The UUCW Message
June 28, 2016
In This Issue

Summer News

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.

Summer News
Summer 2016 Worship ScheduleWeeklyWorship
 


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 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.


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.





asst-flowers.jpg Summer Office InformationOfficeNews

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: 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!
illustrated-sun-boats.jpg

Jennifer Landry, Office Administrator 
 
Upcoming Events at UUCW
Sunday, July 10, noon - 3 pm - Open House and Potluck luncheon to Welcome our African Refugee FamilyRefugeeOpenHouse
 
 
 
In the previous Message June Davenport introduced our African Refugee Family. There is the Mother- Asende and her 5 children ages 15, 11,10,6, and 16 months. They are all working very hard to learn English and adjust to our American culture. On July 10th we are going to have an Open House / Potluck picnic so that we can begin the real process of getting to know our Family. There will be games for the kids and a wonderful Swahili gentleman by the name of Zadock will translate our conversations and questions. We hope that you can come and help welcome our family into the fold.

Because our family came with only the clothes on their backs they need our support. We hope to set up a Simple Give option that will provide an easy way to give. There is an ongoing need for diapers sizes 4 and 6

This Ministry belongs to all of us at UUCW.

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 


Current News at UUCW
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
July Theme - Journey
June 28 - July 26 TchstnQuotes
 

June 28: "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." ~ Frederick Douglass
 
June 29: "This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy." ~ Susan Polis Schutz
 
June 30: "We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness, and affection." ~ Brené Brown

July 1: "And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?" ~ Rumi
 
July 2: "The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday." ~ Steve Maraboli
 
July 3: "Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you're worthy of the trip." ~ Glenn Beck
 
July 4: "In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself within a dark wood where the direct way was lost." ~ Dante
 
July 5: "Your outer journey may contain a million steps; your inner journey only has one: the step you are taking right now." ~ Eckhart Tolle
 
July 6: "Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey." ~ John O'Donohue
 
July 7: "We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." ~ Marcel Proust
 
July 8: "My favorite journey is looking out the window." ~ Edward Gorey
 
July 9: "...there ain't no journey what don't change you some." ~ David Mitchell
 
July 10: "May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through mortality... First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love." ~ Thomas Monson
 
July 11: "The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours-it is an amazing journey-and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins." ~ Bob Moawad
 
July 12: "We're not on our journey to save the world but to save ourselves. But in doing that you save the world. The influence of a vital person vitalizes." ~ Joseph Campbell
 
July 13: "It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings."  Wendell Berry
 
July 14: "The journey itself is my home." ~ Matsuo Bashō
 
July 15: "All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware." ~ Martin Buber
 
July 16: "A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." ~ John Steinbeck
 
July 17: "Losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But, losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel." ~ H.G. Wells
 
July 18: "There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
July 19: "And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home." ~ Wendell Berry
 
July 20: "Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost."  Erol Ozan
 
July 21: "A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." ~ John Steinbeck
 
July 22: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow what a ride!'" ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley
 
July 23: "The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can't be organized or regulated. It isn't true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to your own truth." ~ Ram Dass
 
July 24: "My invitation, my challenge to you here, is to journey into a deeper intimacy with the world and your life without any promise of safety or guarantee of reward beyond the intrinsic value of full participation." ~ Oriah Mountain Dreamer
 
July 25: "The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely." ~ Alexandra Elle
 
July 26: "My dad used to say that life's a journey, but somebody screwed up and lost the map." ~ Rachel Caine

Ongoing Meetings OngoingMtgs
Readers Unite Afternoon Book Club - September Selection Please join us after Lunch With The Minister on on the second Wednesday in September. Our next book selection is The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan with discussion on Sept 14.


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!


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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