Services at First Universalist Parish Coming Up...
Sunday October 1st, 2023
Reflections on Phillis Wheatley
Speaker-Jack Wool
Bio-Jack Wool is a member of the UU Fellowship of Stowe and many other organizations. Jack lives in Hyde Park, VT and is retired from his last position of 20 years in strategic planning, applied research and implementation of a global electronic data distribution system. In the last 30 years he has been active in Religious Education for youth and adults. Jack's personal interest is in children's and young adult literature that supports diversity, inclusion and welcoming of all people.
Synopsis-Phillis Wheatley (c.1753-December 5, 1784), a West African author of the book: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was abducted as a child and sold into slavery in Boston in 1761. Unusual for an enslaved African, Wheatley learned to read and write English and Latin and came to know the Bible in depth. Her poetry celebrates events and people, voices Biblical lessons, and describes her self reflection on being African American in the new America.
Sunday October 8th, 2023
Ten Years Writing Together: From Workshop to Community
Speaker-Adrien Helm
Bio- Adrien Helm is a First Parish Board Member, co-founder of Wednesday Poets, retired educator, and recovering lawyer. She has spent part of the year in the Northeast Kingdom since mid-1970s and has co-founded Greater Barton Arts with husband Edward and sister Carol Youmans.
Synopsis-Wednesday Poets, a poetry writing workshop is celebrating its tenth year this summer. Founded by two First Parish members, its history is a model of community building. In addition to a message, members will read from their work.
Sunday October 15th, 2023
All My Forefathers and Yours
Speaker-Gabriella Brand
Bio-Gabriella Brand is an educator, author, linguist, and counselor. Her writing appears in The Christian Science Monitor, Canada's Globe and Mail, and in over fifty literary publications. She teaches languages and writing in the OLLI program at the University of Connecticut. A lay leader in the Unitarian tradition, Gabriella lives in Connecticut with her husband, the Reverend Douglas Peary.
Synopsis-We are all products of history. We all have forefathers and foremothers who leave us with a story to tell. How do we feel about the people who came before us? How does pride in heritage sometimes lead to ideas of snobbery or bigotry? How does shame or anger impact our thinking? What can we celebrate about our own past, no matter who we are?
Sunday October 22nd, 2023
Restorative Circle and Samhain
Leader-RoseAnna Cyr
Synopsis-Since 2022, First Universalist has led restorative and discussion circles as a way to connect as a community. The circle discussion will focus on loss, grief, and connecting with those who have passed before us. During this time of year, many religions have traditions that commemorate this liminal time, a time where the "veil is thin" between this world and all that is unseen.
Sunday October 29th, 2023
Colby-Curtis Museum
Speaker-Samuel Gaudreau-Lalande
Bio- Samuel Gaudreau-Lalande is the Director and Head Curator of the Colby-Curtis Museum located in Stanstead, Quebec. He is an art historian specialized in the history of photography. He views local museums as institutions that belong to the community and should take an active part in their improvement. For the last four years, he has been slowly transforming the lawn surrounding his bungalow into a garden.
Synopsis- A garden is generally seen as an organized, controlled and beautiful space where humans seek to domesticate nature and shape plants. A garden can also be wild. This talk will examine how these two types of gardens intermingle, with examples from the exhibition "Cut Flowers/De la terre sous les ongles" presented at the Colby-Curtis Museum, in Stanstead.
Sunday October 1st, 2023
Reflections on Phillis Wheatley
Speaker-Jack Wool
Bio-Jack Wool is a member of the UU Fellowship of Stowe and many other organizations. Jack lives in Hyde Park, VT and is retired from his last position of 20 years in strategic planning, applied research and implementation of a global electronic data distribution system. In the last 30 years he has been active in Religious Education for youth and adults. Jack's personal interest is in children's and young adult literature that supports diversity, inclusion and welcoming of all people.
Synopsis-Phillis Wheatley (c.1753-December 5, 1784), a West African author of the book: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was abducted as a child and sold into slavery in Boston in 1761. Unusual for an enslaved African, Wheatley learned to read and write English and Latin and came to know the Bible in depth. Her poetry celebrates events and people, voices Biblical lessons, and describes her self reflection on being African American in the new America.
Sunday October 8th, 2023
Ten Years Writing Together: From Workshop to Community
Speaker-Adrien Helm
Bio- Adrien Helm is a First Parish Board Member, co-founder of Wednesday Poets, retired educator, and recovering lawyer. She has spent part of the year in the Northeast Kingdom since mid-1970s and has co-founded Greater Barton Arts with husband Edward and sister Carol Youmans.
Synopsis-Wednesday Poets, a poetry writing workshop is celebrating its tenth year this summer. Founded by two First Parish members, its history is a model of community building. In addition to a message, members will read from their work.
Sunday October 15th, 2023
All My Forefathers and Yours
Speaker-Gabriella Brand
Bio-Gabriella Brand is an educator, author, linguist, and counselor. Her writing appears in The Christian Science Monitor, Canada's Globe and Mail, and in over fifty literary publications. She teaches languages and writing in the OLLI program at the University of Connecticut. A lay leader in the Unitarian tradition, Gabriella lives in Connecticut with her husband, the Reverend Douglas Peary.
Synopsis-We are all products of history. We all have forefathers and foremothers who leave us with a story to tell. How do we feel about the people who came before us? How does pride in heritage sometimes lead to ideas of snobbery or bigotry? How does shame or anger impact our thinking? What can we celebrate about our own past, no matter who we are?
Sunday October 22nd, 2023
Restorative Circle and Samhain
Leader-RoseAnna Cyr
Synopsis-Since 2022, First Universalist has led restorative and discussion circles as a way to connect as a community. The circle discussion will focus on loss, grief, and connecting with those who have passed before us. During this time of year, many religions have traditions that commemorate this liminal time, a time where the "veil is thin" between this world and all that is unseen.
Sunday October 29th, 2023
Colby-Curtis Museum
Speaker-Samuel Gaudreau-Lalande
Bio- Samuel Gaudreau-Lalande is the Director and Head Curator of the Colby-Curtis Museum located in Stanstead, Quebec. He is an art historian specialized in the history of photography. He views local museums as institutions that belong to the community and should take an active part in their improvement. For the last four years, he has been slowly transforming the lawn surrounding his bungalow into a garden.
Synopsis- A garden is generally seen as an organized, controlled and beautiful space where humans seek to domesticate nature and shape plants. A garden can also be wild. This talk will examine how these two types of gardens intermingle, with examples from the exhibition "Cut Flowers/De la terre sous les ongles" presented at the Colby-Curtis Museum, in Stanstead.
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112 Main Street Derby Line, VT 05830
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(802) 487-0997
Sunday Service 10:30 am
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Our fellowship hall is the perfect venue for your meeting place or special occasion
For Reservations, please print and mail, or complete our online application.
For Reservations, please print and mail, or complete our online application.

The mission of First Parish is to sustain a safe home for our spiritual growth and to support each other as we put our beliefs and principles into action.