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 Ward
- Music
- Religious Exploration
- News & Announcements
- Events
- Social & Environmental Justice
- Actions for Justice and Democracy
This Week in Worship
September Worship Theme: CREATION “Part of the Balance”
Worship Assistant: Lisa White
Greeters: Joanna Dahl
Faith Reflection: Noreen Dolan
Audio: Sofia Nitolo
Social Hour: Natalie Monroe & Craig Perzan
It’s hard to know what to react to and what to let wash over us these days. “Alternative facts” are rampant. Media blitzes are incessant. Political violence is increasingly fatal. And calls for taking sides are ever present. Where to go? What to do?
These days I am seeing many references to Rev. Fred Rogers’ simple aphorism when addressing trauma: “look for the helpers”.
But who are the helpers? The helpers are those who, through their action and/or presence, give hope to possibilities outside the negativity. They are those who are kind beyond bias. Helpers are also those who actively help, even amidst apparently challenging odds. Finding the helpers is about connection: knowing we are not alone, nor do we have to cope alone.
Who are your helpers (human and/or animal)? How do you help? This will change from day to day, but the basic aspiration toward the good remains. Dedicate time to look. Believe in seeing.
And come to church when you can. Helpers are abundant (including you).
Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa
Music
This Sunday the Meetinghouse Choir will be singing an anthem based on a well-known text from the Book of Ecclesiastes, “For Everything There is a Season”. This anthem is composed by Alfred V. Fedak, an accomplished organist and composer based in upstate New York. Our new Hunsaker soloist, Scott Ballantine, will be singing a solo by Ricky Ian Gordon based on a poem by Emily Dickinson, “Will There Really Be a Morning”.
Some musical events coming up this fall:
1) Sunday, October 5 at 3pm; Milton Community Concerts presents a Climate Change Concert called “Sing Out Strong: Environmental Voices”. This will be preceded by a lecture at 2:00 by Claire Karl Muller, coordinator of the statewide climate justice coalition Mass Power Forward, as well as UU Mass Action.
2) Sunday, November 16 at 3pm: Milton Community Concerts presents the 11th Annual “Sing For Their Supper” benefit concert.
3) Sunday, December 14 at 3pm: “Messiah Sing-a-long” at First Parish, featuring choirs and soloists from churches in and around Milton.
Religious Exploration
There is still time to register for RE Classes and to apply to volunteer!
RE Classes begin September 14 and 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. Register at the link below. We are still accepting applications for volunteers (16+) to help with our RE programming throughout the year! Interested? Register at the link below. Questions? Contact Susannah Bales at redirector@fpmilton.org
RE Volunteer/Staff Application at FPM 2025-2
News & Announcements
Grief Support Group
Four sessions, once a week.
October. 8th,15th, 22nd and 29th 7:00pm-8:30pm
When we lose a loved one through death, the world is different, our lives shift in meaning, our ground is shaken. We can feel isolated by our grief. We can also feel a lack of strength or initiative to find a way through. One way to help adjust to the new reality and find our inner resources is to share our journey of loss and recovery with others. There are many ways that we grieve and many kinds of losses. This group is focused on loss due to the death of a loved one. The loss can be recent or from years gone by. We ask participants to commit to at least three of the sessions.
Please email office@fpmilton.org if you are interested.
Keep the coffee brewing! SOCIAL HOUR hosts needed for Sunday, September 21. You can sign up HERE
THANK YOU for your hospitality!
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee has been working for the past year on reorganizing and beautifying the Narthex which hopefully, you’ve noticed. Our goal is to tell the world who we are in a welcoming way, the minute anyone enters the church, particularly for the first time.
To help with the goal, we are reorganizing the nametags so that less space is taken up by the unwieldy rack AND you can find them easily. Nametags will be found in one of four colorful boxes, each labeled with the last name initial of the contents. We will have extra Greeters on hand to help with this for the month of September.
We hope you like what we are working on AND if you have ideas on how we can keep reaching our goal, please let us know! You can email Leslie at lesliecmacpherson@gmail.com See you in church!
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!
Social & Environmental Justice
Hello everyone,
We hope you had a nice summer and are ready for the beginning of the new church year
As in the past, First Parish will be making and delivering lunches to MainSpring (Fr. Bill’s Brockton site) at two locations in Brockton. We have been asked to provide 70 lunches on the third Wednesday of each month beginning this month (Sept.17). The drop-off location will remain at the lower parking lot of FP, and will take place between 12:40 and 1:00. Drivers this year will be Cynthia, Ellen, Mary B., and Pat.
The Social & Environmental Justice committee thanks you for your continued participation in this effort.
Pat & Tracey
Actions for Justice and Democracy Coming Up Soon
Eleventh Hour Calling for Democracy
Thursday, September 11th at 5:45 p.m.
535 Canton Avenue
First Parish in Milton UU Church
This month, gather at about 6 p.m. for a rousing Drumming Circle — no experience required — to stand out / stand up for Democracy. Bells of alarm will ring at 6:11 p.m. for eleven minutes. Bring yourselves, neighbors, sound-makers, signs, flags, voices, and energy. This is a family-friendly event repeating monthly. Saturday, October 11 is next. It’s good to be together. Show that we are resolved, resounding, and resilient in challenging times.report into the history of enslavement at First Church Roxbury
[Note: Milton Indivisible sponsors a weekly Wednesday standout 4:30-6:30 p.m. in East Milton Square.] See below for info.
The Visibility Brigade continues our weekly standout
On the East Milton Overpass (Adams Street)
EVERY Wednesday afternoon from 4:30-6:30pm
Each week, we share a new reminder for rush hour drivers:
WE CANNOT PRETEND EVERYTHING IS OKAY
OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK
WE MUST STAND UP AND SPEAK OUR TRUTH!
Come whenever you are able and stay for whatever time you can spare.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
SUN-DAY Milton
Inform. Inspire.
Celebrate clean energy!!!
Bring a picnic — come straight from Social Hourial Hour
Bring your family, friends & neighbors
Enrichment and fun for all
To volunteer as an informal “ENERGY AMBASSADOR” at the event, even just an hour, go HERE
To learn more about the national action day, go HERE
To register (optional), go HERE
****How can YOU help?
1) Hey, folks, if you have solar power, an EV, a heat pump, geothermal system, an E-bike, volunteer to wear an event name badge that reads, “Talk to me!”
Neighbor to neighbor conversations about one’s experiences, benefits, lessons learned, etc. are IMPORTANT.
2) If you know Milton Town Meeting Members personally, invite them to attend the event.
Thank you.
*See flyer below
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.