Dear First U Friends,

At the start of the church year I go through each week of my planner and make a note on “special Sundays,” e.g. Indigenous People’s Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, MLK Day, Stewardship Sunday, Earth Day, etc. 

At the start of the week, I could not help but chuckle when I flipped open my planner and saw my note for this Sunday:

Many of you are well aware of my ineptitude when it comes to mathematics. 

Though I used to experience a great deal of anxiety when it came to math, these days - decades away from the terror of Algebra 2 exams - I tend to meet my number challenges with curiosity: What stands in my way of understanding math? 

And - more importantly, is it possible to become proficient, even expert, in subject areas that confound us? If so, what does it take to reach that comfort level? Does it take time, the right teacher, confidence, willpower, money, survival, luck, divine intervention, joy? 

Think for a moment about the skills that have come easily over the course of your life, perhaps abilities like playing sports, drawing, writing, learning languages, cooking, playing instruments, ace-ing Algebra 2 exams, making the TV remote work, etc. 

Why do you think these skills are easy for you? 

Now think of the skills that have not come easily to you - playing sports, drawing, writing, learning languages, cooking, playing instruments, ace-ing Algebra 2 exams, making the TV remote work, etc. 

Why do you think these skills are difficult for you? 

Friends, I pose these questions not only because we’re headed into Pi(e) Day weekend, but also because our theme for this month is “Renewing Faith.” 

Perhaps it’s because theological deep dives come easily to me, but I find this theme calls me to take inventory on where my spirit is alive these days, where it is dormant, and how it is longing to grow. Examining the skills that we naturally have and the skills that challenge us feels like a helpful way to reflect on where we are right now, what we bring to our relationships, what’s missing, and what we need to keep growing, learning, and widening our circles.

Yours in needing some pie - no matter what,

Rev. Hillary 

Please click and review our updated Covid Safety Policy (updated March 8, 2022) so you know all the covid-19 safety guidelines. We will still provide zoom access for anyone who needs or prefers to stay home.

Come to our annual celebration of faithful old pi (3.1416…) and our feast of sweet and savory pies. Please bake and bring a full size pie of any kind you would like, traditional, vegan, or gluten-free, sweet or savory, Come and eat a slice (or 2, or 3.314) of pie! There will also be boxes available to go if you prefer.

As we joyfully return to our beloved Sanctuary, our first instinct was to fill it with lovely cut flowers to celebrate. Many of us are increasingly aware, however, that cut flowers are often produced in ways that have a huge carbon footprint, violate human rights, and involve heavy pesticide use, and we've decided that it's time to bring some creative thinking to ways to beautify the Sanctuary. There are lots of possibilities, and we'd like to encourage anyone interested in helping out to contact Jeanette Newton (318-9135) or Anne Turner (415-3644) if you'd like to participate. All ideas welcome!

Sunday, 3/6, during worship: In Children's Chapel we'll spend our time together celebrating math, science, and pi.

All 5th - 12th graders and their friends are invited to a youth group movie night featuring the movie Avatar. We'll gather together to watch the movie and have some popcorn and other snacks available for sale with proceeds going to a nonprofit of choice, voted on by the attendees.

Last year 20 adults and 10 youth with 4 parents/facilitators went on two separate Black and Indigenous History walking tours of the Portland Peninsula with Seth Goldstein, History Professor at the Maine College of Art and principal of the Atlantic Black Box Project.

 

In May, we will offer one or more 1 ½ - 2 hour walking tours with Seth Goldstein.  You are invited to participate in an Indigenous and Black history walking tour led by Seth.

Please click here for more information, for praise of the walking tours, and for a questionnaire that will help schedule future tours.

Please contact your state legislators and Governor Mills ASAP about the following bill which MUUSAN opposes: the new (surprise) bill, LD 1959 – An Act to Ensure Transmission and Distribution Utility Accountability.  This seems to be the Governor’s attempt to derail the Consumer Owned Utility campaign. Why does MUUSAN oppose it? This important article by Gordon Weil (Maine’s first Public Advocate) gives an analysis of the bill. Read more and find contact information for local legislators.

Protecting Democracy’s Guardrails: The March 12th MUUSAN network meeting will feature Former Maine Secretary of State, Matt Dunlap, Representative Nicole Grohoski and other speakers discussing how we, as Maine UUs, can best protect democracy in this challenging time. Register here.

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.