November 20-21, 2021 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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Every Saturday: Brown bag lunch donations to support John Street Outreach. Drop off Saturdays noon- 4:00 PM. Sign up HERE; contact David Vita to learn more.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2021
TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL - 7:00-8:00 PM
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Please join us in vigil. Triangle Community Center, 650 West Avenue, Norwalk.
"Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. With so many seeking to erase transgender people - sometimes in the most brutal ways possible - it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice."
~ Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021: 10:00 AM, Virtual and In Person
"Thanksgiving Reimagined" – Rev Dr. John Morehouse
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In this multigenerational Thanksgiving service Rev. John will explore the Thanksgiving beyond the troubling myth of Pilgrims and Indians.
Click HERE for the Order of Service.
For virtual participation: our ZOOM link is always on our website's homepage and does not change from week to week. You can also click HERE. Meeting ID 207 517 697 PASSWORD: 8893787678 Landline: 1 646 876 9923.
Offering can be made on VENMO ("The Unitarian Church in Westport"), on vop.tucw.org, or as we pass the plate Sunday morning.
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Upcoming service: November 28, 2021
“Connecting to Earth” – Kim Warman, Intern Minister and Youth Group members
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Upcoming service concert: December 5, 2021
Jonah And The Whale - Children's Choir
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LGBTQ+ 101: THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 at 11:15 AM |
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The Gender Equity Team (GET) is excited to present “LGBTQ+ 101: An Introduction to Identities and Allyship,” a training provided through a grant from the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk. This is a two part, multi-generational training to give our congregation common language to connect us as we learn more about terminology, definitions and rethinking historical and traditional assumptions about gender and sexuality. The first session will begin at 11:15 am on November 21, 2021 in the Sanctuary. The second session will be January 9, 2022. Participation and registration is intended for those who can attend both dates.
Seating is limited so register now by contacting Jamie Forbes. Due to Covid precautions we ask that you bring your own lunch.
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Last week our children had an opportunity to talk with Grandmother Nancy, an elder and storyteller of Algonquin and French
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Heritage. She is internationally recognized for her work and an active member here in our UU congregation. |
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Ellie Grosso read the story Stolen Words, and the group talked about the lost languages of the Native Americans.
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Meanwhile, the 6th and 7th graders talked with Nina Nagy about Buddhism in their Crossing Paths program. |
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Every Sunday, adults with infants - pre-K are welcome to bring their children into the sanctuary with them, or to sit in the foyer or library, where they can hear the service but have a bit more flexibility. Our ushers can help them get settled. As always, please contact Heather Hamilton for information about pre-K to 7th grade programs; Nate Pawelek for 8th-12th grade programs.
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NOVEMBER 21 and 28 – All Faith Formation Children preK-6th grades are invited to attend the 10:00 AM service with their families.
Please read information about Christmas Eve pageant, below.
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Our Whole Lives ("OWL") for 8th and 9th graders will meet this Friday, November 19, 6:30-8:30 PM in the Meeting House for their monthly “pizza” session. OWL will not meet on Sunday, November 21, including the Parent Group.
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There is a Youth Group sleepover retreat Saturday, November 20. The sleepover will commence promptly at 4:00 PM to remove a cable strapped to an oak along Lyons Plain Road. (The cable will eventually kill this tree). There will be no youth group meeting on November 21. We will continue raking leaves this day.
We are close to our fundraising goal of selling 60 holiday wreaths. Please sign up before or after Sunday’s worship service to reserve yours ($35). You may also contact Nate to reserve one.
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ADULT FAITH FORMATION, SOUL MATTERS PROGRAMMING |
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Please read your SOUNDINGS WeekDAY and/or go to our website to get the latest information on our Adult Faith Formation and Soul Matters programs. We have several new programs available, including The Season of Hope, and the Interfaith Theology program. A new Soul Matters program, Starting Point, is also being offered for the four weeks of December.
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CHRISTMAS EVE PAGEANT, FRIDAY DECEMBER 24, 4:00 PM.
REHEARSALS START THURSDAY DECEMBER 9, 5:00-6:00 PM
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We are thrilled to continue this uplifting tradition on Christmas Eve. We invite all children 6-13 to join us to create this special event for us. Rehearsals start December 9; pageant is 4 PM on Christmas Eve.
There are several reasons why we Unitarian Universalists ‘perform’ a Pageant:
- It is a celebratory event; the focus of this is not on Jesus as a Savior. Rather, it is about new birth, human potential, the gift of love, and mostly about the children.
- References to the Nativity story occur often in Western literature; thus, it is an educational tool.
- For children to learn to work together and be in community is a valuable life lesson.
- Children love to get into a costume and ‘play’. This is a good outlet for them.
- Learning to sing together is fun and connects children to their friends in different way from schoolwork or playground games.
While some of the solo roles are filled through audition, there are ample opportunities for participation in a group (angels, shepherds), and other non-auditioning solos. To participate, we ask that children be at all practices. Should there be schedule conflicts, talk with Rev. Ed. 203-227-7205 x18. |
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DECEMBER
9 Thursday 5:00 – 6:00 rehearsal
18 Saturday 10:00 – 11:15 rehearsal
22 Wednesday 5:00 – 6:15 rehearsal
24 Friday 2:00 final rehearsal, snack, costumes;
4:00 Pageant
Please complete the registration form HERE.
We hope your child/children can participate in this fun, exciting, educational event!
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MEDITATION: ZOOM and in person in the Oak Room - Sundays at 9:00 AM. For info contact Janet Luongo. Zoom Meeting - click HERE ID: 604 513 6137 Password: 068510 |
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Flowers: Should you wish to donate flowers for a Sunday service, please reach out to Diane Donahue or fill in a spot in the Reservation Book which is out in the foyer. |
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Pay it forward: please consider being a greeter on Sundays; help our new folks navigate our community. Sign up for virtual or in person greeting, HERE. Thank you, in advance! |
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PAST SERMONS/SERVICES
Our sermons are archived on the website HERE.
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"Grounding and Clearing"
Intern Minister Kim Warman
Sunday, November 14, 2021
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PASTORAL CARE
If you are going through a challenging time or know somebody in the congregation who needs support from our Pastoral Care Chaplains, call to leave a confidential message in the PCA voice mailbox 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or email pca@uuwestport.org.
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ADDICTION RECOVERY
For individuals or families of our congregation seeking confidential support or information about addiction issues. Please contact our Addiction Recovery Ministry by calling 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or emailing pca@uuwestport.org
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Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC)- 24Hr 888–774–2900
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The Unitarian Church in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
WE INSPIRE and support individual spiritual growth.
WE CONNECT through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries.
WE ACT in the service of peace and justice.
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