This Week in Worship

Sunday, April 5 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Dear Friends,

There is a lot going on at the church this week, The silver has arrived from the MFA for this Sunday’s communion service. The congregation has chosen a search committee. They are fantastic and I wish to express my gratitude to them and to all who were willing to serve. And of course it’s Easter and church this Sunday will be filled with familiar faces and many who are new to us. All of which is exciting and honestly a little overwhelming. So this week please allow me to share an Easter piece written by the Rev. Jane Rzepka a few years ago. I hope to see you and yours over the next few days at church and my family and I wish you the most joyous of Easters!

Rev. Hank

P.S. Don’t forget the Easter Egg hunt after the service.

Easter in the Himalayas – Jane Rzepka

A few years back, in the Himalayas, our family trekked for days among people who had never seen a road or a car or a bicycle or a wheelbarrow. These were people who knew, however, precisely how to live simply in the high country. There I was, nearing the end of a day’s climb, wearing the customary long trekking skirt, and huge hiking boots, and a down jacket, a back-pack, a wide-brimmed hat, mountaineering glasses, a camera around my neck, and globs of sunscreen. It was Easter, so for my kids I had brought along a garish little Easter basket and in it a small stash of jelly beans that I carried importantly. Periodically, when I couldn’t resist the temptation to further mortify the family, I’d burst into song about Peter Cottontail and how much he liked to hop up up up that trekking trail.

In fact I was singing Peter Cottontail when I looked up, and in a sobering flash, discovered that we had reached the Buddhist monastery, and that the venerable reincarnate high lama himself was standing in his simple robe, staring at me. He spoke then in Tibetan to our Sherpa guide, and later I learned what he said. As I stood before him in my full regalia with my basket of jelly beans, he said: “I will never understand these Christians, their songs, or their gods. But invite them in for yak milk tea, and I will bless them.” It was a happy Easter.

Worship Theme in April: Transformation/Resurrection

April 5 – Easter The Resurrection and the Light

April 12 – Restoring Faith

April 19 – Talking with the Tax-Man About Poetry inter-generational

April 26 – Union Sunday

Join us this morning at 10:00 as we worship jointly with our sister congregation across the Green at the First Congregational Church.

News from the Parish Committee submitted by Ruth Hannon

Members of the Parish Committee have had a busy month as we worked to carve the path for electing our Ministerial Search Committee. Our primary goal was to ensure that as many of our congregation as possible would share in this task so vital to our future as a spiritual community.

With guidelines from the UUA and with the help of our UUA Ministerial Settlement Representative, Laura Graham, we outlined a congregation-wide nominating process that yielded 14 candidates who were all prepared to take on this momentous responsibility on our behalf. It should be noted that each candidate nominated needed to be a member of First Parish.

These 14 candidates were then presented to the congregation in a 5-day voting period, and each voter was invited to recommend up to 4 candidates to be elected to the committee. The 4 candidates receiving the most votes would be named to the 7-member committee, after which the Parish Committee, again using UUA guidelines, would appoint 3 members from the remaining candidates. No one but Parish Committee members would know which candidates had been voted in and which had been appointed.

The Parish Committee has been delighted with the participation in the nomination and election processes. A total of 91 ballots were cast. The following is a list, in alphabetical order, of the names of those who will serve on the Ministerial Search Committee:

• Debbie Alsebai
• Charlie Franich
• Elise Henricks
• Franc Graham
• Jim May
• Brigitte Miller
• Tracey Robinson

We want to thank all of those who contributed to this important effort. Your voices have been heard and we go forward with confidence to search for our next settled minister! We hope all of you will join us at worship on April 12th as the Ministerial Search Committee is given its formal charge. Most importantly, please take the time to thank all of those who allowed their names to be put in nomination.

Over the next few weeks, the Parish Committee, in conjunction with the Finance Committee, will be meeting regularly to prepare next year’s budget for consideration at Annual Meeting which will be held on Sunday, May 17.

Religious Exploration

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Multigenerational Service
All are invited to attend the service

Followed by our traditional Egg Hunt

This year the egg hunt is hosted by the youth group

Youth Group Happenings

Thanks to everyone for your donations for the Youth Group and Caring Committee’s joint effort to send care packages to college age First Parish youth. If you wanted to donate supplies or homemade baked goods to send in the packages, please bring them to church on the morning of April 19th! If you have any questions, feel free to ask Amy Norton or Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz.

News and Announcements

Pass the Matzoh & Join Us for a Seder

Friday, April 10 at 6:30 PM

Please join us for Passover Potluck Seder celebrating old and new traditions. Featuring an overview of the holiday, fun songs and good company.

Bring a salad, entree or dessert to share, recall that the Israelites did not have time to use flour, so chicken, beef, vegetables, potatoes, salad, egg dishes, fruit, pudding and ice cream items are all good choices (but bread and pasta are not good choices.)

All ages are welcome! Evite has been sent so you may RSVP “yes”. Please feel free to contact the church office with any questions.

Thanks!

RE Committee

​Please save the date Sunday May 10, 2015 for our annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester

Go to the link below to sign up! It’s a great community event and wonderful opportunity to put our faith in our feet!

Meet at 7:30 am at church to carpool over, or meet us at Town Field that day. For questions, contact Elise Henricks.

Volunteers needed!

Social Hour Host and Ushers

Part of the Sunday morning worship experience is assisted by volunteers who provide flowers, light the chalice, greet us in the narthex, host social hour and usher. We have many open usher slots from now until the end of our program year in June. Please consider being volunteer for this position as well as the others. CLICK HERE to view the Sign Up Genius and add your name to the date and slot you wish to fill.

10th Annual UU Advocacy Day

REGISTER NOW ADVOCACY DAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 14 Register by April 1st and the appointment with your legislator will be made for you. Check out their website for more information on Advocacy Day as well as their other activities.

Stewardship Update:

We have received pledges for $210,912 from 92 households.

If you have not pledged yet, it is not too late to do so. Forms are available at church or you can do it electronically on the Member’s page of the website.

Kiki’s Corner

Happy Easter to All,

Silver still at the MFA. As Rev. Hank reminded us the silver from the MFA will be used for communion on Sunday. Instead of 11 pieces, this year we have 10. The MFA has put one of the church’s pieces on view as part of “Silver in Religion” case. The Jeremiah Dummer Communion Cup (L-R 134.68) is on view in our Manning Gallery on Level LG of the Art of the Americas Wing.

Easter Flowers: We will have tulip boxes in the windows on Sunday morning for the Easter Service. We would like them to be enjoyed in homes after the service. Donation to take one home is $10.00. See me before or after the service if you are interested. First come, first served.

Directory Updates – We are making a concerted effort to get updated address information on individuals and household members in our FP Milton family. This includes e-mails and preferred telephone numbers. We have received some updates from the calling process for the Search Committee nominations, Charlie Franich has been seeking out people to check their directory listing during coffee hour. Charlie will be available during coffee hour on April 12 to continue his work, or you may email the office, or fill out a card and drop it off in the gray box next to the office. We would like to produce a more updated and accurate directory by mid to late April.

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!