This Week in Worship

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

Worship at 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

“The World Wide Web”

Minister

Rev. Lisa Ward

Please see below an important message from our Parish Committee Chair,

Ruth Heiden.

It is a privledge to be a part of this caring community. 

Blessings,

Rev. Lisa

A note from the Parish Chair, Ruth Heiden

The Parish Committee was approached by the Green Team and asked to consider adoption of solar panel installation on the campus of First Parish. In response, the Parish Committee has set up an Ad Hoc Task Force that will be an advisory to the Parish Committee. This advisory committee will explore the pros and cons of various solar panel options. 

We thank the Green Team for all their initiative and hard work in bringing this forward.

The Parish Committee has compiled a strong and diverse committee with representation from several committees, including Finance and Building and Grounds.  We thank Karl Pastore for being willing to chair this task force. We are grateful to all those who have agreed to serve on this important ad hoc committee.

The committee charge can be found on the Parish Committee bulletin board outside the church library or on the members page of the website, under Congregational Leadership. 

These are the task force members: Karl Pastore (Chair); Tony Dutzik (Parish Committee); Marsha Maurer (Trustees); Glen Pavlicek (Finance); Cathy Sheedy (Treasurer);Beth Gray-Nix (Buildings & Grounds); Hale Smith (Social Action and Green Team, along with Karl & Tony); and Judith Darrell (ad hoc). 

In faith and gratitude,

Ruth Heiden, Chair, Parish Committee

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 all children from preschool through grade 8 will begin in the Meetinghouse and then move to their classrooms.

Religious Exploration classes will be meeting this Sunday, March 31.

Preschool through grade 2 will be enjoying the Spirit Play program in the Preschool classroom. This week’s story will be “The Good Shepherd,” a tale from the Christian tradition. Grades 3 through 5 will be exploring the Holidays and Holy Days curricula, meeting in the Kitchen. This week they will be learning about the Iranian Nowruz celebration, and making Cucumber Doogh. Grades 6 through 8 are following the Friends and Neighbors curriculum, meeting in the Activity room. The class will continue their focus on Islam this week.

Our Whole Lives Program

(Grades 8 and 9, parental permission required): The Our Whole Lives class will have their final class on Sunday, March 31, from noon to 1:30 pm in the Children’s Church. Please drop off your youth so they can use the Children’s Church entrance. Class members and their parents are invited to our final celebration in the Parish Hall from 1:30 to 2:15 pm!

Register your child or youth!

The Religious Exploration Committee requests all families to register your child or youth before attending classes. Please use this link to our online form: RE Registration Form (or paper registration forms are available on the RE bulletin board in the Link hallway).

Youth Yacking for March 31, 2019

10:00am – 11:30am Youth Chat: Arrive early and settle in with a hot beverage before the formal programming begins at 10:30. This week we will celebrate the outstanding youth service and begin planning for care packages to former youth group young adults which will be assembled on April 7.

Social hour help needed! Calling available youth to help call attention to the care package collection table and explain what is needed and how to contribute with cash or tasty/fun items.

12:00 – 1:00pm: Youth Adult Committee meeting. All youth are welcome to attend to prepare for the spring youth program activities, including the service trip to CityReach Boston in May.

Calling for donations to create care packages for First Parish Milton young adults!

For the fourth year, the Caring Committee and the youth group are once again teaming up to collect care package items for former high school youth group members. This would include youth who are now in college, recently enrolled and serving in the armed forces, completing a year of community service like AmeriCorps, or off on their own starting a first job.

Contributions of snacks, games, home-baked goods, or other treats for this age group will be collected at social hour until Sunday, April 7. Also, we would graciously receive monetary contributions towards postage costs and goodies! Please make out checks to “First Parish Milton” and put “Care Packages” on the memo line.

If you would like to have your young adult to be a recipient, there will be a sign-up at coffee hour on 3/24 and 3/31 or you can send their name, address, and any dietary restrictions to Amanda Tobey at amandatobey@gmail.com.

The deadline for all donations is April 7. Packages will be mailed/delivered in early April.

MUSIC SELECTIONS

This week the choir will be singing an anthem with a text by a Native-American, Chief Seattle, and music by Jeanne Julseth Heinrich, “All Things Are Connected”. A Treble Ensemble will be singing “One Voice” by Ruth Moody, accompanied by Claudia Wellington on the guitar. 

Events, News and Announcements

A new being in our midst!

We celebrate the arrival of River Holdsworth Benders, son of Megan Benders, our adminstrative assistant and her husband Jorell. The family is doing well. If you’d like to send a card, please address it to the church office (535 Canton Ave, Milton MA 02186) and we’ll deliver.

Blessings Abound!

With Love,

Rev. Lisa

A NOTE FROM THE MILTON COMMUNITY CONCERT COMMITTEE

Thank you to all who attended the “Sing For Their Supper” concert on March 16th. Through your generous support $1513 was raised to support the wonderful work of the Milton Residents Fund and the Milton Food Pantry. 

TOMORROW NIGHT!

All Church Council Meeting 3/29!

Our spring all church council meeting is Friday, March 29th from 6-8pm in the Parish Hall.

We’ll be checking in on the mission discernment process, talking about upcoming fundraising events and committee activities.

Light Supper provided. Please RSVP to office at office@fpmilton.org

First Parish Committee Fair

Sunday, April 7

11:30am-12:15pm

Please join us for the Committee Fair during social hour in the Parish Hall after worship service on 4/7.

Interested in becoming more engaged with First Parish life, but not sure how? Don’t know what the different committees do? Wanting to put your talents to use in our community, but don’t know how?

Come learn about the diverse committees First Parish has! Service on church committees is a good way for people to get to know others who share similar interests and passions, to learn about how First Parish works, and to become more personally invested in our faith community. To learn about the important and meaningful work of our committees, please stop by the different committee tables and see what interests you. If you decide you want to join a committee, the committee chair can put you in touch with the nominating committee. The nominating committee will then add your name to the committee roster, for approval at the annual meeting.

There will be no silent prayer and meditation on Thursday 3/28/19.

Silent prayer and medititaion will resume on Sunday 3/31/19.

SPIRITUAL WRITING WORKSHOP

First Wednesdays: 7 pm – 8:30 pm (Next workshop April 3rd, 2019)

Children’s Church, First Parish in Milton

Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Ward

There are many paths that awaken the heart.  What helps in the journey is finding words to guide you along the way. These words are in you. Come find your voice through writing exercises.  We will compose invocations, meditations, prayers, hymns, benedictions, and readings.  You do not have to be experienced at writing, simply bring your experiences.  Ages 16 and older welcome. 

Please RSVP to office@fpmilton.org.  Plan on one more session.

First Parish Yard Sale

Saturday, June 22, 9 am – 1 pm

First Parish is hosting its second annual yard sale on Saturday, June 22. Start cleaning out your attic, garage and closets. You can declutter and help raise funds for First Parish at the same time!

We’re looking for volunteers (lots of volunteers!). Can you help? We need people to:

·  donate gently used furniture, sporting equipment, toys, clothes, etc.

·  be on the organizing committee (first meeting is April 7 after church)

·  staff the drop-off hours during the first 2 weeks of June

·  work the tables and move items around on June 22nd

The yard sale is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.  If you can commit 2 hours or 20, we’d appreciate your help!

Keep watching this space for more information over the coming weeks. And email Jen Pinkus (jennifer.pinkus@gmail.com) to sign up to help or for more information.

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.

Service Project: Blessing Bags

Topic: Join Courageous Conversations towards Racial Justice in a service project to assemble Blessing Bags for unhoused individuals. In addition to helping assemble the bags which is open to all family members young and old we are also looking for donations of individual sized personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Qtips, bandaids, individual snacks and juice boxes.

When: Friday, April 19th, from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Where: Parkway United Methodist Church, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, Milton, MA 02186

 Guest Speaker Byron Rushing

When: Wednesday, April 24, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Ave, Milton, MA 02186

Topic: Byron Rushing will deliver an overview on the topic, “Slavery and the Culture of Race in the Americas: Amnesia and Anamnesis.”

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Spokane, Washington

June 19-23, 2019

“The Power of We”

General Assembly is the annual business meeting of our denomination, and it’s a whole lot more. Inspirational worship services, informative workshops, entertaining programs, and a bustling exhibit hall help make GA an unforgettable experience for the thousands of Unitarian Universalists that attend. Attendees leave with a renewed sense of energy, inspiration, and innovative ideas to take back to their congregations and communities.

Visit uua.org/ga for

• Programming Information

• Registration and Housing

• Financial Aid Information

• Volunteer Opportunities

Green Gleanings

Spring is almost here!  Before purchasing new ornamental plants for your property, whether it’s a small plot, terrace, balcony, or an expanse, THINK!  Please consider NATIVE PLANTS for the benefits they offer more than for “eye-candy” curb appeal.  “Native” plants are nowadays considered those that have co-evolved with local nature over a long period of time (since earliest Colonial days).  They offer many benefits: food (pollen, nectar, berries, nuts/seeds) and shelter for wildlife, erosion control, and are sturdier than non-native imports (require less water/TLC, for example). Not sure if what you’re planting is native? Check out the New England Wildflower Society– they have great resources for identifying plants, making suggestions for your garden, etc.  Read plant labels, support local growers, and be less “tidy.”  Nature’s creatures benefit from some habitat “messiness” (leaf litter, bare soil, dead tree snags) so dial back your compulsion for perfection. Sit outside and enjoy warmer days!

Worship and Meditation at First Parish 

Sunday Worship Weekly

Worship, 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

Weekly Meditation Offerings

Sundays, Silent Prayer and Meditation, 9am in the Children’s Church

Thursdays, Silent Prayer and Meditation, 7pm in the Children’s Church

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 – 2:00 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
• Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

EVERY THURSDAY

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 7:00 pm in the Children’s Church (Note new time)

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.