Sunday, July 7, 2019

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

“Walking the Labyrinth”

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol, connected to wholeness. It combines  the imagery of a circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. FirstParish owns a portable labyrinth and during the service, we will learn how to engage with this powerful tool. Come and walk with us!Facilitated by Leslie Macpherson

Worship Associate: Susan BatsonMusician performed by Simone Wang Mead

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

minister@fpmilton.org

And so I begin my summer link column series on Spiritual Practices.  Each week I will offer a suggested practice that could accompany your days.  Choose what resonates.  Keep in mind that spirituality is a life companion, not a goal. Spiritual journeys are not about reaching a destination but about navigating the flow and gift of our interdependent lives.

Spiritual Practice Opportunity #1   MINDFUL BREATHING

Every cell of our bodies needs oxygen.  It is our breath that ultimately supports strength of life.  It would do us and the world well  to be intentional about our breath now and again, to feed the body with the oxygen it needs to function well.  

I remember when the term “24-7” became a common phrase, even amongst children.  Busy-ness in our culture is lifted up as valuable. We are constantly on the run, adding to stress, which causes shallow breathing, which in turn causes more stress.  We pile things on our busy schedules, using technology not to free our time but to fill it with more things to do.  We rarely stop to simply breathe.  Might we even be, as a culture, oxygen deprived?

Breathe mindfully – at least three breaths at a time, at least once a day.  Perhaps when you wake up before your busy-ness rushes into your mind.  Perhaps at a stop light or traffic jam.  Perhaps right before you eat a meal.  Notice and honor your breath.

MINDFUL BREATHING

Benefits:  Calming effect, pausing before rushing to conclusions or reactions, body sense of interdependence (breathing with trees), expansiveness of being, practicing taking in and letting go.

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

Summer Projects

by Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

With worship services finished in the meetinghouse until September (but don’t forget summer services in the children’s church each week at 9:30am!), the summer break gives us time to get many projects done around the campus. We are busier than ever, taking care of projects small and big, to make the campus inviting and welcoming to all.

The biggest project you’ll see going on is outside- as the painting and restoration of the meetinghouse has started. The project is slated to take about 12-14 weeks, and started with the side facing town hall. All of the shutters have been removed, and are being repaired and repainted at the workshop of the restoration company. All of the paint is currenty being scraped off, and HEPA vaccummed into sealed containers. The amazing news is that the wood undernealth the painting is in great shape- and very little thus far has had to be replaced. Even more amazing is the wood on the meetinghouse is mostly the original wood from when the meetinghouse was built in 1787. I hope the congregation takes as much pride as I do in seeing this beautiful building lovingly restored. I’ll be posting regular update pictures on the project!

In addition to the meetinghouse, many other projects have happened since early June. Stebbins parlor has been completely repainted, and the result is a beautiful, calming space. All the rugs on campus have been professionally cleaned, fire extinguishers checked and retagged, alarm systems cleaned and checked, 3 new trees planted and contractors hired for upcoming work.

2019-2020 Pledges

As we start a new fiscal year in July, we wanted to remind folks that use VANCO that pledge amounts should be updated to reflect your planned pledge amount. We’d be happy to make that change for you in the office- all you need to do is email Susan (manager@fpmilton.org) with your new monthly pledge amount, and she can change it in VANCO.

If you’re not using VANCO, and you’d like to, you can sign up on First Parish’s website. If you’ve forgotten your username or password, you can request on the website. You can then set up to have your pledge (in any amount you choose) automatically deducted from the account of your choice on the same day each month. 

If you don’t want to sign up for VANCO, another option would be to set up FirstParish in Milton as  a vendor in your bank’s online banking portal. You can have your bank send checks to First Parish monthly on your behalf. 

If you have any questions about how to fulfill your pledge, please feel free to contact Susan at manager@fpmilton.org . She will be happy to help you!

Courageous Conversations

July 16th 6-9pm  

First Parish Milton

535 Canton Ave. Milton, MA 02186

Viewing and discussion of the movie BlacKKKlansman

Light supper will be served.

Want to help host? contact Deb Alsebai: alsebai@verizon.net

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

Green Gleans

Here’s you chance to tour a “Tiny House” built on the back of a box truck parked in the lot at Milton Public Library on Thursday, July 11 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 

Open to all ages. Hosting will be Alex Eaves, a “Reuse Expert.” Come see what a cool concept this is! All materials that go into creating the tiny house come from recycled materials which is such a great thing about this kind of lifestyle. Snacks available during the tour to enjoy. Please come and check out a much more frugal way of owning a house, which you can also drive from place to place!

Author Derek “Deek” Diedrickson, who has written the book Micro-living: 40 Innovative Tiny Houses Equipped for Full-Time Living, in 400 Square Feet or Less (c2018, Storey Publishing), has been instrumental in helping to bring us this program; check out his book which you may place a reserve on by calling the Reference Dept. Take advantage of this fun, unique, all-ages green, opportunity!

Rev. Lisa Ward, Minister

Out the month of July and August 11-19 on study leave

Susan DeMinico, Office Manager

Tuesdays/Wednesdays 8:30-4:30, Thursdays 8:30-12:30pm

Megan Benders, Administrative Assistant

In the office on Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Education

At Ferry Beach in Maine for training July 6 to 12

Sara Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Youth Advisor

Back in the Fall

Tim Steele, Music Director

Back in the Fall