MARCH 13-17, 2023 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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Don't forget!
SPRING FORWARD with Daylight Savings Time Today, Sunday March 12.
Clocks move ahead one hour!
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CELEBRATING THE ORDINATION OF REV. CARRIE McEVOY
LAST SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023
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It was a spectacular afternoon as we, and the Community Church of New York, were honored to ordain the Rev. Carrie McEvoy. Truly a momentous occasion. |
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Our choir was just one part of the many beautiful and moving elements of the service. |
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Rev. McEvoy delivered the benediction. |
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The core teams that pulled it all together, including from UU Westport: Linda Hudson, Kristen Leddy, Wendy Levy. |
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Giving Rev. McEvoy one of her new stoles. |
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Gorgeous flowers and delicious food. |
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A wonderful cake to wrap up the afternoon!
Photo credits: R. Zuckerman
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IT'S PLEDGING SEASON AGAIN! |
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The month of March is the time when the Year-Round Stewardship team asks for your pledge. But what is that? Merriam-Webster tells us that a pledge is a “promise or agreement to do or forbear.” We aren’t asking for your money right now – we are asking you to make a promise to us, as a community, that you will support us financially from July 2023 through June 2024. Making your pledge now allows our leadership to make plans based on those promises. We ask you to “step up” your pledge, so that we may continue the good work of this congregation. Please CLICK HERE and tell us how much you can give for the coming fiscal year. Thank you for your generosity; it is very much appreciated.
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CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS NEW AND OLD |
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Did you know that our Membership Team is delighted to be offering small dinners at folks' homes, to help newcomers and longer-term members get to know each other a bit better? Here's a wonderful dinner at the Zuckerman/Braunle house from late February. Left to right: Rosalie Day, David Boyd, Emily Moulton, Tom Todoroff, Andres Valenzuela, Lina Valenzuela and Jan Braunle.
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THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE HAS POSITIONS TO FILL |
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The Nominating Committee is looking to fill positions on the following committees: Board of Trustees, the Committee on Ministry, the Nominating Committee, and the Endowment Committee. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Joann Coviello or Jim Cooper. Please respond before March 15.
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UUWRITERS: THURSDAY, MARCH 16 AT 1:00 PM OR 7:00 PM
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Our next theme for UUWriters is The Path of Vulnerability. Sharpen your quills, pens, or laptops, and join on us on Thursday, March 16 at 1:00 PM or 7:00 PM. All are welcome. To kickstart your writing, prompts will be emailed to you. The packet includes poems and songs for inspiration. Take as little as 15 minutes to write something to bring to the workshop on Zoom. Rather than critique the work, we discuss how we connected to it. For questions and the packet, contact Sari.
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FORWARD TOGETHER: BELONGING AND BECOMING
SATURDAY, MARCH 18 - 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
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Perhaps you’ve heard the recent buzz about a process called Appreciative Inquiry? This is an opportunity to reshape the culture and spirit of our congregation, heal past hurts, and increase our resilience. Don’t miss it. On that day, we will be discovering:
- Our community’s shared strengths
- Ideas for new growth
- Deepening our appreciation of our past successes, and
- Reshaping our vision of our congregation’s culture
This is an important step in our moving “forward together.” Please RSVP your intentions on our website or by clicking HERE. If you cannot attend on the 18th and would like to be interviewed. please email Jim at jimfrancek25@gmail.com.
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"FREE RENTY" POTLUCK, DOCUMENTARY SHOWING and
SPECIAL GUEST. SATURDAY, MARCH 18 - 5:00 PM IN THE SANCTUARY
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Join us for a potluck dinner followed at 6pm by “Free Renty,” a documentary about Tamara Lanier who has sued Harvard University to cede possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, Renty, and daughter Delia, enslaved in South Carolina. These daguerreotypes, commissioned in 1850 by a Harvard professor, attempted to prove white supremacy. The film tracks Lanier’s lawsuit against Harvard. Ms. Lanier will be our guest and answer questions after the screening. Don’t miss this and invite your friends; it is open to the public. For more background on Lanier's (winning!) quest, click HERE for a quick article that announced last year's Stone Memorial Lecture. Questions? Contact Nate Pawelek or David Vita.
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HUSKY: ONE STEP CLOSER THANKS TO YOU! |
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Expanding HUSKY, Connecticut’s Medicaid, to children and youth of undocumented parents in Connecticut is a step closer thanks to members of our community who contacted their Representatives Leeper and Nathan, and Senator Mayer who all voted “YES” last week in the Human Services Committee to advance the bill, HB 6616. The bill was amended in committee reducing the age of coverage from 26 to 19.
Because of advocacy efforts over the past 3 years currently, children of undocumented immigrants up to age 13 are covered by HUSKY so increasing the age limit to 19, while not all that we wanted, will positively effect many families. Next up, the Appropriations Committee. I’ll be reaching out to you to contact your representatives before the next vote.
-- David Vita, Legislative Advocacy
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CONNECTICUT'S MEDICAL AID IN DYING BILL |
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In 2023, the Connecticut General Assembly introduced SB1076. Passage will allow residents of Connecticut to access medical aid in dying.
Medical aid in dying is a widely supported trusted and time-tested medical practice end-of-life option that provides dying people with peace of mind and comfort during a difficult time.
A terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live can request from their doctor a prescription for medication they can decide to self-ingest to peacefully die in their sleep. Please CLICK HERE for fact sheet: From Prognosis to Prescription: Six Simple Facts About Medical Aid in Dying. And CLICK HERE to read: "Aid-In-Dying Bill Carries Sufficient Protections For All. Let’s Pass It." -- David Vita, Legislative Advocacy
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HONORING TWO UU MARTYRS & CAUSING "GOOD TROUBLE" TODAY |
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As we mark the 58th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march, the connection between the not-so-distant past and the present is clear: Voting rights are under assault, especially for Black citizens. It’s as vital as ever for all of us to think critically about disenfranchisement and voter suppression in our nation. Lest we forget, two UUs who answered the call for justice were murdered in Alabama: read about Reverend James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo.
Contact Janet Luongo for information about UUtheVOTE in our congregation. We are one of the 24 UU congregations across the country designated a “Good Trouble” congregation for our work on getting out the vote.
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Tuesdays. 11AM-noon. Interfaith Theology. Twice monthly. Check schedule HERE. Nancy McKeever. First and third Tuesdays 7-8:30 PM Women's Circle with Grandmother Nancy. ZOOM HERE Pat Francek.
Wednesdays: 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis. 7-8:15 PM A New Earth Bob Bevacqua
Fridays: First Fridays 9:30-10:30 AM Addiction Recovery Ministry. Jim Francek. Third Fridays 6:30 PM Women's Potluck. Location moves monthly. Eileen Belmont. Last Fridays: 7:30 PM UU Movie Group. ZOOM. Dorothy Rich
Saturdays and Sundays: Sat 12:00 noon- 4 PM; Sun 9:30- 9:50 AM John Street Bag Lunch Drop Off David Vita.
Sundays: 9 AM UU Meditation & Mindfulness (virtual and in person) Janet Luongo
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Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
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SAVE THE DATE! Spring Fest! Saturday, May 6. 2:00 - 7:00, Flowers, Festivities, Fun, and Food!
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POTLUCK DINNER, Friday, March 17, 6:30 PM (St.Patrick's Day). Come one, come all! Bring a dish to share and chat with new friends and old. Our host this month will be Melissa Jagoe-Seidl in Trumbull. RSVP (by Wednesday, March 15, if you can) to Eileen Belmont (email or cell: 215-350-3015) and she will send you the address.
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Upcoming Potlucks: April 21, Sharon Poole; May 19, Eileen Belmont; June 16, Beth Cliff
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The Women’s Circle with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, March 21: 7:00-8:30 PM. (Meetings 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.) Talking circle - thought provoking and inspirational conversations lead by Grandmother Nancy. ZOOM HERE Contact Pat Francek
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Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
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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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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,or Diane Cano,
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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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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation 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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