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News & Events
February 23, 2016
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The deadline for newsletter submissions to this enews is noon on the Monday before Tuesday publication.
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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 Sunday, March 13 - a movie screening of "12 Years a Slave" . A discussion of the movie will be held on Monday, March 14.
The schedule is:
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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Thank You For the Care Kit Donations
During Children's Chapel on Sunday, the children and teens put together SIXTY care packages. What a blessing this community is. Your donations doubled our estimated output. We promised the social services agency that we could provide 20, maybe 30 kits. 60 lined up across Unity Hall. Thank you for your generosity.
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Friend of First Unitarian Church and accomplished UU musician Jim Scott is interested in offering a family singing night on a regular basis here at First Unitarian Church. This drop-in event would include singing old favorites and new songs just for the fun of it and to build community. All ages and ability levels would be welcome. In order of this to work, we need a partner for Jim, a member of the church who could work with him on publicity, scheduling, building use and connections to the church community. If you are interested in taking on this leadership role, please contact Rev. Sarah Stewart at sstewart@firstunitarian.com. Thanks!
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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 on Wednesday, February 24. We will meet in Seelos Theater at 6:30 PM for a brief tour of the theater given by Jesse Anderson. We will then go upstairs to the Kimball Hall Dining Room for Dinner ($10, all you can eat). After dinner we will return to the theater to watch the movie, "Suffragette", which starts at 8 PM. For more information about this event, or directions to the theater, contact Rick Silva at 774-262-0419 or avlis@aol.com.
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UUA STUDY ISSUE WORKSHOP SERIES
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Special John Henry's Hammer
Youth Concert
February 27th - 7:00pm THIS SATURDAY
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.
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Escalating Inequality
At the Intersections of Gender, Race and Class
With Dr. Michelle Corbin
Sunday, February 28
7:00 p.m.
In the Chapel
Dr. Corbin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and affiliate faculty and Advisory Board Member of Women's Studies at Worcester State University. Dr. Corbin earned her Ph.D. in Sociology and her Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from the University of Maryland. Her scholarship focuses on the interconnections between spirituality, knowledge, and social justice. In her scholarship and teaching she investigates the role of knowledge and consciousness in relations of power and inequality.
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Volunteer OpportunitiesSunday, February 28, 2016
Your Time Commitment:
A few hrs < 6 months
First Unitarian's Social Justice Committee currently needs volunteers for three special projects:
- Dinners with residents at the Dismas Family Farm
- Recreation Worcester's After School Program at Elm Park Community School
- Forming a "community circle" for a refugee family
Get Information and Sign up at our Volunteer Fair during Coffee Hour
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50/50 Collection - Safe HomesSunday, February 28, 2016
Safe Homes is a program supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people, and their straight allies, between the ages of 14 and 23. The group is led by youth peer leaders, professional staff, and volunteers who offer support, resources, and opportunities for socialization in a safe and nurturing environment.
Safe Homes is a program of The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, a human services agency headquartered in Worcester. Safe Homes is one of 52 programs operated by The Bridge and is the only program in the area which provides specialized services to LGBTQ youth.
Our goal in offering support to LGBTQ youth throughout Central Massachusetts is to decrease isolation and foster general health and well-being. Our mission is to provide safe and supportive services for LGBTQ youth so that they feel nurtured and validated in all aspects of their identity.
There is something for everyone at Safe Homes. Whether you are looking for advice, information, or new friends, we hope you will consider checking us out.
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CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF SNOW
Winter Fun Afternoon
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.
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Interfaith Hospitality News
I am grateful to the people of our congregation who provided help to the families at the Interfaith Hospitality Network shelter. A number of people donated money to help defray expenses for the week; my impromptu bake sale netted a little over $200! Over twenty people were volunteers, covering the evening and the overnight shifts. Lesa McWalters and four teens from the youth group came on Friday to entertain the 12 children in the program. Three groups of women brought an evening meal to the shelter; thanks go to Wendy Innis and Sandra Hakkarainen , Danna Peterson and Kate Sheehan, and Eileen McMahon and Linda Carney. Being given a night off from cooking is appreciated by the families!
One of the overnight volunteers this week was Congressman James McGovern; he was joined by Joe O'Brien. As a T&G newspaper article suggests, the people who find themselves in need of a shelter can be just regular people who have a series of bad events happen.
IHN has been holding a capital campaign to pay off a mortgage on the house and to attend to some needed repairs. Donations to the program would be most welcome: please address them to IHN of Greater Worcester, 91 June St., Worcester, MA 01602.
Thanks again to all the people who have helped out last week! It makes it easy to be the IHN volunteer coordinator from First U.!
Liz Gustavson
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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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Wiogora Registration Open Now!
The Wiogora Council and Professor Veralyce Gibbons, Headmistress, are excited to announce that Registration is open for Wiogora's Summer program - July 25th to August 5th. Our fifth year's theme is Mystery: The Order of the Phoenix! Go to www.wiogora.org to sign up young scholars; After last year's success, we anticipate filling up quickly! Our program uses Harry Potter's story to teach the inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and use of democratic process; The goal of peace, liberty and justice for all; and Respect for the interdependent web of existence by caring for planet Earth.
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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 26 at 7 pm
THIS FRIDAY
February 27 - Youth Talent Show Fundraiser - 7pm March 12 - "Jazzin' About Town"
featuring Jean Gough - 7pm
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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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