The Rev. Aaron Payson, wearing the garb of Masked Man, conducts the March 7, 2021 service, the theme of which was ‘Let’s Be Superheroes.’ The Stewardship team – Dave Schowalter, Moira Rouse and Sherri Linn – presented Maskman & Robin – Episode 1, a skit related to this year’s stewardship campaign.
Photo of the Week #2
Eva Anderson warms up on March 5, 2021 before recording ‘Blue Boat Home’ for the upcoming Youth Service.
Photo of the Week #3
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to September 7, 2014 when Rachel Wagner, soprano, sang during the first Soulful Sundown service of the church year. The service was Disney-themed, and called “Mirror Mirror…” Soulful Sundown was a contemporary, eclectic vespers service held on Sunday evenings.Continue reading →
Music Director Matt Johnsen, left, accompanies Kim McCoy, Paul Marr and Vickie Cox-Lanyon as they rehearse before a video recording session on February 25, 2021.
Photo of the Week #2
This item from the UUCW scrapbooks takes us back to December 23, 1956 when those who joined the church received these certificates.Continue reading →
Sherri Linn places bags in carts in preparation for filling on February 19, 2021. The filled bags will be distributed the following day for Food Pantry.
Photo of the Week #2
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to February 26, 2017 when the choir sang “Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire” during the Music Sunday service. The theme that day was “A Wintry Mass.”Continue reading →
#uucwreads (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/uucwreads/) highlights the ways that books are part of our members’ lives. The Rev. Cheryl Leshay, Community Minister, owns over 1,000 books, encompassing 15 filled bookcases, as well as cookbooks in her kitchen and more books on e-readers Nook and Kindle. Fun fact: The book she is holding, “Called to Community,” has a chapter about her and campus ministry. (photo by Bruce Leshay)
Photo of the Week #2
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to Sunday, March 5, 2017 when Iron Blimp took a bow after performing “Climbing the Stairway to Seven,” a pledge campaign song modeled on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”
A Zeppelin knock-off, they are, from left, the Rev. Aaron Payson, and Stewardship Committee members John Odell, Cristina Heffernan and Dave Schowalter.Continue reading →
UUCW Sexton Steve McNally cleans up the Shore Drive sidewalk after the snow storm on February 8, 2021. Photo by Kim McCoy.
Photo of the Week #2
This is a still image from one of three videos included in the February 7, 2021 service. Jenny DelGizzi portrays “Cussy Mary” from the book “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.” The service was based on the book, our All-Church Read.
Photo of the Week #3
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to the Vespers service on December 20, 2015, when the Rev. Aaron Payson gave a reading during the Candle Lighting portion of the service. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #4
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to the Youth Service on March 20, 2016, when the youth and Robin Mitzcavitch stood together at the end of the service. (photo by Betty Jenewin)Continue reading →
This January 25, 2021 photo shows UUCW’s Catherine Roberts writing notes, a practice she has deepened during the pandemic.
She estimates she has written several hundred notes during this time of COVID.
Catherine says “I have always been a note writer and have several pen pals. My job already asks me to sign typed thank you letters, but I switched to handwritten notes to make them more personal. I love finding a letter or notecard in the mail, so I send them out, too. This makes me feel grounded and on track. I have so many memories of receiving letters from my grandmothers, and don’t want this practice to go away.” (photo by Jacob MacDonald)
Photo of the Week #2
This image was done by Bart Hill in 2007-2008, part of a series he calls “Light at the Church.”
Bart’s inspiration came after he noticed the way that light washes throughout our building.
Fun fact: Bart was 4 or 5 when he first took his mother’s Brownie Camera out to make photos.
Then, seeing his father’s and uncle’s love of photography, he’s been clicking every since.
Photo of the Week #3
This undated photo from the UUCW archives shows Loree Burns, left, and Cathy McDonagh at Ferry Beach. (photo by Judy Savage)
Photo of the Week #4
The photo from the UUCW archives shows a church event in 1993 attended by, from left, Jan Cutman, Valla Fotiades and Tom Pierce. (photo by Judy Savage)Continue reading →
Jenny DelGizzi (upper left square, holding up the book) moderated the virtual All-Church Book Discussion about Kim Michele Richardson’s “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” after the service on Sunday, January 24, 2021.
Photo of the Week #2
UUCW’s Rev. Aaron Payson delivered the Invocation during the city-wide virtual “Day of Hope – Worcester Prayer Service in Solidarity With Our Nation” on Wednesday morning, January 20, 2021.
Photo of the Week #3
#uucwreads highlights the ways that books are part of our members’ lives.
Alma, who is now 9 years old, was the motivator behind UUCW starting a composting program when she was 8.
She’s a voracious reader, who loves the “Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls,” in particular the parts about Rachel Carson and the Black Mambas.
Fun fact: Alma decided to write a letter to Elizabeth Warren to ask her to double down on environmental issues, and she pitched state-wide composting programs as an idea!
Photo of the Week #4
#timemachinetuesday takes up back to November 18, 2017 when people spontaneously stood and joined hands while singing the song “Lean on Me” during the party that Deb and Joe Zawielski put on in Fellowship Hall.
The Zawielski’s, shown center right in this photo, threw the party to thank people for their support during Joe’s medical situation. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
#weremember
Photo of the Week #5
#flashbackfriday takes us back to January 10, 2016 when ministerial intern Beau Rivers gathered the baskets after the Children’s Collection. (photo by Betty Jenewin)Continue reading →
On Sunday morning, January 17, 2021, Moira Rouse spoke to the children in the Religious Exploration program about the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and in particular, her brother Barton’s square in that quilt. Barton’s photo is shown on her computer monitor. He passed away from AIDS in 1995.
Each block in this massive quilt (48,000 blocks), tries to tell the story of a beautiful life lost to a horrifying disease. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #2
Barton Rouse is shown in the top photo; his block in the AIDS memorial quilt is shown below. (photos courtesy of Moira Rouse)
Photo of the Week #3
Beckley and Dave Schowalter perform “Feelin’ Groovy” at the Ferry Beach virtual “Talent/No Talent Show” on Saturday, January 16, 2021. Thanks to Maya Desai for making the magic happen, to George for emceeing and to our friends at First Unitarian for joining us.
Photo of the Week #4
This graphic is used by the Side With Love task force as a land acknowledgement. This practice recognizes the indigenous people whose lands we occupy today, and serves as a reminder of the histories that are so often ignored or forgotten.
This land acknowledgement is used to open the monthly UUCW anti-racism Community Conversations, held on the last Tuesday of the month. (graphic by Evan Wilson)
Photo of the Week #5
On January 17, 2021, UUCW’s Rev. Aaron Payson and First Unitarian’s Rev. Sarah Stewart swapped pulpits. Here, Rev. Stewart delivers her reflection “The Meaning of America” during UUCW’s service.
An attendee commented “Rev. Stewart: Thank you for sharing your inspirational message today! Please come visit again, soon!”
Photo of the Week #6
Linda Miller’s cousin, Cliff Hakim, presents a talk on his book “Walk in My Shoes: The Path to Empathy and Compassion” during the Zoom meeting of the Greater Worcester Humanist on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
Hakim interviewed 35 people who showed him that empathy is still very much alive.
One of those folks is our own Bart Hill, who Hakim referred to as an “everyday humanitarian.” Bart says “you can accomplish so much with a smile.”
Photo of the Week #7
This photo from our UUCW archives honors our past and our present. On May 17, 2009 current Director of Religious Education and Exploration, Robin Mitzcavitch, left, lit the chalice with former Director of Religious Education, Deb Selkow.
The occasion was the end-of-the-year Coming of Age service.
Deb served as DRE from 1999 to 2011; Robin began as Youth Coordinator in 2008 and became DRE in 2012. (photo by Betty Jenewin)
Photo of the Week #8
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to June 10, 2007 and Religious Education Sunday, which was also Girl Scout Sunday.
At left, Mary Monica Miner conducts the Girl Scout religious award badge part of the service. To her left are Miya, Audrey, Katie, Leah, and Susan.
As congregants, these young people completed all the work to get the UU badge, supervised by Mary Monica. This badge was traditionally awarded on Girl Scout Sunday at church; all the Girl Scouts in the room were recognized on that day. #weremember (photo by Betty Jenewin)Continue reading →
#uucwreads highlights the ways that books are part of our members’ lives.
“Walk in My Shoes: The Path to Empathy and Compassion” is a book by Cliff Hakim, Linda Miller’s cousin. Hakim dialogues with over 30 “storytellers,” individuals from many walks of life who have learned to walk in other people’s shoes. https://www.walkinmyshoesart.com
Hakim has spoken previously at UUCW, in approximately 2004, about his book “Life’s Too Short to Drink Cheap Wine.”
Photo of the Week #2
The Rev. Aaron Payson delivers the reflection “Liberating Liberalism” during the Zoom church service on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
An attendee commented “One of the most beautiful, diverse and poignant services I’ve ever experienced.”
Photo of the Week #3
This photo from the UUCW archives takes us back to October 14, 2012, when Linda Holbrook, left, stopped to talk with Sue Neaz at the Crop Walk table in Fellowship Hall after the service.
The Crop Walk took place one week from that day, and a portion of the funds benefitted UUCW’s own Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. (photo by Betty Jenewin) Continue reading →
Sharon Templeman crocheted 75 soap sacks to be included in the December distribution of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. She also donated all the soap and plastic baggies to keep them in. It was inspired by a Girl Scout Troop who was doing this project for the homeless.Continue reading →
