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
- News and Announcements
- Events and Meetings
- Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
REMINDER TO SET CLOCKS
Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a. m. on Sunday, March 10th.
A Celebration of Life will be held for beloved member Walt Hagenbuch at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th, at First Parish Milton.
If church parking lot is full; please park in additional spaces at First Congregational Church, Town Hall, and Canton Street (opposite side of church only).
A reception will follow in Parish Hall.
This Week in Worship
“Shared Courage”
Worship Assistant: Owen McGonagle
Faith Reflection: Mark Ostrem
Chalice Lighter: Chair of the Trustees
Greeter: Leslie MacPherson, Cathy McGonagle
Flowers: Mark and Patricia Ostrem
Audio: Colin Glazer
Join us for a light lunch and entertainment after service today in celebration of Commitment Sunday!
Please join us for service at 10:30am.
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 go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
This Sunday is our annual Commitment Sunday. It is the day when we formally celebrate our financial support for the life of First Parish by pledging to help fund the operating budget, each contributing the amount that we can. What is uplifting about this day is the celebration of all that we do together and the acknowledgement that our community nourishes our lives.
I have come to know that the embrace of community is vital to our well- being. I have found this especially so through the global shock of COVID, and the slow return of a sense of normalcy, still in process. I think that the trauma of COVID created an aftershock that is just balancing out. Many with long COVID and auto-immune vulnerability are now facing a new reality in navigating their lives. Continuing to create community through zoom and varied ways to meet has also been a reminder that we need one another.
The spirit in our community has become even more generative, in part, because of the gratitude we feel in gathering together. Of course this takes funding and contributions of talents and wisdom. On Sunday the ask is for funding. To those who have already pledged, thank you. To those considering their pledge, there is still time.
Let us celebrate each other and take notice of how important this faith community enriches our lives.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music This Week
This Sunday the special music will be provided by Luminaria, an acapella treble vocal ensemble that features a number of our church and choir members. Based on the South Shore the singers are dedicated to performing for people too ill to attend a live musical performance. They will be sharing two of their favorites, “With a Little Help From My Friends” and “Lean On Me”.
Milton Community Concerts would a like to invite you to our final concert of the season on Sunday, April 28 at 3pm, “In Community: A Concert Celebrating LGBTQ+ Stories”.
RE This Week
UU Summer Fun Registration!
It’s time to formally register for our UU summer fun! Follow this link to register. Per the recommendation of the Religious Education Committee, we are shifting our age range to also welcome preschoolers whose older siblings will also be attending our summer fun and/or who attend Spirit Play but may not be entering first grade. Please reach out to Louise (re@fpmilton.org) with questions about this new policy. We continue to want to be flexible and accommodating, while still prioritizing safety and a quality experience for all involved.
News & Announcements
From the Caring Committee:
Calling all cooks, drivers, and helpers! The Caring Committee needs to update its roster of volunteers. Volunteers receive emails from the Caring Committee asking for help when community members need support. Examples include
– cooking a meal for someone when they are recovering from surgery, or for a family when they are grieving
– driving someone to or from a medical appointment
– mowing a lawn or other light housework when someone is ill or recovering from surgery or an injury
If you would like your name added to the list of volunteers, please let us know by filling out a form by the grey box in the link or contacting a Caring Committee member at social hour or by email.
Caring Committee members: Marie-Laure Brown, Suzanne Glazer, Laura Reis, Heather Scranton, Lisa White
Suitcase Drive
Take this opportunity to clean out your closet, attic or basement.
Suitcases, backpacks and shoulder bags needed for Haitian immigrants. They are staying in a shelter in Cambridge and need to leave during the day. Many are spending the day at Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan carrying their belongings in plastic bags.
If you want to donate contact me at mbpa@comcast.net.
Events and Meetings
Please Join Us
For Our 2nd Annual
Gathering in Gratitude Celebration
This Sunday, March 10th!
Immediately after our Commitment Sunday service
Grief Support Group
Four Tuesdays: March 12, 19, 26
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
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 March 12.
Please contact Rev. Lisa: minister@fpmilton.org if you would like to attend.
Circle Suppers Are Back!
Here’s an opportunity to socialize with First Parish friends and acquaintances in an informal setting. These gatherings will include facilitator-led discussions of the proposed changes to Article II, which we’ll be voting on at Annual Meeting in May so that our delegates to General Assembly can represent our wishes.
There are three options to participate, all potlucks: two dinners—Friday, March 22nd and Friday, April 5th—and a brunch—Saturday, March 30th. The brunch date will have childcare available.
Sign up for your preferred date and food contribution here:
If you need help with Sign Up Genius or have questions, please contact Lisa White at lisawhite1250@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE
First Parish Spring Auction
April 6, 2024
We’re looking for donations of items and services for our April 6 auction fundraiser.
Can you offer a homemade dinner or bake a cake?
How about a vacation home?
How about Red Sox tix?
Can you sing for a dinner party?
Do you make something you could donate—jewelry, quilts, artwork?
What item or service could you offer?
If you have a item or service you can offer, we’d appreciate you filling out this form for us!
Paper forms will be available after Sunday’s service as well.
Thank you for your support of the auction!
Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
March 20th is the next date!
S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the first and third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches twice a month to support shelter guests.
See updated instructions on the Mainspring SignUpGenius page and signup whenever you can help out.
We are counting on your support!
Climate Action@HOME upcoming discussion
March date TBD
Intro to induction stovetops by Guy Pugh and Steve Yakutis.
Beyond First Parish
HAPPENING TODAY 7:00 PM-8:00 PM VIA ZOOM
The RJTF will be offering First Parish Members and friends a chance to read “Waking Up White” by Debby Irving.
Copies are in the Racial Justice Library and at local public libraries.
The next sessions will be on Zoom TODAY Thursday 3/7 and 3/21 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. We will review 3 chapters each session. Whether this is your first time reading this book or you have read it before it can be eye opening, life changing and surely will generate courageous conversations.
If these Thursday nights do not work for you on Sunday, March 3 we will gather in person after church for informal discussions of the book from 12:0O to 1:00.
Please RSVP Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net if you would like to participate in either event
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.