Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Worship Committee
• Music Info
• RE Events
• Social & Environmental
• Justice Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

March Worship Theme: HUMANITY

“Fasting and Feasting”

Worship Assistant: Chris Clifford

Greeter: Tracey Robinson

Audio: Nicholas Miller

Social Hour: Mary Blanchette and Jim May

Social Hour:  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 Neponset River Watershed. Since their founding in 1967, their mission has been to protect and restore the natural resources of the Neponset River, its tributaries, and surrounding watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations. The Association fulfills this mission through environmental monitoring, public education, advocacy, coalition-building and hands-on implementation projects. Karen Groce-Horan, Community Engagement Strategist, will speak on their behalf.

Summer is Closer Than You Think! 

When I started attending services at First Parish in Milton, there were no services at all during the summer. We had our end-of-the-year picnic in June, and then we all went our separate ways until Ingathering Sunday in September. 

When we started holding lay-led summer services, I confess—I was ambivalent. I kind of liked having the summer off. Sure, there was no rule saying we had to attend summer services, but who knew what you might miss if you stayed home!  

As it turns out, you’d miss a lot of good stuff. Our summer services have a different flavor from the regular church year. They’re a little more casual, and the format can vary. Some of them are outside, like when our canvas labyrinth is unfurled in the courtyard and we quietly wind along its path, or when we go off-campus and forest bathe in the Blue Hills. Summer services can be deeply personal, when someone shares an aspect of their lives we may not have known about. They can be creative—sharing poetry and songs. They can be silly: one service was about Unitarian Universalism jokes. They can be serious and thought-provoking: about the environment and democracy; and they can be inspirational: about how to retire and how to try. 

In the service on April 27, we’ll sample a few of the offerings from last summer and invite you to consider doing a service for this summer. Putting together a service can be daunting, but it’s enormously fulfilling, and it can be fun. And we can help! This is one of the ways we minister to each other, get to know each other better, and strengthen our community. What might you like to share? 

Lisa White, Worship Committee Chair

Rev. Lisa will be off March 21st thru March 28th

Music This Week

This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing a choral arrangement of a popular gospel anthem made famous by Mahalia Jackson in 1945, “If I Can Help Somebody”. The anthem was written by Alma Androzzo, and this choral arrangement was written by David L. Brunner. You will also be hearing “Soulshine – by Warren Haynes, performed by Claudia Wellington and Guy Pugh.

RE This Week

On March 30, we will welcome Wee the People for a social justice workshop for all ages.

News & Announcements

Please Note that Breeze will be down 3/27 from 4:00pm-6pm due to maintenance

A NEW Great Big Thank-YOU from Stewardship

The Stewardship Committee of First Parish would like to shout out a great THANK-YOU to all our stalwart members and friends who have stepped up during this year’s Annual Budget Drive as well as to all those wonderful folks who helped us to pull off another delightful Gathering in Gratitude Celebration last Sunday.

As of Sunday, March 23rd, we have secured financial commitments totaling $214,688.00 from 92 of our member households. We are still holding out hope of hearing from another 7 or so households who have made pledges in the recent past and from whom we still hope to hear this year. For your convenience, we will continue to keep the pledge “link” available here in the Link for the next few weeks.

Respectfully, The Stewardship Committee of First Parish in Milton Charles Franich, Rob Dahl, Mallory Digges, and Jim May.

We are hiring! 

We are actively recruiting for our new Director of Lifespan Faith Exploration. We are hoping that everyone at First Parish can share the job opening with their professional and personal circles. One way to do so is to go to First Parish Milton UU on Facebook, and then “Share” that post on your feed. Another way is to right-click on the image above, save the image, and then use that .jpg to create your own post on any of your social media accounts. And of course, use word of mouth to direct anyone to https://fpmilton.org/job-opportunities/. 

Please, help us to spread word of this opportunity far and wide, and thereby help us to find someone who will be a great fit for our community!

Gatherings for your SpiritIf there is a topic you would like to explore with others, feel free to contact Rev. Lisa to discuss possibilities. minister@fpmilton.org

Navigating the Political Climate Next meeting April 2ndWill meet via Zoom on the first Wednesday of the month 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

We will meet once a month to help each other sort through the impact of the political climate and share ways to ground ourselves.Contact Rev. Lisa at minister@fpmilton.org if interested.

Events

Committee Fair – April 6th during Social Hour

The Committee Fair is back! Please join us on Sunday, April 6th during social hour (11:30 – 12:30) in the Parish Hall.

Committees are essential to the life and growth of First Parish. At the fair, you can find out more about our committees and decide which ones you may want to join. Participating in a committee is a wonderful way to deepen your engagement to church, practice our values, make new friends and do great work. Come and share your talents, or try something completely new. We need you! Committees are now forming for the next church year beginning in July.

Committee Chairs – please plan to staff a table at the fair!

ELEVENTH HOUR CALLING for DEMOCRACY April 11thGather Friday, April 11th, 6:00 p.m. 

On the green in front of First Parish Church, 535 Canton Avenue, MiltonSinging, drumming, chanting: choose your noise-maker and visuals (signs, posters, flags)  community potluck to follow ~~ ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE TABLE.

Chocolate Auction: Easter edition is coming up on Sunday, April 13th

(postponed from February)

With love in our hearts and chocolate in our hands, our beloved chocolate auction is coming up! This is a delightful all church event, brought to First Parish by Chris and Dottie Pitt. Many thanks to Tom Kemp who will serve as auctioneer, Dotti Pitt as registrant extraordinaire to keep track of bids, and Diana Wilson serving as children’s raffle contact. All ages are welcome, and child care is available in the nursery for age 5 and younger if desired.

Here’s how it goes:  

• Be at Parish Hall on Sunday April 13th right after worship service (11:45 am)
• Receive your bidding numbers from Dottie as you enter
• If you are bringing a home-produced or purchased item with chocolate as the main ingredient, please drop it off at Parish Hall before the worship service. Thank you in advance for your delectable contribution! Here are some how to’s:
• The item needs to be attractively presented and ready to be carried home, without expecting the dish to be returned
• Please label the item listing the ingredients, especially if there are nuts or nut oils
• Questions about the auction or what to make? Contact Rev. Lisa Ward minister@fpmilton.org
• Each item will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Children are permitted to bid, but only under the direct supervision of a parent, please.  
• There will again be a Children’s Raffle, raffle tickets available for $1 each immediately before the Auction!  
• We are adding an adult raffle as well. Details TBD.

“Live Our Values, Eat Our Chocolate!” – Chris Pitt

Be there! Bring a guest – the more bidders, the merrier!

Milton Creates!

A Community Arts Festival at First Parish

Saturday May 3rd

Calling all First Parish Artists and Craftspeople!  

Please contribute your talents to our first-ever Art Festival and Fundraiser. It will be an immersive artistic experience, with art, music, food, and community. We’re looking for more pieces to add to our auction: visual arts (paintings, photography, sculpture, prints) and fine crafts (quilts, pottery, jewelry).

Share your talents, join the fun, and help raise much needed funds for First Parish.

Contact: jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com

Social & Environmental Justice

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday May 3, 2025

Milton Green Fair 

During the Green Fair, we will be joining with Bikes Not Bombs for a local Bike Drive – Please plan to bring used bikes to First Parish on May 3! BNB accepts donated bikes to be refurbished and redistributed through local and international social justice projects. 

Next date: April 16th

S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches a month to support shelter guests.

Please sign up whenever you can help out by clicking on button below.

We are counting on your support!

Beyond First Parish

Tuesday, April 8, 10am-4:30pm ~ Register by March 25th

RSVP HERE

BE HEARD!

ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY with

 UU MASS ACTION

It is said that as few as five phone calls to a legislator “flag” an issue, putting it  on her/his/their radar.

You may volunteer to make 1:1 calls in advance OR to  participate in scheduled group ZOOM sessions 2:00pm-4:30pm on April 8 with your legislator/aide. A training session is required to “ZOOM” (date/time info. forthcoming) but consider it skills-building to make you a better advocate. You will be educating about consensus-driven, selected bills and ASKING for your state senator and representative’s official endorsement.

 It’s up to all of us to promote the legislation Massachusetts needs to address: Trump’s mass deportation agenda, corporate pollution, utility profiteering, new gas infrastructure, and indoor/outdoor air pollution. SEJC invites — yes, exhorts — your partnership. Please sign up at our table during upcoming Social Hours or by contacting Tucker Smith tsmith62676@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE & PARTICIPATE!!!

GREEN UP MILTON WEEKEND 2025

Saturday, April 12th & Sunday, April 13th

 Call to action for a cleaner, greener town. Recruit family, neighbors, scout troops, sports teams, classes and clubs. Form your team to collect litter anywhere around town crying out for a clean sweep.

Register here to see all you need to know to know about special trash bags, when, where,, how, etc. Why? Because litter degrades our natural assets all around us: rivers, streams, fields, and forests. Resolve, going forward, to use few single-use disposables — and when you do, recycle properly.

Sponsored by Sustainable Milton and Milton DPW.

Appreciatively, 

Tucker

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.