This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 7, 2015 UNION SUNDAY

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10 AM AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MILTON AT 495 CANTON AVENUE.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION AT 10 AM AT FIRST PARISH

SOCIAL HOUR AFTER WORSHIP AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Message from Rev. Hank

I was lucky to spend last weekend with two sets of dear old friends. The first was with the father of a best friend who had died many years ago; spending a couple of hours with Eric reminded me of what a special guy his son was, and how fragile and wonderful life can be.

The second set of friends gathered for a wedding on the very top of a mountain in the Catskills. I have known the groom for going on 30 years through the Boston music scene, and to be honest, I knew just about everyone there at the wedding through the same scene. To be able to spend time with people whom we know and known us for so long is such a luxury. None felt the need to explain oneself and all were relaxed and in fact open to share deeply about what is going on with their lives.

What a little slice of heaven it was, to spend even the briefest amount of time with these people who have shaped me, to sit in the sun and to share our lives, our pains and struggles as well joy and laughter. This Sunday as we celebrate our shared history with our cousins across the green, I hope you think of the connections we have with the folks who fill their pews and the ones who fill ours. I hope also we get a chance to enjoy the little slice of heaven we experience here at First Parish.

The Union Service begins at 10:00 next door at 1st Congo, please leave your kids off in our Parish Hall before the service, and pick them up before coffee hour next door.

See you in church,

Hank

Religious Exploration

Sunday, June 7th, 2015

• Spirit Play Pre K-1st grade go straight to their class room, down stairs in the activities room.
• SGM 3rd – 6th Graders will begin in the Parish Hall
• Passages 2nd graders will meet in their classroom.
• Youth Chat will meet in the youth room.
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

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June 7th is Union Sunday, a time when First Parish and First Congregational Church come together to worship. Worship will be held at First Congregational Church of Milton, 495 Canton Ave. Just next door and their service starts at 10am.

We will have RE Class at First Parish starting at 10am, please drop your children off at the Parish Hall before going next door and pick them up promptly before attending coffee hour at First Congregationl.

Register for Religious Exploration 2015 – 2016

Starting June 7th registration will be open for 2015-16. A table will be set up in the Parish Hall. Please stop by, take a look at the schedule for 2015 – 2016, register your child, ask questions and get involved!

A list of volunteer opportunities will also be available. Please remember it takes a village to run a successful RE program. Ask us how you can help!Please contact Lisa White, RE Chair or Miriam Saavedra, Religious Educator with any questions.

News and Announcements

Litha – Summer Solstice 2015 June 20th

Reaching for the light, rooted in the earth

The heat makes the earth shimmer under our feet, and the rain steams as it hits the ground. The hot breath of the sun fills our lungs; and the fertile smells of blossom, decay and growth are the bouquet of life.

Summer solstice marks the time when the sun ‘stands still’, offering us our longest daylight and our shortest night. Please join the Great Blue Hill CUUPS pagans for a celebration of joy as we walk the stone labyrinth on the grounds of the beautiful Mary B Wakefield Charitable Trust on Brush Hill Road in Milton at 6:00pm on Saturday, June 20th.

Walking a Labyrinth is like accepting an invitation to pray, meditate, contemplate, dream, celebrate or play. It is a place to find inspiration, satisfy a curiosity, examine metaphor, mythology or simply a place to explore on the Summer Solstice, a day “betwixt and between” spring and summer.

Things to bring:

a flowing scarf or simple musical instrument (tambourine, etc)
a flower or a fist-sized rock to add to the labyrinth
libation or snack for our usual pot-luck social back at the Parish Hall after the labyrinth ceremony (approx 7pm)

With questions or to let us know if you are likely to attend, contact Mark Whall at 617-282-4075

Nita Penfold Retires from Melrose UUU Church. An invitation from Melrose to attend or send congratulations to her.

On Sunday, June 7, the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church is celebrating Nita Penfold’s service to the church and congratulating her on her retirement. If you would like to attend the service at 10:30 where she will speak about this, or attend the luncheon afterwards at 12 noon, you are welcome. If you would like to send congratulatory greetings, contact Nita directly here.

Flower Communion Sunday and Church Picnic June 21, 2015

Be part of the fun and fellowship.

REMINDER: Notices for The Link must be submitted by 5pm each Tuesday. Please keep the notice to one paragraph. We welcome a small graphic or photo. This deadline allows us some time to review the information, and prepare The Link and the Order of Worship. Community Events are listed if there is room available. Depending on the length of the announcement, it may be edited to fit our space limitations. We need to have the deadline met and the email sent to both email address to assure that your announcement is in The Link and Sunday Announcements. We aim to have The Link finalized by noon on Thursday as well as having announcement printed by then. The office is closed on Fridays.

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EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!