This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 16th, 2019

9:30am- 10:30am in the Children’s Church

“Happy Father’s Day Mom!” 

Celebrating the joys and challenges of alternative parenting configurations.

Facilitated by: Mallory Digges, Musician: Emma Jean Multon

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

minister@fpmilton.org

Recently, I saw a news story about the on-going hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico.  A youth of grade school age replied, when asked of his experience of the slow pace and continued hardship: “I do not want to focus on the storm.  The storm has passed and I have to focus on my life.”

What simple, inspiring wisdom.  How often do we stay stuck in a past storm or difficulty, feeling unable to move on with our lives?  I believe, in fact, that that is one of the main reasons people venture into faith communities: seeking something that can shake loose an emotionally or spiritually stuck place, or calm a storm of grief, fear or dread, or awaken ways to fill an emptiness.  This wise youth’s comment reminded me of a quote by 19th century  Unitarian forebear Louisa May Alcott: “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

In the summer we often have times of easier schedules: a good time to ‘learn how to sail one’s ship’.  It is important to come to know our resources of resiliency and flow of life.  It is important to develop practices that can be there for us when the water is rough or the sea expands our horizons.

So, I thought I’d share, in the link articles through the summer, various spiritual practices as possible resources for navigating your life.  Take a gander in the link, starting next week, at ways to carve out time for self and soul.  May you come to know your resilience and be  open to the days of your life.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Summer RE and Youth Break: Formal youth and religious exploration programming ends this week and will resume on September 8 when regular worship services start again. Enjoy your summer, and remember to make time for spiritual practices – especially practicing gratitude!

It is time to register your child or youth for classes next fall! The Religious Exploration Committee requests all families to register your child or youth before attending classes. Please use this link to our online form: Online registration form (or paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway).

Rev. Lisa Ward, Minister

In the office Tuesday – Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Out the month of July and August 11-19 on study leave

Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

Normal hours until June 30th

Megan Benders, Administrative Assistant

In the office on Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Education

Normal hours until June 30th

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Back in the Fall

Tim Steele, Music Director

Back in the Fall

Lost and Found

Do these items belong to you?

Please contact the church office at office@fpmilton.org to set up a time to come salvage your belongings.

All items that are not claimed by next Thursday, June 20th will be donated to the Church Yard Sale. 

Courageous Conversations

 Public Reading of Frederick Douglass

When: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM,Thursday, June 27th

Where: Forbes House Museum (215 Adams St, Milton, MA 02186).

Sign up to attend on the courageous conversations website.

At this event, we will take turns reading the Frederick Douglass speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

We will have a moderated discussion, addressing topics such as how the impacts of slavery are still felt today and the ways in which race plays a role in our current lives.

Sunday morning silent prayer and meditation is cancelled and will resume in the Fall.

Thursday evening silent prayer and meditation, starting on June 13th, 2019, will be 6:00pm – 6:30pm rather than 7:00pm – 7:30pm.

The Worship and Hospitality Committees are now asking for volunteers to support our Sundays for next year. Known as “Choose or be Chosen”, this is an important part of our Sunday worship and social hour, insuring that there are flowers up front, ushers at the door, and coffee, tea and sustenance after the service. Many members think that they are being flexible and helpful if they don’t sign up and wait to be assigned a date, but not only does this significantly increase the work load on the Worship Committee and Hospitality Committee as they try to assemble volunteers for next year, it also brings about comments like this one: “I would never have agreed to X weekend because we have standing plans to go away on that date.” If you pick your dates yourself, this can be avoided. So please, sign up for Flowers, Ushering and Hospitality to continue supporting our welcoming and beautiful Sunday Services and Social Hour.  If you have a child who would like to light the chalice and ring the bell, please sign them up as well.

If you are not receiving your email updates from signup genius, perhaps, we need an updated email address for you in that program.  If you think there is a problem, please let Mallory Digges (maldigges@gmail.com) know. Many thanks!

First Parish Members – It has been many years since we have updated our photo directory and if you have been wanting a resource that can help you contact members, take heart:  a new First Parish Member Directory is coming!

The Membership Committee is taking on this organizational task: working with Lifetouch, scheduling portraits and distributing the final products. More information on scheduling and procedure will come soon.

Our photography dates are as follows: 

Tuesday, August 6th (good time for families with youth going out of town in the fall)

Friday, September 13

Saturday, September 14

We are aiming for 100% participation.  There is NO COST to participate and everyone who does will receive one free 8 x 10 portrait. You will have the opportunity to purchase more family portraits if you choose.

Let me know what questions you have. Thanks, in advance.

-Leslie ( lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com)

First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 22nd, 9 am – 1pm

BRING US your gently used furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, books, lawn and garden items, “boutique” clothes, household goods, bicycles, and more…you can declutter and help us raise funds!!

          DONATION DROP-OFFS JUNE 13- JUNE 15:

Thursday, June 13th, 4-7pm

Friday, June 14th, 9am-11am

Saturday, June 15th, 9am-12pm

WHERE:  Drop off your items at the First Parish activities room (basement level) –  use the side door near the carriage house parking lot.                        

If these times don’t work for you, email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com) to arrange an alternate drop-off time.  We can also arrange to pick up your items!

Please note:  we cannot accept donations of mattresses, bed linens, TVs, cribs, stuffed animals, car seats, underwear, bathing suits, t-shirts, electronics (unless new) and moldy books.  Please help our volunteers – make sure your items are clean and in working order.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to staff the drop-off times. If you can help, even for a couple of hours, contact Anita Penta (anita.penta@gmail.com).

For more info about the yard sale and volunteer opportunities, email Jennifer Pinkus at jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Spokane, Washington

June 19-23, 2019

“The Power of We”

General Assembly is the annual business meeting of our denomination, and it’s a whole lot more. Inspirational worship services, informative workshops, entertaining programs, and a bustling exhibit hall help make GA an unforgettable experience for the thousands of Unitarian Universalists that attend. Attendees leave with a renewed sense of energy, inspiration, and innovative ideas to take back to their congregations and communities.

Visit uua.org/ga for

• Programming Information

• Registration and Housing

• Financial Aid Information

• Volunteer Opportunities