The UUCW Nugget
November 30, 2016
 
Office Hours
(Sept 6, 2016 - 
June 29, 2017):
Mon, Tues, Wed: 
9 am - 3 pm
Thur. 9 am - 2 pm  

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.
 
On Healing & The Holidays 
In the December edition of Touchstones, Rev. Kirk Loadman Copeland includes the following:
 
The meaning of the word healing goes back to the 13th century Old English sense of "restoration of wholeness." A later sense from the 1670s was the "touch that cures." The Rev. Fred Recklau in Partners in Care: Medicine and Ministry Together offers a thoughtful, extended comparison of cure versus healing. He writes, "Cure alters what is; Healing offers what might be. Cure is an act; Healing is a process. Cure acts upon another; Healing shares with another. Cure manages; Healing touches. Cure seeks ultimately to conquer pain; Healing seeks to transcend pain. Cure ignores grief; Healing assumes grief. Cure encounters mystery as a challenge for understanding; Healing encounters mystery as a ready channel for meaning. Cure rejects death and views it as defeat; Healing includes death among the blessed outcomes of caring. Cure may occur without healing; Healing may occur without cure. Cure separates body from soul; Healing embraces the soul. Cure tends to isolate; Healing tends to incorporate. Cure combats illness; Healing fosters wellness. Cure fosters function; Healing fosters purpose." Cure has to do with the body, while healing has to do with emotions and the soul. And when a cure is not possible in cases involving a disability, a chronic illness, or a terminal illness, we are wise to pursue healing.
 
I'm particularly moved by the statement "Cure encounters mystery as a challenge for understanding; Healing encounters mystery as a ready channel for meaning."  As we enter another holiday season, I want to invite you to participate in the variety of "channels" we have crafted for you to deepen meaning in your life this Holiday Season. 
 
Sunday, December 4, we gather at 10 am to explore "Digging Up the Foundations of Faith" which honors the ways we continue to be challenged to redefine popular religious sensibilities remembering the contribution of Faustus Socinius, one of the early founders of Polish Unitarianism.
 
Sunday, December 11 at 10 am we gather for worship to explore the art and spiritual discipline of patience which is so central to this season of waiting and wondering.
 
Sunday, December 18 we will host our Annual Winter Solstice Service at 10 AM including the Tale of Illiana.


Then we gather for the most festive service of our year at 4 pm for the Annual Holiday Vespers Service followed by our Annual Vespers Tea.  If you are willing and interested in helping to set up, serve or clean up following our Vespers Tea, please sign up HERE.
 
Saturday, December 24 we will gather at 7 pm for our Annual Christmas Eve Service "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" to honor the eve of Christmas with music and readings for the season.
 
Sunday, December 25 we gather with friends from 4 other local congregations for an Ecumenical Christmas Day Service "The Gifts of Presence" at First Baptist Church at 10 am (corner of Salisbury and Park Ave., Worcester). 
 
Sunday, January 1 at 10am, we begin the new year with Guest Minister and Legacy of UUCW, Rev. Jennifer Innis who will return to our sanctuary for the first service of the New Year.
 
As has been the tradition of UUCW there are also a variety of ways to Gift and Give through a variety of means.  Please see the information below to discover ways you too can gift and give this season.
 
Aaron

HolidayGive
As the Holiday Season approaches, we are mindful that we have a history of offering a variety of ways to give and to gift here at UUCW. In an effort to invite participation in these efforts, without overwhelming each other, we are offering this list to you in hopes that you will participate in any of the ways that feel best to you and assist you in celebrating the holidays in ways that are most meaningful.  This list will grow over the next two weeks so watch for your favorite ways to give and gift!
 
Holiday Shoe Boxes Project
Last year, our UU church participated in preparing holiday shoe boxes for the ACE (African Community Education) children of Worcester.  They are mostly refugee children who attend an after-school program at the old Fanning Building in order to catch up with their grade level.  Upon arrival, some had never gone to school.  Robin and her youth group will be participating, and there will possibly be other churches, through Robin's colleagues, who will join in.  I will make an announcement in church this Sunday and will have specific information for you in Fellowship Hall after the service. The deadline for handing in the filled boxes will be Dec. 11. Thank you so much for helping these kids get to know and to enjoy this holiday celebration. Pauline Courchesne
 
 
Annual UUCW Craft Fair - December 3, 9 am - 3 pm CraftFair 

We are looking for people to bake cookies for the fair and to work at the outdoor wreath sale and indoor snack bar.
 
We Need Items for Craft Fair Basket Raffle!
 
Beginning this Sunday !  Please help us build up our Dec 3 Craft Fair Basket Raffle baskets by bringing in a new item that can be included in one of our baskets !!  Pet Basket, Spa Basket, Foodie Basket, and Family Fun Night Basket.  This was a fabulous fundraiser for our church last year at the fair- and we are hoping to have success with it again!  
We're almost there, but still looking to fill foodie basket, family fun Basket with goodies!! This is the last Sunday to donate - or you can arrange with Jen McCullough for pickup!  Thank you !! 

Can't attend but would like to make a donation to this important church fundraiser?   ?  HERE is an easy way to make a donation!
 
 
Please contact Robin if you can help.
 
Reminders about Fundraising! Fundraising  

Book & Clothing Donation Bins
Please keep in mind that one of our fundraising programs is the two bins across the street in our parking lot for books and clothing.  We actually make very good money from this endeavor!  So, as you're doing your fall cleaning or whatever, please take a minute to fill the bins as well as you can!

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!  
 
Contact Information

Phone:

508-853-1942

Email:

office@uucworcester.org

Fax:

508-853-2065

Website:

www.uucworcester.org

 

 

 

UUCW Facebook

UUCW Twitter