This Week in Worship

10:30 a.m. in the Meetinghouse — Sunday, April 9, 2017

This month’s theme: God

Message from Rev. Lisa

This Sunday brings two UUA initiatives to the forefront. One has been a process that began several months ago, the other a response to the surfacing of an age-old calling that gives opportunity for deeper and wider efforts toward transformation.

The first, is a “Declaration of Conscience”, an initiative that the UUA has invited individuals and faith communities to publicly affirm as a commitment to justice, equity and compassion. The Declaration can be found here: http://www.uua.org/loveresists/declaration-conscience. Our Parish Committee has voted to bring this to the congregation at the annual meeting (May 21), with the intention, if affirmed, to sign on as a Congregation.

The second is of more immediate and long-term effect. As I mentioned in the beginning of worship last Sunday, the Rev. Peter Morales resigned from his position as President of the Unitarian Universalist Association as of April 1st, 2017. In his words, Rev. Morales feels he “failed to lead appropriately” within a controversy regarding the UUA’s hiring practices and lack of racial diversity therein. Calls to examine more deeply the systemic racism within our UU culture and administration are gaining fervent voice. One such call is to devote a Sunday to what is being named a “UU White Supremacy Teach-In”. I have chosen to devote my sermon on April 30th to systemic racism through the lens of white privilege within UU culture and my own journey toward understanding (a journey that is far from over).

After service this Sunday, I will stay in the Meetinghouse for those who would like to discuss these UUA initiatives. It is important that we stay with our discomfort and within the challenge of transformation in our collective journey toward wholeness.

Blessings,

Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse
Director of Religious Education

What’s happening in religious exploration this weekend?

Friday, April 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm: The Our Whole Lives class (parental permission required) will meet on in the Activity Room downstairs.

Sunday, April 9, nursery care will be available for infants and toddlers from 9:00 am to noon in the Link hallway.

Preschool children through grade 7 will attend the first part of the worship service in the Meetinghouse and then move to their classrooms. 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 1: Spirit Play in the Preschool classroom
• Grades 2 through 5: Spirited Adventure in the Activity room
• Grades 6 and 7: Friends and Neighbors in the Primary classroom
• Grade 8: Invited to attend Youth Chat this Sunday
• Youth Chat (grades 9 to 12) will meet from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the Youth room upstairs.
• Youth Group does not meet this weekend.

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

Passover Seder

When: Friday, April 7 from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Parish Hall.

All are welcome to the multigenerational Passover Seder Interfaith Haggadah service.

A Passover-style potluck dinner will take place during the service. All are welcome. Please RSVP to the Evite that was sent this week.

Please join us for a Passover Seder celebrating old and new traditions. Our family friendly seder with a UU spin will feature an overview of the holiday, fun songs and good company. We will share a Passover style meal, including Boston Market chicken, mashed potatoes and traditional matzoh ball soup.

To complete our potluck, please consider bringing a vegetable main or side, salad, fruit salad, or dessert. Some ingredients to skip for this meal are bread, pasta or baked goods since flour is the missing ingredient for Passover.

HERE WE HAVE GATHERED: A WORSHIP WORKSHOP

When: Saturday, April 8th
Time: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Meet in the Meetinghouse

Wonder how worship works? Want to experiment with ways toward wonder? Open to all interested, we will explore the elements of worship, try our hand at various worship styles and suggest monthly themes for next year’s full service year (Sept 2017 through June 2018).

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. For each Sunday, there will be an assistant from the Worship Committee on hand to help you and we will also be there to guide you in the planning process.

If you have been to the summer services, then you know that they tend to reflect the more relaxed nature of the season. Sometimes we get a chance to experiment with creative ideas which are ideal for a small group – such as outdoor services or a labyrinth walk – or just try something different. The format could be anything from an all-music morning to a service devoted to meditation practices or a traditional UU service. Do you have a sermon in you – something you could tell us about? What can YOU share with the First Parish community?

Sound interesting? Intrigued? If so, either speak to a member of the Worship Committee or email Leslie, Worship Committee Chair.

Dear First Parish Members,

We want to extend a warm thank you to the parish for your most generous support of the Milton Residents Fund. We were honored to be chosen recently by the Social Action Committee to receive a $859 check from your special Third Sunday of the Month collection. This was especially wonderful coming on the heels of this February’s “Sing For Their Supper” event held here at First Parish. A special thank you to Tim Steele for the over $2,500 raised at that event for the Milton Residents Fund and the Milton Community Food Pantry.

Your support makes a great diffence in the lives of your Milton neighbors in need!

Sincerely,

Diane Ferrari and Maura Doherty

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. Rather than catering what we hope will be an elegant reception, we have chosen to ask the congregation to offer their talents. Contributions to the celebration will be greatly appreciated and can come in many forms.
Shortly, we will be sending out a link to our SignUpGenius webpage, where you will find more specifics.

In the meantime, 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

Most Sundays, the Social Action Committee will have information available on their table during social hour.

Third Sunday Collection (April 16 – Easter Sunday)

Where: Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Next volunteer days are this Saturday April 8 and 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

Have you noticed some updates around the building? Karl Pastore painted the link wall a few weeks back and it looks great! Ruth Heiden coordinated the refresh of the minister’s office over the past couple of months. Ruth had a big team of volunteers who moved stuff out, moved stuff back in, coordinated furniture, etc. Thanks to both Karl and Ruth for your efforts. They are great improvements.

We had an ice dam back during the big February snowstorm and some damage to the men’s room as well as the outside of the building. We are now in the process of getting it repaired.

Lisa White, chair of YAC, was the first one of our Committee Chairs to get her annual report in. Remember the deadline for materials to be received in the office is Friday, April 21. Getting them in ahead of the deadline would be even better. The annual meeting is Sunday, May 21st at 11:45.

STAY CONNECTED

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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.