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THE UNITARIAN
May 10, 2015
Join Us For Worship This Week
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First Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA
90 Main Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
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Worship at First Unitarian
On Sunday childcare will be available
during worship beginning at 10:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Sunday, May 10, 2015
"Connection, Compassion, Community Service"
As we honor our mothers, we will also honor Mother Earth, and the devastating effects humans have had on our environment, our Native American friends, and on our shores following a destructive hurricane in 2012. The youth of First Unitarian Church, along with their advisors and youth coordinator, will share their experience of traveling to Poospatuck Indian Reservation on Long Island, and how they helped the Unkechaug Tribe members clean up the land and shores following Hurricane Sandy. We will also share a slideshow of pictures from the trip, and have special music performed by the youth and youth leaders.
This is a multigenerational worship service and all are welcome!
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Before and After Worship This Week
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9:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
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Caring Circle Leaders Meeting in Mirick Room 1.
New Members Meeting in the Chapel.
Nursery Care in Classroom 4.
Worship Service in the Sanctuary.
Sunday School following dismissal from worship.
Fellowship Hour in the Bancroft/Dining Rooms. All are invited.
Green Exchange Plant Sale in the garden.
YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
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Garden News - Green Exchange Plant Sale This Sunday
 PLANT EXCHANGE: Then our spring Plant Exchange will be on Sunday May 10 (Mothers' Day) and Sunday May 17th this year. For those new to the church, this is a long-standing tradition: people bring potted plants (annuals, perennials, herbs, house plants) from their own garden to donate to the church on those days, and then we sell them after church at $5 per pot, as a fun exchange, AND a fund-raiser for the church and our gardens. This year we are working toward building funds for projects like an expanded shade garden in the front, and a labyrinth around our Peace Pole. Please be planning what you might divide and contribute! We have plenty of large empty plastic pots in the church garden storage shed if you need one. Questions? Please contact co-chairs Kate O'Dell at odellkk@gmail.com or Mary Mcalister at maryalmc@gmail.com
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Giving Time and Talent: Community Outreach Part 2
The Interfaith Hospitality Network is a shelter for families who have become homeless. I have helped out with the program for over ten years. Being the "go-to" person at church for coordinating volunteers, raising money for supplies, and in organizing "just in time" donations as families graduate from the program gives me great satisfaction. As the coordinator at First Unitarian, I also have the opportunity to develop relationships with the guests of the program because during the weeks we cover, I am there daily.
For our congregation, I think (I hope!) there is a sense of pride about being a significant part of the financial support for the shelter. There are about 30 religious congregations that are in the network; each is asked to try to make an annual contribution of at least $2000 a year; our annual Christmas Eve donation is usually three times that amount. I think that IHN is a significant mission of the church...read more about this important community outreach program here.
-- Liz GustavsonJohn Henry's Hammer Open Mic "There is joy!" so many of our UU hymns resound. That's what I believe we bring to the community through the John Henry's Hammer Open Mic. I am so glad to be part of it. Musicians, Lydia Fortune, Phil Nigro, and Sten Gustavson and Rick Levine, who assist in operating it, have helped me grow as a singer and musician. Bob and Sue Shaw, our refreshments coordinators, provide moral support to all, too. The people who attend the open mic are welcoming to seasoned, novice, and in-between performers. They affirm the First Principle of our faith denomination: "We honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person". We learn from each other! They provide "Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth" (UU's Third Principle). I believe the JHH Open Mic is a valuable extension of our church's outreach and music ministry. -- Linda Wyatt
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Tastings! UU Sisterhood Potluck & Program on May 15th
On Friday May 15th join the women of the UU Sisterhood, for our customary, delicious, abundant monthly Potluck. Please bring a dish and a drink to share. People start arriving by 6:00 and dinner is served by 6:30. All women of the church are welcome
After dinner and cleanup you will be invited to sample some of our Sister's favorite cheeses.
If you would like, please bring a wedge of your favorite cheese (grocery store or artisan) to share and we'll pair it with a selected wine. If you have a cheese in mind that you would like to contribute, send Madeline a note at Avlis@aol.com by Thursday May 14th.
In addition, we'll have a surprise tasting table where you can try to identify foods, familiar and foreign, and see how exacting your taste buds are!
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Installation - Gift to Sarah from the Children and Youth
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Escalating Inequality Workshops - Final Workshop May 17
There are upcoming workshops about the problem of escalating inequality in this country. At General Assembly in Providence last summer, delegates to the UUA voted escalating inequality as the most pressing issue of our time.
This is a joint project between First Unitarian Church and the UU Church of Worcester. Three events will be held here and four will be held at UUCW, 90 Holden Street, Worcester 01606. We are excited about this partnership.
5. ENGAGING SOLUTIONS FOR UUism: Sunday May 17 First U 12:30-2:30
Escalating Inequality Task Force: Joan McGinn, Chair; Paul Ropp, Randy Ingham, Mara Pentlarge, Joe Delgizzi
Joan McGinn, Chair, Escalating Inequality Task Force
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Let the Children Come...to the Organ Console
Almost two dozen 5 to 8 year-olds invaded the choir loft at First Unitarian for a demonstration of the King of Instruments. They were greeted into the sanctuary while a MIDI file playback played the overture to Harry Potter (it was quite loud even for seasoned organ buffs, but the kids loved it!)
After passing around different kinds of pipes while listening to some live-played examples, the kids took turns pressing keys and pistons and playing with stops - they were fascinated with the complexity.
Hopefully their experience will plant the seed for appreciation of music and maybe even spawn the pursuit of organ study.
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Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
-teachings of Jesus
Coffee Hour Hospitality - NEW SIGN UP ONLINE
Providing refreshments after worship is a gift of service to the church. The food you bring need not be elaborate. If you would like to provide this hospitality, click here to see if others are contributing that Sunday and to sign up or you can just bring a food offering and put it on the dining room table. Invite a friend to join you in this offering.
Sunday Greeters
Being on the receiving end of a warm smile and a "good to see you" or a "good morning" is to be offered a welcoming gift. It is a gift that you can give on a Sunday morning. Reaching out in greeting affirms the one entering and the one greeting.
If you would like to be a Sunday morning greeter, please stop by the Welcome Table or speak to one of us. We will sign you up for a date and give you the information you will need.
Name Tags & Newsletter
If you need a name tag or would like to receive the church newsletter, please stop by the Welcome Table.
Lee Reid
Sue Shaw
Linda Carney
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Our Church Family Online Directory
Reminder
Don't forget to sign on to use the new online directory! Click here to sign on now or go to www.firstunitarian.com and click on "OurChurchFamily Directory" at the top of the page.
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Important First U Links
Join a blog...catch up on First U news... |
| Contact Us
First Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA
90 Main Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
508-757-2708
508-753-9332 (fax)
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Worship Leaders
This Week
First U Youth and Advisors
Liz Gustavson
IHN
Linda Wyatt
JHH Open Mic
Tastings!
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