Ministers’ Message Last month we celebrated communion for the first time with you at CUF. It was a joyous and meaningful occasion, at least from our perspective! As ministers, we like religious rituals (we are ordained to sacrament, after all, and we tend to be nerds of the arcane). Yet our hope is that it’s more than that.

As Mary Luti writes:

At the world’s table, no one waits for anyone. It’s a demented scramble to be first, shoving others aside, stepping over bodies. Be first and you get prime cuts and excellent wine. Limp in later, you get gristle and dregs. At the world’s table, the wealthy, the privileged, and the strong devour everyone else’s share of the feast of life. But at the Lord’s table, mutual deference is the sacrament’s outward sign, every bit as much as bread and wine. What we gathered to do in the sanctuary was sign and foretaste of a community that knows the goodness of bread and sharing it widely in the world. Food justice! Luti continues: We eat the Lord’s Supper truly not when we’re morally pure or doctrinally sound, but when we’re giving no advantage to the privileged. When in deeds personal and political we refuse to shame the poor. When our own well-being is inseparable from others’.

When we smelled bread in church, when we had dancers and musicians, bakers and singers, children and seniors, and all of us with our inner skeptic and our inner devout, there was a profound intention to remember something sacred out of the elements. To remember some force powerful and loving which continues to work among us, in us, and on us for the purpose of God’s celebration in this world – a celebration of love and justice.

We eat the Lord’s Supper truly … when we set welcome tables in the streets of our grasping, unequal world as intentionally as we set Communion tables in our sanctuaries.

Our hope is that when CUF serves bread and cup in the name of Christ, it helps God shape your life in deeper ways. We look forward to hearing what connects for you.

Malcolm & Mariah

The

Church of Universal Fellowship March 2020

82 Main Street Orono, Maine 04473 207-866-3655 email: cufoffice@icloud.com web address: www.opencuf.org

Ministers’ Message ………1

Around CUF ………2

Lent/Holy Week ………3

Adult Spiritual Growth…….3

YAWP News ………4

Coming Up ……4/5

Movie Night ………4

Mardi Gras Dinner ………4

Fundraisers ……5/6

Harvest Fair Planning…….. 6

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Around and beyond CUF . . . February at CUF brought a delicious six-course French Valentine’s dinner that transported us to Paris! Thank you to Stephen Cousineau and the CUF children and youth who worked so hard to make it happen! The proceeds from the ticket sales came to $500 and were donated to the CUF general fund.

We are all so glad that Connie and Ed have safely returned from their trip to Australia! They had a lot of fun with camels and koala bears. Ask them at Coffee Hour about all their adventures!

Chelsey Douglass and Jake Pellerin announce the birth of their daughter

Carra Mae born December 17, 2019

granddaughter of Kay and David Douglass

Fifteen people celebrated Ash Wednesday at our Taizé service and received ashes on February 26.

Have you thought about joining Reverend Mariah in her 6-week Lenten series on Wednesdays at 7 pm in the CUF Library? There will be weekly scripture exploration, prayer practice, lectio divina and coloring!

Many thanks to all the people who make CUF such a vibrant place! Special thanks to Stephen Cousineau who was not afraid to cook up a storm with our young people on Valentine’s Day! He is doing it again on March 13 to transport us all to Louisiana for a Mardi Gras dinner! Get your tickets soon!

Thank you to Will Hunter for his generous donation of a new large-screen TV in the MacKenzie Room and to Trudy Tremblay for her donation of a new TV and DVD player for the CUF library! Thank you to Reverend Mariah for fixing the sancturary-viewer function on the new TV in the MacKenzie Room—so people can watch the worship service upstairs again. Thank you to Brett Ellis and Paul Harris for filling in as ushers when Tricia Griffith was away last week! Thank you to Mary Lee McIntosh for organizing the well-attended #11:45 talk by John Bear Mitchell of the Wabanaki Center at UMaine.

Thank you to Alma Homola for folding bulletins every Friday and for replenishing her home-made jams in the Gathering Place all winter. Proceeds from the jam sale benefit the Heifer Fund!

Congratulations to Tricia and Thomas Griffith They just bought a cute home in Glenburn! Thankfully, Tricia will still usher on Sunday mornings—despite the longer drive!

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Lent and Holy Week 2020 Palm Sunday, April 5, please bring your unused coats to worship!

Maundy Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 pm, shared supper, hymn sing and communion in the Gathering Place

For reservations or to sign up to bring food or to help please call the CUF office Good Friday, April 10 at 7:00 pm, Tenebrae Service in the Sanctuary

Easter Morning, April 12 at 6:30 am Sunrise Service at Penobscot Valley Country Club Easter Breakfast at 7:00 am in the CUF Vestry

Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

Six Week Lenten Study with Rev. Mariah Hayden Starts Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 pm in the CUF Library

Weekly scripture exploration, prayer practice, lectio divina, and coloring!

Adult Spiritual Growth Team Schedule Some updates! -please mark your calendar!

The CUF Deacons Adult Spiritual Growth Team continues to plan our program year, September-May. The schedule includes the monthly Monday Book Group, monthly Friday Movie Nights,

and the popular #11:45 after worship forums.

This year during Lent, the Adult Spiritual Growth team is presenting a 6-session seminar focused on Sabbath as an ancient practice with a modern relevance, even urgency. Individuals who attend and participate will have the opportunity to learn about the history of observing Sabbath, see how other faith traditions practice it, and reflect on their own ideas and practices around Sabbath in order to identify and commit to options for increasing its presence and potency in their lives.

March 1, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #1: Sabbath MacKenzie Rm Rev. Mariah Hayden March 2, Monday, 7:00 pm Book Group Gathering Place Host: Judy Kuhns-Hastings March 8, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #2: Jewish Sabbath MacKenzie Rm. Barry Hammer March 15, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #3: Muslim Sabbath MacKenzie Rm. TBD March 22, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #4: Sabbath & Healthy Lifestyle Will Hunter March 27, Friday, 6:30 pm Movie Night MacKenzie Rm Host: Nancy Leavitt March 29, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #5: Sabbath in Nature & Agriculture TBD April 5, Sunday, 11:45 am Lent Seminar #6: Conclusion of Lenten Series Rev. Malcolm Himschoot April 6, Monday, 7:00 pm Book Group Gathering Place Host: Susan Heath April 19, Sunday, 11:45 am #11:45: Poor Peoples’ Campaign MacKenzie Rm. Host: TBD April 26, Sunday, 11:45 am #11:45: Eric Cameron: PEMF MacKenzie Rm. Host: Will Hunter May 4, Monday, 7:00 pm Book Group Gathering Place Host: Mary Lee McIntosh May 17, Sunday, 11:45 am #11:45: Sophie Wilson: Recycling MacKenzie Rm. Host: Connie Carter June 1, Monday, 7:00 pm Book Group Gathering Place Host: Diane Halkett

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News from our YAWP Program

The new year has been off to a busy start for our YAWPers! In February, the kids hosted a "night in Paris" Valentine's Day dinner

lead by Stephen Cousineau, during which they cooked and served a 6-course meal to 60+ guests at CUF. YAWP also continued its annual tradition of raising funds for upcoming service projects by selling Valentine Day's cards during fellowship hour after church. Following on the success of January's YAWP ice skating night, the YAWPers are looking forward to more monthly just-for-fun programs, including a movie night and a jump night at the Orono trampoline park. During our Sunday religious education hour, YAWP is continuing to dig into the theme "which way is up" with a special focus on meditation during Lent.

EASTER LILIES If you wish to purchase a lily this Easter in memory, honor, or celebration of someone, please let the church office know by April 6. The lilies are $15 and will be placed around the altar on Easter Sunday. Please also indicate if you would like to take your lily home after the Easter Worship or if you want your lily to be given to one of our homebound church members.

Linus Quilt Project starts March 3rd! Would you like to clean out your craft fabric, yarn, batting etc.?

Join Pam Burnham on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm in the CUF Vestry. Learn and help create Linus quilts for area children in our hospitals.

More info? Call Pam at 207-318-6468.

Friday March 13th at 6:00 pm ~ A Taste of Mardi Gras at CUF! Due to the overwhelming success of our French Dinner and request for more yummy food--the children chefs of CUF will be transporting you to New Orleans on Friday, March 13th so you can have a taste of Mardi Gras in Louisiana. The night will include Louisiana food, music, Mardi Gras Trivia and some surprises. Vegetarian options will be available. The cost of dinner is $15.00 per person and proceeds will go to a future YAWP

project. There will be a reservations sign-up sheet available after worship service. We ask you to please sign up if you plan to attend so we can properly plan how much food to make. As they say in Louisana - Laissez les bons temps rouler or for you non-French speakers let the good times roll!

Movie Night, Friday March 27, 6:30 pm, MacKenzie Room A charming, beautifully photographed modern fairy tale about love and gardening. It’s an odd story about some very odd people guaranteed to grow on you. Written and directed with whimsical taste and obvious talent by Simon Aboud, the son-in-law of Paul McCartney. This movie is different, gorgeous to look at, and you go away feeling good about life and lilacs Host: Nancy Leavitt All welcome! If able, please bring a goodie to share!

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Join us for an evening talk and book-signing

with national peace activist, author and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

JOHN DEAR

who will share his journey of active nonviolence, his work for peace, his sources of

inspiration, courage & hope in this time of war, racism and climate crisis.

Fr. John’s work with Campaign Nonviolence and the Nonviolent Cities Project at Pace e Bene has engaged people around the globe. Nominated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for the Nobel Peace Prize, he has worked alongside peace activists such as Daniel Berrigan, Kathy Kelly and Mairead Maguire in the

United States, Iraq, Afghanistan & Ireland.

He will introduce his new book: Praise Be Peace: The Psalms of Peace and Nonviolence in a Time of War and Climate Change John will reflect with us on the anti-war, pro-peace psalms, and the psalms that celebrate creation, as a way to ground ourselves in faith and trust in the God of peace during these times of war, racism and climate change. “The God of Peace takes no delight in the strength of the war horse, no pleasure in the stride of the warrior,” we read in Psalm 147. His talk will reflect on these ancient texts to dig deeper spiritual roots, trust in the God of peace, deepen our peace and nonviolence, and go forward in faith, nonviolence, resistance, and hope to work for a more nonviolent world. Rev. John Dear is a long time peace activist, lecturer and teacher, and the author of 35 books including The Beatitudes of Peace, Walking the Way; Thomas Merton Peacemaker; Lazarus Come Forth!; Living Peace; The Nonviolent Life; Radical Prayers; The God of Peace; Disarming the Heart and They Shall Inherit the Earth. More information on his work can be found at www.CampaignNonviolence.org. He lives near Big Sur, California. His monthly “Peace Podcast” is available on iTunes and at paceebene.org. See also www.johndear.org

DATE and TIME: MARCH 27, 2020 6-8 PM LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor

ADDRESS: 120 Park St Bangor, Maine

EVENT SPONSOR: Pax Christi Maine

CONTACT/PHONE: Mary Ellen Quinn (207) 217-0584 memquinn@peoplepc.com

Registration Has Begun! Think summer! Pilgrim Lodge is excited to announce that you can now register for camp. We offer something for everyone as there are new programs in addition to the yearly favorites. Remember, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome her. Open House on April 26th! Bring a picnic lunch to eat there. The Camp will provide beverages and cookies! Check out the 2020 schedule: www.pilgrimlodge.org

An evening talk and book signing by Peace Activist, Author, and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Rev. John Dear Friday March 27, 2020 from 6-8 pm at UUSB 120 Park St. Bangor Talk: Nonviolence in a Time of War, Racism and Climate Crisis Light refreshments. FMI contact: Mary Ellen Quinn Pax Christi Maine Ph: 207 217.0584 web: memquinn@peoplepc.com

Monday Night Book Group, April 6 at 7:00 pm in the Gathering Place This Life in Your Hands: One Dream, Sixty Acres, and a Family Undone Author: Melissa Coleman Come and share discussion and laughter! All welcome! Host: Susan Heath

HATE CHANGE? HERE’S YOUR ANSWER! You might have noticed the special container in the Gathering Place to collect pocket-change. This fundraiser supports various music programs at CUF. Music with a Mission was created to support CUF's music programs, but along with all of you, our Worship Team would very much like to have EVEN MORE music! Please bring your change to support CUF’s music!!!

The Hannaford Grocery Card Fundraiser

SUPPORT OUR CHURCH -- BUY A HANNAFORD GIFT CARD

Buy your gift card at CUF on Sundays after church or during office hours. •

• We sell $100 gift cards to you (cash or check). You can buy as many as you want. It does not cost you anything extra.

• The church gets $5.00 for each $100 card we sell. • Gift cards are like cash. • Use them to buy your groceries, medications etc. at any Hannaford store.

CUF has earned $1,840 since we started this fundraiser in December 2018!

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February 2020 Issue 19

MINOR HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION

Rev. Edward Rivera Santiago

General Pastor

Lydia Rosaly

Social Action Coordinator

Maine UCC Team: Janis Whitworth Sara Worcester Bruce Pierce Tim LeConey Dale Jellison Ann Hartzler Harland C. Goodwin Jane Chandler Judith Blanchard Char C. Corbett Bruce P. Burnham

Please start all your Amazon shopping sessions at http://smile.amazon.com and select the Church of Universal Fellowship as your charity choice. Amazon will donate 0.5% of any eligible purchase to our church. Thank you!

It’s the time of year to start thinking about…the Harvest Fair 2020! Got a great idea for this year’s Harvest Fair? Bring it to the Gathering Place on Tuesday, March 10 at 2:30 pm. No great ideas? Come anyway! We’ll enjoy each other’s company and have a cup of tea or coffee and get inspired. See you there! Judy Whitney PS: If the weather is bad and Orono Schools are cancelled (RSU 26) we will not meet and reschedule to a later date.

Please welcome Hugo Theodore Marquis! Born: February 17 at 9:00 am ~ Weight: 8 lbs even!

Dad: Hogan Marquis Mom: Erin Marquis

Big brothers: Bode and Rollie Marquis

Pamela Burnham would like to share that UCC Maine will go back to Puerto Rico in February 2021 to help rebuild houses. There is still a lot of work to be done--due to extensive earthquakes and tremors. For more information contact Pam Burnham at 207-318-6468