Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Reverend Lisa
• Music Info
• RE
• Events
• Social & Environmental Justice
• Beyond First Parish
• Actions for Justice and Democracy

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This Week in Worship

April Worship Theme: HEALING

“Summer Sampler”

*Please note next Sunday, May 4th Worship will be held at United Congregational Church at 10:00am service (across the green 495 Canton Ave.)

Worship Assistant: Lisa White and Steve Yakutis

Audio: Alex Feliz

Social Hour: Ellen Barr and Leslie MacPherson

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 Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace is a beloved Boston (and FPM) tradition and celebration of our potential to create more peaceful communities. This Dorchester organization was established following the gun-related death of Louis D. Brown, a teen from the community. They primarily focus on providing support to families and individuals who have been impacted by violence in the community. 

We will also have a group of parishioners participate in the walk in Dorchester Mother’s Day morning, May 11th. We will have more information on how you can participate this event at the Social & Environmental Justice table following Sunday’s service.

See the info below in the “Events” section.

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This joint is jumpin’! There are many opportunities for gathering in community: opportunities for shared learning, shared claiming of values, shared celebration with the larger community. All this helps us to keep strengthening locally while we pay attention to the daily strains of the larger community. It’s all about resilience and responsiveness, endurance and readiness, paying attention and showing up. With the support of others, we can keep these tools of being honed to keep hope alive.

This Sunday we have the Worship Committee leading worship and inviting the wisdom of resident theologians (which we all are). We also can share in an Interfaith Seder at 5 pm with members of the larger community, held at United Congregational (Please see flyer below for free registration). Next Wednesday, we can attend, for free, an artistic rendering of the works of Toni Morrison in our Meetinghouse and enjoy baked good afterwards provided by members of the Milton High National Honor Society. The weekend following is our first Art Auction, inviting a wide range of artists from First Parish and beyond to participate. Then comes Unity Sunday, when we share worship with United Congregational, this year, in their worship space. 

We also added a new section to this newsletter: “Actions for Justice and Democracy” listing actions, gatherings and rallies that the Social and Environmental Justice committee is highlighting.

Yes indeed! This joint is jumpin’. Thank you all for all you do with and for each other.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

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Music This Week

In observance of America’s 250th, FPM’s chamber ensemble will present three works of William Billings during worship. Born in Boston in 1746, Billings published numerous sacred compositions for chorus and taught music at “singing schools” throughout New England. Carina Digianfilippo will also be sharing a musical theater selection called “Yes, My Heart” by Bob Merrill (with some added lyrics for the occasion). 

RE This Week

Wee the People will be back on April 27th for another exciting workshop.

Unity Sunday is on May 4th 10:00am at United Congregational at 495 Canton Ave. Nursery Care and all RE classes except Passages will still meet at United Congregational. Passages will meet at First Parish next Sunday.

News & Announcements

SEEKING LAY LEADERS FOR SUMMER SERVICESOur summer services provide an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and connect more deeply with others. Summer services start at 9:30 and tend to be more intimate and casual than services during the church year. There’s lots of flexibility to how they’re structured, and there’s also lots of help available. Is this the summer for you to try one?Please contact Lisa White (lisawhite1250@gmail.com) or Steve Yakutis (steve.yakutis@gmail.com) if you’re interested.

Keep the coffee percolating!

Social hour hosts needed for:

• May 11
• May 25

Click HERE to sign up. Thank you for your hospitality!

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. minister@fpmilton.org

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.

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Events

Milton Creates!

A Community Arts Festival at First Parish

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

We’re just over a week away from 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:

• 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 the catalog. Imagine one of these exciting and evocative pieces of artwork on your walls.

Milton Creates! 2025 by Milton Creates! 2025 | BetterWorld

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

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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

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SAVE the date and save your stuff!

Annual First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 21

More info to follow!

Bike Drive (with Bikes not Bombs) June 21st

A truck will be on site and we will collect any used/donated bikes for their bike refurbishing/ recycling efforts.

More info to follow

Social & Environmental Justice

Next date: May 21st

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!

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Beyond First Parish

“LIGHT TRESPASS” WARRANT ARTICLE.37 

at MILTON TOWN MEETING MAY 5

Do you experience glaring overnight light intrusion from a neighbor’s property? Security lights? Porch lights? Garage lights? Some, or all? What’s a nuisance to humans is a killer to nocturnal wildlife and an ecological threat to insects. Light reduction — not elimination, to be clear — as proposed by Warrant Article 37 would help restore and preserve Milton’s biodiversity and quality of residential life. 

Be an advocate: contact your precinct’s Town Meeting Members AFTER April 29 local elections and BEFORE May 5 Town Meeting. For the full text: Draft Warrant Article: General Bylaws Amendment re: Light Trespass 

TIP: Did you know that a yellow-tinted LED bulb is the least attractive to nocturnal bugs and the safest alternative to a white bulb in exterior fixtures? Show some love to bugs.

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Actions for Justice and Democracy Coming up this week…

Green Light for Climate Justice!,

Saturday, April 26th 6:30pm Old North Church Boston

Join us at Boston’s historic Old North Church for Green Light for Climate Justice!, a powerful multi-faith service marking the launch of a bold new chapter in the fight for climate justice.

As we prepare for Sun Day, a nationwide climate mobilization on September 20–21, a green lamp will be lit in the spire of the historic Old North Church. Just one week following the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, this action recalls the lights in the Old North steeple on the eve of the Revolution and empowers us to look to a brighter and more environmentally just and sustainable future for the planet.

This multi-faith service will light the way forward with spirit, song, and solidarity. Hear from visionary leaders including:

Bill McKibben, Author, environmental activist, & founder of Third Act

The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President & founder of Hip Hop Caucus

Diana Butler Bass, Author, historian, & public theologian

Rabbi Shoshana Friedman, Writer, musician, & rabbi

Antonique Smith, Grammy-nominated vocalist

The Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, Bishop of Massachusetts

Together, we’ll celebrate our shared commitment to Creation, renew our resolve, and learn how local faith communities can give their green light—taking action in the lead-up to September. All are welcome to be part of this historic moment of hope, faith, and action.

Reserve here

*See flyer below

ELEVENTH FOUR CALLING for DEMOCRACY

Sunday, May 11th rain or shine

• 6:00 p.m. Gather in front of First Parish
• 6:11 p.m. Steeple Bell ringing (11 minutes) with participant percussion & vocal response
• 6:30 p.m. Conclusion (no potluck or program following)

Meet, greet, sing, share, chant, drum, stand up, stand out!

Bring your signs (“G-rated”), flags, and sound-makers.

Families are welcome. Mothers are especially welcome. Invite others