We Commit Ourselves and Our Resources to 
Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community, and Help Heal the World.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
10:00 am

ONLINE Worship Service

UU the Vote!

Carl Cappello
Join Zoom Meeting:
(This link will work for all upcoming online services.)
Meeting ID: 387 790 755
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,387790755# US (New York)

Call in as early as 9:30 am
to test your Zoom connection,
and say hello to other First Parish friends.

Or watch the livestream service on our Facebook page.

Please have a candle ready to light during the service.
Upcoming Online Worship Services
Oct. 25 | 10am
Making Space for Love
Rev. Christina Sillari
Nov. 1 | 10am
Healing 101
Rev. Christina Sillari
Nov. 8 | 10am
Healing
After the Election
Ophelia Hu Kinney
What's Going on in RE?
Toben Cooney-Callnan, RE Director

Grades 1-7: Zoom Meetings most Sundays 9-9:45am
Grades 8/9: Coming of Age Program Tuesdays 6:30-7:45pm
Grades 10-12: Youth Group Sundays 6-7:15pm

If you would like more information about our programming for children and youth please contact Toben at dre@fisrtparishportland.org.

Storytellers Invited!
We can always use storytellers to tell stories or read books for our messages to younger kids and for the Time for All Ages part of our online worship services. Email Toben at dre@fisrtparishportland.org for more information. 
Native Justice Resource List

This Native Justice Resource List of educational, historical, and local action materials is offered in response to the interest expressed following the Truth, Grief & Reconciliation service on October 11th. Any suggestions for additions may be forwarded to Carl Cappello, ccappello@maine.rr.com.
Poetry and Music Information
from last week's
Truth, Grief & Reconciliation Service

There have been requests for more information on Mihku Paul's poems and the music by Dawnland Singers. Mihku's featured poem during the service, Song for Machigonne is available HERE. Her poem Jefferson Street School (read just before the breakout sessions) is available HERE and can also be found in her book 20th Century Pow Wow Playland which was published in 2012 by Bowman Books.

The music by the Dawnland Singers is from their Honor Songs album. Honor Songs can be found on Amazon or purchased directly from the Bruchac family HERE. All proceeds go to support the Ndakinna Outdoor Education Center.
Wayside Pulpit
Laurie Hasty, Membership Coordinator
UU the Vote
2020 Election Countdown

There are many ways members and friends of First Parish can find useful information on Voting November 3rd, and also find ideas on encouraging family members and friends to vote. The following organizations and websites are the partners in UU the Vote. They welcome your interest and involvement. 

Be the world changers that our faith calls us to become. 
Together we can #VoteLove and #DefeatHate.
 
Unitarian Universalist Association: www.uuthevote.org
 
Maine Unitarian Universalist Social Action Network (MUUSAN): www.muusan.org
 
Maine League of Women Voters: www.lwvme.org
 
Maine Poor People’s Campaign:    www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/committee/maine

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Election Protection Volunteer Opportunities

For what feels like the first time in all of our lives, there is real concern about the safety and integrity of the upcoming election. Many organizations, like the Maine League of Women Voters, have put together trainings to support people in safely volunteering to do election protection work. From reaching out to support clerks to observing local elections, there are many ways you can actively participate as an election protection volunteer.  FMI:
Ophelia Hu Kinney:
November 8th Guest Speaker

Ophelia Hu Kinney (she/her/hers) is the child of Chinese immigrants, a sister, and a wife. She is the Director of Communications at Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization advancing LGBTQ justice and inclusion in The United Methodist Church, and the Worship Coordinator at HopeGateWay in Portland. She lives with her wife in Scarborough. 
Welcome to our
New Members!

We are so excited that five wonderful women signed the historic Membership Book recently and joined First Parish... Sue Cook, Christine Hey, Cat Koger, Megan Lauer, and Corene Wickenheiser! 
 
This week, let us introduce you to Corene Wickenheiser: 

I am almost 50, am a wife of 22 years, and a mother of two boys, ages 16 and 19.I have lived in Portland for about 18 years. I worked as a journalist for many years before staying at home to raise the boys. For the last 8 years, I have worked as an ed tech for Portland Public Schools, most recently at Deering High School. I love walking and hiking and keep meaning to take up running more seriously. I enjoy thinking about the metaphysical and have reason to believe we all shall be received in Graceland. Maybe if we band together, we can do some good. My Patron Saint is Kateri Tekawatha who is the only saint of North America. I feel I have some pull around here and can put in a good word for us.
First Parish
Memorial Garden
Fall Clean Up
October 24 | 9 am
Raindate: October 25 | 9 am

Join the Garden Committee with a pair of gloves to rake, prune and put our beloved garden to bed for the winter. All are welcome- masks and social distancing, please! FMI: please contact Linda Shary at lindashary3@gmail.com.
Bible Study with Reverend Christina:
The Book of Thomas
Tuesdays | October 27- November 17 4:00-5:30 pm | Zoom

The Bible is a sacred text worth exploring. All are welcome to join in community to read, interpret and discuss "The Book of Thomas" from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Registration required; must sign up for whole series. Free to members. $50 for the series for non-members.
Please email Laurie Hasty to register: membership@firstparishportland.org.
Pastoral Care Calls
& Office Hours
with Reverend Christina
Mondays | 9 am - 12 pm
Tuesdays | 2-5 pm

Reverend Christina will be holding Pastoral Care calls and Office Hours for meetings by phone or Zoom every Monday & Tuesday for members and leaders of First Parish. Please email Sheila to schedule a call.
Breathing and Meditation 
with Reverend Christina
Wednesdays | 7:30-8:30 am | Zoom 

The practice of pranayama is essential to a calm mind, a healthy body, and a free spirit. Through breathwork, kriyas, mudras and sutras we prepare for silence and stillness. Free to members. $10.00 per class for non-members.
Poetry Hour with Reverend Christina
Thursdays | 8-9 am | Zoom

We listen to poems, reflect on them, and share how they touch our beings.
Some of us have begun to write poems. All are welcome. Free to members. $10.00 per class for non-members. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/250298315
Church for EveryBody Project Update
Ted Oldham & Austin Farrar

The telephone and internet cables were cut recently, severing all staff communications except by yelling. The power was also cut to our fire suppression system causing the Fire Department to make an 3:30 am morning wake-up call Sunday to Chris Beasley. Additionally, old vinyl asbestos tiles were found under the quarry tile in the lower level (now called the 1st floor). These hitches and other problems are often being solved by Sheila and Moe with their creativity, diligence and presence of mind. Progress is continuing to be made and the tower continues to rise. After all of the messy demolition, work will start soon to rebuild the interior spaces of the Parish House. Learn more about the project here.
Restricted Reopening for Rental Groups

The Rental Reopening Team has been working for many months on developing protocols for safely welcoming our long-standing rental partners back to First Parish. Our two large AA meetings (7 am Attitude Adjustment & Noon Men's meeting) will resume their weekday meetings at First Parish next week, with a large portion of their members continuing to meet online. Due to the construction project taking place on the lower level, all all meetings will be held in the Parish Hall, with a max of 30 people.

First Parish strongly recommends that most FP meetings and groups continue to meet online. Groups with members who cannot participate online are asked to call Sheila in the Office to discuss the possibility of holding meetings at First Parish. In order to ensure the safety of the Staff, all meetings will be held in the Parish Hall- the upstairs classrooms are closed for the time being.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we juggle the dual challenges of the pandemic and our exciting Church of EveryBody construction project!
COVID + Construction:
Getting in Touch with First Parish

With the combined challenges of COVID and the CFE construction project, business is anything but normal at First Parish! It may take a few days to return phone messages; email is the best way to reach all First Parish staff. Please keep in mind that Scott, Toben and Laurie work part-time, and will return messages when they are able. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
A Family for ME
Be A Hero.
Be a Resource Parent!

Did you know that YOU could be the life-changing person for a child here in Maine? Yes, YOU can become a foster or adoptive parent! Learn more about the licensing process and the different ways you can help Maine children by contacting A Family for ME today! www.afamilyformemaine.org
425 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101   207-773-5747  

 Nurture the Spirit, Grow in Community 
and Help Heal the World