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The Unitarian
December 11, 2016
Vol. 71, No 13
Join Us for Worship This Week
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Worship With Us This Week
Sunday Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Christmas Pageant & Special Music
Led by: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart, Will Sherwood, Director of Music,
Deborah Levering, Director FDM,
Celebrate Christmas with our annual children's pageant, traditional hymns, and Christmas carols from our choir. A multi-generational Sunday of rejoicing with an ancient story of hope and joy and with music to make our hearts glad.
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Before and After Worship
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9:00 a.m.
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New Member Gathering in the Chapel.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal in the Sanctuary.
Adult Choir gathers in the Bancroft Room.
| 10:15 a.m.
| Prelude in the Sanctuary.
Nursery Care in Classroom 3. | |
10:30 a.m.
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All-Ages Worship Service in the Sanctuary.
Worship features the Christmas Pageant & Special Music.
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11:30 a.m.
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Fellowship Hour in the Bancroft/Dining Rooms.
Hosted by Fran Morrier and Vivian Shortreed in memory of their mothers.
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12:00 p.m.
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Christmas Caroling - UU Sisterhood and the Men's Group meet at church for lunch and then go caroling.
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4:00 p.m.
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Wiogora Potluck in the Kitchen and Dining Rooms.
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6:00 p.m.
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YRU2 Meeting in the Youth Lounge.
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Coming Up in Faith Development...
| December 10 | Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 9am-12pm | | December 11 | Annual Christmas Pageant and Music Sunday
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 9am | | December 17 | BYKOTA trip to Little Store Christmas Project, 10am-1pm | | December 18 | No Classes. Children start in the sanctuary and then go to the Landers Room for a Special Holiday Gift & Ornament event after dismissal from worship.
Annual Hanukkah Party in Unity Hall after worship. |
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Click here to get details in the Faith Development Newsletter
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HANUKKAH PARTY!
All Are Welcome
Please join us Sunday, December 18, immediately after the service in Unity Hall for our annual Hanukkah Party. Our BYKOTA youth group is ready to lead our younger children in games and crafts. Our Klezmer musicians are ready to entertain us.
Come hear the music, make a menorah, dance the hora, and enjoy latkes, bagels, jelly doughnuts, and more!
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All are invited to an interfaith event hosted by the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester this Sun. Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at 57 Laurel St. Join Harvard Prof. Hisham Mahmoud, a local rabbi, and the Rev. Phil LaBelle for "The Legacies of Light: A Conversation with Moses, Jesus and Muhammad." Click here for details of the program.
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On December 18th, children PreK-8th grade meet for a special
gift/ornament making time. We would love to have any of the following donated items.
Small glass jars (with or without lids); Washi or other decorative tape; candy canes; strawberries; vanilla frosting; battery-operated tea lights; magazines; newspaper; peppermint hard candies; white or blue card stock. There is a box near the Welcome Table for donations.
Thank you!
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Christmas Day Pancake Breakfast
Join your friends at First Unitarian Church on Christmas Day for pancakes and a worship service! We will host a pancake breakfast at 9:30, before an open, family-friendly, and welcoming communion service at 10:30. Help us make sure we make the right number of pancakes by signing up here. Celebrate the season with fellowship and flapjacks on Sunday December 25. A freewill donation will be accepted for breakfast.
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Advent Series
Thomas Merton: Welcoming Hope, Humility and Joy into Advent and Christmas
Led by The Rev. Barbara Merritt and The Rev. Sarah Stewart.
A Brown Bag lunch Advent Series on Fridays, from noon to 1:30 in the Dining Room,
Dec 2, 9, 16 and 23. Please bring your lunch, and attend any or all of our meetings.
Advent literally means that something important is arriving, coming into our lives. It is the root of the word "adventure." While a Trappist, Catholic monk may seem like an unusual spiritual guide for free-thinking Unitarian Universalists, we will be discussing some of his writings which address all seekers after truth. We hope you will join us.
The Readings are available here.
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and Annual Solstice Celebration
Friday, December 16 from 6-9pm
The winter solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. It is an end and a beginning. Since earliest times people have celebrated it with ritual and several of your sisters have put together alovely program with ceremonial and joyful bits and pieces.
A favorite holiday ornament which will be added with others to make an altar of
our good memories.
A hope for the New Year. You will be asked to write it on a piece of paper during our solstice ceremony to be combined with the others.
A dish and a beverage to share.
All women of the church are encouraged to attend our gatherings.
Questions, contact
Lee Bona leebona@verizon.net
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Only One Left
If you missed getting a name on Sunday, you can still bring warmth and cheer to a child on Christmas. There is one card left on the tree, with the name of a child in the care of the Department of Children and Families, and in need of gifts to brighten the season.
Gifts need to be returned in gift bags, unwrapped, by noon on Sunday, December 18.
P. S. Socks, hats and mittens that appear on the tree will be delivered to Abby's House and Jeremiah's in by the Social Justice Committee. These gifts also need to be on the tree by noon on Dec. 18. .
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First Night Volunteers Needed
This year, First Unitarian is an official venue for First Night with co-sponsors The Islamic Society and The Center for Non-Violence. Yes, folks, we will be indoors and warm with our same focus on peace and justice!
Four programs in Unity Hall, from 5-9, will begin with outstanding music by Jim Scott and thoughtful Voices for Peace moderated by Paul Ropp, followed by two psychic programs. There will be Muslim treats, YRU2 fund raising with foods and beverages and free children's peace activities in the Dining Room throughout the evening.
We will need many volunteers to make this a success and have the church ready for services the next morning. All we need from you is a two hour commitment between the hours of 5 pm and 10 pm, leaving you plenty of time to dine, watch the fireworks and ring in the New Year feeling good. There is a sign-up sheet in the Bancroft Room for you to indicate your preferred shift.
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"Good Morning, Nice To See You"
These six words have the power to change the day. Put them together with a smile and people feel welcome. The Welcoming Team is recruiting people and families to greet those coming through our church doors on Sunday mornings. The joyful job includes handing out Orders of Service and helping new people. New families can be directed to the Sunday school area to meet with family greeters. New people can be directed to the Welcome Table for more information. Please signup here.
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First Unitarian Sunday Readers Sign Up
Rev. Sarah Stewart is inviting members and friends to sign up to read the scripture passage during the service every Sunday. That same person (with their family, if they want) could light the chalice at the beginning of the service. Sign up to be the reader on an upcoming Sunday here or at the Welcome table in the sanctuary after services. (Note: You do not have to register for a SignUpGenius account to sign up to be a Sunday Reader, just skip that question in the sign-up process.)
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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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