Sunday, January 9, 2022, at 10:30 am - online only!

Gwen Matthews, Director of Education & Communications

Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, Minister

Mack Jones, Children's Teacher & Youth Facilitator

John Auble, Guest Musician

Kai Fast, Worship Council Member

Ben Tupper, Committee on Ministry Member

Dear First U Friends,

Happy New Year - Here we are! This is it! It is this!

I always feel that the first weekend of January is the real test of how we’re fairing on our New Year’s resolutions and intentions. Many of us have time off leading up to January 1st, and oh, when we have a few spacious hours in our day how easy it is to dream big about all the possible things we could pull off this year!

Then Monday arrives and we’re back to our routines and grinds, and maybe our best laid hopes, plans, and intentions for a healthier, happier, and more productive new year start to dim a bit. Ah, c’est la vie.

I wonder if it makes more sense to consider our resolutions and intentions for the new year today, as we reach the end of the first week of the year. We’re really in it now and perhaps have a better idea of what we’re working with.

I know some folks roll their eyes at the practice of setting New Year’s resolutions and intentions, but I think setting some long-term personal, spiritual, care-related goals for yourself is a pretty solid and beneficial annual ritual. So if you didn’t set any last Saturday, consider this a warm welcome to give it a try now.

When many of us gathered to celebrate the new year celebration of the Winter Solstice a couple weeks ago, I offered two reflection questions as we embarked on our walking meditation around the glowing labyrinth:

What do you step away from now?

What do you step toward now?

I offer these questions again, today, at the end of our first week of the new year; now that we’re really in it. To what direction does the compass of your body, heart, and mind point this year?

What do you step away from now?

What do you step toward now?

I’m glad we’re taking these steps together.

Yours in resolving to walk more,

Rev. Hillary

Join us for a nourishing all church retreat led by Rev. Hillary and Gwen on January 22nd from 9:30-Noon on Zoom, and weather permitting, 1-2pm on our church grounds. During our time together we will practice our gifts for sharing, listening and evoking the spirit of life that exists within all of us. This “Care for Ourselves and Others” retreat will guide us through the winter and spring as we continue to fortify our community and embrace, engage, and explore our living faith.

Rev. Hillary and Gwen are exploring options to provide childcare during this retreat and will have more details on that possibility very soon.

Register for Session One on Zoom

(9:30 am - 12:00 pm)

Register for Session Two in person

(1:00 - 2:00 pm)

If you have questions please reach out to Hillary and/or Gwen. We look forward to this time together.

THE THUNDER: PERFECT MIND AND THE GOSPEL OF MARK

More information & Please register here

We will meet on Zoom after church on Sunday January 9, to critically examine and creatively respond to excerpts from the earliest canonical gospel, Mark, and an extracanonical Coptic poem, The Thunder: Perfect Mind. Both texts feature powerful speakers who claim intimate access to the divine and speak to the complexities of life under the Greco-Roman empire in the ancient Mediterranean and North Africa. The excerpts we study will help us defamiliarize canonical Mark and open up questions about how both we and ancient people use story, poetry, and collective experience/gathering/experiences in community to question, confront, and negotiate with the powers that be. For more information you can email Alexis at alexisgwaller@gmail.com.

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

• LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER at MUUSAN.org for the January 8 MUUSAN Network meeting that will focus on tribal sovereignty and feature Rep. Rena Newell (Passamaquoddy representative) as guest speaker.

• CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS. It’s easy! Use MUUSAN’s great action tools to voice your support of LD 1626 here and scroll to "Take Action" where you’ll find a link to a sample letter that includes a link to find your legislators, and a link to reasons to support LD 1626 – just pick one or two that matter to you. Copy, Paste, Print, Sign, Mail - letters are more powerful than email. YOUR ACTION MATTERS! Oh, and be sure to use the “I’m taking action” button so MUUSAN knows if their work has been worthwhile!

• WRITE letters to the editor in support of the bill. TALK with friends, family, and neighbors about why this legislation is important for the tribes in Maine and for the entire state.

Read more at wabanakialliance.com/ld1626-faq/

Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network is having their next network meeting on Saturday, January 8th from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm via Zoom. There will be a special focus on the Maine Tribal Sovereignty bill (LD 1626) with guest speaker Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative Rena Newell. Sign up to attend.

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.