First Parish Milton UU

05/30/2026

Weekly Link: https://fpmilton.org/your-weekly-link-5-29-2026/

This Sunday we will be exploring “the spirit of democracy”. I phrase it that way because the democratic process is a cherished value in our way of being in beloved community. Every voice matters.

Philosopher and theologian Cornel West offers this from an essay in the anthology The Good Citizen: “The roots of democracy are fundamentally grounded in mutual respect, personal responsibility, and social accountability. Yet democracy is also about giving each person a dignified voice in the decision-making processes in those institutions that guide and regulate their lives. These deeply moral suppositions have a certain spiritual dimension.”

This is not easy, yet in Unitarian Universalist circles this aspiration is sacred. We each have inborn truth and relational power, responsibilities that call us to honoring shared being.

This congregation practices the spirit of democracy in many ways, through encouraging voter participation to endeavoring to be a wholly welcoming community. These practices help not only our faith community but our advocacy for such a way of being in the world. This kind of wisdom, this kind of strength is sorely needed these days. Keep on keeping on!

In Faith, Rev. Lisa

Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 5/29/2026 May 30, 2026 • Administrator Table of Contents This Week in Worship Message from Rev. Lisa Ward Music Religious Exploration News & Announcements Events Social & Environmental Justice Beyond First Parish Signup Genius A reminder the office is closed o...

05/26/2026

Stop by THIS SUNDAY in Parish Hall at 11:30 AM and join us in making “Know Your Rights” keychains for our immigrant neighbors. Come for a few minutes or stay longer—every bit helps. We’d love to see you there. 🦋

05/23/2026

Weekly Link: https://fpmilton.org/your-weekly-link-5-22-2026/

Last Sunday we gathered to celebrate community in several ways. We gathered for a congregational photo, which I’m told has not been done in decades! We also engaged in our Annual Meeting and had a delicious luncheon afterwards.

What helped bring the spirit of our vibrant community together was our annual RE Sunday worship service. It was a joy to see all ages delight in the sharing of religious exploration.

As a part of the service, the "Crossing Paths" group presented a beautiful framework within the curriculum for exploring together as UU’s. It was presented to us as the Eight Practices of Welcome.

I’d like to list them here, as they are highly applicable in many situations within a thriving community:

1. Be fully present

2. Be curious

3. Be open to being changed

4. Be comfortable with discomfort

5. Be an appreciative listener

6. Be light-hearted

7. Be gentle (allow and heal mistakes)

8. Be yourself

Wisdom to hold dear....Thank you Susannah Bales, the RE Committee and Volunteers for all you do.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 5/22/2026 May 22, 2026 • Administrator Table of Contents This Week in Worship Message from Rev. Lisa Ward Music Religious Exploration News & Announcements Events Social & Environmental Justice Beyond First Parish Signup Genius A reminder the office is closed o...

05/21/2026

RE Sunday was a meaningful and delightful time led by our kids and youth! Here we are Bridging as a community toward what's ahead!

05/19/2026

Looking for a way to serve together as a family? This is for you. Kids, teens, and adults can all take part in creating “Know Your Rights” keychains to support immigrant-led organizations doing important work! It’s simple, hands-on, and meaningful for all ages.

05/18/2026

Sign Up via QR or here: https://forms.gle/dm8nzdaNYU8nqSnw9

05/16/2026

Weekly Link: https://fpmilton.org/your-weekly-link-5-15-2026/

This Sunday is an important celebration of our church year. First we will center on Religious Exploration activities and volunteer recognition during our RE Sunday worship service. Then we will have an all church photo.

Many thanks to professional photographer Gretjen Helene for offering her expertise and talent to this endeavor. This will be the first congregational photo in over twelve years.

And then the Annual Meeting: democracy in action as part of our congregational life. Followed by a luncheon.

Please do note the details shared in this newsletter. I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday!

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Your Weekly Link – News and Updates 5/15/2026 May 15, 2026 • Administrator Annual Meeting This Sunday May 17th The Annual Meeting will be a bit different this year. We will be hosting the Annual Meeting in the Meetinghouse. After worship on May 17, we will head outside for a church picture, then...

05/14/2026

Your Weekly Update - Religious Exploration at First Parish Milton - https://mailchi.mp/c37b17701d12/your-weekly-update-religious-exploration-at-first-parish-milton-17999651

05/08/2026

Weekly Link: https://fpmilton.org/your-weekly-link-5-8-2026/

In 1879, Unitarian forebear Julia Ward Howe wrote a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in the wake of her experience of the brutality and devastation of the Civil War. “Arise, all women who have hearts,” she begins, “whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: ‘We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience…From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, “Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.”

The full text can be found here: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/holidays/mothers-day/the-original-mother-s-day-proclamation

Realizing that mothers, especially in her time, were the people who primarily raised their children in their formative years, Julia wanted women to come together internationally to claim the common needs of peace, understanding and justice.

Though such a general congress was not formed, Ms. Howe proposed a women’s day for peace in 1872, which was celebrated on June 2 for the next 30 years. In 1913 Congress then declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day.

So this Sunday, when the Hallmark imperative of Mother’s Day captures the attention of much of the nation, remember that the cause of peace was its original intention. What’s more, see below for an opportunity to put that cause toward action in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.

Blessings Be, Rev. Lisa

Today’s commercialized celebration of candy, flowers, gift certificates, and lavish meals at restaurants bears little resemblance to Howe’s original idea for the holiday.