Weekly Update - February 13, 2020
Sunday Service: "Choosing Courage"
February 16th at 10:30 am
There is simply so much we cannot control in our beautiful and hurting world. How do we cultivate resilient communities in spite of all the uncertainty around us? What does it look like to make courage into a daily practice in our lives? Join our guest minister, Rev. Natalie Malter, to reflect on choosing courage amidst the messiness.
This Week in Religious Education
This Sunday is a Chapel start and we will have a Group RE for all ages!
A Message from the DRE
Dear UUCSW, 

I am very sorry to announce that come the end of the 2019-2020 program year, I will be stepping down from my position as the Director of Religious Education. Unfortunately, my husband and I must leave this area due to his career, but fortunately we are leaving for a grand new adventure to follow our passions for spirituality and social justice! 

I want you all to know how much I have valued our time together and the ministry we have engaged in as a congregation that has allowed our youth to continue growing into the amazing young men and women they are. I will be spending the rest of my time here at UUCSW preparing everything for a new DRE and enjoying my time spent with the youth. 

I take all the memories of our time together with me with gratitude and I pray for all the best for this congregation, knowing that I leave you in the caring hands of Rev. Laurel with the support of the board and the love of your congregation to surround you. 

Cassie Lengel 
UUCSW DRE; 2018-2020
Speakeasy Auction tickets on sale February 16th!
Tickets for the auction ( Saturday, March 14 at Christina’s Diner) go on sale THIS Sunday; see Pauline in the Chapel during coffee hour. Tickets are $20 each and include food and a live band! IF you would like to go to the auction and find the ticket price prohibitive, please see Rev. Laurel for tickets. IF you can’t go to the auction but would like to proxy bid on items, please contact Amy MacDougall ( kdjmom3@gmail.com) or come see her in coffee hour. A list of LIVE and SILENT SIGN-UPs will go out in a special email next week. Any items that do NOT sell out will go out in a “sign-up and pay” format to the congregation AFTER the auction to give everyone a chance to sign up for a dinner or silent item.
Blood Drive in Memory of Corinne February 29th
If you are ready, willing and able please join us at the Westborough Fire Department on Saturday, February 29th for our second blood drive with the Boston Children's Hospital Bloodmobile in memory of Corinne. We'll be there from 9 am to 4 pm and would love to see you even if donating blood is not your thing. When I spoke with Cyndi our BCH Bloodmobile contact she let me know that we did a great job with the first drive and that she especially was impressed with the community's response and the connection demonstrated. I'm glad we were able to build on the previous drives and bring in some new donors as well. You can use this link to sign up online: halfpints.childrenshospital.org. Click the Donate Blood tab at the top left. In the first box enter WESTBFD. Click the WESTBFD drive link. Select appointment time. Thank you! - Pauline Sciarappa
Building on Our Foundation:
The 2020-2021 Annual Pledge Campaign for UUCSW
Our 2020-2021 Annual Pledge Campaign is now officially underway!

This year, our campaign goal is $120K, up from $103K last year. We are seeking to continue the forward momentum of the past year to achieve our goals to expand our ministry, share our principles, and plan for the future. Please consider increasing your pledge from last year by 5% or more so we can reach our goals! Every contribution helps.

You may make your pledge online using Realm or with the paper form, available at UUCSW or by contacting Lisa Shumway at treasurer@uucsw.org.

Here is the link to sign in to Realm on your computer: https://onrealm.org/UUCSW/SignIn

To make a pledge:
  • Sign into your account
  • Click Giving on the main menu
  • Click + Pledge, enter your pledge information, and save

If you are using Realm Connect on your mobile device:
  • Click on the Realm Connect App
  • Click Giving on the menu at bottom of screen
  • Click Pledges at top of screen
  • Click Make a pledge, enter your pledge information, and save

If you run into difficulty pledging with Realm, or need to edit your pledge, please contact Lisa Shumway.

More information about our pledge campaign can be found in the attached document.

Thank you,
2020-2021 Annual Pledge Campaign Committee
2019 Contribution Statements
Contribution Statements for 2019 were emailed on January 25th through the Realm system. The embedded link will take you to a PDF which you can print. If we do not have an email address on file for you, your statement was mailed to your home address.

You may also print your own statement by logging into your Realm account from a computer, selecting "Giving" from the pull-down menu, then clicking on the "2019 contribution statement" box on the right-hand side of the screen.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Shumway at treasurer@uucsw.org.
Attend UUA General Assembly this June!
UUA General Assembly is in Providence June 24-28, which is a great rejuvenating weekend and our chance to VOTE as delegates on UU issues.

We would like to get a "carpool” together, and it is a significant savings to REGISTER BY THE MARCH 15 DEADLINE - but final payment is DUE BY FEBRUARY 29.

Please see a board member ASAP if you are interested in attending. More information is available on the UUA website.
S0cial Justice Action
Each week we publish a “Green Sheet” containing information about Social Justice happenings and opportunities at UUCSW and in the broader community. Please click here to view this week's edition.