The UUCW Message
December 6, 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!
 
 
 

Purchase Tickets Now! CLICK HERE.
Tickets will also be available for purchase on Sunday during Coffee Hour.

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!  
 
Photos of the Week WeeklyPhoto
Nancy Hancock holds up an oversized coffee cup with nformation from the Hospitality Team about hosting Coffee Hour.  The 50/50 collection today, Sunday, December 4, 2016, will be split to cover Coffee Hour expenses.


The choir performs Zulu dance steps while singing Joseph Shabalala's "Thule Klizeo" during the December 4, 2016 service. 

Upcoming Events at UUCW
Game Night - December 9, 6 - 8:30 pm GameNight 


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

 
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for December 11, 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
 
December Theme - Healing
December 6 - 12TchstnQuotes


  
December 6: "As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation-either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
December 7: "And in the end, we were all just humans... drunk on the idea that love, only love, could heal our brokenness." ~ Christopher Poindexter
 
December 8: "The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world." ~ Marianne Williamson
 
December 9: "Everyone keeps telling me that time heals all wounds, but no one can tell me what I'm supposed to do right now. ...I know all about time and wounds healing, but even if I had all the time in the world, I still don't know what to do with all this hurt right now." ~ Nina Guilbeau
 
December 10: "Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure." ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
 
December 11: "The human heart has a way of making itself large again even after it's been broken into a million pieces." ~ Robert James Waller
 
December 12: "Did you want to see me broken?/ Bowed head and lowered eyes?/ Shoulders falling down like teardrops. /Weakened by my soulful cries./ You may shoot me with your words, /You may cut me with your eyes,/ You may kill me with your hatefulness, /But still, like air, I'll rise." ~ Maya Angelou
 
 
Sunday News -
Please Click Here to visit our Sermon Archive! 
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
December 11COARobin Mitzcavitch 
December 18 (10 am) Members & Friends of UUCW To Be Announced 
December 25 No Fellowship Hour  

 
Ongoing Meetings Ongoing
Join us for our seasonal "Lunch with the Minister" December 7 at noon.  Please bring a salad, vegetable, or dessert offering to share instead of a bag lunch.  Meatballs, cold cut platter, and bread will be provided along with beverages.  We especially welcome newcomers and returning friends to this festive occasion.  Our informal discussion is a great way to share thoughts with Aaron and catch up with church friends.

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

 

The Evening Book Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, in the Lounge. Join the evening book group on December 14th at 7:00 in the Lounge. The next book is Snow In August by Pete Hamill.  Set in a working class Brooklyn neighborhood in 1947 this poignant tale revolves around two of the most endearing characters in recent fiction:  an eleven year old Irish Catholic ...continue reading

The Next Men's Group Meeting will not be on 12/9/16 but will be Held on 12/16/16 Instead (so that our meeting will not conflict with Game Night) The Men's Group meets monthly to share a meal and conversation. The group's members strive to build trust and close friendship with one another. Our next gathering will be in the Lounge on Friday, 12/16/16 at 7 pm. All who consider themselves male ...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.
 

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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