Dear First U Friends, 

As I’ve considered our Annual Campaign theme, “Touchstones,” I’ve thought a lot about this giant stone labyrinth that my friend and neighbor, Joe, helped build last fall in Tennessee. 

Joe is a stone mason and runs his own stonecraft business, Norton Stoneworks. While his beloved dog Sasso (Italian for “rock”) and my hound chase squirrels in the backyard, I enjoy talking with him about all the stone building projects he’s beginning, finishing, and dreaming up. Unsurprisingly though, when Joe told me about this labyrinth, it really piqued my UU ministerial interest.

The labyrinth is a symbol of a journey - a spiraling journey to our innermost center that naturally leads us back out again into the world. I know well that the symbol holds important meaning for many in our church as we celebrate the winter solstice each year by walking a lit labyrinth together amidst the darkness of the season. 

The Labyrinth that Joe helped to build was designed by Thea Alvin, another amazing stoneworker of the north-northeast. She titled it “Time for Love” as, along with symbolizing the spiraling spiritual journey of life, this labyrinth utilized the journey of the sun each day, so that light and shadow hit specific spots at specific hours. It was also commissioned by a family for whom it serves as a memorial to a loved one who died too soon. 

Doubtless there is endless meaning one could make from this beautiful - and giant - maze, and yes, endless ways we could consider how the themes at work in this stone structure align with our touchstones we have at First U; touchstones that support us through our journeys inward and outward, through shadow and light, through loss and love. 

This past week I’ve reflected on all of these connections, but more than anything I’ve reflected on the project of building this labyrinth and the profound joy with which Joe describes the process. “Time for Love” was built over the course of five weeks with a thousand tons of stone by eleven people. The labor was shared, the creativity was shared, the laughter, excitement, overwhelm, frustration, sweat, tears, and satisfaction were all shared as these 11 - very strong(!) - people built a monument to love. Though the project was interesting, what Joe loved the most and deeply misses is the people. folks he did not know before arriving, and the work they did together. What a gift to share the process of building something big, beautiful, spiritual, and love-centered - with others. 

Do you see where I’m going with this? 

Are we not building a similar monument with all the sturdy touchstones of our beloved community, our shared ministry?

What a gift that our collective building project will not end. It is ongoing, lifelong, and present in every one of our days. 

Yours in thinking I should take up weight lifting again,

Rev. Hillary

PS: To see more pictures and read more about “Time for Love” you can check out Thea Alvin’s wonder-full description here.

Increasing Love with Justice - that's big and wonderful. Starting with this church year, all our fundraising income has been given Joyfully to Justice. WITH YOUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN COMMITMENT WE CAN CONTINUE. We await 30 commitments before preparing the budget for the next church year. Don't delay! Do it for the kids ~ Gwen and Mack truly offer Time for ALL Ages, touching the kid in all of us as they seek to build our RE program with creativity – to “increase love with justice.”

To learn more, make your commitment, or watch the annual campaign video, please visit our website.

Please click and review our updated Covid Safety Policy so you know all the guidelines about stuff like masks, social distancing, and no food or drink in the building. We will still provide zoom access for anyone who needs or prefers to stay home.

Come to celebrate 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 two) 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!

This year's reimagined Maine Farm Supper is a personal pot pie takeaway dinner. Visit Maine Farm Suppers for more information.

All announcements for Channels or the Sunday Monday News for next week are due by Tuesday, March 1, at 12:00 pm. Please email Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com to have your announcement included. 

Rev. Hillary is excited to offer a six week Adult Coming of Age course. Over the course of the class, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their spiritual autobiographies and the evolution of their faith, as well as consider on the ethical values that shape their actions, the foundations upon which they build relationships, and explore their beliefs about God, love, evil, life, and death.

Here are some reminders for ways you can help Maine UU State Advocacy Network with upcoming legislation. Thank you for all you do.

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.