CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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The Maine Farm Supper is TOMORROW!
Come for dinner and bring a group of friends with you! It’s a cozy place to be in this arctic weather. Help get the word out: go to our
Facebook page and share the poster with your friends and family!
We are so sorry to say we will not be able to sell beer and wine. BYOB or stop in at Rosemont across the street before coming to dinner. We will provide wine glasses and openers!
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The Soul of Money
with Rev. Frieda Gillespie
February 10, 2019 at 10:30 am
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Volunteers needed for our February 24 service, “Building a welcoming community for immigrant neighbors,” Claudette Ndayininahaze and Carla Hunt will look at our growing local connections to the New Mainer community. If you have personally mentored, hosted, or worked with New Mainers, please invite them to join us for the service and coffee hour. We are also looking for volunteers willing to transport guests to and from Portland. Contact Nancy Austin at
naustin@gmail.com if you if you are inviting someone or are willing to transport guests.
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SUPER GIVING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Our Annual Campaign has come to your mailbox, inviting you to
participate financially in First Universalist’s next church year, which begins July 1. Your commitment defines our capacity to serve your needs and to do good in our community and the world. You will be hearing more in the coming weeks and into March.
Please bring your completed commitment card to church this Sunday where it will be joyfully received.
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fact: Our perennial contributors have already committed $27,000. Consider becoming a perennial!
reflection: The practice of true generosity is an exchange in which both giver and receiver are enriched.— Judy Lief
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Program Schedule: February 10, 2019
9:30 am
Newcomer Welcome (Gathering Room)
10:15 am
Junior Youth Group (Common Room)
10:30 am
Children's Chapel (begin in Sanctuary)
10:30 am
Nursery Care (the Nursery)
4:00 pm
Senior Youth Group (Gathering Room)
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CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
NEW! During our 10:30 am Children's Chapel time, most Sundays will now feature two program offerings for children (kindergarten - fourth grade) in a pick-your-own-adventure style. For kids who are interested in a relaxed experience, the
Blue Group will try out meditation, do yoga, read books, make crafts, and engage in acts of service. For kids who are feeling like more movement-based activities, the
Green Group will play games, do hands-on projects, spend more time outside, and engage in acts of service. Come check it out and choose your own path each Sunday!
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YOUTH PROGRAMS
COMING SOON! Our junior youth group (5th - 7th graders) will begin the
Our Whole Lives program, a human sexuality and relationships curriculum, on Sundays from 10:15 - 11:30 am. This is a secular program and ALL 5th - 7th graders are welcome to attend. This OWL session will start on Sunday, February 24 and run for seven weeks through Sunday, April 7.
Parent Meetings
are being held this week. Please contact Gwen at
gwenatfirstu@gmail.com for more information.
Senior youth group
meets on Sundays from 4—5:30 pm. All high schoolers are welcome and encouraged to join us as we develop our belief statements and plan/prepare for our coming mission trip.
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FAMILY PROGRAMS
NEW! The
Let’s Talk About series continues on
Sunday, March 24, 3:30—5:00 pm with Let’s Talk About Sex, a primer for parents, grandparents, and all who care for children ages 0-9, with Jennifer Wiessner, LCSW, CST ("Raising Sexually Healthy Children" workshop coordinator). This series is free and open to the public.
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NEWCOMER WELCOME
Sunday, February 10th, 9:30 am
Please join us for coffee and muffins and a quick orientation to First Universalist in the Gathering Room (before worship).Children are very welcome! FMI, contact Sarah Witte at
sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com.
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INTERIM MINISTRY & TRANSITION: TIMELINE CREATED
The Transition team held a workshop on Jan. 9 which created a timeline of our First U story. The event was a wonderful chance to share and remind each other of accomplishments and losses over the years. The timeline is currently posted in the Gathering room for all to see. We hope everyone will find the time to look it over. All are invited to add events and feelings while it is up for the rest of this church year. And if you see something posted that you would like to expand, please feel free to do that. You will find post-its and markers nearby for your use.
The conversation at the end of the workshop was really hopeful and inspiring. All the talk about the past got us thinking about the future. Many ideas and suggestions were floated. There seemed to be a consensus to work toward a covenantal, more transparent community. If you have thoughts about this, we hope you will share them with a Board member or someone on the Transition team.
Board Members: Joanna Landsman, Lily O'Brien, Marge Titcomb, Sarah Witte, Joe Dreher, Jennifer Civiello, Annie Cook, and Meghan Nathanson
Transition Team: Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Nancy Austin, Sue Ellen Bordwell, Karen Carlisle, Nancy Read, and Steve Thomas
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CIRCLE SUPPERS
Saturday, February 16th & Friday, March 29th
We are rolling with monthly circle suppers! Why? Because it's great to get to know each other, new and longtime friends. Here's what you do: (1.) Check out the suppers offered - more info is in the Gathering Room at church. (2.) Sign up for one. (3.) Get a call or email from the host to set up the potluck supper. (4.) Show up with your food. (5.) Eat, laugh, and be happy. (6.) Know a few more people at church!
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MUSIC ON MAIN CONCERT SERIES FEATURING OLD ELEVEN
Friday, March 8th at 7:00 pm
Music on Main Concert Series exists to bring world-class music to our small-town community, welcome new and old faces into First U's beautifully renovated space, and bring in funds to support the projects and programs of First U. This month, join us for a night of traditional bluegrass music with Old Eleven. You might recognize many of the musicians if you've been to Gather for Bluegrass Brunch on Sunday mornings or taken an acoustic music lesson at 317 Main Community Music Center. Tickets by cash or check are $15 per adult, $12 for seniors and $10 for youth. Funds received from tickets are split between the musicians and our church. See Lily O'Brien after church to reserve your ticket!
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YOGA CLASSES
This Saturday, February 9 is the last class of the winter Yoga session at the Church from 10:00 - 11:15 AM. This is a multi-level yoga class. You can modify or stop at any time. Newcomers welcome. Classes downstairs in the Common Room (library). Ten dollars donation suggested per class. Any questions contact the instructor, Lois Howlett, at
loishowlett2@gmail.com
or tel. 207-847-3055.
Watch this space for the announcement of the resumption of yoga classes.
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HELP NEEDED AT PREBLE STREET
We are short of filling our commitment to send volunteers to
Preble Street Soup Kitchen
to help serve dinner on the first Tuesday of every month. Please sign up in the Gathering Room for February 5 and March 5 from 3:30 to 6:30. Or contact Phyllis Chinlund at
pchinlund@gmail.com
. Many thanks from Faith in Action Council
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COMMUNITY ACTION MEETING, February 9 at 10 AM
Co-sponsored by the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition and the UU Church of Brunswick, held at 1 Middle Street in Brunswick. The public is invited to this bimonthly meeting to engage the community around issues of ethical, positive, and human changes to the state's prison. For more information, visit
maineprisoneradvocacy.org.
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CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, February 16, 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Creatures Great and Small: Celebrating Our Love for Animals is a fundraiser to support HART adoption center and shelter for cats. Featuring live storytelling by Cathy Furness and acoustic folk music by Carolyn Currie. Refreshments provided. Tickets: $10/adults, $5 children (ages 9-17, event is for ages 9+). At First Universalist Church in Yarmouth. Tickets available at
www.hartofme.org or at the door.
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IMMIGRANT LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT, March 22
ILAP is proud to present their spring fundraiser,
CeleSoirée 2019
, a musical performance by Palaver Strings at Ocean Gateway in Portland. Tickets may be purchased at
https://ilapmaine.ejoinme.org/celesoiree2019
.
CeleSoirée
supports ILAP’s direct legal services, educational outreach, and advocacy throughout Maine.
100% of funds raised from this event are put to work providing legal guidance and representation to our immigrant neighbors and their families.
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NNED SPRING ASSEMBLY, April 5-6
With Nurturing Connections as our underlying theme, we invite you to the NNED 2019 Spring Assembly and Annual Meeting Friday evening April 5th and Saturday April 6th at the UU Church of Concord, NH. Registration opens February 1st –
contact NNED Administrator Ann-Marie.
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What do we want Unitarian Universalism to be? It is a time when we are asking big questions in our faith, and GA 2019 will be focused on digging into those questions together. It is a critical chance for congregational leaders and passionate UUs to set new goals and aspirations for our religious community.
General Assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates. The 2019 General Assembly will be June 19-23 in Spokane, Washington.
Learn more at
www.uua.org/ga
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WEATHER CANCELLATION INFORMATION
First Universalist services and event cancellations are announced on WSCH Channel 6, WMTW Channel 8, and WGME Channel 13, as well as on Facebook.
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Pastoral Emergencies
If you have a pastoral emergency, you can contact Rev. Frieda Gillespie on her cell phone at 508-207-7566. Please note that most weeks she will be in Yarmouth Sunday - Tuesday and working from her home office in MA Wednesday - Friday. Saturdays are typically her day off, but she will answer calls for pastoral emergencies.
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Submit Your Announcement
To have your church or community event included in this newsletter or in print on Sundays please 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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