FEBRUARY 6-10, 2023 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
CLICK HERE for 2 week calendar PDF. CLICK HERE for past issues of SOUNDINGS.
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY UPDATE: MEET THE TEAM
AppreciativeInquiry
Good News!  The first stage of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process is done: identifying a cross-section of the congregation to create a Core or Congregational Team. The Team will tailor the AI process to our community.  What are the provocative questions that will bring out our stories, our gifts and our hopes?  How shall we collect your answers:  One-on-one interviews? Group discussions?  Videos of inter-generational Q&A? Workshops? Your input is welcome!

The following people have agreed to serve: David Boyd, Dayle Brownstein, Ruth Fontilla, Jim Francek, Carol Hamilton, Tom Hearne, Lyn Kobsa, Heather Lau, Fred Marshall, Eileen O’Reilly, Naree Viner, and Jerusha Vogel.  
 
This is an exciting time for all of us!  Stay tuned…there will many opportunities to participate!
COME TO THE CABARET! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 - 8:00 PM
"Come to the Cabaret, old friends!" It's back, packed with great entertainment after a two-year hiatus. Watch your friends as they share with us some of their favorite songs, stories and poems. This is a community event, with BYO food and beverage of choice. It's a great chance to kick back and relax with no pressure -- ahhhh! --- and some good laughs. It's a guaranteed "feel good" event: stress-free and delightful for all. See you there!
Sari!
Diane!
Gian!
CHORAL CHAMELEON - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - 7:30 PM
Choral Chameleon Saturday February 25 at 730 PM tickets are $20 online or at the door
On Saturday, February 25 at 7:30, Choral Chameleon will be with us again! As a part of their 15th anniversary celebrations they will be bringing us a program which is loosely based on a story of Truman Capote in which they look at the capacity of human beings to embrace change. To do that they will share several new pieces of choral music that will inspire us and leave our thought-provoking encounters wanting more. Click HERE for tickets.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: MONDAYS, STARTING FEB. 13 - 5:30-6:45 PM
REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY FEB 8
The Grief Support Group offered within our TUCW community helps us better understand our own grief and navigate the tumultuous waves of emotion and challenge that follow the death of a loved one. Trained facilitators Pat Francek, LCSW and Chuck Harrington, PhD will be offering the next Grief Support Group beginning Monday, February 13 and running for 5 consecutive Monday evenings from 5:30-6:45 in Rev. John Morehouse’s office at TUCW.

If you have experienced the death of a loved one, be it recent or in the past, and would like to register or get more information about The Grief Support Group, please contact Pat Francek, LCSW, or Chuck Harrington, PhD. Registration is needed and will close Feb 8.
UUWRITERS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 1:00 PM OR 7:00 PM
I Love Writing
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance! - Oscar Wilde

In honor of Valentine's Day, our next theme for UUWriters is LOVE!

Sharpen your quills, pens, or laptops, and join on us on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 1:00 PM or 7:00 PM. We welcome newbie writers. We use writing prompts from packets emailed to us to kick-start our writing. The packet includes poems and songs to inspire us. Take as little as 15 minutes to write something that you'll bring to the workshop on ZOOM. We don't critique the work. We will discuss how we connected to it. For questions and the packet, contact Sari at [email protected]
15th ANNUAL DARWIN DAY DINNER - SAT, FEBRUARY 11, 2023 - 6:00 PM
This year we are again sponsors of the annual Darwin Day Dinner, traditionally held on or near Darwin's birthday of February 12, 1809. This year the program is entitled: When Worms and Germs Compete, Who Wins? There will be a science quiz (with prizes!), and a presentation by Yale Professor Vanessa Ezenwa.
Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7 at the Inn at Longshore, 260 Compo Rd, Westport. Click HERE for more information and to RSVP.
UUs AND MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN CT: A BRIEF HISTORY
1 in 5 Americans currently have access to this peaceful end-of-life care option
A bill that allows terminally ill adults, under specified conditions, to obtain and use prescriptions to self-administer lethal medications is before the Connecticut General Assembly this year.  

We Unitarian Universalists can play a significant role in its passage. UUs have a long and powerful history of belief and action on legislation like this. Back in 1988, way ahead of its time, UUA General Assembly voted a resolution stating in part: "Unitarian Universalists should inform and petition legislators to support legislation that will create legal protection for the right to die with dignity, in accordance with one's own choice." Click HERE for more information.
ONGOING PROGRAMMING
Tuesdays11AM-noon. Interfaith Theology. Twice monthly. Check schedule HERENancy McKeever. First and third Tuesdays 7-8:30 PM Women's Circle with Grandmother NancyZOOM HERE  Pat Francek.

Wednesdays: 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis.  7-8:15 PM A New Earth Bob Bevacqua

Thursdays: 4 PM Talking Circles. ZOOM HEREJim Francek.

Fridays: First Fridays 9:30-10:30 AM Addiction Recovery Ministry. Jim Francek. Third Fridays 6:30 PM Women's Potluck. Location moves monthly. Eileen Belmont. Last Fridays: 7:30 PM UU Movie Group. ZOOM. Dorothy Rich

Saturdays and Sundays: Sat 12:00 noon- 4 PM; Sun 9:30- 9:50 AM John Street Bag Lunch Drop Off David Vita.

Sundays: 9 AM UU Meditation & Mindfulness (virtual and in person) Janet Luongo

The Hiking Group First Saturdays and third Mondays. Jamie Forbes Gian Morresi
Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
Find us on digital and social media: website: uuwestport.org, Facebook public page (The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport), private group (uuwestport), Instagram (uuwestportct), Twitter (uuwestportct) and Linked In (uuwestportct)
All women welcome at all events; visit our website for complete info.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
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  • The Women’s Circle with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, February 7, 7:00-8:30 PM. (Meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of the month) Talking circle - thought provoking and inspirational conversations lead by Grandmother Nancy. ZOOM HERE Contact Pat Francek

  • Potluck Dinner, Friday, February 17, 6:30 PM. Come one, come all! Bring a dish to share and chat with new friends and old. Last month, we shared interesting places where we had lived, and discovered who else had lived there. Our host this month is Marie-Claire Bue in Westport. RSVP (by Wednesday, February 15, if you can) to Eileen Belmont and she will send you the address. Email: [email protected] or cell: 215-350-3015.
SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
PASTORAL CARE
If you are going through a challenging time or know somebody in the congregation who needs support from our Pastoral Care Chaplains, call to leave a confidential message in the PCA voice mailbox 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or email [email protected].
CARING NETWORK
Our support network is available to provide tangible help for friends in need: meal delivery, pharmacy runs, grocery shopping, a regular phone call of connection. Contact a minister or coordinators Dorothy Rich,or Diane Cano,
ADDICTION RECOVERY
For individuals or families of our congregation seeking confidential support or information about addiction issues. Please contact our Addiction Recovery Ministry by calling 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or emailing [email protected]
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs. 
 WE INSPIRE and support individual spiritual growth. 
 WE CONNECT through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries. 
 WE ACT in the service of peace and justice.