Table of Contents

• This Week in Worship
• Message from Rev. Lisa
• This Week in Religious Exploration
• Events and Meetings
• News and Announcements
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Beyond First Parish

This Week in Worship

“Faithfully Becoming”

General Assembly call to our congregations – Article II

Worship Assistant: Chris Clifford

Greeter: Jennifer Grant

Audio: Colin Glazer

Social Hour: Welcome back Brunch

Sunday’s offering will go towards the service and ministry of First Parish.

Please join us for service at 10:30am.

Please log in at 10:20, to give some lead time for the service at 10:30. You will be muted, but you can communicate through the chat box. If you do not have zoom on your computer, please download it ahead of time. It is free.

This year, UU congregations throughout the denomination will be considering the proposed edits to Article II in the UUA Bylaws, entitled “purpose and covenant”. The Article begins with this proposed purpose:  “The Unitarian Universalist Association will devote its resources to and use its organizational powers for religious, educational, and humanitarian purposes. Its primary purposes are to assist congregations in their vital ministries, support and train leaders both lay and professional, to foster lifelong faith formation, to heal historic injustices, and to advance our Unitarian Universalist values in the world.”

What follows in the Article is an articulation of our values, reformatted and reframed in the spirit of liberative love. If the overhaul of this article passes by 2/3rds vote next General Assembly in June of 2024, the Principles and Purposes that have been in the main body of Article II since 1985 will become treasured heritage in the history of articulating our faith. Still readily available for use, but not in the body of the bylaws.

In our UUA bylaws there is a mandate to examine Article II, the article that speaks to who we are and why we are as a faith, every 15 years. We are now in one of those discernment cycles.

From its inception, Unitarian Universalism aspires to be a “living faith”, one that engages the wisdom of the ages into the living of our lives. We listen to the inborn wisdom of new generations and new iterations of gathering in faith communities. This Sunday’s worship will address this call to launch our year-long discernment of Article II. Our four GA delegates who represented us in Pittsburgh this year will help in sharing the sense of this call. I am quite sure poignant discussions, stories, and wonderings will emerge as we formulate our congregational response to the proposal of the Article II Commission,

Come share in this exploration and discernment. Consider how you approach UUsm, how you articulate it to others, and how you find and feel it in your heart.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Religious Exploration

We are shaping up to have a wonderful year and can’t wait to see so many lovely faces this Sunday and in the months to come! As the year unfolds, please know the following:

• The first day of youth group will be Sunday, October 1st at 1 pm. This is a **change**! All families who are on the youth group list have been emailed about this change. If you think you should be on the list but aren’t, please email Louise (re@fpmilton.org).
• Registration is still open! Registering children and youth is a big help in keeping us safe and organized. Please register here.
• We are always looking for volunteers. Volunteers can teach once a month, help out with workshops, and/or get involved in a variety of ways. No planning required (besides submitting a background check) and all materials will be provided. Fill out this form if you are interested.

You are an important part of RE this year, whether that means participating in programs, volunteering, or being a supportive community member. You are an important part of our community.

Reach out to Family Ministries Director Louise re@fpmilton.org. with any questions, concerns, excitements. See you soon!

Music This Week

This Sunday the choir will be singing an anthem by an old friend named Carolyn (“Carrie”) Lamont, who sang in the First Parish choir as recently as 2009. In addition to being a singer Carrie was also a composer who wrote this anthem, “The Williams Covenant”, based on a text by Rev. L. Griswold Williams in 1933 (#471 in our hymnal, SINGING THE LIVING TRADITION). Claudia Wellington will also be offering a song by Jim Scott called “The Oneness of Everything”.

Events and Meetings

This coming Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 pm will be the first concert of the season for Milton Community Concerts, “A Bit of Broadway Magic”. This concert will feature Broadway and TV legend Ron Raines, along with Sandra Piques Eddy, Mara Bonde, Jermaine Smith, and pianist Timothy Steele. Plan to arrive early to get a good seat. Tickets are $20 general/$10 seniors/Free for 18 and under. Visit miltoncommunityconcerts.com/ See flyer below.

Milton Welcoming Haitian Newcomers Meeting

Sept. 28th at 7:00 pm on ZOOM

Please join our group to discuss how we can help recently -arrived Haitian families or individuals to get settled and acclimated. We hope that you will be able to attend this meeting. Please feel free to share the link with anyone else who may be interested in supporting this effort. Thank you.

Cynthia Guise and Pat Gallivan

News and Announcements

Climate Action @ HOME

We are a faith community concerned about the health of our planet and we are committed to reaching a zero-carbon output goal by 2035. Although our goal is focused on the church campus, many members of the church have asked for ways to grow their knowledge of “climate actions” they might try “at home”. Several years ago, Eric Miller offered a session on Electric Vehicles that inspired the idea for doing more, similar events.  Questions like:  How do I calculate my carbon footprint?  How do I start investigating solar panels?  What is a “heat pump”?

The Climate Action Team is interested in taking advantage of the knowledge and experience within our congregation by offering a series of Q&A discussions throughout the coming year on topics of interest.  We hope to hold sessions on Sundays after worship from 12-1pm.

If you have ideas for a Q&A session or questions please contact Tracey Robinson at tdr02186@gmail.com.  AND stay tuned for announcements of upcoming Q&A sessions. 

Breeze Tutorial

Did you know that First Parish has an online directory called Breeze? It’s a convenient way to find phone numbers, email addresses, and street addresses. If you haven’t already activated your account, keep an eye out for an email with the link to do that.

You can watch this video [see below] for some tips on setting up your account. Help will also be available during social hour for the next few weeks.

JOIN US ON SUNDAY!  First Parish is having a Welcome Back Brunch this Sunday, September 24th, right after church. Hospitality and Membership are joining forces to welcome everyone back for our church year. We look forward to good food and conversation, and to seeing you all. 

SAVE THE DATE!  Harvest Supper – Saturday, November 11, 6pm in the Parish Hall. More info to follow.

We are looking for Social Hour Hosts

We look forward to seeing you at our Social Hours after church on Sunday. We are looking for hosts, and you can sign up at Signup Genius. New to hosting or need a refresher?  A member of the Hospitality Committee will contact those who sign up to offer guidance and answer questions. Thank you!

Sunday Service

First Parish is in need of volunteers for worship assistants, greeters, and social hour hosts (see above).

If interested in signing up please use Signup Genius link.

We have appreciated your help in the past and hope you can help again.

Thank you in advance.

Beyond First Parish

The First Parish Racial Justice Group is Building Bridges with the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan.

Friday, September 29th 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm

Come meet some new friends and try the Caribbean Fusion Cuisine of Mello Vibez at 473 River Street right (across from the Mattapan T Stop).

Parking is right next door at the Public Parking Lot. 

Please let Debbie Alsebai at alsebai@verizon.net know if you would like to attend this great opportunity to support a woman run business just a few miles away from First Parish.

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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, 9:30 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: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d44aca728a02-sunday1

You can sign up for one our our Sunday volunteer positions.