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If your device displays only part of this issue, be sure to click on "View Entire Message" at the bottom to see all of this week's news.
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'Expect Miracles' with Rev. John Nichols
 Join us on Sunday to welcome Rev. John Nichols, who previously served as an interim minister at First U. John has served as a settled minister in three UU congregations, most recently in Wellesley Hills where he is Minister Emeritus. After leaving Wellesley he became a transitional interim minister to 10 UU congregations, including First U. He is the author of three books, the most recent of which, Fresh Water From Old Wells, will be on sale following the service. (Editor's note... Rev. Nichols' latest book was edited by our own Bev Koteff!)
We are worshiping in person. Please note that since masks are no longer required, we will be singing without masks.
If you cannot join us in the Meeting House, click here to watch the service on our YouTube channel at 10:30am. If you would like to send joys and sorrows to Rev. Roger, click here to send them by noon on Saturday.
Click here to access the order of service.
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Register now! Spiritual Pathways programming begins Sunday
Welcome back to Spiritual Pathways for children and teens!
Please be sure your family is registered for the program. You can visit registrants (onrealm.org) or scan here:
Simply enter your child’s name at the prompt. Be sure to check off all of your children’s names on the second screen.
If you are having trouble with Realm, click here to contact Jenn Nardone, or click here to contact Walter Sotelo for help.
This Sunday, September 25, we begin in the Auditorium at 10:30am with a Chapel service for children in levels preK-7th grade. Adults are welcome to stay for this 15-minute worship.
 Families with children in preK, K, and 1st grade, please see your teacher at the Auditorium door to sign your child in. You can sign them out at 12:00 noon from the Peace Room, 2nd floor.
Families with children in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade, please pick up your children at 12:00 noon from the Moon Room, 3rd floor, to meet the teaching team this week.
5th, 6th and 7th graders will meet in the Diversity Room, 3rd floor, following Chapel.
8th graders please meet in the Haynes Room, 1st floor, at 10:30am.
High-school-aged teens, please meet in the Youth Room, basement floor, at 10:30am.
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Community Collection for Girl Effect this Sunday
 "Girls are the most powerful force for change on the planet.” When given a chance, especially through education, girls can lift themselves out of poverty and help bring their families and communities along with them. The Girl Effect Task Force, a social justice group here at First U, raises funds for girls’ education in less developed countries.
This year, the Girl Effect is focusing on continuing to support two groups of girls attending junior and senior high school in two locations — three girls who live in Kibera Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, where they attend the innovative Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, and four girls who live in San Lucas Toliman, a village in Guatemala where they attend government schools.
The families of these girls are very poor. Any schooling after elementary school often involves fees that families cannot afford. If they do manage to find the money, they will send their sons first. However, the girls know the importance of education and are eager to continue in school.
We appreciate your generous donations to help these girls stay in school. If you are unable to come to church on Sunday, checks may be made out to First Unitarian Church of Providence with Girl Effect in the memo line, or gifts can be made online.
The Girl Effect Task Force Steering Committee at First U thanks you for your help: Gail Brule, Phyllis Cole, Marilyn Eanet, Pam Steager, Polly Walker, and Edie Warren.
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Please sign up to bring goodies for coffee hour
 Coffee Hour is back but needs your donations each week of cookies, brownies, coffee cake, sandwiches, fruit, or cheese and crackers, with enough to serve 24.
All donations should be peanut-free and peanut-butter-free. Look for the sign-up table in one of the parlors. Thank you!
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We're starting a junior choir and looking for kids who love to sing
 We're starting a junior choir at First U this year! Rehearsals begin on Sunday, October 23. All children of the church are welcome to participate, from kindergarten through high school age.
We plan to start small by having the children sing at the Thanksgiving Sunday service on November 20.
Interim Music Director Beth Armstrong will teach and direct. In order for the kids to have a chance to get to know Beth, she will attend the chapel service at 10:30 on Sunday, October 23.
Rehearsals begin on Sunday, October 23, from 12:05 until 12:35. They will continue the next three weeks at the same time. It is important that the kids come to as many rehearsals as possible, so we ask for a minimum commitment of three out of the four rehearsals plus, of course, attendance on November 20. Arrival time that day is 9:45am.
If this experiment is a success, we will do it again for a similarly short time commitment in the spring.
The future of the senior choir is dependent on young people learning the joys of group singing in the junior choir. This is not about talent; it is about self-expression. For many, singing is a spiritual practice, and we want our kids to experience it as soon as they can. We hope you will encourage your children to join us on October 23!
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Want a shot at singing some tunes from Hamilton in February?
 Is there any chance that you are a Hamilton freak? Or have you always wanted to sing a song or join in singing a song with others from this hit Broadway show?
Rev. Liz wants to use music from the musical about Alexander Hamilton and the other founding fathers on President’s Day Sunday, February 19. She is interested in a number of songs from the show. Although we can’t do too many, here are some possibilities: Wait For It, Dear Theodosia (duet), One Last Time, and Schuyler Sisters (trio).
Rev. Liz and Interim Music Director Beth Armstrong have already committed to singing A Farmer Refuted together. Beth would love to know if you might be up for a solo or perhaps a duet or trio. She could also make a duet into a quartet with two people on a part, and the trio could be up to six women.
Participation will entail a commitment to rehearsal time outside of regular choir rehearsals, possibly Sundays after worship. The sooner we decide that we have the voices, the sooner parts can be assigned. You can start learning with the help of YouTube and sheet music Beth will provide for you.
Choir members are welcome. This is also a great opportunity for all you frustrated shower singers to come forward and participate in First U's music program. Click here to contact Beth Armstrong if you are interested. You are not giving away your shot!!!
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New Path to Membership class now forming
 A new Path to Membership class is forming and will meet three Tuesday evenings in October. Are you interested in knowing more about First U and/or about Unitarian Universalism? Do you want to meet other newcomers? Would you enjoy meeting some of the First U staff and talking about opportunities to become involved? Come join us!
Membership Coordinator Jenn Nardone coordinates these sessions, which will take place at the church on October 11, 18, and 25 at 7pm. Along with meeting other staff members and various guests, you will gain a broad overview of the value of membership in a church and what it means to belong to First U in particular. At the end of the sessions, you will be offered the opportunity to join formally.
Click here to contact Jenn with questions, or to sign up.
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Astounding Auction, October 19-29
 Remember to plan for our 2nd Annual Astounding Auction and Merry Marketplace! Our Auction goes online Wednesday, October 19, and the Live event is set for Saturday, October 29. Don't miss the fun!
 We are now accepting donations for the Auction - Goods for sale or bid, experiences, and services. Do you have something to teach - like music lessons or cooking? Do you like to host entertaining events such as Some En-chocolate Evening? Do you have a unique item for someone's home or office, like a quilt or wall hanging? Do you own a vacation condo you could share? Do you have any original pieces of art but you don't have room for everything?
All of these things and more have been donated and we are ready to accept YOUR donation. Click here to access the donation form. You can print it out, complete the form, scan it and send it back to us. You could also call the office and give all the information over the phone.
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Lay Ministry team is available, with their own email address
 We all experience challenges in our lives from time to time. If you become ill, suffer a loss, or experience a difficult life transition or celebration, call on us. Our Caring Crew, Lay Ministry Team, and First U Buddies want to help.
If you have a pastoral concern, click here to contact Rev. Roger or one of the Lay Ministers; they check email often.
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Tuesday noon deadline
Deadline for submitting materials for each week's First U Times is noon on Tuesday at the latest. Much earlier is better. To submit your article and photo or graphic to Nancy Forsstrom, click here.
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