INTRODUCING REV. HILLARY COLLINS-GILPATRICK
Greetings, First U! My name is Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, and I come to First U from the White Mountain School in northern New Hampshire, where I serve as the school Chaplain, Religious Studies Faculty, and Farm & Forest Manager. Prior to my time working in the North Country, I served as a Director
and Minister of Lifespan Religious Education in large and mid-size churches in the Boston and Washington DC areas. I received my MDiv from Harvard Divinity School with a focus in Buddhist Philosophy, and my BA from Smith College where I studied American Religious History. Prior to
pursuing the ministerial path, I was a high school teacher and also worked in youth centers and justice-seeking non-profits throughout New England.
A native Mainer, I have a great love for the outdoors and over a decade’s experience working on organic farms. While I appreciate, study, and respect all faiths, my personal beliefs are rooted primarily in Buddhism, a religion I have practiced since childhood. In my free time, I enjoy playing music, inventing recipes, watercolor painting, and going on gallivants with my
greyhound, Smokey Jo, and my long-term partner, Alexis. I am very excited and curious to meet the congregation and begin discussing all the possibilities of a ministry at First U.
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Donate today to support the new
congregant relief fund by having your
donation matched two-to-one. For example, your $50 will go towards church operations while $25 that the senior youth group raised will be put into the
congregant relief fund. To date,
$1,400 has been contributed to church operations and
$700 has been matched in the relief fund!
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Need to access the fund? These funds raised by our senior youth group and donors will go to support any in our congregation who are facing financial hardships related to COVID-19 to pay for expenses likes groceries, medical bills, or utilities. The minister and board president will review and co-approve use of the funds. All requests to access the fund will remain private. Please email or call Rev. Frieda (
flgillespie@gmail.com) or Joanna (
jslandsman@gmail.com) directly.
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EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, April 12, 2020
will be delivered via email at 6:00 am
Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister
Sam Chandler, Music Director
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CANDLES OF JOYS & CONCERNS
You can now add your virtual candles of joys and concerns to our online bulletin board whenever you have something in your heart that you'd like to share with this community. Visit the
Joys & Concerns sharing board to add yours or to read the notes that others have left.
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BELLS WILL RING AT 3 PM TODAY
Churches across Maine, including First Universalist, will be ringing their bells today at 3:00 pm to express appreciation for those who are working on the front lines and in memory of all who have died so far because of the coronavirus. If you have a bell at home, you're also asked to ring it from your window or porch or deck to join in solidarity.
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FROM YOUR FIRST U TREASURER
My heart is filled with gratitude to all who have already fulfilled their annual commitments for this current church year - only $11,000 remains to be received by June 30. I am also so grateful for $13,600 early fulfillment of commitments to our next church year. Thus, with some expense adjustments, we are financially able to maintain our full staff and programs (albeit adapted to online) for the remainder of this church year and through the summer as we ride out this unsettling time, even as we look ahead to welcoming our new minister.
To those who are being hit hard, please reach out to Rev. Frieda or Joanna to see if we can provide either comfort, or some financial help available through the generosity of our Senior Youth and generous donors. We are here for you, and for our wider community!
Stay safe! Marge Titcomb
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COFFEE HOUR IS LIVE THIS WEEK!
Sunday, March 29, 12:00 pm
You can join:
- Online (this includes audio and optional video capabilities) and entering the password: PEACE
- By landline or cell phone by calling: +1 929-205-6099 and then entering the Meeting ID: 947 195 876 and the password: PEACE
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FIRST U PHONE FRIENDS
Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to check in with you and see how your week is going? Sign up to be partnered with a
phone friend. These chats can help us stay unified and connected during uncertain times. To get connected, contact Gwen at
gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.
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YOGA FROM HOME
Yoga teacher Marni Prince is hosting live video yoga classes. The next one will be happening this Saturday at 10 am. Anyone interested can email Marni to get on the mailing list for when she'll be holding classes and video details:
marniprince@gmail.com. Marni is not charging anything for the classes as of now, but is accepting optional donations. Might as well do some yoga if we can't leave the house!
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Spirituality can still be a part of your family's life. We'll be offering ideas for something to do every day to
RE-inspire your week. These offline activities will help you and your family stay connected to your values, our planet, and each other.
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VIRTUAL YOUTH GROUPS
Both junior and senior youth groups will be meeting online this week. You can download the
Zoom app in advance to your smart phone, tablet, or laptop. You will need to create a free account with Zoom.
Junior Youth Group WILL NOT meet this Sunday, April 12, due to the holiday.
Senior Youth Group WILL meet from 4:30 - 5:30 pm this Sunday, April 12.
The link and password will be arriving via email. Thanks!
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PREBLE STREET NEEDS YOUR HELP TO CREATE MASKS!
The CDC recommends that all individuals wear reusable cloth masks in public. While medical grade masks must be reserved for health workers, cloth masks can help stop the spread of germs and keep clients, staff, and volunteers at Preble Street safe.
If you’re looking for a way to get involved from the safety of your home, check out
this article on how make reusable homemade masks. We’ll take as many as you can make!
Once you’ve created your masterpieces:
- Email Resource Development Assistant Ray Hepler at rhepler@preblestreet.org and let him know how many masks you have when you are available to deliver them to Preble Street.
- Ray will confirm a drop-off time and location with you — please do not bring masks to the soup kitchen.
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PLEASE SEND IN YOUR SELFIES!
Whatever you are busy with during this Coronavirus time, I hope you will take a moment to snap a photo of yourself and send it to me by email. Or send 2 or 3 photos!
Why? I'm planning a Spring Makeover for the bulletin board in the Gathering Room. I'd love to include photos of everyone! Snap a photo of yourself doing whatever, and send it to
catalpa.girl@gmail.com. The more the merrier! I plan to get the photos printed and arranged on the bulletin board before our new minister arrives. I also plan to share the final product (a collage) online. Sooner or later, it should be visible to all.
Thank you in advance! Say cheese,
Mariana (for the Faith in Action Council)
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SENIOR PROJECT
One of our senior youth group members is focusing their senior project on women who inspire. See below for details and how to participate.
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COVID-19 RESOURCES
For up-to-date local information:
For food and other resources:
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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.
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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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