Women’s Workshop
All women who practice the arts of knitting and stitching and enjoy doing so in a group that loves to laugh and tell jokes please come to the “Women’s Workshop” on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am in fellowship hall.   If you have any questions please contact Priscilla Kelley.

First Parish Walkers
Carole Macrae and friends would like to invite anyone and everyone to walk away the winter blues! All individuals who would enjoy the fellowship and company of your First Parish friends on a springtime walk are welcome to meet at the church at 11:30am on Thursdays.  There will be no walking if it is raining (singing maybe, but not walking). Please contact Carole; csmithmacrae@yahoo.com or 282-1849 if you would like to learn more.

Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry
Sunday Mornings 9:00 – 9:40am   
Prayer shawls are a beautiful and cozy way to share the embracing miracle of God’s love.  This lovely time of fellowship, work and sharing takes place in the parlor.  Please let Abby know if you are interested in the childcare ministry that is offered. 

Centering Prayer
Sunday Mornings 8:30-9:15am 
Carol Holt - Facilitator
Centering prayer or contemplative prayer is a method of prayer that encompasses the work of quieting one’s faculties so as to prepare oneself to receive the gift of God’s presence.  Each Sunday morning those who are familiar with this prayer practice will meet in the conference room from 8:30-9:15am.  All are welcome to join this gathering but it is preferred if you have some background information on this ancient prayer practice.  If you are interested in joining this gathering please e-mail Carol at cholt29@hotmail.com and she will contact you with more information. 

Sacred Stories
Members of the Diaconate Spiritual Growth Team – Facilitators
Tuesday afternoons 2:00-3:30pm July 1 22 & 29
Come and join us for this unique opportunity to move to a new level of spiritual growth at First Parish Church.  Members of the diaconate have carved out this time for you for the sharing and listening to the “Sacred Stories” each of us have in our lives. 
Those who sign up will be placed in a small group with seven others and engage in a deeper level of conversation.  This deeper level of conversation is more than just the “how are you” type of conversation, but “how is your heart and how did it get there” type of communication.  To cultivate an atmosphere of trust, each person will be asked to listen with an affirmative openness and honor a confidentiality commitment.   To nurture the spirit of fellowship within the small group in which you are placed, each person will be asked to commit to attending each of the four gatherings which will be from 2:00-3:30pm July 8, 15, 22 & 29 with the last meeting ending at 4:00pm.
If you do not think you have a sacred story and want to learn more plan to attend one of the informational meetings June 29 & July 6 after worship. Sign up through Abby Campbell with a phone call (283-3771), on a sign up sheet after church or with an e-mail (abby@firstparishsaco.org).
This will be offered again in October of 2008. We will change the day of the week and time of day to try and accommodate schedules in subsequent meetings. The Diaconate looks forward to this as a way of strengthening bonds of fellowship and deepening our understanding of one another: a way of our having our hearts connect with our differences as well as our similarities. Our Scripture theme is from John 13; vs. 4 – 9.

First Parish Statement of Inclusion
The First Parish Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, sits at a crossroad at the center of Saco, Maine. Our doors on that crossroad symbolize our welcome to those who come in search of God's presence in their lives.  

We are a faith community of diverse people whose common ministry is to rejoice in God's love, as well as to heal the brokenness with each other and with God. Responding to that call, we welcome all persons of every age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital standing, physical and mental ability, economic status and family structure into the life, membership, leadership and ministry of this church.

We affirm each person as a child of God, worthy of God's love and our love, and covenant to support one another in our celebrations, sorrows and spiritual growth. At this crossroad we invite all over the threshold of Christ's open door to engage with us in the work of this church in the world.