On this day we honor the brave men and women who have given their youth, their energy, their strength, and sometimes their very lives for our country. But far too many of our returning soldiers find their hardest battles happen once they are home. Rev. Anne will explore these issues in our Memorial Day worship service with her sermon, “Day is Done.”

Rev. Anne Mason, Worship Leader

There will be no Sunday School today. The nursery will be open for babies and toddlers.

Click here to listen to last week’s sermon by Rev. Anne Mason, “Cast Off Those Chains.”

Click here to read the document White Supremacy Culture that was handed out at last week’s service.

All are welcome to participate in an informal group of members and friends who enjoy fiber arts. On Thursday, bring your knitting, crocheting, beading or other fiber work and meet in the church parlor from 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm for a low-key time of fellowship, creativity, and sharing of ideas.

Just drop by or email Karolyn Eisenstein to join the email list.

In observation of Memorial Day, the office will be closed on Monday, May 29th. Have a safe holiday weekend!

The Social Action Ministry (SAM) at First Parish comes from our Unitarian Universalist faith based on the values of love, justice, community and responsibility. We do this within the supportive environment of our broader church community and the mission of First Parish “…to act on our values to serve the larger community and create a more just and loving world.”

Annual Day of Service

This Sunday, May 28th, the Social Action Committee will continue signing up volunteers for our June 3 Day of Service. To date, we have the opportunity to participate in the following activities: Lexington Interfaith Garden (8-10), Lexington Food Pantry (6-sorry, no children), Communities Without Borders preparation of graduation gifts for Zambian children (no limit set yet), The Douglas House (improving the quality of life for residents with brain injury-no limit set yet; activities and lunch for residents), Lexington Conservation Stewards project on Wright’s Farm (stone wall clearing and invasive plant removal-no limit set yet). The day will begin at 8 AM with a blessing by Reverend Anne, organization with Team Leader, and BREAKFAST. Most activities will wrap up around 12 or 12:30. Thank you to our individual leaders: Marty Kvaal, Cherie Noe, Lynne Yansen, Al Jacobson, Brenda Prusak, and Ben Soule. Hope to see you there!!

If you will not be in church this Sunday but would like to participate, please email Elaine Hylek with your top two preferences.

Lexington Food Pantry – First Sunday Food Collection

With the aim of increasing the visibility of our commitment to the Lexington Food Pantry, and to highlight hunger in America in general, the Social Action Committee will place the food collection basket in the front of the sanctuary on the first Sunday of every month during the church year. Please make a special point to bring non-perishable items for the basket on that Sunday and deposit them on either your way into the sanctuary or on your way out. Our first first Sunday will be June 4, 2017. Please be generous and thank you.

~Tom Wanderer and Lynn Yansen for the Social Action Committee

Monthly Special Plate Collection

Thanks to your generous contributions during last week’s service, the amount of $966 will be donated to UU Mass Action. Thank you! The final special collection for the fiscal year will take place on Sunday, June 4th, when we will ask for donations for the METCO program. More information on this will be forthcoming.

~ Carolyn Fleiss

Living the Democratic Process and General Assembly

The 2017 General Assembly (GA) will be held June 21-25 in New Orleans. This assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).  Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through a democratic process. Each UUA member congregation is allowed one voting delegate for every 50 members.  First Parish in Lexington is allowed five voting delegates.

This year, Marianne DiBlasi, Elizabeth Walsh, Ben Soule, and Deb Weiner-Soule have been approved by the board as voting delegates. What does this mean?  It means these delegates will be voting on business agenda items — including bylaw amendments, a statement of conscience, and the UUA presidential election. It means that these delegates are representing you — the members of First Parish.

In preparation for voting, the UUA Board of Trustees is hosting a 75-minute webinar which will provide information about the business items that will be voted on at GA.  Delegates and all congregational members are invited to attend one of these webinars to learn about the business issues.  Let your delegates know your thoughts on these issues so we can better represent First Parish at GA.  To see a list of webinar times and how-to-attend information, visit

http://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/board/announcements/board-webinar-what-delegates-can-expect-ga-2017.  Please note, this 75-minute webinar is scheduled for 5 separate dates and times. Each webinar covers the same material so you only need to attend one of them.

Thank you in advance for being part of UU democracy in action!

~ Marianne DiBlasi

Meg Jackson, Lynn Perry, and Toni Tasker will be traveling to Zambia in June, representing First Parish in Lexington with Communities Without Borders. CWB’s mission is to improve the education and health of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, and to nourish hope for a better future. CWB’s approach is to build ongoing community to community relationships at the grassroots level, by working with local school and health educators. To help meet that goal, supplies are critically needed.

First Parish is collecting donations from May 1 until June 3. Many specific items are needed, as requested by our hosts in Zambia. The use of many items commonly used in the US is not sustainable in Africa, so please contribute only the items listed below. Please, no more bedding! Thank you!

New School Supplies

Pencils, pencil sharpeners, mini-erasers, crayons, chalk, colored pencils, pens, markers, chart paper, small notepads, masking tape, coloring books, computer paper, lined paper, construction paper, and stickers.

Toys

Legos, blocks, Duplos, Lincoln Logs, Matchbox cars, K’Nex, playdough, small decks of playing cards, as well as soccer balls and pumps, jump ropes, and tennis balls. Lightly used items are gladly accepted!

Clothing

Children’s outerwear (winter jackets, sweatshirts, and fleeces) and black dress shoes for school-aged children (ages 5+)

Monetary Donations

For more information or to make a donation go to www.communitieswithoutborders.org.

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