NOVEMBER 21-25, 2022 - 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.
THREE QUICK REMINDERS FOR THIS SUNDAY, NOV 20:
  • Bring non-perishable donations to drop off before worship.
  • Stay after the service for Stewardship For Us congregational discussion. Light food will be provided.
  • Last call for Naming Vote # 3 due 5:00 PM. Click HERE to vote.
A MEAL OF REMEMBRANCE:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 - 5:30-7:00 PM - MEETING HOUSE
As the holidays draw near, so do memories of those who will no longer celebrate them with us. To honor their presence in our lives, our TUC Women and Pastoral Care Committee welcome you to join us in a Meal of Remembrance. We will share a simple meal after which each participant may light a candle and share a brief reminiscence about their loved one. We will meet from 5:30 to 7:00 on Friday Dec. 2 in the Meeting House. An RSVP by Nov. 30th to Carol Hamilton is necessary for planning purposes. Participation is limited to 15 people. All members are welcome. In community we comfort one another.
HOLIDAY JAZZ AT VOICES CAFE SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 at 4:00 PM
The Heather Pierson Trio shares Vince Guaraldi's iconic "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and other holiday favorites! Heather Pierson is a fan favorite with beautiful vocals and jazz piano flair, with Shawn Nadeau on bass and Craig Bryan on drums. Tickets & Info

”… a festive show that brings together jazz heads and families of all ages, all coming to hear a virtuoso knock out a classic!” (Jeff Beam, One Longfellow Square). Listen to the Trio’s holiday magic with O Tannenbaum.
Enjoy café-style seating, bring your own beverages and snacks, bring some friends and build new friendships! And groups of four or more can reserve table space. (Doors open at 3:30pm.) 

Free babysitting at the Meeting House, where kids are having their own Bring-a-Friend Holiday Party. Voices Café supports the battle against food insecurity, with proceeds directed to Mercy Learning Center. 
COLLECTING CHILDREN'S COATS FOR BEARDSLEY STUDENTS
The cold weather is upon us, and there are students at Beardsley that can't walk to school and play in the playground in comfort because they have outgrown their coats from last year. That's where we come in!

If you have a gently used child's coat - from preK to smaller adult sizes - please drop it off near the Beardsley Board in the foyer. We will get them to students who will be so appreciative! Spread the word among your neighbors! Questions? Contact Beth Cliff. And THANK YOU!
LET'S BRING BACK ADULT NEIGHBORING FAITHS
If you would like to co-host this program we would like to hear from you! Before the pandemic we visited mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship. These visits included talks with worship leaders of the different faiths and invitations to worship services. If you would like to be a part of this please contact Ravi Sankar. We need to plan and make arrangements with the respective worship leaders and places of faith to make this an enlightening and rewarding experience!
MORE WREATHS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
Good news! We ordered excess holiday wreaths, and we have 30 extra! If you have not ordered your holiday wreath, it is not too late! They are hand-crafted in Vermont and are $35 each. Some of the money helps to support the youth group service trip to TN in April.
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRIES IS HERE FOR YOU
Committee On Ministries Ensuring the fulfillment of our mission and vision to Inspire Connect and Act
Your Committee on Ministries (“the COM”) is your body, overseeing the alignment between our congregation’s mission and the work of our committees. The COM also assists in matters of conflict and advises our Senior Minister as representatives of our congregation.

Our members are Jenna McPartland (Chair), Monica Garrison, Chuck Colletti, Shahan Islam, Julyen Norman, and Joanne Glasser Orenstein. If you are interested in joining the COM this year or in the future, please contact one of our members or the Nominating Committee. We invite you to seek us out, ask questions, and get involved. We can be emailed at COM@uuwestport.org.
LAST CALL FOR NAMING VOTE #3.
The Naming Vote for Vote #3 is in progress through Sunday November 20 at 5 PM. The three names on the ballot (in alphabetical order) are:

The Unitarian Church in Westport,
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport,
UU Westport A Unitarian Universalist Community.

In the spirit of building community, the method of voting will be Ranked Choice Voting. Click HERE for a YouTube video about Ranked Choice voting and HERE for a written explanation of this method. Each of the three names MUST be given a preference of 1, 2 or 3 when marking your ballot or the vote will not be accepted for submission. CLICK HERE to vote.
 
Please contact Ruth Fontilla if you need help voting. All details about the process can be found on the website HERE . Questions/concerns? namechange@uuwestport.org
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE SUNDAYS DEC 4 & 18,
BEFORE AND AFTER THE SERVICE
Donate those scarves and jewelry that aren’t your favorites anymore. Bring your contributions to the Church Office and include your name and email so we can send you a receipt. Questions? Contact Sari.
•ONGOING PROGRAMMING•
Mondays: 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis. 

Tuesdays. 11AM-noon. Interfaith Theology. Twice monthly. Check schedule HERE. Nancy McKeever

Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM A New Earth Bob Bevacqua

Thursdays: 4 PM Talking Circles. ZOOM HERE. Jim Francek.

Fridays: Last Friday of each month: 7:30 PM UU Movie Group. Hybrid. 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 (Unitarian Church 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 TUCWomen@gmail.com
  • The Women’s Circle with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, December 6, 7-8:30 PM. (First and third Tuesdays of the month) Talking circle - thought provoking and inspirational conversations. ZOOM HERE Contact Pat Francek
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 pca@uuwestport.org.
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 pca@uuwestport.org
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.