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Be sure to click on "View Entire Message" near the end to see all the First U news.
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'To Heal the World' by Rev. James Ford
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 Rev. James Ford believes there is a current running through the world's religions. Like all things, it evolves and changes. This week he will share his feelings on how Universalism has shifted over time and how its current focus is a message of hope for the world.
Rev. Ford is Minister Emeritus of First Unitarian, having served the congregation from 2008 until 2015. James and his wife Jan currently live in California, where James is a Guiding Teacher at Empty Moon Zen Network. He is also a consulting minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim. You can still find his blog - Monkey Mind, Easily Distracted... - in the internet universe. |
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This Sunday for young people
 Young people this week will gather in their small groups and worship in Chapel. The worship theme is "The Feeling Flame."
The nursery is open, as always, on the second floor of the Parish House.
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You're invited to lunch with James and Jan
The Deacons invite you to join them for lunch with James and Jan on Sunday at 12:15, in the Auditorium. Vegetarian chili, chicken soup, cold beverages, and dessert will be provided.
This is an opportunity to socialize with our Minister Emeritus and his wife on their first return trip since they retired and to hear a little bit about their life in California. If you would like to know more about James at the time he began his ministry at First U, you can find a copy of the candidating brochure on our website by clicking here.
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Tacos, Circles this weekend
 Don't forget the Taco Supper on Saturday starting at 6 pm and hosted by our Coming of Age families. Delicious food, raffle prizes, and entertainment abound. Alcohol-Free Fun. Tickets will be available at the door.
 And Sunday is a great day to explore a Chalice or Soul Circle at the Circle Sampler after the service. Circles offer the opportunity to connect with other church friends and members in a small group setting. Check them out on the third floor of the Parish House. If you can't come Sunday, but want to register for a Circle, click here.
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Justice events this week
Webinar on anti-racism. Green New Deal. Civil rights. Peace. Each week presents new opportunities to make a difference here in Rhode Island and beyond. To view the social justice activities and events coming up, assembled by our Side with Love leadership, click here.
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Girl Effect supports eight girls' education
 The Girl Effect Task Force contributed $3,500 to support the education of eight girls in Kenya and Guatemala, thanks in large part to proceeds from the December holiday sale.
The girls receiving education support include three from the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Kenya and five San Lucas Toliman Scholars in Guatemala. The holiday sale raised $2527, and the Task Force added some reserve funds for the support.
The Girl Effect Task Force thanks our volunteers, patrons, and shoppers at the December holiday sale. The group's mission is "to provide education for girls, giving them the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. Educating girls is one of the most powerful forces for change in the world."
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New hymn composed for the 300th
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Beth Armstrong composed a new hymn titled "Winds of Change" to commemorate First Unitarian's 300th anniversary. The hymn made its debut at the kickoff of the 300th anniversary celebration last week.
Inspired by the 300th celebration theme of "Finding Direction Through Winds of Change," Beth said she was honored to be asked to compose a musical piece that would honor the occasion. She distributed copies of "Winds of Change" at the kickoff event and sang the first verse. Accompanied on piano by her husband Stew, those attending sang the new hymn, followed by enthusiastic applause. Many thanks to Beth for this inspirational addition to our celebration.
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 It is imperative that all members and friends of First U NEVER use the church internet connection to download any media with peer-to-peer file share apps, such as Bit Torrent.
Recently, First U was cited by a movie studio for material which was downloaded through our internet connection. Our carrier has informed us that our internet will be suspended if this happens again.
We are in the process of adding new password protections to our system. No one should ever download any material while on our property unless it is clearly through a legitimate site. Thank you! |
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Church calendar's always available
Want to see a snapshot of what's coming up in the church calendar? Don't forget that there is a monthly calendar on our church website. You can look at current and upcoming months. To find it, scroll down to the bottom of this email and click on the link.
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Where to check for winter weather closings
 If you have any question about weather causing an event cancellation, please check the church website and Facebook page. We will also post closings on local television networks, send an email, and change the outgoing message on the answering machine after 9am.
If there is a parking ban in Providence, we cannot hold an event here at First U. If there are other times when it might not be safe to go out, please always use your best judgment when deciding what to do.
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February snapshot
 Looking ahead to February highlights, mark your calendars now:
February 2 - Wholly Family Sunday
February 3 - Women's Alliance - "Living Literature"
February 4 - Loaves & Fishes Mission
February 7 - Parish House Pot Luck
February 9 - Partner Church Sunday; UU Men - "Memory"
February 17 - Community Food Share Pantry (Office closed)
February 21-23 - Congregational Giving Assessment
February 23 - Cook-off Culinary Challenge - new contest! Details next week.
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Living Literature at Feb. 3 Alliance
 The Power of Sharing Literature Aloud is the topic of the Women's Alliance presentation by Barry Press on Monday, February 3, at 11am.
Living Literature, a collective of Rhode Island–based artists and educators, creates reader’s theater–style presentations to dramatize nondramatic writing. Since January 1996, Living Literature has created well over 100 programs based on poems, stories, novels, plays, essays, biographies, news articles, and oral histories in a variety of venues throughout southeastern New England. Barry Press and his partner will share excerpts from some of their past programs.
Barry Press, founder and artistic director of Living Literature, has an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama. He is a professional actor/director/teacher of over 40 years, an award- winning audiobooks voice talent, and a guest artist and teaching associate at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English for 18 years. Barry is a past president of the Rhode Island Center for the Book.
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Partner Church Sunday on February 9
First U has been in a partnership with the Unitarian church in Szenteghyza, Transylvania for many years. This past June, some of our congregation, including Rev. Liz, traveled there to make and renew friendships. This June, their minister, Rev. Kelemen, his wife, and their church president will visit us.
To help keep our relationship fresh, we set aside a Sunday each year for both congregations to celebrate with readings, stories, and song. Rev. Liz will read greetings from Rev. Kelemen, and her sermon will reflect the sermon she gave this past summer.
Look for some Hungarian snacks to enjoy during coffee hour, and plan to gather in the auditorium for a program about the partnership and a video on the origins of Unitarianism in Transylvania. Be sure to sign up at the Transylvania Partner Church table in the next weeks so we can be sure to have enough food for a light lunch of traditional soups, breads, and other treats.
For more information, contact Janet Downing Taylor by clicking here, or Tom Getz by clicking here.
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UU Men to explore 'Memory'
 Sunday, February 9 at 7:00 pm is the next gathering of UU Men. Led by Richard Boober, this month's discussion will explore memory and how it influences our lives and decisions. All are welcome.
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Giving, Receiving
as Love Shows Us How
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Rising to the Challenge
by Rick Richards, 2020 Commitment Drive chair
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Growth pushes every organization - and its staff - out of its comfort zone. Primarily, our church provides social, spiritual, and emotional support. What kind of challenges do our size (large, at about 500 members) and growth (22% in 9 years) pose for our capacity to provide such services?
I sometimes attend a church that is small (40 in attendance) and not growing. This church feels like a large family. Everyone has a direct relationship with the minister, all decisions are guided by the minister, and leadership comes from the minister. Contrast that with First U; we have as many committees as that church has congregants.
As we have grown, our staff has grown. We have a senior minister, a part-time assistant minister for pastoral care, a full-time director of religious education, and other full- and part-time staff members. But is it enough for everything we are trying to do? Fortunately for us, the UUA provides resources to help us examine our staff and structure. Last spring, the Rev. David Pyle of the New England Region Congregational Life staff spent time at First U and offered an assessment of our staffing needs. At the Parish House Pot Luck on February 7, Rev. Pyle will join us to present his findings and recommendations. Plan to join us.
You can read a summary of Rev. Pyle's report by clicking here, and you can read the full report by clicking here.
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Meetings, Events This Week
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Saturday, January 25
Path to Membership class - 9:30 am
COA Taco Supper - 6:00 pm
Sunday, January 26
Newcomers' Cafe - 11:30 am
Atrium Bookstore – 11:30 am
Women's Alliance Coffee Sales – 11:30 am
Path to Membership tour - 12:00 pm
Lunch with James and Jan - 12:15 pm
Circle Sampler - 12:15 pm
Green Team - 12:15 pm
History committee - 12:15 pm
Book Sellers team - 12:15 pm
Campus UUs - 5:00 pm
Mindful Grieving - 5:30 pm
Prostate Cancer Support group - 6:00 pm
Monday, January 27
Spiritual Pathways Team - 6:00 pm
Good Grief - 6:30 pm
Zendo - 7:00 pm
Harry Potter - 7:15 pm
Tuesday, January 28
Re-Imagining Religion - 7:00 pm
Knitting for a Better World - 7:00 pm
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Every Tuesday at noon
Deadline for submitting materials for each Thursday's First U Times is noon on Tuesday at the latest. Much earlier is better. Submit your article and photo or graphic to Nancy Forsstrom at admin@firstunitarianprov.org.
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