Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 9/7/2018

Weekly Link 9-7-18

Church

This Week in Worship

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse
InGathering Sunday — “It’s Good To Be Seen”

Pancake Breakfast – 9 am – See Religious Exploration note below

MinisterMinister

Rev. Lisa Ward

Enter, Rejoice and Come In…these are the words of our opening hymn for this Sunday’s Ingathering service…Enter, Rejoice,and Come In. It will be good to welcome back folk who have been away this summer, to reconvene in the Meetinghouse and to begin our full service worship year. This does not mean that we’ve been dormant this summer. In fact, much has gone on due to our incredible staff, engaging and creative worship committee, diligent heritage committee, various contractors and the stalwart building and grounds committee.

Susan DeMinico, our Office Manager, and Megan Benders, our Administrative Assistant, have fashioned quite a list for us to admire. This summer, the staff and volunteers have:

Offered an enlightening Summer Worship series, getting to hear several congregants who shared their wisdom.

Installed a new security system regarding 4 outside entrances and monitoring into the building. This includes the “keypalooza” of changing over to key fobs. (Details in a separate article)

Consolidated archive materials, staged a discernment room for the Heritage

Committee to begin the archiving project.

Hosted rentals: wedding, funeral, graduation party, music class, cooking camp, surprise party.

Organized our first annual church yard sale.

Moved two offices to create a dedicated office for Religious Exploration, and bring the Social Worker’s office closer to the entrance. This is Phase 1 of a larger office wing makeover.

Painting projects, cleaning projects, repair projects.

Repapered the bulletin boards, ready for this year’s news.

I am in awe of all the industry, goodwill and teamwork that made this possible.

It is good to be together.

Blessings Be, Rev. LisaReligious Exploration

Religious Exploration

Laurel Whitehouse, Director of Religious Exploration

Nursery care will be available from 10:15 to 11:45 am in the Link hallway for infants and toddlers up to age 3.

On Sunday, September 9, all children from preschool through grade 8 will attend the entire multigenerational Ingathering worship service in the Meeting House. Our youth will be hosting the annual Pancake Breakfast before the service. Please join them at 9 am in the Parish Hall. Attendance is free and the food and fellowship are fabulous!

September 16 will be a Children’s Church Sunday. Children from preschool through grade 8 will begin in the Meetinghouse and then move to the Children’s Church for a multi-age worship service.

Religious Exploration classes will begin meeting on Sunday, September 23. All classrooms are located downstairs. Preschool through grade 5 will focus on World Religions this year. Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Holidays and Holy Days curricula, meeting in the Primary classroom. Grades 6 through 8 will be continuing a curriculum called Friends and Neighbors which is based on both the Crossing Bridges and Neighboring Faiths programs. This group will meet in the Activity room.

Register your child

Register your child or youth! The Religious Education Committee requests all families to register their children and youth before classes begin on September 23. Paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway.

Child care opportunities at FP Milton: Please email restaff@fpmilton.org if you are interested in being part of the child care team. We have occasional opportunities during the year for child care assignments after the service on Sundays or on afternoons/evenings throughout the week. In your email please give us your first and last names, email address, cell number, and confirm that you have completed a babysitting certification program.

Youth Yacking

Youth overnight September 8 to 9! Kickoff the fall with a trip to Boda Borg Boston, followed by an overnight and the Pancake Breakfast! We’ll gather in the youth room at 8 pm on Saturday, September 8, carpool to Boda Borg, return for an overnight, and rise on Sunday morning to start preparing to serve the much acclaimed Pancake Breakfast for the congregation before our Ingathering worship service.

Events, News and Announcements

Security Project Update

As was communicated earlier, the security system is now in place. This calls for a few adjustments in our access to the office building. Feel free to contact Jim May or Chris Clifford, co-chairs of the security team, with any questions. Below are some frequently asked questions:

Which of our doors are changed?

The two office doors on Engine Road, the black double door leading into Parish Hall, the Nursery School entrance off the lower parking lot.

How do we now get in?

Staff, Committee Chairs and the Parish Committee Exec will have key fobs. On days other than Sunday, you will need to enter through one of the doors on Engine Road. There is an intercom system. You can be buzzed in. On Sunday, the Meetinghouse will be open. The Children’s Church will be open Sunday morning for meditation.

Are the internal locks changed?

No. The locks and keys for doors inside the building remain the same. Also the Meetinghouse and Children’s Church entrances are unchanged.

Courageous Conversations

Courageous Conversations is a monthly series of dialogue-centered programs on racism and privilege designed to address racial healing and justice in our town. Each month the Courageous Conversations leadership team in partnership with the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association brings together a diverse group of people representing a wide array of life experiences, circumstances, and choices. All events are open to the public—anyone can attend a meeting whether or not they have attended in the past.

Monday, September 17th, 7-9pm, Cunningham Hall (77 Edge Hill Rd, Milton). Talking about Racism – the Courage, Compassion and Discomfort!

Saturday, October 13, 10-3pm First Parish Milton (535 Canton Ave, Milton). Workshop with artist, activist and musician, Soyinka Rahim on articulating our journey with race and racism through storytelling, music and user friendly embodiment exercises.

Monday, November 19th, 6-9pm, Milton High School (25 Gile Rd., Milton). Conversation with Debby Irving author of “Waking Up White.”

Neponset

Our Neponset Community Celebration

Saturday, September 29, noon-3pm (rain date Oct 6)

Between Mattapan Square and Central Avenue at the Harvest Bridge and Ryan Playground.

Please join Mattapan Milton Neponset Community to celebrate the Neponset Greenway Extension of the path joining Milton and Mattapan. We have a beautiful river and pathway and it is time to come together as one community and claim it.

Festivities include:

· A family friendly 2 mile bike ride.

· Live musical acts and spoken word.

· Community sponsored displays and food.

· Make your own tree ornament and other arts and crafts for kids/adults.

Meditation

Thursday evening 7:00pm Silent Prayer and Meditation will resume October 4, 2018 and is cancelled for September.