Dear First Universalist Friends,

Like many of you I’m sure, this is the time of year I start to get impatient. Though, yeah, 48-52 degree temps seemed downright balmy a month ago, as May draws near they don’t feel so pleasant anymore. My friends, I’m ready to stop bracing myself as I head outdoors, I’m ready for leaves, I’m ready for tee-shirts, I’m for tulips, lilacs, and pea-shoots, I’m ready for just, like, a little bit more green! 

Seemingly on cue, though, each year around this time when I hit my limit with the temperate temps and very slowly budding leaves, that ol’ familiar Robert Frost verse blossoms up in my mind: 

“Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold, 

Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour.” 

It reminds me of the impermanence of all things and the need to just slow down and be, see, sense, wonder, and enjoy this moment now. I remember that these slowly unfolding springs are a gift; the cooler temperatures allow for our flowering bulbs to last longer and for us to really notice the subtle and downright glorious unfurling of spring. I’m sure we’ve all been through those springs when it’s 80 degrees one week and snowing the next. The fragile blooms, the tender leaves can’t handle such dramatic climate swings. Sadly such swings are more and more the norm in our ever warming and disoriented environment. 

I know I encouraged you all - us all! - to slow down back in January when everything was so icy, and here I am doing it again on the cusp of spring. So, friends, I guess the takeaway here is that “just slow down” might actually be a mantra for the whole year, no matter the season or the reason.

This Sunday we can all slow down together and celebrate the Earth and her slow glorious springtime unfurling during our special “Earth Fest” service. We’ll begin as we always do in the Sanctuary at 10:30, and then at 11 head over to Royal River Park for a special festival in honor of Earth Day and Beltane. There will be Maypole dancing, opportunities to learn about the land, art, and sing-a-longs for all to enjoy. 

Yours in still wishing it was just a little warmer and sunnier outside, 

Rev. Hillary 

This Sunday we'll be having a celebration of our interdependent web of life. We’ll begin this service at First Universalist, in our Sanctuary, and then travel to Royal River Park. If you’re able, we invite you to bike, walk, run, or roll to the park. At the park, we’ll have a few different Earth and springtime

celebratory activities to engage in.

We also invite all to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy together and to bring chairs and/or blankets to sit on. Please remember that Royal River Park is a carry in/carry out park.

Rev. Hillary and Sarah Witte are here to remind us, "if in doubt, sit it out."

Marni Prince is leading a yoga class just for First Universalist members and friends on Saturday mornings, 11:15 am - 12:15 pm, at Riverbend Yoga Studio in Yarmouth. This is a very gentle yoga class focused on healing and restoration. Classes cost $10 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the church. To get on the email mailing list to receive class announcements or information about cancellation, or for questions or more information, please contact Marni Prince at marniprince@gmail.com.

You are invited to the Installation of Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick as Minister at the First Universalist Church of Yarmouth on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 4:00 pm. Learn more and RSVP.

Are you a Board Geek in hiding? We bet some of you are! Think of it this way: many new UU's have said to themselves upon discovering the UU faith, "I was a UU all along, I just didn't know it!" Maybe you're a future Board Member and just don't yet know it!

Our First U Board of Trustees will have one open At Large seat for the upcoming church year which begins on July 1. We hope to fill that seat at our annual meeting in June. If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact Joanna Landsman at jslandsman@gmail.com.

The church elevator is temporarily out of service. The Buildings & Grounds Committee are working with an elevator tech to address the problem. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that if this poses a barrier for you that you'll join the service on Zoom.

This MUUSAN network meeting is open to all. Register here to join. View the full announcement 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.