APRIL 15-16, 2023 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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Saturday 12-4 PM and Sunday 9:30 -9:50 AM: Brown bag lunch donations to support John Street Outreach. Sign up HERE; click HERE for instructions. Contact David Vita.
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UU PLAYERS PRESENTS LOVE LETTERS
SATURDAY, APRIL 15 (8:00 PM) - SUNDAY, APRIL 16 (2:00 PM)
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The UU Westport Players are pleased to present A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer-prize winning play, LOVE LETTERS, featuring Sarah Bell and Tom Croarkin, directed by Jim Luongo, Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16, at 8:00 and 2:00 PM respectively. Tickets available at the door; suggested donation, $20/person. Please join us!
“This is a tender, tragi-comic and nuanced examination of the shared nostalgia, missed opportunities, and deep closeness of two lifelong, complicated friends....” click HERE for more.
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WORSHIP SERVICE: 10:00 AM
"CELEBRATING OUR KINSHIP WITH THE EARTH” – REV. JIM FRANCEK
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Our indigenous ancestors believed that we came from the earth, are nurtured by the earth, and will return to the earth. Throughout their lives, they give thanks for the ways the earth generously shares her abundance with all living creatures. We have come to understand the process of photosynthesis. Trees draw minerals and water from the ground and heat from the sun. Trees are living beings that take carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere and give back oxygen. They follow their own cycle of life that undergirds our continuing survival. This is but one life sustaining process the earth provides. In truth, we are as tightly related to the earth as to our biological parents!
On April 16th we will “celebrate our kinship with the earth”. Pat Francek of Germanic and Slavic heritage will provide the framework for our Earth Day celebration. Grandmother Nancy Andry of Algonquin heritage will share the creation story of Sky Woman. Raleigh Padgett, a flute and drum maker of Cherokee and African American heritage will provide sounds of healing. The Once & Again and Moss Mountain Singers will provide inspirational songs. And Rev. Jim Francek of Celtic and Slavic dissent will share his reflections on our “Kinship with the Earth”.
Click HERE for the Order of Service. The service will be in person and virtual; attendance guidelines are HERE. Broadcast of the service is available at uuwestport.org/livestream.
Offering can be made on VENMO ("The Unitarian Church in Westport"), on vop.tucw.org, or feel free to mail in cash or check.
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Sunday, April 23 2023 at 10:00 AM
“Resisting the Attention Economy” – Rev. Dr. John Morehouse
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Please click HERE to find out more about our Faith Formation programs, or contact Nate Pawelek. All are always welcome to be with us. Nursery care is available for babies and toddlers at 9:45 AM.
K-2nd Grade – Chapel – 10:00 AM
3rd-5th Grade – Meeting House – 10:00 AM
6th-8th Grade Witness Stones Program – Meeting House – 10:00 AM
The High School Youth Group is on their Appalachian Service Project trip and will return on Sunday April 16. Want to know what they're doing? Click HERE to see their itinerary. And here are just a few pictures of life in Tennessee this past week:
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JOIN US AT OUR KICK-OFF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE MEETING:
THIS SUNDAY - AFTER THE SERVICE, EAST WING
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Please join the newly formed Reproductive Justice team as it hears from all of us about how we would like to engage on this incredibly important issue of our times - for folks across the gender spectrum: men, women, LGBTQ+. The team will bring the nibbles and a sense of what is possible, especially as it relates to UUA involvement - you bring your ideas and your "wish list" of areas to work on. Let's get inspired, let's connect with each other, and then let's ACT to make a difference! Questions? Contact Leslie Cenci, Jamie Forbes, Sunny Khadavi, Janet Luongo or Beth Cliff.
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HUSKY POSTCARD SIGNING CONTINUES THIS SUNDAY IN LIBRARY |
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Join us in the Library this Sunday, April 16 after the service as we continue to sign post cards urging our state representatives to expand HUSKY healthcare coverage to CT residents up to the age of 26 regardless of immigration status who otherwise meet the HUSKY program eligibility criteria.
Currently, undocumented children ages 0-12 are covered. That’s not enough. A 13, 19, or 25 year old sibling is no less in need of healthcare coverage. No one should be denied healthcare and a chance at survival because of their immigration status. Access to healthcare is a human right. Thank you.
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FINANCE 101: PLEDGE AND BUDGET UPDATE |
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The Finance Committee is working on next year’s budget now that the pledge drive is ending. The Board needs to hire and negotiate an interim minister’s salary and relocation. So, operating expenses are still in flux. If you have not pledged for next year, please do so now by clicking HERE.
The annual budget is accepted first by the Board of Trustees in May and then ultimately approved by the congregation at the June Annual Meeting, when a report will also be issued on this year’s financial results.
The quick update for this year is we are doing better than budgeted, but we still have a significant gap between revenues and expenses, and we are waiting to receive the Employee Retention Credit.
We will give you another update in the coming weeks.
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SUNDAY FLOWERS ARE A WELCOME GIFT FOR US ALL TO ENJOY |
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It can be a wonderful gesture to donate flowers in celebration or in honor or memory of someone - or some people or cause - who are in your heart, for our Sunday services. Please feel free to find a Sunday that works for you, and either bring in your own floral bouquet to be put on a table or stand, or we can arrange for a traditional hanging basket to be prepared for you.
Please reach out to Ruth Fontilla, our administrator, or fill out the form in the notebook on the table in the foyer, to get the process going. We look forward to celebrating with you!
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COMING UP APRIL 30: THE THREE QUESTIONS PRESENTED BY
THE CHILDREN'S & TEEN CHOIRS
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The Three Questions is a musical adaptation of a short story by Leo Tolstoy. It is being presented by the Children’s Choir and Teen Choir on April 30th during the 10:00 service.
This is a musical that everyone can relate to because each of us asks these questions constantly. In the musical, King Nikolas asks his three questions. Not one on his staff or anyone in his family can answer his questions to his satisfaction, so he decides to make a journey to the all-knowing hermit, Tara, a person of deep spiritual connections. After a long journey King Nikolas has a series of experiences which are the teaching moments he has been looking for. Tara helps him to integrate the experience. He then returns to his kingdom with new knowledge which he shares with everyone ……including you and me!
This service is appropriate for any age and is multi-generational. The young people in our choirs have been working on this event since January and are very excited to share it with you! There will be a different Order of Service for this event which will provide time for the musical as well as time to process this event with the cast. There will be time for Q&As. Feel free to invite family and friends.
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UU Meditation, 9:00-9:40 AM Sundays. Hybrid. A UU mix of mindfulness, discourse, relaxation, visualization and silence. In person and on ZOOM. Contact Janet Luongo to receive updates and notifications of location for this week's session.
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Our complete calendar is always on our website. Click HERE for quick access
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Please wear your nametag on Sunday mornings. If you've lost yours, let an usher know, and we'll get a new one made up for you. Or you can contact Ruth in the office.
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PAST SERMONS/SERVICES
Our sermons are archived on the website HERE.
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"Moving the Stones Away"
Rev. Dr. John Morehouse
April 9, 2023
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Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
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PASTORAL CARE
If you are going through a challenging time or know somebody in the congregation who needs support from our Pastoral Care Chaplains, call to leave a confidential message in the PCA voice mailbox 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or email pca@uuwestport.org.
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CARING NETWORK
Our support network is available to provide tangible help for friends in need: meal delivery, pharmacy runs, grocery shopping, a regular phone call of connection. Contact a minister or coordinators Dorothy Rich,or Diane Cano,
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ADDICTION RECOVERY
For individuals or families of our congregation seeking confidential support or information about addiction issues. Please contact our Addiction Recovery Ministry by calling 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or emailing pca@uuwestport.org
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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
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.
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