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!

Please click the logo to go to our donation page!

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.

Summer News

Summer 2016 Worship Schedule

Sunday, June 26 - Sunday September 4

Summer Services at UUCW are a unique opportunity to worship and share in an informal environment. Beginning on June 26 through September 4, folks will gather at 10:00 am (10:30 am on June 26) in our air conditioned lounge for a service conducted by a member or friend of the congregation. While there is no child care or Religious Exploration Program for children during the summer, these services are family friendly and people of all ages are welcome. Please see below for a list of services this summer.

June 26 - (10:30 AM) - Worship from UUA General Assembly, Columbus, Ohio

We'll gather in the lounge and partake of the worship experience with thousands of other UU's at General Assembly this week in Columbus, Ohio.

July 3 - What's on Your Mind? with Joan Webster

On this holiday weekend, we'll gather for a conversation potpourri.

July 10 - The Evolution of the Big Bang into Us with Mike Mallary.

I will discuss how a huge number of aspects of physical law had to be as they are for anything like us to have evolved out of the raw energy of the Big Bang anywhere in this huge universe. So, either a creator had to get it just right with a lot of effort in order to get a universe with spontaneous creativity. Or we have the one universe in a zillion that happens to be just right to produce the incredible creativity that we see around us. Either way, we have won the Jack Pot called Existence. We have a deep obligation be part of this ongoing creative process. We should go with its creative flow and not go around stomping on the flowers.

July 17 - Songs of Hope and Courage (with thanks to Russ Kay for the idea) with Joan McGinn

There are times in all our lives when we look to both friends and music to get us through hard times. In this summer service, we will join friends to look at some of these songs that carry us through the proverbial dark night of the soul. We will explore multiple musical genres - folk, hymns, rock and reggae, and we'll celebrate everyday heroes, including ourselves. Joan will share some of her favorite songs with lyrics, and invites participants to bring their own song and lyrics to share (15 copies for distribution). Come join us for a service that will have us dancing in the aisles and setting our souls to rest with these redemptive songs.

July 24 Sharing the Burdens of War with Mary Monica Miner

My reflection compares the way the burdens of WWII were shared by the whole populace and what has happened since with the Vietnam War and now Iraq and Afghanistan. We would examine what ways might be taken to expand the burdens to the greater society and what our Principles might suggest in how to look at this question.

July 31 - The Music in My Life with Chuck Innis

I have played around with the guitar and autoharp since I was a teen and gotten much personal pleasure from them, with a fair amount of spirituality. My sons had a friend record me professionally several years ago. I have also been playing at open mike nights and at jams at our library with favorable feedback. I would also encourage those who have had similar experience to come with their instruments - we can play together or take turns.

August 7 - Being the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are with Debbie Merrill

What are your goals to be a better you? How do you reach those goals when life gets busy or when your old self goes on autopilot? Please join us for a discussion on how we can get beyond our comfort zones and be our best selves.

August 14 - Jane Hirshfield and the Tao Te Ching with Laura Secor

Jane Hirshfield is the author of six books of poetry, most recently After (HarperCollins, 2006), which was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize, and Given Sugar, Given Salt (2001), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and winner of the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award among many other honors. We'll explore her poetry in light of the eastern traditions that are illumined by her work.

August 21- Lessons from the Road: Travel and Spirituality with Matthew Johnsen

Having returned from a sabbatical that took him to 20 countries this winter/spring, Matt will explore this experience with us and the lessons and insight he gained along the way.

August 28 - Grace with Jim McGrath

What is Grace? Is it a state of being, an act of kindness or forgiving? Is it just a religious phenomenon? Let's talk about it.

September 4 - What's on Your Mind? With Joan Webster

On this holiday weekend, we'll gather for a conversation potpourri.

Rev. Aaron Payson

Summer Office Information

A few housekeeping notes before summer:

Summer office hours, starting July 5, will generally be on Tuesday from 9 am - 1 pm. I will not be here, however, on August 2 & August 16, as I will be doing a bit of traveling this summer (and therefore working from the road), so I suggest calling 508-853-1942 before you come if you will need something from the office, or even scheduling an appointment by email or phone. Phone messages will be checked daily, email more frequently. Regular office hours will resume on September 6.

Message News: There will be one more Message, next week (June 28) - If you have any summer announcements you want to get out there, please get them to me by Monday at 9 am! The mid-Summer Message will go out (if we have anything to share) on July 26. The deadline for articles for it is 9 am that morning!

Have a safe and happy summer everyone!

Jennifer Landry, Office Administrator

Upcoming Events at UUCW


Please Click Here to download this flyer

Open House - Everyone Invited - Please Come! Sunday, July 10, noon - 3 pm

SUNDAY, JULY 10th, NOON TO 3 P.M. the UUCW Refugee Ministry Team is hosting an open house to introduce our refugee family to our church family.

Some of you may remember the visit a couple months ago from Ascentria Care Alliance and the Services for New Americans Program. A team of us have pursued involvement in this ministry with Ascentria and just over three weeks ago we were cleared to be assigned a family. And, what a lovely family they are!

Asende and her five children arrived here in mid-March. Asende is from the Republic of Congo, but has spent about 20 years in a refugee camp in Tanzania. She does not speak English; she and her children speak Swahili. The children attend a school for new Americans and are learning English. A couple members of our ministry team are teaching English to Asende.

The challenges facing Asende and her children are enormous as they try to navigate in our country where even simple things are foreign, and we are working hard to meet their needs. They come to this country with almost nothing and are provided just bare necessities through the Federal and State refugee programs. When we brought them to the church yard sale on Friday night prior to the official sale, they were excited beyond description to select clothing, shoes, warm jackets (they've heard about our winters I think). We have been supplying things like a radio, TV, lamps, lamp table, toys and crafts, food from the food pantry, a stroller, hangars, towels and other linens, and soon to be delivered - 2 bureaus. We have transported them to medical appointments, replaced light bulbs in ceiling fixtures, and gone grocery shopping. If you'd like to contribute something right off the bat at the open house, bring a package of disposable diapers size 4 for the littlest one, Bwisse, who is 16 months old.

We are committed to making Asende and her family feel welcomed and loved and to ensure their success in their new country. Please come and meet them and stay tuned for how you might help with this ministry.

The UUCW Refugee Ministry Team: Susan Crossley, Marilyn Martin, Christine Lynch, Dianne Mann, June Davenport, Beth Posner-Waldron, Denise Darrigrand, Hermes Baez, Ruth Silver, Joan McGinn, Aaron Payson

June Davenport

UUCW Summer Camping Events -

August 26/27 & 27/28

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

Dave Schowalter

Current News at UUCW

Summer Services Ministry Team Forming

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!

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.

Rev. Aaron Payson

Touchstone Monthly Theme

June Theme - Power

June 21 -27

June 21: "When you blame others, you give up your power to change." ~ Robert Anthony

June 22: "Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

June 23: "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." ~ Audre Lorde

June 24: "Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other." ~ Randy Pausch

June 25: "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." ~ Viktor Frankl

June 26: "Power isn't control at all, power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own." ~ Beth Revis

June 27: "The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave to it neither power nor time." ~ Mary Oliver

Rev. Aaron Payson

Ongoing Meetings

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Club - September Selection

Please join us after Lunch With The Minister on on the first Wednesday in September. Our next book selection is The Rise of Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt, with discussion on Sept 7.

Invitation to Join Touchstones Small Group Ministry Groups

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.

Rev. Aaron Payson

Reminder about 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!

Denise Darrigrand

Please Click Here to view the UUCW Google Calendar