December 20-24, 2021 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
CLICK HERE for 2 week calendar PDF. .CLICK HERE for past issues of SOUNDINGS.
REMINDER: OUTDOOR CAROL SING TODAY, DEC 19, 4:00 PM.
JOIN US! BRING A FRIEND!
Please note: Your holiday edition SOUNDINGS will cover Dec. 26 - Jan. 2 and be in your inboxes this Friday, December 24.  
NEW: IN-PERSON CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICES
REQUIRE RESERVE SEATING
UPDATE: We are asking folks to reserve their seats if they plan to be in-person at one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services. Go to our website to reserve, or simply click https://tinyurl.com/uuwestportchristmaseve. To ensure safe distancing, each service will be limited to 100 congregants.

Both services will be broadcast on ZOOM, as we normally do for our Sunday worship services, using the same link.

Recall it's a busy week!
Sunday Dec 19: Worship at 10 AM; Caroling at 4 PM
Friday Dec 24: Pageant at 4; Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 9 and 11 PM
Sunday Dec 26: Worship at 10 AM: 'A Child's Christmas in Wales"
ZUUM TRUUPE SHARES "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"
The Zuum Truupe reminds you that our radioplay version of "A Christmas Carol" is available on YouTube for your seasonal listening pleasure. Our gift to one and all!
Featuring: Sarah Bell, Candace Clinger, Tom Croarkin, Joann Coviello, Lindy Hennessey, Meg Jones, Tim Jones, Jim Luongo, Gian Moressi, and Bob Perry."
Faith Formation
ADULT VOLUNTEERS for 2022! If you have wanted to know what happens downstairs on a Sunday morning, then NOW is the time to volunteer. We are looking for two adults to support the 4th and 5th grade class. If you could commit to three or four consecutive weeks that would be wonderful. The curriculum is prepared for you. Our children are eager to learn from you! Please email Dr. Hamilton ASAP! Classes start January 9th and we can tailor the times to meet your schedule.

AND ... We are also looking for a permanent replacement for Ms. Kareen. Please let Dr. Heather know if you know of great candidates for this teacher position (Sundays, 9:15-11:15 AM) and spread the word amongst your friends and contacts! 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 7-9 PM
The Board of Trustees will be meeting in the West Wing this Tuesday from 7-9 PM for its monthly meeting. Should you have questions or comments for the Board, you are welcome, always, to share them. Email the board at board@uuwestport.org, or contact any individual board member separately. Reminder all materials can be found on our website, HERE.

NAME CHANGE UPDATE

The Board has considered how best to capitalize on the energy and interest in the name change discussion that was apparent at our town hall November 7. To that end, it will sponsor a task force of congregants to take on the name change process, with the UUA’s help. Beth Cliff will lead this group and serve as liaison between the Board and the task force.

Should you wish to be a part of this small group (5-7 people), please let Beth know. Time commitment: weekly/bi-weekly group discussions with individual work between meetings. The final team will be approved by the Board. Selection criteria will include a commitment to the task at hand; a diversity of opinions and demographics represented; and a collaborative spirit focused on landing on a workable solution for our beloved congregation. Contact Beth HERE.
Social Justice Banner
BEARDSLEY BOARD GOES VIRTUAL
It's here! Now a virtual version of the Beardsley Board is available for those of us who are unable to get to the building to take a tag or two off the Beardsley Board to support the Beardsley School in Bridgeport. Now you can simply click HERE and it will take you to an Amazon Gift Registry in our name. Go ahead and purchase things, and items will automatically be sent to one of the Beardsley Committee members to deliver to the school. 

If for some reason you need to search for the link in the future, go to amazon.com and search for Registry. Our registrant name is "uuwestport" and it's a "custom registry." The Beardsley Board should pop right up! Questions? Contact Beth Cliff
SET-UP APARTMENTS: A BLESSING FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES!
While Afghan refugees have disappeared from front page headlines, they haven’t disappeared. In fact, they are arriving here in significant numbers. In the last 2 months, the volunteers on the CIRI (CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants) Apartment Set-up Team (of which our church is a part) have prepared 15 apartments for 71 refugees, families and single individuals. And more are on the way.

To be part of this interfaith team effort is truly a blessing. One family upon arriving in their new home fell to their knees and prayed for the people who had set up the apartment. Can you imagine that? To be a part of this volunteer opportunity, please contact Stephen Polmar or Julyen Norman
CLIMATE CAFE - SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2022 - 2:00 PM ON ZOOM
The warnings about the state of our Earth are increasing moment by moment. What might our responses be? What are our feelings about these threats? How do we find our own answer? The Climate Cafe is an experimental response to this. It is where people can have dialogue about climate change.

At the Climate Cafe, we gather to have conversations with each other and explore these feelings and responses. The Climate Cafe is a group-directed discussion with an open agenda, objectives or specific themes.

This program will be facilitated by Merritt Juliano and Kim Warman.

Register through Eventbrite HERE. Questions? Contact: Kim Warman or Merritt Juliano.
•REGULAR PROGRAMMING•
Mondays: 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis. Podcast Discussions with Rev. John meet first Mondays of the month, 7-8 PM on ZOOM HERE. Linda Lubin

Tuesdays: 7:30-8:15 AM. MOVING! (Virtual) low impact aerobics. Beth Cliff
11AM-12 noon (on hiatus until Jan 18) Interfaith Theology RSVP HERE

Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM The Power of Now Jim Francek

Thursdays: 4-5 PM Talking Circles. ZOOM HERE. Jim Francek.

Fridays: Every other Fri (next, Dec 31), 12:30-2PM. Shawl Ministry Jan Braunle. First Fridays of the month 12-1PM Awakenings lunch ZOOM Kathy Roberts

Saturdays: 12:00 noon- 4 PM John Street Bag Lunch Drop Off David Vita

Sundays: 9 AM Meditation (Virtual and Oak Room) Janet Luongo. 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Season of Hope for Dec.19 Tom Hearne

The Hiking Group meets the first Saturday and the third Tuesday of the month, 9:30 AM. Jamie Forbes Gian Morresi
Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
Find us on digital and social media: website: uuwestport.org, Facebook public page (Unitarian Church in Westport) private group (uuwestport), and Instagram (uuwestportct).
All women welcome at all events; visit our website for complete info.
Questions? Contact TUCWomen@gmail.com
SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
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.
CARING NETWORK
Our support network is available to provide tangible help for friends in need: meal delivery, pharmacy runs, grocery shopping, a regular phone call of connection. Contact a minister or coordinators Dorothy Rich, Diane Cano, or Sharon Poole.
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
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.