This Week in Worship

10:30 a.m. in the Meetinghouse
When: Sunday, April 16, 2017
Easter Sunday

This month’s theme: God

Message from Rev. Lisa

The Unitarian Universalist Association is going through quite a few challenges these days. One heart breaking occurrence in the mix was the arrest (and consequent admission) of the Rev. Ron Robinson, a UU community minister working at a food bank in Turley, Oklahoma, on child pornography charges. The betrayal of trust hit the community hard, leaving many unnerved and wondering about the sacred task of ministry. This news of the violation of boundaries can ripple out to countless others, both directly affected and triggered in the wake of abuse.

The UUA has been mindful in recent years to address sexual and relational health amongst congregants, youth and, especially, in the ministry. The responsiveness to this incident was swift and transparent. A day after the arrest, the Executive Committee of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee unanimously voted to suspend Ron Robinson’s Fellowship standing, pending the outcome of his criminal adjudication. If he is found guilty, the full Ministerial Fellowship Committee will vote on his removal from Fellowship. The UU Ministers Association and the UU Society for Community Ministry have also suspended his membership.

Let us lift up prayers for recovery, for all who have experienced sexual violation or predatory behavior in any form and for all directly involved in this circumstance. Feel free to contact me should you want to process through this news.

In Faith,

Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse
Director of Religious Education

What’s happening in religious exploration this weekend?

• On April 16th nursery care will be available from 9:00 am to noon for infants and toddlers.
• Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to the Children’s Church. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am. Children will be walked over to join Social Hour in the Parish Hall at the end of class and need to be met there by a parent.
• Preschool through grade 8: Children’s Church service on Easter
• Grade 8 and 9: Our Whole Lives class does not meet this weekend
• Youth Chat (grades 9 through 12) will meet from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the kitchen to prepare to host social hour. Youth Group does not meet this week.
• An Easter Egg Hunt will be led by the Youth after the service. Please bring your own basket for collecting eggs. Parental supervision required!

City Reach Donations Needed!

Donations being collected until Thursday, April 27th.

There is a sign and collection box in the Parish Hall.

In preparation for the Youth Group’s social justice service trip, we are collecting donations for the homeless population that CityReach serves year round.

We are collecting the following:

• NEW Socks! Need lots!
• NEW Underwear! Larger sizes preferred!
• New or Lightly Used Bags! (Backpacks, fanny packs, tote bags, etc)

Please contact Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, the Youth Advisor, if you have any questions.

News and Announcements

The Good Eggs Ceremony
Easter Sunday

The Good Eggs Ceremony is an Easter tradition that Laurel Whitehouse (DRE) remembers fondly from her home congregation at First Parish Wayland. The idea is to celebrate members of the congregation who have made an extraordinary contribution of volunteer time, skill and energy over the past year. Our list of “good eggs” this year were suggested by church leadership at the last All Church Council. The Good Eggs were enthusiastically decorated by the grade 2 to 5 class, who enjoyed the process very much!

These decorated eggs will be distributed during worship on Easter Sunday. We hope you can attend the service, but know that we will announce all names, regardless.

GOOD EGG AWARD RECIPIENTS

• Debbie Alsebai
• Michael Chinman
• Chris Clifford
• Alex Engel
• Myrtle Flight
• Charlie Franich
• Barry Hume
• Brian Kelley
• David Morse
• Pat Neves
• Chris Pitt
• Dottie Pitt
• Miguel Rodriguez
• Bridget Sitkoff
• Tucker Smith
• Bridgett Sitkoff
• Andy Strang
• Mark Whall
• Lisa White

Third Sunday Collection (April 16 – Easter Sunday)

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Mother’s Day Walk for Peace

ABOUT 2017 MOTHER’S DAY WALK FOR PEACE

The 21st Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace: “In Unity, There is Healing: Invest in Peace”

The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace is a celebration of our potential to create more peaceful communities. Every year families from across the state and region walk together toward peace because in unity, there’s healing! Join us on Mother’s Day to demand dignity and compassion for all families impacted by murder.

The Mother’s Day Walk is also the Peace Institute’s most important fundraising event. We’re asking you to invest in community-based solutions to a complex problem. In 2017, the goal is to raise $400,000 for their critical programs and services.

The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace started in 1996 so mothers of murdered children could receive support and love from their neighbors. Twenty-one years later, the Mother’s Day Walk continues to be a powerful way to honor our loved ones who have been murdered and embrace our partners in peacemaking.

How can you sign up?

Go to: http://www.mothersdaywalk4peace.org to register as a participant and join our team, First Parish in Milton Walks for Peace.

For full information see the flyer available at our information tables around the church. Questions? Contact Elise Henricks 617-306-1608 (cell) or contact via email here.

First Parish Friends – Summer is coming!

In summer, our worship continues and we move the services to our Parish Hall. We will again have a variety of services that draw on the strengths of our Worship Committee and others in the area. This year as we begin to create a schedule, we are starting by asking if YOU would like to lead a service. It could be either as an individual or as a group. Sound interesting? Intrigued? If so, either speak to a member of the Worship Committee or email Leslie, Worship Committee Chair: lmacpherson@hds.harvard.edu.

Sunday, May 7th.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY FOR REV. LISA WARD @ 4:00 P.M. in the Meetinghouse

Plans are underway for the celebration which will immediately follow Rev. Lisa’s Installation Ceremony on Sunday, May 7th.

The afternoon will feature a variety of tastings, some savory and some sweet, along with a selection of wines and soft drinks. Contributions to the celebration will be greatly appreciated and can come in many forms. Please respond to our SignUpGenius webpage

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090d44aca728a02-rev

If you would like to be on the planning committee, have questions, or would like to contribute but cannot access the webpage, please contact Patricia Ostrem at 617 696-4186, or Ursula Macmillan at 617 838-3828.

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Upcoming Events

The last volunteer day of the program year is May 13!
Meet at FP Milton at 10:30 am

Volunteers from First Parish Milton needed to make and serve meals to the clients at Father Bill’s on Sunday, April 23

Contact Peter for more information.

Courageous Conversations

Next Session: April 30, 2017

Where: St. Michael’s Church in Milton MA

Kiki’s Corner

Happy Easter! Thank you to our Youth Group for Social Hour this coming Sunday and organizing the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

The office will be closed for Patriot’s Day on Monday, April 17th.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook 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. Sign Up Here!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

• Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

MINISTER OFFICE HOURS

• Tuesday – Thurday 10:00 am – 3 pm
• Other times by appointment

The Church office is closed on Fridays.