Nov 6, 2023
Sunday Sermon given November 5, 2023
Prayer by Ruben Hopwood, Worship Associate
https://firstparish.info/
First Parish
A liberal religious community, welcoming to all
First gathered 1739
About the service: Unitarian Universalism is a living faith,
honoring tradition and evolving over time. The Unitarian
Universalist Principles are stated in Article 2 of the bylaws of
the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUA is currently in the
process of amending Article 2.
Perhaps questions of faith should always be considered and tested
by war and peace, life and death, love and loss. Amidst the
poignancy and complexity of war in the Middle East this week, Rev.
Marta Flanagan will consider what is central to our faith.
This Sunday is the second sermon in a two part series. Part I was
delivered on October 15 and is available on YouTube.
Offering and Giving First
For the month of November, half of the offering supports the work
of Centro de Esperanza (Shelter for Hope) is a migrant family
shelter in Sonyata, Mexico, on the Arizona border. The shelter
provides a safe refuge for families fleeing gang violence,
religious persecution, and dire economic circumstances. In most
cases, families have traveled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles
to keep their families alive and safe. El Centro provides safe
shelter, food, medical care, education, and legal and technical
assistance and protects families from drug cartels, human
traffickers, and others who would take advantage of them. Centro de
Esperanza is unique in that all these families are attempting to
seek asylum in the United States through legal channels. The
average wait time for a hearing with a U.S. administrator at the
border is 4-6 weeks. Currently the shelter can support 30 families
with an expansion plan in the next few months for an additional 30
families. The annual operating cost is approximately $100k and the
cost of the expansion is approximately $25k. The shelter was
started by U.S. citizens in Ajo, Arizona but is managed by
co-directors who are Mexican citizens.
The remaining half supports the life and work of this
Parish.
To donate using your smartphone, you may text
“fpuu offering” to 73256. Then follow the directions in
the texts you receive.