Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- This Week in Worship
- Briefly with Bev
- Religious Exploration
- Music
- News & Announcements
- Events
- Social & Environmental Justice
- Beyond First Parish
Sunday Service September 6th
Walking Our Labyrinth
Join us for a contemplative service led by Elise Henricks, as we walk First Parish’s own portable labyrinth. This replica of the labyrinth from Chartres cathedral was created by members of our own congregation several years ago, and walking it together has become a summer First Parish tradition. We will meet on the front lawn, weather permitting, or in the Parish Hall if it is raining. This service will not be available on Zoom, so please join us in person.
Worship Leader: Elise Henricks
This week’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.
Briefly With Bev
In the Interim
Interim times can be exciting, scary, challenging, hard, and rewarding. And interim times always mean change. If nothing else, during an interim ministry time it means a change of minister.
Henry Ford said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Sometimes getting what you always got is fine, perhaps even exactly what you want. But not always. So, this is my way of letting you know that some things at First Parish in Milton will change.
I cannot promise that everyone will always love the change, and I cannot promise you that everyone will always notice the change. What I can promise is that I will not change things just for the sake of changing things. I will have a reason, and I will share the reasons with you for the things I change.
For example, although the wall color in my office has not changed, my wall hangings and items on the shelves have changed. The reason is obvious, of course. Rev. Lisa took her personal stuff with her into retirement and chances are she and I have different tastes in office décor. Come visit and take a look at my favorite artwork.
Another change that is coming is the theme of our ingathering worship on September 13th. I very much like the water ritual that many congregations use during that first Sunday. I hope you will all be there and learn why I think it is important to start the year this way. And rest assured for those of you who only remember an old way of doing this ritual with everyone speaking about their summer vacations this service will be quite different.
I am also hoping that all of us, but especially Susannah, Tim, the worship team, and I will spend the next few months looking at the order of worship. Does it reflect who you are? Does the flow continue to work? Are you open to trying new formats? Will experimenting be fun and interesting or scary and off-putting? Only time, and you if you are willing to speak honestly, will tell.
With Love and Peace,
Rev Bev
Religious Exploration
Want more ? Find all things Kids and Youth on the RE Linktree. For more information on any of the above contact Susannah at redirector@fpmilton.org or call 470-223-0337
Music
MUSIC FOR 2026-27
2026-27 promises to be a fun and exciting year musically here at First Parish. If you have ever thought about joining the choir, this would be a PERFECT time to give it a try. Please contact Tim if you have any questions eliztim95@gmail.com There are no mid-week rehearsals; choir rehearsals take place only on Sunday mornings from 8:45-10:00, on those Sundays when the Meetinghouse Choir is singing during worship. No audition or regular time commitment is required. Come when you can, and enjoy making music with some extraordinary people.
Our Hunsaker soloists this year are soprano Carina Digianfilippo, mezzo-soprano Grace Allendorf, tenor Josaphat Contreras, and baritone Scott Ballantine. Carina and Scott will be starting in November due to the recent birth of their son Gabriel; Josaphat (our new tenor) will also be starting in November due to previous engagements. In the meantime we have an assortment of outstanding substitute musicians who will be filling in.
Milton Community Concerts will be busy this fall with concerts on Saturday, October 3rd at 7pm (“Sing For Their Supper 13”), and on Sunday, November 8th at 2pm (a world premiere of a new musical called “Faces of Love”). During the month of September MCC will be sharing videos from the May 9th AAPI concert on Facebook and Instagram (if you follow the Milton Community Concerts Facebook page). This will be part of a fundraising campaign during the month of September
News & Announcements
WHY ISN’T EMAIL LABELED REV BEV?
A number of people have commented that the Minister@FPMilton email
address continues to look like it is coming from or going to Rev. Lisa.
Please be assured that Rev Bev is receiving all those emails. Here is what
I know:
- I changed the label in my email address book.
- When I send an email to folks who have not received emails from this address before the label says Rev Bev Waring
- My best advice is to go into your address book and change the label to Rev. Bev.
- If you have questions or difficulty doing this please let me know.
Peace and Love, Rev. Bev
Reminder:
Regular Sunday service resumes on September 13th at 10:30am.
Help us celebrate our opening of the fall church season! SOCIAL HOUR hosts needed for throughout the year.
You can sign up here Sign up Genius link
THANK YOU for keeping the coffee brewing!
A Celebration of Life
Invitation to Sam’s Celebration of Life from Ellen Barr
October 3rd, 2026
12:00pm to 3:00pm
Trailside Museum
First Parish Welcome Back Brunch
SAVE THE DATE: September 20th
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 20th is the date; mark it on your calendar!
Social & Environmental Justice
ELEVENTH HOUR STANDOUT
Friday, September 11th
Assemble by 6:00 p.m.
First Parish Front Lawn
535 Canton Avenue (Milton Town Center)
This date is layered with significance including Rosh Hashanah at sunset and the anniversary of the World Trade Center Attack in 2001, and our current times are conflicted with many significant issues. Whatever your cause(s) — peace, jobs, healthcare, trans rights, affordable housing and food access, ICE OUT, immigration — this monthly event offers a brief time to unite. So BYO signs, flags, chairs, singing voices, percussion, friends, and neighbors. 30 ENERGIZED minutes will amplify continued resilience and resistance. Quoting Katie, a dedicated participant, “I believe events like this are important because they fuel us in this marathon and give us chances to connect with one another… feeling filled up with energy and courage, with a heart of renewed hope.”
The next event will be Sunday, October 11, same time and place. All are welcome.
TWO WAY$ TO $UPPORT DEMOCRACY THIS MONTH
Highlighting the Movement Voter Project
1. Dance the night away at a local benefit event (Saturday, September 19 — see flier above)
– OR –
2. Share the Plate collection & guest speaker in church (Sunday, September 27), sponsored by First Parish Milton’s Social & Environmental Justice Committee. To be clear, funds collected in church will go to the Movement Voter Project, a 501(c)4 educational organization. The Movement Voter PAC is a “hybrid political action committee” (per website).
– OR BOTH –
Rev. Beverly Waring
In Office Tuesday-Thursday, Remote work Friday.
Susan DeMinico: Summer Hours for July and August
In office on Tuesday & Thursday – Off Mondays and Fridays, 1/2 day remote Wednesdays.
Vacation: August 7-19
Susannah Bales Vacation: 7/22-27
Study Leave: 8/3-8/6, 8/10, 8/12, 8/13
Sherri Moldaver
In office Monday thru Thursday 8:30am-1:30pm
Kevin Harnden –
Monday-Thursday 8am-11am
Vacation: 8/8-8/16
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/4090D44ACA728A02-64605820-copy#/
You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.