Programs: Faith In Action 
Through Faith In Action you can get invloved in the following projects and initiatives:
Tri-Community Interfaith Council
Involved in the local schools through donations of school supplies, Thanksgiving dinners, hats & mittens, and Winter Holiday gifts
Partner Church in Gyepes, Romania/Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council
Providing yearly educational scholarships to Gyepes families in need
Mission trips to Romania which include cultural and work exchange
Pulpit exchange between our two Ministers
Preble Street, Portland
Sign up to be one of the many First Uers who prepare and serve dinner to Portland's homeless on the First Tuesday of each month, or volunteer to work with us in Preble Street's clothing closet
Safe Passage, Guatemala
Sponsorships in support of individual children and families of Safe Passage
Mission trips to Guatemala to engage in the work of Safe Passage
Our Faith In Action Program also supports our work as Welcoming Congregation. Please click here for the Welcoming Congregation page
For more information on how you, your teen or your children can get involved in Faith In Action, please call the church office at 207/846.4148, or visit the Faith In Action table after our Sunday services.
All Ages Summer Visits to Transylvania
3 experiences; 2 trips
1st Universalist Church of Yarmouth Maine
In June, Barbara Trentacosta, and Pete & Marge Titcomb traveled back to our small partner village of Gyepes, our first visit since the community’s Capacity Building Workshop led in January 2009 by Krisztina Pall, and sponsored by our church in Maine. During that 2009 Workshop, the people of Gyepes had gathered to identify and prioritize possibilities; the primary focus which emerged was strengthening community facilities and activities.
What we saw this summer was beyond expectations ~ village tele-cottage established, NGO created, grants written and awarded, food prep health certifications received, several multi-village training sessions organized, “Village Day” planned, community pavilion and playground funding received, participation in the Udvarhely Civitas Fall Fruit Festival (including organic jams prepared using traditional methods and sold at the Fair) ~ and more. We are breathless just noting these accomplishments, which they shared with much enthusiasm.
Then, in August, our minister (Jennifer Lentz), her young son (Max), 2 young adults (Katy Vogt & Lily O’Brien), and 2 adults who participated in previous camps (Ann Swardlick from Yarmouth; Dean McKinnon from Swampscott) organized and led our third 3-day overnight summer camp for 43 children ages 7-13 from Gyepes, Abasfalva, Kemenyfalva and Recsenyed. All 4 participating villages have U.S. partners who supported the camp. The multi-generational U.S. contingent teamed up with adult and young adult counselors and translators from the Transylvanian villages. The camp was held in Lokod and included the typical summer camp activities: games, crafts, stories, plays, bonfires, s’mores and some English language practice for good measure. The all-ages aspect added a vitality and creativity to this special experience, which is a rare opportunity for many of the children.
Following the camp, the Yarmouth camp crew joined our Gyepes partners for several days. They went with other villagers to the annual Unitarian World Gathering and joined in preparations for Gyepes Village Day, the first such homecoming event in 20 years. A focal point for the celebration was the newly completed community pavilion, constructed with grant funding from the Unitarian Community Fund (established by Project Harvest Hope). The entire village turned out for the event, and attendees included the bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, Rev. Bálint Benczédi Ferenc, as well as many regional dignitaries, former ministers of Gyepes, and others who had connections to Gyepes. Beginning with morning church services, there were ceremonies, traditional folk dancing and singing, and, of course, much delicious food.
Between these major events, the Yarmouth travelers enjoyed many meals in several homes, met and played with the children and youth, and had deeper conversations with many of the people of this beautiful small village.
For more information on any of these activities, you may email Marge Titcomb at mjtbean@aol.com.
2011 Summer Camp ~ June Gyepes Visit
Ready to Greet the Bishop ~ Traditional Dancing on Village Day
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