Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 6/15/2018

Weekly Link 6-15-18

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Theme: Identity
Worship at 9:30 am in the Children’s Church

Rev. LisaMinister

Rev. Lisa Ward

It was a pleasure beginning our summer reading group, discussing Waking Up White, by Debby Irving. Debbie Alsebai and I are co-leading the leisurely paced exploration of this ground-breaking book. Meeting every other Tuesday (see details in the link), we will cover a small section of the book. It is rich with transforming observations and challenging shifts in perspectives, so a slower pace is a good way to companion each other in the reading. There are still more books available. We simply covered introductions, so contact Debbie Alsebai if you’d like to join in.

I look forward, as well, to several retreats that various committees have scheduled for this summer. it will be good to vision together, charting out plans for the year. I hope you do come to worship on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am at the Children’s Church when you ae in town. I will be leading the first summer service, observing Father’s Day in story and song.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Rev. Lisa’s s vacation schedule:

  • Out of the Office: June 25th -July 8th
  • July 30th -August 20th
  • Pastoral coverage is available. Contact Amanda Tobey, Caring Committee chair, for assistance.

MANY THANKS

MANY THANKS to all who participated in the discussion about whether the cross in the meetinghouse should be the central focal point of our worship space. Over these past few months we’ve had several small groups, several individual comments sent to the worship committee and a survey offered to members who did not attend the small group discussions. The worship committee will send a recommendation to the Parish Committee for their meeting on July 9th. A decision and description of next steps will be sent via email to the membership shortly thereafter. Many thanks, as well, to the worship committee, who have devoted many hours and much thought to bringing this important discussion and process to our faith community.Religious Exploration

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

Religious exploration programming for children will resume in September. Enjoy your summer, and remember to take time to enjoy the boundless beauty of nature!

Youth programming will resume in September. Congratulations to our graduating seniors!

Youth room painting will be continuing during August – helpers needed! Please email me at restaff@fpmilton.org if you’d like to volunteer some time on this much-needed project.

Events, News and Announcements

Summer Worship

SUMMER SERVICES BEGIN IN THE CHILDREN’S CHURCH ON 6/17. PLEASE JOIN US FROM 9:30-10:30.

This upcoming Sunday:

June 17 – Rev. Lisa Ward – “Reflections on Fatherhood”

Though a hallmark designation, theme days (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day) invite us to focus on aspects of our relational lives. Today we will dedicate an hour to contemplating, sharing and lifting up the role of fatherhood in our lives.

Our full summer services schedule is available on our website.

Click to view: https://fpmilton.org/summer-services/

TIME CHANGE

Time change! Over the summer Silent Prayer and Meditation will start at 8:30am instead of 9:00am. This change will go into effect on Sunday 6/17/18. Please join us in the Children’s Church.

yardsale

OUR next DONATION DROP OFF for the FP Yard Sale:

SATURDAY, June 16, 9am-noon

Activities room (basement level) near the carriage house parking lot

BRING US your gently used furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, books, lawn and garden items, “boutique” clothes, household goods, bicycles, and more…

Please note: we cannot accept donations of mattresses, TVs, broken items, cribs, car seats, underwear, bathing suits, electronics (unless new), stuffed animals, and moldy books.

Additional drop off dates: Thursday: June 21, 3pm-7:30pm

Friday: June 22, 10am-noon

If these times don’t work for you, please Contact Jen Pinkus to arrange an alternate drop-off time. We can also arrange to pick up your items!

Can you help? We need volunteers to: help with set-up, staffing tables, and clean up on June 23. Contact Jen Pinkus

First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 23, 9 am – 1pm

Start cleaning out your attic, garage, and closets – you can declutter and help raise funds for First Parish at the same time!

The event is open to public – rain or shine – spread the word!

Bike Ride

Come join Tony Dutzik and Owen McGonagle on our first community bike ride. We will meet at 9 am on Saturday, June 16th at First Parish, to venture the roads together. We’ll start with a 12 mile ride, open to all levels of ability. All one needs is a bike, helmet, and great attitude. Water bottles are highly recommended. Come join us! Please let us know at office@fpmilton.org if you are planning to come.

Parenting As A Spiritual Practice: Parenting Ages 5 and Younger

Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward

Due to a limited response, we are postponing “Parenting As A Spiritual Practice: Parenting Ages 5 and Younger” till the Fall. Please contact the office: office@fpmilton.org, if you would like to attend beginning in the Fall. We need at least 6 people for the program to be scheduled. Child care will be available upon request.

Here is the description: One resident theologian and parent of young children longed out loud for clarity around finding spirituality in the chaos of parenting. This is both possible and accessible in your everyday lives. At this gathering we will determine together what issues we can explore with one another. If there is enough interest, we will schedule monthly gatherings to set aside time to help each other find our way.

MainSpring in Brockton Sunday, June 17th 3 – 6 pm

The Social Action Committee is seeking volunteers to prepare and serve dinner at MainSpring in Brockton from 3PM-6PM. We need 4 people to sign up. Email Peter at peterlschneider@gmail.com

Join our summer book discussion: WAKING UP WHITE by Debby Irving

An initiative of the First Parish Social Action Committee

in collaboration with Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice

Debby Irving grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, a predominantly white, upper middle class community. In this book, she shares her journey toward recognition of white privilege. This is an accessible book that invites deeper knowledge of our culture and our way through toward clarity, which is a necessary step toward transformation of our society at large.

We will meet every other Tuesday from 7- 8 pm in the library. Our next meeting is June 26th. The reading assignments will offer an easy pace through the summer. We will create opportunities for zoom conferencing for an option to call in for the discussion.

Please contact the office if you are interested, or speak with Debbie Alsebai. Debbie has copies of the book that you can purchase.

Mattapan Milton Neponset Community Celebration

June 28th – (7:00 – 9:00pm): Two Communities and a River: The Story of the Neponset Greenway Extension. An interactive community storytelling event with True Story Theater. All are welcome. Foley Senior Residences, 249 River Street, Mattapan.

The MMNC gathers as neighbors along the Neponset River to explore how to make the Greenway Trail Extension an opportunity to forge stronger relationships among residents of Mattapan and Milton based on mutual respect, understanding, and a common love of the beautiful river and greenway we share. The long-term goal is to understand, confront and eliminate structural racism and other forces that divide and disempower our Neponset Valley Communities.

Courageous Conversations Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, June 19th, 7-9pm, St. Michael’s Church, 112 Randolph Ave., Milton. This month we will consider the story we tell about race by screening a portion of the PBS Documentary, “Race: the Power of an Illusion,” followed by small group discussion of the film and large group conversation about next steps.

Thursday, July 26th, 6-8:30pm, Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Ave., Milton. Join us for a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary I am Not Your Negro. Directed by Raoul Peck and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the award-winning documentary is based on an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin and recounts the lives of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Medgar Evers.

SUMMER SCHEDULE

There will be no yoga or Verspers service in June.

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 – 2:00 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, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
  • Choir Rehearsal (most Sundays) at 8:45 am
  • Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

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.