“glimpse of summer”   photo by Dave 

We are returning to the building for summer services.  After a grand event last Sunday with the sanctuary full of music, flowers and smiling faces we have decided to hold in-person Sunday services during the summer in the parlor (with the sliding doors open to the sanctuary) and perhaps a service or two in the sanctuary as well.

We have several floor fans that besides keeping us cool will also provide increased ventilation in the space and we will have plenty of open windows and doors. Masks will not be required inside the building and self-distancing is at your own discretion, whatever you feel is a safe distance for you. Let other people know if they are getting too close and clarify your comfort level when interacting with others. Each of us is at various degrees of caution and exploration as we re-enter social interactions so be patient and aware with each other as we do this together. We will continue to record each service and have it available on our church website for those who are unable to attend and for those who live far away. The zoom coffee hour will also continue for those who would like to check in and say “Hi” and we’ll have a laptop set up in the coffee room so you can chat with those of us who are there. (You’ll have to provide your own coffee.)

 
I will lead the service this week starting a summer series of talks titled “Summer Meditations.”  I am willing to lead most of the services during the summer, but if anyone would like to sign up to lead a service there will be a sign-up list in the coffee room. We are slowly and cautiously returning to a shared religious community that has both in-person and on-line expressions and continued opportunities for connection, support and celebration. 

The link for the Sunday Service on our YouTube Channel will go out by 6PM Sunday night (if all goes well). You can also find the link on our UUHoulton Facebook Page and view the service on the YouTube Player on the front page of our church website uuhoulton.org

Have a great week-end everyone!

Practice patience and kindness.

In Ministry,

Dave

HERE IS THE ZOOM COFFEE HOUR LINK FOR SUNDAY:
David Hutchinson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: UU zoom coffee hour

Time: Jun 13, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)        Every week on Sun, 6 occurrence(s)        Jun 13, 2021 11:00 AM        Jun 20, 2021 11:00 AM        Jun 27, 2021 11:00 AM        Jul 4, 2021 11:00 AM        Jul 11, 2021 11:00 AM        Jul 18, 2021 11:00 AMPlease download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.Weekly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJcsdOurrzgpGdSJ0pEiLYic-qWCEOoe1J6t/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCrrzgoGdWWsxqHRowqBYjCa-nzmHZejadutk_1Jil_Wwr1e_N1EZdQH92B

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/93132313330?pwd=WU1PSkE3S1o2TkJ5L3BGYnJQZDV0UT09
Meeting ID: 931 3231 3330 Passcode: 335011

One tap mobile+16465588656,,93132313330#,,,,*335011# US (New York)+13017158592,,93132313330#,,,,*335011# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)Meeting ID: 931 3231 3330Passcode: 335011Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adyxJol4hS

Virtual Offering Plate

If you would like to send in your pledge or donation (we still have to pay the bills) simply drop an envelope in the mail. The address is listed below.  Thank you for your support!

UU Church of Houlton, 61 Military Street. Houlton, ME  04730,

Three Questions for Coming Back to Now

BY LESLIE DAVIS

While hiking, Buddhist practitioner Leslie Davis suddenly found her mind miles ahead of her body. She offers three questions you can ask yourself to reel your running mind back to the present moment.

On a recent personal retreat, I hiked into Horn Canyon in the east end of Ojai, California. Due to the severe drought, it had been years since water had flowed alongside the trail there, but now I was delighted to cross the creek a few times, jumping from rock to rock.

My mind was clear and focused, taking in the sounds and smells of the trail — glistening poison oak, fragrant sage, infinite wildflowers…

With the warm sun on my back, I felt fully alive in the present moment. Such a wonderful gift to be alive! To be awake!

On the way back through the canyon, though, my mind jumped ahead of my body: it was busy planning out what I would do as soon as I got back. First a snack, then another writing session, or maybe both at the same time, then a hot shower. And what would I have for dinner?

The mind can go and go without us noticing how fast it’s going, or what direction it’s headed in. Then, suddenly, a thought jumps out at us, and we trip, or stumble, or burn something on the stovetop.

Many minutes would pass before I noticed this. How many footsteps did my feet take while my mind carried me away? And how many times in any given day does this occur, or even in just an afternoon? And what can bring us back to the present moment? How can we return to what’s at hand — the conversation we’re having, the child in front of us, the trail we’re walking?

The mind can go and go without us noticing how fast it’s going, or what direction it’s headed in. Then, suddenly, a thought jumps out at us, and we trip, or stumble, or burn something on the stovetop. And just like that we’re reminded to pay attention. This is where a little magic happens.

In that moment we can bring our attention back to our breath. We can reconnect with ourselves, our spirits, and our awareness of where we are — right here, right now.

Three Questions for Coming Back to Now

Thich Nhat Hanh has said that “the opposite of forgetfulness is mindfulness. Mindfulness is when you are truly there, mind and body together.” In order to wake up from my forgetfulness, I ask myself three questions that prompt me to come back to the present moment:

1. WHERE AM I?

To find the answer to this, I stop. I physically stop moving, and if I’m sitting, I stand up. I look around, locate myself. Taking a deep breath, I remember that I have a body.

2. WHAT AM I DOING?

I take a moment to observe exactly what I’m doing, with no filters, and no judgment. Taking a deep breath, I bring awareness to what I am doing in the present moment.

3. WHO AM I WITH?

I ask myself, am I with someone or am I alone? Who is talking? Am I making eye contact? If I’m alone, I touch my arm or leg, look into my own eyes in a mirror, or close them and breathe. If I’m with someone, I take a deep breath and reestablish our connection.When I ask myself these questions, I take a few deep breaths and pause to observe what’s going on in my mind. To watch and monitor the mind, to see how the mind strays, even when the external circumstances are pristine for being present, is an opportunity for transformation. A quick U-turn back to the breath always gets me headed in the right direction.

ABOUT LESLIE DAVIS

Leslie J. Davis is a writer who practices meditation and mindfulness in the Plum Village Tradition of Thích Nhất Hạnh. She lives in Ojai, California, with her husband and two teenagers. She has work in The Washington Post, LionsRoar.com, The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, Mothering Magazineand The Mindfulness Bell. Leslie is the founder of DharmaMamas.com — a community for mindful mothers. She is currently writing a memoir. www.lesliejdavis.com

Joys & Concerns

When one of us is blessed we are all blessed.

When one of us experiences sorrow we all feel the pain.

The summer hiking season is here! Enjoy the trails…

I want to thank Shawn Ireland and Carol Cromwell for helping out on lawn care this week. 

posted by Dave

Special music for this week’s Sunday Service is by “Out of the Blue.”  A couple of weeks ago they set up in the parlor and recorded seven songs with Fen. We’ll be using these recordings during the course of the summer, original music written by Simon Pritchard.

Out of the Blue
Simon Pritchard: acoustic guitar and vocals

Mark Pritchard: bass guitar 

Rita Pritchard:  drums

Please continue to send in joys and concerns during the week to revdav@mfx.net and I will post them on the Support Page.

The joy or the sorrow of one is shared by all.

May our hearts be as one on this day.  Let us carry each thought or concern expressed in our heart and may the light of our love and compassion transform suffering into non suffering and ease the difficulties of life.  We radiate love and the light that we are.  Blessed are we all.

The personalized Prayer List goes with the member email of our Support Page and is not published on social media.

Prayers for those recovering from COVID-19 in the state of Maine

Local emergency personnel and hospital staff

For our state and national leaders as they respond to the current coronavirus crisis

For those working for social justice and societal change 

Pray for peaceful action and democratic process in our nation

Prayers for Asian-American communities in our country

Prayers for the Palestinians who are stateless and under occupation

Prayers for the victims and their families of the San Jose mass shooting

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 exclusion.