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
“Kindness of Strangers”
Summer worship starts at 9:30 am
On July 9, we will have Elise Henrick’s service on the kindness of strangers. Elise is the Chair of our Worship Committee. For her Worship Associate, she will have Steve Yakutis, one of the the Worship Committee’s three new members. This will be the second and last time this summer that we will have Daon Drisdom as our pianist, but he will be back in the fall as our Hunsaker Tenor in the choir. Please join us in the Meeting House, if you are around. If not, consider Zooming in.
Please come – at 9:30 a.m. – or tune in from wherever you are.
Facilitated by: Elise Henricks
Worship Assistant: Steve Yakutis
Music: Daon Drisdom
Audio: Brynne Mershon
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.
Happy July! I am stepping in for Rev Lisa this week, offering a welcome to summer.
Last week, I along with Rev Lisa and three others from First Parish attended our annual UUA gathering: General Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA. I have gone to GA several times before, but even for me, any year I go, being in a convention center with 3000 other UUs is a powerful experience. It’s easy to be focused on our own – important! – congregation’s activities and to forget that we are part of this larger denomination.
We all went as delegates, which means that we were involved in the sessions that included voting on the important work of the UUA. There is big stuff happening currently, including conversation about changing the language of our guiding principles. The sessions were lively and I was grateful to have others with me there, to help think through this work.
On Sunday, July 23rd, the four of us who went will lead the Sunday worship. Debbie Alsebai, Ellen Barr, Jim May and I will lead a service titled: Fresh From GA.
We are eager to share – and process – what we experienced. We were there on behalf of all of you. Hope you can come, either in person or virtually. Join us in this ongoing conversation!
-Leslie MacPherson
Religious Exploration
We have the happy news that we have hired a ¾- time Family Ministries Director: Louise Smith-Erb. Their position will start this August.
The Family Ministries Director is a new position for First Parish and Louise, so we will call on our practice of adaptive change to innovate a new religious exploration model for all ages. Current goals are to maintain an RE program for children and youth, integrating opportunities for family ministry and gatherings. Adult faith development and intergenerational community building are also a part of their portfolio.
Here is their bio:
“Louise is excited to be the Family Ministries Director at First Parish Milton! They are especially looking forward to building community with young people and learning together how to deepen care for ourselves and each other. During the school year, they study interfaith leadership and conflict transformation as a Master of Divinity student at Boston University School of Theology. Outside of their academic and professional life, they enjoy connecting with the queer community, running, knitting, and reading. They are a gender queer individual and feel most affirmed when referred to with they/them/theirs pronouns, though she/her/hers will do in a pinch. Louise’s go-to fun fact is that their family once grew a giant pumpkin that won “Most Beautiful” at the Cumberland Fair in their hometown of Cumberland, Maine.”
Welcome to First Parish, Louise!!
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
On July 16, Laurie Macintosh will lead a summer service for the first time. She is calling her service “See No Evil.” Please come and let her see your support. Deborah Galiga, who played for our Father’s Day Service, will be our pianist for the next two Sundays.
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.
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.