CHANNELS
First Universalist's weekly newsletter
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ARE YOU READY TO BE A MEMBER AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST?
- Do you want to be with people who value compassion, justice, love and truth, though they have different thoughts and opinions about all sorts of things?
- Do you want to be with people who have many names and no name at all for God?
- Do you want to be with people who give of themselves, who share their hearts and minds and gifts?
You are invited to membership at First Universalist!
June 9th 9:00 am: Book signing ceremony followed by New Member Recognition Service. RSVP to
marfahh@gmail.com.
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HEALING CIRCLES
You are warmly invited to attend a
Healing Circle on Sunday, June 9 and/or Sunday, June 16 at 4 PM in our Gathering Room led by Rev. Frieda. These circles provide a small, safe environment to share any sadness or hurt from events in the recent past here at First U. They are also a wonderful opportunity to listen. The purpose is to facilitate healing and empower us to move into our future with optimism and compassion.
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Member Recognition
with Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister
Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 10:30 am
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FLOWER COMMUNION
Our last Sunday of the church year, June 16, will be Flower Communion—
please bring a flower or flowers to the worship service! (
any and all flowers are welcomed including wildflowers or flowers from your garden)—followed by our Ice Cream Social.
What is Flower Communion?
“An annual ritual for Unitarian Universalists that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community.”
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THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP & PROGRAMS
This Sunday in
Children’s Chapel, we will be celebrating and remembering Juneteenth, the date when the last slaves held in bondage were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after slavery had officially ended in the United States.
Please note that this is the last Children's Chapel of the church year. Next Sunday will be an all-ages service.
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ADULT PROGRAMS
The next
UU Conversations, facilitated by Rev. Frieda, will take place on
Monday, June 17, from 6—7 pm in the Gathering Room, and will feature discussion about our 7 UU Principles. Members, friends, and newcomers all welcome to come to learn more and discuss what it means to live our UU principles.
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SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE: MEET THE TEAM!
First, let me acknowledge all
eleven people who were open and willing to serve in this vital capacity. You are all heroes! Yet, subscribing to the UUA’s recommended process, the Search Committee is to be comprised of seven individuals. As such, all members present at the Annual Meeting were invited to vote for seven of the eleven candidates. The four candidates who
received the most votes were automatically on the committee, and the Board was then tasked with choosing the remaining three from the same ballot.
How difficult that proved to be! Each and every one of the candidates is qualified in multiple ways. All are beautiful, amazing, trusted and engaged. Every single person has something wonderful and unique to offer, and all would have been great members of the team. Still, the Board needed to make some difficult choices. We focused on balancing skills, interests and church experience deeply relevant to the minister’s position…and still it was hard.
Our appreciation is enormous! All of you, whether on the Search Committee or not, is respected and vital to the continuing health of First Universalist.
With that, let me introduce your First Universalist Search Committee 2019—2020:
- Anne Turner
- Ben Tupper
- Christy Hayashida
- Dal Holtrop
- Dorothy McAloney
- Jamie Brookes
- Steve Thomas
We wish you much success, and joy, as you embark on this journey, and we know we are in good hands!
Congratulations and thank you,
Joanna Landsman, on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
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CLAM FEST 2019
It's time to get Clam Fest on your summer calendar!
Sign up for a spot to participate in the First U summer fun, make friends, and support your church. There are many ways to get involved.
Check out all the ways you can support one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.
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HANNAFORD GIFT CARDS
Do you shop at Hannaford? Would you like First Universalist to receive free money from Hannaford? You will be able to balance your checkbook easier with a Hannaford ‘gift card’. Dorothy McAloney will be able to set you up with a gift card, with no extra cost to you.
Twice a month, 1st and 3rd Sundays, I reload your card. You simply write a check to First Universalist Church, with any amount you would like, as long as the amount on the card does not go over $500. The church receives 5% of the amount of the total reload. You get the full amount on your card. Keep the same card and reload when needed. There is a $1 minimum for the card to keep it active. If interested, please contact Dorothy at
dmcaloney48@gmail.com.
I am doing a reload this Sunday, if you care to participate, I can get you set up! - Dorothy McAloney.
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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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PRIDE PORTLAND! PARADE AND FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 15, 2019
This year’s Pride events mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Pride Portland! is commemorating Stonewall with the theme of “Resist. Remember. Rejoice.” Unitarian Universalists have been long supporters and advocates of the rights of the LGBTQ community and are invited to march in the parade under MUUSAN’s banner.
Line-up for the parade begins at 11:30 am at Monument Square in Portland.
First Universalist members and friends are welcomed and encouraged to come to march! The parade itself begins at 1 pm and the festival is from 2—6 pm in Deering Oaks Park in Portland. Other Pride Portland! events begin on Friday, June 7 and continue through Sunday, June 16. Visit
prideportland.org
for a full schedule and for more information.
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OUR HALF-PLATE
Each Sunday, we donate half of our collection plate directly to projects and organizations that live and promote our shared values. This week’s half-plate is shared with the
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)
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ILAP provides free and low-cost immigration information and legal assistance, helping our New Mainers keep their families together, gain protection from persecution and domestic violence, attain residency and work authorization, and become proud U.S. citizens. ILAP builds stable families and improved opportunities, allowing Maine's immigrants to contribute to their communities for generations to come. ILAP is proud to uphold our nation's immigrant tradition. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
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E-WASTE COLLECTION, June 8 & 9
Sacred Heart Church is holding an e-waste collection at 336 Main Street in Yarmouth on Saturday, June 8, 3 - 6 pm, and Sunday, June 9, 7 am - 12 pm. Acceptable items include computers, televisions, printers, microwaves, VCRs, and leftover parts from other electronics, including wiring. Boy Scouts and church volunteers will be there to help unload items curbside. Disposal of items is free, but donations are always welcome to benefit Catholic Charities of Portland. For additional information, please contact
Melissa Bagdon or
Mimi Rice.
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DAWNLAND FILM SCREENING, June 14
Maine-Wabanaki REACH presents Dawnland, a documentary about cultural survival and stolen children, on Friday, June 14, 6:30 - 9:00 pm at the Greely Center for the Arts in Cumberland Center. This film screening is free, but donations will be accepted to support Maine-Wabanaki REACH.
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2020 CENSUS JOBS
The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. The Census Bureau are hiring for a variety of temporary jobs, including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff, and supervisory staff. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen. Pay in Maine starts at $16.50/hour.
Apply online.
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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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