News (fyi)
The Christmas Fund Offering
The Christmas Fund provides emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks to lower-income retired clergy and lay employees.
This year, our care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. It’s one of the UCC “5 for 5” offerings our church supports. Your gift may be made any time in the month of December. Follow the “Read more” link to learn more about how our gifts help.
Our Response to Hate
Our church was vandalized on September 19, with what was apparently meant to be a hateful anti-LBGTQ+ slur. So, what happens when a church building is defaced by graffiti that is meant to diminish or harm others whom we believe are children of God?
Love is what happens!
To help make that love more visible in the coming days, and continue to reject hate in all its forms, follow the “read more” link to learn more about one simple witness we can all make to say there’s no room for hate here - or anywhere!
Hiroshima Remembrance Day
(Image - paper art by Eugenia Zoloto)
August 6, 2023 is the 78th anniversary of the exploding of an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan, and another over Nagasaki on August 9. While effectively ending World War II, it came at a terrible price. More than 200,000 people eventually died – mostly civilians.
As we join others raising awareness of not only the past horrors of war, but also the continuing dangers of nuclear weapons and the need for their abolition in the future, we’ve curated links to resources for your deeper reflection and action.
General Synod News
[Note: New to our church and the UCC? You may find it helpful to follow the Read More link and see the section “What is General Synod?”]
“Making All Things New” was the theme of the 34th General Synod of the United Church of Christ, held June 30–July 4, 2023, in Indianapolis.
Details of approved resolutions on a number of social justice concerns, and other important actions taken by the Synod (e.g., electing the first woman to lead the UCC) can be found on the General Synod News website page.
PIUCC Pride Activities
Saturday, June 17 — The Pride Aroostook Festival will be at the Riverside Park Pavilion - 19 Riverside Drive, Presque Isle. The festival grounds open at 3:00 pm. As one of the sponsors of the event, our church will host a table to share information about our Open and Affirming congregation. We’d love to see lots of our members and friends there to show how our welcoming message is more than words! See you there!
Sunday, June 18 — Worship (10:00 am) will be led by Meg Hegemann and others. It will be a Pride-themed service, and will include a service of communion.
“Gifts for the Christ Child”
Just what can I give him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet, what I can I give him – give my heart.
As our church has considered whose birth we honor, we have for many years gathered “Gifts for the Christ Child,” supporting the work of local organizations to meet basic human needs. UPDATE: With Dec 18 worship cancelled, please bring gifts to the Christmas Eve service. …
“Mr. Jones” Film Screening - Oct 26
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will offer a film screening of ‘Mr. Jones’ as part of the event titled ‘Holodomor or Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine,’ on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. A free event
The film loosely tells the story of Gareth Jones, a journalist from Wales, who … uncovers the truth about … the devastating famine in Ukraine in which millions died.
Neighbors in Need Offering
MISSION OUTREACH - October offering
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. …
The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism book event
On September 21, from 4:00 - 5:30 pm ET, The BTS Center and the Maine Council of Churches are co-sponsoring an online conversation with feminist theologian and Episcopal priest Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward. Dr. Heyward will talk with Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison, Bangor Theological Seminary Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics, about her new book The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism. …