The UUCW Nugget
May 4, 2016
 
Office Hours
(Sept 1, 2015 - 
June 30, 2016):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thur. 9 am - 2 pm
(Closed 2nd Wed.
Oct - May)


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.
 
On Becoming a Member & The Power of Flowers

New U Program - A Brief Introduction to Unitarian Universalism & UUCW
Saturday, May 7, 9 am - Noon in the Lounge
 
Join our Minister, Rev. Aaron Payson, Denise Darrigrand with Member Services and other congregational leaders to explore and discuss history, traditions, beliefs and practices of Unitarian Universalism and our congregation.  This is a wonderful opportunity for newcomers to learn a bit more about our movement and traditions, the ways we govern ourselves as a congregation and association, and ways to become more involved here at UUCW.  This is also a wonderful refresher for those who are more seasoned members and friends.  Please join us in the lounge for this 3 hour conversation and presentation. For more information please contact Aaron Payson (arpayson@charter.net) or Denise Darrigrand (denise.darrigrand@gmail.com).  Interested in this program? CLICK HERE.  Deadline for sign up is Thursday, May 5th @ Midnight
 
 
Annual Flower Communion Service
Sunday, May 8,  10:00 AM
 
The Annual Congregational Flower Communion service will be held on Mother's Day this year, Sunday, May 8, 2016.  Members and friends of the congregation are invited to bring flowers from their gardens, or from the side of the road, or purchased, etc. to be added together as part of our annual Spring/Summer ritual. 
 
The following was written by Reginald Zottoli about this unique Unitarian observance. 
 
"The Flower communion service was created by Norbert Capek (1870-1942), who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. He introduced this special service to that church on June 4, 1923. For some time he had felt the need for some symbolic ritual that would bind people more closely together. The format had to be one that would not alienate any who had forsaken other religious traditions. The traditional Christian communion service with bread and wine was unacceptable to the members of his congregation because of their strong reaction against the Catholic faith. So he turned to the native beauty of their countryside for elements of a communion which would be genuine to them. This simple service was the result. It was such a success that it was held yearly just before the summer recess of the church. The flower communion was brought to the United States in 1940 and introduced to the members of our Cambridge, Massachusetts, church by Dr. Capek's wife, Maja V. Capek. The Czech-born Maja had met Norbert Capek in New York City while he was studying for his Ph.D., and it was at her urging that Norbert left the Baptist ministry and turned to Unitarianism. The Capeks returned to Czechoslovakia in 1921 and established the dynamic liberal church in Prague; Maja Capek was ordained in 1926. It was during her tour of the United States that Maja introduced the flower communion, which had been developed in the Prague church, at the Unitarian church in Cambridge. Unfortunately, Maja was unable to return to Prague due to the outbreak of World War II, and it was not until the war was over that Norbert Capek's death in a Nazi concentration camp was revealed. From this beginning the service has spread to many of our Unitarian Universalist congregations and has been adapted along the way.

People were asked to bring a flower of their choice, either from their own gardens. or from the field or roadside. When they arrived at church a large vase stood waiting in the vestibule, attended by two young members of the Church School. Each person was asked to place their own flower in the vase. This signified that it was by their own free will they joined with the others. The vase that contained all the flowers was a symbol of the united church fellowship. The young attendants helped with the arrangement of the bouquet. Later they carried the vase up to the front of the auditorium and placed it on a able there. Dr. Capek then said a prayer, after which he walked over and consecrated the flowers while the congregation stood. The two attendants then took the vase back out into the vestibule. After the service, as people left the church, they went to the vase and each took a flower from the vase other than the one that they had brought. The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet. Our common bouquet would not be the same without the unique addition of each individual flower, and thus it is with our church community, it would not be the same without each and every one of us. Thus this service is a statement of our community. By exchanging flowers, we show our willingness to walk together in our Search for truth, disregarding all that might divide us. Each person takes home a flower brought by someone else - thus symbolizing our shared celebration in community. This communion of sharing is essential to a free people of a free religion."
 
 
New Member Ceremony
Sunday, May 15th, 10 am

A New Member Ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday May 15 during the morning worship service.  If you have been thinking about joining our community we invite you to consider it at this time. 

On Membership
The New Member Ceremony is an opportunity to participate in a ritual of introduction, covenanting with the congregation and signing the Membership Book.  Joining the church is a formal way of showing your support for the principles of Unitarian Universalism and our community.  Signing of the book can also be done privately at any time.   Talk with the minister or Denise Darrigrand to arrange this.

Why Join?
Joining the church is a formal sign of commitment to our community.  With it goes an understanding of both service and financial support, as you are able, to our community.  It means lending your energy and talents to grow our young people, care for our elders, fight for our beliefs and passions, laugh together, cry together, and mark our transitions together.   It buoys and strengthens the community-and that means each and every member-to know that we share a common bond.

Membership also allows you to be a voting member on concerns vital to our church community.  This includes approval of how we spend our money, leadership in this community, and a vote on questions such as moving to two Sunday services.

Path to Membership
While there are no formal tests to becoming a member of this church, there are a few steps you might consider. 
  • Get to know us by attending worship services, fellowship events, classes and other programs.
  • Attend a NewU Program or other event for newcomers to meet other members and friends of the congregation and learn about Unitarian Universalist history and principles, our ministry, programs and the responsibilities and benefits of membership.
  • Set up an appointment with the minister.
  • Sign the Membership Book.
  • Discuss with us the amount of financial support you expect to be able to give the church for the remainder of the current fiscal cycle.
If you are interested in joining, CLICK HERE.  Deadline for sign up is Wednesday, May 11th at Midnight.
 
Thank you!
 

Theological Reflection
Beau Rivers, Ministerial Intern

 
At first glance, this month's Touchstones' theme, Theological Reflection, may not sound as juicy as some of the other themes we have explored this year such as Reverence, Reason, Spirituality, Generosity, Non-Violence, Communion, or Mindfulness. Some may even consider theological reflection a bag of dry bones whose examination and consideration are no longer relevant or remain the purview of clergy.
 
In his book, What's Theology Got to Do With It? Anthony Robinson reminds us "Theological reflection is a way to align what we [hold true] with who we are." If you are still not inclined to engage in theological reflection consider Unitarian Universalist Minister, Richard Gilbert who writes, "If [you] are [a] living, breathing, hurting, laughing, crying, questing human being, it is impossible not to be [a] theologian."
 
In 2005, the UUA's Commission on Appraisal published the results of a four-year study on the topic of theology in our movement. In their report titled, Engaging Our Theological Diversity, they understand theology "to include the full range of religious and philosophical (not just theistic ones) and humans' understanding of the meaning and purpose of life and of Ultimate Reality." And according to Patricia O'Connell Killen and John de Beer, "theological reflection is the discipline of exploring individual and corporate experience in conversation with the wisdom of a religious heritage... Theological reflection [then] is an opportunity to confirm, challenge, clarify, and expand how we understand our own experience and how we understand a religious tradition. The outcome is new truth and meaning."
 
What an invitation we are given for the month of May! New opportunities for theological reflection abound at UUCW. There are a growing number of people who have been attending the cosmology film discussion series, Journey of the Universe that explores who we are in relation to what scientists are calling The Great Story or The Epic of Evolution, humanity's common creation story. We are learning about the "14 billion year science-based sacred story of cosmic genesis, from the formation of the galaxies and the origin of Earth life, to the development of self-reflective consciousness and collective learning, to the emergence of comprehensive compassion and tools to assist humanity in living harmoniously with the larger body of life." It is a story that gives a whole new meaning to our Seventh UU Principle, The Interdependent Web of Which We Are A Part. Join the conversation every Friday evening from 7-9pm through the end of May!
 
Theological reflection is the process of defining who we are and to whom we are accountable. Those who identify as Christian are accountable to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament. Those who are Jewish are accountable to the Ten Commandments issued by Yahweh to Moses as recounted in the Old Testament. Muslims are accountable to the teachings of Allah in the Quran. Buddhists are accountable to the teachings of the Buddha in the Suttras. Hindus are accountable to the teachings in the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahmasutras. And indigenous people are accountable to the Web of Life.
 
As Unitarian Universalists we acknowledge the sacred truths of all religious traditions and we encourage the ongoing process of identifying who we are in relation to our current knowledge of the world and how we live out those values we hold most dear. For UUs revelation or truth is not fixed once and for all. Revelation, like the Universe, is constantly unfolding through experience and adaptation to changes in our environment. As a faith community we encourage one another in the search for truth and meaning because it inevitably leads to spiritual growth and faith in action. This is what it means to reflect theologically.
 
As Unitarian Universalists we covenant to affirm and promote our Seven Principles. The first of which is The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person. One of the many ways our congregation upholds this principle is in its longstanding commitment to make UUCW and its programs accessible to and inclusive of all people.
 
Recently, the UUA instituted an Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry (AIM) that focuses on welcoming, embracing, integrating, and supporting people with disabilities and their families in our congregations. Congregations may now engage the sacred challenge of this work through a certificate program.
 
Under the capable leadership of Dianne Mann, an Accessibility and Inclusion Work Group was developed in 2014 to begin this certification process. There are three phases to the certificate program: Start-Up, Assessment, and Implementation. The start-up and assessment phases were completed by December of 2015 and included extensive inventories related to the accessibility of our facility and the inclusivity of our policies, procedures, and practices.
 
As a result of these inventories we have been able to identify areas for improvement. We have researched the cost and prioritized each improvement according to the needs and resources of the congregation over the next three years. We are currently drafting detailed recommendations for Aaron and the Board to consider as we prepare to enter the third phase of the certification process - Approval and Implementation of a Plan to improve access to our building and the inclusivity of all people in our programs. Look for an article in the newsletter later this month for more details on the next phase of this process.
 
In addition to the AIM certification program the Accessibility and Inclusion work group is planning a worship service on Disability Awareness, Sunday May 29th. We are hoping to incorporate the testimonials of the 3-4 people who might be willing to share their experience of accessibility and inclusion and how it effects the quality of their lives and the lives of loved ones. Participants will have an opportunity to speak for 3 minutes. We would love to have each person reflect on a different disability. 
 
The term "accessibility" refers to the physical ability to access a venue or event with ease and dignity. This may entail accommodations for people with impairments to their ability to walk, hear, or see. "Inclusion" refers to the consideration and hospitality provided to people with limitations that may not be obvious. This may include people who live with chronic pain or fatigue, limited access to transportation, education, language or social skills, as well as dietary, cognitive, developmental, or emotional considerations. 
 
If you would like to participate in this service or would like more information about it, please contact our Ministerial Intern, Beau Rivers at brivers@uucworcester.org or call 508-853-1942 x 105.
 
In his book Cosmopolitan Theology: Reconstituting Planetary Hospitality, Neighbor-Love, and Solidarity in an Uneven World (2013), Namsoon Kang describes how "theological discourses function in various ways as site of contestation and resistance, of forming new religious and personal identities, and of building solidarities."
 
May "our theology be demonstrated, not only by our words but, more importantly, by our actions." (Freeman-Smith)
 
Spring Blessings,
Beau


Community News

Due to a technical problem, this article was not published in the May 3 Message.

SARAH HAIDER TO SPEAK AT GREATER WORCESTER HUMANISTS - Linda Miller, Co-Chair, Greater Worcester Humanists Steering Committee
 
Sarah Haider, Director of Development for Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), will address Greater Worcester Humanists at the monthly meeting, May 10, at 7:00 P.M. in Fellowship Hall at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden Street.
 
Ex Muslims of North America advocates for acceptance of religious dissent, promotes secular values, and aims to reduce discrimination faced by those who leave Islam.  Sarah is concerned to find a middle way between anti Muslim bigotry on the one hand and granting Islamic religious ideology and social attitudes a complete exemption from criticism on the other hand.
 
About her talk, "Intellectual Honesty, Dissent, and the Challenge of Islam," Sarah says:
 
"In an increasingly heated political climate, the conversation around Islam often obscures rather than clarifies.  The hostility against Muslims is ignored by right-wing sources and used as a cudgel to shut-down all criticisms of the faith by others."
 
"Similarly, the issues within Islam, the scripture itself and Muslim religiosity and social attitudes, are emphasized or ignored depending upon on one's politics rather than a quest for honesty. The challenge that Islam poses is much broader than national security - but one which concerns the lives of a billion and a half individuals who reside under theocratic regimes harkening to the Middle Ages.  How can we revitalize this conversation?"

Sarah is an American writer, speaker, and activist. Born in Pakistan and raised in Texas, Sarah spent her early youth as a practicing Muslim. In her late-teens, she began to read the Quran critically and left religion soon after.
In 2013, she co-founded Ex-Muslims of North America, where she advocates for the acceptance of religious dissent and works to create local support communities for those who have left Islam.

In addition to atheism, Sarah is particularly passionate about civil liberties and women's rights. You can reach Sarah at sarah@exmna.org, @SarahTheHaider and read more about EXMNA at www.exmna.org.
Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

Fax:

508-853-2065

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

 

 

UUCW Facebook

UUCW Twitter