Andrea Cruz, left, hugs her mom, Lynn Gostyla Williams after they finished playing duets of ‘Ding Dong! Merrily on High’ and ‘Le Sommeil de L’Enfant Jesus’ on flute and alto recorder, respectively. They were videotaped for a future holiday Zoom service.
The night that their performance was recorded – December 11, 2020 – was the eve of their “Gotcha Day.” Twenty-nine years ago Lynn and her husband David went to Guatemala to pick up Elena Andrea from the orphanage and bring her home to Worcester. Elena Andrea goes by the name ‘Andrea’ now.
Andrea and Lynn have been playing together for at least 20 years.(photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #2
Pauline Courchesne, UUCW’s Holiday Shoebox Coordinator, sorts shoeboxes that were just dropped off on December 13, 2020. Pauline introduced the Holiday Shoebox project to UUCW in 2008, and has led this effort every year since then.
The first organization to receive UUCW’s shoeboxes was Operation Christmas Child. This project was sponsored by Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization.
The Rev. Aaron Payson halted our church’s support of this charity in the wake of Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham’s anti-Islam remarks following the attacks of 9/11.
Subsequent Shoebox donations have gone to the H.O.M.E. shelter in Orland, Maine, Friendly House and the Interfaith Hospitality Network. ACE has been the recipient since 2015. The shoeboxes currently go to children and youth, ages 10-21, in the ACE program (African Community Education).
(photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #3
From left, Lucy , Simone and Naziah pack and wrap their shoeboxes for UUCW’s Holiday Shoebox Project. (photo by Cori Henry)
Photo of the Week #4
This photo, taken on December 13, 2020, shows the new carpet that was installed this past week on the new video platform at the back of the church. It blends in with the sanctuary and matches the carpet in the lounge. This beautiful platform was built by master carpenter Bart Hill last September; we are grateful for his work. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #5
Santa visits with young UUCW friends virtually on December 13, 2020.
Photo of the Week #6
Sean Divoll, a member of the Building Development Task Force, pounds reflective stakes into the perimeter of the new parking lot on December 13, 2020. They will delineate the parking area and protect the curb and berm from damage by snow plows. Fellow committee member Moira Rouse assisted in this task. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #7
Members of the Women’s Social Circle wave for a photo on December 12, 2020.
Photo of the Week #8
This photo from the UUCW archives shows the brand new symbols affixed to the Shore Drive side of the church in the winter of 1972-73. Ever wonder why they are there? According to an article in the Telegram & Gazette, it turns out that the membership committee, circa 1972, decided that because the church lacked a steeple or any other feature indicating it was a house of religion, something should be done to make the outside of the church more distinctive. Paul Gustafson and his 81-year old father, Per, made the symbols out of sheet aluminum cemented to weather-proof plywood, with a black background. Russ Kay designed the arrangement and Jim Demetry put them up during a December warm spell. UUCW held a dedication ceremony for the new symbols in the spring of 1973.
Photo of the Week #9
In this photo from the UUCW archives, a skit on immigration was performed during the service in October of 2010. Back row, from left, are Moira Rouse and Joe Ruivo. Front row, from left, are Skylar and Conrad. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
