CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
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MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
SELECTION PROCESS: THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 28
As previously announced, we’re just about ready to select our Ministerial Search Committee! Members of the Board and the Leadership Development Committee will be reaching out to active members and friends to ask a series of questions aimed at identifying strong candidates.
You can participate in 1 of 3 ways:
1.
On Sunday, April 28,
right after the service, we will be available to meet with you
in person on a one-on-one basis
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2.
Also
on Sunday, April 28,
we will
call you between the hours of 3 and 5 pm
unless we already met with you. Please be prepared to answer a call coming from an unknown number during that time.
3.
If you know you won’t be available at all on April 28
, please email or call Joanna Landsman (
jslandsman@gmail.com
or 730- 3299) to make arrangements to speak before April 28, but not after.
Here are the questions for you to ponder in advance:
- What are the good qualities needed for someone to serve on a Ministerial Search Committee?
- Who in the congregation works well with others? Can you give me some examples of that collaboration?
- Who can represent and serve the whole congregation well (including looking out for the needs of children) and not just a piece or “faction” of the congregation?
- Who knows the history and culture of the congregation, whether a member of long standing or relatively new?
- Who has been and/or is active in the congregation and has demonstrated both responsible participation and responsible leadership?
- After a high salary, the most attractive quality a congregation can have is self-awareness – awareness of strengths and weaknesses, what the congregation is like at its best and at its worst, as well as on an average day. Who would be able to know and relate all this to potential candidates?
- Finally, after thinking about all of these questions, who would you trust to serve on the Search Committee on behalf of the congregation? You can list more than one person.
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THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF FIRST U
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Vol.23 of
The Financial Times
, Blooms and Blossoms
, was dropped unexpectedly today - a week earlier than predicted by critics and fans - to much fanfare (please note similarities to Beyonce's latest album). Unlike "Homecoming" or "Lemonade," however,
The Financial Times of First U
will not be streaming on Spotify or Apple Music.
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The Creative Seed
with Larissa Davis
Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 10:30 am
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10:15 am—
Junior Youth Group will meet for one of their remaining groups this church year (April 28, May 19, and June 2) to plan our contribution to our Children and Youth Sunday, to make kind and encouraging notes for one another, and to connect and play a game.
10:30 am—
Children's Chapel begins in the Sanctuary and then children are 'sung out.' This Sunday, our worship theme of Emergence can also be one where we tell the people we love – our family, our friends – truths about ourselves. One of those truths, for some people, is being transgender or non-binary. We'll read the story
I Am Jazz and learn about Chimera butterflies.
11:30 am—
12:30 pm & 3:00—5:00 pm—
Ministerial Search Committee Formation Process will be taking place. You can meet one-on-one during Coffee Hour with members of the Board or Leadership Development Team or you will receive a call in the afternoon to get your input.
4:00 pm—Senior Youth Group will be our last opportunity to prepare for our belief statements on May 5!
We will be meeting in the Sanctuary to practice.
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EARTH DAY CARNIVAL
Sunday, May 5, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Our Earth Day Carnival returns for its second year! Featuring planting, activity stations, games, popcorn, and prizes—and it’s all free and open to the public!
Visit all of the stations and go home with a prize:
- Bumble Bee Bean Bag Toss
- Trash, Recycle, or Compost Game
- Fairy House Building
- Seed Matching Game
- Clay Boats & Water Conservation
- Nature Face Painting
- Seed Planting
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OUR WHOLE LIVES FACILITATORS WANTED
Are you interested in being trained to become an
Our Whole Lives facilitator? The church has funding available (
thanks to our amazingly successful Call to the Heart) and we would love to expand and be able to offer more sessions of OWL for all age groups.
What we need from you:
* A commitment to teaching a minimum of two OWL class cycles
All OWL facilitators must:
* Be 25 years old or older
* Have been attending First U as a friend or member for 6+ months
* Be comfortable discussing sex and sexuality
* Consent to a background check if working with children/youth
What you get back:
* An incredibly fulfilling volunteer experience
* An opportunity to positively influence children, youth, or other adults and promote justice, inclusivity, consent, and healthy relationships
* Cross-generational connections
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ADULT PROGRAMS
We will be starting a series of conversations about Unitarian Universalism, starting with the Seven Principles, facilitated by Rev. Frieda. These
UU Conversations will take on the first and third Mondays of each month from 6—7 pm. How do we live into our principles?
May 6
—"Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"
May 20
—"A free and responsible search for truth and meaning"
June 3
—"The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large"
June 17
—"The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all."
July 1
—"Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."
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MUSIC ON MAIN CONCERT SERIES: OKBARI
May 10th at 7pm
Join us in the sanctuary for a night of Middle Eastern music with Portland-based Okbari Middle Eastern Ensemble. This group presents music from the richly varied contemporary and historic cultural traditions of the Middle East including Arabic classical and folk music, Ottoman Turkish Classical compositions, rural Turkish folk and devotional songs, and dance music from the Armenian and Turkish immigrant diasporas.
Music on Main exists to bring world-class music to our small-town community, welcome new and old faces into First U's beautifully renovated space, bring in funds to support the projects and programs of First U, and support a diverse group of talented musicians. Tickets by cash or check at the door. $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for youth. Funds received from tickets are split between the musicians and the church.
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SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
Interested in delving more deeply into being a member of our beloved community and "finding the access point to spiritual awareness (Thandeka, 2018)"? If yes, consider joining in small group ministry. Small groups are great places to get to know other people and to get to know yourself. Over time, participants build deep connections with one another, with the congregation and with the sacred.
A small group is seeking new members. This group meets the first Monday of the month, from 1 pm—3 pm. The group has used the UUA publications
Hand to Hand and
Soul to Soul to guide our meetings and discussions. June begins a new series of discussions for us. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Frieda at 207.846.4148.
Interested in a small group but not free on Monday afternoons? Contact Rev. Frieda or the church office to see if we can connect you with an existing or new small group.
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YOGA IN THE SANCTUARY
Spring Yoga classes continue on Saturdays in the church Sanctuary 10:00 - 11:15 AM. This is a multi-level yoga class. You can modify or stop at any time. Newcomers welcome. Ten dollars donation suggested per class. Half the funds go to a charity agreed with the class and half to the church.
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95 MAIN UPDATE
95 Main is now at full occupancy with four tenants moved in! All tenants are New Mainers (immigrants, refugees, or asylum-seekers). Please stay tuned to learn about how to continue to aid our new tenants and thank you to all who have supported and continue to support the 95 Main Project.
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OUR HALF-PLATE
First Universalist donates half of its collection plate directly to organizations and missions that live and promote our shared values. This week's half-plate will be shared with
Cultivating Community
's youth program.
This week's half-plate combines our congregation’s commitment to the New Mainer community with Earth Day, youth and the environment. Cultivating Community supports and manages urban growing spaces, enabling community members to grow their own food within city limits. It empowers New Americans by teaching them sustainable farming practices and connecting them to the community through their food hub. Cultivating Community also invests in youth by offering opportunities for food education, community engagement, and leadership development.
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MAINE-WABANAKI REACH
In response to requests, Maine-Wabanaki REACH, an organization that envisions and prepares for a future where Maine and Wabanaki people join together acknowledging truth, promoting healing, and creating change, is holding a number of educational workshops and presentations including events on April 27th in Sanford, May 11th in Belfast, May 19th in Freeport, and May 30th in Orono.
Visit their website to learn more and to RSVP to events.
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STAR ISLAND, NH: UU PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES
Star Island, off the coast of Portsmouth, NH, offers all-inclusive Unitarian Universalist programs for families that focus on a particular theme or topic such as art, history, climate change, birding, writing, spirituality, and yoga. Star Island is also open to the public from mid-June through September.
Visit their website for more information.
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SILENT & LIVE AUCTION: NAUTICAL CRUISE NIGHT, May 4
The Congregational Church in Cumberland is having its 18th annual auction at the Yarmouth AMVETS Hall on Saturday, May 4, from 5-9 pm. There will be light fare, desserts, a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar, and auction items (art, handmade goods, home and garden items, gift baskets, gift certificates, recreation and leisure activities, health and fitness items) Complimentary tickets available for First U members and friends!
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MULTICULTURAL FAIR, May 5
Celebrate and support New Mainer entrepreneurs with artisans and chefs from around the world, including foods from Syria, Italy, Latin America, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, and the Middle East, and artisans with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, baskets, wood burning art, scarves, bags, clothing, and other artwork. This multicultural fair takes place on Sunday, May 5, 3 - 6 pm, at St. Mary's Church, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth.
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MULTICULTURAL MUSIC FEST, May 14
Furniture Friends is holding their Multicultural Music Fest on Tuesday, May 14, from 6-9 pm at the Portland House of Music. This celebration of Maine's eclectic musical heritage includes performances by Primo Cubano (traditional Cuban dance music), Jean Paul Samputu (songwriter and musician from Rwanda), and Geraud Ng and Jake Hoffman (performing Americana-International fusion).
Tickets are $20 in advance online and $25 at the door. Complimentary international snacks included.
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CALL OF THE WILD, May 17
Join the Center for Wildlife for an inspiring evening dedicated to raising funds for the future of our environment. At Call of the Wild, you will immerse yourself in the lifesaving work you make possible. You can bid on extravagant silent and live auction items, meet animal ambassadors and immerse yourself in a panel discussion with Center for Wildlife experts Kristen Lamb, Sarah Kern and Shelley Spanswick. A barbeque style dinner will be served with vegan, vegetarians and gluten-free options.
Purchase your seats now through May 1, 2019, to receive the Early Bird ticket pricing of $55 per person.
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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 Matthews, Program Assistant, 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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