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The UUCW Message
October 20, 2020
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Please click HERE to scroll to our Faith in Action News - Get Out The Vote!
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In this photo from the UUCW archives, Rita Pierce, now of blessed memory, and her husband Tom bring the collection plates to the Rev. Aaron Payson on Sunday, June 4, 2017.
Please click the Photo to see more Photos of the Week (5 this week!) on our website! |
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Health & Safety News from UUCW
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Good people. As we continue our fall programming, I want to take a moment to update you on conversations about our ongoing pandemic response. The Health & Safety Team met last week to discuss our ongoing plans.
Given the current state of COVID-19 spread in our region the team feels it necessary to continue remote operation for Sunday Morning Worship through the remainder of the calendar year. We know that this decision is disappointing for many, especially as we look toward beloved holiday services and rituals. That said, our Worship and Technology Teams are hard at work to bring you inspiring experiences which we hope you will avail yourself for in the coming months.
Small groups continue to be permitted to use the facility while adhering to the pandemic protocol for the size and safety of such gatherings. Please contact the office ([email protected]) to schedule use. The only restriction is over the next 4 weeks because of construction in our parking lot the building will be relatively inaccessible during the day and we are uncertain when it will be accessible in the evening. Stay tuned for upcoming communication regarding the progress on our property updates.
In addition to the guidelines that have already been established the H&S Team is reviewing short interview and wavier forms to be used by those facilitating groups in the building in order to assist in contact tracing should that become necessary.
Because of the work being done on the parking lot, and in the absence of guidelines from the City to date regarding Halloween activities, the H&S Team is recommending to the Board and congregation not sponsor Halloween activities on the property. However work is underway to provide an opportunity to celebrate Halloween at a distance. More info will be published about this in the coming weeks.
Finally, the H&S Team plans to meet at least monthly throughout this year and will update the Board and congregation with recommendations for winter following its November meeting.
If you have any questions about any of the information above, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Aaron Payson ([email protected]) or Board President John O'Dell ([email protected]).
Blessings,
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Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 8:30 PM via ZOOM
Another important way that we can draw closer to each other is increase opportunities to "see" each other even if it is over video, and to have a chance to share how we are and any needs that present themselves, as well as have good conversation and fun.
Join Rev. Aaron Payson online every Tuesday and Thursday @ 8:30 pm! TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHATS REMOTELY go to https://zoom.us/j/94275074784. Meeting ID: 942 7507 4784. To join by phone dial+1 646 876 9923 and follow the instructions.
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As the church adapts to the challenges of maintaining social distancing during this time of pandemic, many of the opportunities to meet via video conference are being planned using the church's ZOOM accounts. For those who have had difficulty using the ZOOM software, our own Vickie Cox-Lanyon has put together a wonderful short guide to using ZOOM. To view and download the guide, CLICK HERE! ZOOM Update: Zoom released a required update recently to both mobile and desktop platforms so if you are having trouble connecting to Zoom meetings, you need to update your software. Please CLICK HERE for instructions on how to do that.
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Office Hours and COVID Policy:
Office hours are Mon-Wed, 9 am - 3 pm, Thur 9 am - 2 pm, but are subject to change without notice based on COVID response and construction needs. If you come to the office, please observe the new sign on the door to determine if the office is occupied, and follow the instructions on the sign, EVEN IF YOU HAVE A KEY. Please use office space only as absolutely necessary. Jen is happy to print any emailed documents for you , or give any other office help remotely to limit the number of people using the office equipment at this time.
The Office will be operated from home on Election Day (Tuesday November 3). It will also be from home the day before and after due to the city disinfecting the Fellowship Hall the day before and after the Election. There will be NO access to Fellowship Hall for anything other than Election Day necessities on those three days (November 2 - 4).
Gmail Users - Please note that if you stop receiving the Message, Nugget, and Weekend Reminder, check your Promotions tab in Gmail. Often, you will find that church emails (and other emails from Constant Contact) are in there! Please click
HERE for information on how to get the church emails to stay in your inbox. Please share this information with your fellow congregants if they mention they aren't getting the Message!
Please click the article title for more Office News!
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UUCW has a new Facebook Group "Daily Moments" which was inspired by Rev. Aaron Payson's daily posting of reflections, meditations and prayers this spring. This group will continue to host daily inspiration and invites all those interested to join the group and share their own inspiration. To join the group CLICK HERE. For more information please contact [email protected]
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Aaron has been posting a daily Moment of Meditation to the church's social media and his own networks. We have collected these on the church website, please click the article title to go see the October Moments!
See the article above this one to join the Daily Moments Group on Facebook.
September Moments of Meditation are available HERE. August Moments of Meditation are available HERE. June Moments of Meditation are available HERE. May Moments of Meditation are available HERE. April Moments of Meditation are available HERE. March Moments of Meditation are available HERE.
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Join Us For "Touchstones"
UUCW has a new Facebook Group "Touchstones" which features daily inspiration exploring the monthly and annual Touchstones Ministry theme. For 2020-2021 our Touchstones Theme is "Deepening Connections". To join the group and begin sharing CLICK HERE.
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Upcoming Events at UUCW
(Click the titles or images for more information)
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Friday, October 23 @ 7 PM via ZOOM
Single Players $5.00 / Teams (2 or more players) $10.00
Join us for a fun-filled evening of TRIVIA! We'll gather virtually via ZOOM and Kahoot for an evening of trivia for the whole family and friend! Use your computer (and if desired tablet or smart-phone) for fun, fast-paced rounds of questions from easy to hard! The top three winners (teams) will receive prizes for their efforts. This platform was beta-tested by a small group of members and friends to great accolades, bragging rights, good-natured ribbing, and a lot of laughter! To register for this month's trivia game CLICK HERE! (Single players $5.00 / Teams (2 or more players) $10.00). An email will be sent the week prior to the game with instructions on how to connect online. Prizes will be awarded for 1st Place and Runner-Up!!
Recommended Technology: Laptop or tablet, and smart-phone. We will be using Zoom and Kahoot for this event. Instructions will be emailed prior to and discussed at the event.
Recommended Attire: Team uniforms, silly hats, banners, face paint, etc.
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The UUCW Website Team is thrilled to roll out our new website. It was developed using a new WordPress theme built by the UUA's Outreach Group. The new look, along with enhanced mobile support, were key features we were seeking. We would love to hear your feedback, both positive and/or critical. Please contact us at [email protected]. The Website Team is seeking new members. There are many different roles available - from monitoring the site for broken links and needed updates, to making edits in WordPress, to managing the backend, technical side of the site. You don't need to be a tech whiz, just someone who is willing to learn. We are also seeking members for our new Social Media Team, a group that will oversee the church's presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, working closely with other teams involved in marketing, membership, and outreach efforts.
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Faith In Action
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Can you spare an hour or two to join us in Phonebanking to Get Out the Vote?
There's now 2 weeks left before the election. Your phone call can make a difference to a prospective voter who needs the tools to make a plan to vote.
Two ways to participate and call: - 10/20, 5-7 PM ET, dial yourself with Reclaim Our Vote
- 10/21, 7-9 PM ET, auto-dialer with UUtheVote
No experience needed. If you can talk on the phone and attend a zoom meeting, you can do this! Read more about it...For 10/20, Contact Beth/Ruth at [email protected] to sign up and receive tips and instructions for participating with Reclaim Our Vote. We will be using the "dial yourself" method to call Georgia. Once you're signed up, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to the zoom meeting to join on the date you chose for phonebanking together. Put your faith into action! Fight voter suppression and systemic racism! Protect our democracy by involving more people in the voting process! Members of the Side with Love Task Force and Get Out the Vote Team are signed up. Will you join us? Email [email protected] and say I want to sign up for 10/20 or 10/21.
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Side With Love: Anti-Racism Community Conversation
SAVE THE DATE:
- Get Out the Vote Phone Banking - Tuesday, October 21st & Wednesday, October 22nd
- October Anti Racism Community Conversation, Tuesday, October 27th @ 6:30pm. Click here for zoom link
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The City of Worcester is coordinating a Healthy Voting Campaign for the presidential election this year. We are in need of volunteers to support our efforts. Volunteers will promote social distancing, proper mask wearing, and share information about the seasonal flu vaccine during early voting (10/17-10/30) and on election day (11/3). If you're interested please email Kelsey Hopkins at [email protected] to share your interest in participating as an MRC volunteer and receive more information. Thank you!
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Sunday News - Worship Services and Religious Education for
October 25, 2020
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This Sunday we'll explore the intersection between "re-formation" as it has been part of the history of the Christianity and the Celebration of the Hindu Festival of Dasara which honors the triumph of universal good over evil, asking along the way "What does reformation look like in the first half of the 21st Century and how might it be shaped by a variety of religious/spiritual orientations?"
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Click on any image to view the full Religious Exploration Google Document for this week (unless otherwise captioned!!)
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| | Click this image to go to the RE Poll! |
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Touchstones For October 20 - 26
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2020 - 2021 Touchstone Ministry Theme
"Deepening Connections"
October Theme - Emotional Intelligence
October 20: "Emotions are movements between us and the world. The meaning of e-motion in the literal significance of its root is a 'movement out' both from the person to the world and from the world to and through the person." ~ Glen Mazis
October 21: "When it comes to love, we are emotional illiterates." ~ Sam Keen
October 22: "If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far." ~ Daniel Goleman
October 23: "To develop emotional ...intelligence we need to practice enlarging our inner passion at every moment. It doesn't matter what's going on in our world, or even how we feel about ourselves in the moment." ~ Alexandra Katehakis
October 24: "An emotion does not cause pain. Resistance or suppression of emotion causes pain." ~ Frederick Dodson
October 25: "Feelings are self-justifying, with a set of perceptions and 'proofs' all their own." ~ Daniel Goleman
October 26: "When time and emotions gel, a new awareness forms." ~ Joel McGrath
Rev. Aaron Payson
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Ongoing Meetings
Monday Meditation is now meeting via ZOOM!
This is a drop in group and open to all with an emphasis on utilizing mindfulness meditation to enhance our connection to ourselves and others. We practice for 30 minutes and discuss the practice and often read and discuss a book related to mindfulness and meditation. We support each other in utilizing the practice in our daily lives to enhance our happiness and well being. During this time of COVID-19, we will be meeting via Zoom.
For the Zoom link, more information or if you have questions please email Wendy O'Leary at woleary25 at gmail dot com.
Are you a reader? Want to meet and talk with other readers? Join the Evening Book Group on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm for lively discussions of books chosen each year by group members. Our UU Book Group will be meeting via Zoom for the fall and winter months. Anyone interested in joining us should contact either Nancy Hancock or Susan Crossley. We meet at 7:30 pm on the second Wednesday of each month. We alternate fiction with nonfiction and the discussion is always lively. Our book for November 11th is a mystery by Laura Lippman entitled Lady in the Lake. - Nancy Hancock
Lunch with the Minister will be suspended until further notice. Read the Message for future dates when our lunches will resume. Take care during these trying times. I'm available by phone anytime for conversation (774-239-3729). - Nancy Hancock
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"Believing in a community that unites all people"
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester
90 Holden Street, Worcester MA 01606
Phone: 508-853-1942 | Fax: 508-853-2065 | Emergencies: 508-853-1942 ext. 6
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