This Week in Worship

Sunday, June 10, 2018
Theme: Identity
Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

Come celebrate our faith community together this Sunday. Many annual endeavors happen this day: sending our youth who have graduated on their way into their continued life journey, exchanging a flower in our flower communion as a symbol of the diversity of being amongst us, singing the Halleluia Chorus as the choral send off in the postlude and gathering for our church picnic.

Please do remember to bring a flower to worship on Sunday. If you can, bring several, so that we are sure we have enough to exchange.

As we edge into the summer, do check out all the announcements of times when we can come together in community in various ways. It would be good to see you when you are in town! And every Sunday we have interesting services lined up. A good way to enliven your summer Sundays.

I will be out of the office during these weeks: June 25th – July 8

July 30th – August 20

Pastoral coverage will be available. You can contact Amanda Tobey, our caring committee chair, for the contact.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

Throughout the year we collected an offering at each of our monthly Children’s Church worship services. At our final Children’s Church service, the children decided to split their money into four equal donations to their favorite charities. Therefore the Milton Animal League, St. Jude’s Hospital, Renewal House at the UU Urban Ministry, and a local children’s hospital will receive donations from the generous hearts of our children.

On June 10 nursery care will be available from 10:15 to 11:45 am for infants and toddlers.

Preschool children through grade 12 will attend the full multigenerational Flower Communion worship service in the Meetinghouse.

Youth Chat and Youth Group do not meet this weekend.

Over the summer there will not be religious exploration programming for children or youth. Programming will resume in September. Enjoy your summer, everyone!

Events, News and Announcements

Please join us for the All Church Council meeting on Friday, June 8, 6:00-8:00pm in the Parish Hall. Pizza and salad will be served. Please extend this invitation to your committee members as well – all are welcome! (And/or please ask a member to be present to represent the committee if you cannot attend.)

Provides healthy produce to low income familites in the greater Boston area. We compile bags of donated produce to distribute.

Meet to carpool in the First Parish lower parking lot, 10 am : Saturday, June 9.

Image result for choir

CALLING ALL SINGERS!

Any and all members of the congregation are invited to join with the Meetinghouse Choir this Sunday to sing the Hallelujah Chorus from MESSIAH during the postlude anthem. You are welcome to briefly rehearse it at 9:55 with the choir, or you may simply join in the fun by grabbing a score on the piano during the final hymn and sing along. Please join in!

OUR ANNUAL FLOWER COMMUNION IS JUNE 10TH

We invite you to bring a flower to share. The Flower Comunion is a traditional UU ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community.

Originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Flower Ceremony was introduced to the United States by Rev. Maya Capek, Norbert’s widow.

In this ceremony, we bless the flowers brought in by congregants and receive a flower to take home.

Picnic! Picnic! Picnic!

Sunday, June 10

Please stay after this morning’s service to enjoy our annual end-of-year picnic! We will be grilling hamburgers, hot dogs and vegetarian burgers. Also serving delicious sides, salads and beverages. Rain or shine. All food is provided, however, you may contribute a dish to pass if you wish. Sponsored by the Membership Committee with grilling by the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

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

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.

First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 23, 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:

WHEN? THIS SUNDAY after church JUNE 10, noon-2pm

• OR Saturday: June 16, 9am-noon
• Thursday: June 21, 3pm-7:30pm
• Friday: June 22, 10am-noon

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

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

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

WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS:

● To staff the yard sale tables and help with set-up or clean-up on June 23rd

If you can commit 2 hours or 20, we’d appreciate your help!

Contact Jen Pinkus if you would like to be involved

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

Image result for parenting as a spiritual practice

Parenting As A Spiritual Practice: Parenting Ages 5 and Younger

Saturday, June 23rd 10:30- 12:00

Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward

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 our 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. Child care is available upon request.

Please contact the office to rsvp, please include the ages of the children who will attend.

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. Register at the Social Action table during social hour or email Peter.

CHOOSE OR BE CHOSEN

At the Annual Meeting we launched next year’s “Choose or Be Chosen”, our sign up for Sundays during the coming church year. While many folks just wait to be assigned a date, that can cause many complications. If possible, we really hope people will CHOOSE a date for ushering, flowers and hospitality, rather than BE CHOSEN. If you have child who is interested in chalice lighting, please sign him/her up as well. Voluntary sign up is the embodiment of our spirit of volunteerism and a commitment to our shared worship experience. So check your calendars and add your name! Sign up sheets will be in the Parish Hall through the Annual Picnic on 6/10.

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, starting June 12th, from 7- 8 pm in the library. The reading assignments will offer an easy pace through the summer. You do not have to read the whole book by our first session. 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

The next Courageous Conversations events will take place on Tuesday, June 19th from 7-9pm (Location TBD) and Thursday, July 26th at the Milton Public Library (Time TBD). The conversations will feature film screenings and discussions.

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 contact the office if you are planning to come.

Email Address Update!

Susan DeMinico, our office manager, has a new email address.

Please update your address books!

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.