"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

Skills & Interest Survey - LAST CALL!

As we commence with the next phase of our governance experiment here at UUCW we would like to update the list of skills and interests of active members and friends of the church.

This is our final push to collect survey results this fall, so please take a moment to complete our survey (it only takes about 5 minutes).

Please visit the survey site HERE. If you prefer a paper copy of the survey it is available in the foyer of the Lounge or Fellowship Hall on Sunday. Please send your survey to - UUCW, 90 Holden Street, Worcester, MA 01606 - or bring it to the church and place in the grey box next to the church office door.

Your responses will be incredibly helpful in our planning processes this fall.

Rev. Aaron Payson

Fundraising Opportunity - Build a Deck with the Vigneaus!

Paul and Diane Vigneau are offering a fundraising opportunity to our community. They have purchased the materials to build a 8' X 12' deck and rather than pay a contractor to erect it, they would like to hire YOU! If you have some building experience and are willing to offer your expertise and labor, they are looking for you to work for them a couple of upcoming Saturdays. In return, they will make a donation of $400 to the church in your name or the name of your choosing for up to 4 qualified individuals resulting in a total donation of $1,600. If you are interested, please contact Paul or Diane at (508) 459-2643 or by email at gosoxinrutland@msn.com

Paul Vigneau

Adult Mental Health First Aid Course -

October 25 & November 1 at UUCW

Robin Caracciolo

Come Dance!! - Line Dancing Classes With Wendy O'Leary

Oct 30 through Nov 20

Join me as we learn and practice line dancing. Great fun and great exercise. We will laugh, dance and get a bit of a workout. Dance sheets and some instruction provided. Bring water, wear comfortable shoes and get ready to move!

For more information contact Wendy O'Leary at woleary25@gmail.com.

No cost for class. A requested donation of at least $5.00 to support church.

Thursdays, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20 from 6:30-7:30

Wendy O'Leary

Explore Quilting With Robin - Nov 1!

Thanks to all who attended our first Quilt Class- We had a ball making pumpkins!

No you didn't miss out! Our next class is Saturday November 1 from 1:30pm -6pm We will be working on holiday projects- $40 includes instruction,assistance, and fabric to share! Plus it's just a laid back, fun and creative time spent together. I loved it!! Please RSVP to Robin Caracciolo if you are interested..please bring a friend! When I hear from you , I will get you a list of items needed for the next project.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR THE NEXT CLASS!!

Robin Caracciolo, Director of Religious Education

Religious Education News

RE News for October 26

Dear Families,

The COA class, helpers and I had a really fun day this past Sunday and we raised a lot of coins for UNICEF. I would like to thank the COA teens for setting up and running the UNICEF carnival! Take a peak at the fun events!

Sunday November 6

This Sunday , November 2nd- Classes Resume and Child Dedication Sunday!

10 am - All begin in the sanctuary and are dismissed to classes after the children's coin and food collection.

Child Dedication Sunday - If you are interested in having your child dedicated ,Aaron and I will be performing an open child dedication ceremony at the beginning of our worship service. Please contact me if you are interested in having your child(ren) dedicated and I will get back to you with more information!

COA- Class 11:45-1pm- Display and Divulge

COA Parent Discussion Group- Meets 11:45-1pm in a classroom- Facilitated by Jenny Delgizzi- for more info contact Jenny: gizzi71@yahoo.com

Youth Group - Lock-in Planning Group Meeting- 5-6pm

Soulful Sundown Participation at 6pm-7pm- helpers needed for "Stations of the Chalice". YG Meeting: 7-8:30pm

Robin Caracciolo,

Director of Religious Education

Adult Faith Development

World Religions Course

Sunday, November 2, 3:30 pm

Wednesday, November 5, 7:00 PM

We continue our exploration of Christianity this Sunday with lectures on "Second Century Self-Definition" and "The Christian Story" by Professor Luke Timothy Johnson. This course continues to be open to anyone interested in the study of the world's religions. For more information please contact Aaron Payson

Rev. Aaron Payson

Sunday News for November 2

Sunday Worship for

November 2, 2014

HosT Coffee Hour News

The HosT coffee hour team thank all the many church teams, groups, and committees who have signed up to HosT coffee hour this year!

We are using Volunteer Spot to make it easier for people in your group to select a healthy food option to bring to coffee hour, and to sign up for the simple duties that are involved in running coffee hour.

HosT (Hospitality Task Force) will provide the fair trade coffee, tea, water and juice. (HosT depends on coffee hour donations to keep supplies in stock....your donations during any coffee hour are gladly accepted!)

Would you like to be involved with the HosT Team? Let us know!!

Groups on deck for HosT-ing:

November 2	SOUP Sunday
November 9	Book Group and Hooks & Needles Group
November 16	Windows & Mirrors Class
November 23	Spirit Play Class
November 30	Potluck - Members & Friends of UUCW

Robin Caracciolo

Weekly Meditative Moment

Counting What The Cactus Contains

Elf owl, cactus wren, fruit flies incubating

In the only womb they'll ever recognize.

Shadow for the sand rat, spines

And barbary ribs clenched with green wax.

Seven thousand thorns, each a water slide,

A wooden tongue licking the air dry.

Inside, early morning mist captured intact,

The taste of drizzle sucked

And sunsplit. Whistle

Of the red-tailed hawk at midnight, rush

Of the leaf-nosed bat, the soft slip

Of fog easing through sand held in tandem.

Counting, the vertigo of its attitudes

Across the evening; in the wood of its latticed bones--

The eye sockets of every saint of thirst;

In the gullet of each night-blooming flower--the crucifix

Of the arid.

In its core, a monastery of cells, a brotherhood

Of electrons, a column of expanding darkness

Where matter migrates and sparks whorl,

And travel has no direction, where distance

Bends backward over itself and the ascension

Of Venus, the stability of Polaris, are crucial.

The cactus, containing

Whatever can be said to be there,

Plus the measurable tremble of its association

With all those who have been counting.

- Pattiann Rogers

- Laura Secor

Open Space Forums

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Group -

November 5 at 1:15

Greetings book lovers!

We will meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the lounge at 1:15 p.m. Many of us start the afternoon by having Lunch With The Minister which starts at 12:00 p.m.

For the first meeting on October 1st, we discussed The ORPHAN TRAIN by Kristina Baker Klein.

Next month we meet on November 5th at 1:15 p.m. We will be discussing The Strength of What Remains by Tracy Kidder.

If you want to read ahead our December 3rd meeting will be about State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.

Please let me know if you can make it to the next meeting. Thanks!

- Kim Napoleone

Ongoing Event News

Lunch With The Minister - Wednesday, November 5 at noon!

We continue our monthly "Lunch with the Minister" on November 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

Next Book For UUCW Evening Book Group -

Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

- November 12 at 7 pm - Everyone is Welcome

The UUCW Book Group continues to meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the church lounge.

We continue our practice of alternating fiction and non-fiction reads, and our November non-fiction selection is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach.

We look forward to meeting new readers this year-our discussions are always interesting and lively. For more information, contact Deb Selkow debelkow@gmail.com

Deb Selkow

Please Click Here to view the UUCW Google Calendar

Contact Information

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