Weekly Update - November 14, 2019
Sunday Service: On Grief and Gratitude
November 17th, 2019 at 10:30 am
Led by Rev. Laurel Gray
As the leaves fall, and we rest in the place between All Souls and Thanksgiving, we’ll focus on what it means to give space for change and grief, while maintaining a sense of gratitude.
This Week in Religious Education
Calling all Teachers! We want YOU to join the Religious Education Program for the 2019-2020 program year! There is still time and availability to volunteer! Not sure what you can offer? Feel free to talk to the DRE Cassie! If you have already volunteered, please see Cassie or a member of the RE Committee to finish submitting your CORI and Code of Ethics information. Thanks!
Registration: This is a reminder to our RE families that registration has looked a little different this year. We have added a new discipline policy, a photo release form, and a snack fund donation in addition to the registration form. If you are unsure if you have submitted everything please see Cassie and she can help you get the rest!
Join us this week for our Religious Education Classes! We will begin in the Sanctuary for a Time for All Ages Story before heading downstairs for our lessons. RE Classes will end at 11:45 when parents can pick up their kids from the RE classrooms downstairs. Thanks!
Giving Tree: Starting this Sunday, November 17th, we will be joining our fellow churches in this wonderful outreach to our community! We will have our tree filled with tags this Sunday for you to take off of it if you are able and buy a gift for a family in need. We truly appreciate all your support as we work to make this Christmas special for everyone. These gifts should come back to UUCSW unwrapped on December 8th so we can walk all the donations over to St Luke’s church. Thank you!
Warm Sock Drive: For the month of November we will be collecting warm socks to donate to a local homeless shelter. Please keep our brothers and sisters in mind during these shorter, colder days and let us help provide them a little extra warmth this season! All sizes and kinds of new socks are accepted, although men's are needed. Donations can be collected in the basket in the Chapel. Thank you!
Youth Group Meeting: Welcome to all our High School Youth who would like to join us for another year of Youth Group! We will meet at 12 pm on November 17th to discuss our vision for what we’d like to do this year. There will be pizza!!
Looking Ahead: Children’s Choir and Pageant! This December we will be bringing back our children’s choir! If your children like to sing, invite them out on Sunday mornings during December at 9:50 am to practice some holiday songs with our choir. We will also be practicing for our Family Friendly Christmas Pageant on December 15th during RE time. We will perform these songs and the pageant on December 22nd. For more information please see Cassie Lengel or Kala Farnham.
Guest at Your Table Sponsored by the UU Service Committee Starts November 17th
This month you may take home colorful boxes to collect coins at home during the weeks around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Boxes will be distributed November 17th to each family who would like to take one. The UU Service Committee website describes this program as part of the UU community culture since 1975 to strengthen UU connections to our shared principles and help to challenge injustice throughout the world. It is a tradition for coming together to learn about human rights work and raise funds to advance justice in communities near and far. This year’s theme is: Women Leaders, Strong Communities. The funds will go to the UU Service Committee in honor of women leaders from partner organizations that have taken on some of today’s greatest human rights challenges. To learn more, visit the UUSC.org website.  Please return boxes to church December 8th. See Kim Hall or John Metzger for any questions. Thanks.
UU Knits November 18th
Do you enjoy any type of needle or yarn craft? Then bring your WIP (Work in Progress) to sit and gab with other crafters while you make some progress! We provide a zero-pressure setting, and we have a great time. We welcome all skill levels. Join us in the Parlor on November 18th at 6:30 pm.
Happiness as a Spiritual Practice November 21st
We have started a daytime Adult RE program called “Happiness as a Spiritual Practice.” All UUCSW members and friends are invited to participate. What does the research say about happiness and how to attain it? How can we use this information to enhance our lives and our connections? Meetings are held in the Chapel on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Join us!
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service November 26th
The Westborough Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held this year on Tuesday, November 26th at St. Luke the Evangelist Church at 7:30 pm. UUCSW members are warmly invited and encouraged to attend!
Birthday Bank Tradition is Back!
We have resumed our tradition of using the "Birthday Bank" in which we put in the number of coins that correspond with our ages. We will be doing this fun activity once a month on the last Sunday at the beginning of service. If your birthday is during the month, bring some coins (pennies are fine) to join in marking this yearly passage!
Get a head start on your holiday shopping with ShopWithScrip physical gift cards!

When you purchase a gift card through ShopwithScrip, a percentage of the face value of the card goes to UUCSW. These small but significant rebates really add up - we are hoping to raise $1,000 through the holidays with this program.

If you’ve set up a Scrip account, you can continue to place your order online as usual. If you don’t have an account, we have created a paper order form you can use to purchase physical gift cards by check through the holiday season. Order forms are available in the Chapel or from the PDF linked here. Checks made out to UUCSW and your completed order form should be returned to Lisa Shumway. We will place orders weekly starting Monday, November 4th, and continue through December 9th. Expect a one-week turnaround on all orders.
Support UUCSW with Amazon Smile
Did you know that when you shop for the holidays at smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3030641, AmazonSmile donates to Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough? Sign up today to take advantage of this easy way to fundraise for UUCSW. 27 of our members and friends have already signed up! 
Submit Your Announcements to the Vista
UUCSW's Vista newsletter is published monthly and submissions are welcome! Please email your church news, announcements, and calendar events to Andy Koenigsberg at our new Vista email address: Vista@uucsw.org. To have information included in the December Vista, please email Andy by Tuesday, November 19th.
Social Justice Action
Each week we publish a “Green Sheet” which contains information about Social Justice happenings and opportunities at UUCSW and in the broader community. Please click below to view this week's edition.