January 24-28, 2022 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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JANUARY 6 VIGIL TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY: A BIG SUCCESS |
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On January 6, 2022, people across America gathered at over 300 Vigils to remember the violent insurrection that unfolded at our nation’s Capitol. At our Vigil at TUCW, 341 people turned up to hear speakers of diverse ages, races, genders and occupations offered inspiration and calls to action to prevent such a threat to our democracy from happening again. We turned January 6th from a Day of Infamy to a Day of Hope. |
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Speakers included Senators Murphy and Blumenthal; Representative Himes; Denise Merrill, CT Secretary of State; Laura Smits - LWV, Alisa Trachenberg of Indivisible, Vicki Volper - ReSisters, Janet Luongo - UUtheVote, Jonathan Perloe – VoterChoice; Lillian McKeever, Arnela TenMeer and BptGenNow. Thanks to Janet Luongo for spearheading this effort for our congregation; contact her to get involved. For more info click HERE.
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US Rep Jim Himes and our own David Vita |
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Gemeem Davis and Callie Hellman of Bridgeport Generation Now |
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKS QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
FOR CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP
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The Nominating Committee is currently evaluating potential nominees for elected committee positions that will open in June 2022. For descriptions and terms of office for The Board of Trustees, Endowment Committee, Committee on Ministry, and Nominating Committee, please click HERE. If you have an interest in being considered or would like to suggest a member for consideration, kindly email the Nominating Committee at nominating@uuwestport.org this week. |
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THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: REVIEW AND COM APPOINTEE |
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The Board met on Tuesday. At that time our accountant, Bob Bailey of Hope & Hernandez, issued us a clean bill of health as part of the annual auditor’s review. He called the year's record-keeping and accounting "a complete success.” A reminder that we alternate between full audits and reviews; this year was the review year, next year is a full audit.
Thanks to Sue O'Meara, our Treasurer and Trustee Steve Grathwohl, and the other members of the Finance Committee (Elena Rockman-Blake, Mary Jane Cross, Mark Corchran, and Bob Trefry) for keeping our books in order this year. It's a lot of hard work behind the scenes; your fellow congregants are doing us all a great service!
Also to note the Board appointed Eileen O'Reilly to join the Committee on Ministries to complete the term of a vacated position.
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NEW "GRANDMOTHER'S KITCHEN" SUNDAYS 4-5:30 PM
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The TUCWomen are launching a twice-a-month Sunday afternoon series on ZOOM, Grandmother’s Kitchen, open to all.
Our hosts will take us on fascinating journeys through time to visit their grandmothers' kitchens and their cultural heritages. You will be welcomed virtually into their home kitchens, and encouraged to explore unfamiliar cuisines as a gastronomical time travel that will allow you to get a taste of culture history, values and stories.
Save the date - FEBRUARY 13 - for the first dinner which will be Ravi Sankar sharing from his country of origin, India. Check SOUNDINGS for more details as it gets closer. And if you’re interested in hosting, let TUCWomen know.
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RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCES GUIDE #4 |
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- Join a free webinar from the National Museum of African American History and Culture to explore the last 5 years of the Rev Martin Luther King's fight to end segregation and racial discrimination.
- Read and discuss "Rainbow Milk" by Paul Mendez for the African and African American Authors Book Discussion Group at a library in Stamford.
- Listen to a recent podcast from "The United States of Anxiety", talking about the nuances of race and identity. Please CLICK HERE for details.
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RALLY TO END COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE IN HARTFORD, MONDAY FEBRUARY 14, 11 AM |
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We need to show up! Last year in Connecticut someone was murdered with a gun, on average, once every three days. Most of the killings occurred in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven alone.
It’s a public health crisis that won’t go away unless the state invests more to save lives.
That’s why we’re rallying: Valentine’s Day Rally to End Community Gun Violence, in Hartford at the State Capitol on February 14 at 11:00 AM.
We chose this day to share in the grief of the families and friends of victims of everyday gun violence that is constantly shattering the lives of loved ones, especially in Black and brown communities. Click HERE for information about the rally, local gun buy backs, gun violence prevention in Bridgeport, and 2022 legislation in Connecticut.
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FURNITURE NEEDED FOR REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN |
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Do you have furniture in good condition that you no longer need? |
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The Immigration and Refugee Outreach Committee of the Unitarian Church in Westport is helping the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) to resettle immigrants and refugees in our area. We are setting up as many as two or three apartments per week for refugees from Afghanistan and need furniture for them. If you have furniture in good condition that you would like to donate, please click HERE to see the types of furniture needed and details about the donation process. We also need drivers and helpers to pick up donated furniture – please click HERE for further information. (Dresser donated by Claire Schoen)
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THE 1619 PROJECT: BOOK DISCUSSION - FRIDAY FEB 4 - 7-8PM |
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On Friday Feb 4 we invite all to a book discussion for all interested in reading The 1619 Project created by Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine. Discussion is on the first 4 chapters. All are welcome. Bring a friend. Whether or not you read all or a portion of the book, please come to listen, ask questions, or discuss as you are comfortable doing. Co-sponsored by the Racial Justice Council and TUCW Women BLM committee. ZOOM Link HERE.
And click HERE to listen to a podcast from Christopher Lyndon, "1619: Rethinking how it all started."
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FOLLOW- UPS TO RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION PROGRAM |
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Residential Segregation—Next Steps. Thank you to all who attended the program on Residential Segregation last Sunday. Peter Harrrison and Rev. Morehouse offered us a lot to consider and, based on your feedback, you expressed a clear and energized desire for action! Please stay tuned for opportunities to get involved. For now, consider visiting Desegregate Connecticut and subscribe to their weekly newsletter. The site also features many resources for those who would like to learn more or advocate. If you are interested in helping to plan and organize activities here at TUCW, please email Lisa at TUCWomen@gmail.com.
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Reparations for Black Spirituals. As Rev John mentioned in a recent sermon, some white congregations in our country are paying what they're calling "royalites" when they sing hymns that come from the African American spiritual tradition. They say it's a matter of racial justice. They are trying to acknowledge financially the origins of some of the songs they sing during services.
As a form of reparations to the black community, in honor of the history of the spirituals sung at the program “Residential Segregation” on January 16th, the TUCWomen #BLM organizers made a donation to the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center in Bridgeport, an organization that holds up Black history. Click HERE for more history.
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Mondays: 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis. Podcast Discussions with Rev. John first Mondays, 7-8 PM on ZOOM HERE. Linda Lubin
Fridays: Every other Fri (next, Jan 28),12:30-2PM. Shawl Ministry ZOOM Jan Braunle.
First Fridays 12-1PM Awakenings ZOOM Kathy Roberts. Last Fridays 7:30 PM
Saturdays: 12:00 noon- 4 PM John Street Bag Lunch Drop Off David Vita
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Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
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Fierce Self-Compassion book discussion continues on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM through January. Self-compassion is an essential practice for those of us seeking to be more compassionate with others. We have identified mindfulness of our emotions and accepting them as necessary steps toward being kinder to ourselves and more effective in our communications with others. ZOOM: HERE Contact Carol Hamilton.
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Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, February 2, 7-8:30 PM. (FIrst and third Tuesdays) Talking circle, thought-provoking conversations. ZOOM HERE Contact Pat Francek
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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 pca@uuwestport.org.
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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 pca@uuwestport.org
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The Unitarian Church 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.
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