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HEART IN HAND:
Our 4th Annual Live/Silent AUCTION 
Sat. April 27 (6-10 pm)
Come for the FUN ~ for just $20 you can enjoy "hearty appetizers", wine tasting by Rosemont, and music by Steve Gruverman and friends. No one leaves hungry when Jane Cleaves has orchestrated the food! You can browse the silent auction donations featuring ART, wines, and local beers, and enjoy the entertainment provided by our own Live Auctioneer, Tom Carlisle.
Of course, this IS an AUCTION, so generous bids are gratefully accepted for donations ranging in value from $30 to $500. Honoring our love of FOOD we'll offer catered parties (choices include local gourmet, Thai, and not-your-ordinary pizza), family meals, & pies. Honoring our love of FUN we'll offer excursions on the water, and a home theater party featuring the famous Branson Missouri shows! And more ... helping hands for massages, painting, and more!
Wonderful surprises will be offered by our YOUTH for their 2013 Mission Trip!
With heart in hand, we welcome you warmly to this major fund-raiser!
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OPPORTUNITIES
Whether or not you can attend the Auction
Pot o' Gold. We are filling a pot to double some bids that achieve "Value" during the Live Auction. If you would like to be part of this VIP group pledging to fill the pot, or for more info, call Marge 846 4765. It's a fun way you can participate, whether or not you can attend. This will add a rousing bit of fun to an already fun auction! A few have already signed up ~ don't miss out!
Proxy Votes. Can't attend? See something you would like to bid on? Set up a proxy bid by calling Marge 846 4765.
Preview. See the display in the Gathering Room on Sunday 4/21 OR by clicking here
Want to help? We are looking for a few people who would like to help out for a small portion of the evening ~ tasks will be simple, and you won't miss any of the fun. To help, call Marge 846-4765, or to help with food, call Jane Cleaves at 846-3192.
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Channels Newsletter
April 19, 2013
Mission Statement for the
First Universalist Church of Yarmouth
Connected by Unitarian-Universalist principles,
We join hands in open-minded and caring community
To support spiritual exploration and growth,
To celebrate and honor life's journey,
And to inspire engagement in an evolving world.
Check out our WEBSITE.
"We are a Welcoming Congregation"
CHANNELS Newsletter Table of Contents
1. Worship
2. Programs
a. Religious Exploration
b. Faith-in-Action
c. Denominational Connections
d. Church Library
3. Member Services
4. From the Board
7. Blog Links
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Altars Everywhere: Faith in a Seed
Guest Preacher Lyn Betz ~ Henry David Thoreau wrote, "I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders." The possibility for growth and change is always hidden in the present moment. What lies waiting to germinate in you?
Join us in exploring our particular Unitarian Universalist theology through the many influences that shape our faith. Rather than trying to answer the creedal question "What do we believe in common?" we will explore the Rev. Rebecca Ann Parker's covenantal questions, "What spiritual hopes do we share? What shall we promise to one another and to Source as we try to live together toward our hopes? How shall we then try to treat one another?
March 31 - Easter through the influence of the Transcendentalists
April 7 - Our Interdependent Web
April 14 - Religious Humanism
April 21 - Guest Preacher Lyn Betz - Faith in a Seed
April 28 - Out of the Flames - Unitarianism, Liberation Theology, and beyond
How to find your minister:
Rev. Jennifer Emrich holds office hours Sunday - Tuesday 
and on Thursdays. Please call or email to make an appointment.
If you are experiencing a crisis, including needing a hospital visit, you may call her on her cellphone: 207/356.1467 any time.
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Sanctuary is...
... A place to be safe, a place to explore spirit, a place to share... and so much more. It is a sacred space. The Worship Council seeks to preserve and protect our beloved sanctuary -- and all it can be -- with a few basic requests:
1. Please refrain from taking photographs (flash or otherwise) during the Worship Service unless special arrangements have been made with the Minister and Worship leaders.
2. Please do not bring food or drink (including tea, juice, or coffee) into this space. Water is fine.
Many blessings!
Sarah Witte, Nancy Read, Steve Thomas, Kate Connelly, Briana Robillard, and Brenda McKee |
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Religious Exploration
Adult RE opportunity:
We still have a couple openings for the Monday evening exploration of The Untethered Soul - we'll use a small group discussion and meditation format to delve deeply into this important and challenging book by Michael Singer. If you're interested in joining this group, please let Rev. Jennifer know at yarmouthminister@yahoo.com
Adult RE Course Offering
WRITING YOUR SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Who am I? Where do I come from, spiritually speaking? What has made me the person I am today? How can I find words to describe my deepest experiences and beliefs?
In five sessions we will explore and share these areas of very personal interest. Our meetings will focus on: childhood, adolescence, a friend/mentor/guide, and a roadmap of one's spiritual journey. We will discuss the course on the first night, and then at each gathering we will read aloud what we have written (1-2 pages) on the focus area for that week.
The course is based on a book by Dan Wakefield but you do not need to buy or read it. Wakefield says that the most important qualities we bring to this work are: respect for the individuality and worth of each participant; humility before the awesomeness of each person's life process; and appreciation for the gift of sharing it. Sounds so UU! We did this course here in 1997, and the time has come to offer it again. It's also a natural follow-up to the UU Theology class which Reverend Jennifer just completed with about 15 people.
We will begin the week of May 20th and finish the week of June 17th, with evening meetings, exact dates to be chosen by participants. Space is limited to 10 people who must commit to the full five sessions. If you are interested, please email me, sign up at the office, or see me at church. If there are enough interested persons, we'll see if we can create two groups. TBD!
Sarah Witte sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com
(New Support Group for Parents of Challenging Children offered in Yarmouth, click here for more information.)
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Faith in Action
Half-Plate:
In honor of Earth Day, this week's half plate recipient is Maine Rivers (Landis Hudson is Executive Director). For more than a decade Maine Rivers has worked to protect and restore the ecological health of Maine's rivers. Since 2009 Maine Rivers has been working on the Royal River Restoration Project to assess Yarmouthıs dams and support the restoration native sea-run fish.
Earth Day ~ April 22
Working Towards Sustainable Communities
What are you doing this year to honor Earth Day? We invite you to attend at least one event to learn, celebrate, or advocate. Consider this potluck (5:30) and film (6:15) on Saturday April 20th at 5:30 pm:
"Chasing Ice" www.chasingice.com. Exclusive private viewing! Winner of Sundance 2012 cinematography award! Intrepid hero, fabulous pictures of Arctic glaciers by National Geographic photographers, exciting story line. Rated PG-13. $5 per person, kids free, babysitting provided. Vegetarian dishes encouraged. Congregational Church in Cumberland, 282 Main Street, Cumberland Center. FMI contact Lalla Carothers 829-2283 or lcaro@maine.rr.com
To carpool, contact Marge Titcomb (846-4765)
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PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM:
The Maine People's Alliance is organizing a rally in Portland on Wednesday,
May 1st to push for humane immigration reform, including measures that will keep families together, restore due process, eliminate racial profiling, and create paths to citizenship. The event promises to be lively, with inspiring speakers, live music and dancing. It begins with a march at 4pm from Boyd Street in Kennedy Park (the housing complex just off Marginal Way) to Monument Square, where the rally begins at 5pm.
This would be a GREAT opportunity to display our "Standing on the Side of Love" banner and our bright orange/yellow t-shirts. If we have enough participants, perhaps we could even march with our church banner as well. If interested, contact Jane Makela at 415-6978 or janemakela@earthlink.net
(For questions about the event itself, you can call MPA (Char: 951-7479) or (Alain: 766-8551)).
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3. Member Services
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LIVING EARTH LANDSCAPE
 It is going to happen! We are going to remove the shrubs on either side of our front steps, and with plantings and good composted manure, we are going to heal the soil and plant a Living Earth landscape. Bees, birds, butterflies, all are welcome to interact and thrive. You might see sunflowers, pumpkins, blueberries, grasses, and flowers. Along with a new sign this summer with the UUA motto -- "NURTURE YOUR SPIRIT, HELP HEAL THE WORLD" --we will have a new landscape that expresses our 7th principle of interconnectedness. Fear not, we are leaving the lawn between the Main Street Sidewalk and our brick walk for Clam Festival and other uses. We are grateful to the generous anonymous donors who are covering the cost of this phase of the work, which was reviewed and approved by the Board on April 8th.
Would YOU like to be involved? Jump in! Come to an Idea Meeting on Sunday, April 21st at 12:30, after the Pie Party!
FMI Sarah Witte sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com
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Membership Services is Hosting Pie Sunday, April 21st
Membership Services is hosting Pie Sunday on April 21st. 
PIE ALERT!
Sunday is Pie Sunday, so please bring a sweet or savory pie to share, and plan to enjoy pie and fellowship after worship. Everyone is welcome.
Don't worry if you forget to bring pie, we always need help cleaning up!
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MFS seeks RHUBARB DONATIONS
Calling all you backyard gardeners! The next Maine Farm Supper is on May 18th... (pulled pork, yum yum). Who would like to bring an armload of rhubarb to church the week of May 12th for our fab rhubarb crisp a la mode? Please write to Becki Schreiber at
becki_schreiber@yarmouth schools.org
THANKS!
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Membership Services is Hosting a Concert!
ROY ZIMMERMAN: WAKE UP CALL
"It's a big, big country full of all kinds of people," says satirical songwriter Roy Zimmerman, "but there's one thing we can all agree on. And when I find out what that is, I'll let you know." He's bringing his show "Roy Zimmerman: Wake Up Call" to Yarmouth Sunday, April 28 at 7 pm for a performance at First Universalist Church, 97 Main Street.
ADMISSION is $18 or pay what you can.
A SAMPLING of SONGS:
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To everyone who enjoys and values this community ~
If YOU did not yet PLEDGE, consider just one moment when you have felt gratitude for this community, then offer your generous pledge (pledge cards and info are at the back of the sanctuary). You may leave your pledge in the collection plate or in the basket as you leave, or pledge online click here.
Everyone's pledge is valued! Thank you.
We join hands in open-minded and caring community.
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From Nominating Committee:
The First Universalist Nominating Committee has begun meetings in anticipation of filling several openings by the time of our Annual Meeting in June. At this time, there are positions open on the Board, on the Nominating Committee, and on the Committee on Shared Ministry. If you would like more information on the positions themselves and the work of these committees, or on the process and criteria for filling the openings, please feel free to contact members of the nominating committee: Anne Turner, (annelewisturner@gmail.com, 415-3644); Janice Tooker, (janicetooker44@gmail.com, 781-6595); or Steve Thomas, (scrx@aol.com , 671-5978). The committee will welcome suggestions, talk with interested persons, and will address the needs of each committee in matching candidates to vacancies.
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The First U Soup & Salad Cookbook ~
will be on sale ($15) until they're gone and make great gifts!
Check downstairs after services on Sundays!
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Buying Cards support First Universalist!
Why not plan ahead and purchase a buying card first to support 1st U?
Shopping at LL Bean? 1st U gets 18%!
How about Macy's? 1st U gets 10%!
Others include Cabela's - 11%, Book-A-Million - 8%, iTunes: 5%, Amazon: 5%,
Staples - 5%
Don't forget Hannaford and Shaws buying cards are also available!
For more information or to order your cards see Brian Peters on Sunday morning or emailbrpeters@maine.rr.com
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5. Community Announcements
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Yoga Resumes Saturday, 4/20! 
This Saturday morning April 20th Spring Multi-level Green Yoga classes (honoring the Earth) begin, from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM in the Church sanctuary. Classes will run through the end of May. Friday intermediate level classes will resume as well 9:00 AM - 10:15 am. Suggested donation is $10 to drop-in. Funds collected go half to the Church and half to a charity selected with the class. Questions? Call the Instructor, Lois Howlett, at 847-3055 or email Loishowlett@yahoo.com. All welcome.
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EarthRite - An Interfaith Observance of Earth Day
an invitation from ChIME
Saturday, April 20 2013, 4:00 - 7:00 pm, ceremony begins @ 4:15
Memorial Hall @ Woodfords Congregational Church,
202 Woodford Street, Portland
FMI: www.chimeofmaine.org 207-347-6740
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Poetry Event:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! This event arose out of the success of First Universalist's poetry Sunday. Don't skip church but head on over after the service for the second half.
The MWPA's "Confabulation: A Literary Uprising"
Poetry Open Mic + Special Guests Betsy Sholl & David Sloan
Sunday, April 21 from 11 AM to 1 PM
at the The Royal Bean in Yarmouth
www.theroyalbean.com
Open Mic: 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Special Guest Readers: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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NNED Environmental Conference
April 27 2013, Susan McLane Audubon Center, Concord NH
Registration closes April 9th www.nned.uua.org or 603-228-8704
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Downeasters Chorus: Then & Now
Celebrating 75 Years of Barbershop Harmony
Saturday, May 4th, 7:00 pm at the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center, 286 West Elm Street, Yarmouth. Tickets online at Downeasters.org $15 adult, under 18 free
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Safe Passage 5k Run/Walk ~ May 5th
May 5th, starting at 8 am in front of the Greely High School in Cumberland. Go to the website to register.
Founded in 1999 by Hanley Denning, a native of Yarmouth, Safe Passage helps the children working in and around the Guatemala City Garbage dump enroll in school and offer educational enrichment. Nutrition, healthcare, and education are provided to over 550 children living in extreme poverty. Your prayers and support are much appreciated!
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NEW Support Group
in Yarmouth for Parent of Challenging Children
WHEN:
Every other Monday evening starting May 6th from 5:30-7:00 (doors open at 5:00 for settling in, brown bag supper, and fellowship).
WHERE:
10 Forest Falls Drive, #6-B (come in door #5 and follow signs), Yarmouth.
Plenty of free parking.
WHAT FOR:
Primarily for Adoptive/Foster/Guardianship Parents caring for children with significant emotional needs, but all parents are welcome. Pre-registration required.
CONTACT:
Ellen Kornetsky, LCSW, Office: 846-0400; Email: ellenkornetskylcsw@gmail.com
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Hospice of Southern Maine
Offering June 2013 Hospice Volunteer Training. FMI, or to set up an appointment for an interview, contact Carol Schoneberg-Robinson at Hospice of Southern Maine at 289-3651 or cschoneberg@hospiceofsouthernmaine.org
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Star Island Natural History Conference
Come to Star Island's Natural History Conference for a week-long vacation, June 22-29, 2013.
Learn all about "The Mysterious & Misunderstood World of Mushrooms."
Information about registering for your stay can be found at nhcstar.org
Phone: 603-430-6272 Fax: 603-430-6270 Island Phone: 603-601-0832
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Star Island International Affairs Conference
Come to Star Island's International Affairs Conference for a week-long vacation, July 20-27, 2013:
Topic: "Europe and the Eurozone: The future of a united Europe and what it means for U.S./European relations."
Information about registering for your stay can be found at internationalaffairsconference.org or starisland.org
Phone: 603-430-6272 Fax: 603-430-6270 Island Phone: 603-601-0832
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6. Church and Office Information
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Storm Cancellation Information:
First Universalist service and event cancellations are announced on the following radio stations: WGAN (560 AM), WMGX (93.1 FM), WPOR (101.9 FM), WYNZ (100.9 FM)
First Universalist has a Facebook Page Along with many other churches, we have clicked into 'social media' with a Facebook page. All other means and modes of communication will continue; this is just another (excellent) way to share news plus have some visibility for the good stuff happening here. We hope you will like... and "LIKE" this page so that it shows up on YOUR page. Feel free to share it. Feel free to post information that might be of interest to others in our congregation, for example news from the UUA or photos from events at church.
page name: First Universalist Church - Yarmouth, Maine
Scheduling MEETINGS and EVENTS
Please remember to book meetings and events through the church office to avoid room scheduling conflicts. THANK YOU!
CHANNELS deadlines
The deadline for submissions to Channels is 9 am on Thursday.
Submit news & photos to:
office@uuyarmouth.org
1. To put items in the Sunday Morning News, submit items by 9 am on Thursday.
2. For spoken announcements before Worship:
a. place on the pulpit by 10 am on Sunday or
b. email by 9 pm on Saturday to Sarah Witte at sarahcoffinwitte@gmail.com
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
1. You can access the church's calendar of events from our website? Click here.
2. Minutes from Yarmouth First Universalist Board Meetings can be found on
our website? Click here.
3. You can access back copies of CHANNELS on our website? Click here.
4. Upcoming Events are regularly updated on our website? Click here.
Church Office Hours
9:30 am - 1 pm ~ Tuesday-Friday
Rev. Jennifer Emrich holds office hours Sunday - Tuesday and on Thursdays. Please call or email to make an appointment ~ yarmouthminister@yahoo.com
If you are experiencing a crisis, including needing a hospital visit, you may call her 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.
First Universalist Church
97 Main Street
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
(207) 846-4148
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