The UUCW Message
November 10, 2015
In This Issue

Current News at UUCW
 

Office Notes and Flyers



Office Hours
(Sept 1, 2015 - 
June 30, 2016):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thursday 9 am - 2 pm
(Closed 2nd Wednesday
Oct - May)

Gmail Users - Please note that if you stop receiving the Message, Nugget, and Weekend Reminder, check your Promotions tab in Gmail. Often, you will find that church emails are in there! Please click  HERE for more information. Please share this information with your fellow congregants if they mention they aren't getting the Message!

PLEASE NOTE: Our trash and recycling is generally picked up once a month. Please be sure to break down all cardboard boxes before putting them in the recycling dumpster so it doesn't fill up too fast!

 

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

It's Thanksgiving time and we are asking for you to help donate so our clients' can share in the feast as well.  Thank you so much for the food you donated last week!  We have two ways for you to help this year:
  • Donate food items to go in our special Thanksgiving bags for our clients.  We are asking for the following items:  instant mashed potatoes, gravy (or gravy mixes), canned veggies and supplies for making dessert.  These items could be flour, sugar, Crisco, cooking oil, quick bread mix and pie fillings.
  • We also give our clients $10.00 gift cards to a local grocery store to help in purchasing a turkey.  I will be in Fellowship Hall on Nov. 15th with our "Tom Turkey" requesting gift cards from PriceRite, Price Chopper and/or Shaw's.
 
Please be as generous as possible.  If you have any questions, contact:  Dianne Mann, djmann@charter.net or (508) 963-0183.  Thank you.
 

 
We are asking each RE class and  the congregation  to help us fill a basket for our Nov 28 Craft Fair Basket Raffle.  This is the final Sunday to fill!!  Please see the containers to put your basket donations in fellowship hall..
  • Nursery-  Baby Toy Basket
  • Spirit Play (pre-k and k)- Dress-up Basket
  • Wonderful Welcome (grades 1 and 2)- Cat Lover's Basket
  • Connections (grades 3-5)- Dog Lover's Basket
  • Popcorn Theology (grades 6 and 7) Family Movie Night Basket
  • Youth Group- Chocolate Lover's Basket
  • Other baskets:  Fair Trade, Game, "Zen", Wine Lover's, Spa Day, and Kitchen Gadget.
Questions?  Talk to Vickie Cox-Lanyon vcoxlanyon@gmail.com  or please sign up HERE first.

WANTED:  COOKIE BAKERS

 

For our Craft Fair on November 28th.    Cookies can be dropped off  fresh on Friday November 27th or Sunday Nov 22 - frozen.
 
Please contact Lee Hill  lee.60.hill@gmail.com  with what you'll bake.  Thanks for helping with this church fundraising event!!
 
Robin Mitzcavitch and the Craft Fair Team
A Community Conversation On Mental Health - November 15, 1 - 3 pm, Fellowship HallAccessCommConv 

The Accessibility and Inclusion Working Group is convening a "Community Conversation about Mental Health" on Sunday, Nov. 15th, in the Sanctuary from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  We are pleased to host representatives from Alternatives, Inc. which is a local mental health organization serving our area.  People living with mental health conditions will be there to present and we promise a lively conversation about reducing the stigma around mental health issues, and asking for and getting help as well as resources in our Community.  All are invited to attend.  Please contact:  Dianne Mann, djmann@charter.net  or (508) 963-0183 with any questions.

Please click HERE to print or download a a flyer for this event. 
 
Game Night Thanks! 
GameNightFlyer
 
Thanks to all of you for a fun evening!  We had 30 people of all ages playing many types of games and enjoying pizza and delicious pot luck offerings this past Friday night!
 
Next Game Night????     It's  Friday  January 29th  6:30-8:30pm.  Save the date!!
 



Touchstone Monthly Theme - 
Spirituality
November 10 - 16 TchstnQuotes
 

Nov 10: "I want my spirituality to rid me of hate, not give me reason for it." ~  Donald Miller

Nov 11: "True spirituality makes you loving and grateful, and forgiving, and patient, and gentle, and long-suffering. True spirituality breathes reverence into every act and deed." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Nov 12: "I define love thus: The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." ~  M. Scott Peck

Nov 13: "Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to the point where we realize that in our own being, we are enough." ~  Ram Dass 

Nov 14: "The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises." ~  Leo Buscaglia

Nov 15: "Rest and laughter are the most spiritual and subversive acts of all. Laugh, rest, slow down."  ~ Anne Lamott

Nov 16: "The most creative act you will ever undertake is the act of creating yourself." ~  Deepak Chopra

Religious Education News
RE News For November 15, 2015RENews 

Dear Families

Hello and thank you all for your wonderful participation in the Thanksgiving Food Drive and Basket Raffle collection this past week.  We got a great start!  If you could not attend or would like to add items, we are still looking for Thanksgiving items and basket raffle items.

 
   

 
Sunday November 15
  • 10 am - All children will begin in the sanctuary and will be dismissed following the children's coin collection.  
  • Teen Owl will not meet on Sunday -  but have their OWL retreat on Friday November 13th 5 pm- through Saturday November 14th-3 pm.  Held at First Unitarian 90 Main St. Worcester. 
  • 6 - 8 pm Youth Group - "What Gives You Light?"
  
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Education
Sunday News

  
Sign Up To Be Part of a Sunday Morning Worship TeamSMWT
     
Worship at UUCW is the product of many voices, hands and hearts.  Each Sunday we look forward to hearing from each other about the important happenings in our lives and the world, and our worship experience is made rich and meaningful because of the variety of voices included in it.
 
We are looking for people to become part of one of our Sunday Morning Worship Teams as a Worship Associate (WA), Worship Reader (WR) or Chalice Lighter (CL) .  WAs work with the Worship Leader to help setting up the sanctuary prior to the service. WR work with the worship leader to  read the welcome, presenting the opening words, and sometimes introduce the offertory or assist with a ritual.  CL's work with the worship leader to provide the chalice lighting for the service. You do not have to have any previous training, we'll work with anyone willing to lend their presence to this program.
 
Congregation Leaders!  Do you have a special church program, project or group that you are promoting?  Becoming part of a Worship Team on the Sunday(s) before your activity gives you a moment to introduce the congregation to your activity.  
 
New to the congregation?  This is a wonderful way to become known and to have an opportunity to introduce yourself.
 
Willing to give it a try?!  Then please visit HERE to sign up on any upcoming Sunday morning.
 
Want more information or have questions? Please do not hesitate to contact our Minister. 

HosT Coffee Hour NewsHosT
     
The HosT coffee hour team thank all the many church teams, groups, and committees who have signed up to HosT coffee hour this year!   
 
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 15
Wonderful Welcome Class
November 22Nursery & Spirit Play Classes
November 29Members & Friends of UUCW
December 6Soup Sunday with Hospitality Team
December 13Popcorn Theology Team

Ongoing Event News 
Evening Book Club - November 11, 7 - 9 pm, Lounge  EveBookGrp

November's selection is The Lady in Gold, by Anne Marie O'Connor. Contributor to the Washington Post Anne-Marie O'Connor brilliantly regales us with the galvanizing story of Gustav Klimt's 1907 masterpiece-the breathtaking portrait of a Viennese Jewish socialite, Adele Bloch-Bauer. The celebrated painting, stolen by Nazis during World War II, subsequently became the subject of a decade-long dispute between her heirs and the Austrian government.

When the U.S. Supreme Court became involved in the case, its decision had profound ramifications in the art world. Expertly researched, masterfully told, The Lady in Gold is at once a stunning depiction of fin-de siècle Vienna, a riveting tale of Nazi war crimes, and a fascinating glimpse into the high-stakes workings of the contemporary art world.
One of the Best Books of the Year: The Huffington Post, The Christian Science Monitor.  

Winner of the Marfield National Award for Arts Writing. Winner of a California Book Award. 

Join us this November 11th at 7:00 in the lounge for UUCW's Evening Book Club.

Evening Book Club Reading List:
The Lady in Gold, by Anne Marie O'Connor (Judith)
Broken For You, by Stephanie Kallos (Cristina Heffernan)
The Innovators, by Walter Isaacson (Cristina Heffernan)
Girl in Transition, by Jean Kwok (Nancy Hancock)
Trapped Under the Sea, by Neil Swidey (Dianne Mann)
In the Heart of the Canyon, by Elisabeth Hyde (Nancy Hancock)
The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Gowda (Nancy Hancock)


Men's Group Meeting,
November 13, 7 - 9 pm, in the Lounge MensGroup 

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, 11/13/15 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.

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Club - December 2!  AftBookClub

Our selections and meeting dates for the Readers Unite Book Group on the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm, following Lunch with the Minister.
 
Dec 2: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Audrey)
Jan 6: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Kim)
 
Read a book and join our discussion group!


All-Church Photo - April 10, 2016 ChurchPhoto 

The photo representing the 2015-16 church community is scheduled for Sunday, April 10, 2016, immediately after service.   This is the photo that we've often taken in the fall; this church year we will be taking it in the spring.  We invite everyone to be present for this important photo.


What can we do about racism today? It is clear to us that the struggle for racial equality and justice in our country continues. Especially if we identify as White people, we need more opportunities to understand racism and explore what steps we can take to become anti-racist allies.
 
This book and movie discussion will invite us to explore race and racism in America through novels, essays, feature films and documentaries. We will explore historical moments and our present realities. We will follow themes from work to work: What is beautiful? How are dark-skinned bodies treated in America? How can racial equality be pursued and achieved? What has changed since the Civil Rights Movement, and what work remains to be done? As people of faith, what can we do?
 
These discussions are for all members and friends of First Unitarian Church, of all racial identities. Feel free to bring your friends-no formal connection to the church is needed. They are open to adults and youth, although youth will need permission to watch R-rated movies. You can attend one or all of the discussions. Of course, the more sessions you attend, the fuller your experience will be.
 
We'll meet in the Landers Room. All discussions take place at 7 p.m. on Monday nights throughout the church year. Feature films will be screened the night before their discussion, on a Sunday night at 7 p.m. Feel free to attend the movie screening (popcorn and some themes to think about overnight will be provided) or to watch the movie on your own.
 
At the end of the year, we'll conclude with a worship service and an opportunity to think about next steps. I look forward to gathering with you for these important conversations.

All Gatherings begin at 7 PM in the Landers Room:

December 6         Movie Screening     Slumdog Millionaire (rated R) 
 December 7         Movie Discussion    Slumdog Millionaire 

 December 14        Book Discussion     Faces in the Bottom of the Well 
                                                                                by Derek Bell 

 January 10            Movie Screening     West Side Story (Unrated) 
 January 11             Movie Discussion   West Side Story 

 January 25            Book Discussion     The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan 

 February 7           Movie Screening     Caesar Chavez (rated PG-13) 
 February 8           Movie Discussion    Caesar Chavez 

 February 22          Book Discussion          TBA 

 March 13              Movie Screening           TBA 
 March 14              Movie Discussion          TBA 

 April 11                 Documentary Screening and Discussion   TBA 
 April 25                Documentary Screening and Discussion   TBA 
 May 9                   Documentary Screening and Discussion   TBA 

 May 23                 Closing Worship Service


Rev. Sarah C. Stewart, Minister, First Unitarian

One of the exciting parts of the new Touchstones Ministry Themes program is the launching of Touchstones Small Group Ministry Groups.  These groups will meet regularly throughout the year to discuss the monthly themes published in the Touchstones Journal.  If you are interested in being part of a Touchstones Group, and/or becoming a leader/co-leader of one of our groups, please take a moment to fill out our short survey HERE.  We'll collect responses for the next month and hope to launch these groups in October 2015.
 
Reminder about Fundraising! Fundraising 

Please keep in mind that one of our fundraising programs is the two bins across the street in our parking lot for books and clothing.  We actually make very good money from this endeavor!  So, as you're doing your fall cleaning or whatever, please take a minute to fill the bins as well as you can!

Introducing SimpleGive!SimpleGive 

UUCW's New Online / Digital Giving Platform
 
For those of you who do your bill paying and giving online, now you can add UUCW to your list of online donations!
 
SimpleGive is an online giving platform that gives donors a variety of options to financially support the church.  Give one time or schedule giving throughout the year.  Become a registered user or give a quick donation without registering.
 
Now you can give right from your smartphone (iPhone click HERE, Android click HERE) or computer.
 
To reach the UUCW SimpleGive page click HERE.
 
Community News and Classifieds CommNews 

Greater Worcester Humanists - November 10, 7 pm, Fellowship Hall-  Linda Miller, Co-Chair, GWH
The next meeting of Greater Worcester Humanists will be on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00 P.M. in Fellowship Hall of the church.  Doors open for socializing at 6:30. All are welcome. See program description below.

The Second Wave:  A New Strategy in the Battle to Change Perceptions and Beliefs About Atheism 
The "New Atheists" attacked the injustices of organized religion and helped to unify atheists as a marginalized class.  Despite some significant victories, their vision of the world in which atheism has conquered religion may not be as attainable as they believe, but a new approach could lead to significant short-term progress.  Instead of fighting the old battle of atheism versus religion, the second wave will fight a battle against religious intolerance of atheism.  In this talk, author Geoffrey Lee Hodge will examine the philosophy and psychology of belief, the progress of social movements, and some new ideas to enlist support for the atheist cause.

Geoffrey Lee Hodge is a career scientist in the field of biotechnology, in which he has served in a number of executive level roles, cofounded a technology company and is inventor on multiple patents.  He is a humanist celebrant and author of the philosophical novel "Between the Shadow and the Flame" as well as print and on line articles on the topics of science, philosophy, and religion.

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Unitarian Fellowship of Huntington, WV Fire - Request For Assistance - Linda Greer, President, UFH
The Unitarian Fellowship of Huntington, WV is trying to raise $8,000.00 by December 2, 2015 to help with building repair and replacement not covered by their insurance.  Please consider visiting our UU crowdfunding site at:
We are a small congregation that operates on 100% volunteer service.  All donations will be going towards the building repair, children's ministries, office supplies, and outreach. We are a member of the UUA and all contributions are tax-deductible.
 
Thank you for your time.
In Love and in Peace,
Linda R. Greer
President of the Unitarian Fellowship of Huntington, WV
Member of the UUA, Ohio-Meadville District
Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

 

 

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

Emergency Phone:

800-859-6404

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