March Worship Theme

Forgiveness

How we move forward after a break or hurt in a relationship makes all the difference. How do we ask for and seek forgiveness? How do we let go of past hurts so we can move forward ourselves? And what happens when what happened will never be “okay”? The wisdom of the season of Lent, the spiritual preparations for the Persian New Year, and the stories of our lives intersect powerfully this month for our shared reflection.

This Week in Worship

Sunday, March 9, 2014

10:30am WORSHIP

Worship leader-Melinda Collins and Music by Tim Steele

Together we will discover the promise and truths about forgiveness through “Rabbi Eleazar and the Beggar,” a story about forgiveness from the Talmud, and a guest testimonial!

Religious Exploration

Sunday, March 9, 2014

This Sunday Children will start at the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to there classes.

Passages and Neighboring Faiths will go directly to their class room.

Youth chat will gather in the youth room.

Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the office at office@fpmilton.org.

News and Announcements

Sunday Service Volunteers – Ushers Needed!

Part of the Sunday morning worship experience is assisted by volunteers who provide flowers, light the chalice, greet us in the narthex, host social hour and usher. We have many open usher slots from now until the end of our program year in June. Please consider being volunteer for this position as well as the others. Follow the link below to get to Sign Up Genius and add your name to the date and slot you wish to fill. You may also access this on the Members Page of the website, fpmilton.org.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44ACA728A02-church2

Follow Rev Eric Dawson on Twitter:

Starting this week I will be sharing weekly twitter “sermons”: reflections on life and purpose. I’m not sure if I can boil things down to 140 characters, but I’m excited to try. I invite you to follow me HERE.

Circle Suppers are back!

Would you like to attend a circle supper? The Membership Committee is organizing 3 circle suppers in March: Saturday, March 22 (family friendly), Sunday, March 23, and Sunday March 30. The purpose of a circle supper is very simple—to join in fellowship with fun people from church. This is a great way to meet new friends and see your old friends. The suppers are hosted by members of First Parish.

To attend a circle supper, sign up at social hour in the Parish Hall March 9 or March 16. Then show up with a potluck dish. If you are not going to be at church but are interested in coming to a circle supper, please e-mail Kiki Giatis at director@fpmilton.org.

CURIOUS??

Have you ever wondered how First Parish works? Are you new to First Parish and wonder how members of the congregation become involved in worship, or, how week after week, wonderful goodies appear at Social Hour? Or, have you been around First Parish for a while and wonder how decisions are made that affect everything from new paint to new religious education programs? Whatever your experience, we’d love to have you learn even more about First Parish at Committee Fairs which will be held during Social Hour on March 16 and March 23. Please join us — munch and learn — at either or both of these Social Hours.

Music Lovers…Take Note!

It was recently discovered that our beloved First Parish organ is in need of a fairly major repair. In order to help get this costly job done without breaking our bank, the Music Committee is cooking up some opportunities for you to participate in this cause. We had a successful Cafe Blue Hills event recently raising $1,1700.00. Thanks for all those that participated and donated. Stay tuned for more!

Luminaria

Luminaria, a woman’s a cappella group originally formed from a First Parish small group ministry, has now been singing for nursing home and hospice patients for about two years. If you know of anyone who might benefit from this caring music ministry, we’d love to offer our services. Call Patricia Ostrem at 617-696-4186.

“By building relations we create a source of love and personal pride and belonging makes living in a chaotic world easier.” Susan Lieberman

If you belong to a First Parish group that meets informally and have space for additional members, we’d love to know. We’re interested in the focus of your group, when you meet and whether or not you might have room for others. If you have information to share, questions to ask, or would like to chat, please contact Melinda Collins or (617) 852-6389.

Annual Budget Drive FY15

PLEASE RETURN YOUR PLEDGE FORM !!

In late April/early May, you will receive a letter from the office confirming your pledge amount and updated information on automatic payment options. Thank you for giving generously.

We are grateful to the following 59 households for making their commitment to the Annual Budget Drive FY2015. We have raised $175,240.00 (67%) of our goal of $260,000. Thank you for your generosity!

Debbie Alsebai
Mike & Tasha Bello
Mary Blanchette & Jim May
Bob & Anne-Marie Buckland
Chris & Karla Clifford
Harris & Melinda Collins
Robin Coyne & Rob Savage
Nancy & Dan Devine
Mallory Digges
Donna Drewes & Jonathan Baum
Frances Field
Charlie Franich & Ruth Hannon
Leah & Pat Gallivan
Andrea Geyling & John Moore
Dale Golembeski & Amy Kavadlo
Beth Gray-Nix
Beth & Keith Greenawalt
Walt & Sandra Hagenbuch
Ann Hallett
Ruth Heiden & Marsha Maurer
Elise Henricks & Tony Dutzik
Tom Hess
Wayne Johnson & Diane Fallon-Johnson
Deborah Larson Venable & Richard Venable
Laurie Macintosh
Ursula & Bill MacMillan
Scott McIsaac & Suzanne Durrell
Brigitte & Eric Miller
David Morse
Gillian & Matthew Najarian
Amy Norton
Mark & Patricia Ostrem
Glenn Pavlicek & Anita Penta
Kimberly Perez Gern & Kent Gern
Sue Phillips & Tandi Rogers
Jennifer Pinkus & Jay Beaulieu
Chris & Dottie Pitt
Tracey Robinson
Tim Steele and Elizabeth Steele
Jeff Stoodt & Lisa White
Andy Strang
Russ Tremaine
Bebe Williamson
Allison Zippay & Jim Kelly
Susan Batson & Paul Casaz
Marie Laure Brown
Barry Hume and Miguel Rodriguez
Brian Kelley & Hilary Black
Carolyn Newman & Rick Malmstrom
Cynthia Guise
Laurie McCorry
Leslie MacPherson Artinian
Amy Flanagan
Robert & Bonnie Healy
Lori & Dave Humphrey
June & Randi Scott
Bridget & Nathan Sitkoff

Under the category of “Never Have We Needed It More”, the FP Earth Centered Spirituality Group will host a Celebration of Ostara, the Spring Equinox on Saturday, March 22, at 7pm in the Parish Hall.

The name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre was adopted in England for the Christian holiday of Easter, which falls on the Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.

Please join us as we bring in Spring and new growth without and within with a planting ritual, group prayers, readings and music.

Following the ritual, all are welcome to stay for a Pot Luck social hour. For more information please contact Pam Dorsey at 617-698-0057 or Mark Whall.

Kiki’s Corner

Rev. Parisa’s Rock Stars of the Week:

Roger Gray, Andy Strang, Chris Clifford, and Richard Venable. Thank you Building and Grounds Team! On March 1st, Roger, Andy, Chris and Richard transformed the former RE office (behind the Meetinghouse) from a overgrown, part office, part dumping ground to a wonderfully simple and clean space. It looks fantastic.

Now Parisa and the staff can dream about how to make it an even more beautiful, multifunctional space. Next time you run into these four, please express your appreciation.

There were a couple of pieces of furniture that were moved to the carriage house. If you have an interest in taking any of it, please let me know.

Ready to become a Member of First Parish? Please submit your Membership Application by Friday, March 7 to me or email it to me.

PLEDGE FORMS ARE DUE NOW!!

Please mail in, place in the gray, lockbox next to the office or leave in the return box on the Information Table. We appreciate everyone’s generosity.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook! “Like” our page www.facebook.com/FirstParishMiltonUu 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. The link to SignUp Genius is:

Sign Up Here!