Please watch the video above and then check out the poster below and/or review this document for information about our reopening plans for First Universalist. This information will also be posted publicly at the church as a reminder.

If you have questions about our opening plan or safety guidelines, please contact members of the reopening team.

Our beloved Ingathering service and celebration will be happening both in person and online this year. This will include our traditional Sand Ceremony, where we gather a small amount of sand from beloved locations to combine together, so please remember to bring your sand on September 12th.

Details for accessing the online service will be available in next week's Channels. This service will not be recorded, but there are plans for pieces of future services to be recorded and posted online.

Vespers will not be happening this coming Wednesday, September 8, but will return the following week, September 15th, at 7:00 pm.

The Yarmouth Clam Festival is having a town-wide yard sale on Saturday, September 25th to benefit all the non-profits who would generally participate in Clam Fest. Groups or individuals are welcome to have a yard sale that day, and use the profits however they want, with donations to CF optional. Our church folks have decided not to have a big sale at church, as it's labor-intensive and organizationally demanding. However, small groups, or individuals, are encouraged to hold yard sales on that day, lighten your load, and make a contribution to the church coffers, if desired. Registration with the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce will provide the publicity and maps of all the sales. Please contact Anne Turner at annelewisturner@gmail.com if you're interested in participating, or helping to organize one or more groups, especially if you live in a particularly visible, accessible spot!

Rev. Hillary is back in the Zoom and real life office this August and would like to catch up with you!

On Wednesdays from 11 am - 1 pm she 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!

Dear Families,

I am thrilled to share with you the news that we are reopening, in person, and will be offering our children and youth programs in person, outdoors. Masks will be required for all participating in our religious exploration programs and all staff and volunteers will be fully vaccinated or offer proof of a weekly negative COVID test.

For families with nursery age children (preschool and younger), we will not be offering childcare this year, however, the nursery space will be open for use and the service will be live streaming in the nursery. Children are always welcome in the service, as well.

For families with children in Children's Chapel (kindergarten - fourth grade), our programming begins on Ingathering, September 12th and will begin at approx. 10:45 am, with children beginning in the Sanctuary and then being led outside to Children's Chapel. I am also excited to share with you that we have a new children's teacher joining us this year, Mack Jones. Check next week's Channels to learn more about Mack and see her photo. More details about our plans will be in next week's Channels, too.

For our junior youth group (fifth - eighth grade), our group begins on Sunday, September 26th at 10:30 am. Junior youth group members are encouraged to attend Ingathering with their family, as it will be a multi-generational service. Next week's Channels will have more details about our future plans!

For our senior youth group (ninth - twelfth grade), our group begins on Sunday, September 26th, from 4:00 - 5:15 pm. Senior youth group members are encouraged to attend Ingathering with their family, as it will be a multi-generational service. Next week's Channels will have more details about our future plans!

In Peace and Friendship,

Gwen Matthews, Director of Education & Communications

After completing our summer reads, we'll be gathering together to discuss what we've taken away from these books.

For the novel Nothing to See Here, we'll be meeting Monday, September 13, 4:00 - 5:00 pm. We plan to be outside, at the church picnic tables (in case of inclement weather, we'll be on Zoom).

For the collection of essays Call to Unite, we'll be meeting on Sunday, October 3, 12:00 - 1:00 pm. We'll plan to be outside, at the church picnic tables (in case of inclement weather, we'll be on Zoom).

If you haven't read these books yet and would like to join in the discussion - it's not too late! You can pick up a copy at your favorite bookstore and RSVP to join the discussion by contacting Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.

Assisting with Children's Chapel is a rewarding way to live and share your Unitarian Universalist values with children ages five to ten. Children's Chapel is a mix of activities, games, celebrations, activities, stories, and group discussion that allows all children to chime in with their big questions and helps them to find their own answers.

As an assistant, you'll support our professional children's teacher during Children's Chapel, but will not be responsible for advance planning or gathering materials. You could assist as frequently as every Sunday or just a few times per church year. Remember that you do not have to have a child in the program to participate!

Questions about what it means to assist with Children's Chapel? Contact Gwen Matthews at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com.

Ready to volunteer? You can sign up for a Sunday morning spot.

Do you wonder where things stand on universal healthcare prospects in Maine? Are you curious about what MUUSAN is and does? Join the MUUSAN Network Meeting with special guest speaker Dr. Bill Clark.

Dr. Clark will discuss the status of LD 1045 - An Act to Support Universal Health Care, legislation in Maine that was passed into law in the 130th legislative session. However, final enactment is based on the passage of federal legislation and so the ballot initiative – a Resolve of Maine HealthCare Action - remains active. Bill will explain how you can be involved.

This network meeting will also provide updates on the next legislative session that begins in January and an opportunity to participate in smaller group discussions regarding MUUSAN’s focused issue groups: Democracy in Action, Climate Change, Health Care and Racial, Native, and Immigrant Justice.

Register to attend the meeting.