First Unitarian Church of Worcester
Information and Upcoming Events
May 17, 2015
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The weekly deadline for articles is noon on Monday.
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The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart, Minister
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Sarah is typically in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday . To schedule an appointment please call the church at 508-757-2708, ext. 107. She can also be reached at To learn more about Sarah, click here.
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Green Exchange Continues - Keep Those Plants Coming!
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The "friends of the Garden" annual Green Exchange plant sale got of to a very good start on Sunday. We would like to thank everyone who brought plants to sell and everyone who stopped to look and buy. We sold a lot of plants and need your help replenishing our selection for this Sunday, May 17. Please take a look at your garden for plants that need dividing, thinning out or a new locale and bring them to the church garden during the week or before service on Sunday. If you need pots there is a stack of them in the garden.
We will also be signing up "garden friends" to water, weed and look after the garden through the summer. The commitment is one visit of 2 or 3 hours during the summer week you sign up for to look over the plantings and see what needs to be done. We are trying to be conservation minded, so watering is done only when necessary.
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30th Annual Walk/Run for Homeless
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by Lesa McWalters
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5 K Walk for Homeless
May 17th at 2:00pm starting at Elm Park
Join us in supporting the 30th Annual Walk/Run for Homeless!
Everyone who contributes to the Walk makes a difference.
Whether by walking, running, or making a donation every contribution helps
to create a stronger, more sustainable, thriving community.
Visit the information table in Bancroft Hall for more information
Or speak with Lesa McWalters for details
To donate online or to join Team First Unitarian Church:
http://www.firstgiving.com/team/289558
All proceeds raised stay in Worcester County and helps crucial programs continue their work to eradicate family homelessness in our community. Read more about the Walk beneficiaries
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Tastings! UU Sisterhood Potluck & Program on May 15th
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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 [email protected] 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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Escalating Inequality Workshops - Final Session on May 17
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The Escalating Inequality Sessions are a series of 5 workshops and a movie discussion 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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Giving Time and Talent: Community Outreach 2
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by Stewardship Team
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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 Gustavson
John 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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Coffee Hour Hospitality - Sign Up Online
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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.
Sign Up Here
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Wiogora School of Wonder and Wisdom Summer Program
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Wiogora School of Wonder and Wisdom, First Unitarian's own Harry Potter inspired summer program running July 27th to August 7th continues to accept registrations for students and applications for adult staff and volunteers. For more information, and to register or apply, go to http://www.wiogora.org/. See Alison Barrows Ronn or Seth Popinchalk for more information.
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Circle Suppers
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Do you like good food and good conversation? Do you get cabin fever during the winter months? Circle Suppers are a series of relaxed adult dinner party's hosted/co-hosted by fellow UU members or friends. The host(s) provide(s) the main dish. Guests bring appetizers, side dishes, desserts and/or beverages. Your host will coordinate the menu and contact you at least one week before the dinner with other details.
Details and Sign-up Sheet here.
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Community News and Events
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This Week's UUMass Action News - May 11, 2015click here
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