The UUCW Message
November 17, 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
Our congregation is listed among eligible charities to receive 0.5% of the purchase price on eligible items through AmazonSmile.   When ordering items through amazon, go to smile.amazon.com, sign into your account and in the "supporting" area under the search bar, search for Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.  Items that are eligible through the AmazonSmile program will list ""Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" in their product description.  The church receives a quarterly check from AmazonSmile which becomes part of our fundraising total for the fiscal year.  
 
Interfaith Hospitality Network NewsIHNNews
 
The Interfaith Hospitality Network has begun a capital campaign called "Building a Stronger Foundation Together" with Congressman James McGovern as one of their honorary co-chairs.  This campaign will be launched to congregations and the wider Worcester community in the coming weeks.  Strategic goals include building and strengthening the volunteer-supported model, increasing awareness and engaging the community in IHN's work and working across systems to end homelessness in our community.
  
IHN is holding an Open House on Sunday November 22 and Sunday December 6 from 1:00-3:00 at 91 June St in Worcester.   As part of the UU Church of Worcester's preparation for our first "host" week January 24-30, 2016, we are having an informational session on November 22 after the service at 11:45 in the lounge.  Please come and learn about the house and our volunteer efforts.  After the session, we invite to join us for the open house.  This would be a great time to become familiar with its exact location and meet the staff.
 
Please see me or Robin Mitzcavitch for more information.
 
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry News
- A Great Way To Help!LFFP


Lois is a 6th grade Worcester resident and member of our church.  Not only did Lois celebrate a birthday this month, she celebrated it in style.  You might be thinking limousine, or dance hall, or trip to an exotic place.  Nope...even better!  Just take a look at this blurb  that was written at the bottom of the invitation to Lois' party:
 
"Please consider a donation to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry (gift cards to the grocery store, canned goods, personal care items) instead of gifts.  The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry works with the regional food bank to serve folks in need in the 01606 zip code."
 
And now take a look at what Lois and her family, Sean , Maya  and Vernon dropped off at our Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, just in time for our Thanksgiving distribution!


Thank you for caring and sharing , Lois.   

 
Basket Raffle Tickets on Sale 
this Sunday Nov 22 during Coffee Hour!BasketRaffle
 

Try your hand!  Buy a raffle this Sunday, Nov 22!
We have 8 great baskets!
 
We will notify you on September 28th after the craft fair if you are a winner!
 
Only $2 per ticket, or purchase 5 tickets for $8, 0r 10 tickets for $15.
 
All proceeds go toward the UUCW Annual Craft Fair Fundraiser.
 
Thanks to everyone who helped us fill the baskets!!

 

 

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
Touchstone Monthly Theme - 
Spirituality
November 17 - 23 TchstnQuotes
 

Nov 17: "Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes." ~  Alan W. Watts

Nov 18: "People who've had any genuine spiritual experience always know that they don't know. They are utterly humbled before mystery." ~ Richard Rohr

Nov 19: "Spiritual growth involves giving up the stories of your past so the universe can write a new one." ~  Marianne Williamson

Nov 20: "The best political, social, and spiritual work we can do is to withdraw the projection of our shadow onto others." ~  C.G. Jung 

Nov 21: "Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want ...more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path." ~  Brené Brown

Nov 22: "Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth."  ~ Marianne Williamson

Nov 23: "You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul." ~  Swami Vivekananda

Religious Education News
RE News For November 22, 2015RENews 

Dear Families

Here is a preview of what's happening in RE for the rest of the calendar year!
 
Sunday Nov 22-  Children will be in their regular classrooms.
 
Sunday Nov 29-  One Room School House in Fellowship Hall
   THE GIVING TREE-  We set up and decorate  our annual Giving Tree. And
Talk about giving during the holidays with special projects.
 
Sunday December 6th-  One Room School House- Hanukah and Pageant Prep
               This year , our annual Vespers Service and pageant is on  December 20th at 4pm.   All children are invited to be in the pageant.  This year we will do  "The Holiday Window"  which talks about all the winter holidays and what they mean.  We always have a fun time preparing for this event.  All parts are simple costume and non-speaking. All ages are welcome and encouraged!
  • Our annual all -church read:  "One Church- One Book"  event starts.  This year we are reading  "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate.  Loree Griffin Burns has donated  copies of the book and the free raffle starts today and will run through the end of 2015.
  • In the evening we will have a wonderful "Blue Christmas" Soulful Sundown service that begins at 6pm .
Sunday December  13- One Room School House- Pageant Prep/ St Lucia Day
  • We have given space in the service for Child Dedication.  If you are interested in having your child dedicated or learning more about it, please contact Robin or Aaron.
Sunday December 20th- 10 am Winter Solstice Service Final practice for major pageant parts- no RE.
3:30pm-  All pageant participants  arrive for costumes. 
4 pm - Annual Vespers Service featuring the pageant, followed by Annual Vespers Tea
 
Sunday December 29th-  Nursery available  , no formal RE  .   Rev. Jennifer Innis presides in pulpit.
 
Happy NEW YEAR!!!

  
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 22Nursery & Spirit Play Classes
November 29Members & Friends of UUCW
December 6Soup Sunday with Hospitality Team
December 13Popcorn Theology Team
December 2011:15 am: Member and Friends of UUCW
5:30 pm: Annual Vespers Tea, details to be announced. 


Ongoing Event News 
Lunch With the Minister - 
Wednesday, December 2 at Noon!LunchwMinister

Join us for our seasonal "Lunch with the Minister" December 3 at noon.  Please bring a salad, vegetable, or dessert offering to share instead of a bag lunch.  Meatballs, cold cut platter, and bread will be provided along with beverages.  We especially welcome newcomers and returning friends to this festive occasion.  Our informal discussion is a great way to share thoughts with Aaron and catch up with church friends.
 
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!


Evening Book Club - December 9, 7 - 9 pm, Lounge  EveBookGrp

Decembers selection is Broken For You, by Stephanie Kallos. 

Evening Book Club Reading List:
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,
December 11, 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, 12/11/15 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.


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?
 
Please CLICK HERE to view and download more information about this workshop series, including a schedule.

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 


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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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