Unitarian Universalist Congregational

Society of Westborough

Religious Exploration at 9:30 am

Service at 10:30 am

A Vow for the Journey

September 15, 2024

Led by Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly

As we begin our shared ministry together, what commitments do we make to each other, to ourselves, to those around us beyond the walls of this church? Rev. Misty-Dawn will share the teaching of sankalpa, sanskrit for vow/commitment and invite us to answer the question, what does your heart want?

This service will be held in the sanctuary and on Zoom:

Join us online at zoom.us/j/89873989254

Join us by phone at 301-715-8592, meeting ID 89873989254

RE Welcome Back Party!

Our Religious Exploration classes will be starting soon! This year we will be focusing on the newly voted-in UU Values: Love, Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity. (aka, L. JETPIG!)

We will welcome back our kiddos on Sunday, September 15 at 9:30 am with some ice-breakers, games, crafts, and of course - snacks! All children, parents, and teachers are invited to attend this fun kickoff party.

Classes will begin on October 6. If you would like to teach, either on a regular rotation or for a one-time activity, OR if you have any questions about our RE program, please contact Colleen at colleen.munson@uucsw.org.

THE MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT TEAM (MET) needs you!

We need greeters/ushers for our Sunday services

It's a great opportunity to say hello to members and friends coming to our services, and engage with visitors interested in our church!

It's easy to do these tasks with the other greeter/usher:

• Come at 10:00 AM
• Ruggles St greeter puts out cones for handicapped-accessible spots
• Support the offering as an usher
• Do the headcount (include count from ZOOM by tech person at the end of the service)
• Leave any visitor cards in the minister's office.
• Put away the parking cones before you head out.

Please use the following SignUp Genius link to find Sundays you can support.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CABAC2AAAF49-51061725-uucsw

Book Group

Our next book group meeting will be Friday, September 20  at 7 pm at the Hall's house: 8 Schipper Farm Lane, Southborough.

The book this month is "What the Wind Knows", by Amy Harmon.

Summary: What the Wind Knows is a time travel novel about a New York City author who wakes up in Ireland in 1916 and becomes entangled in her family's past.

Please contact Susie Wells with any questions: susie48winnip@gmail.com.

All are welcome!

UU Climate Justice Revival

Worship Service at UUCSW on September 29, 2024

The UU Climate Justice Revival is a Side with Love campaign that includes extensive programming for UU congregations including a worship service, curricula for youth, and a half-day workshop for adults.

From the Side with Love team...

"The UU Climate Justice Revival will equip UU congregations to enter into a new era of climate action faithfully dismantling silos and transforming our congregations through inspiring collective worship, creative learning, and new frameworks at the intersection of climate and justice. Join kindred congregations across the land for two days of collectively recommitting to climate justice."

There are over 300 UU congregations across the US signed up to participate and UUCSW is one of them! At this time, we have committed to the UU Climate Justice Revival worship service on September 29th followed by a climate justice-themed film and discussion led by the Racial Justice Committee after the service. We hope to schedule the half-day workshop some time this fall and Colleen is reviewing the youth programming, so please stay tuned for more information on those pieces.

The following articles will help you understand climate justice as an intersectional issue:

• Racism is Killing the Planet
• Proposed Bill Treats Environmental Justice as a Civil Rights Issue
• Climate Justice is Reproductive Justice Too
• Climate Justice is a Disability Justice Issue

Click below for an invitation from UUA President Rev Sofía Betancourt inviting congregations to participate in the 2024 Climate Justice Revival:

SMOC Food and Clothing Drives

SMOC food and clothing donations may be dropped off in the box in the Sanctuary every Sunday. Bologna may be stored in the upstairs refrigerator in the parlor. Other requested items are chewy granola bars and juice boxes.

September's SMOC collections will be delivered to the Worcester shelter on Friday September 27. Donations may also be dropped off on the Thursday evening before, on September 26. (Ruggles Street door from 4:30 - 5:45) If you need alternate arrangements for drop-off, please contact Pauline Sciarappa at psciarappa@gmail.com.  Thanks to all who help UUCSW support SMOC, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Racial Justice Committee “Brown Bag Lunches”

Welcome back from the Racial Justice Committee!

We want to let you know we are planning some engaging events and activities for the fall. Immediately after coffee hour we will meet for about an hour in the chapel on the following dates with related topics as follows:

9/29 Climate Justice- activity related to the Sunday service, with discussion facilitated by John Metzger

10/20 Vote Forward- Letter writing to encourage voting

11/3 Indigenous justice- podcast or short film and discussion 

Save the dates and watch for more details to follow.

Please pack lunch and join us!!

Thanks,’The Racial Justice Committee 

UUA and Community News

UUSGU is in the process of raising funds to install a lift for our second-floor sanctuary. We have recently completed renovations on our front entrance to install an ADA compliant door and ramp, and this lift project is the next step in ensuring that our church spaces are accessible to all. Tickets may be purchased at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guy-fishman-liftup-benefit-concert-live-music-tickets-886329875517