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News & Events
April 19, 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 Monday, April 25 - see details below.
The schedule is:
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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Stewardship: a Bridge to Belonging
The message of inclusiveness [is] central in this spiritual community of diverse thinkers and believers. [Yet] I can partake only as much as I am willing to give of myself - of my love, of my time, of my skills, of my resources.
-- Carol Gregory
How wonderfully unexpected! My experience here at First Unitarian during the last four years has been just that - wonderful and unexpected. Sitting in the pew with Wendy during the first service I attended, I had to keep reminding myself I wasn't attending a great concert listening to gifted musicians and vocalists in a magnificent venue. Enchanting as that experience was, I didn't expect the music to draw me in so powerfully and so often.
I began attending our church during a transition...read more here.
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Refugee Family Update and
Requests for Current Needs
The refugee family that First Unitarian is assisting through Ascentria Care Alliance joined us for services on Sunday. Olive is a single mother from the Central African Republic who is here with 3 of her children. They arrived from Cameroon in December 2015. She doesn't speak English, but does speak French and her faith affiliation is Christian. The children are: Vanessa, 7 years old, she has a speech and hearing impairment and will be enrolled in special school; son Jordy, 4 years old, and daughter Angela, just turned 2.
The First U refugee team (Ellen Foley, Sandy Hakkarainen, Danna Peterson, and Lynn Simmons) will be writing twice monthly updates on the family and ways that church members can help. Our first priorities are transportation assistance and tutoring in English and ASL. The family could also use some household items and personal items. We are working on a drop-off spot at church, but for now please plan to bring donated items to church on Sunday and leave them with one of the team members during coffee hour. Lynn Simmons is our main contact person: lsimmons@me.com.
The following is a list of items needed as of this week:
- Large plastic containers for food storage.
- Diapers: Size 4 (day and night), Size 5 night)
- Mousetraps
- D Batteries for smoke detectors
- Girls clothing for Vanessa, size 8
- Boys clothing for Jordy, Size 4-5T
- Girls clothing for Angela, Size 3-4T
- Age appropriate toys and books
- Bedding for 2 twin beds and 1 double bed
- Help with English tutoring and ASL tutoring
- Transportation to appointments, grocery shopping (weekends preferred), laundromat, church
- Babysitting, so that Olive can sometimes get to appointments without all the children.
- Play dates or outings for the children to area parks, playgrounds, etc.
Those who are interested in volunteering with the family and providing transportation will need to complete an Ascentria volunteer application. Contact the team to find out how to get an application.
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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
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Rare Repertoire Revealed
Free Chamber Music on April 22
in the First Unitarian Sanctuary - This Friday
Friday's 7PM Worcester debut appearance of Amici e Musica will feature rarely heard works by Adolphe Blanc, Charles Wood, and Beethoven. We are delighted to host this unusual and enjoyable concert. Our own Jim Kassal is bassoonist and founder of Amici e Musica.
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This is James. Two years before he was born the life expectancy for a child born with severe heart defects was just 2 years, by the time he was 4 that life expectancy had increased to 23 years. Thanks to ongoing research and developments those numbers are still going up, but congenital heart defects are still major killers. In the U.S. more than twice as many children die from heart defects as from all childhood cancers combined. 31% of babies born with critical heart defects do not survive to their 18th birthday.
James has grown up in this church. He is a student in our D'oh! Simpsons class, a member of our BYKOTA youth group, and a WindHorse House scholar in our Hogwarts Themed Wiogora programs. James has critical heart defects including the four that make up Tetralogy of Fallot. He has endured several cardiac catheterizations, two open-heart surgeries and countless procedures. James has also had eye, nose, oral, GI and bronchial surgeries He will have his third open-heart surgery in the near future, but in the meantime he is just enjoying life.
James just turned 15, and we are expecting him to have a long and healthy life. Please help us make that a reality for him and for the thousands of children who are born every year with heart defects.
To sponsor James in the American Heart Association Heart Walk on May 7th please see Abigail during coffee hour or pledge on-line by clicking here.
Every dollar we raise is restricted to congenital heart defects research.
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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 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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Sunday May 1, Sunday Lecture @ Noon in the Chapel
Professor Douglas Little,
"United States and the Middle East"
Professor Douglas Little of Clark University will speak on his new book, Us Versus Them: The United States, Radical Islam and the Rise of the Green Threat (University of North Carolina Press). His book has been described by Peter Hahn of the Ohio State University as "cogent, perceptive" and "one of the best books on recent U. S. diplomacy across the Middle East."
Douglas Little is the Robert and Virginia Scotland Professor of History and International Relations at Clark University. We are happy to welcome him back to First Unitarian.
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Men's Group May Event: Quabbin Reservoir Walk
Our Men's Group activity for May will be a walk on the trails of the Quabbin Reservoir. The area has miles of paved roads as well as well maintained trails through the woods, scenic overlooks, picnic areas, an observation tower, and visitor's center. It is a beautiful, accessible, and uncrowded area just one hours' drive from downtown Worcester. Our plan is to meet at the church at 9:00 and carpool to the location. On the way back we can stop for lunch at Rose 32, a well known local lunch/coffee spot.
The event will be during the second week in May. The date will be announced soon.
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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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John Henry's Hammer Upcoming Spring Concert
May 21--Cosmic Slim and His Intergalactic Plowboys, opening acts-Arny Spielberg and Melody Sizer.
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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 a.m. 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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Important First U Links -
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