The UUCW Message
June 14, 2016
In This Issue

Upcoming Events

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

2016 Summer hours (July 1 - Sept 5 - Closed August 2 & August 15): 
Tuesday, 9 am - 1 pm
 
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.
Upcoming Events at UUCW
Inter-Religious Pray Vigil - Wednesday, June 15, 7 pm in front of City HallVigil
 

People of Good Will, of All Religions and No Religion,
There will be an
Inter-Religious Prayer Vigil
Wednesday 6/15 at 7 pm
in front of Worcester City Hall
 
We will simply grieve, support each other, pray for the dead and the suffering, and pray for peace.
 
This will be an open, multi-religious space, and prayers will be prayed from various traditions, not on behalf of all present, but side-by-side as members of different traditions. Those gathered can join as they are willing and able.
 
MEMBERS OF THE GLBTQI+ COMMUNITY ARE WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS.
 
TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS: no matter what your theology, polity, or politics may be concerning same-sex relationships, this will be an AFFIRMING SPACE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT. Any "prayers" blaming the victims or the GLBTQ+ community WILL NOT have any place at this vigil.
 
We hope our Muslim friends will attend. (It is Ramadan, so it may be difficult). This will also be a space of solidarity and love for them, honoring their ongoing support of peace and service through our whole community. Prayers against Islam WILL NOT have any place at this vigil.
 
Please join us in unity, love, and support in this terrible time.
 
-          Worcester Area Communities of Faith



Rev. Aaron Payson
Please Click Here to download this flyer

tent-camping-view.jpg
UUCW Summer Camping Events - 
August 26/27 & 27/28 CampWeekend 
 
Separate FATHER/DAUGHTER AND FATHER/SON CAMPING EVENTS are scheduled for August 26/27 (daughters/girls) and August 27/28 (sons/boys).  Activities include cooking on a campfire with games and story-telling.  The event is open to those identifying as men, and any young people that they know well and would like to bring.  All ages are welcome, but children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult.  The event will be held at Trout Brook Reservation in Holden.  Do not let a lack of camping experience or equipment stop you, as many involved have extra experience _and_ equipment!  The cost for the site for each night ($100 total) will be split among the participating men.  Please let us know if you plan to attend so that we can properly plan:
 
For Father/Daughter camping night:  Craig Van Batenburg, 508 400 4657 or Craig@fixhybrid.com
For Father/Son camping night:  Dave Schowalter, 508-688-7008, schowalter_david@hotmail.com 


Ferry Beach Registration Time is Running Out!!

There are only a FEW DAYS left to register for Ferry Beach 2016.  September 16-18!!
There are two registration options:
 
1)      Option 1 is to register online by following this link: http://goo.gl/forms/u3UGIJ4Rh3.  Within about 24 hours of finishing this registration link, you'll get an emailed instructions for payment, including an online credit card option.  Note that the email will come from maya.c.desai@gmail.com.  Keep an eye out for it.
2)      Option 2 is to register as you have done in the past.  Email us and we'll send you a registration form or get one from us at church this coming Sunday.  Then you can either mail or hand deliver your completed paper work and check (made out to "UUCW") to one of us at church on Sunday June 19th.
 
You can ask Maya Desai or Sean Divoll (divolls@verizon.net) if any questions.
 
Thanks & looking forward to seeing your registrations.

Maya Desai & Sean Divoll 
 
Current News at UUCW
The Yard Sale Was 
A Smashing Success!
 YardSale 
The yard sale was a huge success again!  Despite the unexpected rain we managed in about 5 hours to bring in almost $6300 and money is still coming in.  It is an extraordinary amount of work by so many unselfish people - Debbie Merrill, Carole Carmichael, Barbara Wahlstrom, Michele Hernandez, Peter Ringo, Sandra Ansaldi, Ana Gregory, Dianne and Kim Mann, Peg Gifford, Chuck Innis, Aaron Payson, Susan Crossley, Marilyn Martin, Christine Lynch, Janet Stone, Ruth Silver, Bruce Plummer, Mara Pentlarge, Betty Jenewin, Lynn Ritchie, Joan McGinn, Mary Miner, Kim Napoleone, Sharon Templeman, Jane Ohmann, June Davenport, Mary Fitton - and please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone.  It is an amazing team - we work hard but we have so much fun and there is so much wonderful camaraderie that makes it all worth it!!!
 
Barbara Wahlstrom prices items in the Linens Department before the start of the Yard Sale.

Thanks to everyone who donated their goodies for us to sell - there were lovely things this year which led to the great total.  One reminder - if you brought in furniture and it didn't sell, please come by and pick it up.   Again, your generosity was extraordinary.
 
A major shout out to, once again, my hero - Steve McNally who straightens up my boxes, puts up the sign, empties trashcan upon trashcan, and keeps things running smoothly.  There are so many stories I could tell but here is one - late Saturday afternoon when we had determined the total - at that point $6251 Steve said to me - "so how much did we make - $6242???"  I was floored beyond belief - there was no way he could come that close but he did!!!  That is only part of the magic of Steve - always behind the scenes making things go well and never ever asking for any recognition.
 
For those who don't know we will be distributing the things that were left over to three places - first, we will make the items available to our food pantry clients this weekend, we will share some of them with IHN and we will be giving others to Abby's House.  Your generosity will continue!  So, start saving your things for next year and thanks to all who made this wonderful event happen!!!

Summer Services Ministry Team FormingSummerSvc

Our series of Summer Sunday Services will begin on June 26 and run through September 4.  Services are at 10 am. This series of 11 services is typically lay-led and often followed by a roaming fellowship hour/lunch at a local restaurant.  Our Summer Services Ministry Team is still seeking Sunday Assistants who would work with the presenter of the week to set up the lounge space and to help present parts of the service as desired by the presenter, and Service Coordinators who would be responsible for opening and closing the building, taking attendance, submitting pew sheets and securing the offering for the day.  If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities, please CLICK HERE.

Rev. Aaron Payson 
 
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.

Touchstone Monthly Theme
June Theme - Power
June 14 -20 TchstnQuotes
 

June 14: "The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness, and human responsibility." ~ Václav Havel
 
June 15: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." ~ Leo Buscaglia
 
June 16: "But remember ...that a kind act can sometimes be as powerful as a sword." ~ Rick Riordan
 
June 17: "Recognizing power in another does not diminish your own." ~ Joss Whedon
 
June 18: "If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world." ~ Emmet Fox
 
June 19: "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power." ~ Washington Irving
 
June 20: "Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on." ~ Eckhart Tolle 


Religious Education News
RE News For June 19, 2016 - 
Goodbye for the Summer!
RENews 

Dear Families,
 
I will miss all your smiling faces this summer! 
Before I take a little rest, I will go to General Assembly 2016 in Columbus , Ohio to do some professional development and serve as a delegate for our church next week.
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in the RE Sunday Service!  I loved hearing from our families, seeing our children thank teachers-  and I am always teary when I have to say "goodbye-for -now" .
 
You will see emails from me this week concerning our teaching schedule for next year-  I only can rest when I know everything is all set for our children to begin again in September!  SMILE!
 
So please register if you haven't and please take a look at the teaching schedule when sent  and confirm that you are ok on the dates that I plug you into our teaching cooperative.
 
 I always feel so fortunate to be able to work with wonderful families like you- who are so great about stepping up to make the Sunday EXPLORATION happen for our kids-  and as you know- it doesn't stop with just our kids- it flows out into our community and world-: the love , kindness, acceptance and cooperation flows outward from here.
 
Xoxox  Robin

Congrats to Our Grads:  Miya Cohen, Mariah Friesz, ReAnnen Hogan, Owen Wolcott, Morgaine Payson, Ben Wolcott, Parker Houghton



Thank You to our devoted UUCW Lead Teachers and Advisors!

  
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Education
Sunday News
 

HosT Coffee Hour NewsHosT
     
The Hospitality Team (HosT) thanks all of the members of the congregation who have provided food, labor and cash donations that have made our coffee hours so incredible.

At coffee hour we extend the hospitality we proclaim! Many people judge a congregation by its coffee hour hospitality - especially newcomers .  Please make it a point to speak to someone you don't know!

 
DateGroup on deck for hostingHospitality Team Contact
June 19Members & Friends of UUCWJudy Savage
WeeklyPhoto
Photos Of The Week
Ministerial Intern Beau Rivers, center, wears the white robe and stole which were gifts presented to her as she was honored during the service on June 12, 2016.  Rivers has completed a two-year internship at UUCW.
Religious Exploration Director Robin Mitzcavitch applauds graduates of the RE program, from left, Miya Cohen, Maria Frieze, Parker Houghton, Morgaine Payson, ReAnnen Hogan, Ben Wolcott and Owen Wolcott during a ceremony honoring them at the June 12, 2016 service.

Ongoing Meetings OngoingMtgs
Please join us after Lunch With The Minister on on the first Wednesdays in June, and September. Our next book selections are: Sing Them Homeby Stephanie Kallos with discussion on June 1. The Rise of Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt, with discussion on Sept 7.

Join the evening book group on June 15th (the 3rd Wednesday of the month for June only) at 7:00 in the Lounge to discuss Margaret Atwood's class dystopian tale of a future U.S. where women are not allowed to read (along with a multitude of other restrictions) and their sole purpose is to be a vessel of procreation. This is one of those life-changing books.  At a minimum, it will ...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.
 
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 CommNews 

Greater Worcester Humanists - June 14th Meeting - Linda Miller, Co-Chair, GWH Steering Committee
 
Greater Worcester Humanists will meet on Tuesday evening, June 14th, in Fellowship Hall at 7:00. We invite members and friends to come and brainstorm ideas for speakers and programs for the fall, winter, and spring.

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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