News & Events
November 3, 2015
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart     
Rev. Sarah Stewart
Sarah is typically in the office on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm; Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm. To schedule an appointment please call the church at 508-757-2708, ext. 107.  She can also be reached at  

My Adult Faith Development offering this year is a book and movie discussion group on race and racism. The next  meeting is Monday, November 9 - book discussion of "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Click here for details about the Race and Racism Discussion group.
You Are Invited to Gala 2015

You Are Invited to Attend First Unitarian Church's 
Fundraising Dinner and Dance in the Bancroft/Dining Rooms 
Saturday, December 5, 2015
6:00 pm.
 
  • Beverages and Finger Foods
  • Dinner and lots of good conversation. 
  • Dancing to local favorites:
    Cosmic Slim and the Intergalactic Plowboys 
Choose your dinner:
 
Six menus to choose from by First U parishioner chefs, including: Linda Chatalian Wyatt, David Spanagel, Linda Carney and Kate O'Dell, Gini and Gene Johnson, Jay Lavelle, Alison Ronn
   
$50 per ticket.  
 
While the parents play the kids are invited to a complimentary Pajama Party from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.
 
Click here to view the menus reserve your seat(s) and sign-up for the Pajama Party or, if you cannot go, to purchase tickets for others who may not be able to afford it;
  
or click here to make a donation to support this church fundraising effort.

Pledge Campaign Update

So far we have received 148 pledges, for a total of $218,800, which is 75% of the budget goal.  We expect to receive about 205 pledges, so we have received 73% of our pledges. Looking back over our weekly pledge results since the campaign started, the percent of pledges received has always approximately equaled the percent of the 2016 budget goal received; so if this pattern continues (we hope it does!) we are on track to meet our budget goal.
Pledge online here.
The Generosity Path by Mark Ewert 
Book Discussion Group in the Landers Room 
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).
 
This discussion group meets  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.
 
Please let us know if you are interested and/or planning to attend by e-mailing thomas.bozeman@gmail.com


Grateful Appreciation for 3oth Anniversary Celebration
What a grand day of celebration not only for myself, but more so for the
Will 30th Anniversary First Unitarian Church Worcester, MA
vibrancy and warmth of our church family and community.
 
I wish to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the huge number of people that made the day and all its events possible - from the
music to the lunch, cake, and cards, what a wonderful time for our congregation. And a particular note of thanks for the generous and thoughtful monetary gift from the congregation!
 
It's every director's dream to conduct the Verdi Dies Irae in concert, and now I've had that dream fulfilled, with even a bonus of including Berlioz
alongside yesterday.  I appreciate your support and kind words throughout the years.   And a special thank you to our choir, soloists, and musicians!
Photography Exhibit in the Chapel
From now until early January, our Chapel will be home to a photo exhibit
Photo Exhibit First Unitarian Church Worcester UUA
by members of the Seven Hills Camera Club.  To celebrate this new exhibit, there will be a reception after church next Sunday, November 8.  Members of the SHCC will be on hand to offer information about their photos and the club.
 
Is there someone on your Christmas list that needs a something to decorate a wall?  All of the photos in the exhibit are for sale.  For each exhibit sold, a donation will be made to First Unitarian.
 
Please join us for hospitality, coffee, and fine photography in the Chapel on Sunday.
 Men's Group First Meeting  
Sunday, November 8 
The newly formed Men's Group will have its first meeting on Sunday,
men's group
November 8, at 12:15pm in the Landers Room. At this meeting we will decide what activities we want to do, and how often we want to meet. If you have ideas but cannot attend the meeting, please send an email Rick Silva at  avlis@aol.com or to Ken Mandile at kmandile@swissturn.com

UUSisterhood News  

We are very pleased to announce that for our November 20th potluck, Bonnie Prescott has arranged for a wonderful speaker: Marilyn Polito, a docent from Preservation Worcester. Marilyn will speak to us about The Corsets Industry in Worcester. This is a great topic, rich with our history and worldwide fame. We're sure you will love this!

We will start the evening with our usual potluck dinner starting at 6:00 p.m.

All women of the church are encouraged to attend, please bring a dish and drink to share.  

 
Caring Circles
Caring Community Circle
Caring Circle Leaders are planning to add colored dots to everyone's name tags to help in identifying which Caring Circle each member is in. Stop by the Welcome Table after worship services to get your dot.

Community News & Events

Community Conversations:
Combating the Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness
Sunday, November 15, 1-4pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester
90 Holden Street, Worcester, MA
Click here for more information. 

UUA New England Region - October 2015 newsletter here.

UUA New England Region:  Strengthening Justice Ministries - A Workshop for Social Action/Justice Committee Members and other Congregational Leaders. Offered in two locations and online. More info here.
Important First U Links -
First Unitarian Church | 508.757.2708 | 508.753.9332
office@firstunitarian.com  |  www.firstunitarian.com

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