Dear Church,

By the time you read this letter, our All Saints service will be over and election day will have passed, even if we don’t yet know the outcome. Covid The cases continue to rise around the country and even here in Maine, and it looks like we will continue to rely on computers and phones to check in with each other. Church

Be gentle with yourself. Reach out to others for support. of Practice gratitude.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need support or a listening ear. Universal We are so grateful to be in this community with you, and hope you will lean on your faith community in stressful or difficult times. Let us remind each other that the pursuit of justice is a journey we share, and none of us walk Fellowship alone. I share this poem by Sarah Are, and her image of carrying a dream…with a pebble in your shoe. Let us keep dreaming of the world we want to live in! November 2020 To Carry A Dream by Sarah Are To carry a dream 82 Main Street Is to walk at night, Or to walk by light, Orono, Maine 04473 But with a pebble in your shoe. 207-866-3655 To carry a dream is to email: Wake at night [email protected] To wake and blink twice, In case you see something new. To carry a dream web address: Is to plant trees in old age, www.opencuf.org To be a part of a church, That is human and frayed. To carry a dream is foolish and wild. It’s the faith of a child, Ministers’ Message...………1 Wishing on stars. Around CUF...... ………2 But to carry a dream is also How Do You Zoom?...... 3 hopeful and wise The faith of our elders, Ministers’ Info………...... 3 Saying God will provide. Pledge Drive………………..4 So may we walk Rel Ed & YAWP…...... 4 Until we see the light. May the pebble in our shoe Harvest Fair……...... 5 Remind us why we fight. Wabanaki Solidarity.………5 May they say Book Group...... 6 We are foolish and unwise, And may we continue to dream; Italian Meal…...... ……....6 May hope keep us alive. Miscellaneous...... 6

With much love, UMaine Lecture Series……7 Pastor Mariah & Pastor Malcolm

Around the CUF community:

Nancy Hall, our CUF caretaker, has been busy sprucing up the purple pews in the Sanctuary with fresh purple paint!

Matt Powers created a mobile display from the lovely heart tree that he and his children created to honor people who died from COVID-19 in Maine. We had the “tree” in the Sanctuary at the All Saints service.

Ministers’ Vacation From Nov. 9-20, Pastor Malcolm and Pastor Mariah will be away from the office for purposes of planned The special music on All Saints Day was exquisite. rest and renewal. During this time if you have a Dr. Laura Artesani, piano and Ryu Mitsuhashi, violin pastoral emergency please contact Steffi. played pieces by Elgar and Massenet. Worship Schedule

Nov. 8 - Post-Election

Nov. 15 - Consecration Sunday Nov. 22 - Guest Preacher: Maria Girouard, Historian of the Penobscot Nation Nov. 29 - Advent!

Below: Our beautiful All Saints service with reading of our CUF “Saints” names, candle lighting and Hand Bell ringing.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Paul Harris on Zoom last Sunday! Paul writes: Wow!!! What a memorable 90th birthday celebration you, my community friends and extended family, served up for me given the restraints we all have to practice due to COVID-19. As of 10/31 I have received 95 birthday cards plus 8 e-cards. Joyce and I are so blessed to have you all as friends and on the personal side, our three daughters and their families. God bless you all. Paul Harris

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How Do You Zoom?

Worship through the months to come will continue dispersed and online. There is more than one way to Zoom! “I sit on my deck with a cup of coffee on Sunday morning.” “I play along on my guitar and add music to the prayers.” “I dance if I feel like it.” “My kids do tactile things with their hands, like play-doh and Legos.” “I light a candle.” “I like to see people.” “I watch the recording later.” “I play the service recorded like a podcast.” “I help read Scripture and provide live special music on occasion."

People worshipping with CUF have many ways for using an internet connection to build community and sacred space. However YOU Zoom, know that you are included!

Zoom Safety

Stay safe online: Follow the link provided. Avoid inputting your last name into public view. Do NOT reply to any electronic message asking you to give money that is untracked through opencuf.org. Look for people you know and trust when you are attending a CUF function online.

Thank you to our CUF greeters who ensure that our Zoom is open and hospitable to all real people!

COVID-19 Pandemic

Our CUF worship and other church activities are online-only to outlast various upswings and dips of virus transmission throughout this year. Whatever you do throughout the week, please attend to public health. Maximize your precautions to maximize others’ safety. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom!

Ministers' Information Pastor Mariah and Pastor Malcolm together share one full-time minister's schedule. You can visit them on Tuesdays by Zoom, 12:00-1:00 pm on a drop-in basis. Or by appointment: Mariah - Wednesday, Malcolm - Thursday

Reach Pastor Mariah for visitor and new member questions, to connect with university students, to plan weddings and baptisms, and to liaise to community faith groups. Reach Pastor Malcolm for pastoral care visitation, memorial service planning, public faith witness activism, and written communications. Pastor Mariah works more with Deacons and the program life of the church. Pastor Malcolm works more with Trustees and the infra-structure for CUF over time. Both ministers share worship and preaching, staff relationships, and nurture multi-generational religious education.

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2021 Stewardship Campaign

Dear CUF Friends and Members, As part of this year’s annual stewardship campaign, please fill out a Pledge Form online here. If you would like to receive a new pledge sheet in the mail please call or email the CUF office 207.866.3862, [email protected]. You can also contact CUF Treasurer Kathy Barry with your 2021 Pledge information: Ph: 207.827.7455, email: [email protected] Thank you so much to all who have already mailed back their Pledge Sheets for 2021 or filled out an online Pledge Sheet.

The CUF Trustees are grateful to each of you for your faith in the Missions and Ministries of the Church of Universal Fellowship.

Ringing of the Bell If you heard the CUF church bell ringing on Nov. 3, Election Day in the United States, you heard invisible prayers for hope and not poverty, for justice and not white supremacy, for respect for women and LGBTQ people and immigrants and for all creation. As part of the Poor People’s Campaign (A National Call for Moral Revival) we participated in ringing out bells to pray and prophesy, at 8:00 AM and again at 8:00 PM to mark the opening and closing of in-person polls. May the people vote. May all votes be counted. May all those who are precious in God’s sight truly matter “on earth, as in heaven.”

News from our Children and Youth Programs During the Oct 18th service the children asked the adults in the congregation to answer the following question:

What do you think/feel happens after we die? We got tons of terrific answers and we are enjoying reading them one by one in class. If you would like to read the answers too you can find them here. Thank you as always for pondering with us and for sharing what is in your hearts and souls! Sarah

YAWP In October, YAWP families got together at the Cousineau home for an outdoor "Spooky Fall Fun Day," including a team scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, improv games, a campfire, and hot mulled cider. These opportunities for togetherness and fun feel SO special to us, and we were glad to take advantage of the outdoors before the snow flies again! Sonja & Avi, YAWP Co-Leaders

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This Saturday, November 7 from 10 am to Noon! There will be beautiful crafts, local honey, jams, candy, cookies and a Pie Sale!

Wabanaki Solidarity Committee Update

The Wabanaki Solidarity Committee met on October 28th. Much of our work so far has been reaching out to Wabanaki community leaders for feedback, advice, and information. These leaders have been the source for most of the videos and literature we've shared on the CUF Connections page and the social action page of our website. We have a working draft of the land acknowledgement statement and we hope to present it to the congregation for a vote at the time of the annual membership meeting.

We've also discussed if it might be a good idea to create a partnership with a Wabanaki community organization - Wabanaki Alliance is one organization suggested - to guide us on our continued path of ongoing advocacy for the sovereignty and preservation of these nations’ rights and freedom, as well as ongoing concerns, opportunities, and legislative priorities. We're collectively reaching out to our community leader connections for their thoughts & recommendations. We continue to educate ourselves and share what we've learned with you. We look forward to continuing the journey.

Tricia Griffith, Wabanaki Solidarity Committee Member

Poinsettias If you wish to provide a poinsettia for the church this holiday season, in memory, honor, or celebration of someone, please call the church office at 866-3655 by December 15th to place your order. The flowers are $15 each. Please let us know if you would like to donate your poinsettia or take it home with you on Dec. 20th after worship. Donated flowers will be delivered to home-bound members of our congregation services.

Orono Commons Christmas Presents We are again providing Orono Commons residents with gifts this year. Judy Whitney will have a list of items needed and resident numbers soon.

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Sign up to be a greeter on Zoom!

Welcome people on Zoom a few Sundays this fall and winter! All you need to do is be on Zoom 15 minutes before worship starts. Please sign up here

Monday Book Group on Zoom All welcome!

December 7 at 7:00 pm Italian Meal Water Dancer Saturday, November 14! Ta-Nehisi Coates Host: Judy Kuhns-Hastings Please sign up by this Sunday, November 8 for Stephen Cousineau’s Italian Meal!

Stephen is cooking a three-course Hannaford Grocery Card Fundraiser Italian dinner (for pick-up) as a fundraiser for CUF. $100 Hannaford Grocery Cards

available! Call the CUF office at 866-3655 to CUF Prayer Shawl Ministry order! Every other Tuesday at 5:30 pm

Next meeting November 10th

Join Zoom here.

Please start all your Amazon shopping Bring needles, crochet hooks, and soft yarn! sessions at http://smile.amazon.com We make prayer shawls for people in need of and select the Church of Universal comfort! If you need a shawl pattern or yarn call Steffi at 866-3655 Fellowship as your charity

For all who miss

Coffee Hour! Do you remember our “Hate Change” Erin Ellis is hoping people will Fundraiser? make (or buy) batches of cookies that we can mix up and Connie Carter brought all pack up in smaller packs to deliver to the your loose change to the church community. People can grab a few out bank and had it counted. of their freezer to enjoy after church. It came to $305! Recreating one more connection between us This money will be put to good use for all and CUF. Please sign up here. special worship music. Questions? Contact [email protected]

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Raising our Voices on Race and Racism

Two Part Lecture Series and Community Discussion PART I: Thursday, November 19th from 4-5 pm PART II: Monday, November 30th from 4-5 pm

Virtual via Zoom, Free and Open to the Public REGISTER AT: https://forms.gle/QkZobyEPXYRatYBw7

Part I: Defining Race and Racism: Institutionalization and Experience (Thursday, November 19th, 4-5 pm)

Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism: U.S., India, Sri Lanka, Holocaust, and Today Dr. Douglas Allen, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy

Affirmative Action for White People Dr. Amy Fried, Professor of Political Science

The Deception of Invisibility Dr. Judith Josiah-Martin, Faculty in the School of Social Work

Part II: Confronting Racism: Historical Reckonings and Contemporary Reforms (Monday, November 30th, 4-5 pm)

The Doctrine of Christian Discovery Underpinning European Colonization John Dieffenbacher-Krall, Committee on Indian Relations, Episcopal Diocese of Maine

The Penobscot Nation, Territorial Takings, and the State of Maine Dr. Darren Ranco, Professor of Anthropology & Chair of Native American Programs Chelsea Fairbank, PhD candidate in Anthropology & Environmental Policy

Racism and the Environment: Learning from Local Efforts for Institutional Change and Environmental Justice Dr. Bridie McGreavy, Associate Professor of Environmental Communication Dr. Darren Ranco, Professor of Anthropology & Chair of Native American Programs Nolan Altvater, McGillicuddy Humanities Center Undergraduate Fellow

The Fall 2020 Raising our Voices on Race and Racism two-part series is supported by Native American Programs, The McGillicuddy Humanities Center, The School of Social Work and the Departments of Anthropology, Philosophy, Communications and Journalism, and Political Science. For additional information, contact [email protected].

The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,7 transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469- 5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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