The UUCW Message
January 19, 2016
In This Issue


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
Back By Popular Demand: The Cool Beans Coffee House! 
CoolBeansCoffeeHouse



Looking for a warm spot to get in from the cold?  Do you like a nice cup of java or tea while listening to a poem or a piece of music?  How about an evening with friends of the UUCW to help support the Interfaith Hospitality Network?  We have the evening for you:
 
This year's Cool Beans Coffee House will be held on Friday, Feb. 12th, from 7:00 - 9:30.
  • Calling all performers:  Dianne Mann will be serving as our "talent scout" once again.  If you need an accompanist, our Director of Music, Jerry Bellows or Carrick McCullough will be glad to accompany you.  Generally we ask people to prepare a five minute spot.     If you are interested in performing, contact  Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net as soon as possible.  She'll be looking to recruit acts in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour.  If you need an accompanist, let Jerry Bellows know at jerbellows@aol.com in order to arrange practice.
  • Last year's group of talented performers included poets and magicians - so - put on your "Miss Universe Talent Competition Hat" and hope Steve Harvey makes the right call!    --Dianne
  • Tickets:  You can get tickets for the low price of $7.00 each with a family max of $20.00 if you purchase prior to Feb. 10th.  Tickets at the door will be $10.00 each with a family max of $30.00.  Coffee and tea are free and the youth group baristas will have those available along with goodies for sale.
  • ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE COFFEE HOUSE GO TO BENEFIT THE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK.  This is the family shelter the Church supports both financially and, perhaps more importantly, with volunteers who help staff the shelter several weeks during the year during evening and nights.  One of our weeks is Jan. 24 - Jan. 30.  If you are interested in volunteering at any time at IHN, contact Sue Neaz, at sueneaz@townisp.com . 
 
Robin, Sue and Dianne are looking forward to a great evening.  We hope you can make it.  Please contact Robin Mitzcavitz with any additional questions.

Linking Communities of Faith: Building Love and Compassion in an Age of Mistrust 
LinkingCommunities

A panel discussion featuring members of the New England Islamic community sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden Street in Worcester, MA.  The meeting will be in the church Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, February 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
 
Asima Silva is an Indian American who graduated from Wachusett Regional High School. She obtained her undergrad and graduate degrees at WPI in Computer Science. She is a software engineer and Master Inventor for IBM and is the co-founder and Director of Outreach for EnjoinGood.org.

Ellyn Sayers is a very recent American convert.  She obtained an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire and a graduate degree in Regulatory Affairs from Northeastern University.  She is a Quality Assurance Manager for Bristol-Myers Squibb, certified Spin instructor, marathoner and avid fitness enthusiast and proud mother of two children.

Ahmad Abojaradeh is a recent WPI grad and current Worcester resident who is the co-founder and Director of Mental Health for Muslim Community Link, A Global Compliance Engineer for Avery Dennison, a Peer Support Specialist and a Novelist.

Madeline Errishi, known by her nickname, Dina. She is an American convert and has been a Muslim for the last 23 years.  She was raised in upstate New York in a Roman Catholic family, but she has been living in Massachusetts since 1987.  She is married and has a daughter and two sons.

Imam Abdul Latif is the resident Imam at the Islamic Center of Rhode Island in Providence and also a Chaplain for the state of Massachusetts Department of Corrections. He accepted Islam about 20 years ago and traveled extensively in the Middle East to study Islam and the Arabic language.
 
For more Information contact:
Linda A Miller, 508-853-8964, canoteur725djm@gmail.com , or
Rev. Aaron Payson, 508-853-1942, arpayson@charter.net


Game Night is Back! 
GameNight



Friday  January 29th  6:30-8:30pm
 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! 
  Hi everyone!   Game night and potluck is coming up very, very soon!  That was fast!  I  had such a great time at the last one ... I know this one will be equally as fun!!  Come on your own, bring a friend , bring your family, and  have a relaxed and stress-free time getting your game on!
 
This is for everyone!   A FUN , FREE  EVENING OUT!
 
 Bring a game to share!                Bring a potluck dish!   
Not interested in cooking?  Bring $5 each for pizza and drink.
 
So we know how many games, seats, pizzas needed...please click on the link below and fill out the google form.   This is very helpful for planning and much appreciated!
 
 
If you have any questions...contact Robin Mitzcavitch!
 
Interfaith Hospitality Network Host Week
January 24 - 30, 2016 IHNNews
 
Please support the continued good work happening at the Interfaith Hospitality Network, 91 June Street, Worcester by volunteering to host an evening or overnight slot during the week of January 24-30 and/or make a contribution towards groceries for the week - typically $300.  The schedule is posted in Fellowship Hall and details are available.   You may also email me directly to sign up.  Please see me or Robin Mitzcavitch to volunteer/make a contribution or mail your check to me directly at 6 Browning Road, Shrewsbury 01545.
 
Thank you for your continued support.
 
Hooks & Needles Group Moving to Mondays starting February 1 HooksNeedles
 
Beginning in February, this group will be meeting on alternating Mondays at noon (February 1, 15, and 29, March 14, 28, etc.)   in a classroom.  Bring your projects - knitting, crochet, cross stitch, quilting, to work on.  Or if you wish to do a prayer shawl or lap robe, we have yarn and patterns available. Want to learn a needlecraft?  We will be happy to teach you.
 
Touchstone Monthly Theme - 
January Theme - Non-Violence
January 19 - 25 TchstnQuotes
 

Jan. 19:  "Love and Non-Violence cannot heal the wounds which corruption and injustice have caused." ~  Ashutosh Naliapara
 
Jan. 20: "Human Rights ...calls for performance of duties such as practicing nonviolence, solving conflicts with a dialogue, respect for the other individual or a nation, respect for human rights...." ~  Henrietta Newton Martin
 
Jan. 21: "As long as ...war is always an ...option, we will not ...imagine any alternative." ~  Stanley Hauerwas
 
Jan. 22: "Non-violence means dialogue.... Dialogue means compromise; respecting each other's rights.... There is no hundred percent winner, no hundred percent loser-not that way but half-and-half. That is the ...only way." ~  Dalai Lama XIV

Jan. 23: "But the hard facts were that fifty years of non-violence had brought the African people nothing but more and more repressive legislation, and fewer and fewer rights." ~  Nelson Mandela

Jan. 24: "...Jesus did not advocate non-violence merely as a technique for outwitting the enemy, but as a just means... open [to] the possibility of the enemy's becoming just as well."   ~ Walter Wink

Jan. 25: "The most visible form of Jesus's not-of-this-world kingdom is the radical, head-turning love of one's enemies...." ~ Preston Sprinkle
Religious Education News
RE News For January 24, 2016
RENews 

Dear Families,
 
Have I told you lately how much I adore this church?   I was thrilled as usual at what I see our wonderful teachers doing, and how we connect as a diverse and wonderful community.
 
  • Mystery Pal Sign-Ups!  Ongoing, join in the awesomeness of this multigenerational connection.
  • The One and Only Ivan- Book Discussion for all ages- Special coffee hour after church this Sunday!  Come talk or listen!
  • Game Night coming up on Friday , January 29th!  Held from 6:30-8:30pm. All ages welcome and encouraged for 2 hours of laid-back community connection. Sign up to attend HERE! 
  • Do you have a child in Grade 1 or 2?  There is an IMPORTANT OWL MEETING after church on Jan 31st.  Please let me know if you will attend. Childcare is available.
Sunday January 24th-
 
 10am-  All children will begin in the sanctuary and are dismissed to classes following the Change for Change collection.
 
11:30 am - Lounge- The One and Only Ivan- All Church Book discussion with Loree Griffin Burns- during coffee hour.
 
6-8pm- Youth Group-  Youth Group Service Planning and Games.

  
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Education
One Church, One Book - 
Our Annual All Church ReadOneChurchOneBook 

DISCUSSION!!  This Sunday January 24th
Following the service in the lounge with Loree Griffin Burns
 
                                        
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN was inspired by the life of an actual silverback gorilla. The real Ivan was captured in Africa when he was a baby, transported to America, and kept in a small concrete room with a single glass wall looking out into a suburban shopping mall. He lived there for twenty-seven years. During that time, Ivan was alone, except for the humans who stopped by to look at him while they shopped. In Katherine Applegate's fictionalized account of his life, Ivan's backstory is the same. But by giving Ivan some friends (a wise old elephant, a homeless dog, and a caring girl) and a compelling reason to question his imprisonment (a baby elephant added to the mall menagerie), the author lets Ivan question his fate, and eventually change it.
 
If you have read the book or not yet...this discussion will be fun and interactive and will include readers of all ages!   Come enjoy your coffee hour with Loree and friends this Sunday !!       

   

What is Mystery Pals?  Mystery Pals are pairs of pals made up of one young person and one adult or teen who do not know each other's identity. This is a multi-generational community-building project that has shown great success in many other UU communities,and this year, we have decided to run it again!  This project is closely managed by the Religious Education Committee.  Pals who sign up to participate are matched to each other by the committee.  Sign up now  through February 13th - CLICK HERE to download a form to print to bring to church this Sunday!
 
What do Mystery Pals do?  Mystery Pals communicate with each other through the exchange of notes, drawn pictures, cards, riddles, puzzles, baby pictures, hints about identity, and small trinkets.   The main thing is to stay in touch and remain a mystery! All communication is managed by the RE Committee.
 
How do Mystery Pals keep in touch?   Beginning on  February 14th come to Fellowship Hall with your first piece of mystery pal mail and put it in the giant mailbox.  The following week, not only will you mail something again, you will check in with the Mystery Pal Postmaster and collect the mail that your Mystery Pal has mailed to you!  The Religious Education Committee will ensure that everyone receives their communication weekly after the notes have been reviewed!
 
When do the Pals find out the identity of each other?  Identities will be revealed during our Mystery Pal Reveal Party on April 3rd directly after the service. FUN FUN FUN!  It's all about the connections we make in the world!!  Sign up right away!  And especially before February 13th.
 
We are excited for another fun run of The Mystery Pal event!!
   
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:
January 24To Be Announced
January 31To Be Announced
February 7Soup Sunday &
IHN Task Force
February 14Wonderful Welcome Class
February 21Buildings & Grounds and Technology Committees

Ongoing Event News 
Lunch With the Minister - 
Wednesday, February 3 at Noon!LunchwMinister

Join us Wednesday, February 3 at Noon for Lunch with the Minister.  Bring a bag lunch and something to share if you desire. We'll have coffee and a place set for you in the lounge.  Come join the conversation and camaraderie!  No reservation necessary.

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Club - February 3!  AftBookClub

Our next book is Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Mongomery. We will discuss the book on Feb 3rd at 1:15pm.

Next month: Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand with discussion on March 2.



Evening Book Club - February 10, 7 - 9 pm, Lounge  EveBookGrp

Join us on February 10 at 7 pm in the lounge for UUCW's Evening Book Club. We will be reading Girl in Transition by Jean Kwok.

Evening Book Club Reading List:
February: Girl in Transition, by Jean Kwok (Nancy Hancock)
March: Trapped Under the Sea, by Neil Swidey (Dianne Mann)
April: In the Heart of the Canyon, by Elisabeth Hyde (Nancy Hancock)
May: David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Building Giants, by Malcolm Gladwell
          (Judith Lazar)



Men's Group Meeting,
February 12, 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, 02/12/16 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.
 


Justice & Compassion Book Discussion Group @ Marlborough & Hudson UU Church
The Justice & Compassion Book Discussion Group at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson invites all to join us in reading our January book, Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference, edited by Sarah Van Gelder and the staff of YES! Magazine. Sustainable Happiness shares the best of 18 years of YES! Magazine articles on happiness, offering "fascinating research, in depth essays, and compelling personal stories ... showing us that real well-being is found in supportive relationships and thriving communities, opportunities to make a contribution, and the renewal we receive from a thriving natural world. In the pages of this book, you'll find creative and practical ways to cultivate a happiness that is nurturing, enduring, and life affirming."

We will meet to discuss the book at the church (80 Main St. in Hudson) on Tuesday,  Jan. 19, from 7:00-9:00 pm . Copies of the book are available at the Hudson Public Library on their Book Club bookshelf or for sale at amazon.com. For more information, please visit ucmh.org or call 978-562-9180.
***************************************************
Upcoming Nat Needle Music - Nat Needle nat@natneedle.com
Wed., Jan. 20, 6:30-8pm: Take Down The Wall Café; Nat emcees this monthly 3rd Wed. Open Mic inclusive of performers and audience with and without disabilities. 454 Grove St., Worcester, in the rear of the Starbucks parking lot (former Boston Billiards building, now Worcester HQ for Alternatives, our sponsor). Admission and refreshments free (donation welcome).  
 
Fri. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 5:30-7:30pm: Thank Friday It's Dr. Nat; Nat plays piano and sings vintage jazz tunes. No cover. Nick's, 124 Millbury St., Worcester.

 



Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

Fax:

508-853-2065 

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

Emergency Phone:

508-853-1942 

ext. 108

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