by Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration
Autumn in New England is a busy time. We are peeping at leaves, picking produce in fields, carving gourdes, dressing up in costume, eating candy, going on hayrides, and trying to make it through the corn maze.
When it begins to get cooler, energy levels increase and try to squeeze everything in until it begins to get dark at 4:30pm and we lose that burst.
So, finding my way through this beautiful season gets challenging for me, and I know it does for many others too. Also, I know that many venues from schools, farms, fairgrounds, and even churches jump in on the fall celebrations. We are gathering, harvesting, and giving thanks, but…..also let’s breathe. The air is crisp, tree colors are warm, and autumn is preparing us to hunker down and slow our frenzied activities. Well, I try to think of it like that, even though I know the winter holidays zoom right behind it and we switch on the colored lights and jump into the new business of seasons. I am trying to really appreciate the fact that I live in New England and we have those seasons (sometimes all at the same time!)
That brings me to say that we, at UUCW, in the Religious Exploration arena, we spend time exploring and celebrating the seasons and what they mean around the world, and to us as Unitarian Universalists. In the fall, folks from UUCW join together to do a good amount of outreach like native gardening, distributing food to folks who need a hand, walking to support hunger through our CROP Walk, and giving globally to kids in need globally through UNICEF and our Halloween Fair. I hope you can join in and add the joy of supporting others through the seasons (even if you dress up as a clown to do it!)
See Emily Stolarski this week in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour to support or take part in the CROP Walk which is happening on Sunday October 18th right up the street in Holden. You can also help by bringing some cash and buying a baked good from our RE Families at the bake sale, which is being run by our 6th and 7th grade class.
Our High School Youth Group will be celebrating community and the earth by going on a pumpkin picking outing at Tougas Farm in Northboro this Sunday afternoon from 3:00-4:45pm.
On Sunday October 25th- Our children will be dressed up and “Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF” up and down the church pews, and then gathering in Fellowship Hall for a UNICEF Halloween Carnival!
When you are traveling through the fall maze of the season, remember to breathe and take in the beauty and the love of helpers all around us.
Happy Picking and Carving!
Robin