Watch the Worship Service on YouTube

If we grow our annual commitments for the coming church year by combining last year’s annual contribution with our special RISE UP contribution (an increase of 15%) as we are able, then we will be able to have any and all fundraising events (when it is safe to do so) purely for JOY and JUSTICE, putting our Faith into ACTION!

Be a beautiful annual! Be a faithful perennial! Find FAQs, Giving Table, and place to Plant your seeds of hope with a commitment on our website or send an email to Marge (mjtbean@aol.com) or Sarah (sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com).

Watch the video.

Dear First Universalist Friends,

As some of you know, we are one of many UU churches across the country that subscribe to a monthly resource for and by UU church leaders called Soul Matters. Ever wonder where these monthly themes come from - September’s “Renewal,” December’s “Stillness,” February’s “Beloved Community,” etc.? Soul Matters.

Each month church leaders receive access to three packets of resources - Worship Arts, Small Group, and RE - all based on a particular theologically juicy theme. Depending on which packet you open, you’ll find a list of big questions you’ll need a few hours to ponder before you even begin to answer: “Is your imagination kind or cruel to you?” or “What childhood moment of stillness has never left you?”

You’ll find pages of chalice lightings and prayers, hymn suggestions, or a long list of important dates in the upcoming month: March 8th is International Women’s Day, March 28th is Holi,The Selma March was March 21-25, 1965, Breonna Taylor was killed March 13th, 2020. In the Religious Education resources, you will find stories, activities, movie and music recommendations, and meditation practices where maybe you’ll imagine you have super powers, or are a frog, a tiger, or a tree.

If you’re curious about these resources, looking for a big question to ponder, or have some kids at home who need some new activities - just reach out to Gwen or me and we’ll happily send along some suggestions. (OR... just saying, you can always join a Small Group, volunteer to lead some RE activities, and/or participate in our worship planning and leadership. And then you’ll have all the Soul Matters stuff you need!)

Our monthly Soul Matters theme this March is Commitment; a fitting theme as we kick off our Annual Campaign this Sunday. Watching the ground thaw and freeze, thaw and re-freeze this past week while pondering “commitment,” I realized that spring is the time of year where many of us pay closer attention to the world outside: the first signs of green, the growing multiplicity of bird songs, the tropical feel of 49 degrees, those frigid sudden winds, and ooh, that wafting aroma of mud. We see things more clearly, feel things more fully, and really pay attention this time of year. It is this heightened awareness I believe we must bring to the commitments we make - knowing what we love, feeling what we feel, attending to the situation at hand, and dreaming always beyond what could and what will be. My friends, I look forward to paying attention and sharing this time of commitment with you in the weeks ahead. 

Yours in drafting a petition to Mother Nature for no more “feels like -15” temps this Spring, 

Rev. Hillary

It is with great joy and fellowship that we have welcomed Kim Golden into membership at First Universalist. She has come to the grounds of First Universalist to safely sign our membership book with Rev. Hillary.

Want to join in welcoming our new members? We're looking forward to a Zoom new member celebration on Sunday, March 7th, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. We also hope to celebrate our new members again in the fall - hopefully with an in-person worship service!

Interested in joining in membership? If First Universalist feels like your spiritual home, if you want to become part of this vital, liberating, institution, if you want to declare your commitment to siding with love, creating peace, and welcoming all, you, too, could join in membership! Learn more about the benefits of membership, eligibility requirements, and covenant.

If you have questions or are ready to sign the book, contact members of Congregation Connections (Sarah Witte, Martha Hutchinson, Cindy Guernsey, or Brenda McKee), Gwen Matthews (gwenatfirstu@gmail.com) or Rev. Hillary (firstuminister@gmail.com).

What brings you joy? Simple acts of kindness, especially the ones observed unintentionally, a father with his child, a child helping an elderly person, a guy in NYC buying a meal for a homeless person, this is what connects us as humans.

Why did you choose First Universalist as your spiritual home? Because I love Rev. Hillary, the way she can bring God and Buddha and a confederate flag waving cowboy peacefully and lovingly into the same space, because I believe in the principles as a verb, changing and growing, because I want to belong to a community tribe that inspires and helps me to be a better person, because I am a child of God.

Where do you find a sense of calm or peace? In nature, walking in the woods, watching the waves continue to roll in and out, despite the actions of the day, listening to Hawaiian acoustic guitar.

What are you most proud of? My 3 children (the Missionary, the Drag Queen and Toki).

What are you most passionate about? Taking good care of my patients, going the extra mile, thinking outside the box to give them the care they deserve.

What brings you joy? Simple things! my dog, Greta; spending time with my family; the beach and the ocean; being witness to other peoples' joy and happiness.

Why did you choose First Universalist as your spiritual home? I was mostly 'unchurched' growing up but was always inclined to explore my spirituality. In 2011, a friend suggested I might find a UU church to be what I was looking for, as my need to explore and connect became even stronger. I church-shopped a little, and then walked into First U on a cold Sunday morning in February 2012. I was welcomed. I loved what I saw and heard. I kept coming back. It was church and yet not church. I was encouraged and challenged to think and explore and feel.  First U has become my spiritual home because I love what we do together and who I have become since being here.

Where do you find a sense of calm or peace? At Vespers each Wednesday evening, which has become my favorite time of the week. But also, believe it or not, wherever I happen to be when I'm running!

What are you most proud of? That I was able to provide for my parents in their later years, and to care for each of them through to the end of their lives.

What are you most passionate about? I'm passionately envious of people who can rattle off an answer to this question!

At First Universalist, there is a tradition to celebrate Pi Day (3/14) with an embrace of science, math, and delicious pies. In an effort to keep that tradition alive, we're planning a pandemic style mini pie exchange.

That's okay! We believe that folks will make extras and you can still come pick up a mini-pie to enjoy. Trust that some days, you're the pie-maker, other days, you're the pie-eater - and both roles are vital to the pie experience.

Email Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com with any questions.

Join Anna on Zoom where we start our theme of Commitment. This week is all about a commitment to curiosity. Click for Children's Chapel and enter password: CHAPEL.

Join in to celebrate and welcome our newest members! Click for the Social & Learning Hour and enter the password: COMMUNITY.

Learn more about gender diversity and explore how best to promote a child/teen's healthy understanding of gender. Co-facilitated by Rev. Hillary and Gwen. Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting.

On Zoom with Ben and Alexis, learning about UU beliefs, principles, and sources. Click for Coming of Age and enter password: SPIRIT.

Parents, grandparents, caregivers help to shape a child’s healthy understanding of both their own gender and the gender diversity out in the world. This workshop, co-facilitated by Rev. Hillary and Gwen, calls participants to explore their ideas and feelings about gender and the values about gender they are teaching their children or grandchildren, explicitly or implicitly. The workshop introduces cultural and biological issues at play in gender identity and gender expression. Participants will find spiritual grounding for becoming comfortable with gender topics and integrating gender into conversations with their children or grandchildren.

Not a parent, grandparent, or caregiver? You're still welcome to come learn with us!

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting.

Our junior youth group will be on hiatus for the rest of February and most of March, but we plan to spring forward with our re-launch of project-based JYG activities and workshops. Look for more details coming soon about the exciting new offerings!

There are 4 Anti-Racist Learning Groups starting in March and 19 church members have already signed up. Two of the groups meet once a month and have 5-6 members. Two other groups meet twice a month and have 3 and 5 members.

Ideally we suggest that each group have 5 - 6 members so we are looking for members for both groups which meet twice a month. If the interest is there we can start other small learning groups.

Please consider signing up for an anti-racist learning group. To do so contact Dale by emailing her at shields.dale1@gmail.com.

What you read, what you watch as video, what you discuss, etc. is your choice but to get started we suggest you can begin with content put into Channels in the past several months or books you have already read.

Dale Shields and Steve Thomas have put together suggestions regarding starting an anti-racist learning group which we will email to anyone interested in joining one of the groups.

In honor of our first principle, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, this week’s offering is shared with MaineTransNet, a community based organization led by transgender people for transgender people providing peer-to-peer support groups, advocacy for the transgender community across Maine, and transgender cultural competency training for health and social service providers. They engage transgender people and allies across Maine in the practice of community building and organizing for mutual liberation.

Please offer your gift by clicking the "Make Your Offering" button below (to contribute via GiveButter), dropping a check or cash in the mail, or sending via your bank's bill pay feature.

How can we approach the end of our life with a healthy and open attitude We can take action now to organize our documents, making sure our legal, financial, and medical affairs are in order. We can create a blueprint of our wishes for others to follow so that even in an emergency they will know what we want. And we can prepare ourselves for leaving our body by resolving and/or deepening relationships; reducing the amount of "stuff" that we carry with us, both physical and emotional; and sharing the wisdom and knowledge we have gained so that we know our purpose in life has been reached.

Join Johanna Munson, end-of-life navigator and death doula, for free discussions about end of life issues on Zoom on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 2 - 3 pm, EST (next sessions: March 11th, March 25th). Email Johanna to receive the Zoom link to attend: johanna@johannamunson.com.

This three week online training (Saturdays 3 pm-5 pm March 13th, 20th, and 27th) is for parents, especially parents of trans youth, hoping to build their knowledge on trans inclusive sex education, intimate partner violence awareness/prevention, and trans youth. The facilitators will be covering topics such as relationship building with trans youth, being trauma informed with young trans survivors, and answering the question "What if I mess up?" 30 slots are available for participation. Click here for more information and registration.