June 4
Rev. Nina D. Grey
Danielle Gerrior
E. Scott Michael

The Flower Communion:
A Unitarian Universalist Celebration of Community

Bring a flower to our annual celebration of Flower Communion! We hear the story of the Rev. Norbert Capek, Unitarian minister in Czechoslovakia, founder of the Flower Communion, and martyr for our faith's principle of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We gather our diverse and varied flowers into beautiful bouquets, symbols of our unity. Our young people bear the flowers from hand to hand as we each receive a different flower from the one we brought. This is a beautiful and joyful service for all ages.

During this service we will offer our thanks and best wishes to Scott Michael as he completes his field education with us, and prepares to leave for his internship experience in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

June 11
Speaker: Jim Moir

Longfellow's Lessons

In this service, Meadville Lombard seminarian Jim Moir reflects on spiritual experiences expressed in the great Samuel Longfellow hymn, "O Life That Maketh All Things New." He explores the way that our common experiences help to build a congregation.

Jim Moir has just completed his second year at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Jim has been working with Rev. Nina as part of the Worship and Music Committee this year.

This morning we will welcome new members in our Ingathering Ceremony. If you are considering joining the church, and being welcomed on this Sunday, please speak with Rev. Nina Grey.

Small Groups: Power and Possibility

This morning we reflect on the significance and potential of small groups, whether they are family or friendship groups, spirituality groups, or small groups ministering within the congregation and community. Honoring fathers on this Father's Day, we will draw from the work of Tom Owen Towle and his work with small men's groups. We will also
consider the Small Group Ministry phenomenon, and the experience of our small Pluralism Project groups. We'll acknowledge the power of small groups to change lives and the world.

At this service we will say farewell to our beloved members Susan Scrimshaw and Allan Stern, who are moving to Boston, and we will recognize church leaders.

June 25
Speaker: Rosemary Snow

Listening with Giraffe Ears:
Exploring the Steps of Non-Violent Communication

Rosemary Snow will illustrate how NVC - Non-Violent Communication or compassionate connection listens with giraffe ears to discover the feelings and needs of ourselves and of other people instead of hearing guilt and blame.

Using stories of children, animals and even robbers and prisoners she will show how NVC is related to UU principles in actively promoting empathy with others and ourselves and finding satisfying mutual support.

Rosemary & Dick Snow came to First Church in 1960. Together with their children Anita Orlikoff and Luther and Sarah Snow they have supported worship, music and social action at the church and been supported by many in the First Church family. In 2004 Rosemary went to the Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona Spain along with 8000
people of many spiritual paths. Rosemary's study of different world religions is an effort to understand and empathize with individuals following different religious paths.

First Unitarian Homepage