We Commit Ourselves and Our Resources to 
Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community, and Help Heal the World.
August 25, 2018
10:00 am

The Paths That
Brought Us Here

Rev. Diana McLean & Rev. Shay MacKay

August Worship Services
Sept. 1 |10am
Labor Day
& Labor Today
Marianne Hill
Sept. 8 |10am
Water Communion
Rev. Christina Sillari
Sept. 15 |10am

Rev. Christina Sillari
RE Announcements
August 25 -  No RE
All Congregation Service

Childcare for babies and toddlers will be available in the Nursery
(upstairs in the Parish House).

RE classes will resume on September 15 th .

FMI about RE at First Parish, please contact, Toben Cooney-Callnan, Director of Religious Exploration, at  dre@firstparishportland.org.
Please respond by August 31!
Have you fulfilled your
2018-2019 pledge? 

If no, contributions will be accepted until August 31. The church year ended June 30 and we are showing a deficit as there are many households that have not completed their pledge. Updated pledge statements will be sent to all households the first week of August. Stewardship will be reaching out to these households in August to help bring the budget deficit to at least $0! Pledge contributions can be mailed to the church, dropped in the offertory box, or on the "Give" button at wwwfirstparishportland.org . 
Thank You Guster Ushers!

Many thanks to the following First Parish volunteers who helped usher 600 people into seats for the Guster concert at First Parish on 8/9: Claire Cowan, Stephanie Desrochers, Noel DeYoung, Devin, Green, Mike McGee, Karen McKinney, Michael Pancook, & Patty Renaud. Special thanks to Liz Wasilewski for all her help organizing this exciting event, and to Toben & Moe for all their hard work!
Thanks also to the
State Theatre
for choosing First Parish for this amazing show!
Day of Healing-
Nationwide Bell Ringing Ceremony
August 25 | 2:30-3:30pm | Parish Hall

The National Park Service is asking churches from around the country to join a nationwide bell-ringing this Sunday, August 25th, to remember and honor those Africans first brought to our country, on this date, as enslaved people, four hundred years ago. At First Parish, everyone is invited to participate in a period of reflection and remembrance between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM at the Parish Hall Sunday. At 3:00 PM our church bell will Toll for a short period. Those present, interested and able, will be given an opportunity to ring the bell. FMI: please email Carl Cappello at ccappello@maine.rr.com .
Youth Social
Justice Trip

Well Done & Welcome Home to the Youth Service Trip Participants!

Congratulations to the following Youth who participated in the Service Trip to West Virginia: Grace Blankenship, David Blom, Isabella Bloom, Julie Eglinton, Marlena Hatem, and Tahj Herbert. Be sure to come hear about their experience during the 9/22 service!
Snacks for Coffee Hour
Sundays | 11am | Parish Hall

Please bring a snack to share during Coffee Hour! Sign up online , or just bring your donation to the kitchen before service. Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunities
to Help Asylum Seekers

First Parish IS a welcoming community!  Many thanks to Bruce Carver and Brenda and Harty Norris who have opened their homes to two asylum-seeking families formally housed at the Portland Expo. And, many thanks to all of you who have responded to the survey indicating your availability to help support our hosts! We are in the midst of matching needs with volunteer availability.

If you still wonder how you can help, feel free to contact Jenn McAdoo at  mcadoo.jenn@gmail.com  or Molly Juhlin at  mollyjuhlin@gmail.com . 
Also...
Join us for our weekly planning meetings to learn more:
Mondays | 6-7:30pm | Parish Hall
Do you know someone
who would be a great RE Teacher?

The Religious Exploration Program is hiring RE teachers to teach on Sunday mornings. If interested, please contact Toben for details: dre@firstparishportland.org .
Community Dinner
September 1 | Meal Prep in Basement Kitchen &
Dinner in the Community Room

Please join us as a volunteer or guest! Prep volunteers: 12-4:30pm; Serving and clean-up volunteers: 4:30-7pm. Meal served: 5-6pm. FMI: Noel De Young at  noeledey@yahoo.com  or phone 939-3118.
Breathing and Meditation Class
Wednesdays | 8-9am- New Time!  | Meeting House
First Class Starts on September 4

Come and explore breathing techniques to nurture your mind, body and spirit. Pranayama is an ancient practice from India used to heal dis-ease, prepare for meditation, and access spiritual realms. All are welcome to join in these powerful tools of transformation. Taught by Rev. Christina. Free to First Parish Members; $10.00 non-members.
Newcomer Coffee
September 8 | 11:30am
in the Youth Room (upstairs)  
(Typically the first Sunday every month.)

This is a great opportunity to meet our Minister and other newcomers to First Parish, and learn more about what makes this church unique. Grab a cup of coffee in the Parish Hall, and join us in the Youth Room upstairs.   
First Parish Choir Rehearsals
Thursdays, beginning September 12 | 7pm | Parish Hall

We welcome international opera stars, beginners and everyone in between, ages 14 to 104. Enthusiasm and the ability to carry a tune are the only requirements. We will kick off the new church year with a Choir Retreat on Saturday, September 7th from 10-2 in the Parish Hall . If you have any questions, please contact Scott at  musicdirector@firstparishportland.org .
Tours of our Historic Church
Sundays | 12:00, 12:30, 1:00 & 1:30pm | Meeting House

Join us on Sundays for a
20 minute tour of our historic building!

Would you like be a tour guide? We have begun doing guided tours for visitors to our historic church.  Tour guide training will be provided and volunteer commitment is a few hours a month. Contact Kip DeSerres at  kipdes@gmail.com or 557-4006.
Volunteer
SIGN UP's
Updated for 2019-20!

There are so many ways to get involved at First Parish:
  • Usher/Greeter
  • Community Dinner
  • Building Tours and more!
Contact Sheila in the Office if you have any questions about signing up online: office@firstparishportlan.org.
A Peek into the
Bones of our
Historic Building

Work was recently completed to better secure the large plaque to the left of the pulpit in the Meeting House. When the plaque was removed, we found that the text from the plaque had originally been painted on the wall of the Meeting House, surrounded by a frame mural! The "door" in the photo was simply a wooden frame used to hold the brass plaque in place. Many thanks to M.R. Brewer for their careful attention to our historic building, and for making this job a priority in their schedule!
425 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101   207-773-5747  

 Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community 
and Help Heal the World