The Unitarian
March 6, 2016
Vol. 70, No 24
Join Us for Worship This Week 

Worship With Us This 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
 
  March 6, 2016
"Waking Life: Awakening Life"
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom
In our lives, we encounter both the ordinary and the transcendent. How and when do we experience them? What factors lead to daily realities of ordinariness and transcendence? How do those same factors cause us to either nurture or limit our lives and the lives of others? How might we grow that which nourishes and sustains life and reduce or remove that which limits and harms life?

Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom is a Unitarian Universalist minister, currently serving Third Unitarian Church in Chicago Illinois. Rev. Jennifer is a national leader in Unitarian Universalism and beyond on issues of peace, climate, and racial justice. She has led national campaigns to prevent climate change, and national and international campaigns for nuclear disarmament. She cares deeply about the world and the people in it and sees Unitarian Universalism as one of the tools to build the Beloved Community. 

Before and After Worship
 
 7:45 a.m.   Wiogora Meeting in the Morgan Classroom.
 9:00 a.m.   New Members Meeting in the Chapel.
10:15 a.m.   Nursery Care in Classroom 4.
10:30 a.m.   Worship Service in the Sanctuary.
Sunday School after dismal from worship.
11:30 p.m.   Fellowship Hour in the Bancroft/Dining Rms.
12:00 p.m.   Congregational Focus Group on Faith Development - Chapel.
   4:30 p.m.  Wiogora Potluck - Dining Room and Kitchen.
   5:00 p.m.   Seven Hills Symphony Rehearsal in Unity Hall.
   6:30 p.m.   YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
Lenten Series
Rev. Sarah Stewart
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.
Readers Needed for Easter Sunrise Service
sunrise
Join us for an Easter Sunrise service at Bancroft Tower at 6:00 a.m. on March 27. Jesus' ministry shared a message of liberation and love. We will share that message with each other through poetry, prose, silence, and the glory of the sunrise. Led by the Rev. Sarah Stewart.

Readers are needed for this service. If you would like to participate in the service as one of the readers please sign up below. Rev. Stewart will contact you with your assigned reading.

Click here to sign up

New Members Meeting
Sunday, March 6 in the Chapel 
Join Rev. Sarah Stewart and lay leaders of First Unitarian to explore membership in the church. If you're ready to join, please bring a completed new member form and completed pledge card with you. You'll also have the chance to fill these out at the meeting. We'll talk about Unitarian Universalism, the meaning of membership, and have the chance to officially sign the book! A similar new member meeting will be held on every first Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Chapel. New members will be welcomed during the last Sunday service of each month.
Be a Sunday Reader!
chalice First Unitarian Church of Worcester
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.
How are we doing?
Congregational Focus Group on Faith Development
Sunday, March 6 from 12 noon to 1pm
In the Chapel
Deborah Levering Faith Development Ministries First Unitarian Church Worcester UUA
Faith Development for children, youth, and adults is a cornerstone of our church. We would like to hear from church members and friends about how we are doing. What are we doing well? What do you wish for our ministry to children, youth, and adults?  What are ways we can support you in your spiritual development? Come share your thoughts, joys, frustrations, and ideas on Sunday, March 6 from 12-1pm in the Chapel. Please rsvp [email protected]

Upcoming John Henry's Hammer Concert
Save The Date

March 12 -"Jazzin About Town" featuring Jean Gough - 7pm
 
Jean Mancini Gough and Jazzin' About Town  
March 12th - 7:00pm
 
Jean Gough Concert
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.

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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