WORSHIP AT HOME
TRANSITIONS
Sunday, June 7, 2020
will be delivered via email at 6:00 am
Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister
Sam Chandler, Music Director
A BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS & GARDENS
On Sunday June 14, we will be having a virtual blessing of the animals AND a virtual blessing of the gardens. To make this happen, we need you to:
  • send a picture of your pet(s), with or without you in the picture
  • send a picture of your gardens, with or without you in the picture
to Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com on or before Tuesday, June 9.

Please make sure you've let Gwen know your name and your pet's name. Also, please answer the question "how are you blessed by this amazing animal?" and/or "how are you blessed by your garden?" Rev. Frieda will offer a blessing and a few readings, maybe even a song.
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW TO FIRST UNIVERSALIST? WELCOME!!
Sunday, June 7, 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
We are so glad you have found us, however you did. As you have probably read or heard, we are not gathering in person at this time but we are wholeheartedly connecting in every other way we can think of!

We will have a special Newcomers Welcome gathering on Sunday June 7th from 11:30 to 12:00. If you have joined or arrived at First U in the last year (or three) you are welcome to participate. We can answer almost any question about our church community, our new minister who’s coming in August, how we stay afloat, how we fulfill our mission to EXPLORE-EMBRACE-ENGAGE, what makes us care, etc. We hope you’ll join us! We’d love to know you and what you are looking for. We create this beloved community together.

Please write to Sarah Witte at sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com and she will email you a Zoom link for the 7th. We’ll be happy to see you!
CONVERSATION CIRCLES
Wednesday, June 10 at 10:30 am & Thursday, June 11 at 4:30 pm
We are offering Zoom Conversation Circles to talk about how we can be together as a church community in this time of Covid -19. What helps you feel connected to this community? All are invited to participate. We really want to hear your thoughts and concerns. The circles will be facilitated by Rev. Frieda. To access, please find the links in the Conversation Circles e-blast.
A WING AND A PRAYER
Update: So far we have received $5,200 towards our $12,600 goal. Deep gratitude for the 10 families who have stepped up so far!

Time and tide wait for no UU, as we know. We’ve done a great job taking care of our beautiful old church (restored steeple, renovated chancel, replaced Gathering Room floors, etc!) and now it’s time for another project. Perfect timing? Actually it is. While we are not ’there’-there, we can get some really badly needed renovations done on the Wing. (The Wing is the 1994 addition.) The side facing Main Street and the end on the driveway below the Parsonage are in terrible condition. A lot of the paint is peeling, and some of the wood is rotting.

We’ve been keeping an eye on this, and now that we’ve finished a SUPER search for a SUPER minister, we need to do these repairs before things get worse and cost more. We have estimates in hand of $6100 for carpentry and $6500 for painting, for a total of $12,600. That includes a contingency. We’ll replace rotten wood wherever appropriate with Boral, an ash-composite that lasts much longer.

Here’s where WE all come in. We have some ‘leadership’ contributions but why stop there? Would you like to put some of your good loving energy towards this project so it can be all done by September, and — whether we’re meeting on line or in small groups there — have First Universalist looking wonderful for Reverend Hillary? So much to be grateful for. Let’s get our beloved church home shining bright.

To make a gift of ANY size from $5 to $500 (more? thanks!) please send a check to First Universalist Church and write WING in the note line. Or send via our PayPal link and use the drop down menu to indicate it is the "Wing Project." The Wing says thank you, and hopes you are all safe and well and taken care of, too.

FMI: Pete Titcomb ( petertitcomb@aol.com) or Sarah Witte ( sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com).
UPDATED CHURCH CALENDAR
First U's church calendar has been updated to reflect our new mostly virtual reality. Meetings and events will be on the calendar with information about who to contact for Zoom links. If you have something to add to the calendar, please contact Andrea at office@uuyarmouth.org. Thanks!
ATTEND THE UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY - VIRTUALLY!
This year, the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly, the largest gathering of UUs each year for worship, learning, connecting, business, and more, is going to be held virtually. This year's theme is Rooted, Inspired, & Ready.

The good news about this online format:
  • GA is more affordable! Registration is $150 to attend all (or part) of the five days online, June 24 - June 28, 2020.
  • There will be free, live streamed content. If registering doesn't make sense for you, you can still attend the General Sessions (business meetings), the Service of the Living Tradition, the Synergy Bridging Service, and the Sunday Worship Service.

Want to know more?
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
VIRTUAL YOUTH GROUPS
Both junior and senior youth groups are now meeting online. You can download the Zoom app in advance to your smart phone, tablet, or laptop. Not getting the email but your youth would like to participate and/or you have other questions about youth programs? Contact Gwen Matthews at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.

Virtual Junior Youth Group is on for 11 - 11:45 am on Sunday, June 7. Details about how to connect will be arriving in a separate email.

Virtual Senior Youth Group is on for 4:30 - 5:15 pm on Sunday, June 7. Details about how to connect will be arriving in a separate email.
PEACE & JUSTICE WORK
VOLUNTEERING AT PREBLE STREET
Our next first Tuesday to volunteer at Preble Street is July 7, 3 - 6 pm. At this time, Preble Street still really needs your support in putting together to-go meals for their clients who they serve daily. Help to feed some of Maine's most vulnerable people who continue to rely on Preble Street for food and other resources. Contact Ruth White ( rwhite7@maine.rr.com) with any questions or if you would like to sign up. Thank you!

Please note a few changes:
  1. There is now a limit of three volunteers per shift in order to ensure social distancing.
  2. Volunteers are asked to bring their own mask or face covering.
  3. The time for dinner shifts has altered slightly. It is now 3 - 6 pm (instead of 3:30 - 6:30 pm).
  4. You can view all of Preble Street's response information about COVID-19 on their website.
FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE
The Church Office is Closed, But Minister and Staff Are Still Working!
Rev. Frieda, Gwen, Sam, and Andrea all continue to work from home to support the church community. You can reach them via email, call and leave a voicemail at the church office (messages are checked on Monday & Thursday), or call Rev. Frieda on her cell phone: 508-207-7566.
Pastoral Emergencies
If you have a pastoral emergency, you can contact Rev. Frieda Gillespie on her cell phone at 508-207-7566. Saturdays are typically her day off, but she will answer calls for pastoral emergencies.
Submit Your Announcement
To have your announcement included in this newsletter please email the information to Gwen Matthews at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com by Wednesday at 12 pm.
  First Universalist Church of Yarmouth | 207-846-4148 | office@uuyarmouth.org | www.uuyarmouth.org