The UUCW Message
January 16, 2018
In This Issue



Office Notes and Flyers

UPDATED   
 

UPDATED 

Office Hours
(Sept 5, 2017 - 
June 28, 2018):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thursday 9 am - 2 pm 
 
Gmail Users -  Please note that if you stop receiving the Message, Nugget, and Weekend Reminder, check your Promotions tab in Gmail. Often, you will find that church emails are in there! Please click   HERE   for more information. Please share this information with your fellow congregants if they mention they aren't getting the Message!
 
PLEASE NOTE: Our trash and recycling is generally picked up once a month. Please be sure to break down all cardboard boxes before putting them in the recycling dumpster so it doesn't fill up too fast!
 

 

Congregational Mission Statement

"The members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester covenant to be a congregation of love, hope and justice inspiring people to take on the challenges of a changing world."

  

 

Welcoming Church 

Mission Statement 

The LGBTQI and Allies of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester strives to further the affirmation and celebration of LGBTQI individuals in all aspects of the church community. We also seek to increase the visibility of UUCW as a Welcoming Congregation within the greater community.

 

 

UUCW Covenant

In consonance with the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we the members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester covenant to sustain and support a courageous and caring community by:

 

* Bringing our best selves to form a welcoming, loving, and inclusive community of faith;

 

* Creating an atmosphere of celebration and worship in a safe environment;

 

* Providing opportunities where diverse people and points of view are respected and where open-hearted and open-minded discussion of our differences is encouraged;

 

* Treating each other with kindness and respect;

 

* Approaching conflicts with a spirit of humility and with the respectful intent for peaceful resolution;

 

* Engaging in and encouraging spiritual and intellectual growth across the lifespan;

 

* Fostering social justice and positive transformation in our community and in the world at large;

 

* Growing and maintaining the resources necessary to support the missions and ministries of this congregation;

 

* Fostering fellowship and enjoying each other and the unique gifts that each person brings to our community.

Upcoming Events at UUCW
Our Congregation's Host Week for IHN is coming up! 
January 28 - February 3! IHNHostWeek

The sign-ups have begun!  We're looking for volunteers to host dinner and/or overnight for the Interfaith Hospitality Network at 91 June Street . IHN is not staffed in the evening and that is where we come in.  If you have not volunteered in the past, and would like to learn more, please speak to or email me or Dianne Mann for details.  Should you decide to volunteer, we will team you up with an experienced volunteer. 
 
The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (IHN) works in partnership with the faith community to provide shelter and assistance to families with children who are homeless. The program's primary goals are to assist families in increasing their income and to help them secure permanent housing, while providing the critical support services necessary for them to succeed.  IHN of Greater Worcester serves families who do not qualify for state-funded Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter through the Department of Housing and Community Development; making it a critical program in the community safety net for families that are homeless. Check out their website for more information:  http://www.ihnworcester.org/
 
The sign-up board is in Fellowship Hall from now until January 28. 

Thank you for your support.
 
SSL jepg
Standing on the Side of Love Task Force - January 21 SSLTF

Help us celebrate the first anniversary of the million Women's March on Sunday January 21st after coffee hour in the Sanctuary!!  We will have a discussion/panel on # ME TOO: Women's Voices, Telling Our Stories.  Women will have a chance to share experiences of survival and resilience, and plan strategies for resistance. We welcome men telling their stories as well.

Please let us know if you would like to share your experience.  It is in telling our truth that we are healed.
This will be a powerful kick-off to the New Year. So come, share and listen to the brave voices of our community.
 
Joan McGinn & Mara Pentlarge, SSL Task Force Co-Facilitators

Betty on the roof 
directing a previous year's 
All-Church Photo!
All-Church Photo is Coming Soon - April 15 AllChurchPhoto

Stand together in community - on our front lawn - for our annual All-Church Photo, following the service on Sunday, April 15, 2018.  Be there or be square!

Rain date is Sunday, April 22nd.

 
Current News at UUCW
Holiday Shoebox Program - More "Thank You"s from ACE! ACE
 
Many of you may not have seen the thank-you card the ACE students sent those who had filled shoe boxes with gifts for them in December.  So here is a photo, along with thank you's in some of their native languages.

   
News From the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry LFFP2
 
Pet Food Pickup Volunteer Needed: One of the things we have had available since the Food Pantry moved here over eight years ago is pet food for our folks who otherwise would not be able to feed their fur babies.  The food we get is donated by Second Chance Animal Shelter in W. Brookfield.  Unfortunately, the person who was making the trip to the shelter is not available to do so at present.  Although the food was being picked up on Friday afternoon, I imagine that might be flexible to another daytime.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping with this part of our ministry.  Contact:  Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net.
   
Emergency Homeless Shelter - Donations Needed EmerShelter

As some of you know Aaron and I have been volunteering at the Emergency Homeless Shelter at St. John's Church last year and this.  This year we have had a major change - namely we now open up when it is 32 degrees or less as opposed to last year when we opened only when it was 20 degrees or less.  This means that we have been open 11 nights already.  Food has been provided primarily by the volunteers but this is proving to be challenging this year as we are open so much more.  Financial contributions for food would be greatly welcome - the volunteers will still prepare the food but they would love to have some help paying for it.  Contributions can be made through the site that Aaron created - Keep Worcester Warm  http://www.uucworcester.org/keepworcesterwarm  or Net of Compassion - http://www.netofcompassion.org/   and note Emergency Homeless Shelter.  Thank you for helping our very needy clients.
 
Ascentria Family - Volunteers Needed AscentriaFam
 
You may recall that we took on a refugee family last year and worked with them until they moved away.  We have now been offered another family to assist - it is a mother and 3 boys from the Congo.  In order to do this we need many hands to pitch in - taking mom shopping, taking kids to medical appointments, etc.  The more people we have the less any one person has to do.  Marilyn Martin and I have agreed to take the lead on this but we need to know if others are willing to pitch in.  If you are interested in helping please let me know as soon as possible so we can make a determination as to whether or not to jump into this.  Any questions - please let Marilyn or me know.  Thanks for considering this.
 
Please Save Your Coupons!! LFFP
 
 
Do you get coupon inserts in the mail?  Do you often throw them away?  Don't!  Bring them to church and put in the bin in Fellowship Hall.  Our own Anne Harris will use them to purchase items for the Food Pantry.  Bring your weekly coupons from the mail or the Sunday newspaper and let's all help the Food Pantry provide items for those in need in our community!
 
Reminders about Fundraising! Fundraising  

Amazon Smile Holiday Shopping Reminder
Just a reminder as you begin your holiday shopping - if you shop on Amazon there is an opportunity to earn money for the church.  Just go to  Amazon Smile and select the church as a place where Amazon will provide a contribution based on what you buy.  We get a percentage of your total purchase.  Even if you are using Amazon Prime it will still kick in but you have to go to Amazon Smile at the outset.  Thanks - every little bit helps!  
 
Touchstone Monthly Theme  
January Theme - Justice
January 16 - 22 TchstnQuotes

 

January 16: "Do not make the mistake of thinking that you have to agree with people and their beliefs to defend them from injustice." ~ Bryant McGill
 
January 17: "The American people have this to learn: that where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither person nor property is safe." ~ Frederick Douglass
 
January 18: "History says, Don't hope / On this side of the grave, / But then, once in a lifetime / The longed-for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up, / And hope and history rhyme." ~ Seamus Heaney
 
January 19: "Justice. I've heard that word. I tried it out. I wrote it down. I wrote it down several times and always it looked like a damn cold lie to me." ~ Jean Rhys
 
January 20: "We have a racially based justice system that overpunishes, fails to rehabilitate, and doesn't make us safer." ~ Piper Kerman
 
January 21: "I'd rather be shot dead screaming for justice than die alone in a prison of my own making." ~ Tahereh Mafi
 
January 22: "And that's when things get messy. When people begin moving beyond charity and toward justice and solidarity with the poor and oppressed ..., they get in trouble. Once we are actually friends with the folks in struggle, we start to ask why people are poor, which is never as popular as giving to charity." ~ Shane Claiborne


Sunday News - Worship & Religious Exploration
Weekly Worship  WorshipInfo
Sunday January 21, 2018

  


 
Religious Exploration & Education  RENews
Sunday January 21, 2018

  
 
Spirit Play:  regular class
Grades 1 - 7:  RE-UUnite program
Rainbow Rats:  You are invited to assist with REUUnite
Teen OWL:  meets at 12:30 pm
Youth Group:  Meets from 6-8 p.m.

 
HosT Coffee Hour News  HosTNews
 
The HosT Coffee Hour team thank all the many church teams, groups, and committees who have signed up to HosT Coffee Hour this year!   If you would like to sign up to help host a Coffee Hour this year, please click HERE
 
At coffee hour we extend the hospitality we proclaim! Many people judge a congregation by its coffee hour hospitality - especially newcomers .  Please make it a point to speak to someone you don't know!
 
Date
Group on deck for hosting
Hospitality Team Contact
January 21 Moral Tales Class Vickie Cox-Lanyon
January 28 Building Bridges Class Vickie Cox-Lanyon
February 4 Hospitality Team and
Soup with Kristen Payson
Kristen Payson

Help Needed! Sunday Morning Worship Team Sign-up! WorshipTeams
 
 
We need your help.  Not a long-term commitment, just a Sunday along the way this year.  This is a congregation that relishes the many voices and passions of its people.  We are looking for people to participate on Sunday morning's by signing up to:
  • Light the Chalice - Provide your own words or words can be provided
  • Read the Welcome - script available
  • Read Opening Words - Provide your own words or words can be provided
  • Introduce the Offering - Provide your own words or words can be provided
  • Help set up the Sanctuary prior to Service - Orientation and training provided.
This is not a lengthy commitment.  If each active member and friend of the congregation signed up for just 2 spots a year, we'd have the entire calendar covered! 
 
LEADERS!  Have a special event or effort that you want to highlight, this is a perfect opportunity to be heard.  While providing any of the services above (sans Sanctuary set up) you can plug your special project.
 
ALSO, Aaron is looking for a handful of folks who would be interested and willing to be a Worship Leader on Sundays when we have a Guest Speaker.  You will receive a full script of the WA parts of the service ahead of time and will be connected personally with the Guest Speaker to work out any other details.  Training is also provided as desired.  Contact Aaron (arpayson@charter.net) directly if you are willing to be a Worship Leader.

HERE is the link to sign up to be part of a Sunday morning Worship Team this year. Scroll to the desired date, and sign up on the element you'd like to do.  You will receive a confirmation email and a reminder email prior to your scheduled day(s).
 
Thanks you for all you do!!
   SermonArchive
 
Photos of the WeekPhotosWeek

Steven Ober delivers his personal reflections of attending the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike in 1968, as part of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Sunday service on January 14, 2018.  Ober said it was "one  of the most intense, emotional and meaningful experiences of my life."  A photo from the march is projected on the wall at right.

Guest musician Carrick McCullough plays "Oh Freedom," the Opening Hymn of the service on 
Sunday, January 14, 2018.  This was Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Sunday.
Ongoing Meetings  OngoingMtgs
  Join us Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Noon for Lunch with the Minister! Bring a bag lunch and something to share if you desire. We'll have coffee and a place set for you in the lounge. All are welcome to enjoy conversation with Aaron and friends. We often bring up a topic of interest. The Reader's Unite Afternoon book group meets following lunch. 

Readers Unite! UUCW Afternoon book club meets monthly following the Minister's Luncheon. From October - June we meet on the first Wednesday of the month at about 1:15pm. Join us for a lively discussion or if you can't make it to our meeting but want to read on your own, we would love to discuss books at coffee hour! Questions? See Kim Napoleone. Our future selections are: February 7 - ... continue reading

 


Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

Fax:

508-853-2065 

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

Emergency Phone:

508-853-1942 

ext. 108

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