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 Reverend Lisa
- RE
- Events
- Social & Environmental Justice
- Actions for Justice and Democracy (COMING SOON)
This Week in Worship
“Summer Solstice Reflections”
Please join us for service at 9:30am.
Worship Leader: Laura Whitehouse
Worship Assistant: Steve Yakutis
Music: Steve Yakutis and Guy Pugh
Audio: Alex Feliz
Please log in at 9:20, to give some lead time for the service at 9:30. 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 service and ministry of First Parish.
As we enter into the summer months, I’d like to share some wisdom offered in a recent article by Leila Merrill entitled “7 ways to unlock the stress cycle”. Leila cites the findings shared in the book “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle,” written by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.
Stress can lead to burnout: “the mental and physical state of exhaustion that drains the joy out of your friendships, family relationships or career.”
So here are seven suggestions on ways to help manage stress.
1. Physical activity: at least 20 minutes.
2. Take deep, slow breaths. Learn some breathing exercises that center on your breathing
3. Positive social interactions, which help you feel hope for the world. Laughter definitely helps.
4. Connect with a loving presence. Share time with a being – human or other animal that affirms your affection.
5. Let yourself have a big ol’ cry, if needed.
6. Creative Expression: writing, dancing, gardening, cooking, art…whatever moves you.
So – a summer assignment. Pay attention to the de-stressors listed above and find ways to engage them on a regular basis.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Religious Exploration
Susannah Bales, our new Director of Lifespan Faith Exploration, starts on 7/7. Her email will be REDirector@fpmilton.org but she will not be checking it until 7/7.
Stay tuned for information on get together to welcome Susannah!
News & Announcements
Summer Services start on June 15th at First Parish Milton UU 9:30 AM (in Meetinghouse except as noted with *)
6/29 Leslie MacPherson: On Resiliency
7/6 Jeff Stoodt: Singing the Glories of Summer
7/13 Dan De Angeli & Penny Partridge: The Interview
7/20 Cynthia Guise and Didi Emmons: What Is the UUA Animal Ministry?
7/27 Penny Partridge & Tasha Bello: Looking Both Ways at 80
8/3 Steve Yakutis & Friends: Songs of Protest* (in Children’s Church)
8/10 Elise Henricks: Walking Our Labyrinth* (in courtyard)
8/17 Chris Clifford: Blue Hills Forest Bathing* (location TBA)
8/24 Lisa White: Music from Our Hymnals
8/31 Penny Partridge: Navigating in the Sea of Dementia
Join us online from anywhere; but if you can, please come in person.
* Not available online
Events
Our annual yard sale – Saturday, June 21 – attracts hundreds of community shoppers.
We need LOTS of volunteers to staff the tables during the yard sale, and for clean up on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Click on the link below to see days/hours for sign up.
If you can commit 2 hours or 20, we’d appreciate your help
Bike Drive with Bikes not Bombs June 21st
Volunteers still needed to assist the BnB staff for the bike drive! Contact Tracey Robinson robi301 at yahoo.com to volunteer!!
A truck will be on site and we will collect any used/donated bikes for their bike refurbishing/ recycling efforts. BnB requests donations to help cover costs of shipping bikes overseas.
*See flyer below
Social & Environmental Justice
UU Mass Action Capital Campaign
This year, members of the First Parish Milton Social & Environmental Justice committee have worked actively with UU Mass Action on Immigration Justice, Climate Action, and Democratic Advocacy. We have been impressed with their deep insights and dedication to this work! They are conducting a critical year end capital campaign and need our help.
From Rev Jo Murphy:
“In these uncertain times, we recently learned that two major grants we depend on will not be renewed, due to reasons outside of our organization’s control. This will leave us with an unexpected $90k shortfall for FY26. As a result of this shortfall we are launching ‘Dreaming Beyond Crisis: An Emergency Capital Campaign.’
Though we may be at financial loss, at this moment UU Mass Action is doing some of the most powerful, effective work in our organization’s history.
How to Give:
Donate online to the campaign!
No donation too small! Thanks for considering
Actions for Justice and Democracy
Stand Out For Our Democracy
Standout at the Statehouse:
Disappeared in America
Thursday, June 26 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Disappeared in America is a national day of action to stand up for the rule of law and bring attention to illegal abductions, detentions, and deportations of people like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Rui Marras, and Juan Maldonado Zuniga. On June 26th, people across the U.S. are standing out at state houses and town squares with posters featuring photos of and messages about disappeared individuals.
Location:
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02133
Learn more and sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/800599/
Additional information:
A key focal point of this campaign will be to call on local sheriffs to refuse to cooperate with directives from ICE to engage in federal immigration enforcement, such as renting jail beds to ICE, participating in immigration raids, and transferring people to ICE detentions. Sheriffs have wide discretion in how much they cooperate with ICE. Participation in federal immigration activities places additional burden on sheriffs’ offices and can erode local community trust in local law enforcement.
Click here to schedule an appointment
Rev. Lisa Ward:
Study Leave: June 23-June 30
Vacation: July 1-14
Vacation: July 28-August 10
Study Leave: August 11-18
Susan DeMinico: Summer Hours for July and August
In office on Tuesday &Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays.
Vacation: June 23rd-June 27th
Vacation: August 11th-15th
Susannah Bales
Starting 7/7/25
Sherri Moldaver
In office Monday thru Thursday 8:30am-1:30pm
Vacation: August 4th-August 7th
Kevin Harnden
Monday-Thursday 8am-11am
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.