Attend a National Depression Screening Day Event

Got the blues?

You are not alone.

Depression knows no boundaries.

Attend a National Depression Screening Day Event

Take an anonymous mental health self assessment

and learn more about Depression

Ever feel like you are the only one who is sad in a world of happy people?


When you are feeling down, it may seem like you are alone in your misery. You may think that your cultural background,
family life, or financial situation make you more vulnerable to negative feelings.


The reality is, depression cuts across all lines. In a given year, depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older. However, due to stigma and other factors, fewer than half of those suffering actually seek treatment.

*Women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men.
*More than 6 million men in the U.S. have at least one episode of major depression each year..
*Older Americans are disproportionately likely to die by suicide.
*People from different cultures express symptoms of depression in various ways. In addition to changes in their mood, Hispanics tend to experience depression as bodily aches and pains (like stomachaches, backaches or headaches) that persist despite medical treatment.


Thursday, October 7, 2010 3pm - 5pm
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Ambulatory Psychiatry Service
361 Plantation St (“The Farmhouse” next to the Beechwood Hotel)
Worcester, MA 01605
508-334-2537

Wednesday November 3, 2010 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Bridge of Central Mass
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
508-799-1655


(For more info click here.)

Mt. Wachusett Climb, Sunday, October 9th

On Sunday October 9 we’re climbing Mt Wachusett after Church. We’ll use Mountain House Trail -- an easy trail, about a mile long, on the easterly side of the mountain. Little ones, senior citizens, and everyone in between can do this walk, which is a gradual trail with lots of stopping places for anyone who needs to catch a breath. It takes about 30 minutes, or a little longer if you stop frequently to admire the view on the way up. The other option is to take the chair lift from the ski area, but there’s a fee. In the past, some folks drove to the top, but the road is being reconstructed, and is closed at the moment.

When we get to the top, views of the countryside should be magnificent. Fall foliage should be at its peak. If you bring binoculars, you’ll probably see migrating hawks, and possibly eagles. Little ones (and others) will enjoy hunting for garnets that have eroded out of the rock – not gem quality, but still fun to find.

Mt Wachusett is in Princeton, about 25 minutes north of Worcester. I-190 to Route 140 is the quickest route, but Route 31 through Holden is also an option. Maps will be available. We’ll start from the parking area for Mountain House Trail, on Mountain Road at the intersection with Gregory Road.

The plan is to leave the Church shortly after noon in individual cars. Pack a lunch and eat it when you’re hungry – before leaving the Church, on the way to Mt Wachusett, or on top. The Church will provide cider and cookies on top of the mountain.

Wear boots or sneakers. Dress in layers, with sweaters or sweatshirts and windbreakers. A small backpack is handy for carrying extra coverings, a water bottle, and lunch. If it’s a really chilly day, you may want a hat and gloves. It can be windy and chilly on top. Mt Wachusett is the highest point in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River, so the wind comes sweeping up the westerly side. Princeton’s Municipal Light Department has two wind turbines on the westerly slope, which supply about 40% of the Town’s electricity.

For those who want a more rigorous climb, there are many other trails up the mountain. Don’t feel that you have to take the short route, but look for us on top when you get there.

Rain Date: We’ve been blessed with good weather this fall, but if it rains on October 9, we’ll push the mountain climb to the following Sunday, October 16.

Questions? Call John Mirick 978-464-2313

Monday Night At the Church - Oct. 18th at 7:00 PM

The Welcoming Committee presents the film "Preacher's Sons" for the Monday Night At The Church program on Oct. 18th at 7:00 PM.

Produced for the California Council for the Humanities, "Preacher's Sons" is an intimate study of how two men give permanent, loving homes to five at-risk, hard-to-place children lost in the foster care system. Over 100 hours of filming are gathered over five years, in four different cities, to reveal how two Gay men (one a UU minister) parent ( and adopt) five foster boys.

"Discrimination often complicates the adoption process for gays and lesbians. Research shows that less than 20% of adoption agencies attempt to recruit gay or lesbian adoptive parents. Approximately two million gay and lesbian people have considered adoption."

The film is both heartbreaking and ultimately very inspiring. It doesn't shrink from showing local prejudices and/or the many real hardships in raising children with severe and different needs.

If time allows we will have a brief discussion period following the film, ending around 9:00 PM.

Meet Rev. Mark Kiyimba from Uganda

Meet Rev. Mark Kiyimba from Uganda on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 7:00 p.m. at Brookfield UUC Church, 9 Upper River Steet, Brookfield, MA.

Contact the church office at 508 867-5145 for more information or to arrange handicap access.

Who is Rev. Mark Kiyimba and why do we want to meet him?

Beginning in 2009, a horrendous legislation was put before the Ugandan government as a private bill: the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which, if enacted, would broaden the criminalization of homosexuality by introducing the death penalty for people who have previous convictions, are HIV-positive, or engage in same sex acts with people under 18 years of age. The bill also included provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and included penalties for individuals, companies, media organizations, or non-governmental organizations that support LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) rights. This bill would also punish those who knew of someone who was homosexual, or even only suspected that someone was homosexual, and did not report that information.


Rev. Mark and his church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, took a strong and courageous stand against this bill. They organized a conference, called "Standing on the Side of Love: Reimagining Valentine's Day," held February 14, 2010. All details were kept secret until that day, knowing, as one organizer put it: "If we walk through the streets [for this protest] we will surely be stoned."

According to Rev. Mark, whose church members include many LGBT persons, "I cannot stand by and watch as my community is exterminated. My church will become illegal and cease to exist if this bill becomes law" The intense international reaction to the bill, which was stirred primarily because of Rev. Mark's conference, caused President Yoweri Museveni to form a commission to investigate the implications of passing the bill. In May 2010, the committee recommended withdrawing it.

The Unitarian Universalist Association of Kampala includes the urban congregation of about one hundred members in Kampala as well as a rural community that oversees a school and orphanage for HIV/AIDS orphans near the town of Masaka.

First U Yard and Book Sale on October 2nd

It's not too late to donate items to the yard sale!

Donations are still needed for the Yard sale and Book sale. We'll take them right through this Friday up until 9:00 pm.

Anyone interested in providing baked goods for sale, please drop off baked goods Friday evening or Saturday morning.


Larger items or big loads of items can be dropped off on Thursday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 pm or Friday evening between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

Items could also be dropped off Saturday morning before between 7:00 am and 8:00 am. We'll have volunteers to help unload Thursday and Friday evening and Saturday morning before 8:00.

Throughout the rest of this week items can be dropped off during church business hours. All items should be left along the bench areas in Unity Hall.

Please note that what is not sold in the yard sale will be picked up by the Central MA Housing Alliance's Donations Clearinghouse and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

The families that the DCH serve are generally leaving shelter to make a new start in an apartment and very much need the following:

Dishes, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, small working kitchen appliances. bureaus, dressers, kitchen tables, lamps.

The Big Brothers-Big Sisters will take children's clothes, games, household goods and books.

Monday Night At The Church September 27, 2010

Genesis Club Overview and Discussion at 7:30 p.m.

Genesis Club has been a Worcester institution for over 20 years. The Club, one of about 400 club houses around the world, assists individuals who have struggled with mental illness or mental health issues. The club assists people by providing a place to come to, with employment and education opportunities, with a place to develop meaningful relationships, and with a place to return to. Genesis is also a training center, helping other clubs on every continent in achieving certification.

Genesis member, Walt Cunningham, and its Executive Director and founder, Kevin Bradley, will give a brief overview, answer questions, and invite discussion.

UU Sisterhood Plans for the 2010-2011 Church Year.

The UU Sisterhood is getting ready for the 2010-2011 church year.  We are a warm and friendly group that enjoys eating, socializing, field trips, and fun activities.  The group is open to all women, not just those at First U.  We gather once a month for a potluck dinner followed by a brief business meeting and an activity.  Last year we learned how to Zen Tangle which is an easy drawing technique, exchanged gifts through a Yankee swap, watched a documentary on suffrage, and shared at a show and tell. 

Typically, our potluck dinners are held on the third Friday of the month.  We start gathering at 6:00pm, eat at 6:30pm, and move to an activity by 7:30pm.  Our first potluck will be held on Friday, October 15 in the dining and Bancroft rooms.  The theme is “Non-Talent” so think of what you might like to do better and plan to describe it to your fellow sisters. Don’t forget to bring friends and relatives.  Save November 19 and December 17 for potlucks as well.

 

The Opportunity Fair is being held on Sunday, September 26.  We need people to man the table and to bring goodies.  Make the goodies especially yummy so they entice people to come visit our table and talk to us.  If you can help, please call or email Mary Frandsen.

 

Any questions about the UU Sisterhood may be directed to Mary Frandsen at 508-852-8122 or mkfrandsen@charter.net.