Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
The Unitarian
December 20, 2015
Vol. 70, No 15
Join Us for Worship This Week 

The Church Office will be closed Dec. 24 & 25 and Jan. 1 for the holidays.
Many staff members are on vacation from Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.
Please call ahead if you need access to the building.

The next newsletter will be sent  January 5. 
Worship at First Unitarian Christmas Week
       
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
 
   December 20, 2015
Prelude at 10am: Seele Musicale performs Brandenburg Concerto No.4
Say Yes!
An Advent service on the power of welcoming the new and unexpected into our lives. Celebrate saying yes with improv theater during the service, and celebrate the season with Christmas music from our Festival Choir and chamber ensemble. Children will gather for their own Chapel service exploring Awe and Wonder.
Before and After Worship on December 20
 
   Children's Chapel in Unity Hall. Students go directly to Unity Hall before worship.

10:00 a.m. Seele Musicale playing Brandengurg Concerto No. 5 by J. S. Bach. Come early to hear our own members and friends Jerry Bellows, Sue Holcomb, and Madeline Browning, as well as Jagan-Nath Khalsa, Pegeen Eslami and Ivy Turner. Rev. Sarah Stewart is joining the group on viola.
10:15 a.m.   Nursery Care in Classroom 4.
10:30 a.m.   Worship Service in the Sanctuary.
                     50/50 Collection supporting the Center for Nonviolent Solutions
11:30 p.m.   Fellowship Hour in the Bancroft/Dining Rooms. All are invited. Hosted by Mary McAlister and friends.
  6:30 p.m.    YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge. 
  
 Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Advent Communion Service
7:30 p.m. 
Gather in our classic New England meeting-house for a service of sacred music, candlelight and the Christmas Spirit for all ages. Let yourself dream dreams and share visions of what new thing could grow in your heart in the coming year.

 Sunday, December 27, 2015
Sermon: "Boundaries"
Preaching: Mr. Steve Knox
The theologian Howard Thurman reminds us that the true work of Christmas is found in acts of mercy and making peace. This post-Christmas sermon will be a reflection on justice denied due to historical boundaries within our social, economic and political systems:  Boundaries which offer advantage to some and disadvantage to others;  Boundaries which are visible and hurtful to some, yet, for others, are entirely hidden from view. 

Sunday, January 3, 2016
Sermon: "The Middle Way"
Preaching: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
 It's hard for us to believe that God will solve all our problems. And some find it hard to agree with our Unitarian forebears that humankind will progress "onward and upward forever." Yet there is a grace that carries us through the hard times in our lives, and we know it through compassion, empathy and love

Guest Organist - Sunday, December 20
James David Christie
We welcome James David Christie as guest organist for our December 20 service.
 
James has an extensive performance career throughout the world and
especially in Europe. He is Chair and Professor of Organ at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, College Organist at Wellesley College and the Distinguished Artist in Residence at the College of the Holy Cross. He has been the organist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1978, and has given over 50 tours of Europe, Japan, Australia, Iceland and Russia,
and has been a guest professor at the Paris Conservatory, the Cracow Conservatory, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, the Conservatory of Versailles, the Dom Bedos Organ Academy in Bordeaux, the International Summer Organ Academy in the Haarlem (Netherlands). He has performed and recorded with symphony orchestras around the world including major orchestras in London, Stuttgart, Vienna, Koblentz, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Baltimore. More info here.

Sunday Morning Scone Bake
scones
Would anyone like to join Mary McAlister this Sunday morning, Dec. 20th, at church to bake scones for coffee hour? We will begin at 7:30am and have several batches done by 9:30am. I will bring the ingredients for the scones and copies of my recipe for you to take with you. I will ask you to bring some fresh fruit and we will make fruit platters to serve with the scones. If you haven't made cream scones before you will be surprised at how easy my recipe is. Please let Mary know ([email protected]) if you would like to take part, I am looking forward to baking with you.
Center for Nonviolent Solutions
50/50 Recipient on December 20, 2015 
Center for Nonviolent Solutions
As a part of First Unitarian's 50-50 donation program, one half of our Sunday plate collection on Sunday December 20 will go to The Center for Nonviolent Solutions in Worcester.  CNVS is a non-profit organization, founded in 2009, with a mission to provide education and resources to help people in the Worcester Area to understand nonviolence and peacemaking as a way of life and to reject the use of violence in resolving conflict.
At CNVS we regard conflict as a natural part of life, and our K-12 programs provide youth with the knowledge and skills needed to transform conflict toward peaceful resolution. Our course offerings range from introductory lessons in conflict assessment and transformation to more skill-specific training in peer mediation. Our units on active listening and empathy cultivation align with schools' growing interest in social and emotional learning.  We teach the practice of mindfulness and help young people explore new concepts and skills through cooperative games. Our profiles of peace-builders, past and present, provide students with concrete examples of successful campaigns that address injustice and oppression and achieve resolution of longstanding conflicts without the use of violence.
The Principals at Sullivan Middle School, Claremont Academy, University Park Campus School and East Middle School have all been extremely supportive of the Center, and the Worcester School Committee has recognized and commended our work but has few financial resources to support us, so we depend heavily on volunteers, on local foundations, and increasingly on individual donations.  Please remember to contribute to this work through our Sunday offering on December 20.
Community Voices for Peace
Please join us in standing for peace on New Year's Eve on the steps of the First Unitarian Church.  There will be family-centered activities, music and refreshments from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  A special program at 7:00 will include songs, poems, stories, and reflections from community leaders on cultivating peace within ourselves, our community, our nation and our world.  Free and open to the public.   Co-sponsors:  The First Unitarian Church, the Worcester Islamic Center, and the Center for Nonviolent Solutions.
Mission Statement Presentation and Discussion
Sunday, Jan. 3 in the Chapel and Thursday, Jan. 7 in the Bancroft Rm. 
The Prudential Committee and Rev. Sarah Stewart began a process last year to renew the mission of our church. In 2015, the Values and Mission team held eight sessions and heard from about 150 members and friends of First Unitarian Church. They are pleased to present a draft Mission Statement for First Unitarian Church:
 
In loving fellowship we strive to
  • Honor the Sacred
  • Connect with each other
  • Serve justice
The draft Mission statement goes on to say, with words taken from our current Mission statement: 
  • We worship together in the sacred space of our sanctuary through the spoken word and music.  We are committed to nurturing the spiritual lives of our children.
  • We choose to live in community. We are called to be present to one another in suffering, to risk being uncomfortable, and to celebrate the holy in each other and in the world around us.
  • We are committed to standing on the side of love and justice for our fellow human beings.  We are committed to caring for the global environment on which the bodily and spiritual nurturance of our children and future generations depends.
Please plan to attend one of two meetings to discuss this Mission Statement. Discussions will be held, Sunday January 3, at noon in the Chapel; and Thursday January 7 at 7 p.m. in the Bancroft Room. This is your opportunity to discuss this statement and give feedback before a vote to adopt it at Annual Meeting on Sunday January 31. 
 
The Values and Mission team is composed of Carol Gregory, Laura Kirshenbaum, Steve Knox, Joan Russo, and the Rev. Sarah Stewart.

Coffee Hour Hospitality
Everyone heads to the dining room after worship happily looking to see
coffee & cookies
what edibles might be on the table.  One person said..."it's either feast or famine" about what we may find.  Sometimes we enjoy a bounteous spread and other times a few bits and pieces.  Always we appreciate that others have thought of us and brought delicious edibles.  Providing refreshments for your church friends is a lovely and much appreciated service.  Why don't you ask others to share a date to help provide food with you?  It doesn't have to be fancy.  The Caring Circles have already signed up for dates.  Please use this online sign-up calendar so that others will know available dates to bring goodies.  We all enjoy something to eat after worship and we can all contribute to the offering at some time.

Race and Racism Discussion Series in the Landers Room
Rev. Sarah Stewart
Coming: "West Side Story" 
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 movie screening in the Landers Room on Sunday, Jan. 10 of the "West Side Story" (unrated.) 
Men's Group Meets Sunday, January 3 in the Chapel
The next meeting of the Men's Group will be Sunday, January 3, at 6 PM in the Chapel.  We will have a game night, being planned by Ken Mandile.
  Ken will provide a selection of games.  If you have any board or card games you like, please bring them.  We will order pizza for delivery and ask that you provide your own refreshments, or bring some to share. Please join us!  If you have any questions, please contact Rick Silva at [email protected] or Ken Mandile at
Small Group Ministry for Parents and Caregivers  is 8-sessions and begins Weds., Jan. 6. Gather with parents, teachers, and caregivers in the Chapel to explore and reflect on parenting and teaching as a spiritual practices. Register here.

Personal Gifts Inventory Workshop
Sunday, January 10, 12noon - 1pm, in the Mirick Room 
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
 -Mary Oliver

Come discover yourself anew. The Personal Gifts Inventory is a tool for
gift_box_purple.jpg
helping you to discover your uniqueness, preciousness, worth, and power. It is a tool to help you discover how it is that your life matters, what it is that you have to do, to be, to become. It is a tool for helping you see how you can make a difference with your life by sharing your gifts. It is our hope in sharing this tool with you that you will be strengthened and deepened as you (re)discover your gifts and the gladness in your life. 

Register online here  

John Henry's Hammer Coffee House Concert
First Unitarian Church - 90 Main St. - Worcester, MA 01608
Featuring Claudia Schmidt
January 16 - Doors Open at 7 p.m. 
Claudia Schmidt performs at John Henry's Hammer Coffee House.
Claudia Schmidt
DOORSOPEN at 7:00 p.m.. CONCERT BEGINS @ 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.  Folk and jazz music. CLAUDIA is a dynamite performer coming to us from the Midwest.  Lucky Worcester is one of her tour sites.  Becky and David Spanagel were mesmerized by her performance in the past. More info about Claudia here. Get tickets here.

Gift Idea
Photo Exhibit First Unitarian Church Worcester UUA

Stuck on a gift idea for someone?  Consider one of the photographs currently on exhibit in our Chapel.  The Worcester Seven Hills Camera Club is offering all of the photos for sale and will donate 25% of the proceeds to First Unitarian.  If you would like to purchase a photo, please contact Ken Mandile via email at [email protected] or telephone at 774-239-9728.
First Unitarian Ornament Available After Worship
Ornament First Unitarian Worcester UUA
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

Sermons
 from the Worship Service of September 27, 2015

"Bringing Creation Toward Perfection" by Ken Mandile
 from the Worship Service of August 23, 2015
Important First U Links -
First Unitarian Church | 508.757.2708 | 508.753.9332
[email protected]  |  www.firstunitarian.com

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