Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 7/27/2023

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Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 7/27/2023

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

“Song into Prayer”

Join Jennie Mulqueen and Amy Kavadlo this Sunday for a service of songful prayer and meditation. For the past two summers we have explored what it means to emerge from the pandemic with a song and then sing it into prayer. This year we will go deeper into unconventional service that is more like a singing meditation. Participants will be invited to sit and a circel up front or in the front pews. All songs will be taught and led by ear and, most importantly, all voices are welcome and celebrated. 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. 

No order of worship will be necessary to be emailed on Friday.

Join Jennie Mulqueen and Amy Kavadlo this Sunday for a service of songful prayer and meditation. For the past two summers we have explored what it means to emerge from the pandemic with a song and then sing it into prayer. This year we will go deeper into unconventional service that is more like a singing meditation. Participants will be invited to sit and a circel up front or in the front pews. All songs will be taught and led by ear and, most importantly, all voices are welcome and celebrated. 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. No order of worship will be necessary to be emailed on Friday.

Summer worship starts at 9:30 am

Please join us if you are around. If not, consider Zooming in.

Summer worship starts at 9:30 am

Please join us if you are around. If not, consider Zooming in.

Facilitated by Lay Leaders: Jennie Mulqueen and Amy Kavadlo

Audio: Casey Miller

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.

I am thinking this week about the dangers of false narratives, both in the writing of history and in cultural disinformation. Not everyone pays attention, so those of us who do (imperfectly, no doubt) must brave accountability in ourselves and others for the sake of wholeness. 

I think of Emmet Till, whose (would be) 82nd birthday was last Tuesday, and the extraordinary courage of Mamie Till-Bradley, who insisted on a public open-casket funeral to show to the world her 14 year-old son’s bloated, mutilated body. She motivated millions not to look away, exposing the brutality of racism and defying the willful ignorance of white supremacist culture.  The appalling lack of accountability in the subsequent trial of the perpetrators – all set free – shook off the complacency of many who turned to advocacy for civil rights. This year the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monuments became federally protected places. 

I think, too, of the chilling counterpoint to this in the recent unveiling of the Florida State’s standards for teaching Black history in public schools. This new curriculum systematically minimizes the impact of racism, white-washes history through vast omissions and justifies lack of accountability through strategic “what-aboutism”, the cynical practice of comparing similar behavior as equal regardless of scale. This diminishes the importance of learning from history with the facile implication that “it’s just what used to be done”.

One of the most toxic claims is that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” Not only is that an abysmal false narrative, it’s a glaring example of how deluded we can become when protecting white supremacist culture.

The truth can be hard, but it will set us free. All of us. For the sake of wholeness. Don’t look away.

This I pray, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

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 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

Note to Committee Chairs

With many committees holding their annual retreats this summer, just a gentle reminder to tell the office what your meeting schedule will be for the next church year. We’re updating our calendar and want to make sure all open meetings are included. Thanks for your help!

If you would like to add your meetings and events to the calendar, please send a request to Sherri at office@fpmilton.org.

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. 

On August 6th, Katie Vhay will be leading a service about JOY. As one of our youngest adult members of First Parish, Katie led a summer service two years ago which was one of the best attended summer services ever – and very well received. She is an eloquent speaker and a JOY to have doing another summer service. For the sake of her health, Katie is asking us all to wear masks for her service. They will be provided. 

Then, for something completely different, please see below Chris Clifford’s intriguing invitation to his “Worship in the Woods” on August 13th.

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.

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, August 26th.

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.

Sign up here!

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

Support Local Youth Farmstand

This year we “shared our Sunday collection plate” with a local organization: Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition. Please consider supporting their Vigorous Youth Farmstand program. Stop by their farm stand at the Mattapan Community Health Center on Blue Hill Ave in Mattapan Square on Thursday afternoons through August 10th.

This year we “shared our Sunday collection plate” with a local organization: Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition. Please consider supporting their Vigorous Youth Farmstand program. Stop by their farm stand at the Mattapan Community Health Center on Blue Hill Ave in Mattapan Square on Thursday afternoons through August 10th.
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. Sign up here!

Rev. Lisa:

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.