CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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PI(E) SUNDAY - AND MORE!
Come to church this Sunday to participate in these special events:
- A Whole-Church Selfie for those who enjoy dressing snazzy or photography, we’ll be taking a congregational photo right after worship.
- Pi & Pie enjoy First U’s annual celebration of faithful old pi (3.1415…) and our feast of sweet and savory pies during coffee hour. Please bring a pie to share - and enjoy!
- A Quick, Fun Survey on what your gifts and interests are, so we can see how you and First U might explore—embrace—engage. Please take a few minutes (between slices of pie) to fill it out. Email copies are available, too.
- Your Search Process Questions, Answered! Curious about what goes into selecting our next called minister? Rev. Margaret Beckman, our UUA-appointed Transition Coach, will be in the pulpit today and will lead a Q&A session during coffee hour. Afterwards, she will meet with Rev. Frieda and the Board to kick off the search process.
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The Peace of Wild Things
with Rev. Margaret Beckman
Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 10:30 am
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ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FOLLOW-UP: WILL YOU LIVE OUR MISSION?
We are a self-funded community – it is up to each of us to contribute as we can so that we can continue to provide the programs you value: worship, religious education for all ages, social justice, connections and care. Oh, and to keep our building in reasonably good repair. To those who have made a commitment, thank you! To those still pondering, we invite you to join in the joy of participating in the ongoing pursuit of our mission:
Explore, Embrace, Engage.
fact: We await commitments from about 15 families as we seek to raise the last $15,000. The good news is that we are at 90% of our goal, with $107,000 from 54 families, including 20 new ‘perennials’.
reflection:
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. - Dakota Proverb
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PROGRAM SCHEDULE: MARCH 17
10:15 am
Junior Youth Group (Common Room)
10:30 am
Children's Chapel (begin in Sanctuary)
10:30 am
Nursery Care (the Nursery)
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CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
We are blessed with a number of babies and young children at First Universalist. One of the most beautiful ceremonies in the UU faith is the
Child Dedication. It includes a naming
ceremony and words from the parents about what they want for the child's future. A charge to the parents and
godparents if there are any present, and a blessing of the child. The congregation is asked to affirm their support for their spiritual development as well.
Child Dedications will take place on May 5th.
If you would like to participate, please contact
Rev. Frieda Gillespie or
Gwen Matthews
by
Sunday, April 14, and let us know the name(s) of your child(ren) and if you will have grandparents or godparents participating. We also ask for you to prepare to read or have read the significance of your child(ren)’s name(s) and any wishes you have for their future.
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FAMILY PROGRAMS
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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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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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?
April 1
—"The inherent worth and dignity of every person”
April 15
—"Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations”
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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HEART IN HAND GALA
DINNER - LIVE AUCTION - CALL TO THE HEART
Saturday, April 6, 2019, 6-9 PM
We invite anyone who is able to donate an
extra
$75 to church - you’ll be thanked with a delicious
Dinner
on April 6 as only our best gourmet UU chefs can offer complete with selected wines and other beverages. The options include vegan and gluten-free.
You’ll enjoy the
Live Auction
of a handful of spring/summer dinners & parties offered by our terrific chefs and hosts. And, we’ll finish up with our
Call to the Heart
– your opportunity to exercise your arms!
Limited seating – by reservation by March 24
. Sign up in the Gathering Room or contact Jen Civiello at 207-232-2571 or Marge Titcomb 207-846-4765.
Heart in Hand Gala is for adults, but, by reservation, we offer childcare at the church for your young ones.
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MUSIC ON MAIN: Fódhla
Friday, April 12, 2019, 6 pm
Join us for a night of Irish music now featuring a coffeehouse feel in the lower-level Gathering Room. Featuring, Fódhla, a local Irish trio made up of Maine-based flute player Nicole Rabatam Boston-based fiddler Ellery Klein, and Portland-based Bethany Waickman on guitar. Stop by for savory finger food and sweet desserts while you enjoy incredible live music. Tickets are $15 at the door by cash or check ($12 for seniors and $10 for youth).
Fun Fact
: Did you know the Music on Main concert series has welcomed over 250 guests from outside our congregation into our 97 Main Street home? Come welcome new friends into our community or consider inviting non-church friends along to experience the music and our warm community on April 12th!
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FOUR QUESTION SURVEY
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! We look forward to hearing from you about what social justice work you have been engaged in and what further ways you might envision for us as a congregation to put our faith into action.
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CAN YOU HELP FURNISH 95 MAIN?
We have the opportunity, as neighbors, to connect and support New Mainers - refugees, asylum-seekers, and immigrants new to our state - right here, right now, through 95 Main.
95 Main, a YCHI* project initiated by First Universalist Church, is offering housing to newly arrived immigrants as they seek a safe, secure home base. We invite you to participate in furnishing their home.
Choose an item (or two or three)
from our UPDATED lists
to donate to 95 Main.
Unless otherwise specified, items do not have to be new, but they should be in great shape. On these pages you will find items organized by room. Once you have registered your donations through sign-up, you may drop items off Saturday, March 23rd or Sunday, March 24th, from 12-5pm.
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FREE FILM SERIES: "READY FOR A CHANGE," March 10 - April 7
Congregational Church in Cumberland—282 Main Street—829-3419. Join The Social Justice and Green Teams for a series of films that will instruct, inspire, and challenge us to open our hearts and amend our thinking. Popcorn, beverages, and kid-friendly alternative films. Free and open to the public. Films are shown from 3 - 5 pm.
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CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: CHERYL WHEELER, March 16
Folk icon Cheryl Wheeler will bring her beautiful songs & hilarious stories to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick on March 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm as part of their Concerts for a Cause series. Cheryl Wheeler is a renowned and gifted songwriter with a beautiful voice. If you are not familiar with her, you have probably heard her music. Cheryl's songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Suzy Boggus, Melanie, Bette Midler, Kathy Mattea, and Holly Near.
Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, Students/Children: $10.
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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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RESPONDING TO MAINE'S OPIOID CRISIS, March 24
The Maine addiction crisis affects us all, directly or indirectly. To respond effectively, we are all called upon, in community, to become well-educated about this
subject and approach the challenge from a place of compassion. Sunday, March 24, 4-6 pm, "Paths That Created It, Paths That Heal," presentations, personal testimony, Q&A, at The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary Auditorium in Falmouth. This is a first in a series of presentations regarding Maine's opioid crisis.
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FAITH-BASED ADVOCACY DAYS, March 25-26
Prophetic voices of faith can make an impact in advocating for a culture of justice, compassion and peace here in Maine! Join leading policy analysts and theologians who will come together for this two-day event designed to inspire and equip people of faith to speak confidently and with conviction to legislators about key issues facing our state: health care and the opioid crisis, climate justice, hunger and poverty, and immigration and racism.
Register here.
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BLOOD DRIVE AT A2U2, March 30
A blood drive will be taking place on Saturday March 30th from 10am-4pm at Allen Avenue UU church in Portland. Donors get a free long sleeved t-shirt and will have their name automatically entered into a 50/50 raffle. People can sign up online at
www.redcrossblood.org under A2U2 or contact Jaime Eller, who is coordinating the blood drive, at 207-232-8705 or
jaimeeller@yahoo.com.
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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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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S GOOD FRIDAY WALK & FUN RUN, April 19
Join us for our 33rd annual Good Friday Walk and Fun Run on April 19! Walk the route or run it! This is a fun run, without bibs or timing, but is a great way to see the course.
Enjoy the route with family, friends, and community members in Cumberland, Yarmouth, and N. Yarmouth, and fundraise for Habitat's mission. Every $100 in donations raised earns one ticket in the raffle filled with great gifts from local businesses!
Sign up as a fundraiser today to register as a walker!
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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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