The UUCW Message
September 6, 2016
In This Issue

Upcoming Events

Current News at UUCW


Office Notes and Flyers

 


Office Hours
(Sept 6, 2016 - 
June 29, 2016):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thursday 9 am - 2 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
UUCW @ Worcester Pride - 
September 10, 2016WorcPride

Join members and friends of UUCW as we join the wider Worcester community for a day of celebration and LGBTQI pride.  UUCW will march in the Pride Parade and table at the Pride Festival behind City Hall.  If you are interested in marching with us or would like to join us at our table during the festival, please sign up at our UUCW @ Worcester Pride Doodle Poll, or contact Rev. Aaron Payson (arpayson@charater.net).  We will begin gathering for the parade @ 10:00 am on Humboldt Street (near Institute Park, Worcester -  look for the UUCW Banner!) for the parade which will begin at 11 am.  Tabling will follow the parade during the festival.

Rev. Aaron Payson
 
FallBBQ 
 
 
Looking for a great meal and some fun?  Join us for a finger-licking good, fundraising dinner.  We'll be cookin' up some genuine Southern style ribs, barbeque chicken, veggie burgers, German coleslaw, beans, cornbread and watermelon at this fundraising feast.  There will be tea and lemonade.  BYOB if you want.  Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 per child with a family max of $50.00.  Ticket sales on Sunday,  Sept. 11th and 18th in Fellowship Hall after services or by emailing the Church office to reserve a spot at office@uucworcester.org or by CLICKING HERE.
 
Not only will there be great food, but there will be great entertainment.  The Hip Swayers will be playing from 6:00 - 7:00.
 
We look forward to a great time.  Invite your friends and neighbors.  Just make sure you let us know in advance if you will be here.  We need to order the right amount of food. 
 
If you can help set-up, serve or clean up, contact:  Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net.
 
Any questions contact:  Aaron Payson at arpayson@charter.net or Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net.

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
September Theme - Worth and Dignity
September 1 - 12 TchstnQuotes
 
  

September 1: "Lonely, I desire companions. Naked, I long for defenders. Lost, I want to find... to be found. Will I touch strangers or enemies or nothing? ... I stretch forth my hand knowing not what I shall touch, but hoping" ~ Gordon McKeeman
 
September 2: "Every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it." ~ Rick Bragg
 
September 3: "We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." ~ J.K. Rowling
 
September 4: "One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered." ~ Michael J. Fox
 
September 5: "The primal principle of democracy is the worth and dignity of the individual." ~ Edward Bellamy
 
September 6: "Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you." ~ Frank Barron
 
September 7: "I've known people that the world has thrown everything at to discourage them... to break their spirit. And yet something about them retains a dignity." ~ Horton Foote
 
September 8: "No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
September 9: "Be kind, acknowledging the inherent worth and dignity of every person." ~ David C. Sasser
 
September 10: "The most attractive quality of all is dignity." ~ Sherry Argov
 
September 11: "Believing you are worthy of love means that you believe I deserve to be treated well-with respect and dignity." ~ Suze Orman
 
September 12: "Democracy is not just the right to vote, it is the right to live in dignity." ~ Naomi Klein

Sunday News
Weekly Worship WeeklyWrsp
 
 

This Sunday at UUCW marks the return of Fall and regular services in the Sanctuary with an inter-generational service for all ages.  Members and friends are invited to bring a small vile of water from their summer forays or from home to take part in the Annual Water Ceremony.  Families interested in having their child(ren) dedicated should contact Rev. Aaron Payson (arpayson@charter.net) or Robin Mitzcavich, Director of Religious Education & Exploration (robinmitz2015@gmail.com) by Friday, September 9.  On Saturday, September 10, UUCW will participate in the Worcester Pride Parade and Festival.  For more information please contact arpayson@charter.net.  UUCW is a barrier-free, LGBTQI Welcoming congregation with a variety of technologies to assist the visually and hearing impaired.  Nursery service is available each Sunday during the service.  Religious Exploration Classes for children of all ages begin on Sunday, September 25.  To register your child for RE Classes, visit www.uucworcester.org.


HosT Coffee Hour News HosT

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!!



Please note that the Fellowship Hours for September 11 and 18 will be potluck. On On those dates please bring in prepared fruit or vegetables or a savory or sweet item (no nuts, please) to share. The Hospitality Team will provide the Fair Trade coffee, tea, water, juice and dairy. It would be appreciated if you could also assist with set-up or clean-up.  A member of the Hospitality Team is always present to answer questions or to help in any way.

Ongoing Meetings Ongoing
Join us Wednesday, September 14 at Noon for Lunch with the Minister.  Please bring a salad to share and we will have a June Picnic this month!. We'll have a place set for you in the lounge.  Come join the conversation and camaraderie!  No reservation necessary! Drinks and Dessert will be provided! After this first Lunch, all other in the 2016-2017 church year will fall on the first Wednesday of the ...click to continue

 

Readers Unite Afternoon Book Club - September Selection We will meet at for a book discussion on Wednesday, September 14th at 1:15 p.m. following the Luncheon with the Minister. Our September book is The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan.


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 First Meeting of New Season - Sept 13, 7 pm, Fellowship Hall - Linda Miller, Co-Chair, Greater Worcester Humanists Steering Committee

PATHS to HUMANISM
 
Join Greater Worcester Humanists for our annual "Paths to Humanism" meeting where we will feature four speakers from our community:  Lillian Corti, John Meyer, Judy Savage, and Tim Spindler.  They will be sharing their individual experiences coming to humanism.  Everyone's journey is different and views differ on what it means to be a humanist.  We will encourage attendees to ask questions of the speakers about their experiences.  As always, there will be a lively discussion.
 
At 6:30 dessert and coffee will be provided as a "Welcome Back" to GWH followed by our biennial election of members to the GWH Steering Committee.



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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