Channels Newsletter
   May 29, 2016  
   
Like us on Facebook   View on Instagram
Talk about nurturing yo ur spirit!

No matter how much you love gardening, it doesn't get much better than that first big beautiful day when you clean up and get your garden in shape. The big AHHHH! If you know what we're talking about, please join your UU friends at church this Saturday 5/28 from 10:30 to 12:00 for a whirlwind clean-up. Bring the basics: gloves, tools, tarps, weeding buckets, etc. And oh, if you do NOT know what we're talking about, then just look at the garden on your way in and enjoy. It's for everyone, people and pollinators alike. Peace out!

Sarah Witte and Joanna Landsman 
Please Note:
Adult RE and UU Games have ended for this church year.
Join in at the Yarmouth Clam Festival 
July 15th, 16th, 17th 
More information is available here and on our website.  
You can sign up for a volunteer spot online.
 
PreachingTeaching
Worship on Sundays at 10:30am 
The Return To The Warriors Way    
May 29, 2016 
Details about worship can be found on our website. 
 
Photos From Last Sunday's Bridging 
 Thanks to Steve Thomas for capturing these memories. 
 
    
Religious Education 
Adult RE and UU Games have ended for this church year.
Worship and Children's RE will be at 10:30am.
Religious Education, for all ages, has been a year full of curiosity, growth, challenges, and fun. Sunday, May 22 ended our Adult RE, UU Games, and Youth Group sessions for the year. This Sunday, May 29 will be a celebration of our final Children's Chapel.
graphic-cherry-blossoms.gif
Junior Youth Trip to Walden Pond
Last weekend, May 14-15, some of the junior youth group members were able to take a trip down to Concord, MA. In two short days, we visited Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, First Parish in Concord, and Walden Pond. It was the best kind of whirlwind, with near-perfect weather, interesting pieces of UU history, great conversations, and insightful, funny, bright youth. Many thanks to the First U members who are helping to grow lifelong UUs! 

MemberServices
Member Services 
Did You Know...?
Social justice is the lifeblood of Unitarian Universalism.
  Click here to learn how.
Considering Membership? 
Visit our website for more information on how to become a member.
 
Faith in Action
SUMMER SIGN-UPS URGENTLY NEEDED: PLEASE HELP!
More chances to be part of our church's partnership with the   PREBLE STREET RESOURCE CENTER in Portland.
SUMMERTIME CAN BE DIFFICULT for those who need us all year long.  There are loads of empty spaces on the sign-up sheets for Tuesday AUGUST 5, and SEPTEMBER 2 waiting for YOU to help out with dinner service at Preble St. Our church is committed to filling at least 10 slots on the first Tuesday of every month. We've been doing a great job, but with people on vacation and church not in session, summer requires an extra effort. You will feel good  about yourself if you take a few hours off from gardens and backyard grills to volunteer. Those who have done it are agreed it is a rewarding experience.  The clients are appreciative and the Preble St. staff is highly organized and helpful at making us feel welcome and useful. 

The job does not include bringing food, but reporting for duty at 4:30 and staying till 7:30, following instructions from the Preble St. staff.  You are encouraged to commit to the entire 3 hours, but there is some flexibility for those who must come late or leave early. Arrival anytime before 5:30 is acceptable.
To volunteer for the dinner service, contact Phyllis Chinlund, 781-8842, or
pchinlund@gmail.com
Thank you!!
New Mainer Initiative - Opportunity to Host!
We are grateful for this congregation's willingness to step up and provide emergency housing for New Mainers. We have not yet been called to do so, HOWEVER, since we have the resources, how about hosting some New Mainers this summer for an English Immersion Weekend?
What it is: Opportunity Alliance selects 5 - 7 established New Mainers who have been participating in our English Conversation Circles to come to Yarmouth for an English language immersion weekend this July
What we do: Host them for two days and two nights in 5 home residences
What happens: They spend some time with their residence hosts, some time doing summertime activities that we offer up - boating, beach walks, tennis, island hikes - what would you like to show them about Yarmouth? - and some time meeting together for lunches or dinners that are hosted outside of the residences - - all in English!
What do we need: Do we have 5 residences available? IF you would like to be a residence host, please RSVP ASAP and tell us whether the weekend of July 9th or 23rd is better for you and yours office@uuyarmouth.org
And thank you! We are excited to show our New Mainer friends our home here in Yarmouth and the surrounding communities.

Interested in w alking in support of the LGBTQ community and Equality Maine?

We are seeking people who would like to join us at this annual very fun event! If interested, contact Gwen at gwenatfirstu@gmail.com
 
 Visit First U's Event Page FMI

Thank You from Furniture Friends
I know your church has been a constant supporter of Furniture Friends. We have been so lucky to have people like you to keep us going. I know how important this organization is and how far we have come. A constant like First Universalist Church is very important to us. This thanks is incredibly heartfelt. - Robbie Lipsman, Board President
Half-Plate this Sunday:
This week's half plate supports our Gyepes partner church summer camps for children and youth. Some of these kids have never been away from home overnight.   The kids all work hard all summer helping on the family farm, so this is a huge opportunity for 3 days of learning and play with kids from 3 surrounding villages.   Our donation supports lodging, food, and modest pay for counselors/teachers.
Board
From the Board 

First U is Growing & Evolving!
New Sanctuary * Expanded Programs and Outreach * New Staff
And through Here For Good we will have our new space.
 
With our operating budget and giving commitments for 2017 we will continue our wonderful programs. This year's giving campaign needs about $20,000 to be complete. If everyone considered adding 12% to their commitment, we'd be almost there!

That means...
If you committed $100, you'd give $12, an extra $1/month
If you committed $1,000, you'd give $120, an extra $12/month
If you committed $3,000, you'd give $360, an extra $30/month
If you committed $10,000, you'd give $1,200, an extra $120/month  
 
We appreciate and thank you for your consideration! 
clamfest2
The  Yarmouth Clam Festival is a beloved Maine community event that features a parade, live music, fireworks, food, a carnival, arts and crafts vendors, and races and competitions. First U, along with many local nonprofits, joins in on the fun!

You can work alongside other members and friends of First U by participating in pre-festival  set-up, helping in the kitchen, selling and serving at the Church or on the Green, or assisting in clean-up.  You can also sign-up to bake a cheesecake or lemon bars. 
Working a shift at the Clam Festival is a fun tradition for all of us and we reward our volunteers with a slice of our famous, delicious UU Cheesecake.
 
Healthy Congregation Tip: Openness
Openness to change is more valuable than fear of it.  
Click here to read more about this week's tip.
To learn about our Hannaford Gift Card program click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page. 
community
Community Announcements 
Stolen Goods for Sale
This winter the church office was broken into and a number of items were stolen, including a Staples card. The perpetrator used that card to purchase a HP Officejet Pro X476dw that retails for $699.99 . The Yarmouth Police Department has kindly donated the printer, after it was finished being used as evidence.

It is unopened, wireless, can print, copy, scan, and fax, prints double-sided and in color, has a touch screen, and comes with four ink cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow). If your business or home is in need of a professional, fast, quality printer, we'd be happy to sell you this one. Name your price! 
JAM JARS WANTED!
Holiday Fair is just around the corner.. who knew?! Well... maybe a few months, but now is the season when I start making lots of jams and jellies which we sell in December.  If you have empty jam/jelly jars that you would like to put to good reuse, please leave them for me in the church kitchen.  8 OUNCE only... I cannot use any more 16 ounce jars unless they are the old-fashioned kind with the glass tops.  MANY thanks in advance!
- Joy Ahrens 
Clam Festival Equipment and Supplies Need a New Storage Home  
For the past 15 years Jane Cleaves has generously donated part of her garage/barn to keep our church equipment safe all year long. The time has come for us to look for a new storage space for these items. If you, or someone you know, has room in a barn, or better yet has a storage trailer (10' x 12') they could donate or sell to the church, please contact: 
ChurchInfo
Church and Office Information 
Save the Date
Sun. May 29
- Final children's RE for the church year
Sun. May 29 -
Annual meeting information session at 11:30am
Sun. June 12th
- Junior youth to ARLGP at 1:30pm; senior youth group meets at 4pm
Sat. June 18 -
Pride Portland Parade and Festival
Thurs. June 30 -
Gather Dinner
Fri. - Sun. July 15th - 17th -
Yarmouth Clam Festival
Sun. Sept. 11th - Ingathering 
Even NEWER Office Hours:
Monday 1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 9:00am - 1pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6pm 
Thursday 1pm - 5pm 
*and by appointment
If you are experiencing a crisis, including needing a hospital visit, you may call Rev. Jennifer on her cellphone: 207.356.1467 any time.  Please note that Friday and Saturdays are typically her days off - Rev. Jennifer does not check email on these days, but will answer any crisis or emergency calls.

If you would like to have an announcement included in Channels, please send an email to office@uuyarmouth.org by the Wednesday of the week you wish it to be published.  Please put "CHANNELS" in the subject line, otherwise it's very likely we will not recognize your request. Thank you.