Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 3/16/2018

Weekly Link 3-16-18

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, March 15, 2018

Theme: Resilience

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Rev. LisaMinister Rev. Lisa Ward

Even though many of us are looking at piles of snow, Spring is right around the corner. The rest of the month at First Parish mirrors the sprouting of activity that the season will bring. There are many opportunities for celebration and farewells, social gathering and enterprise.

On Sunday, March 18th, we begin with a worship service led by the youth and middle schoolers, a rare and precious opportunity. At Fellowship Hour, we will be having a celebration of Kiki Giatis’ nearly five years of service as Director of Congregational Life and Administration (DCL&A). As you know, Kiki will be leaving at the end of March. We will be in transition for office infrastructure, as the role of DCL&A is dissolved. Let’s gather to bid her well on her journey and to recognize the immense help she has given in creating systems for smoother office support.

Next weekend we have more opportunities for celebration. The FunRaiser Auction on Saturday, March 24th promises to be a grand occasion, with the diligent work of many volunteers. The next day, on Palm Sunday, we will be welcoming 12 new members to our faith community. This is the Sunday, as well, for our annual communion with the church silver. Please stay for Fellowship Hour on the 25th as well, to celebrate the new members in our midst.

As the Social Action committee so aptly phrased it on our FP Milton aprons: “something is always cooking at First Parish.”

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious ExplorationReligious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

Nursery and toddler care is available every week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This week our caregivers are Daisy and Toya. Stop by and say hello!

Religious Exploration for Sunday, March 18: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then preschool to grade 5 children will move to their classrooms. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am.

Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “The Planter of Trees.” Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Super Heroes: Bible People curricula, meeting in the Children’s Church. This week will continue the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Grades 6 through 8 will remain in the Meetinghouse for the full service today. Their class will be sharing their reflections from the Friends and Neighbors curriculum with the congregation. Thus far, the group has learned about Judaism, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Earth-centered Traditions, Humanism, Agnosticism, and Atheism.

Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Youth Yacking

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

This Saturday: Sleepover!

Youth are to arrive at the church at 8pm on Saturday with snacks to share and having already been fed dinner. We are still in need of Chaperones. Please let me know ASAP if you are available and interested in helping out the youth group staff the overnight!

This week’s youth programming: Youth Led Service, 9am – 11:30am

This week, the youth group is leading the worship service with the help of the Friends and Neighbor’s class. We are asking youth not staying overnight on Saturday to arrive at 9am on Sunday to help prepare for the 10:30am service.

Events, News and Announcements

jazz

Join the fun!

First Parish Spring Fun-raiser

When: Saturday, March 24 — 6:30pm-10pm

VIEW the auction items and vacation homes:

http://fpfunraiser.homestead.com/index.html

Restaurants, books, art, music, Reds Sox and concert tickets, and much more!

Jazz tunes with Joel Hiller and croons and tunes by Franc Graham, Jeff Stoodt, Pat Neves, Claudia Wellington and others. Appetizers*drinks*desserts.

Friends of First Parish welcome as well!

$10 donation at the door

(checks and cash only for auction items – no credit cards)

mcc

“A Glimpse Into the Future”

March 18 at 3pm in the Meetinghouse

See if you can spot the future opera stars in “A Glimpse Into the Future”. Milton Community Concerts at First Parish is proud to showcase graduate opera students from the New England Conservatory Opera Theater in a fun afternoon of opera scenes, arias, and musical theater pieces. This concert will be in the Meetinghouse on Sunday afternoon, March 18th at 3pm. This is their only performance of the year outside of Boston, so don’t miss this opportunity to hear young aspiring vocal talent from one of the country’s top opera training programs. Tickets (available at the door only) are $20/$10 seniors/free for 18 and under. For more information visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com.

Thanks

Many thanks to the Neves-Hiller family for assisting in ringing our two bells (meetinghouse and children’s church) on March 14th, starting at 10 am for 17 minutes, in solidarity with the worldwide school walkout to honor the 17 killed in the massacre at the Parkland High School.

March for Our Lives

Saturday, March 24, 12pm – 5pm in Boston

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Linda Carney Goodrich, Deb Alsebai and their children are attending the youth march against gun violence on the Boston Common on March 24. We plan to meet at Deb’s house and take the train to the march from there. We invite all who are interested to join us.

Please contact Linda at Lindacarneygoodrich@yahoo.com for more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour. For more details or come to the Social Action table at coffee hour.

SOCIAL HOUR – POT LUCK

When: MARCH 25!

On Sunday, March 25th, social hour will be pot luck. Christa Ayoub and Jen Pinkus
will set up the coffee, tea and cider for social hour. If the spirit moves you,
bring a coffee cake, some cheese and crackers, fruit or anything else and add it to the table.

Knowing First Parish, we’ll end up with an interesting buffet! Our goal
is “No Stress.”

SUMMER SERVICES

Summer is coming! And that means lay-led summer services at 9:30 am in The Children’s Church. Is there some aspect of your spiritual journey that you have wanted to share with the congregation? Is there some part of your social action work that you would like to present to others? This is your chance! Please email Mallory Digges if you have interest in leading a service.

FIRST PARISH TENEBRAE SERVICE

Friday, 30 March, 7:00 PM

Children’s Church

The word “tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness”. This is a service to reflect on the execution of Jesus. It is contemplative, honoring the profound loss of light felt in his death and our calling to enliven spiritual light in the world (one of the callings of Easter).

SPRING 2018 CIRCLE SOCIALS

Dinner – Saturday April 7 NEW DATE

Blue Hills Hike & Happy Hour – Saturday April 14

Please join us for the next round of collaborative get-togethers — no agenda other than making and renewing friendship.

Register with Tucker Smith — your name (s), how many, and contact email/phone. Hosts will coordinate food/beverage offerings directly.

DINNER

Saturday, April 7, 6:30 – 9 p.m., Deb Larson-Venable and Richard Venable (2 friendly dogs and cats), 6 adults welcome; 8 Essex Road (directions will be sent)

BLUE HILLS HIKE & HAPPY HOUR

Saturday, April 14 (Raindate Sunday, April 29), 2 – 4:00 p.m.; Hale and Tucker Smith; multi-generational number welcome; 1632 Canton Avenue (END of Carberry Lane cul-de-sac, directions will be sent)

THE FIRST PARISH ARTS GROUP is planning to see the play “The Humans” on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:30 PM at the Shubert Theater in Boston. Carpooling from FP will be arranged. Orchestra seats are $73 or $61 for seniors. Balcony seats are $41. Tony award winning play “The Humans” by Stephan Karam is an uproarious, hopeful and heartbreaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. All are welcome.

Please contact Laurie Macintosh or Deb Alsebai to purchase tickets and coordinate carpooling.

Sunday, March 25, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall.

March heralds the arrival of spring and the celebration of Ostara, the Spring Equinox. Dark and light are equal, so it represents a time of finding balance. Mother Earth is awakening and feeling the first joys of spring. It is a time to plant new seeds, not just in the garden but within our lives as well, to join in the celebrations and revel in the new and exciting energy.All are welcome to join the First Parish CUUPS in a celebration of Ostara on Sunday, March 25, at 3:00pm in the Parish Hall. Pot Luck social hour to follow.

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 – 2:00 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, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
  • Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
  • Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

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.