The UUCW Message
November 11, 2014
In This Issue

Current News at UUCW

Religious Education 

Adult Faith Development

Sunday News

Ongoing Event News 


Office Hours

(Sept 2, 2014 - 

June 25, 2014):

Mon, Tues, Wed: 

9 am - 3 pm

Thursday 9 am - 2 pm

 

Notes & Flyers

 

Congregational Mission Statement

"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

From The Loaves & Fishes Food PantryFoodPantry


 

Thank you all for your generous donation this past Sunday for our clients' Thanksgiving Dinners.  It was wonderful to see all those full carts go down the aisle of the Church.

 

Our Thanksgiving Distribution is THIS SATURDAY, November 15th, and we are still looking for some items to fill those dinner bags.  They are:  

  • canned fruit 
  • instant mashed potatoes
  • canned pie filling
  • cranberry sauce 
  • gravy  

Of course, you could add anything that makes your Thanksgiving special.  Since this Distribution is before our next Service, I am asking you to bring your donation to the Church during regular hours (Wednesday 9 am - 3 pm, Thursday 9 am - 2 pm) or Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. when we will be setting up the Pantry.  Your donation will be most welcome.  If you have any questions, contact:  Dianne Mann, at djmann@charter.net or at (508) 963-0183.  Thank you in advance.

 

And, from our Volunteers to you:  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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

 

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

 

 

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. The day of our next gathering  has been changed to 11/21/14 will meet in the UUCW Lounge 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.

 
Religious Education News

RE News for November 16RENews

 

Dear Families,

 

Thank you for showing up and helping with the Thanksgiving Food Drive.  We had a fun time assembling the bags and I know the families that visit our food pantry this month will be very grateful!  

 

 

 

 

Sunday November 16th

10am- Children begin in the sanctuary and will be dismissed to their classes following the children's coin and food collection.

 

COA-  Meets at 11:45 in lounge

 

Youth Group- 6-8:30pm

 

 

Robin Caracciolo, 

Director of Religious Education 

 

Adult Faith Development
World Religions CourseWorldRel

Sunday, November 16, 3:30 pm

Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 PM

 

We continue our exploration of Christianity with lectures and discussion on "What Christians Believe" and "The Church and Sacraments" by Prof. Luke Timothy Johnson.  This course continues to be open to anyone interested in the comparative study of world religions.  Questions? More information?  Contact Rev. Aaron Payson (arpayson@charter.net/508-963-5959)

 
Sunday News for November 16

Sunday Worship for

November 16, 2014Worship


 

  

HosT Coffee Hour News HosT

 

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 16Windows & Mirrors Class
November 23Spirit Play Class
November 30Potluck - Members & Friends of UUCW
December 7SOUP Sunday
December 14Coming of Age Class & Mentors

 

Ongoing Event News 
Next Book For UUCW Evening Book Group -
Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
- November 12 at 7 pm - Everyone is WelcomeBookGrp
 

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

 

Lunch With The Minister - Wednesday, December 3 at noon!LunchWMinister

 
 

We continue our monthly "Lunch with the Minister" on December 3 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! 

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Group - 

December 3 at 1:15 AftBookGrp

 

Greetings book lovers!

In our December 3rd meeting we will be discussing State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Please let me know if you can make it.

We 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. In December the luncheon will be potluck, casseroles and desserts to celebrate the season.

I'll try to send a reminder around Thanksgiving week.  

 

Jane Houghton Exhibition Houghton

 

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

 

 


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

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