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

June 16, 2018
10:00 am

Flower Communion-
HOPE
& Rev.Christina Sillari
Please bring a flower on June 16 th
for the Flower Communion Service.
Many thanks to Kristen Bailey for her kind donation
of flowers on Sunday in honor of all fathers and stepfathers.
August Worship Services
August 4 |10am
Lammas:
Harvest Celebration
Rev. Christina Sillari
August 11 |10am
Journey to the
Center of the Earth
Rev. Christina Sillari
August 18 |10am
Mindfulness
Vaishali Mamgain
TOMORROW!
Portland Pride
Service & Parade
June 15 th | 10am | Meeting House

Please join us on June 15 th as we celebrate and recognize this important day for the LGBTQ community through song and worship. You are also invited to march with the First Parish contingent in the Portland Pride Parade- the more the merrier!
We’ll meet on the front steps at 11:15 to walk over to the parade.
Don't miss the FUN!
RE Announcements

June 16 th - No RE
Flower Communion-
All Congregation Service


Childcare for babies and toddlers will be available on Sunday
in the Nursery (upstairs in the Parish House).

RE will resume again on September 15 th .

FMI about RE at First Parish, please contact, Toben Cooney-Callnan, Director of Religious Exploration, at dre@firstparishportland.org.
Last Sunday’s Offering to Benefit Black Lives UU – Thank You!

Last Sunday, First Parish raised close to $1,300 in our Offertory to benefit Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). Thank you for your generosity! We are deeply grateful for your support.

In case you were not able to attend service last Sunday there is still time for you to contribute. If we can raise another $600 in the next two weeks we will meet our $3,010 challenge goal, ensuring that BLUU receives $3 for every dollar that First Parish collects. There are 3 ways to donate to BLUU:
  1. Put a check in the offertory with "BLUU" in the memo line
  2. Send a check to First Parish with "BLUU" in the memo line
  3. Donate through the FP website: click the GIVE button & choose Donation.

Please help us reach our goal by June 30th!
Ice Cream Social
June 16 th | After Service | Parish Hall

Celebrate the arrival of summer and join us for the Ice Cream Social on June 16 th . Frozen treats and light refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall following the Sunday Service.
Don't Miss Out!
Have you ever wondered why you didn't know about some First Parish events?Did you know that many email browsers cut our weekly eNewsletter off after a certain length? Look for a "View Entire Message" link at the bottom of each eNews to be sure you don't miss out!
Kudos to Scott!

He's "talented, gifted, inspirational, a good listener and teacher". Who could this amazing person be but Scott Wheatley, our Music Director. When Scott said he wanted the choir to sing 22 minutes of classical music in Latin and with strings, a few (maybe several) of us were hesitant. But, Scott "had the courage to take us on this journey...and make sure we were up to the task". It was a wonderful and fulfilling Music Sunday! Scott, you "inspire us to higher levels while at the same time having fun" and we look forward to making more beautiful music with you.  (Quotes from FP Choir Members)
Annual Meeting Followup

A lot of new information was shared at last week’s Annual Meeting about two major initiatives: the First Parish Vision Goals and the Accessibility Project. If you have any questions or would like to follow up with your thoughts, please reach out to our new Board President, Jason Shedlock ( jjshedlock@gmail.com ; 202-431-0877) or Vision Goal Coordinator Janet Robinson ( jrobinson@woodardcurran.com ; 207-400-2525) with your questions about the Vision Goals, or to Austin Farrar ( ahfarrar@aol.com ; 207-797-7286) with questions about the Church for EveryBody project. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Breathing and Meditation Class

June 19 th | 5:30-6:30pm
in the Youth Room
 (upstairs in Parish House)
Taught by Rev. Christina

Please note that June 19 th is the last class before our summer break. Classes will resume on August 7 th . Free to FP Members; $10.00 non-members.

Our Youth Service Begins with YOU!  

In August the First Parish Youth Group is going on a service trip to West Virginia. We need your support to raise enough funds to make this trip accessible to all of our Youth Group members.  Visit our Faithify campaign  www.faithify.org   and enter “First Parish Youth Group Portland,   Maine” into the search field to learn more. 

Please donate by June 16 th  
in order to help us reach our $2,500 goal.

Thank you for your generosity!! FMI please contact Toben Cooney-Callnan, Director of Religious Exploration, at dre@firstparishportland.org .

EAT, LAUGH, TALK JUSTICE & DANCE!

Justice Bean Supper Dance

June 29 th | 6-8:30pm | Parish Hall

Come join us and bring family and friends for good food, community, and fun to benefit great causes! Homemade baked beans, hot dogs & fixins, sides, salads, and desserts! Dance after dinner! $10 per person/$20 for a family.

Potluck dishes and setup/cleanup volunteers WANTED.
Contact angus@angusferguson.com or 749-6618 to RSVP and volunteer.

First Parish Bastille Day Bash

July 14 th | 10am-12pm | First Parish Memorial Garden

Come celebrate French culture with First Parish Friends! 
Light refreshments provided. Cost: $5 per person. 
Furniture Friends needs your help!

We have a unique opportunity to receive a large donation of high quality furniture from an Old Port hotel. They want to donate 75 rooms of furniture to us and are proposing to donate 25 rooms per week for 3 weeks. How can you help? These donations are scheduled for the next 3 consecutive Sunday afternoons  (June 16, 23 and 30) and we need teams of volunteers from approximately 1-4 pm  to help us load the truck for one Sunday -- or possibly more. If you have a team of 6-10 high-school aged able-bodied youth and/or adults to help us, please reach contact our Volunteer Coordinator Elise Moody-Roberts at  volunteer@furniturefriends.org  or 207.712.8686.

First Parish Summer Break
June 16 th will be the last service of this church year before our summer break. Please make note of the following items:

  • Reverend Christina will be on study leave/vacation until August 1st. The Pastoral Care Team and the Governing Board will be managing all church related issues. 

  • Please grab an armful of Clynk Bags this Sunday for all your summer beverage bottles & cans!

  • Please join us for the Justice Bean Supper on June 29th & the Bastille Day Bash on July 14th (see above) to stay connected with the First Parish community over the summer! 

  • There will not be a Community Dinner in July. Please volunteer or join us for the Community Dinner in the Memorial Garden on August 4th.

  • Many First Parish groups take a break from meetings over the summer. Please contact the group leader FMI on the summer meeting schedule.

  • Services will resume on August 4th with the Lammas: A Harvest Celebration service.
Calling Potential Speakers!  

The Worship Committee is seeking members of our congregation who are interested in leading a service in the next church year. We especially need someone for Labor Day weekend, but will continue to have spots available each month when Rev. Christina is out of the pulpit. A member of the Worship Committee will support you in each step of creating your service. FMI, please contact Jenna Nunziato at  jennanunziato@gmail.com.
One Climate Future Survey

One Climate Future is a municipal collaboration to develop plans for mitigating and dealing with climate change. Elissa and Allen Armstrong and Leslie Pohl are helping to spread the word with a slide show and dissemination of a survey. Please help by taking the survey online:
Mueller Report Discussion Group

Please contact Nancy Greenleaf if you would like to get together to read and discuss the Mueller Report this summer. If interested, please call or email Nancy at (207) 522-0178 or Greenleaf.nancy@gmail.com.
PFLAG Portland Support Group

PFLAG Portland is a part of a national ally, advocacy and education organization providing welcoming support for families, allies and LGBTQ individuals. We meeting monthly on the 2nd Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 at the Equality Community Center , 511 Congress Street, Portland. If you or someone you know is in need of support, we offer understanding and information.
for Artists 18+
August 30th- September 2nd
Friends Camp | South China, Maine

Art Camp seeks to transform the lives and practices of artists of a wide variety of media by creating intentional community through Quaker practice and the magic of summer camp. Together, we seek to live out the question central to Art Camp: how are our spiritual and creative practices intertwined? Art Camp under the care of Friends Camp, a Quaker summer camp belonging to New England Yearly Meeting of Friends in South China, Maine. 
Roots and Wings:
Lay Justice Ministry Program
September 2019- June 2020

Roots and Wings is a two-year lay justice ministry program that invites UU’s to engage their deepest passions and convictions in answering the call to  creating a more just and equitable world community .  This new, cross-congregational leadership program offers UU justice advocates and leaders the opportunity to identify and transform their gifts and commitments into spiritual leadership. Click the link below for more information. FMI: minister@firstparishportland.org
Do you love our
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.
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. If you have any questions about our online Volunteer Sign Up, please email Laurie Hasty, Membership Coordinator, at membership@firstparishportland.org .
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 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