Stewardship Beyond Our Sanctuary Walls

We do good in this world not to get into heaven, but to bring a little of heaven down to earth.

Rev. Gary Kowalski

Interfaith Hospitality Network: providing shelter and support to homeless families with children
Center for Nonviolent Solutions: teaching our youth strategies for nonviolent resolution of conflict
Jericho Road: matching volunteer professional talent with community-based non-profit organizations

What do these three Worcester social service organizations have in common? Our vice-moderator, Seth Popinchalk, wrote movingly last week of the commitment within our community to make the world a better place. The organizations listed above are strongly supported by members of First Unitarian who exemplify that commitment, volunteering their time, talent and financial support, and in some cases taking on senior leadership roles. The motivation for these volunteer efforts was explained by Rev. Gary Kowalski in his final sermon: we Unitarian-Universalists do good in the world not to get into heaven, but to bring a little of heaven down to earth.

It is this work, the work of community service and social justice, which makes a positive difference in the lives of so many in the larger Worcester community. It is this work which affirms our First Unitarian heritage, as our founders not only promoted freedom of religious expression, but were also in the forefront of advocacy for the abolition of slavery, women's rights, labor rights and public education. And it is this work in which we covenant each Sunday morning as we unite in "the service of all."

There are many other social service organizations who depend upon the support of our members (Worcester County Food Bank, Abby's House, and the Carty Cupboard Food Pantry of our neighboring Wesley Methodist church, to name just a few). We are called by our mission to "live in right relationship." When we support our church community, we are seeding the fertile ground from which we extend our mission beyond our sanctuary walls and into the wider community.

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An Outstanding Day One for the Annual Pledge Drive

" It is rare indeed that people give. Most people guard and keep. " If this observation from James Baldwin, one of our contry's most respected philosophers and novelists, is true, then the opening Sunday of our Annual Stewardship Pledge Drive was a rare one indeed. Consider these day one statistics : Total amound pledged: $96,628 (32% of our $300,000 goal !) Number of pledges: 62 (6 of these were first time pledges !) A whopping 56% increased their pledge over last year ! Let us keep the momentum going! If you have not yet sent in your pledge, do so today. This is truly a wonderful beginning, and it was made even more special by our interim minister's homily. If you missed Tracey's message, what follows are a few of her memorable and moving insights. We come through these doors in search, in need, in hope, in prayer. We come looking for something to make our lives better; to make the lives of our family, our friends, our neigh

This Community Surrounds My Life

I am always inspired and touched by the efforts to build a better world. Seth Popinchalk, Vice-Moderator Last week Scott Hayman told me about a 5K road race to benefit Abby’s house. Abby’s House is a family shelter for women and children and provides them with “a safe place to stay, regroup, and rebuild.” I am in fair shape, so when I woke up Saturday morning I laced up my shoes and drove out to West Boylston to find the starting line. I found Scott and Maddie at the registration area. I also ran into a handful of other familiar First U members wearing race bibs and supporting the event. There was no plan among members to connect with our First Unitarian community this Saturday morning, but we found each other among the crowd of about 300. I was reminded that I am surrounded by our special community. What brings us together? We are a community because we choose to be one. We find a connection with something the church offers: the Sunday services, the sermons, the holi

Hearing the Call: Rudy Cepko, YRU2 Mentor and Advisor

“I believed that my day job as an RN in the Pediatric ICU at UMass would make it easy for me to handle a bunch of teenagers. However, I was surprised to encounter teens willing to gain more knowledge in their spiritual quest and to learn how to use this in their everyday lives.” Rudy Cepko For many years I had not stepped into a church except for weddings and funerals. In the mid-1990s, my wife, Alesia, started attending church to sing with UU choir. She was impressed by the message that she heard from Barbara Merritt and suggested that I try the church. I felt I was in a place that spoke to me, and our son Stefan was enrolled in the Sunday school programs. I had some involvement with church stewardship as a volunteer in the Garden committee. Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, planting and laying yards of mulch were part of my contribution to the church. Then when my son, Stefan, was in YRU2, he asked if I would be interested in becoming an assistant during the Sunday m

First Unitarian Stewardship

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