Last week I shared a Bangor Daily Newspaper article that I found as I was going through some old files in the church archive about the new Unitarian Church under construction in the Fall of 1902, shortly after the Great Houlton Fire. Amongst other things,
I also came across a small 2.5” x 5.5” pamphlet The Unitarian Society of Houlton had published at the turn of the 20th century regarding membership and covenant. Since covenant and transition is our topic-theme for this year, I thought it might be interesting to see what the current thinking was, one hundred and twenty five years ago. I’ve included a portion of the text from the pamphlet. It’s interesting to note, the Unitarians had a modern code of 5 principles in 1901. After the merger with the Universalists in 1961, a new version of 7 Principles was amended, and then, just last year, 6 UU Shared Values were introduced with Love at the Center. As you can see, UUs are always looking for new ways to look at the same thing. This is nothing new.
Preamble prefixed to By lawsDecember 19, 1901
We, Members of the Unitarian Society of Houlton, Maine, desiring to mark the new century by a closer union and a more definite understanding of the purposes of our organization, hereby adopt the following Covenant, adopted first by the First Congregational Church of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1629 – “We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves, in the presence of God, to WALK TOGETHER in all his ways, according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his blessed word of truth.And we adopt together with this, the modern code of principles, sometimes called the “Five Points of Unitarianism” as follows: -I. The Fatherhood of GodII. The Brotherhood of Man.III. The Leadership of Jesus.IV. Salvation by Character.V. The Progress of Humankind upward and onward forever.And we affirm that neither of these two expressions is to be regarded among us as a creed or statement of beliefs; but is rather to serve, the Ancient Covenant, as an expression of the practical unity of purpose existing among us and the modern code as a cluster of noble ideas, which, we set before ourselves, typically, to represent as a motto the things toward which as a church we are reaching out. (on the back page)“…nothing in this Preamble or By laws shall ever be construed by the Society or by its minister as imposing a test of belief on candidates for membership.”
Sunday Service this week is a group-led service by our church board members on Covenant. It is also our Pledge Drive Kick-Off for 2026. Pledge letters went out in the mail earlier this week, and if you didn’t happen to get one, don’t worry, we will have more at the service on Sunday.
There is also a “harvest potluck” in the fellowship hall following the service. Please bring something yummy to share!Our YouTube Channel content is part two of the minister’s talk on “Practicing Covenant.” In this service I share some other items of historic interest that I found in the archive, I tell my story about how I found the UUHoulton church, share a few observations about covenant and talk about learning new things (even now), like learning the easiest way to split an English muffin.
We hope you can join us for one of the services online or in-person.
Enjoy the weekend!
In Ministry,
Dave
THIS WEEK’S YOUTUBE SERVICE:
HERE IS THE SERVICE LINK FOR THIS WEEK’S YOUTUBE SERVICE
(Please note it won’t be active until 10AM on Sunday morning)
HERE IS THE ZOOM LINK FOR SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR:
Topic: UUHoulton zoom coffee hour & check-inTime: Nov 16, 2025 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/88367146935?pwd=FMLh0d3YQFsbryp23umdSJnll3anKV.1
Meeting ID: 883 6714 6935Passcode: 499589
Holiday Craft SaleSaturday, November 15th 9:30AM – 2PM
Come join us on Saturday, November 15th from 9:30a-2p to find unique gifts for those on Santa’s list.
— come check out lots of lovely hand-made items that highlight the talents of our local community!
LGBTQ+ LuncheonNovember 15 Saturday 12 Noon
We hope you will join us on Saturday, November 15th from 12:00 – 2:00 PM for NOA’s monthly LGBTQ+ Potluck Luncheon open to all generations and allies!Please come as you are. If you would like to bring a dish, you’re more than welcome to but there is no cost to attend. There will be plenty of food to share! Due to the Craft Fair being held in the church basement, the luncheon will be upstairs in the coffee room next to the parlor.
We’ll save you a seat!
Houlton Coffeehouse
November 15 Saturday Night 7-9PM
Feature: Bertrand Lawrence @8Open-Mic starts @7
Houlton Coffeehouse is this weekend featuring guitar extraordinaire Bertrand Laurence. Bertrand brings his international flair to the coffeehouse stage with the blues, folk, story-telling and assorted entertainment options. Bertrand always puts on a great show! See the “brief bio” below for more info. Our regular Open-Mic starts at 7PM for musicians, poets and performers and then Bertrand will start his show at 8PM. Joyce is in the kitchen Saturday night and her menu special is classic Mac & Cheese (and it is cheesy!!). Pumpkin Spice lattes are back for the season and our baristas will take good care of you! Come early and hang out.
Cafe doors open at 5:30PM.
See you at the Cup!
Feel the buzz…Menu
Classic Mac & Cheese
Pumpkin Spice LatteBrief Bio:
Bertrand studied music briefly at Berklee college, sound-art at Mass Art, and finger-style guitar on his own while ruining his parent’s blues, country & folk record collection.
Bertrand’s guitar playing evolved from countless hours improvising in public to silent movies, improv’ comedy, and designing sound for movement theatre. Bertrand moved from Cambridge MA to Houlton a couple of years ago; this ex-pat is also an awarded guitar instructor, a dad, and a recovering ex-mime. Expect a range of American styles, and stories of a frenchman surviving in the USA.
“La Vie En Bleu” …an unexpected gem…unquestionable tone and phrasing whether using six-or twelve-string acoustic or Dobro slide…”
-Michael Caito, The Providence Phoenix
“…street tough…with seductive smoothness…”
-Scott Alarik, the Boston Globe
In Celebration of Music, Poetry and the Arts…
Calendar of Events @UUHoulton
Nov 15 LGBTQ+ Luncheon 12 Noon (upstairs coffee room)
Nov15 Holiday Craft Fair 9:30AM – 2PM Located in the Church Fellowship Hall
Nov 15 Houlton Coffeehouse 7-9PM Feature: Bertrand Laurence
Nov 16 Sunday Service: Group Led; Covenant
Pledge Drive Kick-Off Potluck luncheon following the service
Nov 23 Sunday Service: David Hutchinson
Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day
Nov 25 Meditation Group 5PM (online)
Nov 30 Sunday Service: Bill White
Dec 7 Sunday Service: David Hutchinson
Dec 7 Monthly Trivia Event at The Cup 12:30-2-30PM
Dec 9 Meditation Group 5PM (online)
Dec 13 LGBTQ+ Luncheon 12 Noon
Dec 13 Houlton Coffeehouse 7-9PM
Dec 14 Sunday Service: Dale Holden
Dec 21 Sunday Service: David Hutchinson
Dec 21 Winter Solstice Celebration (time to be announced)
Dec 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service 4PM (followed by a potluck in the fellowship hall)
Dec 25 Merry Christmas!!
Dec 28 Sunday Service: Kathryn Harnish
Earlier this week, leaders from diverse religious traditions in the United States, including the UUA, came together to challenge the misconception that people of faith don’t affirm the full spectrum of gender identity. In a public letter, UUA President the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt joined leaders from Reform Judaism, the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and others to let it be known that our Transgender beloveds are created in the image of God – Holy and whole.
This is an important message worth sharing anytime, but as we approach Transgender Day of Remembrance in a year when Trans identity has so tragically been used as a political weapon, we hope this message can be a source of hope and healing for our Transgender, Intersex, and Nonbinary beloveds.
Leaders from diverse faith traditions, including Unitarian Universalism, the Union of Reformed Judaism, the Episcopal Church, and more have joined a public letter to unequivocally proclaim the holiness of Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex people. In a time when this country is failing to live up to its foundational ideals of equality and justice, people of faith and good will have come forward to defend the very values that define American democracy.
UUA Staff Writer
‘We Support You, and We Will Protect You’: UUA Champions Interfaith Statement Affirming Trans, Intersex, and Nonbinary Rights
The UUA and eight other denominations declare that people of all gender identities are holy and beloved.
ETHAN LOEWI 11/12/2025
The Unitarian Universalist Association on Wednesday joined eight other denominations in issuing an interfaith collective statement of support for trans, non-binary, and intersex people, affirming that they “deserve respect, love, and equal rights.”
UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt is the lead author of the statement, which comes at a time when trans, intersex, and nonbinary people face a worsening climate of hostility, particularly from the Trump administration.
The collective statement, which can be read in full on the UUA website, “unequivocally proclaim[s] the holiness of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people,” and that the signatories from different religions “share a fundamental belief … that all people hold infinite value and dignity, and we are morally compelled to care for those living under persecution.
Rev. Jami Yandle, the UUA’s Transgender Support Specialist, said the statement affirms UU religious principles and the power of interfaith collaboration.
“Trans people are not problems to solve—we’re possibilities to celebrate. When people of faith come together in love, we remind the world that sacredness has never been one-size-fits-all,” they said. “When faiths join in love, we remember: the universe is endlessly creating, and trans lives are living proof that divine imagination never ceases.”
“Trans people are not problems to solve—we’re possibilities to celebrate. When people of faith come together in love, we remind the world that sacredness has never been one-size-fits-all.”
A Response to Anti-Trans Persecution
“Our faiths, our theologies, and our practices of prophetic witness call on us to say with one voice to transgender people among us: ‘You are holy. You are sacred. We love you. We support you, and we will protect you.’”
The collective statement names the harm and prejudice directed at trans people, denouncing this trend.
“Too many entrusted with positions of power are demonizing transgender people, blaming them for acts of violence, and criminalizing their very right to occupy space in our common life,” the statement declares.
The statement’s co-signers along with Rev. Dr. Betancourt are the leaders of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM); Union for Reform Judaism; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada; The Episcopal Church; United Church of Christ; and Reconstructing Judaism.
The collective statement is accompanied by individual statements from signatories, including the UUA. In part of its individual statement, the UUA links to its 2024 resolution, passed at General Assembly, which asserts that “being transgender or identifying with any gender other than the one assigned at birth, is a beautiful and divine manifestation of humanity; as is being intersex, or having sex characteristics that vary from what is considered typical.”
The signatories in the statement root their resistance to anti-trans persecution in deep religious conviction.
According to the statement: “Our faiths, our theologies, and our practices of prophetic witness call on us to say with one voice to transgender people among us: ‘You are holy. You are sacred. We love you. We support you, and we will protect you.’”Prayer List
For those working for social justice and societal change
Pray for peaceful action and democratic process in our nation
The war in Ukraine continues
Prayers for the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Prayers for those affected by recent governmental (and policy) changes in DC
Prayers for the peace process in the Middle East
Prayers for L a young lady in Florida fighting cancer
Prayers for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean
Prayers for those still affected by the interruption of SNAP benefits and heating assistance
(the government shutdown is now over, but it may take time for benefits to resume)
Prayers for those affected by the extreme weather conditions and drought in Iran
The Four Limitless Ones Prayer
May all sentient beings enjoy happiness and the root of happiness.
May we be free from suffering and the root of suffering.
May we not be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering.
May we dwell in the great equanimity free from anger, aggression and delusion.
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