Rev. Lisa Ward has been our settled minister since August of 2016. Ordained in 1992, Rev. Lisa has served congregations in New York City, Queens, White Plains, NY and Harford County, MD. A graduate from Union Theological Seminary in NYC, she has engaged in social justice initiatives throughout her career… 
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
“Beauty is Before Me”
Flower Communion Sunday- Please bring a flower (or two) to share
Worship Assistant: Dottie Pitt
Flower: Deborah Kelley
Audio: Colin Glazer
Social Hour: Jen Pinkus and Amy Kavadlo
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 Back Bay Chorale Bridges program. The Back Bay Chorale is a 120 member auditioned chorus which hosts an annual concert series. BBC shares music with the Boston community through its Bridges program which offers an ESL program to make music and improve English language skills for participants. Yuhua Bai, chorus member, will speak on it’s behalf.
June is Pride Month, dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of LGBTQ+ life. This was an inspiration that began after the Stonewall uprising in New York City in June of 1969.
This last October, the Human Rights campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization within the United States, published an urgent warning. The FBI annual crime report was released that month. It was found that anti-LGBTQ hate crimes rose sharply in 2022, jumping more than 19 percent in one year. A deeply troubling trend.
I had the good fortune, after 8 years of advocacy through the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland, to devote my sabbatical in 2012 to advocating for marriage equality. That year Maryland became the first state to pass marriage equality through legislation. HRC was a robust partner in this advocacy, as they were when we moved to transrights legislation.
At the time it felt as if we were moving forward, which, indeed, we were, but the backlash and, frankly, slippage, is a heart sinking reality. However, onward we go. There are many ways to advocate: legislatively, conferences, support groups, education, outreach and consistent visibility.
On June 9th, cars decorated with joyful affirmation will join in on a Pride parade, starting at Pierce Middle School at 6 pm. It’s a fun, hopeful and proudly visible event. Perhaps I’ll see you there?
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music This Week
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an energetic anthem called “The Music in Me”, by Mark Hayes. Mr. Hayes is a prolific composer and arranger who currently lives in Kansas City, MO. Also a small ensemble of singers will be singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arelen and Yip Harburg.
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
Don’t forget- Summer Services start on 6/16 at 9:30am in the Meetinghouse!
6/16 Dan De Angeli: “Personal responsibility to the environment”
6/23 Jennie Mulqueen & Friends: “Democracy Is Under Attack: Songs of Reality & Stories of Hope”
6/30 Steve Yakutis & Guy Pugh “Retirement: Oh No, Now What?”
Events & Meetings
Next storytelling event will be Saturday, June 8, at 4 p.m., in the Children’s Chapel.
Some storytelling is spontaneous after drawing a word or a phrase from a bag. Some people bring a prepared story with a previously announced theme.
See next week’s Link for the June 8th theme.
Start cleaning out your attic, garage, and closets – you can declutter and help raise funds for First Parish at the same time!
DONATION drop-off information
We’re looking for clean, gently-used furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, books, lawn and garden items, household goods, bicycles, and more…
Please assist our volunteers by organizing your items by category.
DROP OFF times: First Parish – In the Link
- Sun, June 9: 9am – 11am
- Wed, June 12: 9am-noon
- Thurs, June 13: 4pm-7pm
- Sat, June 15: 2pm – 5pm
- Sun, June 16: 9am-noon
- Mon, June 17: 9am-noon, 4pm-7pm
- Tues, June 18: 9am-noon, 4pm-7pm
- Wed, June 19: 9am-noon, 4pm-7pm
If these times don’t work for you, please email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com) to arrange an alternate drop-off time. We may also be able to arrange to pick up your items.
Can you help? We need LOTS of volunteers to:
- staff the donation drop-off hours
- help set up and organize on June 20-21
- staff the tables and help with set-up or clean-up on the day of the yard sale (June 22)
- clean up and distribute leftover items after the yard sale on June 23-24
If you can commit 2 hours or 20, we’d appreciate your help! Please Sign Up via Signup Genius or email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com)
The event is open to the public – rain or shine – spread the word!
On June 9th, the Membership Committee will host our annual end-of-church-year PICNIC. Once again, it will be a Pot Luck feast. No one brings the deliciousness better than First Parish folx, so think about what you would like to bring and please let us know on our Sign-up Genius;
We will have temporary tattoos again ! Bubbles ! Lawn games. Music and special surprises !
Come one, come all and lets be in delicious community on June 9th.
If you can help with set-up, clean-up or have questions, please email Leslie:
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.
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
Join us for world-class jazz music on the beautiful UUUM greenspace. We’re happy to announce The Makanda Project will have three concerts this summer at the Urban Ministry. Join us under the summer sky for these free shows in the heart of Roxbury.
- Saturday, July 13th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
- Saturday, August 17th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
- Saturday, September 14th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Events are free! | All are welcome | Bring a lawn chair
Click here for more information
Rev. Lisa:
Study Leave: June 23-30
Vacation: July 1-July 14
Study Leave: July 28-August 4
Vacation: August 15-August 18
Susan DeMinico: Summer Hours starting 7/1
In office on Tuesday &Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays.
Vacation: June 19-July 9
Vacation: August 9-August 20
Louise Smith-Erb
June 23-July 6 Vacation
July 14-July 21- at Star Island on Study Leave
Sherri Moldaver:
Mon-Thurs in office 8:30 am-1:30 pm
Kevin Harnden
Monday-Friday in office 8:30-11am
Tim Steele
Off in July and August, returning in September.
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.