October 25-29,, 2021 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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Our Fall Fun Fest was terrific last weekend. Thank you Cathy McElroy and so many volunteers for ALL your work in organizing this great event; we all enjoyed it. (Next week: youth and children's pics! The bobbing for donuts proved challenging! ...)
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We had a lot of fun dancing, singing, painting, and building off each other's creations as we listened to great tunes and moved around the table with our cups of paint and brushes.
Art soothes the soul.
And it was so fun to do an activity that all of us - of all ages - could participate in together. That's one of the beauties of our faith community!
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STEWARDSHIP MINI-CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED! A 1:1 MATCH |
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We are off in full swing of our 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, including enhancing and "tech-enabling" the Meeting House main floor and outdoor areas, and becoming a go-to hub for OWL programs and training in lower Fairfield County.
If you were unable to hear Dr. Heather introduce the initiative last week, click HERE to catch her, and Rev. John, at the beginning of the service.
Thank you to those who have given already; we're getting there! 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 -
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WELCOME NEW MEMBER CAROL HAMILTON |
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We are delighted to hear from one of our newest members who has gotten deeply involved in our community, already! Let's welcome Carol Hamilton -
"Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law." That motivated me to join in 2020. I believe in the power of community to heal and the pandemic and TUCWomen have supported my vision.
As a school psychologist/therapist I have participated in the Revealing History series and workshops in EFT/Tapping, journaling and forest bathing. As a UCONN Master Gardener and Master Naturalist with CT Audubon, I emphasize our interconnectedness with nature where I spend my free time kayaking, x-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. I am a mother and grandmother dedicated to the well-being of all children.
A thank you to Rev. Ed who has kept us singing through all our recent challenges."
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GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP CONVENES MONDAYS
NOV 1- DEC 6, 5-6:15 PM
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Two of our Pastoral Care chaplains are offering a Grief Support Group for those who have lost a significant person in their lives. This is a 6-week support group for those experiencing grief from a loss that is recent or in the past. The group is marked by compassion, safety, support and confidentiality. Understanding the grief process, sharing our losses, finding ways to cope and discovering new meaning in life are integrated in our sharing each week. Each session builds upon the one before. Thus we ask that you attend each session if possible. This group is open to others outside of our congregation; please invite friends who could benefit.
Sessions run November 1 - December 6, 5 - 6:15 PM. We’ll meet virtually and then if there is a consensus we can switch to in-person meetings. For more info or to register, contact Pastoral Care facilitators Pat Francek or Chuck Harrington.
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Save the Date : Board Town Hall re Name Change. Sunday November 7, following Residential Segregation Discussion. Light lunch provided. Please plan on joining us in person if you can. Click HERE for more info.
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NEW! PARADIGM SHIFTING PODCAST DISCUSSION SERIES
Rev. John leads first Mondays, 7-8 PM - ZOOM. Begins Nov 1
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On November 1, 7:00-8:00 PM, join us as Rev. John kicks off a new monthly series, using various podcasts as discussion material. For November he will lead a discussion of the On Being podcast episode, “Forests are Wired for Wisdom.” “Suzanne Simard is the forest ecologist who has proven, beyond doubt, that trees communicate with each other – that a forest is a single organism wired for wisdom and care. ... [t]he processes that make for a high-functioning forest mirror the maps of the human brain ..... All of this turns out to be catching up with the intelligence long held in aboriginal science.” Listen to this podcast and come ready to share your thoughts.
Also consider watching the related documentary “Fabulous Fungi” on Netflix, which Rev. John highly recommends and which Rev. Jim discussed several weeks ago in his video message. Contact Linda Lubin for ZOOM info.
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UU WRITERS: A MONTHLY ONLINE SMALL GROUP
THURSDAY OCTOBER 28, 1-2 PM
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Workshop lead by Sari Bodi and Elizabeth MacDonald will meet monthly: Daytime session: Thursday, October 28, 1:00-2:30. For November’s session, both daytime and evening sessions will meet on Thursday, November 18.
Using whatever writing practice you are most comfortable with (journaling, poetry, prose, storytelling), participants share, and support others. Prior to each monthly meeting, you will receive a packet containing 4-5 writing exercises to choose from as well as poems, songs, and prose for inspiration. We don’t critique each other’s writing. Instead we respond using Soul Matters deep listening techniques to create an environment of self-discovery. Contact Sari Bodi for zoom link.
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MYSTICISM: WHERE SCIENCE, ART AND RELIGION MEET
WEDNESDAYS 7:30 PM ON ZOOM
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Group discussions follow readings and lectures on ancient concepts and cutting-edge theories, exploring: |
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- Mysticism and science: quantum physics
- East and West spirituality
- Transcendentalism and mysticism
- The expansive universe: Big Bounce, Big Bang & other theories
- Astronomy, cosmology, astrology, and Jungian psychology
Facilitators: Dr. Bart Stuck, Applied Mathematician, and Rev. Marjorie Partch, Jungian Astrologer. To participate via ZOOM, contact Bart Stuck
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SCARVES FOR BEARDSLEY: WE NEED YOU! |
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Due on Halloween! We invite all knitters and crocheters to make a small (6” x 36”) scarf for a kindergarten student at Beardsley School. We have done this project for the last ten years, but this year we want to deliver them in November before winter sets in. Don’t knit? Do you have a friend or relative that does? We need 40 of them by October 31!
BTW, we meet every other Friday 12:30-2 PM at the church, and always welcome new friends to join us. Next meeting, Oct 29. Contact Jan Braunle for more info.
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RACIAL JUSTICE BEGINS WITH YOU!
NEW RESOURCE GUIDE AVAILABLE
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Keep your eye on this space every other week for events, community actions, recommended readings and videos, and free virtual and local in-person events. This week, help encourage voter registration, make your voice heard to Protect Remington Woods, learn how to raise antiracist kids, and hear about the important intersection of social and environmental justice. Click HERE for our resource guide.
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SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE:
RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION & OUR 8th PRINCIPLE
Sunday, Nov. 7 - directly after the service: in person & on ZOOM
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“Home sweet home.” “No place like home.”
These phrases evoke comfort and connection. But for Black people, finding a place to call home has often been met with daunting obstacles. Policies enacted by governments and private entities were - and still are - used to separate people based on race. The Black community has borne significant costs, yet segregation impacts us all in ways we’re just beginning to understand.
Join us November 7th immediately following Sunday’s service (on ZOOM or in person) for a short video, "Segregated by Design," an animated documentary about residential segregation co-written by Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law.
After the screening, we’ll discuss residential segregation in the context of our Unitarian Universalist principles, and what it means for us to be living in communities divided by race.
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GENDER EQUITY TEAM RECEIVES GRANT FOR TRAINING |
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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.
First session November 21 after the service, with a followup session in January. We'll share more info but registration is open now; contact Jamie Forbes. Only 30 seats! |
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THE BEARDSLEY BOARD IS BACK + COAT DRIVE COMING |
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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. 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!
AND COMING THIS NOVEMBER: COAT DRIVE ... some of the students need warm coats for the winter. K-6th graders. Put aside gently worn coats you might have. More instructions to come. Questions? Anita Pfluger
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•ONGOING PROGRAMMING EACH WEEK•
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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.
Tuesdays: 7:30-8:15 AM. MOVING! low impact, heart-healthy aerobics. Beth Cliff
Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM The Power of Now Jim Francek 7:30 PM Mysticism: Where Science, Art and Religion Meet Bart Stuck
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
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Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
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Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy: Tuesday, November 2, 7:00-8:30 PM. (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) Talking circle, thought-provoking conversations. ZOOM HERE. Contact Pat Francek
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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
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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 [email protected].
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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 [email protected]
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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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