October 18-22,, 2021 - 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.
REMINDER: Today after church, noon-3:00 PM, is our FALL FUN DAY with '70s singalong, musical mural and much more fun and games. Bring a lawn chair, a little lunch to tide you over if need be, and join us!.
STEWARDSHIP MINI-CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING: A 1:1 MATCH
We are delighted to be kicking off a fall fundraiser to support our children's programming. This campaign, "Children Are Our Future," will give a boost to Dr. Heather Hamilton and the wonderful things she has planned for our youngsters this year.
 
All gifts up $20K will be matched 1:1 by The Scouller/Nelson fund. So our $20K will turn into $40K!
 
Soon we will hear more about what Dr. Heather has planned for the year. For now, we invite you to think back when your children – or young friends you knew - were attending RE classes. It made a big difference in their - and your - lives, right? So let’s give the next generation the same opportunities! 
 
Payment can be made via VENMO, vop.tucw.org, or via a check, with CHILDREN in the memo line. This campaign will run through November 7. We look forward to thanking you for your generosity!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS TUESDAY OCTOBER 19, 7-9 PM
Our Board of Trustees meets the third Tuesday of every month, and this Tuesday is no exception. It will meet in the West Wing. Minutes from prior meetings and agenda items can be found HERE.

Recall that our ends - think of them as strategic goals - can be found HERE.

Questions? Concerns? Thoughts you'd like to share with us? Please contact [email protected]
SCARVES FOR BEARDSLEY: WE NEED YOU!
A fun (and a bit urgent) request from the Shawl Ministry! We invite all knitters and crocheters to make a small (6” x 36”) scarf for a kindergarten student at Beardsley School in Bridgeport. We have hats available to go with the handmade scarves. We have done this project for the last ten years, but this year we want to deliver them in November before winter sets in. We need 40 Scarves by the end of October. Don’t knit? Do you have a friend or relative that does? Ongoing participation is not necessary (but is welcome) for the opportunity to provide a scarf.

BTW, we meet every other Friday 12:30-2 PM at the church, and always welcome new friends to join us. Next meeting, Oct 15. Contact Jan Braunle for more info. 
UU MOVIE GROUP: OCTOBER 29, 7:30 PM
The UU Movie Group has made its selections for their Friday, October 29, 7:30 PM gathering: The French Dispatch, The Guilty, and third-place tie for Blue Bayou and Respect. No need to watch them all; all are welcome. For ZOOM and further details contact Dorothy Rich.
Social Justice Banner
VOICES CAFE - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 AT 7:30 PM
(DOORS OPEN AT 7:00)
The Accidentals, a female-fronted, multi-instrumentalist power trio, described by Texas Lifestyle Magazine as “the band to see”, and “defiant, young, powerful and undaunted.

Americana singer-songwriter, Sawyer Fredericks won season 8 on NBC’s The Voice with his deep, soulful vocals and a free range style that incorporates elements of blues, roots rock, and jazz all wrapped up with original lyrics and melodies, and unique arrangements.
The October 24th’s performance is a benefit for KEYS Music, whose mission is dedicated to providing free music lessons and performance opportunities to under-resourced students in the Bridgeport area.
GENDER EQUITY TEAM RECEIVES GRANT FOR TRAINING
The Gender Equity Team (GET) has some great news - a grant we wrote over the summer was accepted! We will be partnering with the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk for an inter-generational training here at our congregation entitled, "LGBTQ+ 101: An Introduction to Identities and Allyship". This training will engage participants in a thorough overview of the LGBTQ+ community. From terminology and definitions to rethinking historical and traditional assumptions about gender and sexuality, this training is a must for all who wish to be informed, and effective, allies to the community. Exact dates TBD (one in November, with a followup session in January), but stay tuned to sign up as soon as we confirm them, since it is only open to about 30 participants!
THE BEARDSLEY BOARD IS BACK
If you can’t work with individual students or classes at the Beardsley school, you can easily support the school through our Beardsley Board. Teachers buy their own classroom supplies and there is no budget for new library books, so anything we can contribute will help. Teachers have asked for tissues, dry erase markers, earbuds, flair markers, and beautiful new books. You’ll find exactly what they need on the Beardsley Board on the Social Justice table in the lobby. Simply take a tag, purchase the item, and put it in the bin under the table. A Beardsley committee member will deliver it to school. It’s that easy!
UUtheVOTE AT TUCW SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Join our congregation in sending postcards to Virginia to urge people to vote on November 2 in critical election for governor and legislators. UUtheVote at TUCW needs volunteers to write 10 postcards each to mail October 22. Email YES to [email protected]. Details are at [email protected].

If you can't write, please donate stamps to the writers. If you want to write to NJ or another state, see www.turnoutpac.org , or write a paragraph in 5 or more letters through www.Votefwd.org.

To vote absentee due to COVID for CT mayoral elections November 2, contact your town clerk. To register anyone go to www.vote.org; for info on candidates go to www.lwv.org
Please support candidates who share our progressive values.
MYSTICISM: WHERE SCIENCE, ART AND RELIGION MEET
Starting up again this Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 7:30 PM on ZOOM
Group discussions follow readings and lectures on ancient concepts and cutting-edge theories, exploring:
• Religion is an increasingly irrelevant part of daily life, with growing numbers citing their religious affiliation as NONE.
• Spirituality is becoming equally insignificant, with materialism ascendant, and more people questioning the meaning of life.
• At the same time, Western science, after five hundred years, finds it has been studying five percent of the Universe.

Instructors: Dr. Bart Stuck, Applied Mathematician Rev. Marjorie Partch, Jungian Astrologer. To learn how to participate via ZOOM, contact Bart Stuck
ONGOING PROGRAMMING EACH WEEK
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: 7:30-8:15 AM. MOVING! low impact, heart-healthy aerobics. Beth Cliff
starting Oct. 12: 6-7 PM. Qigong (Virtual) Julie Moffat

Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM The Power of Now Jim Francek 7:30 PM Mysticism: Where Science, Art and Religion Meet Bart Stuck

Thursdays: 4-5 PM Talking Circles. ZOOM HEREJim Francek.

Fridays: Every other Fri, incl Oct 29, 12:30-2PM. Shawl Ministry Jan Braunle

Saturdays: 12:00 noon- 4PM John Street Bag Lunch Drop Off David Vita

Sundays: 9 AM Meditation (Virtual and Oak Room) Janet Luongo

The Hiking Group meets the first Saturday and the third Tuesday of the month, 9:30 AM. Jamie Forbes Gian Morresi
SAVE THE DATE! SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7-11:00 AM
"The Color of Law" After the service, watch a short video with us, followed by discussion. Guaranteed to open your eyes. Stay tuned for more info.
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), and Instagram (uuwestportct).
TUCWomen enjoyed "forest bathing" at their retreat at Mercy by the Sea in Madison.

"The retreat provided a safe space for us to share what's in our heart. Laurie led us through a moving meditation, putting us in touch with grief, and Carol had us throwing a rock that we had filled with our burdens into the sea. Letting go, laughing together." Leigh Gage
  • Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, October 19, November 2, 7:00-8:30 PM. (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) Talking circle, thought-provoking conversations. ZOOM HERE. Contact Pat Francek

  • Black Lives Matter Meeting, Friday, October 22, 7:00-8:00 PM, We will be sharing updates to our BLM activities. ZOOM: HERE

  • Black Lives Matter Book Group, Friday, November 5, 7:00-8:30 PM. Another chance to discuss The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. ZOOM HERE
All women welcome at all events; visit our website for complete info.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
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, Diane Cano, or Sharon Poole.
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 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.