Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Reverend Lisa
• RE
• Events
• Social & Environmental Justice
• Actions for Justice and Democracy

This Week in Worship

Music from Our Hymnals

Led by Lisa White

(There will be no zoom)

Why do we have two hymnals, and what’s the difference between them? Join Lisa White for an exploration of our Unitarian Universalist musical traditions.

Led by: Lisa White

Worship Leader: Amy Kavadlo

Music: Daon Drisdom

Audio: Jeremiah Sitkoff

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Summer services have been going swimmingly this year, with a wonderful variety of wisdom sharing and an added time to gather with snacks afterwards. The sense of community building remains strong, even in the less scheduled summer months. We know we need each other, especially during these chaotic times, to strengthen our hope in human endeavor. This next year is poised, here at First Parish, to deepen bonds and widen our faith reach.

This Sunday we’ll have the added treat of an informal meet and greet with our Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration Susannah Bales after the service.  We’ll have a more formal welcome at our ingathering service on September 7th. 

With full staffing this year, there is much we can do together. Come and introduce yourselves over snacks and lemonade. Bring your ideas for ways to enrich the life of First Parish. Susannah has hit the floor running, and is a delight. I hope to see you there!

Step by step we find our way.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

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Religious Exploration

Religious Exploration Registration is Open!

We’re so excited to welcome children and youth back to Religious Exploration (RE) this year! Our RE program offers a fun, meaningful space where kids explore big questions, build friendships, and grow in spirit and community. Whether your child is new to RE or returning for another great year, we invite you to register now so we can plan a welcoming and well-supported program for everyone. Classes begin Sept 14th! Register at the link below. Questions? Contact Susannah Bales at redirector@fpmilton.org

Now Accepting Applications for RE Assistants & Nursery Workers!

Do you love working with kids? Want to make a difference while having fun and building community? We’re looking for caring, curious, and dependable people to join our Religious Exploration (RE) team as classroom assistants and nursery workers! RE Assistants support our lead teachers, help create a welcoming environment, and get hands-on experience in a dynamic multigenerational setting. Open to teens (16+) and adults. The time commitment is Sunday morning and we can work with your schedule. Training and support provided! Whether you’re new to RE or a longtime participant, we’d love to hear from you. Register at the link below. Questions? Contact Susannah Bales at redirector@fpmilton.or

RE Registration Form

RE Permission Form

RE Volunteer/Staff Application at FPM 2025-26

Important Upcoming Dates:

Sunday September 7 @ 10:30 in Meeting Houes
Multi-generational In Gathering Service

Sunday September 14 @ 10:30 in Meeting House
Teacher Commissioning & Religious Exploration Classes Begin

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Join us for InGathering, our joyful fall gathering to reconnect as a community and celebrate the beginning of a new year in Religious Exploration. This all-ages event is a time to ground ourselves in the values that root us, lift each other up with wings of support and joy, and mark the start of our shared journey together. Whether you’re brand new or returning, we’ll come together with our multigenerational service, then a special coffee hour that will feature music, treats, games, and even a BOUNCY HOUSE! Join us for family fun and meaningful ritual designed to welcome children, youth, families, and friends into a new season of learning, growth, and connection. Come see your friends, meet some RE teachers, explore what’s ahead, and help us build the circle of community once again—all are welcome!

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News & Announcements

LAST Summer Service 9:30am

8/31 Penny Partridge: Navigating in the Sea of Dementia

Join us online from anywhere; but if you can, please come in person.

Reminder: Regular Sunday service resumes on September 7th at 10:30am. Please consider getting involved:

First Parish is in need of volunteers for worship assistants, greeters, and social hour hosts.

If interested in signing up please use Sign up Genius link. We have appreciated your help in the past and hope you can help again. Thank you in advance.

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New Choir Members

A CALL FOR NEW CHOIR MEMBERS!

If you’ve ever thought about how much fun it might be to join the Meetinghouse Choir, now could be the time to try it out. The choir at First Parish sings for three weeks each month. There is no audition and no attendance requirements. Just come to rehearsal on Sunday morning from 8:45-10:00 and we’ll have some music waiting for you. Contact Tim Steele at eliztim95@gmail.com if you have any questions and if you’d like to be added to the weekly Choir Update email chain

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Happy Summer!

The First Parish Milton Worship Committee wants to help people get to know our community. We propose to do that by letting them see us on a screen show of photos of us when they first enter the front doors of our church and enter the Narthex. Please send us your pictures by August 29.  Show us how you participate in community with others at FPM or with the larger community through FPM.

Use of Pictures: We do not intend for these pictures to be used on social media, just in the church Narthex.

Where to send: Please send pictures to FPMphotos65@gmail.com. Help us get to know you and each other and maybe help potential new members better understand who we are and picture themselves spending time with us.

Need ideas ? Send us pictures of:

• Social hour
• Your wee ones playing in the nursery
• You and your child ringing the church bell
• The art projects done during religious exploration 
• Your family making sandwiches for Mainspring, 
• You and your friends helping at the yard sale or celebrating at the end of it 
• The church picnic
• The holiday pageant
• The Mother’s Day walk
• The chocolate auction
• The valentine making party
• The harvest supper
• Game night
• Circle Suppers
• The Christmas market
• The Easter egg hunt
• The monthly eleventh hour calling
• The women’s march 
• Trips and events with friends met at First Parish
• The upcoming Disappeared in America standout at the state house 
• The interfaith blood drive
• The choir and other phenomenal singers helping get centered during services 
• The Milton Community Concerts
• The FPM Annual meeting 
• Your time at the UU general assembly 
• A few of you reorganizing the flower closet or the RE closet 
• The people in your Committee meetings
• Pictures of a meaningful service you’ve attended

Events

First Parish Welcome Back Brunch

SAVE THE DATE: September 28th

Members and Friends ~ It’s Brunch Time! Soon we will be back in regular community at First Parish. Save the date for our annual brunch. Presented by Hospitality and Membership, we will have a delightful array of treats for you to enjoy as you catch up with each other after church. September 28th is the date; mark it on your calendar!

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Actions for Justice and Democracy Coming Up Soon

SUN Day — Save the Date for Action

Sunday, September 21, 1:00pm-4:00pm

Town of Milton Gazebo (fair weather) OR

First Parish (rain venue)

This is a nationwide celebration of the power of clean, renewable energy in our world and community. This event will be family friendly, fun, inspiring, and educational.

Details to come, however, contact Tucker Smith or Susannah Bales to volunteer / brainstorm. Let us shine together!  

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Susan DeMinico: Summer Hours for July and August

In office on Tuesday & Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays.

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Sherri Moldaver

In office Monday thru Thursday 8:30am-1:30pm

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Kevin Harnden

Monday-Thursday 8am-11am

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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, 10:30 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: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44ACA728A02-57884860-20252026#/

You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.