First Unitarian Stewardship

I started going to yoga on Thursday’s and learned more about the church from  some participants in the class. I finally started attending services.  I sit by a window on Sundays,   in this peaceful environment enhanced by the inspiring music,   ending my week with a calming peace and starting my week with a replenished spirit. --Jean McInerney, Membership co-Chair For many years I was searching for a worship community I could relate to.  I signed up for the First Unitarian’s email newsletter and would read it regularly, impressed by all the church does. But after months (actually, if counted, it was years), I decided since I wasn’t attending, I removed myself from the list. At somepoint I was back on the email list. I later found out it was some IT change on First Unitarian’s end. This time I did not remove myself, but I was still not attending Sunday service. I started going to yoga on Thursday’s and learned more about the church from some participants in the class. I fi

Connecting with others is a rich, rich part of being in the First Unitarian Community.  Anyone who loiters after the service is probably someone you would like to get to know.  It may be just the warmth they need. --Vivian Shortreed, former Moderator and current Caring Circles co-Chair I  remember well the first time I attended a worship service at First Unitarian.  We had lived in Worcester nearly 5 years, but I was still working in Connecticut.  Uprooted from my Connecticut community, and not having had the time or the place to make new friends, I felt as if I didn’t belong anywhere.  I was advised to come to the First Unitarian Church “for the music.” I was immediately awed by the simple grandeur of the sanctuary.  And I connected with every bit of the service, starting with the quote at the head of the Order of Service.   It was a quote from Friedrich Nietsche, something about the only god worth worshiping being a dancing god.  But I was wary of any kind of commitment a

“ Greeting newcomers shows that we really do value the inherent worth of every person.  The next time that you see an unfamiliar face in church, offer them a smile.” – Ken Mandile, Lay Leadership Program Council My dad had an amazing ability to spark a conversation with any stranger that he met.  Within minutes of meeting a store clerk or a delivery person or someone sitting next to him at the doctor’s office, he’d be comparing notes about food and giving out free “advice”.  Somehow, he failed to pass his outgoing genes on to me.  I dread the thought of walking up to a stranger to start a conversation, especially if I’ve got plenty of opportunity to talk to people that I already know.  It’s just not in my “comfort zone”.   If you feel the same way, then find me on Sunday morning near the front doors and we’ll step outside of our zones together.             I go to the narthex to greet people as they come in the front door.  As part of the ushering team, I take turns handing