Opportunity Fair

Get Involved in Building Liberal Religion in the Worcester Area.

After church this week, there will be an Opportunity Fair in Unity Hall. There will opportunities there for you to get involved in building the Liberal Religious movement in Worcester for the future.

There will be opportunities to work with others to meet the three goals for the church that have been identified:

1. Becoming more visible and active in the Worcester Community.

Do you want to work with our Homeless Ministry, which supports the Interfaith Hospitality Network and our Skilled Volunteer Program, which works through Jericho Road Worcester.

How about an outdoor community-wide event to be held in the Spring. This project is just in the dreaming stages, so we need your ideas.

2. Building our First Unitarian Community.

Do you want to work on our programs for growing faith for all ages, everything from our Sunday Morning programs for children and Youth to all of the offerings for spiritual practice and learning during the week? Work with Jessica Gray, Lesa McWalters and lay leaders to make First Unitarian a center for spiritual growth and faith development for the whole community.

Do you want to help make the church a more welcoming place where people can grow together: We need volunteers in the Membership process, hosting our many visitors on Sunday morning, facilitating people sharing their lives. 

How do we become a caring community which helps each other in times of trouble and need? A comprehensive planning process is starting for this all important question. Get involved at the Opportunity Fair.

3. Making our beautiful building a powerful asset for furthering liberal religion in Worcester.

How do we use our building? How does it help us reach our goals? How does it get in the way? How should we use it differently? A comprehensive review and planning process about the building is getting started. You can get involved at the Opportunity Fair. There are also lots of volunteer opportunities in caring for our building and grounds right now. Meet members of the Building and Grounds Committee and the Garden Committee at the Fair. 

Groups and organizations throughout the church will be at the Opportunity Fair to talk with you about your interests and answer questions about how the church works.

There will be coffee and food, too. 

www.firstunitarian.com 

Mt Wachusett Climb, Sunday, October 9th After Worship

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 First Unitarian 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