Please join us for Religious Exploration on Sunday April 26th as we discover ways in which our UU Faith looks at Earth Day.  10am!

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, April 26, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Join us this Sunday April 19th at 10 am in a  One Room experience for grades 1 and up.  Hang out with Robin and Carole as we do some activities based on this beautiful story “When You Find A Hope” written by Allie Millington, illustrated by Anne Lambert

“Experience the improbable beauty of a shattered hope born anew in this magical tale about a young girl, a tree full of hopes, and the power of perseverance.”  Spirit Play (pre-k and k) will meet in their regular class.

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, April 19, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

I’ve decided that I’m going to be a person who tries harder to embrace possibility. That’s a choice I have to make. During these times, there are so many things pointing at me saying, “isn’t this awful?” The world’s problems are so big that I feel like no matter how much I yell into the void that it is just that: a void- a cone of silence. Or worse: AI has an opinion.

Let’s take a look at social media. As institutions, (yes, even churches), we need to use it- even when we know that social media is hurting a lot of us. We need to be searchable, we need to be relevant. Then, in steps the illustrious AI conversation! Whoa Nelly!  AI is haunting parents and it’s a nightmare for people employed in specific fields. Folks are getting nervous. I personally know of artists, especially digital artists, that are feeling like they have no recourse against the AI monster. I guess I’m old-fashioned, but I’m choosing to see the possibilities.

It can be an overwhelming world. But, right now, I’ve decided personally, as an artist and an educator, to embrace the good that’s in front of me and hang onto it tightly. I love to spend time with the children at UUCW. They are smart.They are curious. They are artists! They are a positive influence on me and therefore I believe they are also able to be an influence in the world. The more time I can spend mirroring that positivity and curiosity back to them, the more they will grow in it and make it a habit of theirs. I can see the weight that teenagers are carrying. It’s a struggle because they have so much to think about and to navigate. They have the hoops of social media and the maze of AI to maneuver through while trying to plan their own future in an uncertain landscape. I strive to let our teens know that UUCW is a place that they can go to be supported. I feel honored being one of the trusted adults in their lives. I’m thankful to all of our mentors and advisors and congregants who support our youth as well. This is human: not social media, not AI. The human brain and touch is so important.  So old-fashioned. This is the way we save the planet.

There are inspiring activities that go on under our roof at UUCW and out into the world. I’m flooded with encouraging feelings when I see our people taking action, standing up, and coming together as a community. I believe that the grassroots movements, homemade and handmade, community and art can grow possibilities which will outweigh instability. To upset the negative applecart, I think we need to engage in the things that swing the pendulum away from a robotic and faceless future. Let’s notice the call to action. Art is calling in every way. Graphic art, visual art, writing, theater, community events, and music. The unique contributions that we produce from our creative bodies are imperative. They’re the way our world can strengthen. Our creative contributions nurture new possibilities. 

I am challenging myself and perhaps you can join me. I wish to stay consistent in doing the human things that are unique, and beautiful, and positively me. I want to embrace that these actions will create possibilities for me to stay hopeful and engaged with my community.  If we combine our offerings, we can offset the angry energy, helping it blossom into a kind and healing space to live. It may seem old-fashioned to link arms and imagine organic possibilities for positive change. I say, move over AI. Human creativity is coming at you.

The post Embracing Possibilities – The Old Fashioned Way first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Please join us for Religious Exploration on Sunday April 12th at 10am. This month’s theme is “Imagining Possibility” and on Sunday, our classes will be exploring the topic of what type of world they’d like to build. Get ready to build!

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, April 12, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

We hope you can all help Eisley with their Project 351 Cradles to Crayons – young children’s clothing drive.  This Sunday, April 5th is the final day to donate.  

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Young Children’s Clothing Drive – Sunday, April 5 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Sunday April 5th Easter Sunday 10:00am!  Please bring a basket and join us for our Annual Egg Hunt! All families begin in the sanctuary and children are dismissed following the change for change collection.  We gather all children together in the Fellowship Hall before we go outside for the hunt! There will be spring craft activities in fellowship hall following the hunt!

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Please join us for Religious Exploration on Sunday, March 29th at 10am. Following up on our AMAZING Youth Group Sunday Service (applause!!!), we’ll be talking about paying attention to growth and change and will be creating art to “change” our RE Bulletin Board.

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, March 29, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Sunday, March 22, 10am.  Please join in our Religious Exploration experiences as we continue with our theme of “Paying Attention.”  This week, with the focus on “paying attention to community”- grades 1 and up will attend the very special Youth Group Sunday Service.  It is inspirational to see how our young people have grown, and to pay attention to and support their message.  Pre-K and K will be attending their regular Spirit Play class.

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, March 22, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

I am jumping for joy because the temperatures are rising, the sun is out, and my finger is healing. Yes, I had a “sewing accident” and then 12 stitches in my finger two Fridays ago. I have never “run over” my finger with a rotary cutter in the 30 years that I’ve been rotary cutting fabric, but there’s a first time for everything, and a lesson to be learned.  Lesson: “Robin, pay attention, please!”

Some things I love to pay attention to are: people in photographs, mixed media and fiber art pieces, things in nature….especially flowers and birds, and the young folks in my life. Paying attention involves the art of looking at and appreciating the small details that are beautiful and wondrous. For me, attention means to step out of the whirling world and see what’s really happening in front of me.  For me also, that’s often a challenge.

With the kids this month during Religious Exploration classes, we are talking about… guess what? Yup, paying attention. We’re exploring ways to notice things that don’t seem equitable in this world. We’re learning to breathe deeply and take a moment to identify what we feel inside of our bodies. We are offering activities to highlight how we can pay attention to our earth and our interdependent web. We are acknowledging the ways that people are unique and what makes that so important and beautiful.

And I’ve been thinking (watch out!)….. about paying attention, that phrase, and how us grown-ups use it. 

I think we spend a lot of time telling kids to pay attention, especially when we’re trying to “teach them something.”  Imagine this scenario:  I’m in a class and I’m speaking and people don’t seem to be paying attention to what I’m saying (shock!) I sometimes sit back, observe, and “pay attention” to what the kids are paying attention to at that moment. Mostly, it seems, they’re paying attention to each other. They’re talking to each other about things that have happened during the weekend so far. They’re talking to each other about toys that they’re interested in, games they are playing, things that happened at school. Is this a bad way of them paying attention in class? In an actual school setting it could be disruptive in absorbing math skills; but in our community I feel like it is awesome. 

When kids are building community, they will remember those interactions far longer than they will remember a lesson about a famous UU person.  But I digress and want to highlight an important detail. I think the topics presented in our RE classes are substantial and relatable and important. I hope the kids do too. To ask a student to pay attention in our setting, is framed with the idea of respecting, honoring, and hearing one another. Paying attention is to have empathy, to understand that you too desire attention when trying to share with others. Our children and youth are very good at paying attention to messages delivered with authenticity, love, respect, and care.

And you have to know that with all the lessons that we try to share with our younger people, the fact is, us grown-ups also need these lessons too, and sometimes even more so.  Again, I remind myself to ”pay attention please, Robin!”

With Love for the Little Things,

Robin Mitzcavitch

The post Attention Please first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Please join us for Religious Exploration Classes on Sunday March 15th at 10am. We will be paying attention to our resources like water and plantlife.  Our UU 7th principle states that we respect the interdependence of all existence of which we are a part.  Our younger classes will be looking at water and our older class will be doing some indoor planting.

Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The post Religious Exploration Program News – Sunday, March 15, 2026 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.