WORSHIP
FIRST THERE IS A MOUNTAIN
Sunday, September 19, 10:30 am - in person & online!
Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, Minister
Sam Chandler, Music Director
Gwen Matthews, Director of Education & Communications
Mack Jones, Children's Teacher
If you're joining in person: Please review our covid-19 safety guidelines on our website. Please also note: In-person worship plans are subject to change dependent on covid-19 case numbers in Cumberland County. We will alert you quickly if such changes occur prior to Sunday. For more information on our re-opening decision process please see our Re-Opening Phase Chart

If you're joining online: To access the online service, please use this Zoom link and enter the passcode WORSHIP. A Sunday morning email will also be arriving with the Zoom link, order of worship, and a link to the offering.
MINISTER'S MESSAGE
A sketch from Sunday morning by Alexis Waller

Dear First U Friends,

Wow, was it good, dreamlike, energizing, meaning-full and wonder-full to see so many of you in our Sanctuary this Sunday - and then even more of you outside at our Coffee Hour! As I expressed in our worship service, I hope as time progresses it will become safe and comfortable for more and more of our beloved community to join us in-person for worship. Please know we will keep on Zooming no matter what - All will always be welcome here! 

During Coffee Hour on Sunday, several folks asked for clarity on how we’ll make the call to hold in-person worship each week. Firstly I want to remind you all that we have a bundle of materials on our safety plan. I understand though if you were confused or were overwhelmed by these materials. 

So, I wanted to share with you my personal, very simple method for gauging where we are at safety-wise each Sunday.:
Throughout the week, I go to the Covid Act Now site and type "Cumberland County" in the search engine at the top of the page. When I hit the return key, the site takes me to a page that lists covid-related statistics for our county.

Simply put, if the Cumberland County risk level is listed as Very High or Severe we will not have in-person worship. If the risk level is listed as Low, Medium, or High we will have in-person worship. 

To gauge how closely we are skirting Very High and Severe risk levels, I look at the Daily New Cases and Infection Rates. If the Daily New Cases are 25 or more, we will be online. If the Infection Rate is 1.5 and higher we will be online. 

Covid Act Now tends to be updated around midday every weekday. We check it throughout the week and if we need to switch to all virtual worship we will alert the congregation. It is possible we could switch to virtual worship if we are still in the "High Risk" zone but numbers are nearing "Very High" levels. (So, do check your emails from First U, folks!) 

Covid Act Now is informed by CDC statistics and the UUA has advised congregations to use it in our planning process. The UUA has given the go ahead for congregations to hold in-person gatherings when local Covid risk level is Low, Medium, or High with, of course, more stringent safety guidelines at higher risk levels. The UUA has urged congregations not to hold in-person worship if the risk level is Very High or Severe. You can read these guidelines, along with other covid-related updates from the UUA.

Phew. Even simply put that was a long message, eh? Nonetheless, I hope it helps those of you in need to have a clearer picture of how we’re planning church and keeping people safe this year. 

If you still have questions, please feel free to contact members of the (reopening) safety team:

Yours hopefully in-person for as long as possible, 
Rev. Hillary 
FINANCIAL TIMES OF FIRST U
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
A NOTE FROM B&G
Special thanks to the Garden Angels who weeded, pruned, plumped and puffed the garden beds! Be sure to check out the beautiful walkway edging, and make the appropriate ooooohs and ahhhs (a little backward stagger wouldn’t hurt either).

More special thanks to the Cleaning Angels who vacuumed, buffed, polished and organized inside in anticipation of our first indoor gathering this fall. Bravo!

Have an idea for First U’s Buildings and Grounds Committee? Annoyed by a loose doorknob? Concerned by the steeple dangling by a thread? Have a question for the Committee? Compliment? Feel free to contact Ben Tupper (207) 699-9686 or Pete Titcomb (207) 317-9738 directly or complete this super brief and easy form. Of course, if it is an emergency then forget the dang form and call one of us right away.  Here are some examples of recent submissions:

“The wooden biscuits in the front yard are becoming a hazard for ankles.”

“A mouse has the run of offices and kitchens.”

“The window in the storage room at back of sanctuary needs attention.”

With thanks from the Heroic Buildings and Grounds Committee (HBG)
TECH CREW WANTS YOU!
The Tech Crew is looking for a few more members to assist on Sunday mornings. You could run the Zoom meeting, operate the camera, set up microphones, or help with other tech needs. Training available! Email Rev. Hillary (firstuminister@gmail.com) to join or with questions.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION
We are currently hiring for a part-time administrative assistant to work in our church office. Please encourage anyone you know who is looking for part-time administrative work to apply.
TOWN-WIDE YARD SALE
Saturday, September 25
The Yarmouth Clam Festival is having a town-wide yard sale on Saturday, September 25th to benefit all the non-profits who would generally participate in Clam Fest. Groups or individuals are welcome to have a yard sale that day, and use the profits however they want, with donations to CF optional. Our church folks have decided not to have a big sale at church, as it's labor-intensive and organizationally demanding. However, small groups, or individuals, are encouraged to hold yard sales on that day, lighten your load, and make a contribution to the church coffers, if desired. Registration with the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce will provide the publicity and maps of all the sales. Please contact Anne Turner at annelewisturner@gmail.com if you're interested in participating, or helping to organize one or more groups, especially if you live in a particularly visible, accessible spot!
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
We recently had a fantastic discussion of the book "Nothing to See Here" outside at the church picnic tables.

Coming up soon, Sunday, October 3rd, from 12 - 1 pm, we'll be discussing our next book "Call to Unite." Read the book, choose a favorite, meaningful, or thought-provoking essay you'd like to discuss with the group, and then come if you're able for the discussion. Weather permitting, we'll be meeting outside at church again.
REGISTER FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS
Please fill out this online registration form for all children and youth who will be participating in programs at First Universalist. Thank you!
UPCOMING PLANS FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS
This year, you can view a schedule of children and youth programs in advance and learn about timing of programs, topics/themes, and facilitators each week. Please also see below to view the September RE calendar.




Please note: These plans may be updated as the fall progresses.
SOME CHANGES IN CHILDREN & YOUTH RE PROGRAMS
Welcome to those who are new and welcome back to those who are returning, we're so excited to be offering religious exploration programs for children and youth in person this year!

You'll notice some changes about our children and youth RE programs this year, including some covid-19 safety protocols:
  • All programs will take place outdoors.
  • All will be masked during RE programming.
  • All who are working with children or youth will be vaccinated or provide negative covid-19 tests weekly.
  • The nursery will be open for use, but will not be staffed.

Some other changes:
  • We're welcoming a new Children's Teacher, Mack Jones!
  • Like the worship service, Children's Chapel will be slightly shorter than in previous years. Children will still start in the Sanctuary with their families and then will be escorted outside after about 10 minutes in the service to take part in Children's Chapel. Children's Chapel, and the service, will end at approx. 11:15 am.
  • Junior youth group and senior youth group will both take place in the afternoons at 3:00 pm and the two groups will occupy different spaces outside of the church.

If you have questions about these changes or anything else relating to RE programs, please contact Gwen Matthews at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.
ASSIST WITH CHILDREN'S CHAPEL
Assisting with Children's Chapel is a rewarding way to live and share your Unitarian Universalist values with children ages five to ten. Children's Chapel is a mix of activities, games, celebrations, activities, stories, and group discussion that allows all children to chime in with their big questions and helps them to find their own answers.

As an assistant, you'll support our professional children's teacher during Children's Chapel, but will not be responsible for advance planning or gathering materials. You could assist as frequently as every Sunday or just a few times per church year. Remember that you do not have to have a child in the program to participate!

This year is a great time to volunteer with Children's Chapel, as you will be able to watch much of the service that is recorded and uploaded online later.

Questions about what it means to assist with Children's Chapel? Contact Gwen Matthews at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.

Ready to volunteer? You can sign up for a Sunday morning spot.
COMMUNITY NEWS
MAINE VOICES BEYON PRISON WALLS
The Maine Voices Beyond Prison Walls art exhibit which is part of the Freedom and Captivity Project.

The Freedom and Captivity Project is a statewide public arts and humanities collaborative conceived with the participation of people in Maine impacted by incarceration. The project aims to help the public imagine a future without prisons through exhibitions, workshops, webinars, a podcast series, research, creative production and public education materials.

The Freedom and Captivity Project art exhibit Maine Voices Beyond Prison Walls opened at the Union of Maine Visual Artists Gallery at the Portland Media Center, 516 Congress Street Portland Friday, September 3, 2021 and will run through through October 29, 2021.
FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE
REV. HILLARY'S OFFICE HOURS
Rev. Hillary is back in the Zoom and real life office this August and would like to catch up with you! On Wednesdays from 11 am - 1 pm she 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!
Pastoral Emergencies
If you experience a pastoral emergency please contact Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, who can be reached on her cell phone: 207-740-3753. Please note Rev. Hillary is in the office Tuesday - Friday for non-emergency opportunities to talk.
Submit Your Announcement
To have your announcement included in this e-newsletter please email the information to Gwen Matthews, Director of Education and Communications, at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com by Wednesday at 12 pm.
 First Universalist Church of Yarmouth | 207-846-4148 | office@uuyarmouth.org | www.uuyarmouth.org