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50/50 Collection Update
Upcoming 50/50 Collections It has become a tradition in our Church that we share a collection from time to time with a local nonprofit
agency as a way of becoming a more generous and caring congregation. This month on
Sunday March 16, we will be sharing with the Worcester Youth Center. Next month on April 20th we
will share with the Regional Environmental Council. Currently the Sunday May 11th collection is open.
Do you have a local non-profit that you would like to see our Church reach out to? If so, please
contact via email
or call 508-473-0467. Thanks!
Worcester Youth Center On Sunday March 16th we will be sharing our collection on our 50/50 basis with the Center.
The Worcester Youth Center is a non-profit organization concerned with the education, health and
recreation programs for inner city youth.
The Center is the only free “drop-in” center with structured programs and support groups for teens in
the city of Worcester. Annually the center serves 400 young people with approximately 100 using it
daily.
Restoring Hope - When they arrive, most young people at the WYC see little hope in life. Ninetyeight
percent live in poverty, Ten percent are homeless. Many have family members battling alcohol
and drug addictions and/or serving time in jail.
Its mission is to provide a place where young people can build lasting and positive change in their
lives. “Not just a place to go, a place to go farther”
CLASSIFIEDS
Seeking Employment ~ My name is Julia Scheier (I am Kate Davenport's daughter) and I have been
going to the UUCW since I was 2. I am now a senior at Bancroft (next to the church) and looking for a
full-time job this summer to save up money for college. I will be available from early June until mid-
August. I am flexible about what kind of work I would be interested in, but would like to earn at least
$250/week. I can provide references if necessary. If you or anyone you know would be interested in
hiring me, please contact me at
or 508-856-0488. Thanks!
Seeking Employment ~ Experienced and educated in business and Information Technology (IT) professional seeking work in the area of Database Development initiatives. Project management and leadership experience. Brief history of experience includes Webmaster for several businesses and organizations. Also Past President, current Board of Director and current Secretary/Treasure for business organizations. Award Winning Team Player and Honor Graduate with 20+ years of business and IT experience. Seeking local position in the greater Worcester area. Click on Resume for history of experience. Currently seeking full-time position. Please pass my Resume to prospective employers as soon as possible. Questions/comments, please contact me at
or 508-887-6366. Please leave message with contact information. Thank You, Michael P. Murphy
Are you a Resume coach? Please review my Resume and lets talk about improvements!
Apartment for Rent – 2nd floor, 2 bedrooms, quiet dead-end street, gas/oil, washer/dryer hookups,
available April 1st, call for showing or with questions, Worcester near Clark University, 508 277 8293 ask for Rick or
.
Adult Faith Development
Several Adult FD Groups going. We currently have several adult FD groups going. Bible Study for Liberals, facilitated by Rev. Aaron
Payson meets second Sunday evenings and is an open group, accepting new members. Vegan
Cooking as a Spiritual Practice is another monthly group that remains open to new members. The
class has mastered vegan sushi rolls and a tofu curry in the past. February's guest chef is Lydia
Proulx who will be teaching "vegan pot pie", March features the expertise of Jude Ayer who will teach
"Chop Suey" and in April we have the culinary expertise of Sam Ganesen as guest chef. This class
meets after second coffee hour each final Sunday of the month.
In Ancient Times: Cakes for the Queen of Heaven (revised) completes its first five weeks this
upcoming Sunday. A multi generational women’s group is forming out of this experience. If you are
interested in being part of that, registration for Cakes for the Queen of Heaven-part 2 (un-revised)
begins this Sunday, with classes starting March 2.
Ongoing groups, the UUhumanists, an open group and BTWWDA (Building The World We Dream
About) an anti racism course, continue as well. Each of these courses happened because someone
in the congregation said "let's do this". If there is something you would like to see Adult FD do,
contact Cheryl Leshay.
Board of Management News
UUA of Congregations General Assembly - The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations General Assembly is scheduled for June
25 to 29, 2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We will be appointing delegates to attend. Please let
me know if you are interested in being a delegate.
Campus Ministry
One of the main obstacles... One of the main obstacles to young adults making it to church is the lack of transportation. As a
result, one of the services that campus ministry provides for the student population in Worcester is
rides to church on Sunday. We are running a regular volunteer campus round trip pick up and drop
off on Sundays. At this time we are trying to provide rides for the second service only. Most students
prefer this time. If a student wishes to come to first service, they can reserve a space by e-mail with
GWUUCM by Saturday morning, and rides can be arranged.
Having said this, I am asking for volunteer drivers for the second service run. Sue Neaz has been
doing this run each week and can share with you how fun it can be. Drivers are asked to go to both
Clark U. and WPI at specific times, wait for 3 minutes at each stop and then come to church. It is the
student’s responsibility to be waiting for the pick up. If no students catch the bus, you still get the
prize. We are thinking of getting t-shirts!
If you are a second service person and have room in your vehicle for two or three additional people,
please consider joining the GWUUCM Drivers.
Campus ministry meets, on campus at WPI and Clark University with students weekly. If you are a
student or an incoming freshman, contact Rev. Cheryl Leshay. She can help you get connected with
the group.
Community News and Classifieds
Join UUs from around the country in Niagara Falls , July 20-23, 2008
Come experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities
while being taken care of like royalty. The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU
Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every
perspective. Spend four days with us exploring the rich history and natural beauty around the
Falls. For information visit our web site : UUEX
You don’t have to be UU to join us.
Visit Saratoga Springs For hundreds of years Saratoga Springs, NY has been an American getaway of choice. The New
York City Ballet in July, and the Philadelphia orchestra and the thoroughbred racing at the historic
flat track in August all draw great crowds into the area. In summer months hotels as far as
forty miles away are sold out. If you are able to book a room in peak season you may find it expensive.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs offers year-round, reasonably
priced bed and breakfast services for visitors to the Saratoga area. Members of our church provide
Bed and Breakfast facilities in lovely private homes in and around Saratoga Springs. All proceeds
benefit the church. We offer a broad spectrum of accommodations featuring private or
shared baths, full or continental breakfasts, for the whole family or just for adults. Rates: $85 per
night per room.
You do not have to be a member of a UU church to stay in one of our B&B houses. Reservations
a week or more in advance preferred. Please call 518 584 1555 or email for reservations or questions. Visit the UUC of Saratoga Springs Bed and Breakfast Program web site for additional information and registration form.
District and Denominational News
UUA National Marketing Campaign The UUA is proud to be working with TIME to promote an examination of religion and spirituality in America
today. As sponsors of the new Time.com Religion Pages, available in late October, we will bring our liberal
religious perspectives to the public discourse on faith and values in our society. The Time.com Religion
Pages will offer links to articles and essays authored by Unitarian Universalists on important topics including:
* The Relationship Between Religion and Science
* The Role of Religion in American Democracy
* Religion, Morality, and Sexuality
Fellowship and Fundraising
Soups On … or it will be! We're looking for culinary-minded volunteers who would be willing to make 20+
cups of vegetarian or meat-based soup for the 11 a.m. service, beginning in mid-October. Please contact
if you would like to donate soup or sell soup after the 11 a.m. service.
A signup sheet will also be available at the membership table in fellowship hall. If we are successful at 11,
we'll try to offer soup after the 9 a.m. service.
Circle Dinners — a terrific way to make new friends or connect with old friends! Would you enjoy meeting a
group of friends/acquaintances/new members for dinner on a monthly basis (either dining out or in rotating
homes), or would you like to have a dinner party at your house and open it up to a certain number of people
who sign up? Whatever way we get together, it's sure to be a fun way to make connections with the
members of our congregation. Add your name to the list in fellowship hall on the membership table, and let
your dining desires be known!
Church Yard Sale Church Yard Sale - May 10th
Only 33 days left until the annual church yard sale! Do you have items that need a new home? Do
you believe one person's trash is another person's treasure? Do you have books, clothes,
housewares, tools, furniture, and jewelry that no longer have a space or place in your life? Please
start gathering items for donation. We will be letting you know soon the drop off date & times. Also if
you have any interest in helping with any aspects of this project let us know!
Questions? Please contact: Linda Lavoie 508-799-4347 or Melissa Misiewicz 508-842-0319
Membership News
Conversations with Newcomers We invite any newcomers to meet with Member Services for Conversations with Newcomers. This is an
informal gathering of newcomers held the first Sunday of each month, after the early service. It helps us to
get to know you and let you ask questions you might have about this church. Conversations with Newcomers
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will be held at 10:15 a.m. Grab a cup of coffee and ask for directions from the usher, greeter, or at the
Newcomer Table in Fellowship Hall.
Membership Services
Update Your Information Please During the remaining Sunday’s in March there will be tables set up in the lounge with the Family
Profiles of all members and friends (and most visitors too!). Please stop by and check to make
certain that the information we have for you is accurate. Skills and Interest Surveys are also
available and everyone is encouraged to fill out a survey. The surveys will assist us in helping us
integrate the talent, passions and interests of our members and friends into the heart of the work we
do as a community of faith.
Music Notes
Between Services One of the logistical challenges we face moving to a two-service format is preparing the sanctuary between
services and allowing our choirs adequate time for warm-up and preparation. To accomplish this, we
encourage those attending the first service to move in a timely fashion out of the sanctuary after the
postlude. Feel free to bring your warm greetings to fellow congregants into the Lounge or Fellowship Hall at
this time.
Office News
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: It is important that any meetings, events, rentals etc. be given to the office as soon as
possible (in advance of your requested date ) to insure that the date you request has not
already been taken. We have a lot of scheduled dates already taken so please let us know
ahead of time so that a conflict will not occur. To have scheduling run smoothly, we need
the help of everyone. ~
Thank you, Jennifer Landry, Office Administrator
Parish Service Committee
Give a Ride? - The Parish Service Committee is looking for people who will give occasional
rides to Sunday Services or medical appointments. If you would like to participate in
this program, please sign up on the sheet on the board to the left of the main building
doors as you come in.
Social Action
Fairly Traded Coffee Sales Social Action Clearing House
Sales of the Fairly Traded products from Equal Exchange will begin again starting this Sunday, Nov 4, 2007. Like last year, sales will be twice monthly. Payment by check is preferable; made out to the UUCW. For the sales-schedule for the remainder of the year, see the Social Action section of the Bulletin Board (beside the entrance to Fellowship Hall).
On the scheduled Sundays, the plan now is to sell these products only at the Fellowship Hour between the two Services, so for you 11 a.m. Service-goers: please arrive a little early, before we box everything back up!
Last year, UU congregations bought about 44 tons of Fairly Traded Products! way to go! And for every pound you purchased, Equal Exchange donated $.20 to the UUSC, which was $17,761.37.
We need volunteers to staff the Social Action table for these sales. Contact John Healey; 508-943-8122 or email him
!
Social Justice Clearinghouse
Meals at Dismas House You may have read in recent months about the mission of Dismas House: helping former prisoners
transition back into society. There are three local sites: Almost Home in West Boylston, Dismas
House, and Father John Brooks House in Worcester. It is possible to move through each program on
the way to independence. For several months we have been coordinating monthly catered meals at
Dismas House, continuing the work of Larry and Ellen Laverdure. We are a small group of volunteers
and would be very happy to include others. If this is something you’d like to consider, please call Art
Shea, (508) 792-2928, or Peg Gifford, (508) 791-2659. We'd love to talk to you!
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