This Week in Worship

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

They almost never miss a Sunday service, they are there early and leave late, they sit in quietly in the back and they are so important to the service that you might not be able to enjoy the service without them. I am of course speaking about our two young people who run the audio visual part of the service. Eliza Given runs the audio board and makes sure that you can hear those of speaking and also hear much of the music. Her job is really key to anyone who uses hearing assistance in the worship service. Aman Negassi is perched up in the choir loft capturing our worship service on video. Those services are shared on local cable and if you saw the presentation given by Laura Graham, the Ministerial Settlement Representative for the district, that was because Amman captured it on video. Allow me to also say that they are thoughtful, nice and good young adults whom we should all be proud are a part of our religious community.

I call your attention to them today not only because we owe a huge debt to both of them, but also because they will both be heading off to university in the fall. This means that we not only want to properly thank them, but that we must also find replacements for them. These positions can be filled by youth or by an adult so if you or your young person would be interested in one of these positions please come and speak to me or a member of the worship committee.

See you in church!

Hank

Rev. Susan Chorley, Associate Director and Minister of Programs at the UU Urban Ministry in Roxbury, joins us this Sunday in worship. Her sermon will focus on the racial justice work happening in and through the programs of the UU Urban Ministry and how our congregation can be involved. She is a fun and dynamic preacher and I look forward to sharing the service with her on Sunday.

The Worship Theme for March is Brokenness

22nd The Art of Wrestling

“The scriptures tell of Jacob spending all night wrestling with and angel. How many nights have you spent awake struggling with issues that seem to have a hold on you? And how do you know when you are through?”

March 29th Palm Sunday: From Nomads to Pilgrims

How do we transform ourselves from individuals to a religious community? How do we put together our broken lives in a way that not only serves us, but God? This is the journey we are on from nomads to pilgrims.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, March 15, 2015

• Spirit Play (Pre K – 1st grade) will meet in their classroom.
• Passages 2nd graders will go directly to their classroom.
• Small Group Ministries 3rd – 6th Graders will begin in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their Religious Education class.
• Neighboring Faiths 7th Graders will meet in the library.
• OWL 8th Graders will meet in the Children’s Church (Class runs from 10:00am – 11:30am)
• Youth Chat students will go directly to the youth room. Special guest, Rev. Hank Peirce
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

Youth Group Happenings

For the latest on First Parish in Milton Youth Activities go on to the church website or CLICK HERE.

Common Hearth – RE Event

Please Join us for an Evening of Fun and Information at First Parish.

When: March 27th, 6pm – 8pm

What: a quick dinner followed by a parenting seminar by Beth Greenawalt entitled:

“Deepen your Loving Connection with your Child”

Bring the kids: Miss Julie from Petit Papillon Yoga will take them through a fun yoga workshop.

This is a free event and all are welcomed!

Music News

Raising the Roof!

On Sunday, March 15th at 4:00 we hope you’ll plan on attending “Raising the Roof”, a free benefit concert put on by Milton Community Concerts in the Meetinghouse.

Along with the First Parish Meetinghouse Choir this concert will also feature the Sanctuary Choir and Celestial Ringers from the United Church of Christ in Norwell, MA. The UCC Norwell groups, under the direction of Karen Harvey, include members who are singing this year for concerts in Rome and at Lincoln Center in New York.

We also welcome special guest choir Luminaria, an acapella women’s ensemble based on the South Shore dedicated to performing for people who are too ill to attend a live musical performance.

In support of its mission an offering will be taken to support The Conversation Project, a collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

News and Announcements

Volunteers needed!

Need folks to sign up for hosting Social Hour and USHERING during services. Take a minute, look at your calendar and sign up.

It’s as easy as follow this link and adding your name to an open slot.

Let’s work together to do our part and help Sunday’s run smoothly. This is an easy way to provide service to the congregation.

Ostara is a celebration of the Spring Equinox

It marks the time when days and nights are of equal length and the sun begins to win out over the dark. Many religions celebrate holidays during this time of year, including the Hindu Holi, Jewish Purim, Sikh Hola Mohalla and Christian Easter. Ostara or Eostre is the Anglo-Sazon goddess of dawn, the coming of spring, new growth and fertility.

Join the Great Blue Hill CUUPS circle as we celebrate the end of winter (at least astronomically) with song, prayer, blessings and ritual planting.

Ostara will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, March 21st at 7:00pm. All are welcome to join in the ceremony and in our traditional pot luck social hour following. For more information, contact Mark Whall.

Upcoming programs from the New England Region of the UUA

Saturday, April 18 from 9:00am to 3:00pm – The Future of Small to Mid-Size Congregations:A WORKSHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS CONSIDERING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR CHURCH’S FUTURE

LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, MA

This program is designed for team participation. If you are interested in being part of the team, please email me Let me know if you are interested in being part of a team from First Parish Milton.

Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 1 pm – 4 pm Combined District Annual Meetings Saturday at First Parish Church in Weston

Kiki’s Corner

I will be out of the office from Wedenesday, March 18 – Sunday, March 29. Check in with Miriam on anything that may need immediate attention. Otherwise, drop me an email and I will respond it it when I return.

We have added a section to the Member’s Page – Transitions/Interim Minstry. You can find the Bridging Committee’s final report, Choosing a Minister Search Committe and the Election Process for Search Committee.

Missed the February 22 service and discussion after worship about the Ministerial Search process? Don’t worry we recorded it. Find it on our Facebook page or theMember’s Page of our website. Laura Graham is our Ministerial Settlement Representative and did a wonderful job with both the sermon and after worship discussion.

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!