November 23-27, 2020 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205

visit us at uuwestport.org

CLICK HERE for 2 week calendar PDF. .CLICK HERE for past issues of SOUNDINGS.

This winter, at my request, the Leadership Development Team ("LDT") is sponsoring a data collection effort - our very own census - that will capture how all of us are engaging with the church across multiple points: worship services, committee and volunteer work, program attendance, outreach, and other actions. It's been 3-4 years since we captured a lot of this data, and there are some gaps: we want to make sure we've got an up-to-date, full grasp of all that is going on in our wonderful community.

LDT will lead this effort, and many committees will provide guidance and support as needed. This will be a "full court press." At the end of this project, we will have an updated membership guide and complete, accurate data for analyses that we can use as we move forward as a community during these COVID and post-COVID worlds. This data will serve as our baseline for analytical and informational inquiries in the future.

In mid-December we will send out an electronic survey to all our community that captures all our interests and skills (the engagement part) and demographics (the census part). There will also be a couple of open-ended questions for you to share your thoughts with us. We ask that everyone participate so we can have clean, clear data for the future. We hope to conclude the effort by end of January.

Questions? Contact Carol Seiple, Beth Cliff or me, Rev. John.

These can be isolating times we live in. The Pastoral Care Associates want to serve us all. Accordingly they will be reaching out to all of us in the next few weeks, just to check in and see how we're each doing. Please don't be surprised when your phone rings and there's a friendly TUCW voice on the other end. Questions? Contact Kathy Roberts or Jim Francek.

We are pleased to share that our CONNECT Campaign met its goal of $10,000 to support much needed upgrades of our digital capabilities. We appreciate everyone's willingness to chip in and make this happen for us. Well done, all!

The Culture Team of the Racial Justice Council presents:

Come and join us in a Virtual Arts event of readings by writer James Baldwin! Would you like to help organize the event? Would you like to read an excerpt/quote of Baldwin's work? Contact: Arnela Ten Meer - nelaya21@gmail.com

Our Racial Justice Councils's #BLM movie selection for this Wed. Nov. 25 7-8:30 PM is Ken Burns' documentary "The Central Park Five." Watch it ahead of time on PBS (streaming now) and then join us in discussion on ZOOM. Questions? Contact Beth Cliff or Sudha Sankar.

This past Tuesday evening, November 17, our congregation represented 27 out of 125 participants who attended the first of five sessions on Anti-Racism, led by Temple Israel and other faith leaders including our own Rev. John. The course, based on Ibram Kendi's book How to be an Anti-Racist, includes presentations by Rabbi Michael Friedman and breakout groups led by local inter-faith clergy. The training grew out of a workshop for community leaders led by Dr. Kendi in 2018 attended by local clergy and other community leaders including Rev. John. It is great to see so many of our own involved in this good work.

It's not too late to join these sessions. Participants are asked to register for the entire series; advanced registration is required. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email which contains information about joining the meeting on ZOOM. CLICK HERE to register.

This month the UU Movie Night group will be discussing four movies: “Coco”, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, “The Trial of Chicago 7” and “The Wolf of Snow Hollow”.

It’s not required to watch all four; even if you only watch one of these, please log in to our next meeting to discuss it. For further info including ZOOM link, contact Dorothy Rich.

Mondays 6:30-8 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group Nina Nagy Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis.

Tuesdays 8-9 PM , Nov. 24; Dec 1, 8, 15. Anti-Racism Training. Organized by Temple Israel. Must register in advance. See above. Rev. John.

Wednesdays: 7-8:15 PM The Power of Now Jim Francek; 7-9 PM Is Mysticism Where Science and Religion Meet? Bart Stuck and 7-8:30 PM (Every other Wed; check calendar) #BLM Movie Night. ZOOM HERE. Beth Cliff Sudha Sankar

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

Fridays 12-1 PM Awakenings ZOOM HERE.  David Vita

Sundays 10:00-10:45. Meditation Janet Luongo

1st Saturday and 3rd Wednesday of the month 9:30 AM. TUCW Hiking Group Gian Moressi Jamie Forbes

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.

ZOOM Information for All TUCWomen Gatherings: Meeting room: HERE ID: 457 957 6089

• Tapping Circles with Carol Hamilton: Every Monday in November. 7:00–8:30 PM

• Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy Tuesday Nov. 24 & Dec. 8 - 7:30-9:00 PM

We’re discussing the non-fiction book, CASTE: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, Parts 4 and 5. Friday, December 4th: 7:00-8:30 PM. Everyone is welcome even if you haven’t read the beginning.

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.