In anticipation of the upcoming 2026-2027 pledge drive, we will have two short information sessions on UUCW finances.  We will explain where church money comes from, what we spend it on, and what our long-term financial outlook is.  The presentation material will take 10-15 minutes, and we will stay for up to an hour to answer any questions people may have.  This is for information only and we will NOT be asking you for a pledge at this stage.  Although this is intended for new members, everyone is welcome to join!

The sessions will be held after church in the classroom across from Aaron’s office on February 15 and February 22.  

The Stewardship Team

Dave & Moira

The post UUCW Financial Information Sessions, February 15 & 22, Noon – 1:30 pm, Meeting Room 1 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

As we gather around Thanksgiving tables this week, many of us will pause to take stock of what we’re grateful for: family, community, and the spiritual home we find here at UUCW. As our esteemed minister reminded us in Sunday’s sermon, this season we may open ourselves to a new,  fuller, and more genuine understanding of the holiday’s origins. The first Thanksgiving was far more complex than the tidy story many of us learned as children. Acknowledging that truth helps us approach our own gratitude with humility and compassion.

In that spirit, Stewardship offers this gentle reminder: shortly after Thanksgiving, pledgers will receive a statement from our pledge secretary, Margos Stone that reflects your pledge payments received for the current pledge/fiscal year (July-Dec 2025).  These statements are provided for two reasons: first, for use in your tax preparation, and second to help you stay on-track as we head into winter. Your consistency truly sustains our staff, programs, and ministries.

And speaking of sustaining the future, next year’s pledge season arrives in March. While that may feel very far off, the Stewardship Team is already clicking our heels together. (no spoilers, but let’s just say some of us are very ready for the new Wicked movie) Last year we successfully defied gravity!  While there may or may not be flying monkeys this time around, we are excited to lift our community once again.

For now, we simply offer heartfelt thanks. Your generosity —and your presence— helps UUCW continue to be a place of truth, compassion, and transformation.

Wishing you a grateful and grounded, yet gently soaring Thanksgiving.

The Stewardship Team

Moira Rouse

Dave Schowalter

The post Stewardship Update: Giving Thanks, Keeping Balance first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester is funded entirely by its members and friends.  

A Pledge can be made by anyone, member or non-member.

After you have made a pledge, a Pledge Statement will be emailed to you Quarterly by Margos Stone, UUCW’s Pledge Secretary.  This is to confirm payments received.  If you find a discrepancy or need to change your pledge for any reason, please email us.   

If you have not pledged before/recently and want to make a pledge for the current year, email to say that and one of us will get back to you.

Payments toward your pledged amount can physically be put into the collection Plate on Sunday mornings, marked with your name to be counted toward your pledge, or sent digitally or electronically.  

The church fiscal year begins July 1st and ends June 30th of the next calendar year. 

Every year a Stewardship Campaign happens in late winter, just as surely as seasons change the Stewardship Team will invite pledges for the church’s next fiscal year! 

The post Stewardship Nugget, October 2024 – A Brief Introduction to UUCW Finances first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

This month’s Soul Matter’s Theme is “Interdependence.” There has been a lot of talk, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic about the fate of religious communities in our country.  We’ve seen many religious communities close in the past few years and others are struggling to find professional religious leadership.  

For me, the clearest sign of a thriving congregation in any tradition is one whose mission is to serve the larger community and make space for that community to thrive through common efforts.  

In our congregation, this happens a great deal through the use of our building, and partnerships with organizations like Elder Services which sponsors our Rainbow lunch and dinner program.  Our Garden-On Team works with a host of groups in the region, including the City of Worcester, to foster a deeper awareness of the importance of native plants for the health and well-being of our environment. The Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry includes volunteers from many different groups and places and serves those in need in our area of the City. The Refugee Ministry Group works with other groups to surround and support new arrival families. Our Yout Group works with various organizations to help support the homeless on its mission trips. The IHN Team continues to support homeless families in our community through the In The Our of Need Family Shelter.  And, a host of community groups utilize space to meet at 140 Shore Drive.  

Perhaps most important is that, as a congregation, we continue to welcome people who are looking for a place to call their religious home, who support these efforts, and who find here deep connections with others who are like-hearted.  The friendships that are sustained are often the means through which each of us finds our way through the triumphs and trials of our own journies. 

When we gather for worship or religious exploration activities, we engage in an act of celebration and contemplation of all that inspires us to take on the challenges of a changing world.  

These are just some of the ways we help create, invite, and sustain the community here.  As we continue to plan for the coming year, these are some of the things that motivate me to give my professional skill, time, energy, and financial resources to this congregation.  This meditation becomes particularly important to time during pledge season.  I hope it is the same for you too!

The following story for all ages was included in this month’s materials for the theme and represents what I think is most important about interdependence.  The story is introduced this way. . .

In some countries in Africa, people like to tell stories about a tricky hare, which is like a rabbit, and a hyena. This story is about Hare and Hyena, but it’s about other animals that live in the grasslands of Africa, too. It takes place during a time when the animals all lived far away from each other. The name of this fable is “Hare’s Gifts.” A fable is a story that has a message it wants you to remember. Many times, fables have animal characters that think, talk, and act like humans.

Hare’s Gifts  [CLICK HERE to download a PDF coloring page for the story]
A long time ago, before there were people on earth, there were many different animals that lived all over. Some of the animals lived in the grasslands, but they did not live too close to each other because they thought it was best that way. One such animal was Hyena. He decided that he needed a new home and so he found the perfect place. It was far away from all the other animals, near sweet water and protected by the shade of the baobab tree.

Hyena wanted the best home possible, so everyone who would see it would know how important he was in the grasslands. So he had the best builder in the land build it and decorate it for him. It took a whole moon’s time to build and when it was done Hyena threw a party to show it off. He hired the best chef in the land to cook the food and there was so much, that it took a week to cook it all.

Hyena invited everyone to his party and everyone came and greatly admired his fine new home and the delicious feast. Everyone, that is, except Hare. This made Hyena mad. The next morning, he decided to pay a visit to Hare. “Why did you not come to my party last night to see my fine, new home?” asked Hyena.

“Your fine, new home? I hear that it is nothing special – just another hole in the wall. And I’m sure your party was quite dull.”

“You are just jealous because you do not have such a grand home.” said Hyena.

“I could have one if I wanted one”, replied Hare.

“Oh, you think so! Let’s see then. I challenge you to build a home better than mine in half the time. In two weeks time, I will return to see your home and I expect to go to the best party even given. If you can’t provide these things you bragged about, I think I’ll be wearing a hare coat come winter!” And off he stormed.

Boy, I’ve really put my foot in my mouth this time, thought Hare. Then, because he was always a tricky fellow, he came up with an idea. He visited all his animal neighbors and asked them to help him build a new, fine home. If they did, he promised them two great gifts when they were done. All the animals wanted to see what the great gifts were, but some animals did not want to leave their families. So Hare told them to bring their families, too.

So all the animals built huts for their families and then went to work building a big home for Hare. Because so many animals worked on the home, it was easily built within two weeks. Which was a good thing because Hare was too lazy to help build his home. He picked up a log and a stick and spent his time lying around tapping out beats on the log.

When Hyena returned, he found a home that looked a lot like his own. He asked Hare what made his home better.

“Don’t you have eyes to see?” asked Hare. “I don’t just have a home. I have a village. Now all my animal friends live close by and it’s easier for us to visit and have fun together. This was Hare’s first gift: the village or community. Hyena had to admit that it was very nice to have a community of friends nearby.

Then Hare invited everyone to the party. Because there were so many in the village, no one person had to cook the whole feast. Everyone brought the dish they made best. The food was truly as delicious as what Hyena served, but Hyena wanted to know what made it better. Hare said, “Just wait.” And began to tap out on the log the rhythm he had been working on while others built his home. The beat was very catchy and pretty soon, others started tapping it out. Then butterfly flew up and started moving her wings to the beat and before you know it, everyone was making music and dancing.

Hare said, “This is my second gift: the drum.” Hyena had to admit that Hare’s party was better because of the drum. With all the eating, music and dancing, though, Hyena wasn’t too disappointed.

Some people say Hare really presented the animals with three gifts: the village, the drum and music. Some say music and the drum were the same gift. Hare doesn’t give an opinion one way or another, but I bet he enjoys the argument.

[from “Session 8:Hare’s Gift” in Creating Home, Tapestry of Faith, uua.org]

The post On Interdependence first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Excerpt from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when George meets Clarence, the angel:

• George Bailey: Well, you look about the kind of angel I’d get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren’t you? What happened to your wings?
• Clarence: I haven’t won my wings, yet. That’s why I’m called an Angel Second Class. I have to earn them. And you’ll help me will you?
• George Bailey: [sarcastic] Sure, sure. How?
• Clarence: By letting me help you.
• George Bailey: I know one way you can help me. You don’t happen to have 8,000 bucks on you?
• Clarence: No, we don’t use money in Heaven.
• George Bailey: Well, it comes in real handy down here, bud!

As of this writing, our Wonderful Church has raised $160,544, or 71% of our goal of $226,000 for this year’s pledge drive towards next year’s church budget.  We are just beginning to contact those of you we haven’t heard from yet to wrap-up this process (and here is the link submitting your pledge).

You may wish “church” could somehow be above money, be more about spiritual things than tangled up with the earthly business of dollars, banks, invoices and investments. It is true that we lift each other up in the most spiritual ways in all that we do.  But we also get our hands dirty – particularly the Garden On team!  The many wonderful volunteers, lay-leaders and active participants contribute to what happens here.  But all the hours, efforts and plans still need money and none of it could happen without the devotion and diligence of UUCW’s staff -who need and deserve fair wages- and this building.

In the movie, we see all the ways that George uses his job, the mundane Building and Loan business, to support people in their quests for meaning and satisfaction.  His day-to-day worries are consumed by dollars and cents and keeping his business and family afloat, but his North Star guiding that light is the mission to help families have homes. All of our talk about money during church may seem distasteful. But we do need to get our hands dirty.  We must engage this messy world to fulfill our mission to inspire people to take on the challenges of a changing world.  

We sincerely thank all who have made your financial pledge already and who will do so in the next few weeks.  “It comes in real handy down here!”

The Stewardship Team

Moira Rouse
Dave Schowalter

The post Stewardship Update: “It comes in real handy down here.” first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

The Soul Matters theme for the month of June is creativity, a word which comes to us from the Latin word “Creatus”, meaning to make, bring forth, produce, procreate, beget, or cause.  A word related to another Latin word “crescere”, meaning to arise, be born, increase and grow.  So, to be creative is to both bring forth and grow.  It is an act that is by its very nature the antithesis of efforts to diminish, destroy or eradicate.

This time of year is an interesting time for ministers to contemplate creativity.  As things begin to wind down in the prospect of summer rest, May is often the time when we begin to count the number of sermons left before vacation. (The answer is seven in case you were wondering.) And it is also the time when many of us hit the veritable wall when we stare at a blank screen or piece of paper and wonder out loud if there is anything else to say. 

In these moments I remember my father’s advice when I called him as I was preparing my very first sermon some 34 years ago.  I was panicking.  I had a mental block and could not for the life of me figure out anything to say.  Truth was, I was also petrified of making a fool of myself. 

So, what did my sage and experienced father say?  He chuckled “Good!” now, you can begin to write.  Taken aback I whined a bit more and he said, “Sermon writing isn’t about trying to figure out what you need to say as much as it is about thinking about the people you are speaking to and asking, ‘What do they need to hear?’”

That moment changed my experience of sermon writing forever.  My meditation was turned on its head.  Sermon writing became a discipline of remembering those whom I am honored to serve, and asking what form that service needed to take on any given day, including Sunday.

I think about this when I contemplate the idea of creativity.  Admittedly there are many times when I feel things well-up inside of me that almost demand to be communicated.  More times than not, if I am attentive, I realize that the origin of this demand to be spoken is my response to some issue or another in the lives of those I love, on occasion, even me.  

At its best, the creative enterprise is a call to respond to that which inspires us to grow.  And each time I pause to remember the origins of my most creative moments I recall the blessings bestowed upon me by those who have trusted me to accompany them through life’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs.  It is in this spirit that I hear the words of my colleague, Marcus Liefert whose rendition of the Sermon on the Mount gives me joy.

Oh you who are makers;
Makers of beauty,
Of paintings and pottery and sculpture,
Blessed is the making.
You who make with hands and hearts and minds,
Who make out of breath and bones and blood human lives,
Blessed are the makers.

Blessed are those who make us laugh,
Who make jokes and faces and toys.

Blessed are those who make messes,
Who make trouble and friends, and when needed, make up.

Blessed are those who make do,
Who make it last, make it work, make beds and make time for others.

Blessed are those who make love,
Who make out and make more and make mistakes.

Blessed are those who make coffee and tea,
Who make conversation, who make meaning in the face of tragedy;
who make merriment and awaken joy.

Blessed are those who make peace
For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessings,
Aaron

The post On Creativity first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Those who have been to the sanctuary in recent weeks will see that we have successfully lit our beautiful 8th Principle chalice!.  We had an excellent stewardship campaign response with this community  raising a pledge total of $198,669 from 83 households for the 2023-2024 church year.  We also had three member households request payments from their 401k plans, for an additional $12,200.  We cannot officially count this latter amount as pledges, because the 401k plans are not under any legal obligation to follow these requests, but experience shows these are reliable.  In summary, total pledges and 401 k requests sum to $210,869, essentially matching the campaign goal of $211,000.  This compares to $191,623 pledged last year by 86 households.  The team sincerely thanks the congregation for its support and the Connections Team for its help with outreach.

Our goal this year was a realistic stretch relative to 2022.  We couldn’t be more pleased with the results, but we also want to point out that we continue to need more in order to reduce our dependence on the endowment and create a financially sustainable future for UUCW.

Sincerely  

The Stewardship Team

Nancy Baffa
Moira Rouse
Dave Schowalter

stewardship@uucworcester.org 

The post A Thank-You Note From the Stewardship Team first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

It is with joy that we got to share all of our wisdom about spring religious holidays with our Religious Exploration Children.  We did this by viewing a wonderful video made by our own Vickie Cox-Lanyon and then having some discussion and crafting time. We then celebrated Easter the very next week with tales of Easter Bunnies and the story of Jesus’ life.  

I love that we are able to introduce the broad scope of global celebrations with honor and respect.  We can prepare children to meet others who celebrate and worship differently. Our hope is that all people can understand and honor traditions and beliefs different from our own.  

Please enjoy our Spring Holidays video and share with your friends.  The images are beautiful and the information is interesting!  (Thanks Vickie!!)

The video is available at https://youtu.be/cgswPpeY_0s if the one above does not work with your browser.

The post Spring Holidays and UUCW first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

Thanks to prompt responses from so many in the congregation to our solicitation on Stewardship Sunday at the beginning of the month, as of this writing we have $152,359 pledged for the 2023-2024 church year!  This is excellent progress towards our goal of over $211,000.  Kudos to all who have pledged by our requested deadline of March 26.

Starting this week, with help from the Connections Team, we plan to start reaching out individually to members and friends who have not yet pledged.  Communication is a crucial element in the stewardship campaign and pledging process.  The Stewardship Team has been making an effort to ensure that outgoing communication is a year-round process.  Incoming communication and dialogue are also very important to us, and so we welcome hearing from everyone, whether you have pledged yet or not.  If you have concerns about pledging or finances, we would love to have an open yet confidential discussion with you.  If you have any concerns about the stewardship campaign process, or church business, we would also be happy to talk to you–if we don’t know the answers to your questions, we can easily find out who does.  

Of course, if pledging has simply slipped your attention, please don’t hesitate to pledge today!  

We look forward to talking to you!

Sincerely  

The Stewardship Team

Nancy Baffa
Moira Rouse
Dave Schowalter

stewardship@uucworcester.org 

The post Stewardship Update first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

People are wondering what they can do in these times. I know I do. How can I help? What can I do that is in line with my values, my financial situation, my desire to stay home yet still help? Here are some places to start:

Start Here at Home – at UUCW
Don’t forget to make your pledge if possible. Or make a gift that can be credited to this fiscal year. We will be dealing with lost rental and fundraising income due to the current gathering restrictions. We need to keep our staff, programs and building running even if we are not together. Go to www.uucworcester.org/donate to make a gift for this year or pledge for next year.

If you are interested in helping members of our Community who are struggling, consider contributing an additional amount to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. These funds are used to help people with rent, prescription expense and other vital necessities.

Contribute to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
There are two ways you can contribute to the Pantry at this time. If you are interested in contributing financially, go to the Loaves & Fishes online donation form.

We are also looking for hygiene supplies that our folks cannot purchase with SNAP. Last month we were able to give a bar of soap to all our clients. If you are able to drop off hygiene supplies, specifically wipes, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and/or deodorant that would be great. The drop-off location is Dianne Mann’s house: 21 Ridgewood Rd. Worcester, MA 01606. There will be a tub at the side porch for any donations. Any questions, contact: Dianne Mann at djmann@charter.net.

Contribute to the Interfaith Hospitality Network Homeless Shelter
IHN is the Shelter that we partner with several times a year. They have many needs right now. This morning they were asking for the hygiene supplies we all need. They, too, have asked for additional money since they are in a position of needing staff to help cover the evening and night shifts that church people were supposed to cover. If you are interested in helping with the IHN Shelter, would like to know what they need, etc. Contact: Robin Mitzcavitch at UUCWRE@gmail.com.

Worcester Mutual Aid
If you are a Facebook user and want to help in specific ways, you may want to get on the Worcester Mutual Aid Facebook Group. There are specific postings here for people who need help. There are a wide variety of questions. Perhaps you will know the answer to a question about unemployment, rental questions, etc. We will all get through this together.

Worcester Mutual Aid Facemask Working Group
We’ve all heard how the people on the front lines do not have enough PPE. There is a large network of sewers out there making masks like crazy. Our own Robin Mitzcavitch is one of them! Perhaps you have fabric, elastic, t-shirts, etc. laying around that you never had time to sew, check into this group or ask Robin how you can help.

It’s tough times folks! Never before have we seen anything like it. I have faith that we will all get through this together. Take care of yourself those around you. If you have any needs, please reach out to me. And, if you have the time and/or money to help others, I encourage you to do that as well.

Peace,
Rev. Aaron Payson
arpayson@charter.net / 508-963-5959

The post Ways to Help first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.