Teen Choir Schedule

Sunday, 3/11; 6-7 pm at the Holden St. UU Church
Friday, 3/16; 6-8 pm at the Holden St. UU Church
Sunday, 3/18; 10 am-noon performance at the Holden St. UU Church
Sunday, 3/25; 9:30-11:30 am performance at First Unitarian
Sunday, 4/01; 6-7 pm at the Holden St. UU Church
Sunday, 4/15; 6-7 pm at the Holden St. UU Church
Sunday, 4/22; 6-7 pm at the Holden St. UU Church
Sunday, 4/29; 9:30-11:30 am performance at First Unitarian
Sunday, 5/6; 10 am-noon performance at the Holden St. UU Church

March 10 Dinner and Concert in Cambridge

Join a Caravan of Cars to Cambridge for Dinner and Concert with Tom and Sue Schade on 3/10 .  If you wanted to sit at Tom’s table during the Winter Gala 2011 and didn’t have a chance—here’s another one—but he’s NOT COOKING. 

CARPOOL--LEAVE First U Worcester at 5:00 p.m.

ARRIVE at Alewife Station MBTA Parking Lot about 6:00-parking fee $7.00/car

ARRIVE Harvard Square around 6:15-ticket-$2:00

EAT DINNER--We are eating at Fire + Ice, a fun family restaurant where you create your own meal grilled by entertaining chefs.

Take a stroll to:

CONCERT at Nameless Coffeehouse, First Parish—Congregant Phil Nigro playing with Lydia Fortune; also Tom Smith, and other musicians

Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Suggested donation--$10. REVERSE ROUTE around 10:00  or 10:30.

Sign up sheet in the Bancroft Room or contact Caring Community Task Force/LLC Committee Member—

Linda Wyatt 508-596-4053 (Cell)

speechlc@yahoo.com

Paul Rishell and Annie Raines March 3rd!

Paul Rishell and Annie Raines perform in the legendary 
John Henry’s Hammer
Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
7pm Door / 7:30 Showtime
First Unitarian Church of Worcester  
90 Main Street, Worcester, MA
(Use State Street upper entrance)

Advance tickets via Brown Paper Tickets: $10 / $12 at the door

When 22-year-old harmonica ace Annie Raines first sat in with 42-year-old country blues guitarist Paul Rishell in a Boston bar in 1992, few in the crowd suspected that they were witnessing the beginning of a musical partnership that would span the next fifteen years and counting. As a working team, Paul and Annie have racked up hundreds of thousands of miles on the road in the U.S. and Europe, collaborated on original songs, and released I WANT YOU TO KNOW (Tone-Cool/Artemis 1996), MOVING TO THE COUNTRY (2000), the W.C. Handy Award winner for Acoustic Blues Album of the Year, and GOIN' HOME (2004), which was nominated for two Handy Awards.

Opening are The Hip Swayers
featuring Dave Blodgett and Tonia Ostrow


 

This performance co-sponsored by: WCUW 91.3 FM is Worcester’s community radio station, bringing alternative music to Central New England since 1973 and The First Unitarian Church of Worcester– A Unitarian Universalist Church Gathered in 1785.

Where Have You Been? by Linda Chatelain Wyatt

The frail, once vibrant consistent First Unitarian of Worcester churchgoer recognizes my “petiteness” and dark hair.  Her cognition lets her keep this memory for now.  Laura Howie, takes my hand, after some UU Sisterhood carolers complete a song Laura intersperses with words and hum.  She says:  “Where have you been? Oh, I’ve been the one that’s missing.”

Those words immediately tether me to the lament of a long ago patient whose memory was sneakily devoured by noxious gas as he worked in his garage.  I remember his description of trying to grasp elusive reality.  “Linda, it’s like I’m trying to reach the surface, but there’s a thick iceberg.”  Profound words for a man who needed watching because he couldn’t remember the familiar surroundings of his home and had severe word retrieval difficulties.

What is Laura saying?  Is she telling me her mind is missing, her physical presence at church and her former active life, or both?  Somehow, though she is still present.  She is present to her church community because we know her whereabouts and we reach out.  Present, too, in the sense she still sings some of the rote hymns, recalls some identifying physical features of people, and can maintain singular links, such as, “How’s your daughter?  I bet she’s big now.”

At the Annual Meeting, choir members, Kris Johnson and Steve Knox, indicate they’ve noticed a dwindling of heads in the pews.  The Caring Community Task Force is discussing ways to keep in contact with “missing in action” congregants to ensure they are “o.k.”—but not to be prying or chastising and to honor confidentiality.

During one of our listening sessions, someone comments she hasn’t been to church for a while and no one has called her to inquire about her situation. I’ve been thinking of her, but I attribute her absence to being part of the music world—perhaps a musician who has a hard time coming to church after a really late night gig and grueling travel.  So, I reach out in thought, but not by hand.  The Caring Community Task Force is considering suggestions to what to do when we don’t see congregants for a period of time.  In some church communities by virtue of the age of the congregants this can be a critical matter.  Congregants are hurt, too, when they hear of someone’s illness or death post-occurrence.

One remedy—be present to us in spirit.  Let the minister know you are on vacation, or you are really busy, you need assistance, but haven’t forgotten us.  Tell your family to contact the minister, church administrator, or a congregant about what’s transpiring in your life so we can be present to you in joy, need, and sorrow.

Be present by assisting in little ways.  Drop in on an event. Help out “just a little”.  A little bit can be a lot especially when a few—and maybe the same few—are running programs and events.  Kate O’Dell couldn’t attend the coffeehouse concert last Friday night—but baked for it.  That meant a lot.  Her contribution was much appreciated.  Many “little bits” add up to a “big lot”.

The Caring Community Task Force is discussing potential structure of parish services and pastoral care on the morning of Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the NU Café, Worcester.  You may still give us input.  You may still take our three to five-minute online survey. Call or email Diane Mirick, 978-464-2313, dmirick@verizon.net with ideas.  You may speak to us at church or stop by the NU Café.  You  make the Caring Community.

I recall Kathy Mattea’s song “Where’ve You Been?” The words unfailingly elicit my tears because it’s a happy resolution for this incurable optimist and romantic. The wife with dementia is reunited with her husband of 60 years.  He takes her hand and strokes her hair.  In a fragile voice she says:

Where’ve you been?  I’ve looked for you forever and a day.  Where’ve you been I’m just not myself when you’re away.  No, I’m just not myself when you’re away.

Find us.  Be present to your church community.  Keep in touch.  Do what you can-- even just a little.    

Nominees for First Unitarian Church Positions

Listed below are the nominees for the Church elections that will be held Sunday, Jan. 29, along with a brief biography of each.

Moderator  - Scott Hayman. Scott, his wife Cassandra Datena, and their children, Madeline and William, live in Worcester and have been active in the church for more than 10 years. Scott taught Sunday School for many years and has served as a BYKOTA Advisor, Assessor, and Vice Moderator. He has also organized special event fundraisers and participated on a variety of task forces, including, most recently, the Future Ministries task force. Scott and his family enjoy a number of church activities, including Monday Night at the Church, the annual Ferry Beach retreat with the Holden Street Church, and the Mt. Wachusett climb.

Vice Moderator - Seth Popinchalk. Seth grew up in a UU church in West Hartford, CT. He joined First U with his wife Sue and two daughters, Kate and Lauren, in 2009.  Since joining the church Seth has served on the Lay Leadership Council as well as the RE Search Committee that found Jessica Gray. He works as a manager at MathWorks and volunteers in the Worcester Public Schools to promote engineering and science.

Clerk - Jay Lavelle. Jay has been clerk of the parish for 8 years.  A life-long Unitarian, Jay coordinates the summer lay-led services and the NYC trips. He also serves on the Ministerial Review Committee and assists the Tibetan Teachings group. When not at church, Jay is a software engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, president of the Worcester County Poetry Association, and an aspiring yoga student.

Treasurer - Karen Reilly. Karen has been a member of First U since 1996, a Unitarian since 1988. She has taught in the Sunday School, is currently active in the Women's Group and the Women's Bridge Club, occasionally records the service, and has served as Assistant Treasurer for one year. She works as the Associate Director of Library Services at Holy Cross and has two grown children, Kaitlyn (23) and William (18).

Assistant Treasurer - Lisa McCarthy. Lisa has been self-employed as a bookkeeping consultant for several local non-profits for the last 7 years. Her previous work experience includes many years as a Medical Office Manager and Medical Secretary for two private practices and at Umass Memorial Hospital and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Lisa enjoys volunteering in the Girl Scouts with her daughter Amelia and attending live music performances with her husband/drummer Rick.

Head Trustee of Parish Funds - Jeanine Beratta. Jeanine has been a member of the church for about four years. She has served for two years as a Trustee and was involved in the development of the current investment policy statement. Jeanine is a financial advisor and enjoys hiking in her free time.

Head Assessor - Wendy Innis. Wendy was raised in the First Unitarian Church and returned as an active member eight years ago. She always has her dog, Thompson, with her and is happy to talk about her five grandchildren. She is looking forward to the challenge of finding the funding to support the church budget.

Assessor. Kate O'Dell. Kate became a UU in 1986, after attending a humanistic conference at a UU church in Pittsburgh. In various congregations, she has participated in a variety of ways, including as treasurer, board member, and RE teacher. Professionally, Kate is on the faculty at UMass Medical Center, where she works as a nurse-midwife.  She would be delighted to have an opportunity to support First U in the historic and interesting role of assessor.

Trustee of Parish Funds - Michael Keating. Michael is the owner for over 45 years of Keating Enterprises, Inc., a Landscape design, construction and maintenance company.  He has a Master's Degree from Clark where he focused in on Emersonian Philosophy. He has spent most of his life helping his church in any way he could: participating in choirs, fund raising, and in various services. He also spent over 20 years involved in libraries, first as a trustee and president of the Worcester Public Library as then as a State Commissioner.

Lay Leadership Council (3 nominees for 3 open positions).

Laura Kirshenbaum. Laura has been a member of First U since 2008.  She and her wife, Shannon, have two children, Hazel (3) and Emerson (1). Since joining the church she has taught Spirit Play classes, served on the Lay Leadership Council, and served on the 2010 RE Search Committee to find our new Director of Faith Development. Laura is a 6th grade Science teacher in Marlborough and was recently elected to serve on the Middle Level Commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAS&C).

Linda Wyatt. Linda is a speech-language pathologist and writer and has been a member of the choir and the Court Hill singers for about nine years. She taught RE throughout the years since becoming a member in 2005. Currently she is on the Faith Development and Family Ministries Team and Caring Community Task Force and is serving as a BYKOTA advisor. She co-hosted the 2011 Winter Gala and is chairperson for the 2012 Gala.

Gene Johnson. Gene is a retired social worker who, with his wife Gini, moved to Worcester twelve years ago from Oregon. He is a volunteer for the Department of Children and Families as a case reviewer, and he also works with a group of people who assist the Lost Boys of the Sudan. He and Gini have been members of First U for over four years and actively contribute to MNATC.

Nominating Committee (2 nominees for 2 open positions).

David Spanagel. David, a professor of history at WPI, has been singing in the choir at First Unitarian since 2001. He signed the membership book in 2004. In 2005 David began his involvement in cultivating parish leadership as a one-year fill-in on the Nominating Committee, and since then he has served as an Assessor, Vice-Moderator, and, most recently, church Moderator.

Steve Knox. Steve has been a member of First Unitarian for 21 years and has served the congregation in a variety of committee positions and strategic roles. He is a software engineering manager who sings in the choir. He would be pleased to participate once again on the nominating committee.

Faith Development for Adults and Youth Winter & Spring 2012

Introduction to Unitarian Universalism: Six sessions about Unitarian Universalism and the First Unitarian Church of Worcester. For new members and those considering membership. Long-time members are also welcome to share their experience and insights. Led by Tom Schade and Jessica Gray

The program is both in-person and on-line -- participate either way or both. Internet course is at:

https://www.myhaikuclass.com/FirstuWorcester/newuu2012/signup
The invitation code is 2FVFL

In-person sessions at 9 AM on the following Sunday mornings in the Chapel. Childcare provided.

Theology and Worship	January 22
History and Roots	February 26
Being a Unitarian Universalist:	March 11
Polity and Governance	April 1:
Faith Formation	April 15:
Social Justice	May 6

 

The Interfaith Youth Movement

Acts of Faith: The story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation, by Eboo Patel.

Book discussion of a memoir of young Muslim in the US that touches upon the spiritual dimensions of young adult life, and the movement toward a committed pluralism. You must sign-up to participate. (Click here to sign-up.) Minimum 10. Books are available for sale in advance at a price of $14.00, or can be downloaded at Amazon. Led by Rev. Tom Schade.

Held on the following Monday nights, in the Chapel at 7:30-8:45 PM

January 30, February 15 and April 30

The Lenten Journey:

A devotional multi-media series for Lent, a traditional time to deepen the spiritual life. Six sessions in the darkened sanctuary and with words, music and images. We will be guided by the Subirachs sculptures of the Passion Façade of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. Monday nights: February 27 through April 2. 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Led by Rev. Schade.

Sample Covenant Groups

What if you could get to know a small group of people in the church and get to know them more deeply? Covenant groups are designed to allow such opportunities. A full covenant group program is in development to begin in Fall 2012, and we are offering sample, drop-in groups throughout the spring. Each month will have a different topic for sharing and growth. Led by Jessica Gray.

Feb 13 – MNATC 7:30 PM

March 11 – Sunday 9 AM

April 8 – Sunday 9 AM

April 9 – MNATC 7:30 PM

May 13 – Sunday, 9 AM

May 14 – MNATC 7:30 PM

Harvest the Power

Harvest the Power provides leadership skill development that goes hand-in-hand with faith development. This seven-session program, led by Jessica Gray and Laura Kirshenbaum, will help lay leaders grow in spirit as they grow as leaders. This program is intended for those who would like to get more engaged in the church as well as those already in leadership positions.

Sundays, 1-3 pm every other week

February 12-May 6

A concurrent children’s program will be offered.

Benefit Your Health While Benefiting the IHN

Benefit Your Health While Benefiting the IHN

Erika Slater is a Certified Hypnotherapist based in Upton/Grafton area and is offering an affordable weight loss hypnosis program to members of IHN of Greater Worcester congregations or friends of the IHN. This is a 4 session group class and limited to only ten (10) people. It is an opportunity to help others while at the same time providing you a means to make your weight loss journey just once to reach a thinner you, and stay your right size. This comprehensive weight loss program isn’t just another diet. If you’re planning to lose weight then here’s a chance to do that while donating to help others. IHN Advisory Board Chair, Jan Gregory-Charpentier, will be participating, too.

Erika has run hypnosis based programs in the past for charities and will donate her time so all profits go to The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester. Erika regularly donates her time to the community - she hosts a weekly radio program for the blind at audiojournal.net - as she believes it’s important to give back, and has also found it a great way to obtain referrals for her hypnotherapy business.

Her private successful weight loss program is usually $800 but you can participate in this group program for a fraction of the cost: $400/4 sessions or $100/session ($375 if paid in full up front). Registration information and much more information about Erika and her practice available at the website below.

For more information about this program check out the special page here: http://www.freeatlasthypnosis.com/janc. Healthy, safe and effective weight loss.

Because of the equipment used and optimum size to ensure success, Erika only does small group sessions and so once the limit of 10 participants is reached the class will close.

The four sessions will run four Saturdays, starting in January, 2 hours per session. Saturdays, January14 and 21, February 4 and 11, at 2:00 to 4:00 pm, (Location in Worcester area, still TBA)