Sunday Service

"Love & Loss: Lessons on Grief"

led by Rev. Laurel Gray

Grief is part of life and yet knowing how to show up when people around us are grieving can be a daunting process. What do you say? What do you not say? Today we’ll reflect on this question and the importance of caring well when those around us are hurting.

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. 

Religious Exploration

RE classes are held the FIRST and THIRD Sundays from 9:30 - 10:15 am. All are welcome! Snacks provided!

• RE classes will take place this Sunday, Feb 5 from 9:30 - 10:15 am. The theme this week is "Love for Self."

We will be doing a special

"What I Love" Show 'n Tell!

Children are invited to bring something they really love, or a photo of something that they really love (a hike, a lake, a special place). Of course, they can simply tell about something they love to do or a place to be, if they would prefer not to bring anything.

Childcare will always be available during worship!

• Our Final High School OWL meeting is on February 5 at 5:00 pm.

• Youth Group will be held February 5 at 1:00 pm. This is open to all high-school youth. After Feb. 5, the meeting time will change to Sunday evenings... stay tuned for details!



Please use the buttons below to register your child(ren) for RE, or to volunteer to help!

All children participating in RE will need a registration form.

Thank you!

All teens ages are invited to attend the Continuum YouthCon on Feb 11 at First Unitarian Church in Worcester. This is a great way to meet other UU teens!

A Youth Con for the New England Region

CONtinuum is a day long event for 6th-12th graders will take place on Saturday, Feb 11 at the First Unitarian Church of Worcester, and will provide youth an opportunity to belong in community with other UU teens, find their place in a long history of UU youth culture, and to create new memories and goals for young UUs. We will be creating art, getting to know one another, have game spaces, workshops revolving around writing, art, music, and social justice.

Click or scan here for more information:

CommUUnity Collaborative

"CommuUUnity Collaborative is a Unitarian Universalist platform created/conducted by ministers and staff teams who want to share new programs with their congregations, and beyond. Our course catalogue includes a variety of stimulating programs and workshops to help adults deepen their faith, wrestle with big questions, and nurture their souls."

Click below to find out more!

Giving Statements for 2022

You may review your giving and pledge history at any time through your Realm account or by contacting Susie Wells, our collector, at [email protected]. Contribution statements for the 2022 tax year were emailed to you (or mailed to your home if we don't have your email address) on 1/31. Click on the "View Your Giving Statement" link in the email to open your document. 



Statements are also available for printing yourself through Realm, by clicking on "giving" and then selecting "2022 Contribution Statement" on the right-hand side of the screen. If you have questions, contact Lisa Shumway at [email protected]

New to UUCSW - Q&A Sessions

February 9th and 12th

Are you new to UUCSW and/or Unitarian Universalism? Would you like to know more about UUCSW or Unitarian Universalism in general? Would you like to get to know some of us a little bit better? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please join Rev. Laurel and folks from the Membership Engagement Team for an informal Q&A session, being offered on two different dates. The first will be a zoom meeting on Thursday February 9th at 7pm. See below for the link. The second will be in-person, after the service on Sunday February 12th. Childcare will be available.

While not required, it would be helpful if you would RSVP to Lisa Shumway at [email protected]. 

Zoom info:

Topic: UUCSW Q&A 

Time: Feb 9, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5083662635

Meeting ID: 508 366 2635

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,5083662635# US (Washington DC)

CIRCLE SUPPERS

Thank you to the 30 folks who signed up for circle suppers!



And thanks especially to the gracious hosts who are “drawing the circle wide” and welcoming groups to their homes.

I appreciate everyone’s patience with some shuffling, and I am sure yumminess will abound!

PLEASE NOTE- IF YOU SIGNED UP AND HAVE NOT HEARD THAT YOU ARE PART OF A GROUP PLEASE CONTACT KIM IMMEDIATELY.

Thank you, and Bon Appetit,

Kim

Friday Feb 10 - Kris Allen’s

Saturday Feb 18- Jane Gates

Sunday Feb 26 - Jane Walsh’s

Saturday March 25- Pauline Sciarrappa 

Greeters Needed

Pull out your calendars, folks!... and please check to see which dates in February and March you will be at church and available to be a greeter. We need to have smiling faces greeting our friends at the doors. Can you help? Please sign up using this sign-up genius link: Greeter SignUp Genius Link

What does being a greeter entail? Welcoming guests at our doors, making sure they know that masks are encouraged, especially if they are going to be singing. For visitors, offer a nametag, ask a bit about them and if they have any questions. Try to take a few moments after the service to get to know them. Ask if they would like to fill out a blue card so we have their contact information.

You are also responsible for collecting the offertory during the service. The collection goes to Susie Wells who is usually sitting in the back of the sanctuary. After doing the collection, take a quick headcount of people in the sanctuary and fill in the sheet at the back of the sanctuary.

Thank you for your help in making UUCSW a more welcoming congregation.

Questions? Contact Lisa Shumway at [email protected]

Save the Date!

Special Event to Celebrate our Members and Friends 

Saturday, Feb 25th

6pm

Each winter, the Membership Engagement Team holds a fun event to celebrate our community. Some examples from the past are the Birthday Bash, Talent Show and more recently, the Uupaluuza. This year we are trying something new - Soup and Salsa (Dancing that is). After we dine on some hearty soups, bread and dessert provided by the Membership Engagement Team, Laura Leones, the owner of Fiesta Dance, will lead us in a short class on Salsa and Bachata dancing. Earlier this year, Fiesta Dance Company began renting our Chapel space for lessons on Tuesday nights.  

With roots in Cuba and Africa salsa dancing continues to grow in popularity largely due to the beautiful rhythmic music. Bachata dancing originated in the Dominican Republic and is now danced all over the world. Bachata music is sweet and characterized by unique guitar sounds.  In the class you will learn individual footwork in the first part of the lesson that can be incorporated into dancing with a partner in the second half of the class. Don’t worry if you haven’t danced before, this is an introductory class and we will take you step-by-step.  Please wear comfortable shoes that can glide on the floor easily. Sneakers are not recommended. 

Don't worry if you don't want to dance - you are welcome to stay and watch or take off after dinner.

Dinner will be at 6:00, dancing will start around 7:00.

While not required, it would be helpful if you would RSVP to Lisa Shumway at [email protected]. 

Come join our Community Choir! Previous experience is not required, all are welcome to join us in embracing the connective healing power of communal singing. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am!

Contact Kala Farnham at [email protected] with any questions. 

Book Group

Our next Book Group meeting will be held Friday, Feb 10. We will be reading Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers.

From now through May 2023 Book Group meetings will be at the First Central, 40 South street at the back door at 7pm.

Contact Susie Wells at [email protected] with any questions.

SMOC Food and Clothing Drives

SMOC Food & Clothing Collections are on the following Thursdays:

Feb 23  

March 23

April 27

May 25

4:30 pm

Ruggles St. Door

UUA

Side With Love

Spiritual Nourishment for the Long Haul

January 16 - February 14, 2023

Side With Love is thrilled to announce 30 Days of Love 2023! Our annual month of spiritual nourishment, political grounding, and shared practices of faith and justice, 30 Days of Love will go from Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16) through Valentine’s Day (February 14).

This year’s 30 Days of Love is a gift to our whole community: a love letter, a warm hug, a spiritual balm for all of the individuals, families, religious professionals, partners and communities that embody our values and work for justice and liberation year round. Each week will feature a spiritual theme overlapping with one of Side With Love’s intersectional justice priorities, and we'll share an array of offerings to help nourish your spirit and give gratitude and affirmation.

Click here for more info: