Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough
Weekly Update
March 28, 2019
Sunday, March 31 – 10:30 am
Jim Kirk, Worship Leader
In this Program Sunday service we’ll explore Prophecy. What is it? Is it still relevant? Why should UUs be interested in it?
This Week in Religious Education
RE classes: On March 31st we are beginning in the sanctuary at 10:30 and you can pick your kids up from their regularly scheduled RE classes at 11:45! Thanks!

Battling Horcruxes: This year our 5th/6th grade RE class is participating in the program Harry and the UU, which explores the injustices in the world today through the lens of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter book series. March’s horcrux is the Environmental Horcrux. Please help us support them as they are thinking about how to better care for their world.

Teachers: Please review the RE signup genius and consider donating your time and talents for a few more sessions. Some of our classes don’t yet have teachers signed up and we would like to make religious education here at UUCSW a wonderful experience. In addition to the regularly scheduled RE Classes, 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!

Easter Egg Hunt Coming Up! 
This is to remind everyone of our annual Easter egg hunt! We will be having a Group RE with an Easter theme on April 14th, the week before Easter, so that all our families who may have events or be traveling can still enjoy Easter at UUCSW! If you would like to help with hiding the eggs and helping run this little event, please let Cassie Lengel know!

PreK-1st Grade:
Spirit Play: Come hear some moral, interfaith stories, have hands on play, and enjoy a light snack.

2nd-4th Grade:
Moral Tales: Come learn more about how we can be “watchdogs” for justice!  

5th-6th Grade:
Harry and UU: Come join us as we learn about the Environmental Horcrux and how we can inspire others to do something about it!

7th-8th Grade:
Modified Building Bridges: Come learn about Humanism and its place in Unitarian Universalism.
Friday Fun Night March 29
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.
Ministerial Search Committee Update
We look forward to seeing everyone after coffee hour on the 31st to review the input from the Member Survey.

The UUCSW Search Committee:
Lisa Borchetta, leesabee@verizon.net Bruce Hall, bruce300@gmail.com and Juliana Spofford, julianas@charter.net
UU Knits April 1
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 the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 6:30 pm.
Buddhist Group April 7
The Buddhist Group will meet Sunday, April 7, at 1:30 pm. Please join us for discussion and practice. We accept drop-ins gladly! For questions contact Erin Gold at kentuckybluerose@gmail.com or Carol Palmer at cgpl1fe@yahoo.com.
Welcome Back Spring Potluck Brunch
Join us for a potluck brunch in place of coffee hour on April 7th. We look forward to welcoming back the promise of Spring and old and new friends. Please sign up at the link below.


Contact Lisa Shumway if you have any questions.
UU's at Lunch April 10
We will welcome Spring on Wednesday, April 10th at 11:30 at the Olde Post Office Pub in North Grafton. Take Route 30 to 140, turn left on 140 and left again on Ray Street. If you plan to meet with us, please let Mary Tribe (508-329-1646 or email: marytribe5@gmail.com) know by Sunday, April 7th, so she can make reservations.
Book Group April 12
For APRIL, we are reading The Mists of Avalon: A Novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Please join us. The group is open to all. We usually meet in members’ homes and enjoy small groups of seven to ten people. We enjoy some light refreshments, lively discussion, and wonderful company. You are welcome to attend.

If you are planning to attend for the first time, please email: Judithteacake@gmail.com.
April 7th to April 13th is Kindness Week
sponsored by Westborough Connects
You are invited to join in the celebration of kindness in our community!

Sunday, April 7th – Kindness Week Kick-off event from 2-5pm at Mill Pond School. An afternoon of kindness-themed activities for all ages including a Kindness Rocks workshop, Kindness Cards for deployed military, Chalk the Walks with Kindness, Knitting for Neighbors, Catch with a Cop, and a Community Drum Circle. Donations will be accepted for the Westborough Food Pantry.

To learn more about what else is happening during Kindness Week, click HERE.

Saturday, April 13th - Earth Day Town-Wide Cleanup
Join the annual town-wide litter clean-up sponsored by Westborough Community Land Trust and enjoy a drop-in Earth Day picnic lunch afterwards!
  • Early birds meet at 6:30 am at West Meadow Plaza or Bellows Road.
  • Families are invited at 9:30 am to check in at the Bay State Commons Green. 
  • From 11:30-12:30, volunteers will be treated to a drop-in picnic of pizza, healthy side dishes, beverages, and dessert at the Bay State Commons Green gazebo.

For more information about the Town-Wide Cleanup, click HERE.
2019-2020 Canvass
Our 2019-2020 Canvass Campaign is now officially underway!  

This year, our canvass goal is $106K. This target supports a planned reduction in ministerial compensation as we convert to a part-time minister but includes increases to cover annual cost growth in operating expenses, programs, and cost of living increases for remaining staff. Our canvass goal represents a 3% increase over last year’s pledges ($103K). Our goal is to deliver a balanced budget at the annual meeting which includes competitive pay for our new minister and our staff. Consider increasing your pledge from last year by 3% or more so we can cover our growing church expenses! Every bit helps.

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

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

To make a pledge

  1. Sign into your site.
  2. Click Giving on the main menu.
  3. Click + Pledge, enter your pledge information, and save.

If you are using Realm Connect on your mobile device

  1. Click on the Realm Connect App
  2. Click Giving on the menu at bottom of screen.
  3. Click Pledges at top of screen.
  4. 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 -  LSS0907@gmail.com.

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

Thank you,
Lisa Shumway and Sharon Barrett
2019-2020 Canvass Committee