Watch the Service on YouTube

Dear First U Friends,

One of the first thoughts I had last spring when all of our offices, classrooms, and worship services moved to Zoom was, “This is the end of snow days.” Little did I know, the new snow day would be the “power outage and internet down” day.

Due to the storm this past weekend, we had to pare down our Sunday service quite a bit. Those of you who were able to gather on zoom to listen to a little Cat Stevens, practice your dhyana mudras, and swap stories about the Ice Storm of ‘98 brought plenty of warmth and energy to our morning despite the stormy weather. At the end of our simple gathering, all those present wrote a collective prayer. I want to share this prayer with you today - you who helped to write it and you who were not able to be with us last Sunday. I offer this prayer for all of us as we head into the week that holds the darkest days and brightest lights of the year.

May we

be here now

have patience

survive

pause to smile

Be like the trees

Be happy

the bare trees.

be well

know we are enough

may we love our neighbors

Be thankful

relax

breathe in the love and caring around us

enjoy sunshine on snow

stay healthy

smile with our eyes

Honor the earth

may we feel peace in our hearts

feed people (and birds)

safe and know we are loved

may we find compassion for each other

remember our gratitude

may we find commonalities in our differences

be generous with others and ourselves

breathe

heal

be kind

be grateful

take good care of each other and ourselves.

Have a sunny day

Let it be so, First U friends. Let it be so.

I look forward to sharing our Sunday morning together again this week. Barring any unforeseen ice storms or internet outages we should be back in our usual livestream format. It’s good to know after last Sunday though, that as long as one of the worship leaders have power, we can still be together these dark, bright days. Happy December, everyone.

Yours in not knowing why that one strand of lights on the tree keeps blinking,

Rev. Hillary

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

Come to the picnic tables outside at the church to pick up your winter care package - members of Congregation Connections, Rev. Hillary, and/or Gwen will be there to wave, say hello, and answer any questions you may have.

The package includes to-be-colored postcards to send to fellow congregants, a list of names and addresses to send those postcards, a small pack of crayons, postcard stamps, and candles and drip protectors (the candles are for use on Christmas Eve). Use your postcard supplies to mail out seasons greetings to the congregants on your list. You'll receive greetings in the mail as well from fellow congregants!

Unable to pick up your winter care package but still want to participate? Contact Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com to make arrangements!

This Christmas Eve we are joining our neighbor UU congregations in Augusta and Brunswick to offer a communal worship service for all. One way we hope to make this service special is to incorporate voices and faces from each of our congregations.

If you would like to have a photo of you and/or your family (human or animal) shown during the service, please send Gwen a picture of you holding a lit candle by Dec 15th (gwenatfirstu@gmail.com). Please include the names of the those included in the photo. Thank you!

In the spirit of fundraising for justice, you can purchase Joy's fabulous jams & jellies to benefit Yarmouth Food Pantry - CLICK HERE to order. This is the last week of availability and some types of jams are low in stock. Order now!

If you have an announcement to include in the edition of Channels that will be published on Friday, 12/25 or Friday, 1/1, please send it in by Tuesday, December 22nd at 12:00 pm to Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com. All announcements received afterwards will be published in Channels that comes out on Friday, 1/8. Thank you!

Children's Chapel & enter password: CHAPEL

Join Anna for Children's Chapel this Sunday as we learn about the Jewish holiday of Hanukah.

Learning & Social Hour & enter password: COMMUNITY

This week we want to continue our discussion of the UUA’s proposed 8th Principle. We suggest that, rather than adopting the current wording as one of our Principles, we do as other congregations have done and “endorse the spirit of this 8th principle that asks us to be in accountable relationship with one another to dismantle racism and oppression in ourselves and our congregation.” 

What is the difference between adopt and endorse? Will the proposed Roadmap lead you to a well-informed vote on January 31? Please join the discussion after worship this Sunday.

Junior Youth Group & enter password: YOUTH

Join Gwen and Ben as we continue our discussion of social justice, focusing on environmentalism.

Coming of Age & enter password: SPIRIT

Join Gwen, Ben, and Rev. Hillary as we explore our beliefs during this Coming of Age session using the Belief-O-Matic.

This year of virtual church offers constraints but also opportunities. How can you build discussions of values, beliefs, and faith into each day? How can you really live the Seven Principles? Why does it matter to you and your family to have a grounding in this liberal religion? With these questions in mind, we've developed some opportunities for exploring your faith at home focusing on December's theme of Stillness.

This packet contains ideas for families of our youngest friends (ages 0 - 3), younger children (ages 4 - 7), older children (ages 8 - 10), middle schoolers (ages 11 - 13), and high schoolers (ages 14 - 18).

Watch Maine Initiatives virtual series "Racial Justice and...". Sign up for these free sessions by clicking the button below.

Grantee panelists from Southern Maine Workers' Center, New Mainers Public Health Initiative, and Maine Access Immigrant Network

These gift ideas are not only for racial justice education! Consider books of all types written by a Person of Color or Indigenous person; purchase the gift from a Black bookstore owner; gift to yourself to diversify your own bookshelf by adding minority literature.

Browse this list of Black/Minority owned bookstores and popular book titles created by Nicole Cardoza, publisher of AntiRacismDaily.com, or google search Black or minority writers and book stores.

“We shouldn’t have our “race/racism bookshelf”, crammed with writers of color, and have every other shelf filled with white writers.” - Nicole Cardoza

In honor of our 2nd Principle (justice, equity and compassion), this week’s half plate recipient is ACLU of Maine, the state's guardian of liberty. ACLU of Maine is active in the courts, the legislature and the public sphere to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and to extend their promises to all Mainers. Priority issues include criminal justice reform, reproductive freedom, racial justice, immigrants' rights, LGBTQ rights, and so much more.

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.