from The First Parish Church

Last year, several Milton women got together to form Luminaria, a women’s a capella singing group dedicated to performing for people too ill to attend a live musical performance. On March 10th, the group made an exception in order to share their musical talents with the congregation of First Parish in Milton.

Luminaria was inspired by the small group ministries program at First Parish, which invites people to take their deepest passions and put them into service of the world. While several members of Luminaria attend First Parish, the group also includes singers from throughout the community. What they share is a love of music and the commitment to offering the gift of healing.

The worship service that featured Luminaria’s performance was focused on the miracle of healing in community. It included a testimonial by one church member who experienced that healing at the hands of church members during her recent struggle with cancer. She described receiving meals, rides, childcare, and an outpouring of love, and she said, “The support from this congregation has been unbelievable!”

Earlier this year, the Caring Committee of First Parish received the Lorin Lavador Personal Caregiver of the Year Award from the New England Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. While the Caring Committee is the organizational center for the culture of caring at First Parish, all church members are supported and empowered to become agents of loving care in their own lives and beyond. For the members of Luminaria, singing is one way to provide this loving care.