Sunday, October 26: UUCW joins First Parish UU of Ashby for Welcoming Congregations

On Sunday, October 26, UUCW will not have its regular afternoon service. Instead, we will attend worship service at 10:00 a.m. at the First Parish UU of Ashby, MA followed by a potluck lunch, and session 9 of our Welcoming Congregations Journey of Learning. This will be a panel discussion with members of our local communities.

Worship Service: “The Black Spot” by Rev. Bruce Taylor
Traveling through Wales this past summer, in the county of Ceredigion, I was surprised to learn that there are thirteen Unitarian chapels, all clustered within a 20-mile radius. (In the 1800s, indignant churchmen called this area Y Smotyn Du – the Black Spot – because the people there were so resistant to orthodox Christian teaching.)
In today’s sermon, I describe how Unitarianism arose in Wales, its rich influence on the country’s religious life, and connections to Unitarian Universalism in our own country.
After worship, I will present some of my pictures from Wales, including some of the Unitarian chapels, and the breathtaking Welsh countryside.

Potluck Lunch at 11:15 a.m. after the service

12:00 p.m.: Welcoming Congregation Session 9: The Lived Experience of LGBTQ People – a Panel Discussion
We will learn about the experiences of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people through presentations by a panel who are willing to speak openly about their lives and answer questions.
In 1990, the Unitarian Universalist Association of launched its Welcoming Congregation program, to educate its members and help congregations to learn to become more welcoming and affirming to all, and to provide a good example to other faith communities. Today, two thirds of all Unitarian Universalist congregations in the United States (and 94% of those in Canada) have gone through their program, and are formally recognized as Welcoming Congregations.
Ashby First Parish Church affirms this heritage, based on our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This past year, we embarked on the Welcoming Congregation educational program in collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon.
On Sunday, October 26, at noon, at the Ashby church, the two congregations will offer a presentation open to the public. We will learn about the experiences of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people through presentations by a panel who are willing to speak openly about their lives and answer questions.

For directions to First Parish in Ashby, see their website at www.ashbyuu.org. If you would like to carpool with other Winchendon folks, give us a call or talk to us at the service on October 19.