Winter Fun Afternoon

Mark your calendar for Sunday February 28! 

After Church, there will be a Winter Fun Afternoon at the Mirick Farm on the slopes of Mt  

Wachusett in Princeton.  We’re planning on sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing now that we’re finally getting snow this winter.  There will be a bonfire, and a cooking fire by the lean-to for make-your-own s’mores, and hot drinks. 

Plan to leave the Church about noon.  Bring your own picnic lunch, which you can eat in the dining room before leaving, in your car on the way (the drive is about 25 minutes), or around the fire after you arrive. 

This is an intergenerational event!  Bring your own sleds, toboggans, snowshoes, and skis.  There are lots of slopes – some steep and some gentle – all kinds of fields and lanes through the woods for cross-country skiing, and lots of walks through the woods for those on snowshoes.  You can stand on top of a beaver lodge, follow animal tracks through the snow (moose tracks if you’re really lucky), scout for places where the deer have bedded down, and just enjoy an afternoon outdoors.   If you get chilly, you can warm up at the cooking fire at the lean-to or around the bonfire. 

Of course, dress for winter weather:  layers of clothing, boots, hats, and gloves. Consider a small backpack for lunch, snacks, and odds and ends.  And if you have little ones who may get wet when playing in the snow or along the brook, put a change of clothes for them in your car.

Princeton is just 17 miles north of Worcester.  The quickest route from the Church is to pick up I-290 in Lincoln Square, to I-190 north to Route 140 and then Route 62.  You can also get to Princeton using Route 31 from the center of Holden.  We will pass out maps and “Can’t Miss” directions on February 28.  If you were on the Mt Wachusett climb in October, the route will look familiar:  Mirick Road is parallel to Mountain Road, where we started on the trail up the mountain.  The Mirick farm has a large red barn on the west side of the road, and a white colonial house and other outbuildings on the east side of the road.  For those who use a GPS, plug in “160 Mirick Road, Princeton MA  01541”

Park in front of the barn – head-in parking, please!  If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you can also park in the field to the right of the barn.  And if everything else is filled up, then parallel park along the edge of the road, but leave room for cars to get through.  The bonfire and lean-to are a couple of hundred yards down the lane to the right of the barn, past the pond, and over the brook (there’s a bridge!) to the right when you come into the meadow.

Join us for as much of the afternoon as fits in your schedule and your energy level!

Bad Weather Date:  If February 28 is terrible, we’ll move to the following Sunday, March 6.

Questions?     Call John or Diane Mirick 978-464-2313  

Emails: jmirick@mirickoconnell.com or dianemirick8@gmail.com

Edward Everett Hale

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.

The making of friends who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man’s success in life.

To look forward and not back, to look out and not in, and to lend a hand.

Make it your habit not to be critical about small things.

‘Do you pray for the senators, Dr. Hale?” No, I look at the senators and I pray for the country.

If you have accomplished all that you have planned for yourself, you have not planned enough.

Edward Everett Hale was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Nathan Hale (1784–1863), proprietor and editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser.  He was a nephew of Edward Everett, the orator and statesman, and grand-nephew of Nathan Hale (1755-1776), the Revolutionary War hero executed by the British for espionage. Edward Everett Hale was also related to Helen Keller.

Hale was a child prodigy who exhibited extraordinary literary skills. He graduated from Boston Latin School at age 13 and enrolled at Harvard College immediately after. He graduated second in his class in 1839 and then studied at Harvard Divinity School.

Hale married Emily Baldwin Perkins in 1852.  She was the niece of Connecticut Governor and U.S. Senator Roger Sherman Baldwin and Emily Pitkin Perkins Baldwin on her father's side and Lyman Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher on her mother's side. They had nine children.

Biographies for Nominations for Annual Meeting

Biographies for nominations for January 31, 2016

Vice-moderator:

Jesse Anderson has been a member of First Unitarian for close to 20 years.  In that time, he has served as a Trustee of Parish Funds, Member-at-large of the Prudential Committee, and many roles on various committees, most recently the Search Committee.  He has also served as a board member and Treasurer for the Clara Barton District.  He and his wife Susan produce the weekly radio show on WCUW 90.5FM.  Jesse is the Manager of Audio-Visual Services at the College of the Holy Cross.

Stewardship:

Ellen Foley was raised in the Unitarian Church of Flint, Michigan and has been attending First U for several years (usually with her spouse Ajayi Harris and their three-year old Mose).  She is a medical anthropologist who teaches in the International Development and Social Change program at Clark University.  She was a member of First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in the 2000s and she loved serving on the Stewardship team there.

Stewardship:

Laurie Ross came to First Unitarian after her two children Zoe and Eli found the magic of Hogwarts/Wiogora several years ago. She currently part of the social justice committee. She teaches Community Development and Planning at Clark University and is director of the HOPE Coalition, a youth-adult partnership that aims to reduce youth violence and substance abuse and promote positive mental health and youth voice in Worcester.  She is married to Jeff Black.

            Stewardship: one slot available as of 1/26/16

           
Carol Gregory has been a member of the Church for two years and has recently served on the Mission and Values Committee. Carol is a retired educator currently working for a small educational consulting company assisting school districts to implement the newest version of the Massachusetts Educator Evaluation System.  She looks forward to serving the church in this new capacity. 

Trustee:

Bonnie Prescott is a ten year member of the Church who lives in Holden.  She is a widow with a grown daughter residing in Michigan.  Bonnie is a member of the Church Sisterhood and has served as Co Chairman of the Annual Sisterhood Retreat for the past two years.  Throughout her teens and adulthood Bonnie has been a Community Volunteer and Fundraiser, giving back to each community in which she has lived, from Massachusetts to Michigan and Indiana.  In the more recent years Bonnie has been and remains an active leader in areas of town government, was affiliated with the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research, as leader of its Auxiliary, and currently is a Board member and member of the Executive Committee of Preservation Worcester.  She looks forward to the opportunity to serve the Church in a more active capacity.

Trustee:

Gary Riggs, member of First Unitarian for over 10 years, US Army veteran, husband, father and part-time carpenter and mechanic. Banking experience some years ago. College graduate plus advanced degree. Honest, loyal and patriotic. Loves animals, traditional hymns and a good story. Can't stand insincerity, game-playing, those who push politics or religion on others and those who take advantage of others.

Caring Circle:

Eileen McMahon has been a member of First Unitarian for just over a year and is currently a member of the Social Justice Committee. She is a Software Technical Writer who is currently employed at RSA Security in Bedford, Massachusetts. Eileen enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and loves all animals (especially horses and dogs). She lives in Worcester.

LLPC

Becky Spanagel has been a member of First Unitarian for close to 20 years.  She has been a teacher in Religious Education as her son Paul was growing up at First U, and has been active in the music program at First Unitarian as a keyboard player. She and her husband David founded the joint youth choir with Holden Street youth from 2008-2011, and more recently she has the privilege of working with the Jingle Bell Choir.  She works at St Vincent Hospital as an Internist and teaches UMASS medical students as they rotate through St Vincent Hospital, as well as co-ordinating an elective at UMASS entitled “The Healer’s Art”.

LLPC

Christina Wertz has been a member of First Unitarian for several years, attends UU Sisterhood gatherings, and has taught RE classes. She is the mother of a teenage daughter, and the daughter and long distance caregiver of an elderly father.  She is employed at Community Healthlink where she works with and advocates for children and families, and teaches psychology interns.  Christina loves the music at First U and wishes she had more time to work on protecting our planet Earth for our children's children's children.

Wiogora Committee 2015

Wiogora Committee 2015

"We believe that the real magic is friendship, acceptance, tolerance, and searching for the truth with love."

Chair: Alison Barrows Ronn

Members: Abby Hannaford Ricardi, Linda Wyatt, Una Belau, Laurie Ross, Warren Huber, Amy Borg, Fran Nase, Kelley Guilfoil-Zinkevich, Seth Popinchalk, Parker Ronn, Ellen Waite O'Neal, Nan AK Gibbons.

The Wiogora committee formed February 2015 to organize First Unitarian's two- week summer program for kids and youth aged 5-18 in the spirit of the Hogwarts camp that had run at our church for three years. Renamed the Wiogora School of Wonder and Wisdom, the camp is now wholly a program of First Unitarian Church. Wiogora shares the values of Unitarian Universalism through the magic of Harry Potter. This program welcomes in diverse youth and staff from all over Worcester County and beyond.

In planning our summer program, the Wiogora committee committed to preserve and improve upon the creative qualities of the former Hogwarts camp, while expanding our emphasis on scholarship, intentional values learning and community building. The following aspects of our program are essential:

• Community: The students and staff are a community of like-minded people, accepting of all and interested in learning and delving into challenges.
• High quality staff and engaging classes: Wiogora offers science, art, engineering, drama, crafts, music, dance, resilience, and much more, all led by experienced, enthusiastic practitioners in their fields. Lesson planning workshop urged multiple approaches to learning, and encouragement as the primary feedback.
• Values-based learning: Lessons (and the program as a whole) are planned with the seven UU principles in mind, and overt connection to at least one principle is required of each class. These principles are also the values encouraged in the Harry Potter Books.
• First U outreach and visibility in the wider community: Wiogora serves both First U and UUCW members as well as many families who do not attend a Unitarian church.

The Wiogora committee invited Nan AK Gibbons to direct the camp program in 2015, and continues to work closely with her in planning the program for 2016. During the year in addition to planning the summer program, she leads Wiogora off-season programs (Halloween and Spring), she attends Wiogora committee meetings, leads staff gatherings, and supports the Wiogora community. This summer's program is scheduled to run from July 25 through August 5, 2016.

The committee sets dates and camp tuition, grants scholarships, manages the program budget of ~$30,000, determines staffing needs and consults on hiring of staff and volunteers, determines broad themes and contributes to the myriad of details necessary to run a two- week program.

In 2015:

• Wiogora income was $28,280 and expenditure was $25,693 for a net income of $2597.
• 69 scholars attended camp for two weeks (60+ hours)
• 26 scholars attended camp for one week (30+ hours)
• 12 Young Adults between 15-18 participated in ELFS -Enriching Lives through Fun and Service which included daily reflection and support meetings on their experience
• 18 full time and 5 part time staff members under 30 participated
  12 full time and 6 part time staff over 30 participated
• 16 additional non-staff volunteers participated

Wiogora Mission Statement

• Wiogora continues the liberal religious education program of First Unitarian Church, by offering 60 hours of programming based in the seven UU principles
• Wiogora offers children, youth, young adults and adults values-based leadership and service opportunities
• Wiogora provides engaging opportunities, learning and support for college-aged young adults between 15 and 30 to participate in the mission of being a local leader in liberal religion
• Wiogora makes money for the church

• Wiogora draws people into the church -- both staff and campers have returned to attend regular services and Sunday school (other families have their own strong faith traditions which are entirely respected by the program and staff)

• Wiogora strengthens ties with other local faith and educational communities, providing a larger, supportive, intergenerational, interfaith community of like-minded scholars, artists and social activists to serve and grow in
• Wiogora increases the visibility of the church in the community

We Can Really Help Right Here, Right Now

Want to take positive action during this worldwide refugee crisis?
     Our church social action committee is working to partner with Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Services) in their immigrant resettlement support program.  They provide services and support to empower new families in our area transition toward self-sufficiency.  They are looking for teams in area  churches willing to volunteer for 6 months to provide a Community Circle of support for a new family in the Worcester area.

What does Ascentria provide?
        To the new family: Through their national program, Services for New Americans, they provide new families with help navigating support systems and acquiring housing, furniture, clothing, English-language and literacy classes, employment training and jobs.
        To us: Volunteer training, help deciding what family is right for us, on-going consultation and support.

What are we expected to provide?
         We volunteer as a group to provide 6 months of friendship, support, and good will; we agree to find out what else the family might need, which may include things like companionship, outings, orientation to the city and culture, rides to appointments, practice with speaking, shopping, and accessing public transportation in English, and any small goods or services we can offer as volunteers.
         What we need to start this project  is a team of at least 6 church members who feel they could devote between 2 and 10 hours per week. Each of these volunteers would work directly with the family, so the agency would complete  a criminal and driving background check for them. Then other members of the church community can help with donations of goods, resources or ideas.

If you think you may have the commitment and time to be a core volunteer for 6 months for this important and timely project, watch for the after church information table during coffee hour during the month of February or contact Vivian Shortreed, Social Justice Committee chair, at vhshortreed@gmail.com.

Nominating Committee News

It is the time of year to choose leaders for positions in the church.  The nominating committee, (Scott Hayman, Carrie West, Jen Reidy, and Liz Gustavson and one person to be named) have been meeting to discern candidates.  In addition to our consideration of people we know, we are open to ideas and suggestions from everyone in the congregation.  If you--or your friend--who are members of the church would like to be considered for a position, we would love to hear from you!  Email Liz at gustavsonliz@hotmail.com or put a name into the  green-covered box labeled Nominating Suggestions in the dining room.

These are the positions that need to be filled during a vote at our Annual Meeting, the last Sunday in January:

Vice Moderator (two year term, followed by two years as Moderator)
Stewardship ( two positions) (one is for a two year term, one is for a three year term)
Trustee of Parish funds ( (three year term)
 Lay Leadership Program Council (two positions) (three years)
 Caring Circle co-chair (two years)

We are looking for experienced members of the church as well as new members to bring a balance of ideas to the committees.  Many of the positions are for a three year term; hold in mind that we try to support people in new jobs with the idea of enter, mentor, then retire, so no one person is "stuck" forever in a position.

We will be talking to a number of you soon.  Please consider what the church and its missions mean to you and say "Yes!"

Gala History

Five years ago Scott Hayman and Seth Popinchalk conceived of having a

community-building dinner-dance fundraiser.  Linda Wyatt and Lee Bona joined them as the steering committee. The rest is history. 

The current chefs have prepared the food for more than one GALA.  Jay, David, and Linda have been chefs since the first GALA.  Sue and Bob Shaw have been the kitchen coordinators since then, too. Some of the youth like Alana Wyatt, Maddie Hayman, and Will  Hayman have been waitstaff over the same period.  Seth and  Scott have assisted since its inception.

The chefs donate their time and money to prepare gourmet meals.  They've learned to coordinate their efforts in a small kitchen.  Culinary choreography!

Each year, Linda Wyatt, the chairperson, imagines a theme and then makes or finds decorations to develop the theme.  Many times our Wiogora Harry Potter-based summer campers help make them.

The attendees are mesmerized by the transformation of the Bancroft Room and Dining Room into a magical place.  Volunteers, including Abby Hannaford-Ricardi and Diane Mandile create the enchanting atmosphere.  Kate O'Dell and Lee Bona have become experts at arranging and setting the tables.

The band and singer-songwriter, Lydia Fortune, ensure fun music for dancing.  Sometimes the youth contribute a few vocals, too.

The GALA comes alive through the attendees.  All are welcome so don't be shy to attend-come by yourself or with friends. Each table always has welcoming guests.  A great time to make new friends!