CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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Building A Welcoming Community for Immigrant Neighbors
with Claudette Ndayininahaze and Carla Hunt
February 24, 2019 at 10:30 am
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WHY ARE WE HERE?
What does it mean to be a spiritual seeker; WHY are we here? To nurture courage and hope for life’s journey for children, youth and adults. We offer spiritual pathways that we may live, work and play as bold impassioned UUs ready to take faithful risks as life unfolds.
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fact: This year’s budget is $210,000. We anticipate needing $225,000 next year to continue our programs and staffing even as we experience the opportunities and challenges of ministerial transition. Your commitment matters!
reflection: The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose. — Heda Bejar
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Program Schedule: February 24, 2019
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
CONTINUING! 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
STARTING THIS SUNDAY! 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. 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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THE PARENT GUIDE TO OUR WHOLE LIVES
This
session-by-session companion guide for Our Whole Lives walks parents through the tough questions children often ask about sexuality including information on puberty, body image, relationships, and gender identity. Useful for all who care for children, 0-12 years old.
Now for sale at First Universalist for $15! Available for preview, as well. Checks or cash can be given to the church office. Contact Gwen Matthews at
gwenatfirstu@gmail.com for more info.
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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 influence 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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YOUR SEARCH PROCESS QUESTIONS, ANSWERED!
Sunday, March 17, during coffee hour
Curious about what goes into selecting our next called minister? Please join us on Sunday, March 17 (Pi/e Sunday) to meet Rev. Margaret Beckman, our UUA-appointed Transition Coach. Rev. Beckman will be in the pulpit that day and will also lead a Q&A session during coffee hour. Members, friends and newcomers are all welcome! Afterwards, she will meet with Rev. Frieda and the Board to kick off the search process.
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FROM THE INTERIM MINISTER:
WHY HEALING CIRCLES?
It has been asked, "What are the healing circles for?" In general, they are for anyone who wants to voice and clarify emotions such as anger, disappointment, fear, and sadness related to their past experiences at First Universalist. The church members are coming out of a period of conflict, division, and confusion and are now endeavoring to make sense of what they've been through in order to be ready to fully embrace a new settled ministry. These are folks who stayed through difficult times and persevered when others left. In order to go forward joyfully and openly they have needed and continue to need a forum to express and share what has happened in the past 11 years. You might imagine that this congregation is mired in these issues, but rather they have courageously opened up and taken responsibility to fix problems going forward. In the process they are naming the ways in which this church can rebuild trust and transparency. This is what this transition time is for and it WILL create a much better, freer start for the minister coming next. Stay tuned for further healing circles and timeline activities. We welcome input from all. - Rev. Frieda Gillespie
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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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CIRCLE SUPPERS
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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THE 95 MAIN (PARSONAGE) PROJECT
FAQs and an overview are now available regarding the 95 Main Project. With close to 50 people responding that they are able to help welcome New Mainers to Yarmouth, an ad hoc group is meeting weekly implementing the plan of action with the goal of occupancy by April 1.
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FOUR QUESTIONS FROM THE FAITH-IN-ACTION COUNCIL
The Faith in Action Council knows that the members and friends of this congregation are deeply engaged in and committed to the work of social justice, both through our church’s projects and through individual activities in the wider community—but we’d like to know just where that work has taken you!
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Please complete the survey online,
or on paper at church and leave your response in the basket or the church office, about the social justice work you may have been or are now engaged in, wherever and of whatever kind, and what further ways you might envision for us as a congregation to put our faith into action. We look forward to hearing from you!
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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 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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READ ACROSS YARMOUTH, March 1
The students and staff at Harrison Middle School are looking for guest readers on Friday, March 1 for Read Across Yarmouth! Our goal is to create a learning experience for our students that demonstrates how reading impacts our school community and all aspects of our lives. Anyone with a Yarmouth connection can bring in a favorite poem or book to share for 10-15 minutes with a classroom. If you’re interested in joining, please contact Molly Kilpatrick at
molly_kilpatrick@yarmouthschools.org.
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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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