Sunday, January 30, 2022, at 10:30 am - online only!

Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, Minister

Sam Chandler, Music Director

Gwen Matthews, Director of Education & Communications

Mack Jones, Children's Teacher & Youth Facilitator

- Thich Nhat Hanh, from “What Is Sangha?”

Dear First Universalist Friends,

Thank you to all who attended our all church “Care for Ourselves and Others” retreat this past Saturday. Gwen and I were honored to create and hold this space and were very moved by the full presence, attention, and curiosity each of you brought to our morning together.

And we continue to be moved by the responses many of you sent us this week sharing how the retreat deepened your sense of belonging at First U, opened new relationships, taught you that you were never too old to learn something new, and also proved that Zoom isn’t so bad after all!

We are so glad.

For those who could not attend - you were very missed. Gwen and I plan to offer a Part 2 to the Retreat later this spring. All are welcome to attend no matter if you made it this past Saturday.

To catch you up - During the retreat we learned, reflected upon and practiced our listening skills with one another. And then we broke into small groups and collectively made altars in our homes with items based on these four prompts:

Thank you to those who shared photos with us of your finished altar. They are beautiful - and even in digital photo form - stirred my spirit and gave me pause.

Yours in awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love,

Rev. Hillary

Dear Friends,

It’s with sadness that we share with you news of a longtime member’s passing: Jack Riordan, born John Christopher Riordan, died at age 86 on December 16th.

Jack was the son of Elsie Lee Dallenger and J.Christopher Riordan born in Morristown, NJ on November 5. 1935. He was a graduate of Rutgers University and earned his Ph.D. in art history from Syracuse University. He taught art history at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam. He loved teaching and art history. His specialty was modern and American art.

After retirement, Jack and his wife Jean moved in 1996 to Cumberland, Maine. In 1998 he moved to Mussel Cove, Falmouth, Maine. In retirement he pursued his love of studio art. He was inspired by the ocean and beach at Mussel Cove and enjoyed its sights and beauty. He is survived by Jean, their daughter, Linda Lee, as well as three grand-daughters and a great grandson.

Jack and his wife Jean were very involved at First Universalist with time spent on auctions and also Buildings and Grounds. Jack was generous, kind, calm and fun to work with. We will miss Jack, and we wish Jean every comfort and many loving memories.

Once a year we invite everyone to think about why and how they are connected to church. You may be here for connection, community, spiritual growth, learning, religious exploration for kids, opportunities for social justice together, music, deep connection to our principles, because it feels right and good. These are TOUCHSTONES. Good news: if our JOY AND JUSTICE campaign lifted your heart last year, you can look forward to the same as we explore our faithful relationships to First Universalist. On Sunday, enjoy the short video about Touchstones, and let us know: what are YOUR touchstones at First U?

Zoom link to attend the meeting

First Universalist's midyear meeting, held annually in January, is our opportunity as a church to check in on how things are going and look forward to the rest of the church year and beyond. This midyear meeting will take place virtually on Zoom following the service on Sunday, January 30th.

and Sunday, February 6, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

All are welcome to come stop by by the church on Wednesday, February 2, 12:00 - 1:00 pm and/or on Sunday, February 6th between 2:00 - 3:00 pm for this pre-Valentine's Day Love-In.

This Sunday from 2 - 3 pm, middle and high schoolers (and friends!) are invited to come play in the snow at the home of Marie Wendt and Steve Gruverman. Please bring all your winter gear for all the anticipated snowfall! Bringing sleds, snow shoes, cross country skis are encouraged. There will be some snacks provided and access to a bathroom.

Parents - If you want to come and stay and hang out or do some cross country skiing or snow shoeing, you are welcome. Also feel free to drop off youth and come back later if that's better, too.

(If you need an address, please email Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com - if you get lost or need directions, please call Marie Wendt at 207-688-2293 (h) or 207-607-1881 (c).)

Come with your First Universalist friends to the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine on Sunday, February 27, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Families are welcome, bringing friends is encouraged, and grandparents with grandchildren are invited, too. Tickets are normally $15/person, but through a group rate, we can book at $10/person. Please contact Gwen (gwenatfirstu@gmail.com) by Monday, February 14, if you would like to attend or if you have any questions.

Please fill out this online registration form for all children and youth who will be participating in programs at First Universalist. Thank you!

Beginning in February, Rev. Hillary will host “What Do UU Think?” a virtual drop-in discussion hour on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 5-6pm. Each gathering will center on a curiosity-piquing, heart-opening, or just enjoyable piece of media that attendees will read, watch, or listen to in advance, and then come together to discuss in depth. Rev. Hillary will share the easily accessible media - which could be literary, journalistic, musical, or visual - in Channels the week prior to meeting. All are welcome to check it out and drop-in and share what UU think! So - keep your eyes peeled for the first piece up for discussion in Channels next week!

Last year I began serving as your Congregational Legislative Liaison (CLL) to the Maine UU State Advocacy Network (MUSSAN). My job as CLL is to inform our congregation about ways that we can support the passage of legislation that reflects our UU principles. MUUSAN has four Issue Groups: Democracy in Action; Health Care; Climate Change; and Racial, Native, and Immigrant Justice. As you may know, there are key moments in the legislative process when it is very strategic for legislators to hear from their constituents. Sometimes these moments come very quickly and need an immediate response. So please keep your eyes open for updates from me, your CLL, regarding action steps you can take this winter, spring and beyond! Thank you for all you do.  - Nancy Read (nafread@gmail.com)

Our Senator, Cathy Breen, is actively involved this week with three bills related to Democracy In Action. Please call or write to her in support of this legislation. (See below)

#1 - Cathy is chair of the Appropriations committee which will decide the fate of this bill: LD 231 “An Act To Establish Open Primaries”  

#2 - Cathy is co-sponsoring both of these next two bills. Please let her know that you appreciate her support.

Cathy Breen

Address: 15 Falmouth Ridges Drive, Falmouth, ME 04105

Home: (207) 329-6142  State House: (207) 287-1515  Email: Cathy.Breen@legislature.maine.gov

Tribal sovereignty, especially LD 1626, is the major focus of MUUSAN this year. THE UU Augusta social justice committee is inviting everyone to a letter-writing event Sunday, January 30th, from 2:00-3:30 in the church Zoom Room. Everyone is invited - from all UU congregations and communities! We will have information about the bill and how to easily write your own letters to legislators.

Read more at wabanakialliance.com/ld1626-faq/

Rev. Hillary: On Wednesdays from 12:00 - 1:00 pm Rev. Hillary will be holding an outside drop-in space at our church picnic tables. All are welcome to come by and check-in. (Weather permitting.) Throughout the week, Rev. Hillary will be holding office hours for individual conversations. These conversations can be on Zoom, over the phone, or in-person. Please reach out to Rev. Hillary directly to schedule a conversation, firstuminister@gmail.com. Note that Rev. Hillary is not available to meet on Saturdays and Mondays. See you soon!

Gwen: Once covid-19 numbers have moved down out of the "very high risk" zone, Gwen will be holding in person office hours from 1 - 3 pm on Wednesdays.