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… 
This Week in Worship
August 22, 2021
“Worship: Window to the Universe”
Worship is much bigger than devotion or adoration to a particular idea of God. It is an opportunity to connect with our deepest selves, with each other, and with the complex truths of life. Worship is, in the words of Unitarian minister Jacob Trapp, “the mystery within us reaching out to the mystery beyond.” Please join us as we explore the full potential of worship.
Led by: Joseph Ayoub
Worship Associate: Tom Kemp
Music: Liz Alvarez
Audio: Brynne Mershon
Service will be held live in Meetinghouse as well as 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.
Please note this is a NEW summer services only Zoom link!
Sunday’s offering will be dedicated to the services and ministry of First Parish.
How goes it with your spirit? This is a wonderful Quaker greeting that I learned long ago. How goes it with your spirit?
Many faith traditions encourage a regular spiritual check in, through prayer, meditation or a spiritual practice. I am finding more and more that this is an important part of nourishing our being; as important as food and exercise. Checking in with how you are in the in the rhythm of your being every day can guide you to ways of coping and nourishing this gift of life that you are living. Through these times of disruption and loss, of trauma and uncertainty, of newness and discovery, we need to tap into the steadiness of being that abides in us all. That steadiness is with us when we are celebrating and grieving, when we are lost and emerging, when we are angry and confused. It holds every human response and keeps us connected – is the connection – to an eternity beyond our naming.
The radical transience of these times can have us lose sight or feeling of this abiding presence. The good news is we can summon it by a simple mindful breath…then another…and another. At the end of three breaths, ask yourself, how goes it with my spirit? Whatever the moment – anguish or joy, boredom or interest, weariness or wonder – you are held in your being. That which abides has been through it all and can open your awareness to a sense of countless others who share the very same sensation right when you are feeling it. You are not alone. You are not on your own. Breathe. Believe that the invitation to being is ever there for you to embrace.
This I pray. Amen.
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Religious Exploration
Hello First Parish in Milton! As you know I have been hired as your Transitional Director of Religious Exploration. Although I spent some time in July researching ideas and possibilities for first Parish in Milton, I began officially on 2 August.
Rev. Lisa, the RE Team and I are working on opening preparations. I will be meeting with the Youth Visionaries in the near future. Over the next few days I will be reaching out to our families to set up Zoom calls, or plain old phone calls, to learn more about how we can serve the needs of our children and families. My office hours are not yet determined. I will be posting office hours soon. Email me at dre@fpmilton.org with questions or to set up additional call times.
One of the components of Soul Matters (the theme based ministry tool First Parish is using) is a monthly packet called Soulful Home: Finding the Sacred in Our Everyday Spaces. In it there are readings, stories, discussion prompts and activities related to the theme we will all be exploring. It will be emailed to all the families on the first of each month. There will be samples out on out literature tables and other bulletin boards each month for those not on the distribution list, yet. While Soulful Home is envisioned for families with children, there are many things to engage and delight adults. Let me know if you would like to be added to the monthly distribution list at dre@fpmilton.org.
I am excited to become a part of First Parish Milton and am anxious to meet everyone. I look forward to what good work and magic we will create together.
Molly Nolan, Transitional Director of Religious Exploration
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Children, Middle School and High School: Programming will resume this fall. Wishing all families a summer full of moments of connection, beauty, and spiritual renewal!
URGENT! Emergency Response in Haiti
On August 14, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, causing widespread destruction and devastating communities. Please find below two organizations that are highly recommended:
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE (UUSC)
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is responding to the disaster in Haiti and are in contact with long-term partners in the region to assess the crisis and the most urgent needs in order to direct resources in a strategic way that supports those who are most affected.
Donate to Emergency Response Fund
THE SAINT ROCK HAITI FOUNDATION
The Saint Rock Haiti Foundation, headquartered in Milton, is also a reliable donation distributor. Their mission: “Motivated by the inherent worth of each individual and our great care for the people of Haiti, the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation works side by side with the people of Saint Rock and the surrounding rural communities to enhance their lives”
Table of Contents
For Events, News and Announcements
1. Meditation
2. Yoga
3.Worship Committee News: Summer Worship
4. SJ&E Action Committee News
5. Office Summer Schedule
Meditation
All are welcome to join for 30 minutes of silent meditation/prayer on:
Thursday evenings at 6:45 pm-7:15 pm
Sunday mornings at 8:30am-9:00am
Newcomers and friends welcome.
Please contact Tracey at tdr02186@gmail.com if you have questions or want to join us!
Yoga classes are now hybrid !
6:30pm on Monday evenings
You can come into Parish Hall with guest yoga instructor, Jayne Ogata.
Or if you choose to continue with Zoom, link below:
2021 Summer services Lay Leaders & Themes
8/29 NO WORSHIP SERVICE ON THIS DAY due to scheduling difficulties.
If you would like to enjoy a past worship experience please visit our website.
9/5 Elise Henricks and Penny Partridge, Our Labyrinth
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Jeff Stoodt spoke about the role organized religion can play in social change in the service he led on August 8th . He is sharing the sermon and the sources he used for anyone curious to pursue the subject further.
Sermon & Sources for 8-8-21 Service.pdf
From S & EJ : Social Action Committee News
On Saturdays between now and October 30, consider shopping at Mattapan
Square Farmers Market. This is one way to support local farmers and
vendors and meet neighbors across the Neponset River. Its location near
Mattapan Square is convenient. Its organizers, Mattapan Food & Fitness
Coalition, offer volunteers a variety of Saturday market tasks, too. Call
MFFC’s office at 617-696-2900 or check its informative website
“Your Ideas Wanted!
As you may know, the Social & Environmental Justice (S&EJ) committee recommended, and the Parish Committee agreed to expand the “Share the Plate” program (formerly known as the “Third Sunday Donation” program) to two Sunday collections each month for the 2021-22 church year. S&EJ and other First Parish members expressed a keen desire to increase our generosity to organizations that focus on issues regarding climate change, racial, economic, immigration and social justice and civic engagement. S&EJ recommends that First Parish continue to support recent donor organizations while expanding the list of worthy organizations.
In the spirit of inclusivity, we ask you for your ideas. Here are the parameters:
- the suggested organization should focus on one of the S&EJ themes: climate change, racial, economic, immigration or social justice, or civic engagement.
- organization must be a 501(c)3
- organization may be local, regional or national/international with preference given to local organizations.
The S&EJ committee will review all suggestions and submit a list to the Parish Committee for its approval.
Please submit your ideas to Lynne Stack (lmstack258@gmail.com) by August 31st.
In advance, thank you for your ideas and continued generosity to the world beyond First Parish!”
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, September 11th
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 a.m. at their warehouse in Roxbury.
Any questions or for more information contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com
Sign up to volunteer on Signup Genius
Lunch Program on break this Summer
The Social & Environmental Justice team will be discussing future plans for supporting Mainspring at our summer retreat. Many thanks to all the generous volunteers who have helped make the lunch program a success over the last 14 months. You are the best!