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Summer Worship at First Unitarian Church
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Worship Service in the Bancroft Room
10:25 a.m. Prelude
10:30 a.m. Worship Service Begins |
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June 28, 2009
Worship Leader: Liz Swenson
Theme: “When I Fall”
How we come to feel about the little stumbles and the bigger falls we take in our life and what we learn from them.
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July 5, 2009
Worship Leader: Rudy Cepko
Theme: “Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone”
In my childhood I hid in the background. Eventually I developed enough self-confidence to allow me to take chances (such as doing this service!) and grow into who I am today. I will also tie in other people throughout history who overcame their issues and obstacles and put themselves out there.
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July 12, 2009
Worship Leader: Carrie West
Theme: “Little Buddhas”
Small children are evidence that spiritual teachers come in all shapes and sizes. Parenting provides the opportunities for developing a spiritual practice, as our children raise us.
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July 19, 2009
Worship Leader: Alicia Lenahan
Theme: “Generosity”
Reach back to grasp the hand of the person in danger of being left behind; take the hand being offered in support and accept the blessing therein.
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July 26, 2009
Worship Leaders: Environment Committee
Theme: “In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World”
Inspired by the quote by Henry David Thoreau, we will lead a service focusing on the importance of preserving wildness in nature and in our lives, and the relationship between those two things. The service will include time for members of the congregation to share their own experiences of wildness in nature and in themselves.
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August 2, 2009
Worship Leader: Jay Lavelle
Theme: “Triumph of the Will”
Spiritual disciplines all mention letting go of the self. But how can we do that except through our own will? I will look at the role the human will plays in spiritual development.
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August 9, 2009
Worship Leader: Rev. Tom Schade
Theme: “Good Citizens of Time”
Some say that "old age is another country," suggesting that we reside in the different life stages almost as though they were homelands. And we move through the life stages with our generational cohorts who travel with us. What are the ethics involved in living in a life-stage, generationally diverse world? This is important stuff for church communities which include people at all life-stages and through which pass the generations.
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August 16, 2009
Worship Leader: Paul and Marj Ropp
Theme: “Dreams of My Grandfather”
I never knew my grandfather, Edwin Oliver Ropp (1874-1932), as he died twelve years before I was born. He was a farmer with an insatiable curiosity, a romantic temperament, and a love of nature. A self-described prairie poet, he evolved from an Amish-Mennonite to a Christian Scientist to a vegetarian and an “unchurched” Universalist. We recently began to explore the 42 letter files he left behind filled with his poems, letters, essays and dramas in verse. We will reflect on his family, life and writings, and on the pleasures of discovering new connections between our past and our present.
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August 23, 2009
Worship Leaders: Ken Waugh
Theme: “Martha and Mary Revisited”
The Biblical story of Martha and Mary, to my mind, has three villains: Martha, Mary, and Jesus. Their troubled relationship is a metaphor for the way work doesn't get done in our modern, complex society; I will suggest a better way. I will encourage audience discussion and participation.
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August 30, 2009
Worship Leader: Diane Pingeton
Theme: “Only Atheists Are Good Enough To Go to God and Other Musings”
I will examine the humor and irony of my experience of God, from a Catholic childhood to present yoga and meditation practice, with Unitarian Universalism knitting it all together.
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September 6, 2009 No Services Labor Day Weekend
September 13, 2009 In Gathering Sunday
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Monday Night At The Church Summer Schedule
Monday Night at the Church is on its Summer Schedule. The centerpiece of MNATC, Ken Waugh and friends’ fellowship dinner, will continue at least through July. Please note, several of our kitchen regulars will not be available this summer, if you can help in the kitchen or bring food, it will be helpful. It has not yet been determined whether a prepared dinner will be served in August. However, at the very least, people will be welcome to bring their own, do potluck, or order out.
The Worcester Zen Community continues to meet throughout the summer, (Zen never ends!), at 5:30 p.m. with an hour of Zen (meditation) practice in the Chapel. No experience is necessary. If you can breathe and sit still at the same time, you can practice Zen!
We will continue to have occasional programs on Monday evenings including music and movie nights.
Please note that childcare is not available during the summer. Please feel free bring your children, but you will need to arrange your own supervision.
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