Unitarian Universalist Congregational

Society of Westborough

Before Service at 9:30 am

Choir Rehearsal

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

Masks encouraged in the sanctuary. 

Share the Plate organization for March -

Special Olympics of Massachusetts

Special Olympics Massachusetts offers sports training, recreational activities, and leadership programs to people with intellectual disabilities. These programs develop self-confidence, independence, and create a sense of belonging. By fostering an environment of empowerment and compassion, Special Olympics is not only transforming the experiences of athletes but influencing societal perceptions and attitudes towards intellectual disabilities.

https://www.specialolympicsma.org/

Options for Assistive Listening during Worship Services

If you are in need of Assistive Listening Devices during worship service, please know that we have several options.

• We have assistive listening devices available in the front of the sanctuary in the tech area
• You may log into Zoom from the sanctuary and sync with hearing aids
• There is Closed Captioning on the big screen at the front of the sanctuary. If you sit on the right side of the church, you will have a clear view of the text

If you need anything other than the options above, please contact the office at [email protected] and we will work with you to accommodate your needs.

Garden Committee News

Our new Redbud tree has been planted in front of the church. Thank you everyone who contributed their time and effort to making this possible. Special thanks to Kyle Grendell, Westborough Tree Warden, Kris Allen, Sheila McPharlin and the Garden committee.

Watch for the upcoming Garden Dedication Event in June!

Phyllis Barrett

Garden Committee Chairperson

UUCSW

On Sunday, May 5 we will be doing another "Sunday Funday" for our worship service. As part of this, we will be setting up an all-ages Art Show with the theme of "UU Principles and Sources".

If you have any art, either personally created or that you own, that you would like to temporarily donate to the church for our Art Show, please let us know by Sunday, April 21. Anything that reminds you of the beauty of UUism is valid - there are no specific guidelines.

Please contact Colleen or Rev. Laurel if you would like to help with the Art Show. We will be thankful for help with ideas, organization, and set-up!

Pledge Update 3/21

Have you had the chance to pledge yet?

If so, THANK YOU! If not, pledging is easy! You can pledge in Realm (go to the giving link in the left column), fill out a pledge form found in the sanctuary and hand it in, or email Bruce Hall at [email protected]. If you’d like to discuss your specific pledge, please call Bruce at 650-380-4675. You can also discuss our pledge campaign with anyone on the pledge committee, or any member of the Board of Trustees.

Pledge Update: The 2024-2025 UUCSW Pledge Campaign - Growing and Sharing Together – is going great guns! We are at $83,085 - more than halfway to our goal of $150,000! 

You can see our pledge brochure here to learn more about our pledge campaign theme and  goals. To help you rightsize your pledge, we’ve created a pledge Giving Guide which offers tools for looking at your particular circumstances and helping you to pledge accordingly. If you should choose to increase your pledge, once again all pledge increases will be matched dollar for dollar. 

We had a great Celebration Sunday service on March 10. You can hear Rev. Laurel’s sermon here and see Bruce Hall (head of the pledge committee) kick off the service with a short video here.

Thanks for helping us Grow and Share Together!

SMOC Food and Clothing Drives

This month's SMOC food and clothing collections will be delivered on Friday March 29th to the Worcester Shelter. Donations may be made on Sundays in church, or Today, March 28th, at the Ruggles Street door, between 4:30 and 5:45. Bologna may be stored in the upstairs parlor refrigerator.

SMOC food and clothing donations may now be dropped off in the box in the Sanctuary every Sunday. Bologna can be stored in the upstairs refrigerator in the parlor. If you need alternate arrangements for drop-off, please contact Pauline Sciarappa at [email protected]

Welcome Blanket Project

Join us in welcoming refugees to the US by helping to collectively craft a blanket to donate to the Welcome Blanket project.

The Racial Justice Committee invites those who knit or crochet, whether novice or expert, to join us in creating a joint gift of welcome from UUCSW. Imagine 16 knitted or crocheted, 10”x10” squares from individual members and friends sewn together as one warm, melting-pot welcome! Deadline for completed squares is April 14, 2024. Jane Walsh is coordinating, offers this Q&A sheet and will be available after service on March 17 and 24 to answer questions. She can also be reached at [email protected] or 508-393-9206 (please leave a message). 

Vote Forward

The Racial Justice Committee is committed to encouraging voters as a way for citizens to make a difference. We are sending letters to potential voters in historically underrepresented communities in the electorate. The names and addresses are brought to us by Vote Forward. Sheila McPharlin is coordinating the project. If you would like to participate, please contact her at [email protected] or by phone. 860-304-4668.

UUCSW Music Survey

Have a favorite hymn or a song you wish we sang in church? Interested in singing, but hesitant about singing in front of a crowd? We're looking for your input into how we do music at UUCSW. Please fill out this survey to share your thoughts!

Book Group

Our next book group meeting will be Fri, April 12 at 7pm at Central One Bank, 40 South Street, Westborough. The book this month is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin

Summary: In this exhilarating novel, two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

Please contact Susie Wells with any questions: [email protected].

All are welcome!