WEST PARIS – October! The gateway month to the colder season. Gathering for thought-provoking worship services and experiencing the comfort and joy of a church community are sure ways to lift our spirits and warm our souls. Join us on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. for worship and refreshments afterward. All are welcome! For the present time, we will wear masks, but we will still be singing.

October 3, Jubilee, a Year of Joy led by Cynthia Reedy. We often hear the word jubilee but what does it mean? People celebrate a silver or golden jubilee at 25th and 50th anniversaries. Clearly, there is joy inherent in the word but where does it come from? The word and traditions of jubilee date far back to pre-Biblical times. Our spiritual ancestors had a clear understanding of the meaning and joy of jubilee. On this Sunday we’ll share some of the joy we can learn from celebrating a jubilee.

October 10, Still Broken, Seeking Wholeness led by The Reverend Fayre Stephenson. On this Sunday, the day before Indigenous Peoples Day, there will be a service honoring the gifts of Native American cultures. As we revere Native American resilience and strength through centuries of abuse and marginalization under settler-colonialism, we will explore possible paths for us to take toward restitution and reconciliation.

October 17, The Stained Glass Windows of the First Universalist Church of West Paris, presented by Beverly Stevens; worship service led by the worship service committee. The windows of the church are some of the most beautiful, with a rich story behind them.

October 24, What Do You Want from Me? led by The Reverend William Campbell. We need not ask God for only what is measured and reasonable. Indeed, we must not ask for only small things. God invites us to ask for the wildest and most outrageous blessings we can conceive. After all, we worship a God who tells us that one day the lion will lie down with the lamb and a little child will lead them in the ways of peace!

October 31, Halloween: Pagan or Party led by The Reverend Fayre Stephenson. Halloween is our only national holiday whose primary purpose is having fun. Join us as we celebrate and explore the pagan and church origins of this beloved holiday. Costumes are encouraged!

For more information about the church and services, please contact Marta Clements, 674- 2143, [email protected], or Bob Clifford at 674-3442, [email protected]. To learn more about the Unitarian-Universalist Association, visit http://www.uua.org/.