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
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“Where Are You From”
“How far are you from the first place you remember calling home ? Physically, mentally, physiologically, emotionally and spiritually?”
Guest Speaker: Karen Groce Horan
Worship Assistant: Elise Henricks
Flowers: Bebe Williamson
Music: Tim Steele
Social Hour: Tom Kemp & Pat Gallivan
Audio: Brynne Mershon
Sunday’s offering will be given to the Back Bay Chorale Chorus for English Learners-Bridges Program. The program launched in 2013, is an integral part of the Back Bay Chorale’s mission to celebrate and share the unifying power of music with our community. Corey Hart, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Back Bay Chorale will speak.
Masks are strongly recommended in the meetinghouse; masks are still required for those who have not been vaccinated. Respect and consideration should be given to all regardless of their masking choice.
Karen Groce-Horan, Executive Director, Co-Founder- Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice
Karen, as CCTRJ co-founder, describes herself as an almost lifelong equity and justice advocate. In a life of varied careers in higher ed, business and finance, education and not-for profit philanthropy work, the areas that needed more attention related to equity would find their way into these important initiatives. Karen is originally from upstate NY and has resided most of her adult life in the greater Boston region, where she raised two daughters. Karen is currently building a consultative model to extend offerings and expertise in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging priorities anchored in restorative practices. In her free time she enjoys music of varied genre, theatre and travel when that is possible, walks with her beloved long haired dachshund in nature and by pond, lake and sea!
Part of my morning routine is listening to news podcasts. One is the “Global News Network (BBC)”. Sometimes I become overwhelmed with the news of global turmoil in humanity. The most frequent global coverage for the US these days has been mass shootings. There have been more mass shootings in this country than days, so far, in 2023. When I sense a spiritual nausea overtaking hope, I take note that I need to pull back and concentrate on here and now.
One way we can address the nearly paralyzing presence of violence in this country – physical, emotional, spiritual – is to bring our whole selves to the agency of hope. It can be as simple as a gesture of kindness or as intricate as addressing systemic oppression. Every movement towards relational health within ourselves, toward others and the earth adds to the energy of harmony, the wisdom of equity and the hope of humankind.
One such gesture is the annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace as a fundraiser for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The goal of this institute is to empower survivors and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss to cultivate cycles of peace and healing.
First Parish in Milton has participated in this walk for years, even when it was virtual, during COVID precautions. Please find an article below of this year’s event, and consider participating, however you can, for it enlivens the possibility of an earth made fair and all its people one.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music For Sunday
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing “A Single Note” by Mark Hayes, with a text by Wendy Mathis Parker. This anthem describes the power of a song which can begin with a single voice and grow into a multitude of voices which “unites, takes wing, and soars away ever strong”.
You will also be hearing a solo written by Florence Price, “The Poet and The Song”, with a text by Paul Laurence Dunbar and sung by Daon Drisdom.
Religious Exploration
Middle School Youth Group Program
Middle school aged youth (5th-8th grades) are invited to gather for an occasional junior youth group program. This spring, based on youth interest, we will be offering four sessions of gaming (Dungeons and Dragons) and an outdoor hike.
If your registered junior youth is interested in the Sunday evening gaming group, please email bridget@sitkoff.net. Friends are welcome, but will need to register with the RE program (at https://forms.gle/723pwAZSM9LHnXoAA – choose Youth Group or Junior Youth Group as your program option).
The group will meet from 5pm – 6:30pm in the Youth room at First Parish. First Parish youth mentor Xyla Sophinos will facilitate and two RE adults will be present at each meeting.
May 7th
May 21st
June 4th
Events and Meetings
“SING FOR THEIR SUPPER” ON MAY 6th at 7:00 pm
This Saturday evening, May 6 at 7pm is the eighth annual “Sing For Their Supper” concert. This Milton Community Concert is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some incredible singing and beautiful music while supporting the Milton Food Pantry and Milton Residents Fund. The singers this year are coming from as far away as Hartford, CT and Western New York to sing their opera arias and music theater favorites. Admission is free, and a free-will offering will be taken.
Come early for the best seats, and visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com for a list of the musicians and biographies.
11th Hour Calling Monthly Stand Out for Climate Action & Justice
Thursday, May 11, 6-6:30 p.m.
535 Canton Avenue (next to Town Hall)
[Canceled if torrential rain]
It will be a busy weeknight “Rush Hour” on Canton Avenue. This offers a visible way to message passersby. Gather, drum, ring, sing, chant, wave. BYO posters and percussion. We care about the climate emergency and about environmental justice. We stand out to uphold:
- “Green 100” Milton’s Community Electricity Aggregation Program (CEA)– it’s not too late to enroll).
- Re-aligning Milton’s Building Code to build smart, renewable, and fossil-free to reduce our town’s greenhouse gas emissions.
TOGETHER is the operative word — and there’s good news to share.
Save the Date:
Sunday, May 21st
(after worship in Parish Hall )
A light lunch will be served.
From the Membership Committee
Walking Group
Like to walk and chat? First Parish Membership is starting up our walking group again. Dianna Wilson will gather interested walkers at 12:15 pm on May 28th at the entrance to the Pope John Paul Park in Dorchester.
And afterwards if there is interest, going to lunch at a nearby spot !
Contact Dianna for more information: diannaw710@gmail.com
News and Announcements
First Parish’s Solar Impact
Since the solar panels were installed, we’ve saved 209.000 lbs of Co2 emissions, the equivlant of planting over 1,600 trees!
Standing for Racial Justice: Adopting the 8 th Principle
On Sunday, May 21, at the annual meeting of First Parish Milton, congregants will, in addition to other issues, vote on adopting the proposed 8 th Principle, which focuses on pursuing racial justice. The principle reads:
“We covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
For background and additional details please click here.
Racial Justice Task Force: Debbie Alsebai, Dottie Pitt, Elise Hendricks, Ellen Barr (co-chair), Jim May,
Katie Vhay, Rev. Lisa Ward, Pat Gallivan, Pat Neves (co-chair)
Worship Committee-Summer Services
We now have some volunteers to lead summer services but need more – both old hands and adventurous newbies.
Please contact Penny Partridge (ppartridge9@icloud.com or 413-658-4717) and pick a summer Sunday. You could think of it as a slight extension of a Faith Reflection. What could be important to you to share with us?
YES, we’re having another Yard Sale!
Start your spring cleaning ! The First Parish Yard Sale is happening again. We’ll be collecting items in June, specific dates and times TBD. The yard sale date is:
June 24th, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Much more to come…
First Parish Milton volunteers provide bagged lunches to MainSpring adult shelters in Brockton twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Members of the Social & Environmental Justice committee will make the delivery to Brockton.
Volunteers are needed to acquire food and pack 10 lunches and deliver to the church between 12:45 pm-1:00 pm on Delivery day. One team lead drives all the lunches to the shelter in Brockton. Please note how many meals you are making in comments. We are looking for 70 lunches for each delivery day. Lunches should include sandwich, fruit, drink, snack/chips and sweet/cookies.
The next delivery day will be on Wednesday May 17th and then every other Wednesday throughout the year. We will meet in the lower parking lot between 12:40 pm and 1:00 pm.
If you haven’t made lunches in a while OR if you are a new volunteer, sign up on MainSpring Sign Up Genius or contact Pat Gallivan at pl.gallivan@verizon.net for more info.
Thanks to all the volunteers that have made this program a success for more than two years !!
Beyond First Parish
A Memorial Service for Natalie Q. Albers
Long time Milton activist and member of the First Parish Milton, will be held at First Parish, Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM
City Life/Vida Urbana – Opportunity to Help a Community Partner
Our friends at City Life/Vida Urbana, a grassroots organization that promotes tenant rights and advocates on behalf of those facing eviction, reached out to ask for the help of this community. CLVU is planning an upcoming mailing to 2,000 people – to make them aware of their rights and available resources – as they face losing their homes. CLVU needs help preparing this mailing, and have asked for our help.
On Saturday, May 13th from 10:00am – 12:30pm, we will be meeting at the UU Urban Ministry with folks from CLVU to assemble this mailing. Can you join us? Email Vinnie Myles at vmyles@uuum.org to RSVP.
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.