Table of Contents

This Week in Worship

• Message from Reverend Lisa
• Music Info
• RE
• Events
• Social & Environmental Justice
• Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

April Worship Theme: HEALING

“Courage to Be”

Worship Assistant: Elise Henricks

 Greeters: Brigitte Miller and Deb Alsebai

Flowers: Trisha Tu

Audio: Sofia Nitolo

Social Hour: Brigitte Miller

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 Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Laura Randall, Director of Development for Congregation Relations will speak on their behalf. UUSC advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies.

It’s hard to believe that banning books has gained popularity in the United States. The American Library Association reported a 65% increase in challenged and banned books between 2022 and 2023. Toni Morrison’s books alone have been challenged and banned 73 times across the US in that same period of time. Morrison received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

One of the authors who influenced Morrison’s writings was James Baldwin, whose books have also been banned in parts of the United States. Both artists spoke with clear, bravely honest eloquence of depths of being and cultural patterns of oppression.

As Baldwin famously wrote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

On April 30^th we have the opportunity to attend a one-person choreopoem of the life and work of Toni Morrison, here, at First Parish. This free offering will lift up the astounding artistry of this Nobel Laureate, who spoke truth to power in liberative ways. (scroll below for details)

Every time we celebrate the many and varied voices of freedom and justice, we strengthen the fabric of our faith community.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Music This Week

This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will sing an anthem originally scheduled for February, but a snowstorm had other ideas. This anthem fits this Sunday’s theme of Courage, and it’s called “Never Give Up”. It is written by Rollo Dilworth, and the text was created by 8th graders at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Philadelphia. Daon Drisdom will also be offering an inspirational solo from THE WIZ called “If You Believe”, by Charlie Smalls.

RE This Week

RE classes will be held this week!

News & Announcements

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 spirit

If there is a topic you would like to explore with others, feel free to contact Rev. Lisa to discuss possibilities.

Navigating the Political Climate Next meeting May 7th

Will 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

ELEVENTH HOUR CALLING for DEMOCRACY April 11th

Gather Friday, April 11th, 6:00 p.m. 

On the green in front of First Parish Church, 535 Canton Avenue, Milton

Singing, drumming, chanting: choose your noise-maker and visuals (signs, posters, flags) 

Community potluck to follow in Parish Hall!

ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE TABLE

In the event of rain we will move indoors to First Parish

Chocolate Auction: Easter edition is this 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!

TENEBRAE

April 18th 7:00pm-Childrens Church

slow, somber, inclusive

Milton Creates!

A Community Arts Festival at First Parish

Saturday May 3rd 6:30pm-9:30pm

Don’t miss this fabulous evening of art, fine crafts, live music, wine, cheese, and raffle prizes. An immersive experience, where you can bid in both live and silent auctions and help raise funds to support First Parish’s programming and our commitment to community outreach.

How to participate:

• Share your talents and donate your original artwork or fine craft.
• Volunteer to set up, clean up, or organize.
• Invite your friends and show up for an evening of art appreciation and comradery with friends, old and new.
• Check out your living space. Imagine some exciting and evocative new artwork there.

Fore more information contact: jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com

The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace (MDW4P) is a beloved Boston tradition honoring the lives of our loved ones who have been murdered. It is the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s (LDBPI) largest fundraising event to grow and sustain our services, advocacy and training.

This year’s theme is “Cultivating Cycles of Peace.” In our society, we are constantly looped into cycles of violence that overshadow the transformative power of peace. We have the agency to cultivate these cycles by empowering survivors, supporting returning citizens and their families and investing in Generation Peace, the young people shaping the world.

Thank you for walking with us on Mother’s Day as we Cultivate Cycles of Peace in our communities. With your help, we can reach our goal of $600,000 together by Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025!

Click on the register tab. Join First Parish team by search for FP Milton UU team to join our team. Once registered, you will be given your own fundraising page to send out to friends.

Click to Register and Walk

Click to Donate Only

Social & Environmental Justice

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

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