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The Unitarian
April 17, 2016
Vol. 70, No 30
Join Us for Worship This Week
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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
Sunday, April 17, 2016
"People of the Book"
Worship Leader: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
At times in our Unitarian history, our tolerant faith has taken in those of different beliefs to protect them from religious persecution. Today, we are befriending a refugee family and learning more about Islam from our neighbors here in Worcester. Our tradition of tolerance invites us into relationships of respect.
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Before and After Worship
| 9:00 a.m. | Adult Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary.
New UU Class in the Chapel - see info below.
Safety Team Meeting in the Mirick Room. | | 10:15 a.m. | Nursery Care in Classroom 4.
Prelude in the Sanctuary | | 10:30 a.m. | Worship Service in the Sanctuary
Children go directly to Unity Hall for Children's Chapel. | | 11:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hour in the Bancroft Dining Rooms.
Hosted by the Green Caring Circle..
Volunteer Fair - see info below. | | 12:00 p.m. | LLPC Meeting in Mirick Room 1. | | 5:00 p.m. | Seven Hills Symphony Rehearsal in Unity Hall. | |
6:30 p.m.
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YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
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50/50 Collection This Sunday, April 17
Abby's House
Abby's House was founded in 1976 in Worcester to provide homeless and battered women and children with emergency shelter in a secure place where they can regroup and rebuild. Today, in addition to the shelter it has 78 units of subsidized longer-term housing. Every woman works with an advocate to move her into a place of confidence and empowerment. With no federal funding, Abby's House is supported mainly from individual donations, local churches, businesses, and foundation grants. Thank you for your generosity in supporting this important work in our community.
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Wheel of Life
Our sincere sympathy to James Heald and family for the death of his wife, Margaret Heald. Margaret died Tuesday, April 12th.
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Our Children and Youth Need You!
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It's April--time to look ahead at faith development opportunities for next year. Our children's program is growing by leaps and bounds and we need volunteers. Please consider donating your time to our children and/or youth programs for 2016-17. We have redesigned the volunteer opportunities so that you can teach or help out as little as once a month and still make a significant contribution.
We are looking for adults, with or without children, to help in these ways:
- Teach on a Teaching Team (pre-school - 2nd grade. Commitment: once a month October-June
- Teach on a Teaching Team (3rd-8th grade. Commitment: once or twice a month October-June
- Be a doorkeeper (classroom helper, no teaching, pre-school - 2nd grade. Commitment: 1-3 times a year
- Be a Safety Monitor/Family Greeter. Commitment: once a month
- Be member of the Children's Chapel Team (help plan/lead Children's Chapel.) Commitment: 3 times a year
- Be a Youth Advisor for BYKOTA or YRU2. Commitment: 2-3 times a month
- Be a Coming of Age Mentor, mentor a young high school teen. Commitment: twice a month, tentatively scheduled for Jan-June '17.
If you are interested or curious about any of these opportunities, please contact Deborah Levering at dlevering@firstunitarian.com
On April 24, there will be a display board in the Bancroft room with more information and signup spaces.
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New UU - are you?
4 Sundays, April 3-24 from 9-10am in the Chapel
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism or would you like to know more about the faith tradition?
The New UU conversations are for you. All newcomers and new members are welcome. It is important to make a commitment to attend all four sessions
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* Session 1 Your religious journey
* Session 2 UU (you) theologies
* Session 3 UU History denomination and our church - This Sunday
* Session 4 Church Ownership and Governance.
Questions? Check in at the Welcome Table on Sunday morning.
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Annual Food Drive to Support Carty Cupboard
at Wesley United Methodist Church
After the holidays, many food pantries are depleted of many essential items; today's challenging economy has caused an increase in the number of people needing food stability. Your help is needed NOW!
We will collect non-perishable food items, toiletries and household items through May 1st.
Please bring in your donations each Sunday, and leave them at the donation location in the dining hall. Items needed are:
Canned meat, soups, pasta, cereal, feminine products, baby food, rice, peanut butter, diapers, canned vegetables, canned fruit, spaghetti sauce. Please check the expiration date of all items!
Thank you for your support!
BYKOTA
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31st Annual Walk for Homeless
We Need Your Support
Team First Unitarian Church's goal is to raise at least $500 for the Walk for the Homeless
This 5K walk is on Sunday, May 15th, at 2:00pm at Elm Park
You can support Team First Unitarian Church by:
- Walking or Running and raising funds
- Donating on line to the Team page
- Donating with a personal check or cash before or after church on Sunday
To donate on line, click here.
A sign-up sheet will be available in Bancroft Hall or
See Lesa McWalters, Youth Coordinator
THANKS for YOUR SUPPORT!
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John Henry's Hammer May Concert
May 21--Cosmic Slim and His Intergalactic Plowboys, opening acts-Arny Spielberg and Melody Sizer.
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Please Join Us For Our 20th Annual Passover Seder
Our Seder is done in a cooperative family style. As such it is free for adults willing to bring a requested dish. (We have a list of needed store bought items for those reluctant to cook). $10 if you just want to come and enjoy the evening. This is a family event. All ages welcome. Children 12 and under are always free.
Come enjoy an evening of storytelling, music, food and friendship.
The Seder is a moving, participatory celebration in memory of the Hebrew people escaping from Egyptian slavery, with the rituals of the service intertwined with a wonderful meal cooked by members of the parish.
Held in the Dining Room. Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 4-6:30 PM
Reservations are required. Please sign up by contacting Abigail at ahannaford-ricardi@firstunitarian.com
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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 others will know available dates to bring goodies. We all enjoy something to eat after worship and we call all contribute to the offering at some time.
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Early Bird Coffee & Conversation
Before worship on Sunday morning some friendly folks can be found enjoying coffee and conversation in the dining room. They gather around 9:30 or a wee bit later.That's when the coffee is ready. So, show up, pull up a chair, join some talkers and help warm the place with enjoyable chatter on range of subjects. In the joyful rush for coffee and treats after worship, the busy atmosphere can inhibit opportunities to get to know others more deeply. Early bird coffee is one way to engage with friendly people. Church school teachers, those on church committees or in leadership roles are encouraged to show up periodically and converse with those gathered.
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Sermons
from the Worship Service of September 27, 2015
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Important First U Links -
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