Following up on the excellent reception of the video "The Wilderness Journey" about the challenges associated with the black empowerment movement within the Unitarian Universalist Association, UUCW will host the three-part PBS documentary series "Race: The Power of an Illusion"** that explores where the idea of "race" comes from.  Join us in this important series of videos and discussion with members and friends of UUCW and the wider community as we strive toward a more just society

The series will finish as follows:

 7:00 - 9:00 pm  April 29th - Episode 3: The House We Live In -  "focuses not on individual behaviors and attitudes, but on how our institutions shape and create race, giving different groups vastly unequal life chances. Who defines race? In the early 20th century, the courts were called upon to determine who was white, employing contradictory logic to maintain the color line. After World War II, government policies and subsidies helped create segregated suburbs where Italians, Jews and other not-quite-white European ethnics were able to reap the full advantages of whiteness. The episode reveals some of the ordinary social institutions that quietly channel wealth and opportunity, so that white people benefit from a racist system without personally being racist. It concludes by looking at why we can't just get rid of race."*

This series is open to anyone interested in exploring the issue of race and racism in a safe environment in where diverse people and points of view are respected and where open-hearted and open-minded discussion of our differences is encouraged.

Light refreshments will be provided. For more information on this program please contact Beau Rivers (brivers@uucworcester.org) or Rev. Aaron Payson (minister@uucworcester.org). 

*From the discussion guide published with the video series. 

**Produced by California Newsreel, in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) 2003. Major funding was provided by the Ford Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Diversity Fund. Additional funding was provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the John D. and  Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lida and Alejandro Zaffaroni, Akonadi Foundation, the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, and Nu Lambda Trust.

Please CLICK HERE to download or print a flyer for this discussion series.

Click  HERE to download and print a Workshop Flyer!

The next workshop in the Escalating Inequality series will take place after church on Sunday, May 3, at 12:30-2pm in our church.  It is entitled "The Need for Diversity in UUism".  While it is gratifying to see some new faces being added to our congregation, as a denomination our growth is flat, which portends poorly for the future of our faith. 

While it is also true that other churches and temples are facing the same experience for their futures, our President Rev. Peter Morales and many of us feel that UUism remains a dynamic and especially relevant faith for the future. Our social justice perspectives, excellent and dynamic Religious Education programs and our eclectic faith model make for a faith for the many.  But we must bring others into the fold, and the future of this country is in its growing minority populations.

So let's put our heads together, have the difficult conversations about class and race in UUism, and walk the road that will allow us to be that crowded, diverse, dynamic and relevant church of the future!

Come join us on Sunday, May 3th at 12:30!

Joan McGinn, chair, Escalating Inequality Task Force; Mara Pentlarge  Joe DelGizzi, Paul Ropp   Randy Ingham

Robin Caracciolo, 

Director of Religious Education 

Robin Caracciolo, 

Director of Religious Education 

We gather this week for the last two lectures on Islam Islam in the West and The Future of Islam by John L. Esposito, Ph.D., Professor, Religion and International Affairs, Islamic Studies, Georgetown University.  This course continues to be open to all interested in the study of world religions. 

For more information, please contact Aaron Payson.

One of the things I love about this church is our ability to support and nurture the greater local community.  For example, our congregation does an awesome job providing IHN with the support they need to help those that need it most.  In the coming weeks, we will have the opportunity to provide them with this support.   Here are three opportunities coming up you may be interested in participating in:

1)       IHN Flash Shoe Drive:  The May IHN Shoe Drive is happening again this year!  Bring your gently used footwear such as shoes, sneakers, boots, skates, sandals, etc.  Pairs need to be tied or banded.  Collection will start Sunday, May 3 and go through Sunday, May 31.  Drop them off before church in fellowship hall.  The less-used shoes will be passed on to those in need.  The more-used shoes will be recycled.

2)      The Central Mass Housing Alliance Walk/Run for the Homeless:  Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Elm Park. 5K Runner registration begins at 12:00, Walker registration begins at 1:00, Walk/Run begins at 2:00 pm.  Join us after the Walk/Run for food and live music provided by the Chuck & Mud Band!   Join the UUCW team and/or make a donation:  Click HERE.

3)      We will again be hosting the IHN starting Sunday, May 31 through Saturday, June 6.  Email me or stop by Fellowship Hall beginning May 3 to sign up to be a dinner or overnight host and/or to help pay for groceries for the week.

Thank you in advance for being there for the IHN!

Please come join us in the Lounge on May 16, and June 20 in this unique exercise program that is designed to help bring the body, mind and spirit into harmony. We will also be exploring nonverbal communication with others through movement. Please wear loose comfortable clothing.  Any questions call Joe Zawielski at 508 826 3194   

One of our biggest fundraisers of the year is fast approaching!  The annual yard sale will take place on Saturday, June 6.  So, please start now looking around your place for things that can be donated.  We take virtually anything, including large furniture if you can transport it (both ways if it doesn't sell).  Clothing, household items, sports equipment, electronics, books, etc., etc., etc.  It also takes many hands to pull this event off; please let me know if you are interested.  We work all day the Thursday and Friday beforehand and then most of the day on Saturday.  I know it's a bit of time away, but if you know you're interested and want to work any of the days, please let me know.