The UUCW Nugget
May 10, 2017

Office Hours
(Sept 6, 2016 - 
June 29, 2017):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thur. 9 am - 2 pm
 
 
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.
Coming of Age - The Beginnings and the Endings
Robin Mitzcavitch,
Director of Religious Exploration and Education



May has always been a very emotion-filled month for me. It is a month of beginnings and endings. Spring is here (sort of), my own children's birthdays land at the end of the month, we start planning for summer, for a garden, and this year for me, my first grandchild (May 30??!)   May is also the time when I remember my mother, who passed away 22 years ago on May 31st. In May, I remember those who are still here to mother me alongside the memories of my mother's wisdom that will always stay with me.
 
Every other year, I am honored to run our church's Coming of Age program. This year, we will graduate 14 extraordinary young people on Mother's Day, May 14th. My heart is so happy for this group- because this ending of a year- long journey for them is really major rite of passage and a very new beginning.
 
The process began over a year ago, as we talked about the commitment it took to go through this program with the young folks and their families. I asked them to tell me more about themselves and what type of person they thought they would like to have as a mentor.
 
I then "vetted" the mentors for the young participants and by the end of the church year teens were to "invite" the adult mentor to accompany them through their Coming of Age Year. You have to know, that every adult who was asked in our congregation, said yes. This is a testament to our community. This is how we stand up with our young people - but also, I know it is also a spiritual practice and avenue for personal growth for our adults as well.
 
So the COA participants, both young and adult traveled together all year- getting to know and trust one another , discussing the big questions, the deep things, the personal wonderings of "Who am I, what do I believe, and what do I stand up for in the world?"
 
The young participants were challenged every step of the way.   They broke through their awkwardness, shyness, lack of words, and practiced, practiced, and practiced. They practiced how to care about another's view and show that care so that another may speak up. They, in turn, got to practice speaking up for themselves. They got to practice being tolerant and supportive of someone who was different from them. They practiced conversing with adults about who they were inside and what they cared about in the world. They had many opportunities to face fears and work to overcome them. They did, and with flying colors.
 
The young COA participants volunteered with their mentors throughout the church and in the community. Some had never met a person who was hungry or homeless. This was yet another way they practiced their humanity.
 
Their final weekend is coming up this Friday-.  They will travel with me, Aaron, and their mentors, to the "Initiation Ground". In some cultures, when it came time for a child to come of age, they would be sent away from their parents to be tested- sometimes for years- and then return to enter back into their communities as adults.   We will only be gone overnight, but the testing has been going on for a while now.

At the initiation weekend they will be asked to leave their old child-selves behind and to return transformed.  The weekend is their final challenge, we like to keep it very secret, and it is definitely one of the most awesome and special experiences to witness. Alas, this weekend adds to my emotional May.  I get teary just thinking about it.
 
I am proud of this group, made up of all very different types of young people.  They came together and kept their minds open, and were willing to open up their hearts as well.  Since last year, they have grown by huge leaps, not only in maturity and wisdom but most importantly in compassion and kindness.   I will miss facilitating the COA class; yet look forward to continuing to work with all of these fine people during our future teen programming like OWL and "Rainbow R.A.T.S" and Youth Group.  
 
Congratulations to the COA class and their mentors on your transformative journey.
 
                                    COA Class of 2016/17
 
GRADUATES                                   MENTORS
Althea Bediako                                Melissa McKeon
Ava Bogosian                                   Vickie Cox Lanyon
Lois Divoll                                        Nancy Baffa
KC Johnson Erikson                        Jane Houghton
Cheyanne Martin Gonyea              Claire Breyton,
                                                          Jan Cutman                              
Jack Hastings                                   Bart Hill
Charlie Heffernan                           Joe DelGizzi
Conrad Homan                               David Miller
Alanna Keyo                                    Lee Hill
Rhane Lenanhan                            Beth Posner-Waldron
Samuel Murillo                               Paul Vigneau
Joshua Napoleone                          Fred D'Angelo
Ziehal Stephenson- Sweeney        Bart Hill
David Stone                                    Bruce Leshay
 
With Peace and Happy Travels,
 
Robin  
Help Needed with Jasperson Memorial Service - May 20  JespMem
 
Steve and Ann Jasperson were long time, important members of our community; they left a few years ago to move closer to their children in the Midwest.  Steve passed away some months ago and Ann has chosen to have a memorial service at our church as they were close to many here and in Worcester.  We have been asked to provide the food for the service and we could really use your help. While Parish Services will handle the bulk of the food we are still in need of contributions such as finger foods, desserts, fruit, etc.  Please CLICK HERE to let us know what you will be bringing.  The service is May 20 at 2 pm.  Food can be dropped off any time that morning (please note this is also food pantry so it might be a bit hectic).  Even if you didn't know Ann and Steve this is a wonderful and helpful way to pay tribute to one of our very special families.  Thank you!
 
Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

Fax:

508-853-2065

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

 

 

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