June Services | Minister’s Message | Religious Exploration | Music Director| Board Update | Welcoming Congregation | WORKING FOR JUSTICE: | Charities with Soul | Immigrant Justice | MUUSAN | Teen Center | Indigenous Awareness | Habitat for Humanity | Gun Safety | For Your Calendar | Concerts for a Cause: John Gorka | Church Picnic | Gay Pride Festival | Last Hoorah | General Assembly | Holiday Fair Summer Activities | Pihcintu Immigrant Girls Choir |Murder at the Pie Auction | ART GALLERY | July Parish Messenger Deadline
June Services
MONTHLY THEME: RENEWAL
Sun, June 2 — Renewal: Stop Resisting a Rest
Led by Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, Music by Will Bristol and the UUCB Choir
Renewal is the theme of this final month of our church year, and a fitting focus for our reflections as we enter summer. We will draw upon the wisdom of Tricia Hersey and other BIPOC leaders who know that intentional, disciplined rest is a foundation not only for personal renewal but also for our shared hopes of re-creating a more just and equitable world. Many of us long for renewal, but have not yet found ways to extricate ourselves from habits that consistently leave us exhausted. Too many of us are “resisting a rest” in ways that limit our freedom and joy. Let’s consider a different approach.
Sun, June 9 — Pride: A Renewing & Renewable Resource
Led by Will Bristol, Music by Will Bristol an others
As we continue our reflections on the Soul Matters theme of Renewal, we join with many in our own community and around the world in celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride. For those from historically marginalized identities (like many LGBTQ people), having pride in oneself can be a real challenge. In the face of rising hate and threats of violence, developing a healthy sense of self-worth requires sustained intention and attention. Pride celebrations can provide an important resource for this renewal, and we hope this spiritual celebration of Pride will be a good complement to a weekend of community celebrations.
Sun, June 16 — Nature, Legacy, and Renewal
Led by Dr. Barbara Denniston Snapp. Music by Paste
A sense of place is a powerful – and very personal – force. It speaks with the voice of history, but opens doors to the future, for ourselves and the people in our lives. When the sense of place includes the natural landscape, it folds us into the broader natural world and leaves us with a sense of awe and curiosity and stewardship. To develop a sense of place is to find purpose in life, and each experience of place renews and refreshes that purpose.
Barbara Snapp developed her sense of place on the coast of Downeast Maine as a child and renewed it each summer until retiring and moving to Maine. That experience of coastal Maine ignited a lifelong curiosity about nature and a passion about explaining its wonders to others. Herpa n led Barbara to a PhD in Biology and a career in teaching science in college, high school, and now Midcoast Senior College.
Sun June 23— Surprises that Changed My Life
Led by Mary Atala Lessard . Music by Will Bristol
Mary Atala Lessard will share her experiences with sexual orientation in her journey as a mother and how they changed her life.
Mary Atala Lessard was born in Lewiston, Maine. Before she retired last June, Mary At taught in elementary schools in Mass., Maine and N.H. She became a Unitarian Universalist in 1984. In 1989, Mary At received an MSW degree from Boston College and worked as a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker.
Sun June 30 — A Conversation With Nisha Agarwal, Deputy Executive Director of Impact at International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
Led by Nisha Agarwal . Music by Will Bristol
What is the difference between refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and undocumented immigrants? 2) How does this impact Maine? 3) What is the organization — International Refugee Assistance Project — doing on this? and 4) What has Nisha’s own journey been in relation to migration, personally and professionally?
.
As Deputy Executive Director of Impact at International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Nisha Agarwal oversees the departments of Policy, Communications, U.S. Litigation, Legal Knowledge and Training, Climate Displacement, and Disability Inclusion and Accessibility. Previously, Nisha served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs since the beginning of the de Blasio Administration, building landmark initiatives like IDNYC, the City’s municipal identification card, and Cities for Action, a national advocacy coalition of local elected officials. A child of immigrants from India, she became a public interest lawyer out of Harvard Law School, leading the Health Justice Program at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest in 2006. She later was the deputy director and co-founder of the Center for Popular Democracy and the executive director of the Immigrant Justice Corps.
Minister’s Message
A Summer of Renewal
The image on the right (a dangerously low battery) incites anxiety in me some of the time. It usually means that my cell phone to die, or that my laptop really needs to be plugged in fast, lest I lose important work. When I see this image, I know that I need to do something to replenish the power in whatever device I am using right away, so that it can function optimally as
designed. There is actually no alternative solution to this problem, other than to plug the device back into a power source and wait for it to recharge. It seems so simple, this noticing that energy has been drained and must be replenished.
Why does it seem so difficult to understand that the same thing is true for us, as humans? We have limited energy, that requires constant feeding and maintenance, and… regular times of being connected to a source of renewal. So, consider this an invitation to spend some time reflecting on this question, “What Renews You?” What is it that fills your heart-tank with enough love that you are able to more easily summon compassion for yourself or the annoying ones all around you? What gets you so excited that you seem to “ping” with readiness to embrace what life (and each day) has in store? What is it that causes an automatic relaxing or softening of your body when you have the time for it?
It surely seems to me like this is a time for renewal, and I wish for all of you a summer of whatever it is that fills up your spiritual tank.
Some people are renewed by rest… by unplugging from technology, by spending time alone, by lying in the grass and breathing with the earth. Some are renewed
by intense conversations with loved ones and strangers alike about the things that matter most to them in life. Some are renewed by exercise, reading, art, gardening, swimming, spending time with pets and children. What renews you? Whatever it is, please do a lot of it this summer!
This has been an incredibly meaningful church year (as all are), and in our UU cycle of things, we are moving into a time of less business and more play. I believe we are going to need all of the energy we are able to replenish and renew this summer, when we return at Homecoming in the months leading up to November elections. Do not neglect to spend some time this summer being intentional and persistent in focusing on your own renewal, so that you can be the best version of yourself as tensions climb. I commit to you that I will do the same, and I am again so grateful for the generous study leave you provide so that I can do this.
May your bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits be renewed!
Blessings,
Kharma
Religious Exploration
One of the questions that I get asked the most on Sunday mornings is, “Do you have a list of the books that you read for Time for All Ages?” Up until now, I didn’t but I thought it was a great idea. With the church year coming to a close, I was able to create an up to date list of titles to share with you all. I broke them down by our monthly themes. Most of the time, you will see that the book matches the theme in some respect. Occasionally, the titles stray from the theme but are still aligned with UU ideas. Thanks again for a great RE year!
Time for All Ages Book List by Monthly Theme
Toben Cooney-Callnan
Director of ReligiousExploration
A Note From Our Music Director
Renewal and pride are the central themes that musical selections will focus on during this month of June. Firstly, the choir will be singing some more luscious harmonies which can refresh our appreciation for music’s renewing power. Secondly, the hymns will also be quite familiar this month to those of us who have been at this church a while and should give us all a chance to feel more refreshed and at ease during congregational singing.
Before going on and potentially losing your attention with this preview, let me now put in a brief plug for
joining our Brunswick Pride Pop-Up Choir. If you are at all interested in singing some fun and moving
music at the Brunswick Pride Festival on Saturday, June 8th on Brunswick’s village green, please join this
effort! You don’t need to have prior experience singing in a choir or the ability to read music as what
we will be rehearsing and singing will be quite simple and accessible to all abilities. All of the music will be
divided into two large sections and will only involve one harmony and one melody part at most. We’ll sing
a big pop-music music hit from the 80’s and a song or two which most of us will know from this church.
If you can carry a tune and would like to try out singing in a choir in general, then this would be a great opportunity for you! Also if you want to just be a hype-person and dance and/or listen to the music, then you’re still welcome to come! We’ll have one rehearsal on Thursday, June 6th from 7pm-8:30pmat the church (replacing our normal choir rehearsal time) and then will sing on Saturday at the festival as well as on Sunday, June 9th with whoever shows up that morning for service.
Please sign up if you are able to here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zgqgYr767CR2lAfmmWhMAEqsynR7YlO-HkZmrV0JFV0/edit
This Pride event along with the service of June 9th will mark our outward musical culmination in celebrating Pride this month. However you might find on June 2nd, that two musical selections speak more subtly to this theme for you: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen and Somewhere from West Side Story.
The latter will also function as a thematic bridge to the bridging ceremony which will occur towards the end of this service and will be sung during the offertory by our choir.
Along with this choral anthem, two more choir pieces on Sunday, June 16th will mark the end of the year for our choir. Thank you to all who have made Thursdays
a highlight of my weeks so far in 2024! And thank you to Heidi and Derek for your leadership contributionsdur ng the first half of this choir year!
Now time for one more plug: if you are interested in participating in a “coffee house” that Toben, Shirley, Kharma and I are hosting on June 15th, then this is another moment for you to let your musical talents fly and/or performance anxiety demons out of their box. The Last Hoorah and Ha-Ha is a time for any kind of
offering but if you’d like yours to be musical, then I am happy to accompany you at the piano. This event, for me, will be a first step in seeing what we might be interested in sharing performance-wise as a community, and if our talents, once unboxed, might want to be transformed into something more than a coffee house in the future. For more information please see the full event notice on page 13 of this newsletter.
UUCB Board Update
June is an exciting month for those of us in New England. This is the month when the landscape turns green, and the temperatures turn hot—this transition from cool weather to warm heralds the best of the year in full swing. The transition is exciting for all its possibilities. It is not unlike when arelationship goes from a romance to an engagement. Or when school lets out for the summer. Indeed, our church takes a summer break, meaning that services are led by ‘lay leaders’, folks who lead without the benefit of theological courses but rather from their own passion and experience. These are services not to be missed!
Behind the scenes your Board of Trustees have been talking about the annual budget, improvements to our church, and growing our programs.
Because of our generous congregation and years of good board leadership, we can bring to you forconsideration more hours for our stellar Director of RE and a proposal to add accessible parking to our lot. Mind you, these actions come from ideas that our committees come up with. It is the volunteers that make up
our committees that improve UUCB. The work done by the finance committee and our esteemed treasurer, Keary Lay, to come up with a balanced budget that helps our church sustain and grow the many programs is beyond commendable.
The Charities with Soul committee has been working on updating a Co-Sponsorship Policy, which will provide greater clarity for how our church sponsors events. I have heard it said, “No plan survives first implementation,” and the co-sponsoring policy was on that showed its areas for improvement as it was used. Thanks to those who worked on the revisions. It will be available for review by the congregation. Look for information elsewhere in the Parish Messenger.
An initiative we call Project South has beensimmering for some time and is now ready for implementation. The project is all about making the best use of the area on the south side of the church, which is currently a lawn with great potential. When our church was redesigned, one of the goals of the building team was to make it as accessible as possible, but there wasn’t a place for dedicated ADA parking – or so we thought. When a new survey confirmed land availability, the chance to add the parking was clear. Look for additional information at the Annual Meeting. Fear not, it will be more than a couple of new parking spaces.
The board talked about how enjoyable the Spirit Fest event was and how we hope it will be an annual event. It was a wonderful way to embrace other faith traditions and learn from our community while enjoying good food, music, and some dancing.
Lastly, the Board is excited to have chosen outstanding volunteers to be recognized at the Annual Meeting. The categories of recognition are G.I.F.T.S. – for those who best Get Involved, Initiate Ideas, Find a New Way to Serve, Take a Break, and Serve Diligently. Find out the winners at the Annual Meeting!
Peace,
Curt Neufeld
Welcoming Congregation
Dear Friends,
This is an update for the Welcoming Congregation, we have not forgotten you that so generously gave your time to come to past meetings. We realized a need to attend to a few issues in smaller groups before we reconvene this fall. Four of us are going over the welcome renewal form so that we may get an idea as to the areas that we need to focus on so that we can work on those come this fall. Kathy Glennon has agreed to be the liaison from our group to the working for Justice group. A number of you are involved with helping on Gay Pride in June. And later this year we will need to help our congregation understand why there is a need to participate in the Transgender Day of Remembrance. If any of you have any ideas or thoughts on what we might also do to become a more Welcoming Congregation, please talk to Toben, Kharma, Kathy Glennon or Sharon Brown. Meanwhile, have a great summer.
WORKING FOR JUSTICE
June’s Charity with Soul
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is a nonsectarian organization that advances human rights and social justice in the UnitedStates and around the world. It envisions a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human rights. The organization originated 70 years ago to help people escape Nazi persecution.
Through a combination of advocacy, education, and partnerships with grassroots organizations, UUSC promotes economic rights, advances environmental justice, defends civil liberties, and preserves the rights of people in times of humanitarian crisis.
They also engage communities around the world by teaming with the UU College of Social Justice, which introduces participants to the work of domestic and overseas partners who are often on the front lines of addressing social justice issues.
UUSC’s efforts are built on the conviction that all people are entitled to basic human rights, which transcend divisions of class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and gender.
The Unitarian Church has a long history of supporting UUSC, and we encourage every member’s support by:
- Becoming a UUSC volunteer
- Participating in the annual holiday Guest at Your Table program
- Attending special UUSC events at the church
- Learning more about UUSC by visiting www.uusc.org
UUSC is financially independent from the Unitarian Universalist Association and the federal government. Member contributions make up about 60% of its annual budget.
Immigrant Justice
Below are some of the needs of the groups working with New Mainers:
Volunteer Drivers: The Midcoast New Mainers Group (MCNMG) needs more volunteer drivers from Bath. As there is no public transportation between Bath and Brunswick, adult immigrants need transportation to get to their English classes in Brunswick. If you can help with this, please email Carol Kalajainen at .
MidCoast Literacy: If you can help work on English language skills with New Mainer children or adults, please do the following. The tutoring commitment is for one hour per week.
- To work with adults, email Diana Krauss at . A three-day training for becoming a literacy tutor will occur on June 4, 5, and 6, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- To work with children, contact Katy Clark at . The three-day training will be held June 10, 12, and 14, 2024, from 9:00am – 1:00pm.
- Both trainings will be held at the Midcoast Literacy office at 9 Park St. in Bath
- To volunteer at the Conversation Cafes, contact Jennifer Burgess, Office Manageradmin@midcoastlit.o07-443-6384 to get on their list. This is a fun way to meet newrg or 2 immigrants and you only need to volunteer for one or two sessions! Conversation Cafes are held at the Welcome Center at the Brunswick Recreation Center, 24 Venture Avenue. All you have to do is show up and do your best to chat with English language learners who want to practice their English. Discussion prompts are provided. Conversations are scheduled for 3:45-5 pm on the following dates: June 12, 24; July 10, 22; and August 14, 26 at the Welcome Center (in the Brunswick Recreation building) which you access from parking lot at: 24 Venture Avenue, in Brunswick.
Mentors and Job Coaching: We are looking for both family or individual mentors and job coaches. Another job coach training will be held in June. Many people need help looking for jobs! If you are interested in being a mentor or a job coach, please email Carol Kalajainen at .
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MUUSAN
The legislative year has just ended. A big thanks to everyone who advocated for these bills with calls, postcards, testimonies and letters to the editor. We were a force this year! Here is a summary of the disposition of our priority bills.
Climate:
LD 2077, An Act Regarding Customer Costs and the Environmental and Health Effects of
Natural Gas. This bill attempted to limit the expansion of gas utilities. After major amendment, itpassed as “Resolve, to Study the Role of Natural Gas in an Equitable Clean Energy Transition for Maine.”
Wabanaki Sovereignty:
LD 2007: An Act to Advance Self-determination for Wabanaki Nations. This bill also underwent radical changes and became an act granting tribal courts greater jurisdiction over crimes committed on tribal land, recognizing tribal authority over regulation of drinking water, and restoring tribal rights stripped by past legislation. The bill passed both houses with bi-partisan support and was signed into law by the governor.
Housing & Homelessness:
LD 1710 An Act to Establish the Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program and Amendthe Laws Regardithe Municipal General Assistance Program. This ambitious billng Tenants and was referred for further study. The good news for housing is that the Appropriations Committee included money in the budget to increase state aid for low-income renters.
Democracy:
LD 1578 An Act to Adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote. This bill passed both houses and after the required 10-day period for the Governor’s action on the bill. It became law without her signature. Maine now joins 16 other states giving the Compact a total of 209 electoral votes so far. Only 61 more electoral votes are needed for the Compact to go into effect. A big win!
Gun Safety:
- LD 2238 An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases. This bill passed both houses on the final day of the legislative session. It has been sent to the Governor.
- LD 2086 An Act to Ensure Safe Disposition of Forfeited Firearms (with an added amendment to address the definition of a machine gun and devices often called bump stocks that turn a semiautomatic into an automatic weapon) This bill passed both houses on the final day of the legislative session and now goes to the Governor.
The MUUSAN and UUCB Gun Violence Education and Awareness Teams together prioritized these
Brunswick Area Teen Center
Contact: Joanne Allen " target="_blank" rel="noopener">
May was a busy month at the Teen Center including walking to a park, making sushi, and a Formalwear Giveaway in addition to regular activities. If anyone would like to donate formal wear for next year’s prom, please bring it to the
Teen Center or bring it to church during our snack collections on the first Sunday of each month.
The director and Advisory Board are planning for the summer. A variety of clubs and field trips are being put together for the teens, including two clubs led by a couple of the high schoolers. If you know any 6 th through 12 th graders who need a place to hang out this summer and escape the heat, send them to the Teen Center.
The Director and Advisory Board for the Teen Center are beginning to plan for a move to the Coffin School.
Thank you to all who have donated snacks and money. The teens still like juice pouches, bags of chips, fruit, and cookies.
Indigenous Awareness
Coming Events
This River is Our Relative – Film Screening & Conversation with filmmakers from Sunlight Media Collective on Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:30 pm, First Parish UU in Portland; 425 Congress Street. This event is free, no tickets required, but donations are accepted.
“This River Is Our Relative” is a 2023 Sunlight Media Collective documentary about the Penobscot Nation’s intrinsic kinship connection to and tireless environmental advocacy for the Penobscot River. The story is told through the voices of twenty-four Penobscot people, who share their experience of historical, physical, and spiritual connection to place; of cultural identity and survival. For more information see Eventbrite.
The Abbe Museum Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas on Friday, Saturday, Sunday; July 12-14; 10 AM to 5 PM at the 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.
Habitat for Humanity Walk
The May 5 fundraising walk was wonderfully successful. Thank you to our walkers and donors!
The walkers included Joanne Allen, Carol McCoy, Gretchen and Dexter Kamilewicz, Cuffy Chase, Betsy Williams, Mike Heath, Anne Spencer, Brigitte Winston, Pat Moore, Mary Larson, Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, Louise Gephart, Anne and Ken Butenhof, Jane Wilson, Joanne Kouzan, Eric Root and Sue Sargent.
So far, our UUCB team raised $12,891. Habitat isstill accepting walk gifts until June 27 th .Habitat’s goal for all of the te s is $55,000. Habitat 7 Rivers is located in Bath, Maine. The Re-Store that sells used (in good condition) furniture, appliances, building materials and more. The funds go to building a home with a family from the Midcoast. Habitat volunteers work to winterize, build ramps and to make repairs to homes for those who need and cannot afford them.
Gun Violence, Education and Awareness
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For Your Calendar
Concerts for a Cause: John Gorka
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Saturday, June 1st is the last concert of the 2023-24 series, and it’s going to be a big one. World-renowned singer-songwriter, John Gorka will perform at
the church to raise money for Midcoast New Mainers and Oasis Free Clinics. Gorka is known for his soulful baritone voice and his poetic language. His
versatility on guitar and piano keeps his sets musically interesting and he’s never short of the sly comment or clever joke that invariably ignites his
audience. With 14 critically acclaimed albums and collaborations with the likes of Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ani DiFranco, and many more. Many
well-known artists have recorded his music as well.
It’s been a banner year, So far we have earned $11,200 for the charities to split and $645 for the church budget through refreshment donations. I’d love to get our charity donations over $12,000 and church donations up to $750.
How can you help?
Buy tickets, tell all your friends about the concert, and donate some homemade baked goods.
Tickets: $25 in advance and $30 at the door. $10 Students/Children .
Available at the church office, Gulf of Maine Books, or online at https://ticketstripe.com/johngorka
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All-Church Picnic
Saturday June 1, 2024
12:00 – 3:00-ish
923 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell
Janice Thompson and Jeremy Jones are again inviting us to hold our all-church picnic on their beautiful property. There is plenty of parking. Come and enjoy the food, music and community spirit as we welcome the return of warmer weather and hopefully a day filled with sunshine!
Everyone brings:
- Something to grill, if you like
- A pot-luck side dish – salad or desert – all cold
- A chair
- Musical instruments for sing-along
- Tick/insect repellent, sunblock
Gay Pride Festival
Saturday, June 8, 2024
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Last Hoorah & Ha-Ha!
Featuring our Staff and YOU!
Sat, June 15
Open Mic, Snacks, 50/50
How do I sign up to share my talent?
You can sign up the night of the event. Doors open at 5:40 pm, and signups will begin immediately. Showtime starts at 6:00 pm. We will (more or less) use the order in which you sign up, with some priority for younger performers who may need to leave early.
Want to Sing? Wil Bristol can Support you.
We welcome singers of all sorts (solos, duets, ensembles). You can sing a cappella, accompany yourself or Will can provide piano accompaniment. If you would like accompaniment, please contact Will at and provide shsheet music in your desired key.
What is a 50/50 Raffle?
A 50/50 Raffle is the easiest raffle ever. You purchase tickets for chance to win 50% of the raffle proceeds. If we raise $100, you wil $50; if we raise $300, you win $150.
Performers of ALL Ages Welcome
(Content should be appropriate for all ages.)
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UUA General Assembly
June 20-23
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Holiday Fair ’24 Summer Can-Do’s
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Pihcintu Multinational Immigrant and Refugee Girls Chorus
Saturday, September 28 at 4:00 pm
Pihcintu Multinational Immigrant and Refugee Girls Chorus, is coming to perform at UUCB on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00pm. This is a free concert and seating will be on a first come first serve basis. For more information about Pihcintu, please click here (https://pihcintu.org/). To listen to the chorus,
please click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L0QKtU63y0&t=15s).
For more information about the event, please contact Faith Barnes at
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Murder at the Pie Auction
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Art Gallery
June Artist: Joanna Pool
We are delighted to have local painter Joanna Pool as our artist for the month of June. Ed McCartan introduced us to her work.
Joanna M. Pool M.A., CPC lives in Bath, Me. where she maintains a private practice as a Certified Professional Coach while living her lifelong passion for painting, study and spirituality. She earned a Masters Degree in Culture and Spirituality in 1991 from Holy Names College where she studied with Matthew Fox. She was inspired by Matt Fox, artist Adriana Diaz and poet and potter M.C. Richards in particular to make this passion for creating a primary source of the expression of her Creative Spirit.
Joanna Pool is a mixed media, semi-abstract artist presently working out of a large Open Artists Studio and showroom with five other artists at 92 Front above Reny’s in Bath, Me.
Joanna’s work can be found at:
- 92 Front in Bath, ME
- River Arts in Damariscotta
- Chocolate Church Member Shows
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Deadline for Parish Messenger Articles
Deadline for July Parish Messenger is WEDNESDAY, June 19. Send articles to