CANDIDATING WEEKS
CANDIDATING WEEKS WITH REV. HILLARY COLLINS-GILPATRICK
It is almost time for you to meet (virtually) our ministerial candidate! The candidating weeks will begin Monday, April 27 and conclude on Sunday, May 10. Please add these dates and times to your calendar so you can meet with Rev. Hillary.
VOTE MAY 10 TO ACCEPT THE MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT
The Ministerial Agreement is provided by the UUA, and begins with stating the intention to “strive to dwell together in peace, to seek truth in love, and to serve one another and the larger community” and that the relationship “must be grounded on both sides in open communication, mutual trust, good faith, and an open and agreed-upon process.” There are then seven detailed sections defining all aspects of responsibility. The Agreement ends with “It has been drawn, offered, and accepted in the spirit of the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association.” The Agreement is deep and broad, unlike 2-page letters of past engagements. You can read a summary of the Agreement.

Discussion of the Agreement details will NOT be part of the meeting on May 10, but you may contact board president Joanna Landsman jslandsman@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns to be addressed.

For gardeners who love to get into the weeds, you can read the full Agreement (22 pages, PDF).
WORSHIP AT HOME
GOOD WITHOUT GOD
Sunday, April 26, 2020
will be delivered via email at 6:00 am
Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister
Sam Chandler, Music Director
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGREGANT RELIEF FUND & MATCHING DONATION
Our matching donation campaign ends this Sunday and we have almost reached our goal of $3,000 for church operations and $1,500 for the congregant relief fund! So far $2,755 has been raised for church operations and $1,378 has been matched and added to the congregant relief fund. Together we can reach our goal by this Sunday, April 26th!

If you need to access the congregant relief fund, please contact Joanna Landsman, Board President, or Rev. Frieda Gillespie, Interim Minister.
WHERE'S THAT EMAIL?!
Some congregants have been having trouble with receiving emails from the church and we've determined that there are most likely one of two issues going on:
  1. The email has been put in a spam, promotions, or other folder. You can prevent this from happening! These are step-by-step instructions on how to whitelist email addresses (for many popular mail programs including AOL, gmail, yahoo, verizon, etc.).
  2. Your internet service provider is delivering your emails late. Unfortunately, there is nothing the church can do to fix this, but you can contact your ISP to see if they can help.
COFFEE HOUR IS LIVE ON ZOOM!
Sunday, April 26, 12:00 pm
Please join us for a virtual coffee hour hosted on Zoom! (New to Zoom? Check out this informative guide .) For security purposes, details for joining will be sent on Sunday morning around 8:00 am.
CHURCH DIRECTORY SUPPLEMENT
The church directory that came out this past Fall already has a few updates, a few errors were spotted, and we have some new members to include! Please see the new directory supplement. Thanks to the Congregation Connections Committee, and especially Jerry Myers, for their hard work of putting together and editing the directory!
yoga
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!
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
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 meet from 11:00 - 11:45 am this Sunday, April 26
For security, details to connect will be sent via a separate email.

Senior Youth Group will meet from 4:30 - 5:30 pm this Sunday, April 26
For security, details to connect will be sent via a separate email.
PEACE & JUSTICE WORK
MUUSAN NETWORKING MEETING: ELECTORAL JUSTICE
Saturday, May 9th, 10:00 - 11:30 am
MUUSAN presents a first-time-ever opportunity to attend one of its networking meeting from the comfort of your own home! Join other UUs from around the state to talk about what’s at stake for Maine and for the country in the 2020 elections. It’s free, but be sure to register so you will get the link to join the meeting. This conversation will include special guests:
  • Susan Leslie, Congregational Advocacy & Witness Director, UUA Organizing Strategy Team
  • Nicole Pressley, UUtheVote National Organizer
  • Evan Tess Murray, Education and Engagement Projects Manager, Maine League of Women Voters and the Democracy Project
REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
In the Fifth of our Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, we covenant as a congregation to affirm and promote “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” One of the most important ways we do this in society is by exercising our right to vote. If you are concerned about voting in-person in the upcoming June election (which may be delayed until July), absentee ballots can be easily obtained through online request using this link.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO VOLUNTEER AT PREBLE STREET NOW?
I’ve never volunteered at Preble, since 3:30 is the kids’ school pick-up time, but obviously not any more! No one in my house is immunocompromised or considered on the older side (I think?). I’m not working full time, and food banks and soup kitchens are hurting. So all signs pointed to “go to Preble,” and I’m so glad I did. We boxed up dinner for the different serving locations, made snack bags, cut carrots for the next day’s dinner, gave the kitchen a deep clean, and disinfected every handle, knob, and switch we could find. All workers had to wear face masks, gloves, and aprons. The only problem is it gets a bit warm in a long-sleeve shirt, given all the moving around. I’ll be returning soon (in a short-sleeve shirt)! - Christy Hayashida

Our next first Tuesday to volunteer at Preble Street May 5, 3 - 6 pm. Please 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. Volunteers are asked to bring their own mask or face covering.
  2. Dinner shifts are now limited to a maximum of five volunteers to assist with physical distancing.
  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.
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR SELFIES BY MAY 10!
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)
COMMUNITY NEWS
COVID-19 RESOURCES
For up-to-date local information:

For food and other resources:
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. 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.
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.
  First Universalist Church of Yarmouth | 207-846-4148 | office@uuyarmouth.org | www.uuyarmouth.org