Sunday, November 21, 2021, 10:30 am - online only this week!

Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, Minister

Sam Chandler, Music Director

Gwen Matthews, Director of Education & Communications

Mack Jones, Children's Teacher & Youth Facilitator

To join 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.

Dear First U Friends,

I’ve heard from many of you that the service this past Sunday, from reciting our Unison Affirmation, to singing We’ll Build a Land, to learning about ambiguous grief, to my neighbor’s reminder that “all there is to do is love one another,” really struck a powerful chord. Not bad, given it was on Zoom! I guess talking about love is just that powerful sometimes.

Since the service, I’ve made a point to ask pretty much everyone I’ve seen, “What do you need right now?” And I’ve been moved to hear many of you respond somewhat in a similar chorus: you need to feel loved and you need to feel like you belong. Sometimes this sentiment is shared with laughter, sometimes with nonchalance, but often it is often shared through tears. Phew. It’s a simple statement, but it sure is a powerful one.

Friends, you are loved and you belong. If you need a reminder, just call me, text me, email me, or send by way of that golden November light a message, I’ll be quick to respond.

And sure, you might be one of those types who may feel compelled to roll your eyes at this mushy Universalist stuff. But hey, as a fellow Mainiac who likes to think of herself as tough as Carhartt, let me tell you, it’s important work to let this message sink in:

You’re loved and you belong.

Just humor me for a sec and recite that line to yourself. Oh, c’mon, recite it like you mean it. Let it in. (Admittedly, it might bear some repeating for you to actually take it in.)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has often said, “all beings want happiness and no one wants to suffer.” I agree and would take it a step further to say, all beings want to feel that they are loved and that they belong. Imagine just hearing that line regularly throughout your life: Hey. you’re loved!” “Yo, you belong!” I wonder what that would do over time.

Perhaps today’s the day to share that message with someone (or many ones) in your life.

And just see what happens.

Yours in my tough, orange Carhartt hat...and my mushy, Universalist heart,

Rev. Hillary

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: On Wednesdays, Gwen will be holding office hours at the church from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. You can drop in to chat about religious exploration for children, youth, and adults, about congregation connections, or about communications. You can also use this time to know the church office will be open and able for you to access other things you may need. Gwen (gwenatfirstu@gmail.com) is also available by appointment, Monday - Wednesday.

Volunteers Wanted: We are also hoping to have congregant volunteers participate in holding some church office hours. If you have a couple of hours once or twice per month where you would enjoy helping with some office administrative tasks, please contact Gwen or Rev. Hillary to discuss.

Though we are all in need of quiet and caring retreat time in the midst of the holidays, we recognize that giving up a whole Saturday the week before Christmas is simply not doable for many folks.

So in order to care for our needs and limits this time of year, we are rescheduling our Caring for Self and Other All Church Retreat to Saturday, January 22nd. Rev. Hillary, Gwen, and lay retreat leaders are sure that we will need a quiet, caring respite in mid-January as well!

More information and an RSVP for the January 22nd Retreat will be sent out closer to the date.

First Universalist will be having a mini fair on Dec. 4. Proceeds will be for the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust for the Wabanaki Garden Project. The Chamber of Commerce will be advertising. We have solicited soups, Joy's jams, and some craft items will be sold. If anyone has done crafts that they would like to donate, please let Dorothy McAloney know at dmcaloney48@gmail.com.

ADULT READ FOR DECEMBER: WOMEN OF THE DAWN

Interested in learning more about the complex and fascinating history of the Wabanaki people in Maine? Next month your Adult RE Council will be hosting a discussion of Women of the Dawn by Bunny McBride. This historical imagining of the lives of five Wabanaki women from the beginning of French settlement until today offers surprising insights and opens up a wealth of questions for those of us learning about this often forgotten part of our history. Please join us on December 5th!

This course will now be happening sometime after the holidays, most likely beginning in late January or early February. Please watch this space for more details!

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 November RE calendars.

Please note: These plans may be updated as the fall progresses.

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

Did you know...?

You can support the important year round work of the Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) by participating in their online auction. The auction is now open and ends on Tuesday, November 30th.