July Services | Staff Schedule | Minister’s Message | Committee on Ministry | Music Director | Board Update | Concerts for a Cause | Ann Spencer Note | Celebration of Life | Chalice Circles | WORKING FOR JUSTICE: | Charities with Soul | Teen Center | Black Lives Matter | WFJ Events: | Dawnland Festival | Imperfect Allies | Rebels and Poets | Pihcintu Choir | Other UUCB Events | Pousette-Dart Duo| Murder at the Pie Auction | Holiday Fair | ART GALLERY | Parish Messenger Deadline
July Services
SUMMER THEME: People and Places that have Changed My Life
Sun, July 7 — Metta in Medicine
Led by Kye Flannery, M.Div., Music by Will Bristol
A hospital is a liminal space, which can change people’s lives in serious ways. Nobody wants to go to the hospital — it is a place where expansive love is needed, and shown, every day. As a chaplain I’ve met incredibly beautiful people in impossible situations, and witnessed some of the most important teachings on what it is to be human. I am glad to have the chance to share some of those stories with you.
Kye Flannery is “a writer, metal artist and collage artist, crossword puzzler, dog parent/kahu to an anxious love named Bene, and humanist hospital chaplain who lives in Worcester, MA.
Sun, July 14 — Losing Hope, Regaining Faith
Led by Faith Barnes, Music by Will Bristol
We learn to adapt to our worlds. We learn to respond to the environment that surrounds us in a way that helps us survive. For many of us, our lives have provided a good balance of strengths and challenges. But, what happens when we experience a traumatic event that throws this good balance out of balance? This traumatic event may be something individual, such as a change in family structure due to divorce or death, or a collective traumatic event, such as 9/11. We still respond in ways that help us to survive, but the response we develop at two years of age may not serve us when we are 14 years old. The age at which we first experience a traumatic event informs how we process subsequent traumatic events — our thoughts, emotions, and somatic symptoms. Our response to the traumatic events in our lives requires us to delve into who we are and develop a response that helps us survive.
Faith Barnes is a retired social worker who worked primarily in schools with children experiencing trauma. When she opened her private practice, she expanded her client base to include bereaved adults and teens who were dealing with the anxiety brought on by COVID. Faith served on the board of Hardy Girls Healthy Women for six years. Hardy Girls, a Maine-based organization, creates safe spaces for girls and nonbinary youth to take action in their communities by encouraging them to be curious, think critically, build coalitions, and challenge the status quo. She started her career in finance and marketing.
Sun, July 21 — Pay Attention: How to Be Present to and Changed by the People and Places We Encounter
Led by Oliver Goodrich. Music by Will Bristol
This service will explore the dispositions/habits of heart & mind that might allow us to be changed by the people and places we encounter (awareness, curiosity, wonder, and humility to name a few).
Oliver Goodrich, M.Ed., is a religious educator, interfaith leader, and spiritual director who is passionate about making spiritual practice accessible to all. In his 20-year career in higher education, Oliver has worked in a variety of roles supporting college student spiritual wellbeing at Boston College, Loyola University Chicago, Cornell University, and Bowdoin College, where he currently serves as the Director of the Rachel Lord Center for Religious & Spiritual Life.
Sun July 28— Do What You’re Doing when You’re Doing It
Led by Rebecca Waddle, Music by Will Bristol
Information coming soon.
Flowers for Worship Service
Please share your blooming flowers, bushes and tree branches or any purchased flowers to enhance our worship services .As many things begin blooming, we can all enjoy them in our sanctuary. Formal, informal, one beautiful bloom – all are welcome. You can dedicate your donation in honor or memory of loved people or causes. We request that your item be tall enough to be seen from the back of the church, but not block the person at the pulpit. We ask that you take your arrangement home after the service.
Please schedule with Mary Larson () to reserve a Sunday.
UUCB Staff Summer Vacation Schedule
Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos – Minister
Study & Vacation July & August
Toben Cooney–Callnan – Religious Exploration Director
Vacation July
Will Bristol – Music Director
Vacation August
Shirley Bernier – Office Administrator
Vacation July 1-5
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS JULY & AUGUST
- July 1-5 Office Closed
- July 6-Aug 31 Wed. & Thurs. 10am-4pm
- July 6-Aug 31 Mon., Tues., & Fri. Office Closed
For the July and August, please submit items for Order of Worship, Announcement Sheet, and All Church Emails, by Wednesday at 10am.
Please submit article via email at
Minister’s Message
Good Signs of the Times
Dear Ones,
It’s July and you should not be reading a Parish Messenger article from me (I’m now officially on study leave/vacation). However, I feel compelled to share my passion and hopefulness about a Sign Project UUCB has been working on behind the scenes for many months!
Here’s the back story: It all started at a little table at Bohemian Coffeehouse when two members of our Working for Justice Steering Group (Betty Robinson and Cathey Cyrus) met with me to talk about our shared concern about the Israel-Hamas War, violence and humanitarian crises in Palestine, rising antisemitism and Islamophobia here and around the world, and how many feel they must choose “a side.” At the same time, the Brunswick Area Interfaith Council (BAIC) was planning its first interfaith service in years, to focus on being in solidarity with the suffering in the Middle East (and other places engulfed in war). One of the big questions we discussed was: How might we not only focus our own energies for peace and justice, but also build relationships and partnerships with people who share the same hopes? An idea for a sign project was born – and initially, we thought we would start small and see if others at UUCB might want to put signs for love, justice and peace (perhaps in a few different languages) in their yards or on their cars.
We let the idea rest, and then we invited some of our friends in the BAIC to have a conversation about making our idea a more collaborative and community-centered one. We UUCBers met with representatives from the BAIC board, Beth Israel Congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and shared our idea with them. What happened next was so uplifting — they caught our vision and were willing to dream with us … (this is the power of community organizing and collective action).
We all agreed that we wanted to do something together in the larger Brunswick area that would help provide a unifying message for people of all sorts of (or no) faith traditions to come together around some shared values – values like Love, Justice, and Peace – that are held in common by diverse people. We agreed that if we worked together, we could have a bigger impact, and promote these values as a place of strength and hope from which to remain firm against the rising polarization in our community. We dreamed, designed, and developed true excitement about what it might be like to see these signs all over our community – especially mixed among all the political signs we know will be coming in this election season.
The signs (see image on left) say: Love, Peace, Justice – Together.
You can think of this in at least three ways, probably more.
- Love and peace and justice are the things that will keep us together.
- We can only achieve the love, peace, and justice we long for when we work together.
- Love and peace and justice only exist when all are present together—i.e. they are mutually interdependent.
The BAIC enthusiastically agreed to become the project’s owner/sponsor/energy center, and even applied for and received a grant from the Nathaniel Davis Fund of the Town of Brunswick to help us underwrite a portion of expenses!
Now, we’re ready to take orders!!
The plan is to have faith communities all over Mid-coast Maine do exactly what we’re doing now—promoting this shared project and taking orders. Would you please join us and encourage as many of your friends and neighbors as possible to do the same?
Here’s what you need to know:
- Yard signs (w/ h-bracket) are $10 each.
- Bumper magnets (3 x 5” and intended for those who can’t use a yard sign and/or who want to make their messages mobile) are $5 each.
- To order as a part of the UUCB community, click here to fill out the order form.
- You can pay for the signs by cash or check made out to UUCB. Please either mail a check with “BAIC Signs” in the memo line to UUCB (PO Box 129, Brunswick ME 04011) or place a check or cash into the offering plate (in an envelope that you clearly label BAIC Signs).
- All participating faith communities are pushing orders in July and we hope to place our first combined order on August 1. Initial signs will be delivered mid-August so they are ready for all of us to “launch” them (i.e. put them up at the same time) on Labor Day Weekend. We will continue to take orders beyond the first order, but urge you to act now!
- If you have questions or would like to talk more about the project, please contact Betty Robinson (u).
- I cannot imagine a better Homecoming in September than to see these signs proliferating throughout our community – and even more, making a difference as we remember to center ourselves in these values, and keep reaching out across our differences to build beloved community. As the words attributed to Francis David have reminded and inspired UUers for so long, “We need not think alike to love alike.”
Blessings,
Kharma
Committee on Ministry
Recently the Committee on Ministry completed the third and final Preliminary Fellowship review for our minister, Rev. Kharma Amos. We consulted with many church members and received a lot of feedback, which we did our best to incorporate into Kharma’s final review before she is granted Full Fellowship later this year (we’re counting on it).
One of the concerns we identified for attention was ensuring a healthy work/life balance for our minister. Kharma is a hard worker and at times has difficulty saying no to requests for her participation, above and beyond reasonable expectations. The Committee worked with Kharma to come up with a plan to ensure that she gets one long weekend a month for rest and recharge. Kharma consulted with church staff, and has identified the following weekends for her R&R weekends next church year:
- October 18 – 21
- November 15 – 18
- December 27 – 30
- January 17 – 20
- February 14 – 17
- March 14 – 17
- April 25 – 28
- May 23 – 26
Please keep these dates in mind and don’t ask Kharma to attend a meeting or event during her long weekends off. Thanks for your help in ensuring that Kharma’s work/life balance is sustainable.
The Committee on Ministry
Tom Rumpf, Chair, Irene Austin, Cathey Cyrus, Penny Elwell, Carol Evans
Music Director Update
Although it feels like things are winding down around the church with summer services, I have begun planning for our next church year already. This includes on my part planning a schedule for the choir and reaching out to potential new members, planning and/or composing music for worship services based around the monthly themes, and planning involvement with groups such as the children, with recorder ensemble and other ensembles such as the Intergen Orchestra (which I will be excited to begin rehearsing this year in December).
In addition to this, I have also begun planning some other “extra” musical events that I’ll be organizing and which I will highlight below:
- Drum Circle and Community Circle Sing—9/22/24 (4-6pm)
- Spectacularly Spooky Sing-Along: 10/27/24 (2-4pm) An 80’s karaoke and costume party evening accompanied by live piano playing—late October (more details soon)
- Post Election Gathering—11/6/24 (6-8pm)
- Community Caroling—12/15/24 (4-6pm)
- March Madness Open Mic—3/8/25 (2-4pm)
- Brunswick Pride Choir at Brunswick Pride Festival—6/14/25 (1pm)
UUCB Board Update
I’m writing this on the evening of Saturday, June 22. Today our board of trustees, our committee chairs, and our program staff met at the church for a Leadership Retreat. We started by each lighting a candle and telling the group about an object that we had brought. The object was to represent something about our UUCB community that we love and want to lean into, extend, or deepen. It was moving to hear people’s stories and how important this community has been to them through their lives.
We then moved on to an activity where we assessed our gifts. We each made a list of the gifts or assets that we felt were an important part of UUCB. We found that we are blessed with many things. We have physical assets like the washer and dryer in the church, an accessible building, moveable chairs, solar panels on our roof, and an AV system for example. We have an amazing, intelligent congregation that has the capacity to do good work and does it. We have an office administrator that keeps the gears of the church moving. We have a minister and staff that inspire each other and us with music and opportunities to learn and grow. I could fill the rest of the Parish Messenger with the list of things we came up with, and
I think it’s safe to say that abundance is probably the word that best summarizes how we felt at the end of that exercise.
Over a wonderful lunch prepared by Cuffy and Joanne, we split into groups and prepared skits and activities focused on what it might be like to be a newcomer to UUCB. After lunch we presented to the larger group who laughed and clapped, These activities helped us to see all the ways we are welcoming and to think about ways that we might be even more welcoming.
The retreat was a great opportunity to step back from meetings, lists and agendas with other church leaders. We got to know each other better while playing and having fun. This retreat reminded me that I’m part of a group of like-minded people that have the capacity to do good in the world. Together we are a strong positive force
This is the end of my 3 years as the chair of your board of trustees. It has been an amazing 3 years for me. Though I have one more year on the board as a member, I look forward to stepping back for a bit before finding what is next for me at UUCB.
Please join me in welcoming Curt Neufeld as the new Board of Trustees Chairperson and in welcoming Nathan Haynes and Joel Austin to the board.
David Kew
Outgoing Board of Trustees
Concerts for a Cause
2023-2024 Concert Series
The 2023-2024 Concert series has concluded with an all-time record for the amount raised for our charities. ALL proceeds raised from this past season’s concerts ($12,944) were shared between Oasis Free Clinics and Midcoast New Mainers Group. We are proud to say that since UUCB started holding concerts, we have raised approximately $40.992 for local charities!
Charlie Evans and Sue Michaud from the Concert Task Force presenting a check for $6,472 to each of the charities. Accepting the check from Charlie is Anita Ruff, executive director of Oasis Free Clinics. Accepting the check from Sue is Andree Appel, Board Chair of Midcoast New Mainers. Both organizations were truly grateful and can do great deeds with the money.
Having great attendance the entire season, we were able to provide this wonderful gift to the charities. As a matter of fact, 4 of our concerts this year had more than 200 paying people in the audience.
- Jud Caswell
- Schooner Fare
- Chris Smither
- John Gorka
And each of our 8 concerts was amazing. The audiences were very happy!
Thank You Note from Ann Spencer’s Mom
See Watch Ann’s sermon, ” A Powerful Passage” from August 13, 2023
Celebration of Life
Chalice Circles
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE!
By Lucy Ijams **
No matter how long you have been associated with our congregation, YOU ARE WELCOME. I’ve been here four years or so, and am still delighted by what I found: the quality of caring and commitment to each other, the wider community, and to the well-being of the earth and its many diverse kinds of living beings. I celebrate the excellence of our professional religious leaders and the lay-led groups, who engage in works of service to us and the greater good.
Since the danger of pandemic decreased, it has been a blessing to be joined by a good number of new people of all ages who “try it, like it, and stay for more.” And there is way MORE here than Sunday mornings.
I am involved with one of the programs we offer that you might not know about. Have you met Chalice Circles ? Allow me to introduce you. Maybe you have heard of / are familiar with small group ministry? Chalice Circles is the name for our small group ministry.
Small means 8-10 people who meet regularly with the same group of people whom they might not know well or have never met. They consider a different topic each time. The topics are intended to focus the group’s attention on the things we have in common just by being human.
Chalice Circles create intimacy
by addressing topics of universal human significance.Chalice Circles ponder ultimacy by exposing participants to the great spiritual questions and providing a safe setting where participants can learn from one another’s views and experiences.
Chalice Circles help participants to “walk the walk” of Unitarian Universalism through service projects to both church and community.
Everyone was born and everyone will die. Everyone has successes and failures, loves and losses. Everyone has the same fundamental needs and the same basic emotions. Everyone has wisdom to share and questions to ponder. Just being human gives us a great deal to ponder together. For that reason, Chalice Circles are deep listening groups. They provide a way of communicating and listening that is mostly absent in everyday conversation. By listening, deeply, respectfully, to one another in Chalice Circles, we allow one another’s spirits to be heard and seen.
How does that sound? If you are curious and want to learn more, I’d truly love to hear from you.
or call/text 315-368-7551.
Registration for the next round of Circles begins in September.
**with a few bits from the UU Church of Brunswick Chalice Circle Handbook.
WORKING FOR JUSTICE
July’s Charity with Soul
Tedford Housing, formerly Tedford Shelter, was founded by the Brunswick Area Interfaith Council to provide emergency shelter for the area’s homeless adults in 1987. The organization was named for the individual who donated the building that housed the original shelter at 10 Pleasant Street in Brunswick, Maine. Our mission is to move people from homelessness to home.
Over the years, Tedford and its many community partners have risen to the challenges that face our homeless neighbors, opening a family shelter on Federal Street, offering homeless prevention services to those individuals and families at-risk of becoming homeless, and adding 37 units of supportive housing for previously homeless individuals and families.
At the core of all of Tedford Housing’s programs and services is case management, ensuring every client we serve has access to all of the health, human and community services needed to address the challenges that created their housing emergency. Today, Tedford Housing finds itself serving more people in the community on an outreach basis than it does in its facilities. We have become a resource center for our homeless and at-risk neighbors, much more than a shelter with emergency beds.
Brunswick Area Teen Center
Great news from the Brunswick Area Teen Center! They will be moving their location to the
Coffin School this fall. This relocation will provide the teens with much needed space for a
myriad of activities. Among other things, they will have a gym, several playing fields, basketball
courts, two indoor rooms, and restroom facilities. Plans include increasing cabinet and storage
space, adding windows between the two rooms and several other adjustments. Because current
school bus routes include Coffin School, the teens will have better access to the Center. The staff will be increased to accommodate the anticipated 45-50 teens who will come to the Center at its new location.
The Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund Scholarship in recognition of Jordan Cardone-Ruwet has nearly reached its goal of $13,000 and anticipates providing a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior. The annual fund drive is only a few hundred dollars short of its goal of $40,000
Black Lives Matter
Sacred Ground: Conversations about Race and Racism
To be offered again in the Fall, 2024
Sacred Ground, an 11-session program on race and racism, will be offered again at UUCB in the fall. The curriculum of readings and videos includes histories and legacies of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian-American, and Jewish peoples. In small groups of 7 – 9 people, led by trained facilitators, participants reflect on the narratives of these histories which we, as individuals, carry with us. The sessions provide opportunities for open conversation and a deeper understanding of the impact of racism on our lives.
Working for Justice Upcoming Events
The Abbe Museum Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas
Friday, Saturday, Sunday; July 12-14; 10 AM to 5 PM
College of the Atlantic; Bar Harbor, ME
This unique multi-day event is an evolution of the popular Abbe Museum Indian Market (AMIM) and Native American Festival which featured invitation-only Native arts markets and performances. The Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas includes those elements but will also spotlight conversations by Wabanaki and other Indigenous leaders on some of the biggest questions of our time, including climate, democracy, and food systems. For details see https://www.abbemuseum.org/dawnland-festival.
Imperfect Allies: Children of Opposite Sides
Judith Sloan & Najla Said
A dramatic presentation and discussion of the Israel/Palestine conflict
Saturday, July 27 from 7-9 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick
1 Middle Street, Brunswick
In response to the war in Gaza, Imperfect Allies is a powerful collaboration between two friends: Judith Sloan, Jewish-American actor, writer, radio producer and Najla Said, Palestinian-American author, actress, playwright, activist and daughter of Edward Said. Speaking from the strength of their long relationship, these two friends offer a dramatic presentation followed by invitation for small group discussion of the difficult questions of the tragic Israel/Palestine conflict. A brief intermission is planned.
Registration is required– email or Fill out the online registration form.
Suggested Donation $10 more if you can, less if you can’t to cover costs of event. Additional proceeds to benefit humanitarian aid to
children of Gaza to the Middle East Children’s Alliance.
For more info contact Cathey Cyrus at
Rebels and Poets
An evening of Irish and Palestinian resistance poetry and music
Sunday, August 4, from 2-5 PM (with brief intermission)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick
1 Middle Street, Brunswick
Songs will be drawn from decades of music and songs of resistance to occupation and oppression that came out of both the Irish and Palestinian experiences. These will be sung by a collaboration of Maine-based musicians from both traditions including three members of the Portland-based The Shank Painters (https://shankpainters.com/about) as well as Fateh Azzam (Georgetown, ME), Selima Terras (Bowdoin College) and others.
Irish poetry of resistance will be read by Gary Lawless of Gulf of Maine Books. Palestinian poetry will be read by Sharif Elmusa of Washington D.C. and Arrowsic, ME, and Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate of Alexandria, VA. A brief intermission is planned with the possibility of Dabkeh dancing at the end of the program.
Event is free and open to the public. (Flyers coming soon!)
Contact: Cathey Cyrus
Pihcintu Multinational Immigrant and Refugee Girls Chorus
Sunday, Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick
1 Middle Street, Brunswick
Pihcintu, a multicultural girl’s chorus, will perform at UUCB on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM. For this free concert, seating will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information about Pihcintu and to listen to the chorus, see https://pihcintu.org/
For more information about this event, please contact Faith Barnes at .
Other Events For Your Calendar
Concerts for a Cause: Pousette-Dart Duo
FRIDAY, September 20th
Jon Pousette-Dart, best known as leader of the classic 70’s folk rock group, the Pousette-Dart Band, will be performing with bandmate Jim Chapdelaine at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick on FRIDAY, September 20th, 2024 at 7:30 pm as part of the UUCB Concerts for a Cause. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Brunswick Area Teen Center and Maine Family Planning.
Do you remember Pousette-Dart Band’s song, Amnesia??
Murder at the Pie Auction
Sponsored by the Fundraising Steering Group
Holiday Fair
Art Gallery
Summer Artists: UUCB Members and Friends
Deadline for August Parish Messenger
We are happy to announce that Tammis Donovan has offered to he part of the Parish Messenger Editing Team. She will be in charge of the August edition, so please get your articles to her early. Send them to on or before Saturday, July 20th.