WEST PARIS — First Universalist Church of West Paris invites the public to its December Sunday services, presented with a combination of guest speakers and Worship Service Committee members. Services are at 9 a.m. with refreshments following.
Dec. 1, “Advent and the Art of Waiting.” Advent season is when Christians await the baby who brings the hope of peace on earth. This service will explore the art of waiting, which can sometimes be futile and more often brings the light of hope.
The service is led by The Rev. Fayre Stephenson, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, who is now a western Maine resident and regularly leads services at the church. She served for many years as program director of the Unitarian Universalist Camp and Conference Center at Ferry Beach in Saco. Prior to moving to Maine, Stephenson enjoyed a long ministry as minister of the Foxborough Universalist Church in Massachusetts where she was voted Minister Emerita.
Dec. 8, “The Wrong End of the Telescope of Time.” In 1923, the great English novelist D.H. Lawrence wrote an intriguing poem suggesting that hummingbirds preceded creation and that we were looking at this amazing creature through “the wrong end of the telescope of time.” (Fortunately for us, Lawrence said.) However, perhaps now is the time to turn the telescope around and ask ourselves where this highly evocative, symbolic bird is leading us now. The service is led by The Rev. Jennifer Wixson, Maine farmer, author and Quaker minster. Wixson is the author of the Sovereign Series of novels. She is a frequent guest speaker at the church.
Dec. 15, “Receiving with Joy, Giving with Care.” We’ve all received some wacky Christmas presents over the years. What do those presents say about what the giver thinks of us? How can we receive those gifts joyfully? And how can we be more careful givers? The service is led by Rev. Stephenson.
Dec. 22, guest speaker Cindy Reedy will lead this “Seasonal Sermon” featuring readings and songs of Christmas spirit. Reedy is a frequent speaker at the First Universalist, she is a teacher and lifelong Unitarian-Universalist.
Dec. 24, “Christmas Eve Celebration” candlelight service at 5 p.m., led by Rev. Stephenson. The traditional service of readings and carols for the whole family will include special music and participants from the congregation.
Dec. 29, “New Year, New Beginnings,” a time of reflection, renewal and hope, led by the Worship Service Committee.
For more information about the church and worship services, call Marta Clements, 674-2143, or visit www.uua.org to learn more about Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
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