This Week in Worship

Sunday, April 22, 2018
Theme: Transformation
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

This April we’re experiencing a variety of worship experiences, highlighting the theological diversity of our faith community. After celebrating Easter, we welcomed the First Congregational Church with the Rev. John Allen at the pulpit. At our vespers service this month we welcomed the Courageous Conversations community in an interfaith evening prayer service in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. This next Sunday, our CUUPS group (Covenant of UU Pagans) will lead the service. Rounding out April’s worship schedule, on April 29th, we will have the Coming of Age service, receiving the gift of our youths’ current credos. This faith community is vibrant with many voices. It is a joy to journey with you.

Blessings, Rev. Lisa

Rev. Lisa will be on vacation from April 20th through April 27th

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

Nursery and toddler care is available every week in the Link hallway from 10:15 to 11:45 am. This week our caregivers are Daisy and Bella. Stop by and say hello!

Religious Exploration for Sunday, April 22: Preschool children through grade 8 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then preschool to grade 5 children will move to their classrooms. Please note that classes end at 11:40 am.

Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “The Hundredth Name.” Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Super Heroes: Bible People curricula, meeting in the Children’s Church. This week they will be learning about “Jesus, the Teacher.” Grades 6 through 8 will remain in the Meetinghouse for the full Earth Day service today, led by the Blue Hills CUUPs (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) chapter.

Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Youth Yacking

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Youth Yaking!

This Sunday, the 22nd, we are going on a Unitarian Universalist heritage walking tour of downtown Boston! All youth in Coming of Age or otherwise and Coming of Age mentors are invited to join! We will be meeting at Ashmont Station at 9:15am. We will be taking the train there and back and plan to be back to Ashmont Station by 2pm. Everyone is asked to bring money for train fare and a fast food lunch. If you have any questions, please give me an email or call!

Reminder that next Friday, April 27th, we are having the Coming of Age celebration at First Parish! Youth, families, and mentors are all asked to attend this potluck event! Youth are asked to bring their finalized credos to review with mentors. The rest of the night will be a wonderful night of celebration and sharing! We hope to see you all there.

Events, News and Announcements

SUMMER SERVICES

Summer is coming! And that means lay-led summer services at 9:30 am in The Children’s Church. Is there some aspect of your spiritual journey that you have wanted to share with the congregation? Is there some part of your social action work that you would like to present to others? This is your chance! Please email Mallory Digges if you have interest in leading a service.

The Worship Committee is holding seven roundtable conversations with members of First Parish on this important question: Should the cross be the central focal point of our worship space? Please go to signupgenius.com to participate in one of these conversations. There will be up to 8 people in each conversation and two facilitators from the Worship Committee. We hope everyone will participate. If needed, we will add more dates for the end of May and June.

Collage Artworks of Spirit & Nature are currently displayed in the link. Collages are created by First Parish members Dianna Wilson, Liz O’Rourke and Mark Whall.

SUCCESS! The hospitality committee wants to thank all those who signed up to host for the upcoming weeks. We could still use one more person on Memorial Day to help with a very simple social hour.

Sunday, April 29, 2018, 3:00 – 6:00PM

Active Bystander Training First Parish Milton, 535 Canton Ave. Spots are limited: see us at the SAC table at coffee hour for more info.

Monday, April 30th, 7:00 – 9:00PM At Milton High School (25 Gile Road)

Panel discussion with Boston Globe “Spotlight” Reporter, Adrian Walker on the Globe’s series confronting racism and racial disparities in Boston.

Please join us for the 22nd Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace: “Dignity and Compassion for All”

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. 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.

All walkers must register. Registration cost this year is $10 per walker, however no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Where?

Town Field Park, Dorchester Ave, Fields Corner, Dorchester, MA

• Registration Begins: 7:00 am—Meet at church 7:30 am to drive over together, or meet us there—look for our FP Milton sign
• Opening Remarks: 8:00 am
• Walk Begins: 8:30 am
• Finish at Government Center: approx. 1pm. You don’t have to walk it all! Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.

How can you sign up?

Go to https://www.mothersdaywalk4peace.org/ and register as a participant to join in our team, First Parish Milton. As this is a fundraiser, we are also seeking donations.

What is our fundraising goal?

We’d like to raise $1000 for the Louis D Brown Peace Institute.

We’d also like to have at least 50 walkers signed up from First Parish!

Please join us!

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 – 2:00 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, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
• Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
• Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

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.