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 Rev. Lisa
- This Week in Religious Exploration
- Events and Meetings
- News and Announcements
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Beyond First Parish
This Week in Worship
“See No Evil”
Summer worship starts at 9:30 am
This coming Sunday, Laurie Mackintosh will share with us her thoughts about evil in a service titled “See No Evil.” This will be Laurie’s first summer service as Lay Leader. Penny Partridge will be her Worship Assistant. Deborah Galiga, who played for our first summer service, will be back at the piano for the next two Sundays.
Please join us in the Meeting House at 9:30 am if you are around. If not, consider Zooming in.
Facilitated by: Laurie Macintosh
Worship Assistant: Penny Partridge
Music: Deborah Galiga
Audio: Colin Glazer
Worship Services are hybrid.
Join us in person or on Zoom.
Please see the zoom link below. 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.
Sunday’s offering will go towards the ministry and service of First Parish.
Religious Exploration
This summer, our kids and youth have two opportunities to help First Parish’s social justice committee provide bagged lunches to the Mainspring/Father Bill’s program.
Middle and high school youth are invited to come to First Parish at 11 am on July 20th and August 1st. We will make and pack 70 lunches and enjoy a chance to reconnect.
Elementary and Spirit Play kids are encouraged to contribute a dessert to the lunches, either by dropping off something baked at home, or by joining us at 9 am on one or both of those dates to bake together. For this age group, we ask that an adult caregiver stays to help out in the kitchen if your child joins us.
Please RSVP to bridget@sitkoff.net. Kids and youth are welcome to help on both dates or just one.
If you are able to help with the cost of lunch supplies, donations are welcome.
News and Announcements
New Pledge Year
As of July 1, First Parish begins its new fiscal year, and pledges for FY23-24 start.
If you have a pledge from this fiscal year you’d like to pay, there’s still time! Please contact us if you have any questions.
If you changed your pledge for this upcoming year, and wish to update a monthly giving amount, now is the time to do it! If you give via Vanco, you can:
1. Go to Vanco and change it yourself in your account settings
2. Contact me, and we can change it for you. If you’d like us to change it, please confirm the monthly amount you’d like us to change it to. My email is manager@fpmilton.org
Please note that we DO NOT change any pledge or giving amounts without your express permission- so if you have questions, concerns or need help- please just reach out. We’re always happy to help.
Susan DeMinico
Church Administrator
Meditation continues …
Meditation continues to meet on zoom through the summer. We practice silent meditation for 30 minutes.
Sunday morning from 8:30-9am
Thursday evening 6:45-7:15pm.
Contact Tracey Robinson tdr02186@gmail.com for zoom link info.
We would love you to join us.
UPCOMING LAY LED Service
Thank you to all who have attended any of our four (so far) summer services. We have had a wonderful and well received variety. It means a lot to the people who plan these services to have you there.
A week from Sunday (7/23), our service will be brought to you by the team of Debbie Alsebai, Ellen Barr, Leslie MacPherson, and Jim May, who represented First Parish Milton this year at the 62nd UU General Assembly (held both online and in Pittsburgh in June). GA is an annual gathering of UUs, where business is conducted but also where “we explore the theological underpinnings of our faith and lean fully into our mission and principles.” Our team will be sharing their experiences at GA, including songs they sang.
And the last Sunday in July (7/30), we will have the perennial treat from Jennie Mulqueen and Amy Kavadlo, “Song into Prayer.” Jennie and Amy will sing for us but will also help you sing as you may never have before. If you have missed this service other summers, do try to come. If you remember one or more of them, you know it will make you feel like singing.
And now for something completely different.
My name is Chris Clifford and I am hoping you will join me for summer worship in the woods.
Not the meditative pace of forest bathing but definitely not trail running.
On Sunday August 13, 2023 anyone interested is invited to join me on a short walk in one of the less traveled segments of the Blue Hills reservation.
We will meet at 9:30 on Ridgewood road less than a mile from First Parish and travel a loop on quiet paths. We will see remnants of past habitation and the resilience of nature. This is a walk, not a hike but sturdy footwear, long pants, water, and bug spray are necessary. The walk is suitable for young and not so young and if you are willing, shine or rain.
Parking is readily available at the trailhead. I will have my silver Honda CRV parked there at 9AM.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our “Share the Plate” charity collections this year! First Parish donated over $13,000 to 16 different non-profit organizations.
September 30- MICA Refugee Resettlement Fund $816.58
October 22- Reclaim Our Vote 713.77
October 16- Fair Foods $919.88
November 6- UU Urban Ministry $717.38
November 20- UUMA $847.80
December 5- Thrive Gulu $937.86
December 24- MICA Refugee Settlement Fund $1,126.70
Jan 8- Courageous Conversations $732.90
Jan 27 -Stone House $1,017.65
Feb 5- Immigration Family Service Institute $773.46
Feb 26- Prison Book Institute $472.17
March 12- Sunflower of Peace $1,363.48
March 26-The Voices Project/The Syria Campaign $414.06
April 9- AFAB $925.49
April 30- Louis D Brown Peace Institute $586.86
May 7-Back Bay Choral, Inc (Bridges Program) $395.19
June 4 -YMCA of Greater Boston $821.93
Thank you!
Fair Foods is a non-profit program that rescues fresh produce that would otherwise be wasted and uses it to feed our communities. We volunteer together unloading and sorting food and packing bags once a month.
The next volunteer date is Saturday, July 22nd.
If you want to volunteer, please sign up on Sign up Genius by Thursday
evening before the event. Start time and locations vary depending on Fair Foods’ needs, but typically start at 8:30 a.m. at their warehouse at 70 Amory Street in Roxbury.
Other volunteer opportunities are also available at Fair Foods, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings. Contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com or 617-291-4685 with any questions or for more information.
Beyond Milton
Milton Microgrid Community Meeting
Milton Town Hall
Blute Room
Tuesday, July 18, 7 pm
On July 18, the Milton Planning & Engineering Departments, along with Winter Valley, are hosting a public forum on an ongoing study to explore a potential “microgrid” connecting Town Hall, Milton PD, and the Winter Valley residences. The public forum will provide a more in-depth explanation of what a microgrid is and how it might be utilized to strengthen Milton’s climate resilience.
Rev. Lisa:
June 15 – July 15: a mix of 2 weeks of vacation and work away (General Assembly, Pittsburgh, and Minister of the Week at Star Island, New Hampshire)
Aug. 4-13: work away: Minister of the Week at Chautauqua Institute, NY
Aug. 27 – Sept. 4: Vacation
Susan DeMinico:
In office on Tuesday &Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays. On Vacation 8/18-8/29.
Sherri Moldaver:
Mon-Thurs in office 8:30 am-1:30 pm
Kevin Harnden
Monday-Friday in office 8:30-11am
Tim Steele returning in the Fall
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.