WEST PARIS – It may be cold outside, but there is always warmth in the community and shared commitment and experiences. Please join us on Sundays at 9am. The music is performed by guitarist Davy Sturtevant. Refreshments after service. Welcome everyone!

November 3 is “See Life Steady and See It Whole,” led by guest speaker Bob Neal, a frequent speaker at our church. The title of Bob’s topic references his roots in journalism, referencing Greek tragedian Sophocles’ belief in fate and the will of the gods (he also believed in the importance of selflessness and morality).

We continue our poetry series with guest Sonja Johanson on November 10th. Its subject is “Evaluation of the Penultimate Month”. Using poetry as a tool to examine the ecological changes of late autumn, we consider how plants, animals, and people respond to the final moments before winter and what lessons we can take into our own lives in observations, appreciation, and slowing down. Works examined may include poems by Stanley Kunitz, Mary Oliver, Hayden Carruth, and others. Sonja Johanson holds an MFA in poetry from the Warren Wilson Writers Program and her work appears in American Life in Poetry, Cincinnati Review, and Rhino. His most recent chapbook is Rappaccini’s Garden (White Stag Press). Sonja lives and works as a gardener in Bethel.

Nov. 17, “A Provocative Story,” led by Pastor Scott Campbell. His sermon will re-examine the familiar story of the widow’s mite. Here is an excerpt:
“I hate it when I find out that I may have been preaching the wrong thing for too long. This is exactly the case in the story about the poor widow leaving her meager offering in the Temple treasury. Years passed before I realized that I had completely missed the point Jesus was making about this poor woman, but at least I was in good company. Almost everyone misses this too. This story is not a piece of advice that everyone would give with self-sacrifice. Despite what would be preached from countless pulpits when considering this text, Jesus does not single it out as the supreme example of Christian government. Rather, it is a devastating, perhaps even provocative story that will ultimately contribute to the crucifixion of Jesus.”

Nov. 24, “Being Thankful,” led by the church’s worship service committee. This time of year, on Thanksgiving, we will focus on the times when we are grateful for the good things in our lives. Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed and miss moments of gratitude. As they say, we may not take the time to smell the roses. We will explore this through readings, hymns, and our own stories. Roses will be the focus of this service, and we hope those attending the ceremony will share examples of gratitude.

For more information about the church and services, please contact Marta Clements, 674-2143, [email protected] or Suzanne Dunham, 665-2967, [email protected]. To learn more about the Unitarian-Universalist Association, visit the First Universalist Church of Western Paris, located at 208 Main Street in Western Paris.

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