This year, Passover, Easter, and Ramadan fall in biblical sequence, one after another, which rarely happens. For so many people of so many traditions, this moment is one of reflection and remembering, a collective recentering. On this Easter Sunday, we’ll remember the Christian story of Easter and reflect on what it means to turn to the past in order to move forward anew.

To join online, go to zoom.us/j/89214621289

Please consider participating in a congregational food drive to benefit the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) which provides meals for people in Worcester. They are especially in need of: 6-8 ounce juice boxes/pouches; fresh fruit especially apples and clementines; 16 oz. packages of bologna, pre-packaged; and boxes of chewy/soft granola bars. There will be a collection for these items on Thursday, April 29th between 4:30 and 5:45 pm at the Ruggles Street door of UUCSW. Please reach out to Libba Moore at libbamoore13@gmail.com ahead of time if there’s a better time for you. Food will be delivered to SMOC on Friday, April 30th. Thank you for help with this. - Your friends on the Social Justice Committee

SMOC has identified the need for clothing, especially for men. Donated items can include: new socks and underwear, and gently used sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, and jeans. Please bring your donations to UUCSW on Thursday, April 29th between 4:30 and 5:45 pm, the same day/time as the monthly food drive. If this timing does not work for you, please reach out to Nancy Siegal at Nsiegal185@msn.com or Pauline Sciarappa at psciarappa@gmail.com for other options. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

UUCSW is moving its annual spring fundraiser online. Save the date now, May 15th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. We'll be hosting a Zoom auction, featuring some old favorites and exciting new items. Tickets to the auction will include a goody bag with some yummy treats and souvenirs you are definitely going to want.

As a reminder, we're also working on a pandemic cookbook, so send your recipes to Erin Gold (kentuckybluerose@gmail.com) or submit using the online form.

More details will be coming soon; in the meantime if you have any questions please send them to your fundraising team: Amy MacDougall, Ben Gold, Erin Gold, Laurel Gray, Lisa Shumway, and Pauline Sciarappa.

For April, we are reading A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. Please join us. The group is open to all. You are welcome to attend.

Book Group will be online. If you are planning to attend for the first time, please email Judith at Judithteacake@gmail.com.

The Membership Team is planning an Online Game Night for April 10th at 7:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Mark your calendar and join us on Zoom at zoom.us/j/82346789598

Join UU Mass Action for its annual UU Advocacy Day! Let’s put our faith into action as we fight for Immigrant Justice, Climate & Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, Indigenous Justice and Decarceration & Ending Solitary Confinement. There will be a community gathering from 11:00 am to noon to kick us off, and then participants will have virtual meetings with their Reps and Senators. There is a lot of preparation that goes into Advocacy Day, so help the organizers by registering early! Registration deadline is April 6th.

Save the Date! Join us for The Hidden Cost of Racism, Sunday April 18th, from noon to 2:00 pm. In response to your interest in learning more about the economic impacts of racism, we are offering another learning session. All welcome! Outside facilitator Mary Hettinger will return and help us as we listen to a 30-minute NPR interview with Heather McGhee, a Black economist who recently published The Sum of Us, in which she shines the spotlight on costs paid by everyone as a consequence of racism. No need to prep, but if you want to listen (or read the transcript) ahead of time, please visit npr.org/2021/02/17/968638759/sum-of-us-examines-the-hidden-cost-of-racism-for-everyone. Zoom link: zoom.us/j/81971339544. Questions? Reach out to Racial Justice Committee members Marge Fisher, mfisher2898@gmail.com or Jane Walsh, janenboro@aol.com.

This month we explore what it means to be a people of Becoming.