CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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You are invited to our special services and events for the rest of December!
Soulful Winter Solstice Service
Sunday, December 17 at 4:30 pm
(no morning service)
Christmas Eve Family Service
Sunday, December 24 at 6:30 pm
(no morning service)
Christmas Eve Late Service
Sunday, December 24 at 10:30 pm
(no morning service)
New Year's Eve Clam Drop
Sunday, December 31 at 6:30 pm
(no morning service)
These are all-ages services and events with the whole family welcome, but we will have nursery care for little ones available for the Soulful Winter Solstice Service and the Christmas Eve Service.
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Soulful Winter Solstice Service
Rev. Jennifer Emrich and The Senior Youth Group
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 4:30 pm
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FAITH FORMATION &
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
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2017-2018 Program Calendar and Descriptions
Click below to view - includes information on programs for ALL ages!
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Please Note: To sign up children or youth for any religious education programs, please fill out the form below and give it to the church office.
Copies will also be available on Sundays during coffee hour.
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Save the Date: Events in January & February 2018
Sunday, January 7, 11:30 am - Coffee Hour Connections
Sunday, January 21, 11:45 am - Mid-year Meeting
Thursday, January 25, 5:30 pm & 7:30 pm seatings - Gather Dinner
Saturday, February 10, 5:00 - 7:00 pm - Maine Farm Supper
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Concerned about the new TAX PLAN?
You can honor your financial commitment in full before Dec 31. You can even make a contribution to next church year now; we will apply it to next year, but you get the tax deduction this year.
We are also seeking a few remaining payments on Here for Good pledges, which were expected to be complete by Dec. 31. These remaining payments will fund much-needed repairs to the Sanctuary windows. We have already collected 98% of the pledges! The HfG team is filled with gratitude.
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Q: When you have a new idea for the church, do you wonder where to go? Start it up, or give it up?
A: Bring your ideas to a Board Member for suggestions on the next steps. Generally, if it’s a PROGRAM thing (worship, faith development for all ages, social justice work, caring for our members who are in need), it will go to the Minister. If it’s a BOARD thing (welcoming new folks, events, fundraisers, finances, the church building, administration of the church), it will go to a committee of the Board. Thanks!
Board members are: Joanna Landsman, Marge Titcomb, Amy O’Brien, Sarah Witte, Charlie Horstman, Lauren Taylor, Rebecca Rundquist, and Jamie Brookes.
And hey, also check out the new poster which illustrates our church organization. It’s getting built on the wall in our Gathering Room.
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Purchase your gift cards (to many popular stores like L.L. Bean, Starbucks, and Staples) by contacting Marge Titcomb at
mjtbean@aol.com or see her after this Sunday's Soulful Solstice Service in the Common Room. You get the full amount of the card and the church receives a 5-18% donation from the company. Get your versatile holiday gifts today AND support your church. It’s a win/win!
Learn more!
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Coffee Hour Connections
January 7, 2018, 11:30 am (after worship)
Come connect in the new year with friends old and new! The Member Services Committee is proud to host the first Coffee Hour of 2018 and want to invite you to a special Coffee Hour Connection. There will be some brunch items, treats, coffee, and tea, a chance to reconnect with your First U community after the busy holiday season, or the opportunity to meet new friends during this brand new year. Join us to connect and re-connect during this special coffee hour.
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Coffee Hour Hosting Calendar
Committees, councils, and groups at First U are signed up for a turn to host coffee hour. Mariana Tupper will be contacting your group a few weeks ahead of time with a reminder, but you can also
view the schedule here.
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PEACE AND JUSTICE WORK:
FAITH IN ACTION
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Help New Mainers: Become A Volunteer Housing Coach
A volunteer housing coach helps New Mainers to navigate the U.S. rental housing system and assists with things like learning to use unfamiliar kitchen equipment or answers questions about landlord/tenant issues. This volunteer role requires no financial commitment and would be only a few hours per month.
Read more about this program.
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Assistance Needed at Preble Street Soup Kitchen
PREBLE STREET will be serving dinner on Tues Jan 2 (3:30 - 6:30 pm) and they need our help. CAN YOU BE THERE? Please sign up in the Gathering Room or email Phyllis Chinlund pchinlund@gmail.com.
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Partner Church: How do YOU want to participate?
First Universalist has a wonderful and long lasting partnership with the small Unitarian village of Gyepes in the region of Transylvania, and now you have three opportunities to participate in that partnership:
2018 Adult Pilgrimage to Transylvania
FMI contact Rev. Jennifer Emrich: revjemryq@gmail.com
Transylvanian Crafts and Gifts
FMI contact Lily O’Brien: lily.c.obrien@gmail.com
Unitarian Kaláka
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Yoga - Final yoga class for the Fall session is this Saturday, December 16. The Yoga class meets at the Church from 10:00 - 11:15 AM. Ten dollars donation requested per class. One-half of the proceeds to a charity agreed with the class, and one-half to the Church. Any questions contact the Instructor, Lois Howlett, at loishowlett2@gmail.com or tel 847-3055.
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Open Heart Sangha is renewing our annual Winter Solstice Celebration. It will be held on Monday, December 18th at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary at First Universalist and will follow our sitting and walking meditation. Our celebration will include music, poetry, and stories. We invite you to bring a favorite song, poem, or short story that has special meaning to you at this time of year. Included in the evening's festivities will be the lighting of candles and the ringing of bells. Please bring any bells that you have (some for sharing). The candles will be provided. Following the ceremony, we will have refreshments. Please bring your favorite finger food to share. All are welcome!
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The longest night of the year is a time to remember our homeless friends who have died and to recommit ourselves to the task of ending homelessness. On Thursday, December 21
Portland’s Annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Vigil begins with a candlelight procession starting at the Preble Street Resource Center at 4:00 p.m. We'll then proceed to Monument Square for a ceremony dedicated to those persons who have died in our community.
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Pastoral Emergencies
If you are experiencing a crisis, including needing a hospital visit, you may call Rev. Jennifer Emrich on her cell phone (207.356.1467) any time. Please note that Friday and Saturdays are typically her days off - Rev. Jennifer does not check email on these days, but will answer any crisis or emergency calls.
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Submit Your Announcement
To have your church or community event included in this newsletter or in print on Sundays
please fill out this form
or
email the information to Gwen at
gwenatfirstu@gmail.com
by Wednesday at 12 pm to have it included in that Friday's edition of Channels or the Sunday Morning News.
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