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All-Church Covenanting
Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 11:45 am
All members, friends, and newcomers of First U are called to participate in covenanting.
What is a covenant? A covenant is a promise that we make to each other, an understanding of how we will be together.
A covenant focuses on two questions: What do you need to fully participate in the group? What do you promise to the group?
Why covenant? A covenanted community is a healthy community, so please don't miss this very special one-time (at least for the next few years) event!
All ages are invited and welcome!
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Dear First U Members and Friends:
It is not without a sense of loss that I announce to you my resignation from the First Universalist Church of Yarmouth, and my retirement from the Unitarian Universalist Ministry, effective as of August 1, 2018.
I am proud of what we have accomplished here at First U, and look forward with great energy to the year before us. However, it has become clear to me that the profession/role of ministry is more socially isolating than my emotional temperament and physical health happily allows.
I’ve also come to believe that there are questions about the relationship between a minister and hir/her/his people that I am not equipped to ask. There is a last piece of this transformation from family to program church, from conflict to Healthy Congregation, and it is about honoring the authority, education, training and personhood of the minister no matter what hir gender, age, familial background or socio-economic background might be, and a new minister must lead you there. I have been unable to do so.
Of course, this decision on my part affects your overall ministry at First U, as you will be called to devote time and other resources to attracting the next minister who can successfully help you live out your mission in the world. Rest assured that as your Board of Trustees begins to lead you through that effort, I will be fully engaged in our current preaching, teaching, social justice and pastoral care ministries, and in supporting our creative and administrative part-time staff members in their various goals and responsibilities. We will also have this church year to celebrate our time together and grieve any losses that this change brings. You are always free to see and/or speak to me during my weekly office hours in order to process and connect.
Ministers follow a strict ethical code when it comes to taking their leave, and I will want to give this congregation plenty of room and every opportunity to move on to a new and successful shared ministry. I will not be involved in your search process, except where the UUA deems it necessary, nor will I be at all involved in your Interim year or the start-up of your next professional ministry. If we are working on a ministry together, please take time to process that no matter how much I love that ministry, and you, I will no longer be a part of it come this time next year.
Since I am retiring from the ministry, I
am looking forward to seeing you around in the years to come (as we go about our rather small-town lives) and speaking to you about everything and anything EXCEPT First U! That’s an awful lot that we can talk about as time moves on and your next Minister leads you into a powerful, mission-driven and healthy future. I will be wishing you every blessing, every step of the way.
With love,
Rev. Jennifer Emrich
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The Bravery of 'Yes'
Guest Speaker: Kai Fast
Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 10:30 am
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FAITH FORMATION &
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
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THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017
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Children's Chapel
during worship, begin in the Sanctuary
Continuing our theme of bravery, Children's Chapel uses games, activities, movement, and candles of joys and sorrows to explore our worship themes.
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Junior Youth Group
10:30 am, meet in the Common Room
Middle schoolers (5th - 8th grade) can join us on Sunday mornings during worship for snacks, games, social justice work, and faith exploration.
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Senior Youth Group
4 pm - 5:30 pm, Gathering Room
High schoolers (9th - 12th grade) can join us for fun, faith exploration, snacks, games, the Our Whole Lives program, and social justice work.
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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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A Letter from Rev. Jennifer and the Board of Trustees on RE
Parents and caregivers, please read the letter linked below.
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NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017
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Adult Conversation Circles: Soul Matters
Facilitator: Rev. Jennifer Emrich
9:30 am, Gathering Room
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UU Games
9:30 am, Common Room
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Children's Chapel
during worship, begin in the Sanctuary
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Senior Youth Group
4:00 pm, Gathering Room
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We're Hiring!
Do you know someone who loves to teach and share UU values? We're searching for two part-time religious education teachers.
Please note: While First Universalist doesn't hire from within our own congregation, we know that our members and friends often are the right source for attracting great employees.
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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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First U's Music Series
The Hanz Arkai Band:
Friday, October 13, 7:00 pm
Daymark:
Monday, October 30, 7:00 pm
Join us as we kick off our Fall Music Series with the Hanz Araki Band. Considered one of the most talented Irish musicians in America, Hanz Araki will bring his distinct sound to the First U sanctuary with band mates, Elly Marshall, Colleen Raney and Genta Fukue. Next in the series is Daymark, an international trio performing traditional Irish music infused with infectious energy, raw power, and Northern swagger. Fusing the talents of Will Woodson, Dan Foster and Eric McDonald, this is an evening that's not to be missed! Tickets: $15/adults, $10/youth or seniors, available at the door.
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Hannaford Cards to Support First U
Your purchase of a re-loadable Hannaford card makes for convenient grocery shopping/budgeting AND earns the church money. (ex: your $100 becomes a $100 gift card, and Hannaford gives the church $5!)
Learn more!
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Dinner at Gather
Thursday, October 26, beginning at 5:30 pm
This Fall, come enjoy scrumptious local food at a local restaurant with your local church friends. A portion of the night’s proceeds are given to the church.
Reserve your place at Gather.
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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 for the year here or look for it in the church's kitchen by the coffee brewing instructions.
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PEACE AND JUSTICE WORK:
FAITH IN ACTION
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Cold Weather Clothes Drive for New Mainers
items due by THIS SUNDAY, October 8, 2017
Many refugees and asylum-seekers who arrive in Maine bring almost no possessions with them, and most have never experienced the cold of a Maine winter. Please consider donating new or clean, gently used boots, jackets, gloves, hats, and scarves.
Click to view specific sizes needed.
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Preble Street Resource Center's Soup Kitchen
Tuesday, November 7, 3:30 - 6:30 pm
First Universalist is committed to sending six volunteers on the first Tuesday of every month to Preble Street's Soup Kitchen to help prepare and serve dinner. Up to 400 people are served at Preble Street where they can receive three meals per day, every day of the year. Deepen your commitment to your UU values and make new friends: sign-up to volunteer by contacting Phyllis Chinlund at
pchinlund@gmail.com.
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Promoting Gleaning in Maine -
NRCM is proud to collaborate with the Maine Gleaning Network and our Food Recovery Coalition partners to raise awareness of and celebrate food recovery solutions, like gleaning. The First Annual
Maine Gleaning Week
is book-ended by the anniversary of the Feeding the 5000 event and World Food Day (October 7-16). As part of the week’s festivities, NRCM is co-hosting a film screening of celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain’s latest film,
Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
at the Portland Public Library from 4:00-7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 16th.
Learn more about the event and reserve your seat
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Village Nursery School
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who rents space at First Universalist, is holding their Fall Festival and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 21st and would like to invite the First U community to attend. It is a fun event and also a major fundraiser for the s
chool. In addition to inviting folks, they are also currently asking for donations, including baked goods, to be offered for sale or to be part of the silent auction. Contact Ondrea Gallivan
obebout@hotmail.com
for more information.
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The
Fall Yoga Session
continues this Saturday, October 7. No class October 14. Then the class resumes the following Saturday, October 21. Classes are 10:00 - 11:15 AM at the Church. This is a multi-level class. Donation requested: $10. One-half of the funds collected go to the Church and one-half to a charity selected with the class. Contact: Lois Howlett at
loishowlett2@gmail.com
or tel: 847-3055. Newcomers welcome.
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Resources and Reads from the
New England District of the UUA
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The
UUCC Augusta Concert Series will feature bass-baritone John David Adams on Saturday, October 21 at 4:00 pm. The program titled The Heart of the Evening: American Nocturnes, also featuring Bridget Convey on piano, includes evening and night-themed works by American composers including Amy Beach, Charles Ives, John Alden Carpenter, Paul Bowles, Samuel Barber, Chris DiBlasio, and Lee Hoiby. Admission is a suggested $10 donation with proceeds shared by the musicians and UUCC Augusta.
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UU Community/UUA News
Former UUA President Rev. Dr. Robert Nelson West has passed. A 2002 profile called him an "
unsung hero of the UUA" and looked back on the controversies and successes during his tenure, including grappling with racism and the black empowerment controversy, publishing the Pentagon papers, facing a budget/debt crisis, and launching the UU World magazine.
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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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