Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 6/20/2019

Weekly Link 6/20/2019

This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 23rd, 2019

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

“Carving Out Time for Self and Soul”

Becoming grounded in our lives takes intention and regular practice.

Facilitated by Rev. Lisa WardMusic performed by Karl Pastore

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

minister@fpmilton.org

The subject of my Link columns for the summer is: “spiritual practice”.  I will describe several avenues that might resonate to assist in one’s faith journey.  I’ll offer one suggested practice a week, which you may or may not want in your spiritual tool kit.

Note the word “practice”.  There is a misunderstanding about faith journeys, as if they have an end.  Spirituality is a life companion, not a goal.  In this ever transforming universe, our task is not to control our outcome but to navigate the flow of our lives.  Spiritual well-being is visited when we are in harmony with the whole of life, and feel resonance with the gift-giving nature of the Cosmos.  There are resources within and without our being that can guide us to interdependent wellness.

This takes practice – a consistent welcome of a way of being.  We are ever challenged by fears, which manifest in wishing, wondering and worrying.  We try and control far more than is wise and we weigh ourselves down with judgment toward self and other.  These are powerful tendencies that can be tempered, redirected or diffused for the sake of well-being with the deepening of our spiritual practices.  This strengthens resilience and grateful engagement with life, first for ourselves, then expanding out into well-being of the whole.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Summer RE and Youth Break: Formal youth and religious exploration programming 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).

Events, News and Announcements

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The Yard Sale – Countdown to Saturday!

The 2nd Annual First Parish Yard Sale is this Saturday, June 22, from 9-1.  The sale raises important funds for our programs at First Parish.  And, it’s a lot of fun!  But it’s an event that depends upon volunteers, lots of volunteers.  If you haven’t already signed up, join us for the final hectic days of organizing, pricing, setup, selling and clean up!  Even if you have only a couple of hours, we’ll be very happy to have you.  Our youth are especially encouraged to join us – we’ll appreciate their energy and their strong backs! 

Email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com)  for more info.

 Many, many thanks to everyone who cleaned up their closets, attics and garages.  We have lots of wonderful things to sell!

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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
Out of office June 26

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

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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.

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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.

Sign up for Church Directory Photos!

First Parish members: More information will be coming about our new church directory but you can sign up for your photo session *now*. Each group will need about a half-hour for their session and we currently have three dates that we will be taking photos: August 6 and September 13 and 14.

Please use this link to choose your spot:

https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/yr4jj9pk/

You can reach out to Leslie with your questions: lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com