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
- News and Announcements
- Events and Meetings
- Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
A Celebration of Life will be held for beloved member Walt Hagenbuch at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th, at First Parish Milton.
A reception will follow in Parish Hall.
This Week in Worship
“Planting Seeds”
Worship Assistant: Amy Kavadlo
Greeters: Dianna Wilson
Flowers: Dianna Wilson
Social Hour: Tom Kemp & Pat Gallivan
Audio: Nicholas Miller
Please join us for service at 10:30am.
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.
This week’s offering will be given to the World Food Program USA. World Food Program USA is a catalyst for fundraising, advocacy and engagement across the United States in support of the U.N. World Food Programme’s mission to end hunger. Social Justice Committee member, Cynthia Guise will speak.
This Saturday, March 2, I’ll be joining many activists in Boston to add voice to the Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ moral march to the State house. This is an action of the Poor People’s campaign, the organization our family ministries director, Louise, spoke of recently in our time for all ages during worship.
This action is a nationally-coordinated, simultaneous direct action all across the country. There will be gatherings at 32 State Capitals and DC. We will gather at 10 am at the corner of State and Washington Streets and march to the Common across the State House for a rally at 11am.
The Poor People’s campaign, spearheaded by co-chairs Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, advocates for the third reconstruction of our nation. This is described as “drawing on the transformational history of the First Reconstruction following the Civil War and the Second Reconstruction of the civil rights struggles of the 20th century.”
The primary goals are to demand living wages, healthcare, and voting rights, equal rights for all, worker/labor rights, environmental justice, access to housing, fully-funded public education, abolishing poverty, and the unity of love, not the division of hate.
This is a national call for a moral revival which has resounded since 1968. Transformation moves slowly, but needs constant infusions of hope and dedication.
Check it out, either by marching on Saturday or looking into the work of this courageous, uplifting organization.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music This Week
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an anthem called “Make Space for Life to Live”, by Michael John Trotta. Mr. Trotta is a composer, conductor, and pianist who studied at Rowan University and Louisiana State University. He currently lives in New York City as a full-time free-lance composer.
SING FOR THEIR SUPPER DONATIONS
Thank you to all of you who were able to attend the “Sing For Their Supper” concert this past weekend. Thanks to your generosity, and the generosity of our performers, well over $1500 was raised for the Milton Food Pantry and Milton Residents Fund (some donations are still coming in, and donations are still being accepted if you’d like to donate).
Milton Community Concerts would a like to invite you to our final concert of the season on Sunday, April 28 at 3pm, “In Community: A Concert Celebrating LGBTQ+ Stories”.
RE This Week
UU Summer Fun Registration!
It’s time to formally register for our UU summer fun! Follow this link to register. Per the recommendation of the Religious Education Committee, we are shifting our age range to also welcome preschoolers whose older siblings will also be attending our summer fun and/or who attend Spirit Play but may not be entering first grade. Please reach out to Louise (re@fpmilton.org) with questions about this new policy. We continue to want to be flexible and accommodating, while still prioritizing safety and a quality experience for all involved.
News & Announcements
Events and Meetings
Commitment Sunday is Almost Here
Please Make Your Pledge
And Join Us for a Celebration on March 10th
THANK YOU to all those who have thus far submitted their financial commitment for
this year’s Budget Drive. But with just over 1 week to go before Commitment
Sunday we have yet to hear from about 40% of the congregation. We are counting on you.
Here is the link:
Then please mark your calendars to join us after the Commitment Sunday service for our Gathering in Gratitude celebration. Make sure to give some thought to whom you would like to recognize either for their service to the First Parish community or for ways they have influenced your own personal growth.
Thank you,
The Stewardship Committee of First Parish in Milton—Charles Franich (chair), Rob Dahl, Mallory Digges, Eric Miller, and Mark Ostrem
Grief Support Group
Four Tuesdays: March 5, 12, 19, 26
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward
When we lose a loved one through death, the world is different, our lives shift in meaning, our ground is shaken. We can feel isolated by our grief. We can also feel a lack of strength or initiative to find a way through. One way to help adjust to the new reality and find our inner resources is to share our journey of loss and recovery with others. There are many ways that we grieve and many kinds of losses. This group is focused on loss due to the death of a loved one. The loss can be recent or from years gone by. We ask participants to commit to at least three of the sessions, no new participants after March 12.
Please contact Rev. Lisa: minister@fpmilton.org if you would like to attend.
Circle Suppers Are Back!
Here’s an opportunity to socialize with First Parish friends and acquaintances in an informal setting. These gatherings will include facilitator-led discussions of the proposed changes to Article II, which we’ll be voting on at Annual Meeting in May so that our delegates to General Assembly can represent our wishes.
There are three options to participate, all potlucks: two dinners—Friday, March 22nd and Friday, April 5th—and a brunch—Saturday, March 30th. The brunch date will have childcare available.
Sign up for your preferred date and food contribution here:
If you need help with Sign Up Genius or have questions, please contact Lisa White at lisawhite1250@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE
First Parish Spring Auction
April 6, 2024
We’re looking for donations of items and services for our April 6 auction fundraiser.
Can you offer a homemade dinner or bake a cake?
How about a vacation home?
How about Red Sox tix?
Can you sing for a dinner party?
Do you make something you could donate—jewelry, quilts, artwork?
What item or service could you offer?
If you have a item or service you can offer, we’d appreciate you filling out this form for us!
Paper forms will be available after Sunday’s service as well.
Thank you for your support of the auction!
Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
March 6th is the next date!
S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the first and third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches twice a month to support shelter guests.
See updated instructions on the Mainspring SignUpGenius page and signup whenever you can help out.
We are counting on your support!
Beyond First Parish
First Parish & Church of the Holy Spirit’s 4th Bridging Dinner
Friday, March 1 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
First Parish Milton, 535 Canton Ave, Milton.
We are excited to be able to host more people and provide Babysitting. The dinner and dessert will be catered by a local black owned restaurant. Suggested donation is $25 per person. Please RSVP to Deb Alsebai at alsebai@verizon. net if you would like to join the gathering.
The RJTF will be offering First Parish Members and friends a chance to read “Waking Up White” by Debby Irving.
Copies are in the Racial Justice Library and at local public libraries.
The next sessions will be on Zoom Thursday 3/7 and 3/21 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. We will review 3 chapters each session. Whether this is your first time reading this book or you have read it before it can be eye opening, life changing and surely will generate courageous conversations.
If these Thursday nights do not work for you on Sunday, March 3 we will gather in person after church for informal discussions of the book from 12:0O to 1:00.
Please RSVP Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net if you would like to participate in either event.
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.