June 26-July 9 2021 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205

visit us at uuwestport.org

n.b.: The next edition of SOUNDINGS will go out July 9 and cover July 10-23 2021.

CLICK HERE for a 4 week calendar PDF. .CLICK HERE for past issues of SOUNDINGS.

The UUA's General Assembly has been virtual this year, full of rich opportunities for connection and learning. Stacey Abrams and Desmond Meade will be the Ware Lecturers. Their remarks will have special resonance given the elections this year, the voting legislation in play across various states, and our own work as part of UU the Vote. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity.

The First Universalist Church of Minneapolis will serve as worship leaders for this year’s GA Sunday Morning Service. It has been a model of shared ministry and what it means to put the work of dismantling white supremacy and building anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices at the center of their ministry. They have been on the front lines in support of the Movement for Black Lives in Minneapolis, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police and the uprisings for justice that followed. Children and families are a vital part of their ministry; they have been using creative approaches to engage all ages in worship during the pandemic.

We encourage all to gather and participate, on uua.org and the UUA’s YouTube channel.

TUCW Coffee will Follow. Directly after the service, Cheryl Dixon Paul and Randy Burnham invite you to a short TUCW coffee hour discussion. Use our regular worship ZOOM, HERE. All are welcome for this conversation - visitors and long-time friends.

Offering gratefully received on VENMO @TUCW-1; vop.tucw.org; or mail in a check.

Great news! As of July 4, our services are both in person and online and no sign-up is required ahead of time. All are welcome. Outdoor play for children preK-5th grade is available from 10-11AM (see below). Please wear a mask if you have not been vaccinated, or have a sensitive immune system. ZOOM remains the same: on the front page of our website and as below.

Our services this summer are lay-led. For a complete list of Summer Sunday topics and leaders, click HERE.

Using sacred reading practices, we will examine the story “Kin” by Bruce McAllister through the theme of Belonging to see how it relates to our lives. Please read it ahead of time or listen to LeVar Burton read it HERE beforehand.

Our ZOOM link is always on the front page of the website and does not change from week to week. You can also click : HERE. Meeting ID 207 517 697 PASSWORD: 8893787678 Landline: 1 646 876 9923. Doors will open in the ZOOM room at 9:50 AM.

For info contact Janet Luongo.

Zoom Meeting - click HERE ID: 604 513 6137 Password: 068510

To find out more about our Family Faith Formation programs, please see HERE.

DR. HEATHER HAMILTON JOINS TUCW STAFF AS LEAD FOR CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY FAITH FORMATION

Please see Rev. John's announcement HERE. Even before she officially arrives, we can welcome her via email: heather@uuwestport.org.

Summer Fun & Games: Our program of crafts and games for children (5^th grade and younger) begins on Sunday, July 4 and will continue each Sunday through Labor Day weekend. This is an opportunity for adult volunteers to interact and bond with our church children. If you would like to sign up for a Sunday (or two) of fun with our children, contact Heather or Nate. Click HERE for the 2021 TUCW Summer Fun & Games schedule.

Did you know? We offer a Buddhist practice group every Monday on ZOOM. Led by longtime TUCW member Nina Nagy, this group is based upon the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Unlike other programs, it is carefully structured to meet the needs of novices and advanced practitioners alike: all are welcome.

Classes are 6-7:30 PM. A modest donation covers costs and a gift to the church. Please RSVP to Nina so she can share ZOOM info. For more info, click HERE.

Our guest speaker will be Rev. Robyn Anderson, Director of the Ministerial Health Fellowship, an integrated, faith-based health care advocacy network that addresses systemic barrier to black communities' access to care. David Vita will share action steps, and Carolyn Gundell will be our moderator. This event will feature art and musical performances by actor Ryan Williams French and The Quintet, an ensemble led by our own Rev. Ed Thompson. 

Advance registration is required. Click HERE to register; HERE to learn more.

This event is free and open to the public. Questions? Contact TUCWomen@gmail.com 

Reminder that upcoming Name Change discussion meetings will be: Tuesday, June 29, 6:00 PM. Luke Garvey and Beth Cliff, hosts, and Saturday July 17, 9:00 AM with Catherine Onyemelukwe host. ZOOM HERE

If you have not attended a prior meeting, we encourage you to join and share your thoughts and opinions.

Our #BLM movie selection for our Wednesday, July 14, 7-8:30 PM meeting is The Last Man Standing in San Francisco, "a wistful odyssey populated by skaters, squatters, street preachers, playwrights, and other locals on the margins ..... [It]is a poignant and sweeping story of hometowns and how they’re made—and kept alive—by the people who love them." All are welcome to join this informal discussion group. No RSVP required: just drop in!

ZOOM HERE. Contact Beth Cliff to get on our mailing list. 

Great news! Refugee families are once again arriving in Bridgeport under the sponsorship of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI). As in the past, volunteers from TUCW and four other area churches will assist CIRI in setting up apartments for these new arrivals. The apartment set ups take place during the week and volunteers will work in 2-3-hour shifts usually from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact either Julyen Norman or Stephen Polmar. for further information.

Our congregation, unlike other religion institutions folks may be familiar with, is entirely self-funded: whatever we spend each year is from the generosity of our members and friends. Please give when you are able: no gift is too small.

We have multiple ways to contribute to the offering and ongoing operations at the church:

Thank you, in advance, for all you give to make us a happy, healthy, vibrant community.

Our building is open for meetings. Please clear in advance with Diane. diane@uuwestport.org. She will remind you of our guidelines.

•ONGOING PROGRAMMING EACH WEEK•

Mondays 6-7:30 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis.

Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM The Power of Now Jim Francek; 7-9 PM Is Mysticism Where Science, Art and Religion Meet? Bart Stuck

Thursdays, 4-5 PM Talking Circles. ZOOM HERE. Jim Francek.

Sundays 8:00 AM. at Sherwood Island TUCW Hiking Group Gian Morresi Jamie Forbes

Sundays 9:00-9:45. Meditation Janet Luongo

Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access.

All women welcome at all events; visit our website for complete info.

Questions? Contact TUCWomen@gmail.com

Find us on digital and social media: website: uuwestport.org, Facebook public page (Unitarian Church in Westport) private group (uuwestport), and Instagram (uuwestportct).

 WE INSPIRE and support individual spiritual growth. 

 WE CONNECT through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries. 

 WE ACT in the service of peace and justice.