SIGN THE BOOK
to become a member of 1st U on our
Celebrating Membership this Sunday, Feb. 2. We will have a coffee and book signing BEFORE the worship service in the Gathering Room (big space downstairs) at
10 am that day. You will then be eligible to vote on the minister we call in the spring.
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Volunteering at Preble Street Soup Kitchen
First Tuesdays | 3:30—6:30 pm | Preble Street Resource Center
Part of First Tuesdays in Action is our commitment to staffing Preble Street Soup Kitchen for their dinner service as they feed homeless and low income people who rely on Preble Street for a hot meal. Help prep and serve dinner with your fellow UUs from 3:30—6:30 pm on this coming first Tuesday of the month,
February 4. Please sign up in advance by contacting Ruth White at
rwhite7@maine.rr.com.
Even if you sign up with Preble Street directly, please also let Ruth know you're coming so she knows how many spots we still need to fill with volunteers from the church. Thank you!
Building a Garden at First U
First Tuesdays | 3:00—7:00 pm | Gathering Room
First Tuesdays in Action at First U welcomes all ages to participate in justice-making programming.
These coming months (February—June) will be dedicated to learning about and supporting our nature and our planet. This coming first Tuesday,
February 4, our acts of kindness will include making flower baskets to give to our local nursing home and beginning in March, we’ll start to plan out a new garden to grow at First U.
Questions or for more information, contact Gwen Matthews at
gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.
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FINANCIAL TIMES OF FIRST U
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BELONGING: THE MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP
Sunday, February 2, 2020, at 10:30 am
Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister
Sam Chandler, Music Director
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We celebrate! We welcome new members to First Universalist as we also celebrate the commitments of all members and friends who have offered their financial support to the church’s next fiscal year. It is a beautiful, wonderful, heart-stopping thing to celebrate each other and all our gifts on this winter’s day.
Here ends the 2020 Annual Campaign, but that doesn’t mean our work ends. We will be following up with the 30 families who have not yet offered a commitment to the next church year, as we seek to raise the last $40,000. The good news is that we are at 68% of our goal with $85,000 from 38 families, including 20 ‘perennials’.
"There are moments when the heart is generous, and then it knows that for better or worse our lives are woven together here, one with one another and with the place, and all the living things." —Wendell Berry
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A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
"Our lives extend beyond our skins, in radical interdependence with the rest of the world" - Joanna Macy. Dear Ones, You are part of my extended life. And you are part of each others'. How dull our lives would be without each other? - Frieda
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MAINE FARM SUPPER
First U's popular and delicious Maine Farm Supper is coming up on
February 8th, 5 - 7 pm. This fundraiser supports both the church and the Yarmouth Food Pantry. Volunteer sign-ups are out now at church. Please share
this poster widely - invite all your friends and neighbors! For more information, please contact Cindy Guernsey,
cindyguernsey@icloud.com.
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YOGA IN THE SANCTUARY
Saturday mornings, 10 - 11 am
Yoga classes continue at the First Universalist on Saturdays led by our new yoga teacher, Marni Prince. She replaces Lois Howlett, our long time yoga teacher, who is moving to North Carolina. Marni is a trained Vinyasa Yoga teacher who has recently moved into Yarmouth. Cost: $10. Classes will be 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Any questions, please contact Marini Prince at
marniprince@gmail.com or Sarah Witte at
sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com.
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PROGRAMS THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
10:30 - 11:30 am -
Junior Youth Group (Common Room)
10:30 - 11:30 am -
Children's Chapel (begin in Sanctuary)
10:30 - 11:30 am -
Nursery Care (the Nursery)
4:00 - 5:30 pm -
Senior Youth Group (Gathering Room)
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In
Children's Chapel
(kindergarten - fourth grade), the month of February is about
searching for truth and meaning, our 4th UU Principle. One way to find meaning is by helping others. We can also find truth and meaning in community with our family, friends, and neighbors. Through games, activities, music, and discussion, children at First U are encouraged to search for truth and meaning in our world.
In
Junior Youth Group
(fifth - eighth grade), we have just begun
Riddle and Mystery, an opportunity to ask and find our own answers to some of life's big and meaningful questions like "where do we come from?" and "what happens when we die?" Our activities, games, and discussions take us to some deep places -- and to some good jokes.
In
Senior Youth Group (ninth - twelfth grade), we are planning our next fundraiser,
Scrambled Trivia Night on 2/29, in order to support our local June mission trip in partnership with
Cultivating Community. It's not too late to join in! High schoolers are invited to join senior youth group and be part of our mission trip.
During
Peace Play for Littles
(ages 0 - 3 and their big person) on Wednesdays, 10:45 am - 11:15 am, our stories, songs, rhymes, and play will relate to the themes of community, peace, kindness, justice, and caring for our planet.
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REGISTER FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS ONLINE
This year, there is the option to
register online for children and youth programs!
Please register your children if they participate in any programs.
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THE NOVEMBER ELECTION - WHAT CAN WE DO STARTING NOW?
Recently, The Faith in Action Council (FIAC) sponsored a webinar to introduce a new UUA initiative to “UU the Vote." Those in attendance were interested in forming a team to explore ways we can implement this program in our Congregation. Our focus is likely to include voter registration and education opportunities aligning with our values.
Please notify Pam Dyer:
jdyer2@maine.rr.com if you would like to join this team or attend a meeting to learn more.
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WEATHER CANCELLATION INFORMATION
First Universalist service and public 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 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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