We Commit Ourselves and Our Resources to 
Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community, and Help Heal the World.

March 24, 2018
10:00 am

Co-Creation
Reverend Christina Sillari
Upcoming Worship Services
March 31 | 10am
Come Home
Matthew Francis
April 7 | 10am
Spiritual Journey
Rev. Christina Sillari
April 14 | 10am
Pilgrimage
Rev. Christina Sillari
RE Announcements

Children will be sung out
to RE Classes on 3/24/19.
Childcare for babies and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Nursery (upstairs in the Parish House).

FMI about RE at First Parish, please contact, Toben Cooney-Callnan, Director of Religious Exploration, at dre@firstparishportland.org.
BE THE CHANGE!

Please turn in your pledge card ASAP
(even if you are unable to pledge)

March 31 st is the Annual Stewardship Brunch
following the service in the Parish Hall.
Everyone is welcome! Come join us for the celebration.

If you did not receive a pledge packet,
please visit the Stewardship table during Coffee Hour,
or contact Greg Dorsey at soulrnrg@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone who has already PLEDGED!
The Stewardship Committee
Family Matters Class Series

Class 2: The Development of Emotions and Self-Awareness
March 23 rd | 10:30-12:00 | Community Room

Class 3: Maintaining Strong Relationships
while Handling Conflicts with Relationship Repair
April 6 th   | 10:30-12:00 | Community Room

Explore the nature of safe and nurturing relationships that facilitate curiosity, comfort, and joy among all family members. Future classes will explore: discipline, couple relationships and the role and importance of grandparents. (Click the link below to READ MORE about each class). Taught by new First Parish Member Dan Hughes. Free to members; first class is $10 for non-members. Contact Dan for registration and class details: dhughes202@gmail.com or 717-673-6119. 
Bystander Intervention
in Public Racist Behavior
March 24 th
Lunch |11:30-12:30pm | Community Room
Workshop | 12:30- 3:30pm | Parish Hall

The Racial Justice Team will sponsor a team from Prevention. Action. Change to conduct a highly interactive training in the skills to safely and effectively intervene in identity-based harassment. Participation is limited to 30. Lunch provided. Register by email: marcymakinen@yahoo.com .
"Lock Them Up” Worship Service
Sunday, March 24 th
Worship Service: 9:15am and 11am
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition presentation: 12:30-1:30pm
UU Community Church of Augusta
69 Winthrop St, Augusta

We live in a society where “lock them up” is the reflexive response to those who challenge or threaten us— a society where people chanting “Lock Her Up” seems natural. This service will weave together professional, prisoner and ministerial perspectives on incarceration. With Jim Boyle, retired prison social worker; Peter Lehman, formerly incarcerated UU; Rev. Carie Johnsen, minister and mother of an incarcerated son. Bring a brown bag lunch. We will provide coffee, tea, and something sweet.
2019 Faith-Based Advocacy Days
Building peace with justice, guiding justice with love
March 25-26 | Augusta

Join leading policy analysts and theologians who will inspire and equip you to speak confidently and with conviction to legislators about key issues facing our state. Featuring keynote speaker, The Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian “Speaking the Truth, Even If Your Voice Shakes”.

Includes four “Policy, Theology & Advocacy” workshops:
  • Hunger and Poverty
  • Immigration and Racism
  • Health Care and the Opioid Crisis
  • Climate Justice

And a panel presentation: Moving Beyond the Savior Complex-- Grounding our advocacy in the reality of those with whom we seek to stand. A discussion of why advocates need to be aware of the privilege we often hold, and why our advocacy work must be guided by the voices of those directly affected by the systems and policies we seek to create or repair.

Cost: $25 Register at: www.mainecouncilofchurches.org 
Breathing and Meditation Class

Wednesdays | 5:30-6:30pm
in the K-1 Classroom
 (upstairs in Parish House)


Taught by Rev. Christina. Members: Free; Non-Members: $10.
NEW DATE:
Thinking of becoming a Member?
New to UU Class
March 31 st  | 12:30– 2pm | Youth Room (upstairs)

Join Rev. Christina as we explore the history and theology of Unitarian Universalism, its liberal faith tradition, and First Parish. This is an opportunity to meet other newcomers, ask questions, and explore your own religious journey. Please register if you are considering becoming a Member of First Parish: membership@firstparishportland.or g . Please join us for the Stewardship Brunch before this class.
Nominations
for 2019-20
due before May 5 th

Every month a different nonprofit organization receives the proceeds of a special Share-the-Plate collection taken at First Parish's Sunday service. This is your opportunity to nominate an organization to be considered for this one-time contribution. The Faith in Action Committee will be selecting these share-the-plate organizations for the 2019-20 church year in late May. Please note that FIA will make the final selections and that state or local organizations will be given preference over national organizations. You are invited to attend the FIA meeting at which selections are made. Simply complete the form and return it to the BOX in the Parish Hall or email it to Marianne Hill, hillmarros@aol.com ,  no later than May 5. Thank you!
New!
SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER
at First Parish!

Check out and SIGN UP for a wide variety of volunteer opportunities --Community Dinner, Ushers, Sunday Drivers, Flowers, Tours, etc.-- at our new SignUp Genius site! Or link to the Volunteer Sign Up via the Volunteer Page on the FP website. Membership Coorinator, Dee Pecoraro, will be on hand during coffee hour to help orient anyone interested to this new platform.
Do you love the
Stone Soup Newsletter?

We are looking for a volunteer or two to take ownership for First Parish's Stone Soup Newsletter , currently published twice a year. Please contact Sheila in the Office for more information: office@firstparishportland.org
A2U2 Blood Drive
March 30th | 10-4pm
at Allen Avenue UU

Please join us for this important blood drive at A2U2! Free long sleeve shirt for donors. Sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org under A2U2 or contact Jamie Eller to sign up: jaimeeller@yahoo.com .
NNED Spring Assembly:
Nurturing Congregational Connections!
April 5 th & 6 th | UU Church of Concord, NH

With Nurturing Connections as our underlying theme, we invite you to the Northern New England District's 2019 Spring Assembly and Annual Meeting. Come meet your New England Region staffers and gather samples of the harvested wisdom, practices, and learning materials available to you for growing healthy and vibrant UUism in our home churches. You’ll meet leaders from other congregations and discover how together we plan to forge supportive relationships.  Click here for Our Spring Assembly offerings.
Email Rev. Christina if you are interested in attending/carpooling: minister@firstparishportland.org.
Blankets, Gloves & Socks Collection

Faith in Action is collecting clean blankets, gloves and socks for the homeless. Please place your donations in the box in the Parish Hall, near the coat rack.  
Trauma Intervention Program-
Volunteers Needed
Spring Training Program | 8 classes between April 25- May 4

Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) is looking for caring people to join our team! We are layperson volunteers trained to provide emotional & practical support to survivors and their families of traumatic events i.e. sudden unexpected deaths, accidents, etc. We are called by Greater Portland Police, Fire, Rescue teams as well as by Maine Medical Center personnel. For more information, Leslie Skillin 661-6478. 
Monthly Bulletin Announcement

Our Sunday Bulletin is now being printed once a month, reducing paper waste & saving valuable time in the Office. 

Here's how it works: al l announcements for the upcoming month are due by noon on the last Wednesday of the month.  For example, all announcements for the April Bulletin should be emailed to Sheila by noon on March 27th. 

In cases where events arise after the monthly bulletin has been printed, leaders are invited to create an insert for the Order of Service. You are welcome to make copies here at First Parish, and then stuff your insert into the OOS.  
The eNews will still be emailed every Friday!
Library Update

The Library Committee invites you to visit the library in the nook area of the Parish Hall. Checkout is self-serve with books due in 1 month. Our catalogue of books can now be seen online on the Members page of the First Parish website. Select this link to check it out
Office Notes

Be sure to ask for a Bulletin when you pick up your Order of Service on Sunday, so you don't miss out on any First Parish news or events!

Large Print Orders of Service are now available every Sunday! Ask a Greeter, or look for them at both entrances to the from the Meeting House.
425 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101   207-773-5747  

 Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community 
and Help Heal the World