The UUCW Message
December 13, 2016
In This Issue
Holiday News
 


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
Holiday Vespers Tea Sign-up! VespersTea 
 

Our Annual Holiday Vespers Tea will be held on Sunday, December 18th following the 4 PM Vespers Service. 
We need folks to sign up to be part of the Set Up Team, Serving Team and Clean Up Team.  We welcome the assistance of all ages!  Please take a moment to sign up HERE.  Instructions and guidelines for these teams will be communicated prior to December 20th.  Please help us make this year's Vespers Tea the best ever!
 
Holiday Vespers Tea December 18
Plan on enjoying the annual Vespers Tea immediately after the beautiful Vespers service.   We will celebrate the holiday season the way our congregation has done it for years. Come into Fellowship Hall still singing "Silent Night" and join us in fellowship and wonderful food, drink, and conversation.

Please bring either a savory (if your last name starts with A - H) or sweet dish (I - Z) to share. Finger food is best! Drop it off in Fellowship Hall before the service. Write a list of the ingredients on a file card and place it with your dish to provide information for people with allergies.

Please see the announcement above about Vespers Tea Teams! We will be setting up an hour prior to the start of service. Can you come early and set up tables and/or help with plating?   Are you available to help set out food after the service? Who wants to serve tea water, coffee, or festival punch? Lastly, we need all to help clean up so no one has to stay late. Thank you for your time and consideration in helping us make this "The Best Vespers Ever!"
 
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!

Special Collection at Holiday Services 
During the special holiday services December 18 through January 1, members and friends of the congregation are invited to participate in our special offering project in support of the Minister's Discretionary, Emergency Fund.  This fund serves families both within our congregation and the community at large by providing needed resources such as heating oil, gas, clothing, medicine, partial rent, school supplies, etc. for those in need.  During 2016 over $1800.00 was distributed from this fund. Please consider your contribution to this important ministry.  Envelopes will be handed out with Orders of Service and extras will be available in the foyer.  Thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion.
 
 



 
A big thank you to all volunteers, attendees, and raffle basket donors for the successful and fun Craft Fair and World Market fundraiser on December 3rd. Also, much gratitude to several generous Worcester businesses that made donations to our fundraiser. Please visit these venues and show your support for local business: The Bean Counter Bakery, Nu Cafe, Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Marketplace, and Crown Bakery. 


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
Children leave the service on Sunday, December 11, 2016 to attend Religious Exploration classes.  As is tradition, the congregation sings them out with the Sending Song "Go now in peace, Go now in peace, May the Spirit of Love surround you, Everywhere, everywhere, you may go."


Dianne Mann sings Holly Near's "Fired Up!" during the service on Sunday, December 11, 2016.   
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for December 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
December Theme - Healing
December 13 - 19TchstnQuotes


  
December 13: "Time doesn't heal, it's what you DO with the time that does." ~ Worth Kilcrease
 
December 14: "We don't want to survive. We want to be healed." ~ Joyce Meyer
 
December 15: "My heart was broken and my head was just barely inhabitable." ~ Anne Lamott
 
December 16: "Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us." ~ David Richo
 
December 17: "Maybe we just lived between hurting and healing." ~ Benjamin Alire Sáenz
 
December 18: "A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal." ~ Steve Maraboli
 
December 19: "Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak." ~ Wm. Paul Young
 
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 18 (10 am) Members & Friends of UUCW To Be Announced 
December 25 No Fellowship Hour  
January 1 Members & Friends of UUCW To Be Announced 

 
Ongoing Meetings Ongoing

Men's Group Meeting - December 16, 7 - 9 pm, Fellowship Hall

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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