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The Unitarian
December 20, 2016
Vol. 71, No 15
Join Us for Worship This Week
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We Wish You a Happy Holiday Season
Church Office is closed December 26 & 27
The next newsletter will be emailed the first week of January.
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
5:30 p.m. Prelude Begins at 5:15 p.m.)
Preaching: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
Experience the mystery of Christmas with readings, song, silence and candlelight. Worship in our traditional New England sanctuary and welcome the rebirth of hope into a waiting world. Our Festival Choir will sing, led by Director of Music Will Sherwood.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Pancake Breakfast
9:30 a.m.
Christmas Sunday Service
10:30 a.m.
Preaching: The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
Join your friends at First Unitarian Church on Christmas Day for pancakes and a worship service! We will host a pancake breakfast at 9:00 a.m., before an open, family-friendly, and welcoming communion service at 10:30 a.m. 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.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
New Year's Day Service
Preaching: Abigail Hannaford-Ricardi
An elderly priest, a youth from the Polish underground and a traveler with a jar of pickles walk into a service... To find out why, join us on the 8th day of Hanukkah. Our Children's Program Coordinator, Abigail Hannaford-Ricardi will reflect on her personal journey and her relationship with the Jewish holiday of light. Our Klezmer band, which enchanted us at our Hanukkah party, is back for this special service.
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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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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 9:00, 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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The Christmas Eve Collection:
Practice generosity and serving justice
Each year First Unitarian donates the generous contributions made during the offering at the Christmas Eve service (the largest plate collection of the year). This year, the collection will go to three important causes:
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN): The IHN partners with the religious community
to serve and nurture families who are homeless in the greater Worcester area. First Unitarian church has been an active participant in the program for over 15 years. Our Christmas Eve donation is a significant help in supporting the program goals, which includes providing the guests with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain their families in their new homes. Our own Liz Gustavson has been the volunteer coordinator for over 10 years. She thanks the Prudential Committee and the generosity of church members and friends who help to support IHN in caring for families who are homeless.
Student scholarship at Jhamtse Gatsal,Tibet: For over ten years the Christmas Eve
collection has provided a year's support for a student at this residential school in the remote Himalayans. The school was founded by Lobsang Phuntsok, a Tibetan monk who gave weekly teachings in the Bancroft Room for several years. Beyond education, the school provides nutritional, emotional, and ethical support to produce compassionate, well-rounded individuals who are a positive force in the world.
Refugee Circle Fund: This year our church has been supporting Olive, a single-mother from the Central African Republic, and her three children Vanessa (8), Jordy
(5), and Angela (2). The family arrived in Worcester a year ago and has benefited from our assistance with transportation, interacting with government and city agencies, obtaining medical care, and securing an appropriate school placement for Vanessa who is deaf. Olive is now working and learning English. Resettled refugees are required to reimburse the cost of their plane tickets to the United States, and we have been collecting funds to help Olive pay her $4000 airfare debt, which is now down to $2500. Donations on Christmas Eve will help finish paying this debt.
If you will not be attending the Christmas Eve service this year, you may mail a check to the church office or put a check in the collection plate with "Christmas Eve collection" written on the memo line of your check.
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First Night Activities at First Unitarian
Intergenerational entertainment and peace activities are featured at First Night
activities at First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street. In Unity Hall at 5 PM enjoy family music with Jim Scott, at 6 PM Community Voices for Peace, with community leaders reflecting on everyday strategies for building peace in our troubled world. Speakers include: Rev. Daniel Gregoire (Unitarian Universalist Society of Grafton and Upton), Mike True (Center for Nonviolent Solutions), Mona Ives (Worcester Islamic Center), Melissa Blacker (Boundless Way Zen), Frank Kartheiser (Worcester Interfaith), and Predrag Cicovacki (Holy Cross College). In the Dining Room from 5:00 to 9:00 PM there will be crafts and refreshments too. Need First Night Buttons to attend.
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Thanks to those of you who have volunteered to help make First Night a success! If you haven't yet signed up in the Dining Room, please do it today - we need many more helping hands.
Your efforts for just two hours (or more if you're able) will bring joy to you and your community and help to prepare for a positive 2017! Questions? Please talk to Paul Ropp or Gini Johnson.
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Share One Of Your Stories
What inspires you? We all have stories. Pick your brain and jot down some thoughts. Let them sit for a while and then work them a bit more. Your story might be enlightening or entertaining to others.
We are a creative congregation and we have much to share. One way we can do this is by putting together a booklet. Content will be poems, short stories, reflections, meditations, humorous and learning experiences, prayers, and artwork. Original submissions from all ages are welcome.
Lee Reid, Deborah Levering, Madeline & Rick Silva, Abigail Hannaford-Ricardi & Sten Gustavson
Guidelines & Information:
- From one to 500 words
- Initially, three items can be submitted at any time before the deadline. Mark them 1, 2 and 3 indicating your preference in case not all can be published.
- Use a popular typeface, double space & one inch margins
- Or handwritten copy that is clearly written (we will type it)
- Copy MUST use appropriate language for general readership
- No controversial topics, ie. political issues
- Submissions limited to members and friends who attend
- Artwork must be reproducible and reducible to booklet size with high contrast
- Look for possible upcoming writers workshop for children & youth also one for adults
- Tentative deadline June 2017
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First Unitarian Sunday Readers Sign Up
Spaces still open
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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"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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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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