RE classes: On May 26 we will begin in the sanctuary at 10:30 and then we will proceed to our Group RE time together until 11:45. We look forward to seeing you there!

Teachers: To all our lovely teachers this past year, thank you for all that you have done! But if you are able, please consider volunteering to help with the many Group RE classes we have in the upcoming months. We would love to see you and your children as often as you can come! Thank you.

Join fellow UUCSW friends each month for Friday Fun Night! Stop by the Chapel on the last Friday of each month at 6:30 pm to meet up with friends and decompress after a busy week. Bring a game, food and/or beverage to share, and join us for the fun.  (Note: last week's Weekly Update incorrectly listed this month's Friday Fun Night as being on May 24; we apologize for the error and hope to see you on May 31!)

This information will be of interest to all members of our congregation, not just Westborough residents. All towns have recycling challenges, whether they use E. L. Harvey or some other firm.

Where – In our very own church kitchen.

When – Sunday, June 2, 12:00–12:30 pm.

What – Pack meals.

We will be packing meals for people in a homeless shelter in Worcester. There will be jobs for all ages. We deliver 100 meals on Sunday and they are handed out the next two days. The shelter does NOT provide lunches so this is a big help for people.

The Friends of Buddha will meet one more time before the summer services start. It will be Sunday, June 2 at 1:30 pm in the Parlor. If it's too hot in there we might move to downstairs. Come back or join us for your first time, all are welcome. We will, as always, discuss meditation. We are also going to talk about Koan practice and maybe look at a few. For questions, contact Erin Gold at KentuckyBlueRose@gmail.com.

Special announcement: Please let me know if you’d like to be on a contact list for occasional attendance at the Boundless Way Zen Temple ( worcesterzen.org ) this summer. They have evening Practice Period services several times a week with meditation, some chanting, and walking meditation. When I plan to go I will contact those on the list to invite to go with me. If you haven’t been before and have questions, talk to or email me. - Erin Gold

Last year we participated in A Common Read, with the UUA, a unique experience to us, an opportunity to participate in a church-wide read, A Common Read. We are going to do our own Common Read as suggested by Ann Maloney and Amy Martellock in their March 24th sermon, Creating Our Future Together, that invited us to engage in creating a vision for the future of our congregation.

 

A Common Read invites participants to read and discuss the same book at the same time. A Common Read can build community in our congregation and provide us an opportunity to work toward common goals. You can order the paperback book or Kindle version of Upcycle Your Congregation: Creative Ideas for Transforming Faith Communities on Amazon using this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Upcycle-Your-Congregation-Transforming-Communities/dp/1558968156 (Kim Hall also has several to lend. Please contact her at kkereshall@gmail.com if you would like to borrow a book.)

 

Please click here for more information about our Common Read and plan to join us on Friday, June 7 at 7:00 pm at the church to start this important discussion on our mission, vision, and values. Please go to Realm and RSVP. Thank you.

The sign-up board for Summer Services 2019 is up on the door to the Chapel! With your help, we hope to have services through out the summer. For those new to the church, summer services are informal and start at 9:30 am in the Chapel where we have coffee and there is air conditioning.

Your topic does not need to be a "sermon." In the past, speakers have talked about a book they found important or enjoyable, kicked off a discussion on a topic of interest or concern, offered a musical presentation, or read a few favorite poems that they found meaningful. We also need people to help with simple refreshments. Funds are available for this. Some of our youth have already signed up to offer childcare, but there are still dates when 12 and older youth could help and make a little money.

Questions and suggestions are welcome. Please email Kathie Metzger at kmetzger200@gmail.com with questions or suggestions or speak with any of the following members of the Program Committee: Phyllis Barrett, Jerry Breecher, Jim Kirk or Catherine Nourse.

During the time that we are without a minister, the Pastoral Counseling Center at 7 Church Street is available to our congregants. Pastoral Counseling draws on the rich traditions of both psychology and, if desired, spirituality, working from an interfaith perspective, respecting everyone’s journey as they face difficult life experiences. The Center is supported in part by many of the Westborough places of worship, including ours, so that it can serve everyone, regardless of whether health insurance is available, although health insurance will be used when possible. A counselor at the Center is able to help whether you just want a one time meeting, or are interested in longer term help. To learn more about the center please explore their website at pccofma.org or talk with Sylvia Sirignano.