Thank you so much for your generous offerings of food on October 4th for the food shelf at Open Table, one of our mission partners. We collected:
14 cereal containers
3 containers of oil
4 jars/bags of coffee
3 bags of beans
9 bags/boxes of grains
41 cans and jars!
On September 6th we collected: 1 calendar, 2 glue bottles , 3 colored pencil packs, 4 paper packs, 4 glue sticks, 4 pencil sharpeners, 4 eraser packs, 6 pencil pouches, 7 marker packs, 8 rulers, 10 pencil packs, 10 crayon packs, 19 notebooks, 20 folders, and more for Cradles to Crayons! They will all go to kids who need them. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed.
An intrepid group of 11 WCUC-connected women spent several hours on the final day of “Women Build 2015” in Billerica working on Habitat of Greater Lowell’s next house. We were given a variety of tasks: we swept, painted doors, cleaned labels off new windows, sanded wall board and applied a second coat of “mud” and then sanded again. We cleaned brushes, picked up trash, moved large-rock gravel via wheelbarrow from a heap on one side of the property to the other where we then spread it under the porch. We hung doors. Stacy, wife and mother of the family soon to move in, worked with us. Some in our group had toured the site with the WCUC youth group a couple of weeks earlier; they were happy to see the ramp that will provide access to the house to the son who uses a wheelchair was no longer waiting to be installed but was in place. “Many hands make light work” proved once again to be true; we also laughed and joked and talked as we worked. We helped build community among ourselves while we helped make a house into a home. Several in the group are already looking forward to the Women Build project next year. Meanwhile, there are other opportunities for men as well as women to become actively involved with Habitat—as many did by supporting our Bake Sale and Buy-a-Board endeavor on Mother’s Day. Thanks to all! –Constance
On the freezing cold morning of Monday, February 16th, eight WCUC youth and three parents bundled up and headed to Maynard’s Open Table Food Pantry to find that warm hearts and working hands made for a perfect escape from this bitter blast. We were greeted by two volunteer coordinators who made us feel at home and quickly put us to work. Some sorted and bagged produce, others worked on the cereal and baby food shelves checking expiration dates and repairing packaging if necessary, and others received deliveries and sorted/shelved bread, pastries, milk, and other goods. This was all done in preparation for the evening “shopping” that happens every Monday night during the free dinner that’s hosted by Maynard’s Open Table. People who come for dinner are also invited to come down to the pantry to get some food for the week. On this particular Monday, it was especially important to have a full pantry since the previous three Mondays were closed due to the snowstorms!
As a follow up activity, the youth joined forces with WCUC preschool and school age children to decorate and assemble over 100 gifts bags with assorted kid food to be donated to Maynard’s Open Table. These bags are offered in the pantry for families to pick up as a sort of fun, kid-friendly, addition to the regular staples for the week. This project was supported by WCUC Missions team who generously gave their time to buy the goods and also their dollars to pay for both the goods and the bags. Filling, decorating, and delivering these bags at the beginning of Lent was a valuable exercise in remembering our call from God to love and serve our neighbor. As is most often the case, when we take time out of our busy lives to pause and think about the needs of others, we all are served well. I might even dare to say that our trip to Maynard’s Open Table on that cold Monday in February was the highlight of my “vacation week”.
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A huge thank you to everyone who donated items for our Mitten Tree this Advent and Christmas season! All items were taken to Cradles to Crayons to be donated to children in need around the Boston area. Here is what we collected:
In addition, about 50 sets of new pajamas were donated by our Missions Team – all in all about 200 items were collected and delivered to Cradles to Crayons. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season!
On Sunday November 30th, the first Sunday of Advent, our congregation gathered together after worship for a multi-generational event filled with Advent wreath making, creating holiday cards for our Concord Prison Outreach program, exploring a beautiful array of nativity sets, and enjoying delicious refreshments. What a wonderful and joy-filled introduction to this season, shared by our whole congregational family! 
As most of you know, we provide space in our building for groups that gathering for different kinds of support and nurture. These groups pay a nominal “rental fee” so in essence we subsidize their use of our building.
One group that has been the beneficiary of our space is Alcoholics Anonymous which has been meeting at WCUC for 10 years. In recognition of this partnership, their main text, Alcoholics Anonymous, a full-sized book and the original book for AA has been donated by them to our library in gratitude for our support, as well as the A.A book entitled “12 Steps and 12 Traditions.” This group meets early in the morning, once a week to provide accountability and support to one another in their efforts and sobriety. The group ranges in participant size from 3-6 folks. This group is open to anyone seeking help with a problem with alcohol for themselves, and anyone with such a situation at WCUC is welcome to join. This is an all volunteer group. No one knows each other’s last name and/or shares anything that goes on in the groups. If you are interested in more information, you may either pick up the books in the library or call A.A, 617-426-9444, to ask questions, or to order your own copies of the books by mail. The morning AA group expresses their gratitude for the opportunity and support that WCUC has provided.
Al-Anon also meets at the church, and is open to friends and families of problem drinkers. In May 2014 the Monday afternoon group celebrated their 24th anniversary as a group and at WCUC. The group has donated “Paths to Recovery,” their main text, to the church library. This book includes information about the legacies of Al-Anon, including the 12 Steps, the 12 Traditions, and the 12 Concepts, which are adapted and similar to AA’s 12 guidelines. Al-Anon is a volunteer organization, and was founded by family members of problem drinkers. More information and literature for Al-Anon can be obtained by calling 508-366-0556. The Al-Anon group is very grateful to have the space at the church to meet, and many people have been greatly helped through this group. —Anne Rarich
There was an ex
cellent turn out for Mission Forum on Household Goods this past Sunday. Bob Van Emburgh, the Volunteer Coordinator, joined WCUC members and active volunteers, Priscilla, Marcia, Brian, and Sarah. He shared both the early beginnings of HG (formally known as HGRM), founded by Barbara and Ira Smith, and its amazing growth into a nationally recognized program providing household goods, free of charge, to people in need. We learned that there are many way to donate both your time, and gently used goods. Presently there is a towel crisis: each family member is allowed one face cloth, one hand towel and one bath towel, however recently HG gave away its last bath towel. Because HG serves 12 families a day, seven days a week, there is an ongoing and never ending need for basic items. Please visit the website to learn more.
Brian and Sarah were given special awards for their excellent service to the organization. Marcia and Priscilla shared the reasons why they chose to volunteer an average of 10 hours a week at HG, stressing the joy received when being involved with an organization of diverse people, with a shared mission and commitment to service. Being involved with others on a mission that is so much bigger than themselves is very rewarding. Marcia shared several ideas for making kits: kitchen, sewing and household tool kits. This can be a fun and meaningful family activity. If you would like to donate a kit see the eWord for descriptions or contact the office. (You are welcome to donate individual kit items also. All donations can be left in the large HG bin in the hall outside Hannah’s office).
Witnessing the gratitude of our guests is heartwarming. In addition to big hugs, most guests at Household Goods leave messages in a composition book on the desk, before they leave. This message was left recently: “Thank you Ira, Barbara and all the staff. I am an Iraq veteran and recently found myself without a home. I’m now enrolled in college and somehow got my own apartment. Now it’s a “home” thanks to you all here. I’m sure you will see more of my “brothers and sisters” pass through here in the near future as we are having a difficult time
The youth of WCUC were quite busy in April. After wrapping up our lenten series on Prayer, participating in the Palm Sunday service, working our way through Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Saturday and finally celebrating Easter, the youth had plenty of inspiration to begin a different kind of “Holy Week”. School vacation immediately followed Easter this year and the youth got busy living out their Christian faith through service to others.
On Monday, we traveled to Lawrence to volunteer at Cor Unum which is a meal center that serves free breakfast and dinner 365 days a year to anyone who walks through the door. At Cor Unum volunteers are asked to either work in the kitchen, serve the food, or clear and set tables throughout the night. It was a busy night when we were there, but we were joined by other volunteer groups so many hands made light work. The spirit of generosity and camaraderie was palpable in this place!
On Thursday, the youth traveled to Maynard Boys and Girls Club to meet and play with kids who were participating in the vacation week program. We then were lucky enough to help chaperone a trip to Boston for a Fenway Park Tour. We joined their 62 kids and 5 adults for a fun afternoon and even caught a glimpse of Dustin Pedroia playing ball with his kids on the mound as a little pre-game warm up before the evening’s game.
The highlight of our “Holy Week” came on Saturday morning when six youth and two parents showed up at Household Goods to help in any way that we could. We ended up receiving and sorting donations, cleaning and organizing various rooms, putting bed frames together, folding table linens and sheets, sweeping and vacuuming floors, and dusting shelves and hanging pictures. Many other adult volunteers there commented repeatedly about how impressed they were with the teenagers’ work ethic and positive attitude. Likewise, the youth were really impressed with HG and the amazing work that they do to help people who are trying to get back on their feet turn their houses or apartments into “homes”. WCUC’s Pris Clark works at HG on a regular basis and was there on Saturday working beside us. It was fun to see a familiar face and to share the experience with her.
On Sunday at church, Pris shared a bit of her perspective of the day with the church. Most notable was her testimony of the statement that one HG adult volunteer, who is a parent, made after our WCUC youth group had left. She said:
“Boy, if that is an example of what today’s church can do for youth, we might need to change our family’s priorities!” What a witness these young people are to not only their own character, but also to God’s Love and to the ways that we are indeed God’s hands in a world that desperately needs generosity and support. Thanks be to God for this amazing “Holy Week”.
~Joyce
