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News & Events
February 10, 2016
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The Rev. Sarah C. 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 held in the Landers Room at 7pm.. The next meeting is Monday, February 22 . Due to the cancellation of the February 8 meeting there will be a discussion of Caesar Chavez. We'll push discussing The Death of Josseline to April 11. We'll meet one additional Monday at the end of the schedule, on June 6.
The revised schedule is:
February 22 - Movie discussion of "Caesar Chavez
March 13 - Movie screening of "12 Years a Slave"
March 14 - Movie discussion of "12 Years a Slave"
April 11 - Book discussion of "The Death of Josseline"
April 25 - Documentary Screening and Discussion of "Race: The Power of an Illusion: The Difference Between Us"
May 9 - Documentary Screening and Discussion of "Race: The Power of an Illusion: The Story We Tell"
May 23 - Documentary Screening and Discussion of "Race: The Power of an Illusion:
"The House We Live In"
June 6 - Closing Worship Service
For details about this series click here.
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This Lenten season, join Rev. Sarah for Friday luncheons and a study of the Gospel of Mark. We'll gather from noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays from Fri. Feb. 19 through Good Friday, March 25. The gospel of Mark is the oldest of the four gospels and presents a rich picture of the life and ministry of Jesus. Our discussion will consider the context of the gospel, the stories it tells, and the spiritual meanings they convey for our lives today. Bring a brown bag lunch and join us for this series of six discussions.
Please bring a Bible with you (any translation is fine). Rev. Sarah will be using the book Conversations with Scripture: The Gospel of Mark by Marcus J. Borg to guide the discussions. You may get a copy of this book if you wish, but it's not necessary to participate in the study group.
Please sign up for one or all of these Lenten Friday Luncheons with Rev. Stewart here.
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Care Kit Items Needed on Sunday
The children of the church are collecting warm mittens and socks, hygiene items, small snacks and water to make Care Kits for the homeless folks of Worcester. Please consider contributing supplies to our "Care Kits". Please bring them to church this Sunday, Feb. 14. They will be collected by the children during the worship service. The list of needed items can be found here http://faithdevelopmentforall.blogspot.com
Thank you!
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A Message From Your Sextons
Lately we have noticed various tools missing from the church. Some of these missing items are owned by the church and others are our own personal tools.
We don't mind people borrowing, but these are the tools we use to do our work. If you would like to borrow a tool, please let us know by leaving us a note in the kitchen. If you have borrowed a tool please return it to where you found it.
Thanks in advance,
Sten & Bob
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UUA STUDY ISSUE WORKSHOP SERIES
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Hear Julius Jones at the UUCW on February 17
As part of the UUA study series on Escalating Inequality, Julius Jones will speak at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden Street (corner of Holden St. and Shore Drive).
Though Julius Jones has recently been in Worcester news for being arrested in Kelly Square, he has been active in the community for more than a decade. He was a student at Clark University from 1998 - 2001. At Clark, he served as minority representative on the student council for 2 years and was on the staff of the student newspaper, "Wheatbread." Following that he was Farm Manager for the Regional Environmental Council's YouthGrow project and also grew the number of community gardens in the city. Currently he is a co-director of the Roots project, their Development director and Co-op Incubation Coordinator. He is a founding member of Black Lives Matter Worcester.
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The response to Rev. Sarah's request for Sunday readers this fall was overwhelming. We have readers signed up for most of the church year! However, there are still some Sundays open in May and June. On your Sunday, you'll light the chalice and can either bring words of your own to say or read words Sarah provides (your choice). Families are encouraged to light the chalice together. Sarah will send you the scripture passage to read on the Thursday of the week you sign up. Youth and adults may sign up to read. If you would like to be a Sunday reader, please sign up here.
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Interfaith Hospitality News
First Unitarian will be providing volunteers for the Interfaith Hospitality Network shelter on June Street the week of February 14-21. This is a family shelter; the parents and guardians (there have been a number of grandparent groups) have to be pregnant or have children to enter. The previously homeless families are provided with case management and counseling, and direction for either school or work. Whenever possible, the school-age children attend the school they went to before becoming homeless, to help give them some continuity in education. There are usually six families in the program, and the number of individuals can vary from about 10 to 20, depending on the number of children.
I will be collecting money to help provide supplies (food, paper goods) for the program. This week, if there are people who would like to cook for the families, and bring in a nutritious supper or two, that would be lovely. The families have been working on building cooking skills, but they like, as we do occasionally, the pleasure of having someone else do the cooking.
Volunteers are needed for the dinner shift, 5:30 - 8:30, and for the overnight shift 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. (except on Saturday and Sunday morning when it is 8 a.m.)
There are a number of people in the congregation who have done the volunteering, and I am always willing to train people who have not been at the shelter before.
Liz Gustavson
(gustavsonliz@hotmail.com)
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Worcester Pride & the First Unitarian Church
Invite you to a Family Friendly Dinner - THIS WEEK
Feb 13th, 2016 * Multiple Seatings * from 4 to 7 pm
At: First Unitarian Church 90 Main Street, Worcester MA
Pasta & Meatballs, Salad, Bread $10 Adult,
$5 Children under 12
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To all of you who have enjoyed Circle Suppers in the past or may be joining us for the first time, welcome! Circle Suppers are a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and get to know those folks you never really get to talk to during Fellowship Hour. Those who sign up for these suppers commit to attending or hosting a small dinner party in one another's homes. Singles as well as couples are invited to sign up! Please note, currently these are adults only functions.
There is no requirement to have gourmet culinary skills since the main objective is to get to know each other while having a wonderful evening in a relaxed atmosphere. You may also want to consider a Circle Supper Plus + Event. More information and forms will be available at the Welcome Table.
Sign up deadline is February 14, 2016.
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UU Sisterhood Monthly Potluck
February 19
This month at our UU Sisterhood Monthly Potluck gathering our own DJ Rice will be teaching us to make cream puffs and pastry cream.
She has asked that we flip flop our meeting so that we can have the dessert ready to eat after dinner.
So for this month only the program will begin at 6:30 with dinner to follow. Please gather in the dining room any time after 6:00 pm for program, dinner and fellowship.
Our gatherings are open to all women of the church. Please bring a potluck dish and a beverage to share.
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Men's Group Dinner and Movie Night
The Men's Group February event will be Dinner and Movie Night at the College of the Holy Cross. We will see the movie "Suffragette" on Wednesday, February 24. Prior to the movie, we will have a tour of the theater given by Jesse Anderson, and dinner in Kimball Hall ($10, all you can eat). We will meet at Seelos Theater at 6:30 PM. The movie starts at 8 PM. More details will be available as we get closer to the date. For more information about the Men's Group, contact Rick Silva at avlis@aol.com, or Ken Mandile at kmandile@swissturn.com
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Mark your calendar for Sunday February 28!
After Church, there will be a Winter Fun Afternoon at the Mirick Farm on the slopes of Mt Wachusett in Princeton. We're planning on sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing now that we're finally getting snow this winter. There will be a bonfire, and a cooking fire by the lean-to for make-your-own s'mores, and hot drinks.
Plan to leave the Church about noon. Bring your own picnic lunch, which you can eat in the dining room before leaving, in your car on the way (the drive is about 25 minutes), or around the fire after you arrive.
Get all the details here.
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We Can Really Help Right Here, Right Now
Want to take positive action during this worldwide refugee crisis?
Our church social action committee is working to partner with Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Services) in their immigrant resettlement support program. They provide services and support to empower new families in our area transition toward self-sufficiency. They are looking for teams in area churches willing to volunteer for 6 months to provide a Community Circle of support for a new family in the Worcester area.
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If you've ever gazed at a sweet and familiar face,
and forgot the name that goes with it,
you value a name tag.
Tucked in the corner on your left as you enter the Bancroft Room is our Welcome Table. It's really a beautiful old desk that some generous soul probably gave to the church years ago. It continues to provide a happy and useful purpose. Next to it gently rests Edward Everett Hale's chair. (Learn more about Edward Everett Hale here.)
If you are new or visiting, just stop by and say "hello". You'll find friendly faces and answers. You'll also find information about the church, CDs from earlier sermons, details on Sunday school, materials on Unitarian Universalism, membership information, a way to receive the church's newsletter, and the sign-up sheet to request a name tag.
Lee Reid
Sue Shaw
Linda Carney
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Everyone heads to the dining room after worship happily looking to see 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.
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Upcoming John Henry's Hammer Concerts
Save These Dates
Open Mic Friday, February 12 at 7pm
Open Mic Friday, February 28 at 7 pm
February 27 - Youth Talent Show Fundraiser - 7pm March 12 - "Jazzin' About Town"
featuring Jean Gough - 7pm
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Special John Henry's Hammer
Youth Concert
February 27th - 7:00pm
Remember our First U Talent Show last Fall? Well--here's another chance to see our talented youth perform! Members of the First U Youth Group are presenting a concert at John Henry's Hammer, Saturday, February 27th. It's a fundraiser for First U youth programs.
Tickets are $5/person or $15/family. Tickets will be on sale on Sunday's following the service.
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Jean Mancini Gough and Jazzin' About Town March 12th - 7:00pm
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Workshop Invitation
Real. Good. Embodied. Worship For Religious Professionals, Worship Committees, Youth Worship Teams and Lay Worship Leaders More info here.
Other UUA NE Region Learning Events here
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Important First U Links -
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