A huge thank you to Matt Purinton and Kim Cowperthwaite for carrying the service on Sunday. I am blessed to be at Marie Joseph Retreat Center in Biddeford Pool with some of our folks on a Silent Retreat.
During the last quarter of 2020, your Board of Trustees felt guided to support nonprofits in the Greater Portland area through giving a portion of our tithes. A little background for those who may not know: the ministry tithes 10 percent on income received each month. Two percent of the tithe is being designated for outreach in our community. The income that we tithe comes from your practice of the principle of giving.
It was decided that we would, on a quarterly basis, divide the amount in the account and give to three nonprofits that you submit to us. We have determined the guidelines to follow when submitting your choice. We expect that we will receive more requests than three and will hold them for the next round.
In January we gave to the Windham Food Bank ($500), Preble Street Resource Center ($250), and Joanne Arnold ($250). We will let you know the organizations that receive our tithes and the amount.
I want to take this opportunity to invite you to join us on May 1 for our cleanup day. This is more than a cleanup day; it is a chance to be in the physical presence of one another. We will be requiring masks and social distancing; however, just being together is what is most important.
I am also extending an invitation to you to step into service when we resume our Sunday in-person services. Please reach out to me and let me know if you are available to serve one Sunday a month and, together, we will find the place that is a fit for you. We also have an opening for someone to serve with Chris Purinton in the AV booth to run the slides during the service.
It is exciting to begin to think of reopening. Although we don’t have a date as yet, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Also, to know the value of serving. Service is an act of devotion to God. And research has proved that service positively affects the giver. You can’t give to others without reaping the benefits yourself. Our actions speak much more loudly than our words. I look forward to hearing from you.
So much love to all of you!
Next Sunday we will pick up the series again from the book Living Originally by Unity minister Rev. Robert Brumet. The focus of the message will be on “Deep Self-Acceptance.”
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
Labyrinths are ancient geometric figures. One leaves one’s worries and stress at the entrance and walks meditatively to the middle. As one walks to the center she/he becomes centered within her/himself, calmer, and more grounded. 
