This Week in Worship

September 18, 2016 – Meetinghouse @ 10:30 am

Worship Leader Rev. Lisa Ward

September Worship Theme: Covenant

Message from Rev. Lisa

The weather was superb for a witness on the State Capitol steps. And, I have to say, such a luxury to be just a T’s journey away to join in. Last Monday I, scores of colleagues from many faiths and a good crowd of advocates gathered to add our voices to groups throughout the nation proclaiming on State Capitol steps a “Moral Declaration” to political leaders and candidates. There is a link on our facebook page should you seek some optics.

Inspired by Rev. William Barber II’s powerful call in August to address the heart of the nation by being the “moral defibrillators” of our time, civic leaders, clergy and advocates are joining forces to, as Rev. Barber advised, “shock this nation with the power of love, mercy, and justice for all.”

Near the end of the rally, Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), chimed in with a wonderful phrase that speaks to our monthly theme of covenant. “You can pretend to care,” he said, “but you can’t pretend to show up.” That’s the work we do together. We show up as best we can with what moves us to deeper meaning in our lives and the lives of those we touch. We know, of course, in this interdependent phenomenon that life is, that what we do sends ripples out into the world at large.

Thank you for showing up. There is much we can do together — much we can do to help enliven the heart of this nation.

Blessings Be,
Rev. Lisa

News and Announcements

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox and 2nd Harvest on the Wheel of the Year, will occur on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 10:21 AM. It is the time when lightness and darkness will be equally balanced.

Though it may be sad to bid the long, sunny, hot, carefree days of summer goodbye, we must remember that they are a gift and we should be thankful for what we have had, not be spiteful and dreading the long, cold winter as we wave goodbye.

Please join The Great Blue Hill CUUPS on Saturday, September 17th @ 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall.

Bring with you a small vessel of water that holds positive energy, a happy memory of your summer that just passed. It doesn’t have to be from that particular place (though that would be awesome) but bestow upon it that energy and bring the story behind it with you.
May your Mabon be memorable and your hearts, spirits and harvest be overflowing.

COME JOIN THE CHOIR!

If you’ve ever thought it might be a fun thing to sing with the choir at a morning service, please come this Sunday, September 18th, and give it a try. There is no audition. There is no long-term commitment. Just come and share the joy of singing with others who share the same joy. There is always room for more in the choir loft! Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings from 8:45-10:00.

And for anyone in the congregation who has a musical gift to share (vocal or instrumental) and would like to provide special music for a Sunday service, express that desire to Tim.

Proposed Small Group Forming:

Worship Theme “Think Tank”

This is a group that will meet once a month to brainstorm ideas about the following theme of the month. We will engage our own stories and musings, along with sharing resources that might inform upcoming sermons and discussions. Please contact the Kathy Tracey (office@fpmilton.org) if you are interested. We will need at least 6 participants for a viable group.

Interactive Bulletin Board

Have a quote or a thought about the theme of the month that you’d like to share? Perhaps an image or your own drawing? We have created an interactive bulletin board in the hallway outside our offices (aka “the link”) for people of all ages to add a thought or image as a visual musing of our monthly theme.

Information Tables

Looking for visitor materials, registration forms or other church flyers? Check our two Information Tables. One is locataed in the Parish Hall foyer and the other in the Stebbins Parlor (the small area when you leave the meetinghouse and go towards the link.

We also keep visitor materials in the narthex. Please check with an usher or greeter on Sunday morning.

Religious Exploration

Welcome Laurel Whitehouse

Laurel Whitehouse has joined us as our part-time Director of Religious Education.

Laurel has been a DRE in the UU congregation in Belmont, has done extensive training in the Renaissance Modules (the UUA’s DRE training), and is trained in Spirit Play (a Montessori approach to religious education) and OWL (Our Whole Lives: a UUA lifespan sexuality curriculum). Laurel is eager to nurture a vibrant religious exploration program. This year, as a half-time DRE, her priority will be to solidify the foundation of our RE program for our children and youth. Laurel’s first Sunday with us will be on September 18, when she’ll join the children in Children’s Church (a monthly multi-age gathering). She can be reached by email at restaff@fpmilton.org

Teacher Training Scheduled for Sunday, September 18

Teacher Volunteers Needed

5 Sundays this Fall

The RE Committee urgently needs adults who are willing to serve as part of a fall semester teaching team in our cooperative Sunday school program. Teaching teams are made up of four adults covering a ten Sunday semester, so the commitment is just five Sundays. Each team already has experienced teachers who are willing to provide the leadership, and the RE Committee will provide training, curriculum, materials and any other support you need to be successful.

This fall, we are looking for:

• 2 Teachers for our Spirited Adventure program (Grade 2 – Grade 5)
• 2 Teachers for our Friends and Neighbors program (Grade 6 – Grade 7)

If you would be willing to commit to sharing your time and talents for five Sundays this fall, please let us know by emailing bridget@sitkoff.net as soon as possible. We are eager to welcome our children back with a full slate of teachers.

Thank you so much for all you do for our children and our program,

The First Parish RE Committee

Nursery Care Team
Teenagers and Youth

Please email office@fpmilton.org if you are interested in being part of the Nursery Care team on Sunday mornings. Hours are 10 am – 12 noon. We also may have some opportunities for other babysitting assignments at church other than Sunday mornings. In your email please give us your first and last names, email address, cell number, and confirm you have completed a babysitting certification program.

Register your Child or Youth

This may be done electronically on the Members Page. The form is the first menu pick under Religious Exploration.

• Sunday, September 18 Children’s Church RE Teacher Training
• Sunday, September 25 RE Classes Begin
• Sunday, October 2 All Church Council

Kiki’s Corner

It was a wonderful Ingathering and the committee life of the church is kicking into gear. Over the next two Sundays, Parish Committee, Membership, Social Action, Trustees, Religious Exploration, Greeter Training and RE Teacher Training will happen. Please contact Kathy Tracey, our administrative assistant, to make room reservations for either committee meetings or church events.

Also notice the work that was done in preparation for Ingathering last week. The carpets were professionally cleaned. New curtains have been hung at the end of the link, the church office and library. Kevin did a magnificent job of polishing the floors in the Parish Hall. If you have been in the kitchen, you should notice our new stoves and how much hot water flows now from the sinks. We are also grateful to the Hospitality Committee for re-organizing and cleaning the kitchen in August.

We have a small lost and found on the coat rack in the Parish Hall foyers. Jackets and scarves mostly. Please claim before October 3. We will donate any items still there.

Upcoming Community Events

On Sunday, September 25th @ 4pm, the Blue Boat Coffee House is teaming up with the national Concert Across America to End Gun Violence and the South Shore Women’s Resource Center.

This FREE concert will highlight our incredible local talent and include a special guest from Chicago. Through live online coverage of the national concert and through hundreds of concerts in towns (just like ours!) and cities across the country, we can reach millions of people on one day–all to raise awareness and save lives from gun violence as well as bring attention to domestic violence here on the South Shore.

For more information about this event: http://concertacrossamerica.org/.

This alcohol-free, substance-free event is open to the public and any donations or proceeds will go to the South Shore Women’s Resource Center to support victims of domestic violence. You can learn more about SSWRC at http://www.thesswrc.org.
Refreshments will be available.

First Parish is handicapped accessible and is located at 330 First Parish Rd., Scituate, MA (near Lawson Tower), 781-545-3324. For more information, please check our website: www.firstparishscituate.org

MILTON DIALOGUES: Building Race Relations

Share your thoughts, feelings and experiences around ethnicity, race and community and hear those of others.

People who live or work in Milton are invited to register now to participate in a four-session dialogue series conducted by experienced co-facilitators. We will gather on four Monday evenings in October and November: October 17 + 24, and November 7 + 14. All sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue, Milton MA 02186.

A commitment to attending all four sessions is requested as each session builds on the prior one, enabling participants to build understanding.

Register Now at rwolff@miltondialoguesbrr.org or 617-922-0191.

Please provide us with Your Name; Email Address; Phone Number; Whether You Live or Work in Milton; the Racial Group you most closely identify with (to help us assemble a diversely balanced group of participants as mentioned above).

To register or for information: rwolff@miltondialoguesbrr.org or 617-922-0191

Flyers about this event are on the Information Tables in the Stebbins Parlor and Parish Hall Foyer

On Saturday October 1st from 9:30 to 2pm, UU Mass Action and All Soul’s Church in Braintree are hosting an early church year Justice Conference. The Fair Share Tax Amendment and Criminal Justice issues will be highlighted.

Lunch, information, and the opportunity to collaborate with other UU’s are on the menu. Please consider attending.

All Souls Church is at 196 Elm St. Braintree, MA 02184. Please call Rev. Steve Wilson for more information. (617) 852-2292

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!