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First Parish
Congregational Church
EXPLORING BELIEFS
INCLUSIVE ACTION
CREATING COMMUNITY
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Sunday Worship
March 23rd at 10am
Third Sunday in Lent
Rev. Christine Dyke
First Parish Sanctuary
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Sundays in Lent: March 23-April 6 - 10am
Palm Sunday: April 13 - 10am
Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae April 17 - Potluck - 6pm, Worship - 7pm
Easter Sunday April 20 - 10am
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Looking for a companion for the season of Lent?
We have creative resource available on the table as you enter the sanctuary. For Families and individuals. Help yourself!
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Missions Update – One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Collection
OGHS is one of 4 special mission offerings of the UCC. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee and development ministries of the UCC by providing hope for a future by creating possibilities for people fleeing their homes in search of safety and peace, supporting life-giving recovery efforts from disaster and supporting partners around the globe in their efforts to build sustainable futures. And this need is even greater in this time of uncertainty and upheaval.
Be the light for people in need. Let them know they are not alone. Please give to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. Envelopes will be provided on March 23rd for the collection and recognition of OGHS on March 30th. Thank you for your generosity.
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Our book group continues most Sundays 11:30ish - 12:30 in the second-floor conference room. Since the book, An Altar in the World does not need to be a through-read, I encourage you to come for the sessions that speak to you the most/you can attend. You do not need prior knowledge of previous chapters to gain from our discussions. Each session involves around 34 pages of reading, except a bit more for the last session.
All are welcome.
Sunday, March 23 we will cover Chapters 4 and 5; “The Practice of Walking on the Earth” and “The Practice of Getting Lost”. Read pages 53-86 to prepare.
Sunday, March 30 we will delve into Chapters 6 and 7; “The Practice of Encountering Other” and “The Practice of Living with Purpose”. Read pages 87-120 to prepare.
Sunday, April 6 we discuss Chapters 8 and 9; “The Practice of Saying no” and “The Practice of Carrying Water”. Read pages 121-153 to prepare.
Sunday, April 13 is Palm Sunday. We will finish our book study covering Chapters 10, 11 and 12; “The Practice of Feeling Pain”, “The Practice of Being present to God” and “The Practice of Pronouncing Blessings”. The final pages to be read are 155-209.
I hope you are looking forward to God Still Speaking to us through this book study. It might just be a Lent that changes your spiritual life!!
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This Week
Every Monday 10am - Cribbage and Games Club -- 3rd floor
Every Tuesday 10:30am Coffee Chat w/Pastor Christine —2nd fl.
Every Wednesday 10am – the Originals -- 3rd floor
Every Thursday 10am - Spring Fling Crafting - Fellowship Hall
Every Thursday night 7pm - Choir Practice in the Sanctuary
Every Friday 10am - Artrageous Seniors at Gorham Art Alliance
Every Sunday 11:15am Coffee Fellowship in Fellowship Hall
Every Sunday night at 6pm - Courage Circle in Fellowship Hall
Upcoming Events
March 25 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 5:30PM
April 13 PALM SUNDAY
April 17 MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 20 EASTER
The Monthly calendar is now available on our website. Please check here for other events of interest.
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During March, Missions is collecting Cleaning and Kitchen Kits for the Greater Portland Promise families to be distributed when they move into their own apartment. There are samples on the table in Fellowship Hall. Join a friend in completing one...or you may buy some of the items and not necessarily all.
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Do you own a sewing machine? Can you sew a fairly straight seam? That's all it takes to make a dress for a little girl! There are complete kits, including instructions, in Fellowship Hall. Completed dresses can be left in Fellowship Hall or left in the basket on the 3rd floor by the hanging dresses.
As dresses are completed, we will hang them in the hallway outside the sanctuary. Dresses will be blessed during the worship service on Mother's Day, May 11. 48 dresses are currently hanging. Can we hit 100?
Any questions, text Jane Charron (207-671-0452).
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Calling All Creatives!
We are adding something new to our Spring Plant/Book/Bake Sale. Spring and summer crafts !
We will be meeting on Thursdays from 10-12.
The Spring Fair workshop this week will continue to focus on making Mason bee houses with upcycled mugs and phragmites reeds. We will also be making some fairy house and terrarium items. Next week we will be starting with CLAY-stay tuned!
Come and bring your garden clippers, glue guns, sandpaper, and creativity! If you need something picked up, text or call Allie at 207-653-0941 or email rimkunal42@gmail.com.
See you on Thursdays!
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First Parish needs new outdoor banners
Do you have a good idea or two? Please let Pastor Christine know about your ideas.
| | **If you have an item you'd like added or removed from our Prayer Request list, please let Betsy know by calling the office or emailing admin@firstparishgorham.org.** | | |
Deciding to Stay Deep
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
March 16, 2025
Art by Allie Rimkunas
| | Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God | | Resources for the Journey: Click the pictures or links to read the articles | | A good question: What needs to become light in your life? | | Here is the podcast episode I mentioned Sunday morning. | | Will there by other Economic Blackouts? | | |
The People’s Union USA website lists boycotts throughout the spring, including:
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March 21-28: Nestlé, whose brands include Nescafé, Toll House, Stouffer’s and Purina.
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March 28: A 24-hour economic blackout of all large retailers.
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April 7-13: Walmart.
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April 18: A 24-hour economic blackout of all large retailers.
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April 21-27: General Mills, whose brands include Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Gold Medal and Pillsbury.
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Empty Chair Town Hall - TONIGHT!
Wednesday, March 19 6-7:30pm
First Parish Church, Gorham
Sponsored by Indivisible Cumberland
Moderated by Representative Tom Allen
You must register online to attend, details in previous email
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Repair Fair, right here in Gorham!
Baxter Library will hold a Repair Fair on Saturday, March 22, 10-1pm. You are invited to bring broken or damaged items and to learn how to repair them alongside volunteers.
Our Environmental Justice Committee encourages you to participate to save yourself some money and to save our landfill. You might learn a new skill and make a new friend!
To learn more, go to the Baxter Library website: https://baxterlibrary.org
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Join us at church for a group watch of the seminar
"Defend Trans Lives: A Webinar for People of Faith"
Tuesday, March 25th at 3:30-5:00 PM
3rd Floor Activity Room
Discussion to follow
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This spring, The BTS Center warmly invites you to join us for a conversation with Sherri Mitchell, Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset, indigenous lawyer, author, and advocate, to explore what weaving together might mean in this time of great transition. The evening will include reflections from our presenter and a panel of respondents, as well as music and space for engagement as we explore together the possibilities present in these times of turmoil and how we might, individually and collectively, rise to survive and to thrive as part of the great community of creation.
For more information and to register, please see this information on the BTS website.
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Lecky Brown Center
Hello Seniors!!
CRIBBAGE & GAMES CLUB:
Mondays @ 10am - noon
the ORIGINALS:
Weekly Guest speaker series
Wednesdays @ 10am - noon
All are welcome, please join us.
March 19: Susie Meadows, Project Puffin
March 26: Prof Ashley Towle, reconstruction in Maine after the Civil War
April 2: Scarborough Police Chief Mark Holmquist, Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
April 9: ****Sarah Baker, Maine Women Writers Collection @ UNE
--- Absolutely NO food or drinks allowed during presentation
--- Originals+: We will be lunching after the presentation, so bring your brown bag favorites and stay after to lingering and chat!!
Upcoming speaker topics: Field trip to the Peary/MacMillan Arctic Museum in Bowdoin, BeeHuggahs, Maine Master Naturalists/Bat conservation, Elizabeth DeWolf/Alias Agnes, and more.
ARTrageous Seniors:
Fridays: 10am @ Gorham Art Alliance.
Class is near capacity, please email Lisa Becker for more information.
GoCAM: Reruns of past Originals on GoCat local access
Spectrum channel 2 & 3 at 10am every morning (also channel 1302)
The subject changes every Friday, on each channel.
FMI: Lisa Becker: 835-9379 or leckybrowncenter@gmail.com
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Coffee Chat
with Pastor Christine
Every Tuesday at 10:30am
in the 2nd Floor Conference Room
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Coffee Fellowship
Coffee Fellowship is held in Fellowship Hall directly after our worship service.
While the Social Committee is happy to host and provide basics, coffee, juice, cheese, crackers, etc. we happily accept donations of baked goods, fruit, or appropriate snack items. Baked goods do not have to be homemade. We have a budget to cover the essentials, but it does not include ancillary food items. There will be a sign up sheet posted in Fellowship Hall. If you donate a food item(s) you do not have to serve. The committee will handle set up and clean up. ALL ARE WELCOME
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Inclement Weather Closings
We will post any closings or delays on the following:
- Office voicemail
- Facebook
- Channel 6 TV WCSH
- Channel 8 TV WMTW
- Channel 13 Storm Team
- via email blast
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Volunteers Needed
We are looking for more volunteers to run the Sunday morning Zoom meeting. If you are interested, but nervous to try it, rest assured that all volunteers will be very well trained! If interested, please contact the office:
admin@firstparishgorham.org
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UPDATED CHURCH DIRECTORY
Please use the one linked HERE
for the 3/19/25 update of the church directory.
Please contact the office with any changes.
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Composting!
First Parish composts with Garden to Garbage! Please deposit ALL food scraps, food soiled paper, and certified compostables in the green bucket, located in the kitchen under the big prep table.
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Share Your Input on Gorham's Open Space & Trails Master Plan Through April 2025
Now through April 2025, citizens can access various maps and a survey on site in Gorham offices or visit https://www.gorhamopenspace.me to share input via an online survey that will help develop opportunities, connections, and issues for the Town to adopt under its Open Space & Trails Master Plan. Read on below for more details.
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Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center
Contact: Rob Korobkin, MPH at Rob@couragecenter.me or 207-632-0763
The Courage Center has opened a community outpatient facility dedicated to providing support and clinical care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUD). The center is located at 341 Main St., Gorham. The new facility is designed to provide a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.
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