MARCH 27-31, 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.
WE RELY ON YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT!
We Keep Rising
It is all about our community
Thank you to everyone who has pledged! We have 56 pledges so far, totaling $320K. That’s about 30% participation (out of 200 potential pledgers), and more than 60% of our goal of $500K by mid-April. We really need to hear from the other 70% of us ....
 
There are many charities that we can give to – social justice causes, arts organizations, public radio, university alumni groups, a political campaign.  Fabulous causes that have millions of givers, who give what they can. But few rely on your financial commitment as we do. UU Westport has ~200 givers; when you give, it has a big impact. Your pledge for the coming year sustains the mission and work of the congregation. It is 60% of our income. Consider this fact as you determine your giving allocations.
 
Please make your pledge https://uuwestport.org/pledge2023-2024/ or on Realm.
DAMN TALL BUILDINGS AT VOICES CAFE - APRIL 1 - 8:00 PM
The fun-loving, toe-tapping, infectious Damn Tall Buildings will be at Voices Café on Saturday, April 1st at 8:00 PM, bringing their unique bluegrass/indie/Americana sounds to raise our roof!! Max Capistran (guitar and banjo), Sasha Dubyk (bass), and Avery Ballotta (fiddle) simply delight in entertaining. Tickets at: Voices Cafe. Enjoy our BYO atmosphere, with sweet treats for purchase, and support the power of song in our social justice work!!
Enjoy a moment with Damn Tall Buildings!
The trio shares, “… Our hope is that the joy that making this music brings us will somehow get passed along to the people listening, which they can then take with them to pass along to someone else. It’s a shared celebration of positive energy, and that’s what keeps us cooking.”
CALL FOR INPUT: THE VERY FINE LIFE TIME VOLUNTEER AWARD
The Board of Trustees is seeking YOUR input for the 2023 FINE Award, given to outstanding volunteer(s) at the Annual Meeting. This award recognizes the consistent, outstanding, and otherwise unacknowledged volunteer contribution made to the pastoral, administrative, congregational and/or financial life and health of this community. There is a plaque in our foyer (near the kitchen window) that shows the list of past awardees; they can also be found HERE. We encourage you to see all the great contributors that have been recognized. Please send suggestions to the Board secretary, [email protected] or to [email protected] by Friday April 7.
SOCIAL ACTION
FURNITURE DONATIONS NEEDED FOR REFUGEE APARTMENTS
coffee cup on table with open book and pen
Do you have any of the following that you no longer need and would like to donate?
 
Dressers – small and light
Rugs (8 X 10 or smaller)
End tables
Upholstered chairs
Dining table and chairs
 
They can be put to good use in apartments being set up for refugees! For the full list of furniture needed and donation guidelines, please click HERE. For more information please contact Dorothy Rich at [email protected]
SHARE THE PLATE PROCEEDS SO FAR THIS YEAR
Let us be grateful when we are able to give, For many do not have that privilege.  
Let us be grateful for all those who share their gifts, For we are enriched by their giving.  
And let us be grateful even for our needs, So that we may learn from the generosity of others. 
January 2023 - $864 - FEED Center at the Council of Churches.  https://feedbpt.org/

February 2023 - $1125 - 6th-8th Grade Youth Trip to Washington, DC (February 17-20) Read about it in Feb 25-26 Soundings HERE, and watch video HERE.

March 2023 $1165 - High School Youth Group Trip to Appalachia upcoming in April 
SOCIAL JUSTICE
CAGV CALL TO ACTION FOR UU WESTPORT
CAGV
Connecticut Against Gun Violence
CT Against Gun Violence is seeking help in getting legislators to co-sponsor Governor’s Act Addressing Gun Violence, HB-6667. Co-sponsors let leadership know the bill has strong community support, paving the way for floor votes. Please CLICK HERE for CAGV action form to contact your state legislators about co-sponsoring. If a legislator has already co-sponsored, they'll get a thank you; always good to thank legislators!CAGV priorities are the "no exceptions" safe storage requirement, making the 2019 ghost gun law more enforceable, and continued funding of community gun violence intervention programs. Learn more about HB-6667 Legislative Brief HERE. Interested in getting involved in CAGV advocacy efforts, including upcoming lobby days in Hartford? Contact [email protected]. CAGV Action Teams meeting, Monday, April 3 at 7:00 PM (contact Terra - [email protected])
KNOCK ON DOORS FOR HUSKY FOR IMMIGRANTS
Knock on doors for HUSKY for Immigrants April 1 10 AM to 2 PM
Come knock on doors in Norwalk (you don’t have to live in Norwalk) to engage community members on the HUSKY 4 Immigrants campaign. This is to Expanding HUSKY, Connecticut’s Medicaid, to children and youth of undocumented parents in Connecticut up to age 19. We will be talking to voters and asking them to contact KEY legislators whose support we need this year to win! We will also share information about the roll-out of the new Husky program to the public. Never canvassed before? No worries, we'll do a short training at 10am to provide you with all the instructions and materials you need have a successful experience. And at 11:00 AM, we'll head out to knock on doors until 2:00 PM! Contact David Vita, [email protected] for information.
MEDICAL AID IN DYING (M.A.I.D.)
SB1076 in the Connecticut General Assembly will allow residents to access medical aid in dying. M.A.I.D. is a widely supported, trusted, time-tested, safe guarded medical practice end-of-life option. Click HERE or on the photo to see our UU Westport member Lynda Bluestein giving testimony. Terminally ill, mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live can request a prescription from their doctor they can decide to self-ingest to peacefully die in their sleep. M.A.I.D. was blocked in the Judiciary Committee last year. Major opposition from the Catholic Church. It’s imperative that people of faith contact the members of the Judiciary Committee to vote “YES” on this bill. For more information: Lawmakers should codify the inherent human right to shape one’s last days CLICK HERE. Representative (Wilton) Denning CLICK HERE.TAKE ACTION: CLICK HERE.
SAVE THE DATE: BARN DANCE FOR ALL,
SATURDAY EVENING APRIL 29
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]
Black Lives Matter Meeting Online, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 7:00-8:00 PM. ZOOM HERE. Come, engage in an exciting discussion of how we continue to build our Beloved Community! How can we make use of our “Hands, Head and Heart” to advance the cause of racial justice? Ideas include: collaborations with other organizations; discussions of "history-revealing" books, and field trips to social justice museums around the country.

The Women’s Circle with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, April 4: 7:00-8:30 PM. (Meetings 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.) Talking circle - thought provoking and inspirational conversations lead by Grandmother Nancy. ZOOM HERE Contact Pat Francek
TUCWomen wreath
SAVE THE DATE! Our second annual Spring Fest! Saturday, May 6. 3:00 - 7:00 in the Sanctuary. Flowers, Festivities, Fun, and Food for all women over 13 and those who identify as women. Childcare will be provided for any children under the age of 13. Questions, contact Carol Hamilton.

Make new friends and meet up with old ones. Upcoming Potluck Dinners will be at the homes of: Sharon Poole, April 21; Eileen Belmont, May 19; Beth Cliff, June 16. To sign up and receive the address of the potluck, contact Eileen Belmont (email 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.