MAY 15-19, 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 have two big events to put on our calendars for early June. David, Francis and Rev John have been huge forces in the life of our congregation over the years, and we want to honor each of them. Please save the dates, and see you at the parties!

Come celebrate David Vita, our Director of Social Justice since 2005, for an evening of entertainment, food, and fond farewells. Entertainment will include music by the Andes band Sin Fronteras. Our buffet for David's send-off party will be "heavy hors d'oeuvres.” It's potluck, so please bring your favorite appetizers to share with UU friends and guests. Vegetarian and vegan options welcome. And of course - desserts! Wine, beer and soft drinks will be provided. Please put this tribute to David on your calendar and be sure to RSVP to Kathy Roberts.

ALL THAT JAZZ CELEBRATION FOR REV JOHN AND FRANCIS

Got a memory or story you'd like to share? Send them and pictures to Rob Zuckerman ([email protected]) for a memory book. 

This will be a potluck celebration, so start to think about what you want to share! (An Appetizer? A Main Course/Entree? A Salad/Side Dish? Or a Dessert?)

Want to know how to help or have questions? Contact Ruth Fontilla or Ravi Sankar.

Last weekend nine of us from UU Westport visited the Sikh Gurdwara in Norwalk for their regular Sunday service. We took off our shoes and socks, donned scarves and head coverings and sat crossed legged on the carpet facing the service leaders who sang passages from the sacred book. After the service, they laid the canvas fabric on the floor and served lunch to everyone. Providing meals, not just to the hungry, but to anyone, is part of the mission of the Sikhs. It is a beautiful faith and, again, we found many connections to our UU faith.

Join us for our last visit of the congregational year: a Hindu Temple on Saturday, June 17th!

The last two classes will of the Interfaith Theology Class for this year will be on Tuesday, May 23 and 30 at 11 AM on ZOOM. Rev John Moorehouse will be leading both classes, on topics to be determined. We'll let you know next week! For now, save the date. The link to join the meeting is HERE. Meeting ID 828 6719 0378 Passcode: 314594. Questions? ask Nancy McKeever.

The Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, May 16, in the Meeting House at 7:00 PM for their regularly scheduled meeting. The Agenda for the meeting can be found HERE; A draft of the minutes from the April meeting can be found HERE;

The meetings are open to anyone to observe except Executive Session. If you'd like to attend, please let our Secretary, Stapley Emberling, know in advance.

UU Westport has always had generous donors but has seldom recognized individual givers in a public way, usually because that is how contributors had requested. After our successful recent capital campaign, several individuals have expressed an interest in giving further substantive monies to support UU Westport’s mission, vision, and strategic goals, but this time they would like to have their gifts recognized publicly. The Financial Sustainability Task Force is exploring how to formalize a process for individuals and foundations to donate funds to us, so that they can both take advantage of tax benefits and receive ongoing public recognition at certain significant dollar levels. If you are interested in being part of those efforts or potentially making a large gift to the congregation, please reach out to Brian Lasher or Rev. John.

Want to learn a fancier knitting stitch than garter or stockinette? Then this is for you! Please join members of the Shawl Ministry as Cathy Paine teaches us how to do Brioche Knitting - a way to overlay one color or pattern on top of another. Please join us at the Meeting House, Friday, May 26 from 12:30 PM to 2 PM. For details and a materials list please email [email protected].

See Cathy's beautiful green and cream scarf in Brioche to the left here. Just exquisite - and actually, not that difficult to do - so she tells us :) Come find out, with us!

The movies we will discuss at our May meeting are: “The Quiet Girl”, “Emily” and “Juniper” (Rent from Amazon, VUDU, others)

Please join us if you see any of these. We will meet only on ZOOM in May.

For the Zoom link, please email Dorothy Rich.

Come to Hartford on Wednesday, May 17 with other members of our congregation to lobby for legislation to keep Connecticut safer from gun violence. We’ll be there for Connecticut Against Gun Violence’s (CAGV) Lobby Day. We’re working with CAGV to strengthen ghost gun regulations, the firearm storage law, and to ensure funding for evidenced based community violence intervention programs.The reason Connecticut has strong gun laws and one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in America is because you show up, and keep showing up! Please CLICK HERE to sign up for the May 17 Lobby Day and contact Kathy Roberts about carpooling.

In Connecticut, undocumented immigrants are unable to access healthcare coverage. They can’t buy into AccessHealth CT, are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, and private insurance companies are either too expensive or outright reject applications from undocumented individuals. Without health care coverage, many individuals delay seeking care until their condition requires emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Chronic health issues that could be easily managed or treated, such as diabetes and heart disease, develop into more serious and expensive conditions. We’re asking Governor Lamont, Senate Majority Leader Looney, and House Speaker Ritter to follow doctor’s orders and expand HUSKY coverage to all immigrants up to 26. CLICK HERE to tell them to include funds in the budget for HUSKY expansion to 26. David Vita, Legislative Advocacy

•ONGOING PROGRAMMING•

Tuesdays. 11AM-noon. Interfaith Theology. Twice monthly. Check schedule HERE. Nancy McKeever. First and third Tuesdays 7-8:30 PM Women's Circle with Grandmother Nancy. ZOOM 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 HERE. Jim 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]

Potluck Dinner gathering. Friday, May 19, 6:30 PM. Last month over 25 women gathered for a fabulous potluck. Hope you're all ready to potluck again this month! Bring a dish to share and chat with old friends and new. Eileen Belmont will host at her home in Westport. RSVP and Eileen will send you her address: [email protected]. An upcoming potluck will be at the home of Beth Cliff, June 16, in Easton.

The Women’s Circle with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, May 16: 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

 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.