Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Rev. Lisa
• This Week in Religious Exploration
• News and Announcements
• Events and Meetings
• Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

“In The Fullness of Time”

Worship Assistant: Elise Henricks

Greeter: Catharine McGonagle

Audio: Atticus D’Alessandro

Flowers: Catharine McGonagle

Social Hour: Annual Luncheon

Please join us for service at 10:30am.

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 Neponset River Watershed Association. Since their founding in 1967, their mission has been to protect and restore the natural resources of the Neponset River, its tributaries, and surrounding watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations. The Association fulfills this mission through environmental monitoring, public education, advocacy, coalition-building and hands-on implementation projects. Rory McGregor,Board member and Chair of Development Committee, will speak.

A resident theologian (which we all are) mentioned the other day that the use of the democratic process in our congregations is a cherished value in our faith community. We get to see it in full action this Sunday after worship with our Annual Meeting.

As a living faith, we welcome the voices and musings of those we encounter, knowing that great wisdom has been shared in the past which helps inform our weaving of new inspirations in the living of our lives. Revelation is not sealed, so it is important to be equitable and inclusive to capture the many glimpses of Sacred Being.

In 1933, Marion Franklin Hann wrote this lyric that is now in our UU Hymn “Tranquil Streams” referring to our freely chosen faith:

“A freedom that reveres the past, but trusts the dawning future more; and bids the soul, in search of truth, adventure boldly and explore.” (#145 Gray Hymnal)

In fact, this was sung when, in 1961, the gathered assembly voted to merge the Unitarian and Universalist denominations, thereby forming the Unitarian Universalist Association.

So come, ye members of First Parish in Milton, and cast your votes, offer your insights, and hear the reports of the marvelous workings and vibrant services of this faith community.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Music This Week

This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be joined by cellist Elizabeth Cook in a special anthem which was sung on February 4 of this year. Several people who missed hearing it then have requested that we sing it again. This anthem, called “Hope”, is written by our own choir member Trisha Tu, and is based on a text by Chinese Nobel Prize laureate and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo. During the service you will also hear Together – written by Susan Werner performed by Claudia Wellington.

RE This Week

UU Summer Fun Registration!

It’s time to formally register for our UU summer fun! Follow this link to register. If you signed up on the “Express Interest” form, we still need you to officially register with this link! Per the recommendation of the Religious Education Committee, we are shifting our age range to also welcome preschoolers whose older siblings will also be attending our summer fun and/or who attend Spirit Play but may not be entering first grade. Please reach out to Louise (re@fpmilton.org) with questions about this new policy. We continue to want to be flexible and accommodating, while still prioritizing safety and a quality experience for all involved.

News & Announcements

SAVE THE DATE

The Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, May 19th after worship service in Parish Hall. You must be present to vote.

A copy of the Annual Meeting Report can be found here or in the members section of the website, under congregational meetings.

See you there!

Thank you to Dianna Wilson, Rev. Lisa, Marie Laure Brown, Jen Pinkus, Amy Kavadlo, Sophie and Atticus D’Alessandro, Pat Gallivan, Becky Warner, Ellen Barrios, Elise Henricks, Tony Dutzik, Pat Neves, and Claudia Wellington for showing up for peace on Mother’s Day!! We were there with other dignitaries like Michelle Wu and Ayanna Pressley. 

Thanks also for contributions from Amy Norton and a special shout out to Elise Henricks who raised $450 of our $1250 for the walk so far. Our goal is still $3000. Once we add the plate collection from 5/5 we might be getting that much closer. 

Still Time to Donate

Summer Services Are Just Around the Corner!

Consider sharing something of yourself with the congregation this summer—there are just a few dates remaining for these lay-led services. Services start at 9:30 and can be as unorthodox as you’d like—even outside! 

Please contact Steve Yakutis at steve.yakutis@gmail.com or Lisa White at lisawhite1250@gmail.com

 if you’re interested or want to learn more.

Events & Meetings

May 18th Storytelling Event

Attention tellers of tales, fish stories, anecdotes and other ephemeral memories of lives well lived: 

We are having another story hour on Saturday May 18 at 4PM. Our format is simple: come with a 5 minute long tale related to the theme, which this month is  “Rivalry”.  

You can also just come listen, though we found out from our first gathering on April 27 that all who came shared a story. Stories beget memories which beget stories. Come and be a part!

Annual Yard Sale is June 22nd

We need you! We’re looking for people to join the Yard Sale organizing committee. Do you have ideas about how to organize or publicize the event? Can you help manage donation drop offs, or recruit volunteers? Do you have some free time in June? Please email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com) or Allison Zippay (azippay3@gmail.com). 

The yard sale is a quick and fun 3-4 week project, but it needs lots of volunteers!  

Donation drop-offs will begin after the church picnic on June 9th.

Social & Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC)

June 5th is the next date!

S&EJ (Social & Environmental Justice committee) is looking for volunteers the first and third Wednesday of each month to contribute lunches. We hope to deliver 70 lunches twice a month to support shelter guests.

 See updated instructions on the Mainspring SignUpGenius page and signup whenever you can help out.

We are counting on your support!

Beyond First Parish

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13.2)

On weekdays, St Michael’s in Milton hosts migrant families from Haiti and Central and South America in our parish hall, and Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI) in Boston assists them with paperwork, lessons in English and other skills, and providing a meal. To augment our hospitality we are looking for volunteers and donations of needed items.

Please consider how you can help wrangling cabs for an hour in the morning, teaching ESL,playing games with children, picking up prepared meals, or donating needed items or funds to defray the costs of paper towels, toilet paper, and garbage stickers!

Learn more by clicking here ,and finding IFSI Volunteer and IFSI Donation needs. Help where you can! In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us quite clearly that whatever we do for the least of Jesus’ siblings we do for him, and our invitation is to do that here.

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Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice’s next read will be “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America” by Richard Rothstein. 

We will meet on Zoom on 5/28/24 from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm  

For 5/14/24 we will read through Chapter 7 and we will finish the book on 5/28/24.

It is not readily available at the Milton Library or the Boston Library (online at least) without a wait, but used copies are available at BooksRun and new and used at Amazon.  

Ibram X. Kendi in “How To Be an Antiracist” pointed out that policy is either racist or antiracist. This new book seems to add support of this concept. 

For Questions and or the Zoom link please reach out to Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Sponsored by

Milton Interfaith Clergy Association

Thursday, June 27th 1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills

18 Shoolman Way Milton, MA 02186

 To schedule appointment on or after Mar 18 please visit www.redcrossblood.org and

Enter sponsor code: MICA

Or call 1 (800)-Red-Cross

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 – 1:00 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, 9:30 am in the Meetinghouse
• Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am

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.