The UUCW Message
November 15, 2016
In This Issue
Holiday News
 
Upcoming Events

Current News at UUCW



Office Notes and Flyers

 


Office Hours
(Sept 6, 2016 - 
June 29, 2017):
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.

Holiday News
HolidayGive
As the Holiday Season approaches, we are mindful that we have a history of offering a variety of ways to give and to gift here at UUCW. In an effort to invite participation in these efforts, without overwhelming each other, we are offering this list to you in hopes that you will participate in any of the ways that feel best to you and assist you in celebrating the holidays in ways that are most meaningful.  This list will grow over the next two weeks so watch for your favorite ways to give and gift!
 
Holiday World Craft Fair Basket Raffle Items
Interested in donating toward items for the Basket Raffle at this year's Craft Fair?  HERE is an easy way to make a donation!
 
2016 Poinsettia Project
 Want to honor someone special this Holiday Season?  Purchase a poinsettia to brighten our Sanctuary and take it home after the Vesper's Service.  Or, you are welcome to make a donation to our Flower Fund and have a special recognition placed in this year's Holiday Programs.  Click HERE to purchase a poinsettia or make a donation.

We will start taking orders at church for Poinsettias next Sunday- Nov 20th following the service. This year there will be 3 options:   1) Buy a Poinsettia to take home for $25.00 or $45.00    2) Buy a Poinsettia to donate to the church  and 3)  Make a donation of $15.00 to the Flower Fund/ Sanctuary Beautification Fund in memory or honor of someone you love. All names to be honored will be included in the Holiday Programs. 
 
To all who participate-  Thank you !!!
                      Susan Crossley and Denise Darrigrand

Annual UUCW Craft Fair - December 3, 9 am - 3 pm CraftFair

We are looking for people to bake cookies for the fair and to work at the outdoor wreath sale and indoor snack bar.
 
We Need Items for Craft Fair Basket Raffle!
 
Beginning this Sunday !  Please help us build up our Dec 3 Craft Fair Basket Raffle baskets by bringing in a new item that can be included in one of our baskets !!  Pet Basket, Spa Basket, Foodie Basket, and Family Fun Night Basket.  This was a fabulous fundraiser for our church last year at the fair- and we are hoping to have success with it again!  With your help we can , but there are only 2 Sundays left to bring in your items!!
 
Please contact Robin if you can help.
 
Reminders about Fundraising! Fundraising 

Book & Clothing Donation Bins
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!

Amazon Smile Holiday Shopping Reminder
Just a reminder as you begin your holiday shopping - if you shop on Amazon there is an opportunity to earn money for the church.  Just go to Amazon Smile and select the church as a place where Amazon will provide a contribution based on what you buy.  We get a percentage of your total purchase.  Even if you are using Amazon Prime it will still kick in but you have to go to Amazon Smile at the outset.  Thanks - every little bit helps!  

Upcoming Events at UUCW
 
Saturday Nov. 19, from 1:30 to 2:30  Unique interactive exercise  program designed to help bring the body, mind and spirit  into harmony. Wear loose comfortable clothing. Free will donation to help pay for the space. Taught by Joe Zawielski.

Parent's Night Out - December 10, 5 - 9 pm ParentsNightOut

 
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for November 20, 2016 RENews

 
One Church, One Book All Church Read 2016/2017OneBook

This year the REC and I are excited to announce that our One Church- One Book , all church read will be the graphic novel "El Deafo" by Cece Bell. 
 
Graphic novel , you say??  Why yes, graphic novel!  Reading a graphic novel is an exciting way for folks of all ages to experience a story.  Please don't dismiss this as too juvenile for you, because we think you will really enjoy the ageless concepts in this beautiful story.
 
The themes in this book speak to children and adults alike .  Experience  Cece's life : a young girl who loses her hearing and grapples with experiences that we have all felt or may feel at one point or another during our own lifetime.  This is an honest book, with straight and informative talk about accessibility issues, friendship, acceptance , advocating for yourself , and how being authentic and practicing humor  can help with all of these life experiences.
 
For the next five weeks , we will free raffle a copy of 'El Deafo" during coffee hour.  On January  29th we will hold a multigenerational discussion with Betty Jenewin during a special "One Church -One Book" Coffee Hour in the lounge.  Our popular  multigenerational service will be held on Feb 5th- highlighting thoughts and readings and themes from this lovely book.  I hope you all reserve your copy at the library and/or try to win a copy  at the church up until Dec 18th.
 
Here's to happy reading  and realizing your own SUPERPOWERS!

Robin Mitzcavitch, Betty Jenewin and the REC
 
Current News at UUCW
Touchstone Monthly Theme
November Theme - Care of the Soul
November 15 - 21TchstnQuotes



November 15: "You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul." ~ Swami Vivekananda
 
November 16: "Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul." ~ Saint Augustine
 
November 17: "It may help us, in those times of trouble, to remember that love is not only about relationship, it is also an affair of the soul." ~ Thomas Moore
 
November 18: "I trust that when people meet, we meet for a transcendent reason, and that the challenges we face in life are always lessons that serve our soul's growth." ~ Marianne Williamson
 
November 19: "Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul." ~ Wayne Dyer
 
November 20: "Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes." ~ Walt Whitman
 
November 21: "Find out who you are and be that person. That's what your soul was put on this Earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth and everything else will come." ~ Ellen DeGeneres

Sunday News
Weekly Worship WeeklyWrsp
 
 

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!   
 
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!

Date
Group on deck for hosting
Hospitality Team Contact
November 20Bibleodeon ClassRobin Mitzcavitch
November 27Members & Friends of UUCWMoira Rouse
December 4
HosT and
Soup with Kristen Payson
Nancy Hancock


Ongoing Meetings Ongoing
The UU daytime book group is called Reader's Unite! Our December 7th selection is: My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout Discussion Dec 7th at 1:15pm. Strout tells the story of a thirtysomething wife and mother who is in the hospital for longer than she expected, recovering from an operation. She's not dying, but her situation is serious enough that her mother- whom she has not seen in many... continue reading

 



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.
 

Community News & Classifieds CommNews 
 
November 15th - David Orenstein Greater Worcester Humanists Speaker and Author:  Godless Grace:  How Nonbelievers Are Making the World Safer, Richer and Kinder - Linda Miller, Co-chair, GWH Steering Committee
Due to the church hall being the site of the November 8th Election, our November meeting will be on November 15th at 7:00 in Fellowship.  Social time 6:30.
 
David Orenstein is author of "Godless Grace: How Nonbelievers Are Making the World Safer, Richer and Kinder" along with Linda Ford Blaikie .  The following description was taken from the Humanist Press website: Dr. David Orenstein is a full professor and department chairperson at CUNY Medgar Evers College.  He is a national and international speaker on issues related to the freethought movement.  A primatologist by early training, his current writings can be found in American Atheist magazine, the Humanist Magazine and other print and online freethought publications.  He also serves as the American Humanist Association's representative to the United Nations through the DPI/NGO program.  An activist in several non-belief organizations, he is a happy and optimistic freethinker who concludes that life is best lived when we are good without god.
 
Mr. Orenstein will bring books to sell. 
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Please click here to download this flyer.
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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