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
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“Risking Harmony”
Worship Assistant: Amy Kavadlo
Music: Tim Steele
Flowers: Bebe Williamson
Social Hour: Stewardship Gathering
Audio: Atticus D’Alessandro
Sunday’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
Masks are strongly recommended in the meetinghouse; masks are still required for those who have not been vaccinated. Respect and consideration should be given to all regardless of their masking choice.
I’d like to share a recent administrative juggle and dance that once again revealed Susan DeMinico, our Church Administrator, as a maestro in administration. The staff, as well, pulled together, as we do, as quite a team.
The Activity Room, which is the large room in the basement near the Carriage House entrance, was flooded one morning after a series of rainy days. Many concerns came into play: finding the origin of the leak, figuring out what is needed to fix it, and coordinating the timing of the work around renters who used the space. Susan immediately identified the optimal time to address this juggle of vendors and work when the Carriage House (our preschool rental) would be on school vacation. That left 3 weeks to coordinate a week of juggling 3 vendors to find the leak, fix the leak, proactively secure future leaks and address water damage.
By grace and the skill of our grace operative, Susan, all vendors were able to address the problem, juggle schedules and follow through. This also included church leadership: our Building and Grounds chair, Beth Gray-Nix and the Parish Committee to ok the work and the financing. Our staff team also provided the schedule coverage, so that at least one of us was here to work with the vendors. Our renters were impressed and glad for the improvements in the Activity Room.
But wait there’s more! We were also able to further First Parish’s net carbon zero goal (by 2035). Our proactive move, both for the leak and the environment, was to install a mini-split pump, which both heats and air conditions through electricity. Step by step!
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
** Rev. Lisa will be on study leave from March 23 –March 30th. She will be attending evening church meetings on the 30th **
Music For Sunday
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an anthem which encourages us to move away from the noise of the world, to find rest for the mind, and to “Move Into the Stillness”. This anthem is written by Ruth Elaine Schram and Linda Marcus. To celebrate Commitment Sunday Daon Drisdom will be singing “Giving for Living!” by former U-Mass faculty member Frederick Tillis.
Religious Exploration
This weekend, Holidays and Holy Days with learn about St. Patrick’s Day. Spirit Play will be doing “I Live in the Universe.”Join us!
Events and Meetings
Commitment Sunday – Sunday, March 19th
Sunday, March 19th is when we will close out our church community’s FY2024 Annual Budget Drive with a Gathering in Gratitude Brunch immediately following the service. We are planning a delightful array of food, some spirited entertainment, and the opportunity for members to express their gratitude publicly for any member whose gifts to First Parish they would like to celebrate.
Please join us for an uplifting event, and, by the way, if you haven’t yet submitted your financial commitment, your cordially invited to do so below.
Submit your FY2024 Pledge here
Gratefully,
The Stewardship Committee of First Parish: Charlie Franich (chair), Mallory Digges, Eric Miller, and Mark Ostrem.
“TUNES AND TOSSES” THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 19th 3:00 PM
Milton Community Concerts is proud to welcome back an old friend as the featured performer on its upcoming concert on Sunday, March 19th at 3pm in the Meetinghouse. Multi-instrumentalist and world-class juggler Stuart Ryerse will be presenting “Tunes and Tosses”, a concert of Celtic, folk, and classical music along with some dazzling exhibitions of juggling. Stuart will be joined by several colleagues of his, and he promises a fun afternoon of entertainment.
Tickets are $20 general, 10 seniors, and free admission for 18 and under.
More information to come, or visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com.
UU Elevator Speech Group is happening again!
Last spring, Membership held a series called the Elevator Speech, meaning: if you were going to try to explain to someone what being a UU means during the length of an elevator ride, what would you say?
We are doing it again! Everyone is welcome to join us for a virtual conversation. Next meeting is on Wednesday, March 29th from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm.
Last year’s group found it to be an empowering experience. If you are interested in joining us, please email Leslie: lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com
Grief Support Group
Four Tuesdays: April 4,11,18 & 25
7:00pm – 8:30 pm
In Rev. Lisa’s Office
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 April 11. Please contact Rev. Lisa if interested: minister@fpmilton.org
News and Announcements
Volunteer Opportunity for Evening Dinner at MainSpring
Sunday, March 19th, First Parish Milton has committed to cooking and serving the evening meal at MainSpring shelter in Brockton for 115 guests.
Volunteers are welcome to come to Brockton Sunday afternoon to cook and serve the meal. There are also other options for those who would like to help, but who are unable to make the trip to the shelter.
Food could be prepared at home (menu will be either beef noodle casserole or lasagna). We supplement the main course with a very large tossed salad. Volunteers could buy the ingredients (and receive reimbursement) and either drop them off to Pat Gallivan or bring to church on Sunday. .
Anyone who would like more information can contact me via email: pl.gallivan@verizon.net .
Bottle Water Outreach
Father Bill’s and Main Spring is in high need for individual size bottled water for our guests at our MainSpring House Shelter. Any amount is welcome.
If you are interested in donating, you may drop off water any days between 9:00 am-11:00 am or 1:00 pm-3:00 pm at MainSpring House, 54 N. Main Street, Brockton.
Job Opportunity at First Parish Milton for a Family Ministries Director
FP Milton seeking a ¾ time Family Ministries Director (FMD) to co-create, innovate, and administer a Religious Exploration (RE) Program for all ages.
This position presents an opportunity to work with a congregation seeking a new religious exploration model for all ages. Current goals are to maintain an RE program for children and youth as well as to integrate family ministry, adult faith development, and intergenerational community building.
A detailed job description can be found here. Cover letter and resume should be sent to REsearch@fpmilton.org by April 15, 2023.
Thank you for your interest! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that would 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, April 15th.
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.
Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 with any questions or for more information.
First Parish Milton volunteers provide bagged lunches to MainSpring adult shelters in Brockton twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Members of the Social & Environmental Justice committee will make the delivery to Brockton.
Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day. One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton. Please note how many meals you are making in comments. We are looking for 70 lunches for each delivery day. Lunches should include sandwich, fruit, drink, snack/chips and sweet/cookies.
The next delivery day will be on Wednesday April 5th and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 pm and 1:00 pm.
If you haven’t made lunches in a while OR if you are a new volunteer, sign up on MainSpring Sign Up Genius or contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net for more info.
Thanks to all the volunteers that have made this program a success for more than two years !!
Memorial Service for Natalie Albers
The Albers family will be holding a memorial service for Natalie here at First Parish on Saturday, May 6 at 1 pm. Peggy Albers will be officiating.
Beyond First Parish
Restoration of First Church Roxbury, home of the UU Urban Ministry
As of today, 50% of the pews in the Meetinghouse have been sponsored. Thank you to all those who have supported this initiative – and the restoration of our Meetinghouse. For those who haven’t yet, there is still time…
Sponsor the work that restores the Meetinghouse pews.
- Your $1,000 donation will help fund the work that brings the 106 box pews back to life, and ready to welcome guests again.
- When you sponsor a pew, we will send you a photo of “your” pew, along with any historical information that we know about it.
- Then when the work in the Meetinghouse is completed, join us for a celebration and sit in the pew you helped restore
The restored Meetinghouse will be a home for the arts, humanities, and civic engagement in Roxbury – and one that our neighborhood needs and deserves.
Questions?
Email Vinnie Myles, Director of Development and Communications: vmyles@uuum.org
GET THE BOOK & GET READING!!
Join Tucker Smith on Thursday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. * to dive into author Doug Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard.
Copies of the book will be available to reserve/read in advance. Together, we will brainstorm ways to create America’s newest, largest National Park without any government involvement.
This event is part of “Milton Grows!,” a year-long Milton Public Library program.
[* Note: unknown yet this will be in-person or via Zoom.]
Community E-Waste Collection
Save the Date-Tuesday April 18, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
Milton Academy’s Sustainability Coordinator, Linnea Engstrom, extends a town-wide invitation to spring clean and recycle your electronics. Read all about EarthDay – 4-2023.pdf here for a comprehensive list of acceptable items (no CRT [tube] TVs). Spread the word.
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.