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Dear First U Friends,

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year!

Tashi Delek!

Happy Losar, the Tibetan Lunisolar New Year!

Today, in both Chinese and Tibetan culture we begin a new year; the year of the Iron Ox!

What does this mean? Well, perhaps just take a moment to envision an iron ox- what characteristics come to mind? For me, I think of durability, strength, weight, balance, stillness.

Now, take your Iron Ox vision a step further, and imagine (yes, I know it’s no longer imagination month, but just humor me) that your iron ox comes to life! What do you notice about it now?

In my imagination, an iron ox moves very slowly, but methodically with great determination. It will take a lot to pull that ox in a direction he doesn’t want to go. I think some us of might feel that an iron ox would be scary - and sure, I’m not sure I would want to run into one while I’m out walking my dog in the woods - but in my mind, a vision of an iron ox carries feelings of peace, trust, and calm.

As billions of people across the world begin the year Iron Ox today, I can’t help but ask myself, what would it mean to move through this year with “peaceful determination?”

If you want to learn more about the Year of the Iron Ox - there are a vast number of resources to explore on the web. I particularly like the teachings from Lillian Pearl Bridges, a Chinese-American Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

The all overarching theme of this Iron Ox year, though, is to slow down, really think through our plans, our hopes, our actions, and get to work making it happen. A rather perfect set of directions I feel, as we heal as a nation, heal as a world, and keep on building beloved community.

Yours in peaceful determination,

Rev. Hillary

Small Groups are regularly occurring monthly or bi-monthly meetings of a small number of committed folks from our church who gather to check-in with one another, explore spiritual practices, and ponder theologically enriching questions. This year all Small Groups are meeting online and many are using monthly Soul Matters theme based materials to structure their gatherings. Our First U Small Groups are very meaningful to many people in our community and currently we have several openings in our current small groups for new members. Please email Rev. Hillary (firstuminster@gmail.com) if you are interested in joining a group or learning more about our Small Group ministry. If there is enough interest, it is possible new Small Groups could also be organized at this time.

To join the Zoom meeting, click here and enter password: YUM

To join via phone, dial: 1-646-558-8656

enter the meeting ID: 917 0538 2202 and pass code: 075311

At First Universalist, there is a tradition to celebrate Pi Day (3/14) with an embrace of science, math, and delicious pies. In an effort to keep that tradition alive, we're planning a pandemic style mini pie exchange.

That's okay! We believe that folks will make extras and you can still come pick up a mini-pie to enjoy. Trust that some days, you're the pie-maker, other days, you're the pie-eater - and both roles are vital to the pie experience.

Join Anna on Zoom where we continue our theme for this month: Beloved Community. Click for Children's Chapel and enter password: CHAPEL.

An online version of coffee hour connection and a chance to reflect on the themes that arose during the Worship Service. Click for the Social & Learning Hour and enter the password: COMMUNITY.

Our junior youth group will be on hiatus for the rest of February and most of March, but we plan to spring forward with our re-launch of project-based JYG activities and workshops. Look for more details coming soon about the exciting new offerings!

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers help to shape a child’s healthy understanding of both their own gender and the gender diversity out in the world. This workshop, co-facilitated by Rev. Hillary and Gwen, calls participants to explore their ideas and feelings about gender and the values about gender they are teaching their children or grandchildren, explicitly or implicitly. The workshop introduces cultural and biological issues at play in gender identity and gender expression. Participants will find spiritual grounding for becoming comfortable with gender topics and integrating gender into conversations with their children or grandchildren.

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting.

The Anti-Racism Working Group will, with permission of The Tri-Town Equity and Inclusion Coalition who put together the 21-Day Challenge include several of their topics and links in this and future Channels. We find their work thoughtfully curated and helpful to help understand racism and other oppressions.

This week we are defining some terms:

  - Individual Racism  

  - Structural Racism

  - Racial Justice

- There has been a lot of talk in the media, on television and by members of the Anti-Racism Working Group about being an Anti-Racist. What does this mean?  To further understand Anti-Racism please click on the following link and hear Stephen Colbert interview Ibram X. Kendi who succinctly explains Anti-Racism.

- To understand structural racism please follow the link to watch a cartoon which explains structural or institutional racism.

Please note the date change: Saturday, February 20, at 7:00 pm*

Why BRAIN HEALTH? With all the big news in the world these days, where do we start if we want to help? I suggest the following three TED talks. Check out Wendy Suzuki's epiphany, Elizabeth Amini's offer, and Daniel Amen's insights. Like me, you may find hope here regarding all sorts of topics--from school shootings and domestic violence to crazy politicians and the way we've been caring for our planet. The good news starts with the fact that we each have a brain. Let's put them together and have a conversation?

You are warmly invited to join us at the next virtual 3D event. Watch our selected 3 films (14 min. each) anytime before the Zoom discussion at 7:00 pm on Sat., February 20. Please sign up by emailing Mariana at catalpa.girl@gmail.com so we can send you the Zoom link. See you for a fascinating discussion soon after Valentine's Day!

“Our imaging work... taught us that mild traumatic brain injury was a major cause of psychiatric illness that ruin peoples’ lives, and virtually no one knew about it because they would see psychiatrists for things like temper problems, anxiety, depression and insomnia, and they would never look [at a brain scan], so they would never know [it was due to a physical injury].” -- Dr. Daniel Amen

*Why the date change? So you have the opportunity to attend the New Day Rising National Conference! (see below)

Is your congregation ready to take a new step in changing white supremacy culture? Want to learn what your fellow congregations are working on, and how you might apply it at home? Join a continent of UUs as we explore next steps in creating Beloved UU Communities.

Watch compelling video TED-talk style testimonials from selected congregations around the continent sharing their learnings, hopes and next steps in their quest for racial equity in their congregations

Worship - Workshops - Caucusing (with plenty of breaks!)

Register now! Please note that the cost is a sliding scale fee of your choosing, but because we plan to send a congregational team of three or more, you may opt to pay the lowest fee ($20), unless you want to opt to sponsor others to attend this conference. Need assistance paying the registration fee? Please confidentially contact Rev. Hillary at firstuminister@gmail.com.

This week’s offering is shared with Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (MPAC). MPAC’s purpose is to reduce Maine's use of incarceration by creating a criminal justice system that is ethical, humane, and restorative in nature. The coalition includes, In addition to offenders and their families and friends, organizational colleagues - groups well known for their powerful commitment and continued struggle for human rights such as NAACP, ACLU, Maine Council of Churches, and individuals dedicated to social justice and humane treatment of all people.

Please offer your gift by clicking the "Make Your Offering" button below (to contribute via GiveButter), dropping a check or cash in the mail, or sending via your bank's bill pay feature.

How can we approach the end of our life with a healthy and open attitude We can take action now to organize our documents, making sure our legal, financial, and medical affairs are in order. We can create a blueprint of our wishes for others to follow so that even in an emergency they will know what we want. And we can prepare ourselves for leaving our body by resolving and/or deepening relationships; reducing the amount of "stuff" that we carry with us, both physical and emotional; and sharing the wisdom and knowledge we have gained so that we know our purpose in life has been reached.

Join Johanna Munson, end-of-life navigator and death doula, for free discussions about end of life issues on Zoom on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 2 - 3 pm, EST (next sessions: February 25th, March 11th, March 25th). Email Johanna to receive the Zoom link to attend: johanna@johannamunson.com.

This three week online training (Saturdays 3 pm-5 pm March 13th, 20th, and 27th) is for parents, especially parents of trans youth, hoping to build their knowledge on trans inclusive sex education, intimate partner violence awareness/prevention, and trans youth. The facilitators will be covering topics such as relationship building with trans youth, being trauma informed with young trans survivors, and answering the question "What if I mess up?" 30 slots are available for participation. Click here for more information and registration.

Freeze Out is a 17-year-long tradition in Freeport that supports the Carol Kaplan Fuel Fund. This fund provides emergency heating assistance to families in Freeport and Pownal because everyone deserves a warm, safe home. Freeze Out will look a little different this year, but it will always be about Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Community members are forming teams of 1 to 3 people to spend a safe, socially distanced hour outside of FCS to raise money for emergency heating assistance. Click here to learn more, register, or donate to the fund