The UUCW Message
April 11, 2017
In This Issue




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.
Upcoming Events at UUCW
Save the Date!
UUCW Spring Fundraising Dinner
Saturday Evening, June 3  SpringDinner
 
Join our own Robbie Johnson Erikson, graduating senior of Johnson & Wales  for a fantastic Spring Dinner!  An evening of fantastic food, entertainment and great company!  More details to come!
Yard Sale is Coming!
- June 10, 2017  YardSale
 
The Yard Sale - one of our biggest fundraisers - is coming up!  This year it will be held on June 10.  Many hands are needed to pull this off.  First, we need you to start squirreling away your goodies to be sold.  As always, we just ask that things be clean and in working condition.  It's a great opportunity to do some spring housecleaning.  Second, I need people to help - setting up on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and then working at the sale on Saturday.  If you are willing to run one of the areas please let me know soon.  Thanks! 
Save the Dates! Ferry Beach 2017!  FerryBeach
 
Many of us begin the church year with a weekend of retreat, reunion, and reflection at Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine (http://www.ferrybeach.org).  The weekend is affordable and open to everyone. We join together with friends from First Unitarian Church for beach walks, volleyball, time to rest, a talent show, and even a campfire!
 
Mark your calendars now for September 15th-17th, 2017.  Online registration will begin mid-May.  There will also be a registration forms available.  Last year we had a waiting list, so be sure to register and pay early to guarantee your spot!
 
Prices include dorm style accommodations, food and activities. Camping is also available! We hope you'll join us this year!
 
Maya Desai & Sean Divolls, Ferry Beach Coordinators
Annual UUCW Craft Fair - December 2, 2017 -
Now Booking!  CraftFair
 
CRAFTS! CRAFTERS!   NOW BOOKING FOR OUR AWESOME FAIR on December 2, 2017 . Last year we filled up fast!! Right now we are just booking crafters! Click HERE to go to the registration form! 
Current News at UUCW
New Members  NewMembers
 
A few weeks ago we had the good fortune of welcoming a number of new members to our family.  Here are short bios on some of them as a way to help you get to know them a bit better.

New Member Bios:

Steve Ober
I grew up on a farm in Arkansas and went to college in Texas.  I did a Masters at Harvard Divinity School and a doctorate at Boston University in Organizational studies. I am married; my wife is a retired psychiatric nurse.  We have three grown "kids" and four grandchildren, two boys and two girls.  Family is incredibly important to us.

I am an executive coach and consultant focusing in leadership development and organizational learning and change.  I have coached executive teams, individual executives, and organizational change projects in many kinds of organizations including high tech, health care, education, and non profit.  I am now "semi-retired."

I joined UUCW because I want to participate in the community.  I visited and felt welcomed and at home right away, and I have continued to feel more and more at home each time I go.  My interests include participating in the worship service, social justice, men's group, social activities, and learning about other aspects of the community.  I love being a member of the church!

Ilona Forgeng 
This is about my 20th move; last one I hope. They have included San Francisco, Geneva, Switzerland, Belgium and three years living and cruising on a 40-foot trawler (12,000 miles @ 8 mph).

I am an artist (pen & ink and watercolor), have been a personal chef, school librarian, teacher and specialist in cryogenic and thermodynamic literature.
I discovered the Unitarians at the age of 10, when I visited First Unitarian of Niagara Falls and was treated like a real person. Never strayed after that. I look forward to working with some neat people I have met here at UUCW, and I hope I can make a real difference. In New Bern, my last home, I was worship chair for a lay-led fellowship for about five years, so definitely committed. I enjoyed giving many presentations at the UU Fellowship of New Bern and hope I can share some of them here. 

Linda Morse
My two greatest passions have always been the welfare of children and feeding the hungry. I volunteer in the second grade at a local school, and the food co-op I belong to in Oakham donates to the local food bank.
I love being a part of UUCW's  food pantry and IHN. My good friend Susan Crossley just recruited me for Parish Services.

I am Mom to three children, all in their fifth decade. I am Grandma or Grammie to five wonderful grandsons and one amazing granddaughter. I am Gigi to two great-grandsons. I live in a four-generation household, and life is lively, challenging, and wonderful.

I am so grateful for the warmth I have received from everyone in the church. My only regret is that it took me so long to take myself to your door.

David Fields
I have been a UU for decades, helped found a congregation, and have been on multiple UU Boards.  I am married and have 6 grandchildren.  My cultural roots are from Virginia/West Virginia.  My entire professional life has been as a Geriatrician--a physician taking care of the oldest in our population.  I enjoy facilitating church services which involve getting the general membership in a discussion over a topic.
From the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry  LFFP
 
I think the most disturbing thing I learned last week is that food for low-income folks is considered "discretionary spending" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Discretionary?  Really? Approximately half of the food we distribute at our Pantry is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the MEFAP "discretionary" budget line item.  These MEFAP foods are vitally needed by more than 500,000 people throughout our State.  It provides needed protein, fruits, vegetables, pasta, cereal and dairy products to mention a few.  And, our folks depend on it.
 
Liz Sheehan Castro of the Worcester County Food Bank and Martha Assefa of the Worcester Food Policy Council, invited Denise Darrigrand, one of our clients and me to testify at the State House on Wednesday regarding the budget request for this year.  The total line item is currently $17.5 million for the entire State.  Given the current federal climate, the Food Banks organized to request $20 million for the upcoming State budget.  We went to, hopefully, effect a positive change for low-income people who are hungry throughout the State.  Our client, Joyce, did an excellent job bringing lofty budget numbers down to a personal level for Senators and Legislative Aides who attended the hearing.  She was wonderful!!!

I was pleased to provide testimony, as well, on how this program personally affects other people.  Policy makers call them "food insecure" or "in need of services".  What they really are is hungry.  In fact 1 in 9 people in our State are hungry.  That number is greater in Worcester where 1 in 6 are hungry. 
 
On Monday, April 10th, the State Budget will be proposed.  We'll see if that $20 million holds up.  As the budget moves through the House and Senate expect to hear from me regarding any legislative action you may be inclined to do.

If you ever have any questions about the Pantry, or how you might be able to help, please contact me at djmann@charter.net.
From the Interfaith Hospitality Network  IHN
 
The next opportunity for the UUCW to host at the IHN is May 14 - 20, 2017.   Please help by providing your time, a little energy, and/or maybe a few dollars for groceries.  UUCW has committed to providing dinner and overnight hosts and $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 click HERE for a Simplegive contribution.
 
In addition, beginning Sunday, April 23 and during May, we will be collecting shoes for funds2.org.  Funds2.org recycles & sells gently used shoes and proceeds will benefit IHN.
 
One more thing, on Sunday, May 21, the Central Mass Housing Alliance is sponsoring the 32nd Walk for the Homeless.  Information can be found in fellowship hall.  Please join UUCW and other folks raise funds and awareness for homelessness and join us after the Walk for a cookout and music by the popular Chuck and Mud band.
 
Feel free to contact me with any questions or to sign up and thank you for your support!
Easter Basket Donations Needed  DCFEaster
 
The Worcester East Department of Children and Families Area Office is seeking donations for Easter Baskets for its children in care.
 
Items Needed:
  • Baskets
  • Decorative grass
  • Easter candy
  • Small toys/puzzles/books/coloring books/crayons(new items only)
Donations can be dropped off at Worcester East DCFArea Office. Rev. Aaron Payson and Denise Darrigrand are both involved in this project so items can be dropped off to either one of them.

Please mark items 'for Easter Baskets' 
151 West Boylston Drive
Worcester, MA  01605
Monday - Friday 9am-5pm
Touchstone Monthly Theme 
April Theme - Consolation/Desolation
April 11 - 17TchstnQuotes


  
April 11: "The heart can get really cold if all you've known is winter." ~ Benjamin Alire Sáenz
 
April 12: "Circumstances in life often take us places that we never intended to go. We visit some places of beauty, others of pain and desolation." ~ Kristin Armstrong
 
April 13: "The measure of our courage is the measure of our willingness to embrace disappointment...." ~ David Whyte
 
April 14: "There is nothing so cruel in this world as the desolation of having nothing to hope for." ~ Haruki Murakami
 
April 15: "When desolation surrounded you, blessed be those who looked for you and found you, their kind hands urgent to open a blue window in the gray wall formed around you." ~ John O'Donohue
 
April 16: "To regret fully is to appreciate how high the stakes are in even the average human life." ~ David Whyte
 
April 17: "Nobody can have the consolations of religion or philosophy unless ...[they have] first experienced their desolations." ~ Aldous Huxley
       
Fundraising News
Flower Power Spring Fundraiser FlowerPower 

Gardeners, growers, and flower aficionados!  Members and friends of UUCW, thanks to new member Kathy Cooper, we are launching our first ever - Spring Garden Fundraiser!  Itching to get out into the garden to plant your spring flowers or vegetables and fruits?  Then this is for you!  Know someone in your family who grows great gardens, then share this wonderful resource with them!  Click HERE to order seeds, bulbs and plants for your garden this year and we'll keep 50% of the money earned. Let's raise $5000 toward this year's fundraising goal!  If you have questions about this spring's campaign, please contact Kathy Cooper.
 
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!  
 
Photo of the Week WeeklyPhoto
2017 All Church Photo! 
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for April 16, 2017 RENews  



 
Robin Mitzcavitch , Director of Religious Exploration
 
Sunday News 
Holy Week Services HolyWeek
Thursday, April 13 - Sunday, April 16



Weekly Worship WeeklyWrsp
Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 10 am


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
April 16
Easter Sunday  		Members & Friends
of UUCW  		Moira Rouse  
April 23 Board of Management/
Stewardship Team 		Nancy Hancock 
April 30 Members & Friends of UUCW Moira Rouse 

 
This Sunday is Coffee Hour Potluck Sunday!!

Please bring a healthy, nut free snack to share with your friends in Fellowship Hall.

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!)

Thanks Everyone! 
   SermonArchive
 
Ongoing Meetings Ongoing

Standing On The Side of Love Task Force - Every Sunday, 11:45 am

The SSL Task Force will meet following service on Sunday in the Sanctuary.  Please join us to discuss ongoing efforts to respond to the peace and justice challenges we currently face in our community, country and world.

 

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 April 24. Please join us!

 

The UUCW Men's Group meets on the fourth Friday of the month in Classroom 1 (across from Aaron's Office) from  7pm to 9pm. All who consider themselves male are welcome. The Men's Group is a community of men that help and support each other. The meetings are confidential and are an opportunity for men to share their thoughts and opinions in a respectful conversation. No food will be served, but ...continue reading

 

Join us Wednesday, May 3, 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.  

 

Community News
 
Greater Worcester Humanists - Linda Miller, Co-Chair, GWH Steering Committee
Greater Worcester Humanists will meet Tuesday, April 11th at 7:00 in the Fellowship Hall of the UU Church of Worcester. Social Time at 6:30. Our speaker will be Bo Bennett, author of the book Uncomfortable Ideas. All are welcome.
Bo writes, "Many of our ideas about the world are based more on feelings than facts, sensibilities than science, and rage than reality. We gravitate toward ideas that make us feel comfortable in areas such as religion, politics, philosophy, social justice, love and sex, humanity and morality. We avoid ideas that make us feel uncomfortable. This avoidance is a largely unconscious process that affects our judgment and gets in the way of our ability to reach rational and reasonable conclusions. By understanding how our mind works in this area, we can start embracing uncomfortable ideas and be better informed, be more understanding of others, and make better decisions in all areas of life.
Some uncomfortable ideas entertained in this book:

-Political correctness can be harmful
-Identity politics is a dangerous game
-Morality is functionally democratic
-Victims often do share some of the responsibility
-God is a far more horrifying character than Satan
-There is no such thing as freewill
-Americans are manipulated into being pro-war
-Non-whites can be racist, and women can be sexist
-Some people do choose to be gay
-Sometimes the bad guys win
-Obese people are not perfect the way they are
-It's okay to find inappropriate jokes funny
 
Facts don't care about feelings. Science isn't concerned about sensibilities. And reality couldn't care less about rage. Uncomfortable ideas. Prepare for a bumpy ride."
About Bo
Robert (Bo) Bennett is currently an adjunct professor/researcher at Lasell College. After many years immersed in the business world, Bo returned to school and received his master's degree in general psychology. He continued to the PHD program in social psychology, focusing on social, cognitive, and positive psychology. Bo is the author of many books and has hosted several podcasts, including The Humanist Hour for the American Humanist Association.
Books will be available for purchase

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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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