The UUCW Message
May 16, 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
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!
 
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! 

Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!
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! 
tent-camping-view.jpg Annual Trout Brook Camping Events - August 25 - 27, 2017!  TroutBrook
 
Separate FATHER/DAUGHTER AND FATHER/SON CAMPING EVENTS are scheduled for August 25/26 (sons/boys) and August 26/27 (daughters/girls).  Activities include cooking on a campfire with games and story-telling.  The event is open to those identifying as the appropriate gender, and any young people that they know well and would like to bring.  All ages are welcome, but children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult.  The event will be held at Trout Brook Reservation in Holden.  Do not let a lack of camping experience or equipment stop you, as many involved have extra experience _and_ equipment!  The cost for the site for each night ($100 total) will be split among the participating men.  Please let us know if you plan to attend so that we can properly plan:
 
For Father/Daughter camping night:  Craig Van Batenburg, 508-400-4657 or Craig@fixhybrid.com
For Father/Son camping night:  Dave Schowalter, 508-688-7008, schowalter_david@hotmail.com 
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
Current News at UUCW
 Sacred Crossroads Webinar - Episode 3 - Heroism & Grief -
May 17, 12:30 - 1 pm EDT 
MinBlog
 
This week on Sacred Crossroads, co-hosts Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson and Rev. Aaron Payson welcome Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock as the featured guest talking about the "Heroism & Grief" sharing insights from her work on moral injury.  This conversation is framed in part by this week's Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Blog post by Aaron "Heroes, Villains, and Complicated Figures".  To sign up for this week's webinar, please visit HERE. 
Interfaith Hospitality Network Opportunities  IHN
 
We have a few openings to host guests at IHN during the week of May 14 - 20, 2017.  Please contact me with any questions or to sign up or look for the sign up chart in Fellowship Hall.  You may also make a grocery contribution with cash, check or click HERE for a Simplegive contribution.
 
From now through May, we will be collecting shoes for funds2.org.  Funds2.org recycles & sells gently used shoes and proceeds will benefit IHN.   Look for the gray bin in fellowship hall to place your shoes.
 
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.

Thank you for your support!
Touchstone Monthly Theme
May Theme - Acceptance
May 16 - 22
TchstnQuotes


  
May 16: "I want there to be a place in the world where people can engage in one another's differences in a way that is redemptive, full of hope and possibility." ~ bell hooks
 
May 17: "It was strange how your brain could know what your heart refused to accept." ~ J.K. Rowling
 
May 18: "Thank you for accepting me as I am, with my virtues and defects." ~ Jenni Rivera
 
May 19: "Art teaches something we all need to learn, especially about people who are different from ourselves: 'To see things the way they truly are, sometimes you have to look more deeply.'" ~ Ron Hall
 
May 20: "When we look at things differently, things look different." ~ Toni Sorenson
 
May 21: "All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, it will not change you." ~ Wayne Dyer
 
May 22: "Accepting others' life choices is something most people only learn with age." ~ Neil Strauss
  
        
Fundraising News
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!  
 
Photos of the Week WeeklyPhoto
Mentees and mentors walk in the Entrance Processional at the beginning of the Coming of Age Service on Sunday, May 14, 2017.  


Fred D'Angelo, Vickie Cox Lanyon and Joe Delgizzi sing "Just One Person" during the Coming of Age Service on Sunday, May 14, 2017.  Fred began the song solo, Vickie joined in, then Joe.  The COA mentors then joined en masse, followed by the whole congregation.

From left, Althea Bediako reads her belief statement while Conrad Homan, Alanna Keyo and Rhane Lenahan listen during the Coming of Age Service on Sunday, May 14, 2017.  

Ziehal Stephenson-Sweeney receives a rose from Jenny DelGizzi during the Candle Lighting Ceremony at the Coming of Age Service on Sunday, May 14, 2017.

Mentor Jane Houghton and her mentee KC Johnson-Erikson light a candle during the Candle Lighting Ceremony portion of the Coming of Age Service on Sunday, May 14, 2017. 
Religious Exploration and Education at UUCW
RE News for May 21, 2017 RENews  



  
Robin Mitzcavitch , Director of Religious Exploration
 
Sunday News 
Weekly Worship WeeklyWrsp
Sunday, May 21, 2017 - 10 am


"The Day You Were Saved"
Guest Minister Rev. Sarah Stewart 
The Torah and Jesus of Nazareth agree: the greatest commandment is to love God with everything we've got. Yet we are to have love left over for our neighbors and our enemies, as well. We are claimed by such a fierce and enormous love that our own love is amplified to share with others. Our Universalist theology teaches us that nothing can separate us from the source of that love.
 
The Reverend Sarah Stewart has served as Minister of the First Unitarian Church in Worcester since August 2014. Previously she was the Minister of Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Plymouth, New Hampshire for eleven years. She holds degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Sarah Lawrence College. Sarah lives with her husband Andrew and their two young sons in the Newton Square neighborhood of Worcester. Together, they enjoy board games, cooking, and spending time outdoors. Sarah is an avid knitter, reader and amateur musician. She is delighted to be the guest at UUCW this morning, and to welcome the Rev. Aaron Payson to the pulpit at the First Unitarian Church.

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
May 21 UUCW Men's Group Nancy Hancock 
May 28 Members & Friends of UUCW Moira Rouse 
June 4 Religious Education Committee Robin Mitzcavitch 

   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 May 23. 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. continue reading..

 

Join us Wednesday, June 14, 2017 (PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE) at Noon for our Annual Lunch with the Minister Picnic! All are welcome.  Please bring a salad to share.  Dessert and beverage will be provided. The Reader's Unite Afternoon book group will meet following the Picnic. 

 


Community News
 
MCL's Spring Ahead Fundraising Kickoff Dinner
Please join us for Muslim Community Link's (MCL) first ever Spring Ahead Fundraising Kickoff! You are invited to join us for a night of food, fun, and philanthropy. Children are welcome - there will be activities for them so they're not bored, as well as an adult-supervised children's room!
Come learn about:
  • how you can support Muslim Community Link's work over the next year
  • our impact during our 2016-2017 fiscal year and since we incorporated as a 501c3
  • the history and impact of Muslim Community Link from before it was incorporated.
Last, but not least, you are invited to be a part of the launch of our social media fundraising campaign which will be going live the night of the event! Please CLICK HERE to register for this event!
 
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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