Tuesday, September 18, 2012

IHN News



First U and UUCW  have joined in to help prepare IHN's new house for occupancy!  A group of 8 members of the two parishes met at the new "static site" for IHN at 91 June St., Worcester on September 9, 2012.  An initial commitment to do over one bedroom quickly became a plan to also prepare a playroom across the hall.  In the past week and a half, the wallpaper has been stripped, the horsehair plaster which had pulled away from the lath in some places was repaired, the walls were skim coated with joint compound, and rugs have been pulled up.  Up next will be painting the walls and wood work, and installing flooring.  The entire house has wall to wall carpet, much from the '70's and it must be taken out and either linoleum or new flooring (not carpet) installed.

There is a huge time pressure on, because to keep a grant that has helped to buy the building, the staff (which will have offices on the first floor)  and the guests must move in on October 1. 

After church on Sunday at the Opportunity Fair, I will be at a table with information on furniture and supplies that are needed, and looking for volunteers to help us out --AT THE NEW SITE!!!  We are scheduled to host from October 21 to October 28 at the June St. site.  We will also be gratefully accepting donations for the cost of the materials that have been purchased.  So far I have receipts for $44 worth of supplies, with more coming.  We think that flooring and window treatments might be the most costly.

Here is a list of furniture and supplies needed by IHN.  If you have access to any of these, please contact Joanne Alley at 508-798-6732 or at ihnworcester.org.

I think it is wonderful that so many people have turned their hands to work on this project.  Particular thanks go to Walter Cunningham, our point person; Rick and Madeline Silva, who have brought their considerable gifts and abilities to the site; Scott Hayman, who is just not busy enough being moderator, Gini Johnson and her son, and Dianne Mann from the UUCW.  A mother and daughter team, Anita Kostecki, and her daughter Hannah, are planning on making the playroom an attractive space for children.

With deep appreciation for all the work, the caring -- and for the generosity needed to keep this worth while program going,

Liz Gustavson
 91 June St. Wish list
Bedrooms
14 twin size beds (preferably with new mattress and box spring, but will consider used in excellent condition)
4 bureaus
12 Twin size sheet sets
20 Twin size blankets

Common living room
2 upholstered chairs
1 DVD/VCR player

Dining Room
2 high chairs

Kitchens
2 Tea kettles  
Knives
2 Waste baskets

Miscellaneous
2 each - Dry mops, brooms, dust pans
1 large bucket
Kitchen towels
Dish soap, sponges, scouring pads
2 Dish racks
Cleaning supplies
Paper goods – paper towels, toilet paper, napkins
Trash bags

Outdoor Needs
Lawn mower; 2 snow shovels

Friday, September 14, 2012

David P. Mckay



David McKay was well versed in Colonial Opera in Boston and  Early American Choral music, especially William Billings.

He was Director of Music at 1st U from  1975-1985 and collaborated with the late Stephen Long (Trinity Lutheran) in several concerts and vinyl recordings exploring eighteenth century choral music.  Among his compositions, many published by Choristers Guild & ArtMasters, was the highly acclaimed Birds, Beaks, and Beautification which was a short children’s opera telling the story of creation where God ran out of “paint” for the birds’ wings and gave the last remaining bird a drop of gold on its tongue, yielding beautiful songs.

In addition to music history and music theory, he taught humanities courses at WPI.

Richard Jones offers this summary:
David was honored as a Lifetime Member of WorcAGO at the Festival Rededication of the Organ at Mechanics Hall thirty years ago this September. The rededication committee decided to honor three individuals (involved with the restoration) at the second of the two concerts --- Fritz Noack, William Self, and David McKay. David had been very highly regarded for his contributions to the study of early American music, particularly that of William Billings, and to a revival of interest in it. He was also well known as a composer. His settings of poems written by Holocaust victims were featured at the second concert, sung by the Salisbury Singers. (First Unitarian was much in evidence at the second concert --- Wallace Robbins was the featured speaker, Malama Robbins the featured conductor, and First Unitarian's director of music McKay was an honoree.) Just as the committee quite intentionally chose to use only Worcester musicians for the concerts, it chose to honor Worcester's own as well. Shortly after the dedication concert, Mechanics Hall commissioned an organ/orchestra concerto from McKay, and a sonata which were premiered by David Craighead. Joe Policelli, Brenda Fraser, and Ronald Stalford also performed at this concert on 16 November 1983 which featured The All Saints Choirs, the Wayland Consort, the Isaiah Thomas Jazz Chorale, and the Worcester Chorus.

His works, which I think are in the archives at the Historical Museum, are the only pieces of music ever commissioned by Mechanics Hall.



Tuesday, September 11, 2012

John Henry's Hammer Fall Schedule



Rod MacDonald Opens "NEW" concert series at John Henry's Hammer
Rod MacDonald
Opening is area favorite 
Lydia Fortune

Saturday September 29th - 7 pm
John Henry's Hammer Coffeehouse
inside First Unitarian Church of Worcester
90 Main Street, Worcester, MA


Advance tickets $12 at 
Brown Paper Tickets
$15 at the door
508.753.1012

A self-proclaimed non-commercial artist, MacDonald has released 10 solo recordings in the US, 8 in Europe on the Swiss label Brambus, and 21 songs with Smithsonian Folkways (through the Fast Folk Musical Magazine).

He was reportedly the first American singer to tour the newly-liberated Czech Republic in 1991, and has made 35 tours in Europe since 1985, nearly all of them with NYC bassist Mark Dann.

Opening is area favorite 
Lydia Fortune. It’s hard to pin Lydia Fortune down to one musical category given her love for all types of music. From singer/songwriter to guest jazz vocalist, her calling card is an eclectic blend of jazz, blues, spirituals, country, pop and more. Her interpretive vocals reflect a unique singing style that has been honed over 40 years of performance. The music's the thing. A sense of adventure and a willingness to collaborate keeps her approach vibrant and alive.

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John Henry’s Hammer at First Unitarian Church
Saturday, Oct 20 at 7pm.  Joe Fusco and Friends. 
Advance tickets $12 at Brown Paper Tickets
$15 at the door
508.753.1012

A shared evening of spoken words and music hosted by 
Joe Fusco Jr. along with the Sunnyside Swing Band, Cowboy Matt Hopewell, Janice Harvey, Mac Cole,Anne Marie Lucci, Myra MacLeod and Paul Della Valle.

Sponsored in part by Goretti's Supermarket
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John Henry’s Hammer at First Unitarian Church.
Saturday, November 17th at 7pm . Dennis Brennan Band  and Walter Crockett Opening.
Advance tickets $12 at Brown Paper Tickets
$15 at the door
508.753.1012

Monday, August 20, 2012

UUSisterhood News




From Lee Reid:
Hello UUSisterhood!
When church starts up again in September, please keep your eyes and hearts open for new women.   Prowl the pews before service and introduce yourself.   Work the crowd during coffee hour.   Many new people will be looking for connection, community and a friendly greeting.   Reach out and introduce yourself and introduce them to others.  If you don’t know someone (maybe they have even been attending for years) put yourself out there to make a connection.  It feels so good to be on the receiving end of a warm greeting.
The Opportunity Fair is set for Sunday, September 23rd after service in Unity Hall.  The UUSisterhood needs to be an important part of it.  We will have a table set among many others, so we need to stand out and be visible.   How should we do that?
  • Wear nametags
  • Make a poster or find the one hidden in a closet in the dining room
  • Provide treats like cookies and kisses
  • Have a number of us working the crowd and wo/manning the table
  • Have a sign-up sheet for names & email addresses
  • Be visible Be friendly
We need one of us to coordinate the Opportunity Fair.  That means greeting people, signing them up and eating treats.  Please give it some thought and come up with your own ideas on how to make us visible.  It’s so easy.
The first gathering of the UUSisterhood is Friday, September 21.  Let’s talk more about it then.  
Questions and answers…please contact Diane Mandile at dmmandile@swissturn.com or Mary Fransden at mkfransden@ charter.net or Lee Reid at reidknox@aol.com (Diane and Lee will both be away on September 23)


From Mary Fransden:
Please join the UUSisterhood!  We are a group of women who just like to get together.  Most of us are members or attendees of First Unitarian and we welcome women from outside the church as well.  Mark your calendars for our monthly potlucks when we share food, conversation and participate in an activity or event together.  Our first potluck will be held on Friday, September 21, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the dining and Bancroft rooms and the activity is to plan for the rest of the year.  Come with your ideas and choose a month when you are able to lead and organize.  We have held literary nights, game nights, fashion shows, financial planning talks, show and tell, dancing events, pie baking and others.

Here is the schedule for the 2012-2013 church year:

Friday, September 21, 2012    6 p.m. Planning Night                        Leader:  Mary Frandsen
Friday, October 19, 2012        6 p.m.             
Friday, November 16, 2012    6 p.m.
*Sunday, December 16, 2012    2 p.m. Caroling to the Elderly and Shut-Ins
                                               6 p.m.  Annual Yankee Swap
Friday, January 18, 2013        6 p.m.
Friday, February 15, 2013      6 p.m.
Friday, March 15, 2013          6 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 2013            6 p.m.
Friday, May 17, 2013             6 p.m.
Friday, June 21, 2013             6 p.m.

*Updated September 10, 2012

Also, we need Sisters to represent us at the Sunday September 23rd Opportunity Fair in Unity Hall.  Diane Mandile emailed to us an announcement regarding this event.   Please contact me if you are able to help or if you have any questions about the UUSisterhood.  I’m looking forward to a fantastic year!

Mary Frandsen
508-852-8122

Other UUSisterhood contacts include Diane Mandile at dmmandile@swissturn.com and Lee Reid at reidknox@aol.com. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Garden Tours - July 29 thru August 26





Here is the second half of our Garden Tours schedule. Please join us for news and views of lovely gardens in good company every Sunday this summer from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Hosts provide drinking water and a bathroom, but  perfectly groomed grounds are NOT required.  Contact Kris for more info at 508-754-5497 but NOT VIA EMAIL. We've been having a wonderful time and would love to see you there. CARPOOLS ENCOURAGED!

Sun., July 29, Bonnie Prescott, 34 Twinbrooke Dr., Holden. From church take Salisbury St. toward Holden, past Salisbury Green on right, 2 miles more to left onto Twinbrooke Dr. and straight ahead to #34.

Sun. Aug. 5, the Keatings, 983 Pleasant St., Worcester.  From church take Highland St. to Newton Sq., entering at 6 on the "clock face" and exiting at 12 onto Pleasant St.  Watch for #983 on right before Tatnuck Sq.

Sun. Aug. 12, THIS TOUR IS CANCELLED - PLEASE CALL KRIS (508-754-5497) FOR A POSSIBLE ALTERNATE LOCATION Will Sherwood, 171 Rowley Hill Rd., Sterling will not be available for a garden tour on August 12th.


Sun., Aug. 19, the Mandiles, #779 School St., Webster.  From church take 290 West onto 395 to exit 1.  Go through light at exit and 1 mile to left onto School St. by stop sign.  #779 is just after nursing home on left with parking along driveway just before #779, a pink colonial with a red barn.

Sun., Aug. 26, the Kirschenbaums, 20 Indian Hill Rd., Worcester. From church take 290E to 190N and then exit 2-Ararat St.  Make a giant U-turn by going left onto Ararat, over bridge and immediate left onto frontage road and bear right at fork following signs for Norton/Shore Dr. (but don't go as as far as Shore Dr.) Stay briefly in middle or right lane and take slight right onto New Bond St. which becomes Hockanum Way.  Turn right onto Indian Hill and find #20 close by.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Annual First U Kayak Picnic - July 29

Mark your calendar.  The eighth annual First Unitarian kayak picnic will be held Sunday afternoon, July 29, on Lake Quinsigamond at the home of Peter Gray and Diane Pingeton-340 S. Quinsigamond Ave., Shrewsbury. We will gather beginning at about 12:30 p.m. (anytime after church) and continue through the afternoon. It is potluck, so bring some food to share. If you have an easily portable kayak or canoe that you would like to bring, please do. If you have a life jacket, bring it.  Extra kayaks and life jackets are provided, courtesy of Ken and Betty Strom. We also have a canoe and a rowboat for use. Dress appropriately for the water. Come whether or not you plan to go out in a boat. If you have never tried kayaking, this is a good opportunity to try it. Address any questions to Peter Gray: grayp@bc.edu, or 508 753-1797.