The UUCW Message
January 10, 2017
In This Issue
Fundraising News
 




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.
Fundraising News
BrotherSun
 

Purchase Tickets Now! CLICK HERE.
Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the concert! 
 
We'll selling baked goods and tea at the concert (proceeds to support UUCW).  If you can contribute some sweet or savory baked goods and/or contribute a box of tea, contact Maya Desai at divolls@verizon.net.

Reminders about Fundraising! Fundraising 

Amazon Smile Shopping Reminder
Just a reminder - 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
FForwardJoin us for a Faith Forward "Inquirer's Series"
Jan 22 - Mar 12, 11:45 am in the Lounge
 
We are excited to offer a new series for those interested in learning more about our congregation and the Unitarian Universalist movement.  This series, produced by the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, will give participants an opportunity to explore many facets of our church and traditions with presentations by congregational leadership, staff and ministers.  Though registration isn't required, it is helpful for our planning purposes.  If you are interested in attending any of the sessions below, please
CLICK HERE.  Subsequent sessions do not require previous attendance.

Jan 22 - Q & A with our Ministers
Jan 29 - Unitarian Universalist History, Principles & Sources
Feb 5   - Church Tour & Orientation
Feb 12 - Worship & Liturgical Year
Feb 19 - Faith Development for Children & Adults
Feb 26 - Social Action & Community Service
Mar 5   - Pastoral Care & Small Groups
Mar 12 - Membership 101 & Congregational Life

For more information please contact Denise Darrigrand or Rev. Aaron Payson.

 
Cool Beans Coffee House Returns!
Friday, February 10, 7 - 9:30 pm  CoolBeans
 
Looking for a warm spot to get in from the cold? Do you like a nice cup of java or tea while listening to a poem or a piece of music? How about an evening with friends of the UUCW to help support the Interfaith Hospitality Network? We have the evening for you:
  • Calling all talented performers: Dianne Mann will be serving as our "talent scout" once again. If you need an accompanist, our Director of Music, Matt Johnsen will be glad to accompany you. Generally we ask people to prepare a five minute spot. You may note that some of our particular favorites are asked to perform a little more. If you are interested in performing, contact Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net as soon as possible. She'll be recruiting acts in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour soon. Last year's group of talented performers included poets and magicians, guitarists and pianists, fiddlers and frolicks!  America's Got Talent has nothing on us. You be the judge!
  • Tickets: You can get tickets for the low price of $7.00 each with a family max of $20.00 if you purchase prior to Feb.6th. Tickets at the door will be $10.00 each with a family max of $30.00. Coffee and tea are free and the youth group baristas will have those available along with goodies for sale.
  • ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE COFFEE HOUSE GO TO BENEFIT THE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK. This is the family shelter the Church supports both financially and, perhaps more importantly, with volunteers who help staff the shelter several weeks during the year during evening and nights. We are currently looking for volunteers for the week of Jan. 22nd to Jan. 28th.
Robin, Sue and Dianne are looking forward to a great evening. We hope you can make it. Please contact Robin Mitzcavitz with any additional questions.    
 Save The Date! Women's Weekend is Coming!  WomensWeekend
 
The 2017 Women's Runaway Weekend at Rockport's Linden Tree Inn has been booked:
 
April 28, 29, & 30
 
Watch UUCW's Message for sign up information, in the coming weeks.  

Current News at UUCW
Looking for others attending the Women's March in DC WomensMarch
 
Anyone else planning to be in Washington for the Women's March January 21st? Call me. June Davenport (978-464-2657).
    
News from the Interfaith Hospitality Network  IHN
 
The UUCW's next hosting week is January 22 - 28, 2017.   We are asking for support in the way of dinner and overnight hosts.  UUCW has also committed to providing $300 for the week's groceries.  
 
We ask hosts to arrive at 91 June Street by 5:45 to sit down to dinner made by the families.  This is a time to converse, play with the children, and just be available for support.  We ask the overnight hosts to arrive at 8:00 to take over for the dinner hosts.  Overnight hosts converse with the family, play with the children, and just be available for support and are provided a cot in a private room to sleep on.  If you haven't had the opportunity to volunteer in this capacity, I encourage you to.  Look for the sign up chart in Fellowship Hall.  In addition, you may also make a grocery contribution with cash, check or Simple Give. 
 
We have also received word that the two previous weeks are not supported by any congregation and are looking for help.
 
Thank you for your support!
    
Winter Heating Protocol  HeatArticle
 
As we move toward the coldest part of the Winter, please note that the church heating system is governed by scheduled space usage.  The church is heated in zones, which are preset each week depending on the usage schedule.  When a zone is scheduled to be unoccupied the temperature will be a maximum of 55 degrees, when heated it is set to 68 degrees.  Please make certain to submit requests for building usage at least a week in advance and check the main schedule in the front hallway near Fellowship Hall to determine which space has been scheduled.  If you have any problems with the heating system, please call 508-853-1942 x 108 immediately.
    
Touchstone Monthly Theme
January Theme - Courage
January 10 - 16TchstnQuotes


  
January 10: "One person with courage makes a majority." ~ Andrew Jackson
 
January 11: "The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." ~ Charles Dubois
 
January 12: "One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." ~ Maya Angelou
 
January 13: "The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage." ~ Carrie Jones
 
January 14: "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
 
January 15: "Courage can't see around corners, but goes around them anyway." ~ Mignon McLaughlin
 
January 16: "Courage is grace under pressure." ~ Ernest Hemingway
     
Photos of the Week WeeklyPhoto
Linda Morse answers the question "What are the causes of human happiness and human suffering?" during the service on Sunday, January 8, 2017. This was the annual service where the Reflection consisted of the Rev. Aaron Payson answering questions written on index cards by the people present. Payson called it "preaching without a net." In turn, Payson gave five questions to people in attendance which they each had to answer. Morse is shown answering one of the questions.

 UUCW's Fall/Winter Soup tradition continues!  Morgaine Payson and her mother Kristen sell homemmade soup - Turkey Chili or Potato Leek - during Fellowship Hour on Sunday, January 8, 2017.  This is a fundraiser for the church.
 
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for January 15, 2017 RENews 

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

Get Ready - January 29th is our special One Church- One Read Coffee Hour and Book Discussion - lead by Betty Jenewin in the lounge - directly following the service. This is a book discussion encouraged for ALL AGES! So come in, grab a snack and settle in to just listen or share your feelings about the graphic novel, "El Deafo".

If you haven't read it yet---there is still time! It's a quick and fun read! 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.

Our popular multigenerational service will be held on Feb 5th- highlighting thoughts and readings and themes from this lovely book. We would love for YOU to take part in it!

Here's to happy reading and realizing your own SUPERPOWERS!

 
Robin Mitzcavitch, Betty Jenewin and the REC
 
Sunday News 
Weekly Worship WeeklyWrsp

Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 10 am Worship Service

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
January 15  Connections Class  Robin Mitzcavitch 
January 22 COA Class Robin Mitzcavitch 
January 29 Wonderful Welcome Class Robin Mitzcavitch 

 
   SermonArchive
 
Ongoing Meetings Ongoing

Hooks and Needles Group - 2nd & 4th Monday, noon - 2 pm, Meeting Room 3 

This group will be meeting on the second and fourth Monday of each month from noon - 2 pm in Meeting Room 3.  Bring your projects - knitting, crochet, cross stitch, quilting, to work on. Want to learn a needlecraft?  We will be happy to teach you. Next meeting on January 9. Please join us!

 

The Evening Book Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, in the Lounge. The Evening Book Group meets next on January 11th at 7 p.m.  Books are chosen by the group and vary monthly between fiction and non-fiction.  We welcome new members to try us out....our books often spark interesting conversations around UU principles. This month's book is Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates...continue reading

 

The Next Men's Group Meeting will not be on 01/13/17 but will be Held on 01/20/17 instead (so that our meeting will not conflict with the Brother Sun Concert) 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, 01/20/17 at 7 pm. All who consider ...continue reading


Join us Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at Noon for Lunch with the Minister!  Bring a bag lunch and something to share if you desire. We'll have coffee and a place set for you in the lounge. All are welcome to enjoy conversation with Aaron and friends.  We often bring up a topic of interest.  The Reader's Unite Afternoon book group meets following lunch.



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 CommNews

Greater Worcester Humanists - Linda Miller, Co-chair Steering Committee Greater Worcester Humanists
The next meeting of Greater Worcester Humanists will be on Tuesday evening, January 10th, in Fellowship Hall of the church.  Social Time 6:30 and speaker 7:00.  All are welcome.
 
Talk title: "Finding Our Common Humanity: Building Bridges Between Atheists and Theists"
 
Description: Is the chasm of understanding between atheists and theists growing wider? Can atheists and theists identify shared values and build partnerships for the common good, or are our disagreements too vast? Former evangelical Christian and current Humanist community builder Chris Stedman will share his story, discuss what atheists and theists can gain from being in dialogue, and reflect on how we can come to better understand one another and work together to improve the world we all share.
 
Bio: Chris Stedman is a fellow at Yale University and Executive Director of the Yale Humanist Community. Previously a Humanist chaplain at Harvard University, he is the author of Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious. A Contributing Editor at Religion News Service (RNS) and Advisor to Religion Dispatches, Chris previously served as the co-founder and Emeritus Managing Director of State of Formation at the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue, as the atheist columnist for RNS, and as a Content Developer and Adjunct Trainer for Interfaith Youth Core. Details magazine named Chris one of "five next-gen gurus who are disrupting religion's status quo" and Mic called him "the millennial who's busting every stereotype about atheists." He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, and has written for publications including Salon, CNN, MSNBC, The Advocate, USA Today, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Post.

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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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