"The members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester covenant to be a congregation of love, hope and justice inspiring people to take on the challenges of a changing world."

Welcoming Church

Mission Statement

The LGBTQI and Allies of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester strives to further the affirmation and celebration of LGBTQI individuals in all aspects of the church community. We also seek to increase the visibility of UUCW as a Welcoming Congregation within the greater community.

UUCW Covenant

In consonance with the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we the members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester covenant to sustain and support a courageous and caring community by:

* Bringing our best selves to form a welcoming, loving, and inclusive community of faith;

* Creating an atmosphere of celebration and worship in a safe environment;

* Providing opportunities where diverse people and points of view are respected and where open-hearted and open-minded discussion of our differences is encouraged;

* Treating each other with kindness and respect;

* Approaching conflicts with a spirit of humility and with the respectful intent for peaceful resolution;

* Engaging in and encouraging spiritual and intellectual growth across the lifespan;

* Fostering social justice and positive transformation in our community and in the world at large;

* Growing and maintaining the resources necessary to support the missions and ministries of this congregation;

* Fostering fellowship and enjoying each other and the unique gifts that each person brings to our community.

Current News at UUCW

UUCW Did The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

Music Director Matthew Johnsen, Food Pantry Volunteer Dianne Mann, and Rev. Aaron Payson

Craig Van Batenburg and a grandchild, Barry Brigham, and Eric Budd

For more on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge please visit http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html

From The Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

Here's a sobering fact. The USDA has recently released data reflecting the number of households struggling with hunger in 2013. "49.1 million Americans lived in households at risk of hunger...That's like the entire population of California and Ohio go hungry." -- Bread for the World

Here at the UUCW, we are working hard to address the issue of hunger in our neighborhood. The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is one of the network of food pantries operated by the Worcester County Food Bank. We provide a monthly distribution to area families and are available on an emergency basis for people in dire need of food. Our Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry has become one of the hallmarks of our social justice efforts. We regularly see 60 families each month. That amounts to approximately 300 people for whom, without our services, would not have enough food.

Here's how you can get involved:

Donations

We routinely accept food donations at the entrance of the Sanctuary and in Fellowship Hall. There is also a food collection at our regular Sunday Service. Make it a habit to purchase something special for the Pantry. Leave it in your car. Don't forget it. Our clients have household just like yours but they like canned soup, canned vegetables and fruit, cereal, tuna, etc. to meet their basic needs. Occasionally there is a special request for food for the Holidays or for grocery store gift cards. Please be as generous as possible. We count on your donations.

Volunteering

Are you interested in volunteering? Would you like to get your children involved? Do you have a Friday night available or a Saturday morning? Lots of people have helped over time with this great undertaking. Just talk to me about your needs or e-mail me. I'd love to talk to you about how you could make a difference! J

Please note that the Food Pantry can be accessed by those in our Congregation. Contact the Rev. Aaron Payson, Robin (our Director of Religious Education) or me, Dianne Mann at (508) 963-0183 or djmann@charter.net Be assured that we will work with you sensitively.

Dianne Mann, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Volunteer

Circle Dinners - Looking For A Few More People!

Our circle dinner group has shrunk in size and we are looking for 3-4 additional people to join our group. Think about joining our fun-loving group consisting of carnivores, vegetarians and a gluten-free person. We meet once a month in people's homes, restaurants, and have picnics in parks.

New people to the church are welcome too. Please email me at celts1600@aol.com, or call at 978-368-8071. Come join us!!

Joan McGinn

50/50 Collection for September 21 - Audio Journal

Audio Journal will be the recipient of our first 50/50 Collection for the 2014/2015 church year. Audio Journal is a radio, online and cable access TV service that broadcasts local programming to individuals who are blind or face any other challenge reading printed material. This service is possible through the dedication of over 170 volunteers and a small staff. The broadcasts are available 24/7 and there is no charge to the recipients. Established in 1987, it now strives to serve the nearly 5,000 visually impaired residents of Central Massachusetts, and is an affiliate of the Massachusetts Reading Network. Information is available at www.audiojournal.net.

Dianne Mann

Ferry Beach Weekend Carpool Needed

Looking for a ride to/from Ferry Beach

Contact: Heather Weller

508-826-2193

heatherwellerchurch@gmail.com

Looking for a ride to and from the Ferry Beach Retreat leaving Worcester 5pm or later on Friday for myself and my high school aged daughter Rowan. We can meet you at the church, my home near WPI, or make other arrangements. Return time on Sunday is completely flexible. Thank you!

Heather Weller

Religious Education News

The Coming of Age Class Kicks Off In Style

We had an awesome canoe trip up and down Tully River in Royalston...Lead by David Miller. The newly formed COA class learn how valuable teamwork is as they launched and steered their canoes on this beautiful day!

I wanted to say thank you to all for a most wonderful and beautiful day. The COA teens were fabulous and I so enjoyed spending the afternoon with these fine people.

Special thanks to David Miller for expertly leading our crew up and down the Tully River and to the lake! Thank you to Bruce Leshay for his canoe expertise as well, and to Marilyn Martin for transporting us alongside David and Bruce's transport to Royalston and back.

The weather loved us! Oh so gorgeous!

I will see the COA teens on Sept 21st at 11:45 -1:00 for our opening class. Remember to bring your walking sticks! Thanks!

Robin Caracciolo, DRE

Lifespan Faith Development

World Religions Course Continues

Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 PM Classroom 1

Sunday, September 14, 7:00 PM Classroom 1

Wednesday, September 24, 7:00 PM Classroom 1

PLEASE NOTE THE NEXT SUNDAY DATE &TIME CHANGE. Due to a scheduling conflict, the NEXT Sunday session of the World Religion's course will be on Sunday, September 14 at 7:00 PM in Classroom 1. We conclude our exploration of Judaism this month with lectures by Isaiah M. Gafni, Ph.D., Professor of Jewish Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem on "Common Judaism or a Plurality of Judaisms" and "Judaism and Others" . This course is open to all who are interested in the study of world religions. For more information, please contact Rev. Aaron Payson (arpayson@charter.net).

Rev. Aaron Payson

Adult Course on Human SEXuality-

Register Now!

Register Now for Adult OWL (Our Whole Lives) - A Course in Human SEXuality - Registration is open through October 6 for the Adult OWL Course slated to begin October 22. This 12 session series of workshops will explore a variety of topics from values and communication to sexual diversity and sexuality and aging. Course is $60.00 per adult (18 years or older) and $40.00 for students and seniors (65+). Space is limited so sign up now. Click HERE to register. For more information contact Aaron Payson (arpayson@charter.net) or Robin Caracciolo (robin.caracciolo@gmail.com) .

Rev. Aaron Payson

Sunday News for September 14, 2014

Sunday Worship Schedule for

September 14, 2014

Open Space Forums

Afternoon Book Group - Moving Into October...

Starting October 1, we meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the lounge at 1:15 pm.

Many of us start the afternoon by having Lunch With The Minister which commences at 12:00. This scenario works well to then connect with more UUCW members.

We will be reading The Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Klein. Some month along the way, we may try to catch up our discussion of As Texas Goes by Gail Collins.

Have a great summer and see you all in the fall.

- Audrey Clary

Weekly Meditative Moment

Birdwings by Rumi

Your grief for what you've lost lifts a mirror

up to where you're bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look, and instead,

here's the joyful face you've been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.

If it were always a fist or always stretched open,

you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence

is in every small contracting and expanding,

the two as beautifully balanced and coordinate

as birdwings.

-Weekly Meditative Moment provided by Laura Secor

Ongoing Event News

Fundraising Reminder - Amazon Smile!

We are now set up to receive money back from Amazon.com every time you shop there. It is very easy to do. Instead of going to Amazon.com you type in amazonsmile.com (or smile.amazon.com - either one will work!). It will take you to the Amazon site and you just need to select UUCW as your charity. Amazon will then give us money for everything that you buy. The simple directions are below:

Directions to use Amazon Smile:

Go to www.amazonsmile.com
Log into your amazon account
Click "Supporting" near upper left corner of the page
Enter and select Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester
Shop and earn money for the congregation you love!!!!

If you can just go to amazonsmile.com every time you shop with them, we will all win! Thanks to everyone who helped to get this set up - it is greatly appreciated.

Denise Darrigrand, UUCW Fundraising Chair

Lunch With The Minister - Beginning in October

We begin our monthly "Lunch with the Minister" this fall on October 1 at Noon in the Lounge. Everyone is invited to attend this informal time of refreshment and conversation. Participants bring a bag lunch and something to share (if desired). We provide the coffee and the table settings. Join us!

Rev. Aaron Payson

UUCW Book Group Enters Fourth Year on September 10 - All Are Welcome!

On September 10 the UUCW Book Group begins its fourth season by meeting in the Lounge at 7pm to choose books for the next 11 months. If you like to read and talk about books, we would love to have you join us and bring your ideas for this year. Each month we alternate reading fiction and non-fiction, and the October selection will be fiction.

Our ground rules for choosing books have evolved into the following system:

Everyone may bring 2 titles, and you get roughly 2 minutes to "pitch" each to the group.
Please bring a copy of the book OR a printout (from Amazon or other) describing the length and book itself.
Books must be available in paperback.
The person pitching the book must have read it already.
We will choose our next 11 selections before adjourning at 8:30

Please see last week's Message for the list of books we have read together to date.

Deb Selkow, UUCW Book Group

Men's Group Meeting - September 12

The Men's Group meets monthly to share a meal and conversation.The group's members strive to build trust and close friendship with one another. Our next gathering will be in Fellowship Hall on Friday, 9/12/14 at 7 pm. All who consider themselves male are welcome.

Food will be brought from a local restaurant and all those who wish to eat can split the cost of the meal. Please bring your favorite beverage to drink with dinner. Please R.S.V.P to willliamderr@hotmail.com or call the UUCW office at 508 853 1942. Please note whether or not you want food and any dietary restrictions.

Bill Derr, UUCW Men's Group Coordinator

Hooks & Needles Group

This group will be meeting on alternating Tuesdays at noon (September 9th and 23rd, October 7th and 21st, etc.) in a classroom. Bring your projects - knitting, crochet, cross stitch, quilting, to work on. Or if you wish to do a prayer shawl or lap robe, we have yarn and patterns available. Want to learn a needlecraft? We will be happy to teach you.

Contact - The Yarn Diva (Sharon Templeman)

Sharon Templeman, Hooks & Needles Group Coordinator

Please Click Here to view the UUCW Google Calendar

Community News & Classifieds

Contact Information

Phone:	508-853-1942	Email:	office@uucworcester.org
		Website:	www.uucworcester.org
Emergency Phone:	800-859-6404	UUCW Facebook	UUCW Twitter