The UUCW Message
March 1, 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
Friday, March 4, 6:30 - 8:30 pm in Fellowship Hall!!
GameNight

YAY GAME NIGHT!!!!!

Game night is this Friday. PLEASE REGISTER ! So we can order the correct amount of pizza and have the right amount of seating! Please register for pizza by Thursday March 3rd.

Come on your own, bring a friend, bring your family, and have a relaxed and stress-free time getting your game on! These game nights have been very well-attended!

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.

If you have any questions...contact Robin Mitzcavitch Robinmitz2015@gmail.com

ACE Volunteers Needed - Info Session Sunday, March 6, noon, The Lounge 
ACEVol

On Sunday, March 6, at noon, Kelsey Renner and Frank Murphy from the African Community Education Program will be at UUCW to meet with members and friend here who are interested in volunteering as a mentor, tutor or after-school volunteer for youth served by ACE. 
 
The African Community Education Program is a non-profit community-based organization that grew out of a 4-year old tutoring program run by the medical students of University of Massachusetts. The students had created a program offering one-on-one tutoring/homework help for refugee children from Liberia. Although the student initiative had expanded through the years and offered services to more children, occasional one-hour tutoring sessions, unfortunately, were not sufficient for facing the educational crisis faced by the refugee and immigrant population.
 
Many of the children we serve have had little or no formal education at all prior to coming to the U.S. due to the difficult situations in their home countries. Thus we saw children who were 12 years old who had never been in school but were placed in 6th and 7th grade. These children need a lot more attention than the medical students' program could offer. Additionally, there was an increasing number of children coming for help and a limited number of tutors to work with them.
 
As the need for a larger program became more obvious, several members of the Worcester African community and some medical students joined efforts in hopes to address the problem. It was decided to create an organization whose sole purpose would be to serve children from ALL African countries, who are refugees/recent immigrants/children of immigrants, who are behind in school, and who want help with their studies.  
 
Click HERE for a video introduction to ACE and its programs.
 
Interested in learning more about volunteering with ACE? Sign up HERE.

Interested in Helping Local Refugee Families? Information Meeting, Sunday, March 20, 11:45 am, Lounge 
Refugees

Come and hear about how UUCW can help Ascentria Care Alliance, March 20, @11:45 am in the Lounge.  Formerly Lutheran Social Services of New England, Ascentria Care Alliance works to effectively facilitate the economic and social integration of refugees and immigrants into American society, Ascentria is committed to providing the highest quality services throughout the resettlement period, foster the self-sufficiency of refugee and immigrant families, inform and educate the community about the refugee and immigrant experience, and partner with volunteers and the community to support our new neighbors.
 
A critical component of the service that Ascentria provides to New Arrivals is working with local faith communities who provide direct care and service to local refugee families as they settle into their new life in our community.  On March 20, Elizabeth Singley, Resource Developer for Ascentria's Services for New Americans will be on hand to talk about ways that UUCW can assist in this ongoing and critical endeavor.  If you are interested in this developing ministry at UUCW, CLICK HERE.  Please join us for this important meeting on March 20 following service. Also, please CLICK HERE to view a video about Ascentria's programs to help New Arrivals.

UU Women's 14th Annual 
Runaway Weekend in Rockport - April 15 - 18 
WomensWeekend

We are happy to bring you visions of beach and warm weather, female fellowship and beautiful Rockport in this chilly month of February.
 
Every year about 22 women from our church travel to the Linden Tree Inn in Rockport, MA to spend the weekend enjoying each others company and enjoying the many benefits of the Rockport /Cape Ann Region. We welcome old timers and new comers alike to join us for relaxed visiting, leisurely walks into and around Rockport, shopping and visiting galleries, dining in house and in town, and walking the beaches and breathing the ocean air. 
 
Dates and price information: 
April 15- 18, 2016  
Friday afternoon to Monday morning, or any part thereof.
 
Send your check to hold your spot:
8 Single Rooms: $204/person
6 Double Rooms: $174/person               
1 Quad (2 rooms share one bath): $158/person
 
Meals Included:
Saturday - breakfast and dinner
Sunday - breakfast and lunch
Monday - breakfast
 
Please consider joining us! 
Send your check and a list of your food preferences/allergies to:
Ruth Silver 
71 Angell Brook Drive
West Boylston, MA 01583 :
Questions, comments, etc. can be emailed to Claire Breyton cbreyton@gmail.com.


Visit Our New Improved Website! NewWebsite
If you haven't seen it already, please visit www.uucworcester.org to view the new and improved UUCW website.  Thanks to a host of volunteer website junkies (Rachel Peckar, Cris Heffernan, Vickie Cox Lanyon, Betty Jenewin, Anna Bediako) working with our Office Administrator, Jennifer Landry and Aaron, we have launched and continue to develop our new website as a core component in our evolving strategic communications plan.  Forthcoming upgrades will include a members-only section, interactive adult faith development opportunities, and weekly communications that are more integrated with web content.  We welcome your feedback, which can be submitted through the "contact us" link on homepage.

2016 Congregational SurveyCongSurvey

The Committee on Ministry is pleased to present the tri-annual All Congregation Survey. Every three years members and friends of the church are surveyed concerning their perspective on how we are doing as a congregation and which programs, projects and perspectives are most important. As in previous years, this year the survey may be taken online or in in paper form and sent back to the church. For the online version CLICK HERE. The paper version is available HERE in pdf format (you will need Adobe Reader to view this format). Please take a few minutes to complete this year's survey. Your feedback valuable and very critical to our planning processes. Thank you for your consideration and care.

The Committee on Ministry
Touchstone Monthly Theme - 
March Theme - Renewal
March 1 - 7 TchstnQuotes
 

March 1: "The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists. How to support that possibility in others and in ourselves is the ultimate question."   Gabor Maté
 
March 2: "The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope."   Wendell Berry
 
March 3: "Renewal of the mind is good for the soul because it allows you to be focused and gain understanding of your life choices. It allows you to renew your spirit and become uplifted, filled with hope."   Amaka Imani Nkosazana
 
March 4: "Each harvest renews promises made in the spring. We live with the continuing cycle. This gives us a taste of eternity."   Don Kladstrup
 
March 5: "Every individual needs revolution, inner division, overthrow of the existing order, and renewal...." C.G. Jung
 
March 6: "With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. This is meditation. This is renewal. This is life."   Lama Surya Das
 
March 7: "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden."   Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Religious Education News
RE News For February 28, 2016
RENews 

Dear Families,

    Regular classes continue this week!   I look forward to seeing you!
 
    • Reminder!  This Friday March 4th is GAME NIGHT  6:30-8:30pm! Sign up HERE ...especially important if you want to have pizza and drink $5 
I would like to give a shout-out to Youth Group for beautiful work done on a piece of art that they will enter for the Global Art Project for Peace.  Look for the finished project on display soon! 

 


Here is how it works:
We make the art project in the month of March, We display the project here in April, we exchange projects (or photos of projects) with a group somewhere in the world who we will be partnered with.  For the month of May we will display their piece of art for global peace.
 
Sunday March 6th- 
  • 10am all children begin in the sanctuary and will be dismissed to classes following the children's "Change for Change" collection.
  • 6-8pm  Youth Group

  
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Education

Continue to BRING YOUR MYSTERY PAL LETTERS!!!  And don't forget to  pick up your mail at the Mystery Pal Post Office!  Stop by during coffee hour!

Please include your secret number on all correspondence!!
  • Put your unsealed letter with your secret number in the large mailbox in fellowship hall.
  • Pick up your mail by telling Kim or Jenny your name at the MP Post Office!
This will continue through the month of March...and the big Mystery Pal reveal Party will happen on Sunday April 1st in the lounge during coffee hour!
 
Have  Fun!!
   
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:
February 28Christine Lynch, Beth Posner-Waldren, Vicky Aberhart, Margaurite Lawler
March 6Board of Management
March 13Popcorn Theology Class
March 20Connections Class
Easter Sunday - March 27Members & Friends of UUCW

Ongoing Meetings OngoingMtgs

Lunch With The Minister - Wednesday, March 2 at Noon, Lounge

Join us Wednesday, March 2 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. 

 

Our next book is Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand. We will discuss the book on March 2 at 1:15pm. 

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, 03/11/16 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 ...Click to read more

THIS MONTH ONLY the Evening Book Club will meet on the third Wednesday of the month to discuss Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey. Join us on Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 in the Lounge. Evening Book Club Reading List: March - Trapped Under the Sea, by Neil Swidey (Dianne Mann) April - In the Heart of the Canyon, by Elisabeth Hyde (Nancy Hancock) May - The Secret Daughter ... Click to read more

The Hooks and Needles Group meets on alternating Mondays at noon (February 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.

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!

Community News & Classifieds 

Greater Worcester Humanists - Linda Miller, Co-Chair, Greater Worcester Humanists
Chris Johnson, New York based photographer and filmmaker, to speak at Greater Worcester Humanists, Tuesday March 8 at 7:00, Social Hour at 6:30
 
In February we viewed the film"A Better Life:  An Exploration of Joy and Meaning in a World Without God.  On March 8 , the film's maker, New York based Chris Johnson, will be our speaker. He received his undergraduate degree in film production (along with a minor in religious studies) from Concordia University in Montreal Canada.  His photography has been seen in various outlets including "The New York Times." He has spent the last three years working on "A Better Life," traveling across the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland and other countries to interview his subjects.  The film debuted in May 2015. Apart from his own film and photographic work, Chris has collaborated with artists and directors in various roles and capacities from assistant director and stage manager, for theatre, film, and print. Chris has produced a beautiful "Coffee Table Book" with pictures of those he interviewed and their stories. Books will be on sale at the meeting.

 
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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