Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 8/24/2023

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Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 8/24/2023

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

“Kindness”

A second summer service about kindness, but who doesn’t want more kindness – even just to hear more about it? Come, let us gather to focus on kindness – either in person or on Zoom – this Sunday. And thanks to Chris for planning and leading  two services this summer!

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

Summer worship starts at 9:30 am

Facilitated by Lay Leader: Chris Clifford

 Worship Assistant: Penelope Partridge

Music:  Deborah Galiga

Audio: Colin Glazer

Worship Services are hybrid.

Join us in person or on Zoom.

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.

How do we articulate Unitarian Universalism, not only to inquiring minds, but also to ourselves? This was a question put forth in last week’s worship service lead by membership chair, Leslie MacPherson. It is a challenge, explaining our covenantal faith in a culture that expects a creedal faith (having an established creed to relay). We are guided by principles and shared values that are hard to sum up in a simple response.

This year, the UUA General Assembly has been tasked through a mandate in the Denominational By-Laws to review how we describe our faith to the world, for and with one another. This is a discernment and possible reframing within Article Two, which now includes the 7 principles and purposes of UUsm. Stay tuned for many opportunities to process this important endeavor within our faith.

But for now, I’d like to share my response to the prompts offered in last week’s worship service. One elevator speech possibility (of countless): “Unitarian Universalism celebrates life, praises creation and expects participation.” If I have another floor to add: “you have inherent dignity, as do we all. In that dignity is the wisdom that can guide you to live fully in this interdependent world.” And if yet another floor to add: “This faith has filled me with sacred curiosity, beloved community and humble inquiry of life in its many forms.”

Just sayin’…

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

Religious Exploration

Religious Education Registration

Welcome to a new year of Religious Education ! Our first day of RE programming will be September 17th. Please register and learn more about our programs with this link. Reach out to Family Ministries Director Louise with any questions re@fpmilton.org

Volunteer with Religious Education

Support RE this year! If you are **not** registering a child and would like to volunteer with our program, please use the link to let us know more.   Reach out to Family Ministries Director Louise with any questions (re@fpmilton.org).

News and Announcements

Save the Date! First Parish is having a Welcome Back Brunch on September 24th, after church. More information and sign-ups will be coming, but we wanted to get the word out now. Hospitality and Membership are joining forces to welcome everyone back for our church year. What tasty dishes can YOU make??? Start thinking!

Sunday Service

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

If interested in signing up please use Signup Genius link.

We have appreciated your help in the past and hope you can help again.

Thank you in advance.

Did you know First Parish has a lace-together labyrinth? It’s something of a tradition that for the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, we bring it outside, lace it together, and try out this ancient walking meditation practice.

No Zooming in for this last of our summer services. Come to the courtyard (between the Meeting House and the Children’s Chapel). Elise Henricks, Chair of the Worship Committee, will be our guide to the labyrinth. 9:30 a.m.

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. 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.