout humanity’s ground of being. This does harken back, lest we forget, to the US choice for pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. The “attack to defend” reasoning was wrong then, and it is wrong now. 

President Biden pointed out that the strength of collaboration within NATO nations is stronger than it has ever been. This strength, this acknowledgement of interdependence is, indeed, a hopeful development. Also, though striking back in kind may be the initial impulse, measured, systemic action to disable resources, access and control will strengthen resilience to aggression. Strength of force remains at the ready if all else fails. Working together is, indeed, far more powerful than working against.

Let us understand that as a global community, acts of aggression and devastation affect us all. So do acts of generosity, love, strength and resilience. Let us hold in our hearts all who are directly affected by this invasion: may shelter, sustenance, aid and respite be found. Let us all summon the collective wisdom needed to find ways to reweave this shattered peace.

This I pray. Amen

This Week in Religious Exploration

Children will be in worship for the first part of the Worship! Nursery care is available for our littlest people. After the Story for All Ages, children and teachers head to Parish Hall for class. Please come to Parish Hall and/or the Nursery to pick up your children after Worship.

We conclude this month of Widening the Circle and Black History Month with the story The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore. The National Memorial African Bookstore was founded towards the end of the period known as the Harlem Renaissance and served as a cultural center as well as book retailer. The children will also be looking at the 8th Principle, a commitment to dismantling racism and white supremacy in ourselves and in our institutions . Congregations have been adopting the 8th Principle as the UUA studies adding this Principle to our seven existing Principles. First Parish is engaging this question in the coming months.

Molly B. Nolan, Transitional Director of Religious Education

This Week in Music

Jennifer Sgroe will be sharing a new setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I Shall Not Live in Vain” by American composer Jake Heggie, a song originally composed for soprano Renee Fleming. Grace Allendorf will be singing an art song by prolific composer Paula Kimper, “Here is a Place”, with text by Suzanne Gardinier.

Volunteer Opportunities

Mainspring Lunch Bag Program

The next date is March 2nd-volunteers needed!

The Sign up Genius has the Wednesday dates listed- you can sign up now!

If you require more information or have questions please contact Peter Schneider at peterlschneider@gmail.com

Fair Foods

Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that wwould 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, March 19th.

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.

Sign up here!

Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods on weekdays from early morning until mid-afternoon.

Any questions or for more information contact Tony Dutzik at tdu

Household Items Drive for Haitian Migrants

Saturday, February 26th ~10:00 am-12:00 pm

THANKS to those of you who donated winter items for our urgent drive for the Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI) and the individuals and families it supports.

Now there is another opportunity to help. On Saturday, February 26, First Parish will be holding a household items drive for IFSI.

To donate: drop off any items to the Carriage House between 10:00 am-12:00 pm on Saturday the 26th.

If you have any questions, contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 or Cynthia Guise at clguise@comcast.net or 617-653-3035

Items that are needed include: 

Babies/children:

Diapers/wipes, toys, winter items, strollers, car seats, baby carriers.

Household items:

-Bed sets (mattresses, cribs, toddler beds, adult beds);

– Bed sheets, comforters, pillows, towels, wash cloths

– Curtains, shades, blinds

– Cookware (pots, pans, cups, plates, utensils)

– Storage (portable closets, hangers, laundry baskets, dressers, chests of drawers)

– Cleaning supplies (brooms, mops, vacuums, cleaning solutions, sponges, brushes)

Toiletries: for men and women

Gift cards: To stores such as Target, Walmart or Macy’s

Click to view Amazon Wish list

For more information on IFSI, or to make a monetary donation, please visit www.ifsi-usa.org

Events and Meetings

Milton Community Concerts

Please mark your calendars for the first live concert event since 2019 for Milton Community Concerts. On Saturday, March 19th at 7:00 pm, a talented group of singers from Opera On Tap Boston will be presenting a spectacularly diverse program called “The Heart of a Woman.” This benefit concert will support Renewal House, a shelter to support the victims of domestic violence, run by the UU Urban Ministry. More details to follow in upcoming weeks. Fore more information please visit miltoncommunityconcerts.c

Membership

UU Elevator Speech– This course was designed by the UU Church in Dallas to help you voice what Unitarian Universalism and your membership at First Parish means to you, in a comfortable, conversational way. 

UU Elevator Speech guides participants through developing an elevator speech about their Unitarian Universalist faith.It is called an “elevator speech” because on an elevator ride when someone asks you “what is Unitarian Universalism?” you only have a short time to make ameaningful statement.

This isn’t just for new folks. This is meant for all to deepen their relationship with the wider community and church.

Dates are on Tuesday evenings in March: 1, 15 and 29th from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm over Zoom.

If you would like to participate, please email Leslie: at lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com

2. Walks– Debbie Alsebai and Dianna Wilson are leading walks after church, weather permitting. The next one will be on Sunday, February 20th. Reach out to Debbie to find out where the meet-up will happen. debalsebai@gmail.com

3. Theater – Debbie is also organizing a trip to see a performance of The Bluest Eye. Reach out to her for information: debalsebai@gmail.com

4. Cooking – Save the date! Membership is celebrating April Fools Day with FOOLISH FOODS! We will be cooking a silly assortment of foods that may or may not be what they seem. (Are they cupcakes or meatloaf??) Friday, April 1st. More info will be coming.

Racial Justice Focus Group

Next meeting is Wednesday, March 23rd ~ 7:00 pm-8:30 pm

We will be concentrating on two related initiatives offered by the the larger UU community. The first is to examine our own history and culture in Unitarian Universalism and in our congregation as applies to racial justice. There is a Report from the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, named Widening The Circle of Concern, equipped with a study guide and advocacy suggestions.  We will be engaging this report for the rest of our church year, taking our time to continue the deep and wide discernment of the call in both our hearts and much of nation for systemic change. 

We welcome all who are interested to come to our monthly meetings, the fourth Wednesday of the month, from 7-8:30 pm. We have hard copies. There is also online access: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening

News and Announcements

Stewardship

February is Stewardship Month!

Thank you for responding to the letter from the Stewardship Team by making a pledge for the ’22-’23 church year. Your support for FY23 in any amount is most appreciated. Please let the office know if you were not contacted.

S&EJ Committee- Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (S.2149)e

Contact your Senator Now- Milton’s Sen. Walter Timilty co-sponsored S.2149, which updates legislation to expand bottle deposits on water, sports drinks, “nips,” teas, and other beverages. If he’s “your guy” on Beacon Hill, thank him and encourage him to influence his colleagues. If you live elsewhere (Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Dorchester, etc.), please contact YOUR senator asap: 16 have endorsed; 21 are needed for a slim Senate majority. We know plastic bottles are a plague upon our environment, both manufacturing and disposing of them. Solid waste burned in incinerators pollutes surrounding neighborhoods — this is an Environmental Justice issue. It’s easy to find your senator here, and MASSPIRG has an action guide to inform you. Thank you.


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.