"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

Food Pantry Thanksgiving Drive!

It's time to think about turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and all the goodies that make Thanksgiving special at your table and for our clients at the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. The REC children will be filling bags for our clients this Sunday. We are looking to fill one hundred bags. One hundred bags. That's a lot of bags stuffed with Thanksgiving goodies.

Two of our wonderful volunteers, Chris Mudd and Barbara Durand, have given us a start on stuffing them. They delivered 100 boxes of stuffing to the Church this past Saturday. It's a beginning.

So, we ask you to bring the following items to go in the bags: instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, canned fruit and fruit pie filling, quick bread mix and gravy. We are anxiously looking for those full carts to roll down the aisle next Sunday. Our clients will be so pleased! If you have any questions, contact: Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net or at (508) 963-0183.

Dianne Mann

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

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

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

Supper Anyone?

On the first Monday evening of every month, Peg Gifford, Art Shea, Paul Marr & Don Guyton prepare for and enjoy a supper with the guest/clients and staff of Dismas House of Worcester. We are looking for one more parishioner to join us!

Dismas House's mission is to reconcile former prisoners to society and society to former prisoners, through the development of a supportive community. Dismas House is where former prisoners rebuild their lives, rekindle hope for themselves and their families. Each evening volunteer Board members, live-in international students, and church groups (including UUCW) help create the family atmosphere by breaking bread with residents and staff, many former prisoners themselves, who provide educational, recovery and reentry tools to the residents.

If you are willing to join us and provide a salad, a dessert, a vegetable, a starch or a main dish on a rotating basis, join us for supper (6:00 to 6:30) and would like to get further information, please see Peg, Art, Paul or Don.

- Don Guyton

Jane Houghton Exhibition

Jane Moore Houghton :

Beasts - intimate portraits of our endangered co-journeyers

November 10, 2014 - February, 2015

Opening: November 10, 2014 at the Hanover Theatre 2 Southbridge Street Worcester, MA

Jane Moore Houghton is a Central Massachusetts-based artist who's emerging Beasts series features enthralling, large-scale portraits of endangered and at-risk animal and plant species.

"My intention with these portraits is to spark a conversation between us, the holders of this place called Earth and the creatures we share it with."

Houghton's unique technique of hand embroidering on layers of tissue paper is utilized throughout the series in tandem with acrylic, watercolor, gouache, ink, graphite and vintage papers. Her work is whimsical and approachable. The topic of climate change and poaching can be off-putting to some. She lures the viewer into this conversation with portraits that seem to mirror a human spirituality, with emphasis on the eyes of the creatures. The closer the viewer gets to the piece, it's title and it's story, the more they are confronted with the puzzle of conservation. Through the use of embroidered handiwork we are reminded of the traditional values of preservation and tradition. There are several references to civil society in the regal wallpaper patterns found in several of the pieces and the formal tea party interrupted by an eggplant-colored tapir. There are references to religious and spiritual practices as well to remind the viewer of the values these traditions claim to uphold. The titles of the works are all named for preservation projects that are working to save each featured species.

The effects of human lifestyle and it's debatable impact on the climate and co-journeyers on this planet is the backdrop to this series.

"Through these portraits of at-risk and endangered species I hope to enhance the debate of our practices as keepers of this space called Earth"

For more information please visit www.janemhoughton.com

- Jane Moore Houghton

UU Mass Action Story Slam - November 8, 6 - 9 pm

UU Mass Action's Annual Story Slam - their primary fundraiser - will be taking place this coming Saturday, November 8, featuring our own Rev. Aaron Payson as one of the storytellers. Please CLICK HERE for more information including seat reservations/tickets and bios of three of the featured storytellers!

- Rev. Aaron Payson

Religious Education News

RE News for November 9

Dear Families,

Every year , in the spirit of gratitude and giving, our RE children assemble Thanksgiving Food Bags to present to our clients who visit the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry on a monthly basis. During the holidays, our numbers served can jump from 60 families to over 100 families. We always need a increase of donations to make these food distributions work. Our goal this year is to assemble 100 "Thanksgiving Fixin'" Bags.

What we need: Non-perishables please- Please bring into sanctuary with you- Children will collect!

instant mashed potatoes
canned green beans,
other veggies that remind YOU of thanksgiving,
cranberry sauce
fruit pie filling or other fruit
quick breads or other baking supplies like pie crust mix
gravy

*NOTE: Thanks to a very generous donation of 100 boxes of stuffing from Chris Mudd and Barbara Durand- we do not need stuffing- we are already stuffed!

Sunday November 9

10am: Families begin in sanctuary- Please bring a donation for our Thanksgiving Fixin' Bag project. Children will collect food from the congregation and be dismissed into fellowship hall to count and sort and assemble bags. If you have a young child in Spirit Play Class, please walk them down to fellowship hall and see the leaders, Kim, Claire and Jenny. Children will return to the sanctuary at the benediction to report on their collection results. Our goal= 100 Thanksgiving Fixin' Bags.

COA: There will be NO COA in the afternoon, but we would love some COA help during the Thanksgiving Bag Packing Project at 10am.

YOUTH GROUP: No Youth Group. 18 Youth Group teens and 7 chaperones will be away in Elkton Maryland on a Mission trip.

Robin Caracciolo,

Director of Religious Education

Blessing and Gratitude to out Youth Group Teens and Chaparones!

Our Youth Group Teens do much more than eat pizza and play games! They do a great amount of outreach for our community and beyond. This Saturday , 18 teens and 7 adults will travel to Elkton Maryland to live and work in a homeless community program for 3 days called Deep Roots. Let's hold all of the travelers in your good thoughts.!

Robin Caracciolo,

Director of Religious Education

SPROUT Parent Group - Gratitude As A Spiritual Practice -

Sunday November 9 from 11:45 am - 1:15 pm

Our next Sprout meeting will be Sunday 11/9/14 from 11:45 am to 1 pm at the UUCW. in classroom 1- Childcare is provided but we need enough people to RSVP and let us know they need child care in order for Robin to be able set up the child care. Please email me at williamderr@hotmail.com and let me know if you can make it and if you need child care.

Please feel free to pack a lunch for yourself (and kids) to enjoy either during coffee hour or at the meeting.

It should be a great meeting! I look forward to having a chance to have an adult conversation with you! Please Join Us!

Thank you.

Bill Derr

Adult Faith Development

World Religions Course

Wednesday, November 5, 7:00 PM

We continue our exploration of Christianity this Wednesday 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 9

Sunday Worship for

November 9, 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 9	Book Group and Hooks & Needles Group
November 16	Windows & Mirrors Class
November 23	Spirit Play Class
November 30	Potluck - Members & Friends of UUCW
December 7	SOUP Sunday

Robin Caracciolo

Ongoing Event News

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

Community News & Classifieds

Greater Worcester Humanists - November 11

- Linda Miller, Co-Chair GWH Steering Committee

Greater Worcester Humanists will meet on Tuesday evening, November 11th in Fellowship Hall here at the UU church. Social Time 6:30, Program 7:00. All are welcome.

Peter Gray's talk is entitled "One Atheist's Attempt to Understand Religion."

Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology at Boston College who has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology book ( PSYCHOLOGY, Worth Publishers, now in its 7th edition), which views all of psychology from an evolutionary prospective. His recent research focuses on the roles of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. He has expanded on these ideas in his recent book, FREE to LEARN: WHY UNLESHING the INSTINCT to PLAY WILL MAKE OUR CHILDREN HAPPIER, MORE SELF=RELIANT, and BETTER STUDENTS for LIFE. (Basic Books 2013). Peter also authors a regular blog called "FREEDOM to LEARN" for PSYCHOLOGY TODAY magazine. As part of his research and thinking about play, he has developed, in a preliminary way, what he refers to as "the play theory of religion" - the idea that, at a fundamental level, religion is a form of make-believe play that, for the devout, has no time out (no time when you can say it is play).

Contact Information

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