CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence."
- Hal Borland
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No one has ever become poor by giving.
— Anne Frank
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We hold strong together through transition, change, and challenging times.
We find opportunities in the challenges. Our community is strengthened as we connect. When we participate we give ourselves and each other a great gift - our connections grow - and we have fun! Watch your mailbox for more to come.
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FUNDRAISING EVENTS:
Most of us have participated in several fun events -
that also contribute $30,000 to our financial health
! Events yet to come this church year include the Maine Farm Supper, Music, Gather, and our Gala. Events so far include the Clam Fest, Holiday Fair, Gather dinners, and Music events; these have raised $17,000. These joyous occasions offer connection in many ways – organize, cook, serve, come, and bring friends!
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Perseverance
Rev. Jennifer Emrich
Sunday, February 4, 2018, 10:30 am
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THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF FIRST U
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In Celebration, In Mourning, In Love
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FAITH FORMATION &
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
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Winter 2018 Program Calendar
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THIS SUNDAY: FEBRUARY 4
9:30 am -
Adult Conversation Circles (Gathering Room)
9:30 am -
UU Games (Common Room)
10:30 am -
Children's Chapel (begin in Sanctuary)
10:30 am -
Junior Youth Group (Common Room)
11:45 am -
Tea & Games with the Minister (Rev. Jennifer's Office)
4:00 pm -
Senior Youth Group (Gathering Room)
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Guest Speaker Series: MUUSAN
Sunday, February 11, 9:30 - 10:15 am (Gathering Room)
Are you interested in the moral and faith issues in governmental legislation and policy? The Maine Unitarian Universalist State Action Network's mission is to educate and organize for a more just society. They accomplish this mission through social activism and public witness. Learn more about MUUSAN and how you can get involved!
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Purchase and Plant on the Side of Love
Sunday, February 4 and Sunday, February 11 during Coffee Hour
Our junior youth group of middle schoolers, as part of their Neighboring Faith Communities exploration, are planning a trip to Salem, MA to connect with neo-pagan communities and to learn from our past about religious intolerance. To help cover the costs of this trip, they are selling seed paper heart valentines for the next two Sundays during Coffee Hour. Individual cards cost $1.00 or you can buy five for $4.00. Each seed paper heart is plant-able and produces beautiful heirloom dark purple chalice-shaped poppies in the early Spring. Send your valentines the gift of flowers!
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It’s our 9th Maine Farm Supper!
Saturday, February 10, 5:00—7:00 pm
Many of you have already signed up to help prepare, serve, and host our locally sourced feast. (THANK YOU, THANK YOU) but we still have many more opportunities available starting Thursday, February 8th.
When you volunteer to help out at the Maine Farm Supper, you get to hang out with other friendly folks, play in food, serve people a delicious meal, or clean up, if that’s your thing. And if you’d rather stay home, you can get off easy by baking a crisp in your own kitchen. If you work during the event, we all eat together after, and that’s fun, too!
We still have slots open for the following:
Prepping & Cooking - Plating Food - Serving Food
Cleaning up - Take & Bake Apple Crisps
THIS SUNDAY IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER!
And lastly, if you can’t volunteer, please come! Bring friends. Bring family. Grab your kids’ friends or your elderly neighbor. This is great food, folks. Tickets available at Rosemont Market in Yarmouth and at the door.
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Cupid's Cottage
In front of First Universalist, Open Most Days Until 2/14
Cupid’s Cottage is here just in time for Valentine’s Day with free Valentine making and writing supplies. Any visitor can sit and connect with the people in their life by writing on ready-made cards or making an original creation. A red shed will sit in front of the church until February 14th. If you have any supplies to donate or want to help by supervising please contact Rebecca Rundquist -
rebquist@hotmail.com.
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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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#TakeAKnee in Prayer Event
TOMORROW, Saturday, February 3, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Portland International Jetport Baggage Claim Area
1001 Westbrook Street, Portland, ME
Participate in the #TakeAKnee in Prayer event to demonstrate our fervent prayer that our black and brown sisters and brothers will be treated with justice and kindness. Taking a knee, in body or in spirit, is a symbolic, quiet, spiritual show of support for those who are oppressed, vulnerable, marginalized, or discriminated against based solely on the color of their skin. All are invited to this interfaith event, including athletes and veterans,
clergy and lay people, and those who worship, pray, meditate, or reflect in many forms. Please dress in black.
Show up for justice with your First Universalist community.
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The Poets and the Assassin
Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 pm
Talbot Hall at USM—85 Bedford Street, Portland
This five-act play,
The Poet and the Assassin, written by Reza Jalali, offers historic and contemporary insight into the situation of women in Iran, a society shrouded in mystery. A carpool will be leaving from First Universalist at 6:30 pm to attend the play. The performance is free, but pre-registration is encouraged to reserve seats. Please contact Sue Ellen Bordwell if you plan on attending: 207-650-3858 or
sebordwell@gmail.com.
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THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST NEW MAINERS
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Affect Immigrant Rights: Be a Professional Mentor
Seeking professional mentors to befriend and guide New Mainers who are seeking ways to secure employment in their field. There are doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, journalists and others, from countries around the world, who need your input and support as they look to transfer their skills and education to jobs here in Maine. If you are interested in being a professional mentor, please contact Rev. Jennifer at
revjemryq@gmail.com. We will meet together as mentors, review our cultural consideration skills, and then work with Opportunity Alliance to connect with New Mainers chosen for this program. We need you!
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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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Volunteer Teacher Needed
Parkside Community Center is seeking a volunteer teacher to guide intense English as Another Language learning for New Mainer adults. These adult students are highly educated and motivated. The position is for 2 days per week, speech therapy background is a plus. If you are interested please contact Claudette Ndayininahaze at
ndayininahaze@opportunityalliance.org for more information and a chance to interview for the position.
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The Theater Project is putting on a production of Oscar Wilde's
The Picture of Dorian Gray which will run from February 8th - 18th.
Click for tickets and showtimes.
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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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