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The Unitarian
November 1, 2015
Vol. 70, No 7
Join Us for Worship This Week
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Abby Kelley Foster visited First Unitarian last Sunday. It was the 165th anniversary of the Women's Rights Convention held in Worcester in 1850. Rev. Stewart's sermon was "Women in Worcester"
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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
November 1, 2015
Daylight Saving Time Ends - Turn Clocks Back 1 Hour
Homily: "The Heart Broken, The Heart Whole"
Preaching: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
Music helps us express our deep grief over those we have lost in our lives. It moves us beyond words to a place where we can experience our sorrow and let our love grow again. As painful as grief is, it is part of our capacity for connection and love. The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
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9:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
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New Members Meeting in the Chapel.
BYKOTA Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
Caring Circle Leaders Meeting in Mirick Room 1.
Nursery Care in Classroom 4.
Worship Service in the Sanctuary.
Sunday School after dismissal from worship.
Luncheon in the Bancroft/Dining Rooms.
Fall Festival Fanfares Concert in the Sanctuary. See below.
Seven Hills Symphony Rehearsal in Unity Hall.
YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
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Our sincere sympathy to Diane Mirick and family on the death of her mother, Ruth J. Van Sickle. Ruth passed away on Wednesday, October 28 at Notre Dame Long Term Care at the age of 94. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 3 at First Unitarian Church. The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart will officiate.
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Three Great Events on One Day - THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, November 1
On Sunday, November 1st, All Souls' Sunday, we will be celebrating Will Sherwood's 30th anniversary as our Music Director at the First Unitarian Church! Our morning worship service will feature Will at the organ with our Festival Choir performing selections from requiems by Mozart, Brahms, Verdi, Faure and Rutter.
And...
LUNCH
After the worship service we will honor Will with an all-church Vegetarian Potluck Luncheon! There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the dining room where you can sign up to bring a main dish, a salad, or drinks. We will furnish a surprise desert (that rhymes with lake)!
In addition to Will's many talents as a musician, web master, graphic designer, photographer, neon light artist, and gardener, he is a spectacular vegetarian gourmet chef! Let's dazzle him with our creativity in assembling a vegetarian feast in his honor.
AFTERNOON CONCERT
Fall Festival Fanfares Concert in the Sanctuary
At 3:00 PM Will and our Festival Choir, joined by the 25-member brass choir from WPI, will perform a public concert of requiem highlights. Invite your friends to what promises to be a wonderful concert. Let's fill the church to hear the music we have come to love at First U!
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Writers Group in the Bancroft Room - MONDAYS
Logging the Voyage - journaling through the personal essay
What's the difference between a diary and a journal? When people read the story of your life, will they care that you bought groceries today and don't like the price of spinach? Or will they want the stories that make you who you are, powerfully told. We'll explore this idea, trying to learn a bit about powerful writing. We'll practice as we go, and (constructively) criticize and cheer each other on, using online collaboration tools, and live readings. Led by Sten Gustavson. Next session is November 2.
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The Generosity Path by Mark Ewert - TUESDAYS Book Discussion Group in the Landers Room
Tuesday, November 3 - 7:30pm
As UUs, we gather together for many different reasons, such as community, spiritual growth, and working together to make the world a better place. Each of those intentions requires us to give of ourselves in some way - and it can be a struggle to balance those investments of our time, money, and energy against all the other demands in our lives. That struggle is often one of the most prominent ones in UU congregations.
To help navigate those competing demands, the ministers of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester and the UU Society Of Grafton And Upton are collaborating to hold a weekly discussion group on Mark Ewert's wonderful book The Generosity Path (published by Skinner House Books).
We meet every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30pm at the First Unitarian Church of Worcester (at 90 Main St.) to discuss a section of the book and to explore together how we give and receive and, moreover, build connections with others. The conversations will be facilitated by the Rev. Sarah Stewart and the Rev. Tom Bozeman.
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Series Begins Sunday November 8
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism or would you like to know more about the faith tradition? The New UU conversations are for you. All newcomers and new members are welcome. It is important to make a commitment to attend all four sessions. Led by Jesse Anderson on 4 Sundays, November 8-29, 9-10am in the Chapel. Please RSVP by November 1 to dlevering@firstunitarian.com
November 8 - Your Religious Past - Your religious past - Introduce the course, discuss the "6 sources," then mostly an icebreaker, having everyone taking turns discussing their personal religious journey, what brought them to First Unitarian, and what placed them on the path toward membership.
November 15 - UU and Your Theologies
November 22 - The history of UU and First U
November 29 - How First U Works
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November 50/50 Collection
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Mary Frandsen is doing a
presentation for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization on Sunday, November 8th in the Bancroft Room. Big Brothers/Big Sisters is a mentoring organization that matches at-risk children with adult role models. Many of the children are low-income, Hispanic, African-American, live in a single parent household, or have a parent who is or was incarcerated. We support the mentoring relationships with training and monthly contact by Interview/Match Support Specialists. By providing mentees with a consistent, caring adult, we help them to perform better in school, get along better with their families and peers, improve their self-esteem, and introduce them to options for the future.
The 50-50 dates for November are as follows:
November 8: Presentation for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
November 15: Collection for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
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It's Pumpkin Pie Filling Making Time Again
Sunday afternoon, November 8
Join us for our 3rd trip to Flavor First Foods (F1) in West Bridgewater to make our delicious UU Sisterhood Pumpkin Pie Filling just in time for Thanksgiving.
Date is Sunday afternoon, November 8th. We will carpool after church services, leaving promptly at 12:30pm.
This fun event allows you to have a hands-on experience to make, package, label and ready for the freezer our signature UU Sisterhood Pumpkin Pie Filling in a commercial production co-packing facility. It might not be exactly like Lucy and Ethel but it is kind of fun to see how a small manufacturing operation works.
This is our primary fundraising event that helps defray the cost of our programs.
If you wish to join us plan for about a 5 hour timeframe. Bring lunch money (approx $10.00). Wear closed toe non slip shoes, like sneakers and bring an apron.
Must RSVP to Madeline at avlis@aol.com by Friday Nov 6th if you plan to go.
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Race and Racism Discussion Series in the Landers Room
Coming: "Between the World and Me"
Rev. Stewart's Adult Faith Development offering this year is a book and movie discussion group on race and racism. The next meeting is a Book Discussion in the Landers Room on Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m. of "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
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November 22 -noon in the Chapel
The Social Justice Committee has scheduled Eulalia Leandres, LCSW, of the Department of Children & Families (DCF) as a guest speaker to talk about the children in the Worcester area who are in the care and custody of the Department. She will address why these children have come to the attention of the Department, the services offered and the six month review process of continued supervision by DCF.
She will also talk about how the church community can be of assistance to these children and will set aside time for questions from the those attending.
Please make note of November 22nd and plan to attend this informative session and learn how our church community can be of support to our local children in need.
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Saturday, December 5, 6pm to 11pm
It's the fifth GALA! December 5th! 6 to 11pm. The theme: Make Music In Your Heart! BELIEVE. $55 per person. Free childcare/pajama party on the lower level. The John Henry's Hammer House Band, Cosmic Slim and his Intergalactic Plowboys, will provide music to boogie by.
Many decorations are already made. Five chefs or chef teams are on board. A cookie chef has emerged for late hour munchies.
Contact me if you would like to donate your cooking talents and menu creations, hosting a table of 8 guests. Another one or two chefs are welcome to join us--especially one who would cook a vegetarian meal. If a novice to "chefdom"--the veterans will coach you. We've got a system to our culinary madness.
Please consider assisting with decorating and setup on Friday, December 4th. The more helpers--the faster we transform the Dining Hall and Bancroft Room. My contact information is:
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SOMETHING NEW IS COMING YOUR WAY!
A DEPICTION OF THE CHURCH HAS BEEN CRAFTED INTO
A CHARMING ORNAMENT.
IT IS A LASER ETCHED 3" DIAMETER WOOD CIRCLE WITH AN ATTACHED RIBBON.
IT'S A PERFECT MEMENTO
TO HANG FROM YOUR WINDOW, CAR MIRROR,
ORNAMENT STAND OR CHRISTMAS TREE.
IT'S ALSO A LOVELY GIFT FOR ONLY $15.
THIS CHURCH FUNDRAISING ITEM WILL BE AVAILABLE AT
SUNDAYS AFTER CHURCH UNTIL SUPPLIES ARE GONE.
Lee Reid & Sue Shaw
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Sign Up to Be a Worship Reader
Rev. Stewart is inviting members and friends to sign up to read the scripture passage during the service every Sunday. That same person (with their family, if they want) could light the chalice at the beginning of the service. Sign up to be the reader on an upcoming Sunday here or at the Welcome table in the sanctuary after September's services. I hope to have you participating in the service every Sunday.
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"Smiling is the way the soul says hello." Jarod Kintz
Smiling is the signal we are recognized. It is also free and usually painless.
If you have a smile to give, sign up at the Welcome Table to be a greeter on Sunday mornings.
Name Tags are the finishing touch in classy attire. If you have one, look for it on one of the name tag racks or on the Welcome Table. If you need one, stop by after worship.
If you need to stretch your legs during the service, be an usher. They get to walk around and collect the offering while smiling. Again, the Welcome Table.
Do you like nibble on something delectable with your coffee after worship? Most of us do. Please bring refreshments to share. It doesn't have to be fancy.
Finally, before and after the service, seek out someone you haven't spoken to and say hello. It's easy.
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Sermons
from the Worship Service of September 27, 2015
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Important First U Links -
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