At UUC it's the special season of giving:
Please give generously with time, energy, or money to our: Blanket collection, our Mitten Tree, and the coming Bake Sale. (Scroll for details below in the E-O)
E-Octagram
December 1, 2017
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   Week at a Glance    UUC Sunday Service   What's Happening at UUC Serve    UUC Committees  Adult Religious Enrichment    UUC and Beyond    
The Locking and Unlocking of the Doors at UUC - What You Need To Know

Things are always hoppin' at the UUC Octagon and Social Hall! We have a remote locking system, which means that we set the locks for both buildings in advance of the activities held. To ensure that everyone feels safe and secure during their meetings or events we are going to be shortening the time in which the doors are unlocked.
-- Starting December 1st we will open the doors 15 minutes BEFORE the start of an activity and lock them again 15 minutes AFTER the start of that activity. For example: If your meeting is at 7:00 pm the doors will be open at 6:45 pm and will lock at 7:15 pm.
-- As well, we will be locking the Octagon doors during Sunday Service from 10:40 am to 11:45 am.
This new procedure will apply to MOST of our activities but there will be exceptions depending on the event or meeting in question. We will look at each situation and balance safety and access as best we can.
THE UUC WEEK AT A GLANCE

December 2nd, Saturday
Holiday Decorating for the Octagon and Social Hall
Social Hall: 9-12:00 and the Octagon: 12:00-2:00

December 2nd, Saturday: Humanists Winterfest 6:00-9:00 pm
Our celebration of the Winter Solstice. We join with other Tampa Bay area free thought groups for dinner as we look forward to the shortest day of the year. We need to get prepayment and we have limited seating at the restaurant.
 For more info: Bill Norsworthy 727-687-9867 [email protected] or Mark Brandt 727-687-9867.

December 3rd, All Music Sunday
-- Open Issues , 9:30-10:20 am, Patio Room
A Conversation: “Floridians’ experiences with legal medical marijuana. ” Patients and care-givers are invited to share: the doctor, the prescription, the dispensary, the effect, etc. This is timely since Congress may vote early this month to allow the feds to interfere in States where medical marijuana is legal. The public is invited, as usual.
-- Sunday Service , 10:30-11:45 am, Octagon
Rev. Patrice Curtis and Music Director David Katz "The Presence of Light"

December 3rd, Sunday: Black Lives Matter , 12:15-2:15 pm, Chorale Rm.
We will focus on quotes from People of Color regarding our white supremacy culture and discuss how the characteristics of this culture,  as presented in Tema Okum’s article, affect each of us and our institutions.  Susan Allen will be facilitating. Note that this is our last meeting for 2017 and will cover initial planning for exciting programming in 2018. 

December 3rd, Sunday: Environmental Justice Committee, 12:00-1:30 pm, Westwood Room.

December 7th, Thursday: Women's Lunch at Benedict's Family Restaurant , 12-2:00 pm, (768 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater.
Marie Chapman is now coordinating the monthly luncheon. Contact her at [email protected] if you plan to attend.

December 7th, Thursday: End of Life Choices , 1:30-3:00 pm, Westwood Room
Our December meeting is going to be a mixture of topics. We’ll talk about the Diagnosis Decoder which Compassion & Choices has developed for talking to your doctor and the Trust Card which is to set up your preferences with your doctor. Also we’ll talk a bit about Dignitas.  Mark Dann, from our national organization is going to call in to talk to us about what’s happening nationally. 

December 10th, Sunday -- New Member Celebration
Our new members will be introduced to the congregation during the Sunday morning service; after wards please join us in the Social Hall, and have an opportunity to meet and greet them. 
-- Open Issues
-- Sunday Service:

December 10th, Sunday: Special Congregational Meeting on the Budget , 12:30 - 2:00 after service in the Octagon.

December 10th is the Annual Bake Sale Fundraiser




Meet with Rev. Patrice Curtis
If you would like to meet with Rev. Patrice contact the office at 727-531-7704. If you wish to contact her, please call
(510) 852-9304.
Rev. Patrice Curtis
This Sunday
December 3rd, 2017
 Service 
Sunday at 10:30

Re. Patrice Curtis and
Our Music Director David Katz
presents All Music Sunday:

" The Presence of Light "

  Pastoral Care Associates

UUC has a strong team of lay Pastoral Associates who offer confidential, emotional support and spiritual companionship to fellow church members. You can access pastoral care by contacting Rev. Patrice Curtis at 727-531-7704 ext. 5 or [email protected] .
Please note that emails sent to the front office are not confidential; emails to Rev. Patrice are.
This week’s pastoral care associate is Susan Hegner and is available at 727-531-7704 ext. 5.  
Open Issues
9:30-10:20 am
Patio Room
A Conversation: “Floridians’ experiences with legal medical marijuana. ” Patients and care-givers are invited to share: the doctor, the prescription, the dispensary, the effect, etc. This is timely since Congress may vote early this month to allow the feds to interfere in States where medical marijuana is legal. The public is invited, as usual.
  Flowers for Sunday Services
If you would like to supply the flowers for an upcoming Sunday service in honor of a special event or person in your life, please email Laura Daniel at [email protected] . She will help you coordinate your contribution. 
Our Music Director David Katz presents
"The Presence of Light"
this Sunday in the Octagon sanctuary. The choir and special guests have worked very hard to make this a morning to remember. It's a great way to kick off the coming holiday season. See you there!
What's Happening at UUC
The Annual UUC Bake Sale is Sunday December 10th.
This is a big fundraiser for UUC and we need bakers and buyers, and volunteers!
Bake sale items should be packaged and labelled for sale. Bring them to the Social Hall beginning at 9:00 am.
We also need helpers for set up, clean up, cashier, pricing, packaging, etc. Please contact Kathy Krohn at 727-744-8632 or  [email protected]
We are Decking the Halls this Saturday! -- Dec. 2nd, 9:00-2:00
The Octagon and the Social Hall are getting all decked out for the holidays. Come and join us for a fun morning (Social Hall) and/or Octagon (afternoon) putting up trees and lights and decorations. Hot chocolate and snacks will be on hand for our decorating team.
Blanket Collection For the Farm Workers thru December 9th
Harriet Ha-Sidi and the Migrant Justice Team will again be collecting blankets and comforters to be distributed to the
migrant workers in Plant City. These are the farm workers who work so hard to bring us the fruit and vegetables that we all enjoy for a very minimal income. They live in dilapidated mobile homes with no heat or air conditioning.
The winter nights get very cold in that area and they need our help. The blankets will be collected from November 19 through December 9 in the narthex.
If you prefer, you can
donate cash and Harriet will do the shopping for you with
our tax exempt certificate so the money will go a bit farther. Any questions? Call 727-398-7012. If you wish to join us in distributing blankets, please let Harriet know.
Attention all UUC Members: Don't forget to attend the Special Congregational meeting on the budget December 10th,12:30 pm after service.
We Are Adding New Mittens! Sign-ups for our Mitten Tree last Sunday were phenomenal! So much so, there was only one mitten left on the tree. Thank you!

If you did not snag a mitten last week, you’ll have one more opportunity this Sunday, Dec 3. We are adding more mittens this week. These new mittens are specially for gift cards to help the parents of the children buy groceries for their holiday family feast.  Please grab a mitten this Sunday (Dec 3) and help a family have a festive holiday.
New Member Sunday is December 10th


Our new members will be introduced to the congregation during the Sunday morning 
service; afterwards please join us in the Social Hall, and have an opportunity to meet and greet them. 

Any additional questions, please ask, Mary Thornton,   [email protected] , or  727 796 5638

Our Show, featuring amazing fabric artists will be on display in the Octagon from December 8th to January 10th. We are open for viewing Tuesdays-Fridays from 9 to noon and Sundays from noon to 1:30.
Artists exhibiting pieces in "Our Show" at the Octagon:
Maggie​ ​Dillon​, Sarasota, Florida
Suzanne​ ​Evenson​, Inverness, Florida
Peg​ ​Green​, Sarasota, Florida
Karol​ ​Kusmaul​, Inverness, Florida
Brenda​ ​Schlechter​, Wimauma, Florida
Jim​ ​Smith​ ​and​ ​Andy​ ​Brunhammer​, Tampa, Florida
Marijke​ ​van​ ​Welzen​, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Next Exhale
Wednesday, Dec 13th
A Gathering for Sitting and Moving Mindfulness.
From 6-6:45 in the Octagon. Hold the second Wednesday of each month open for some quiet moments of mindfulness and connection.
We need lots of goodies as well as lots of helpers for the Bake Sale on December 10th . You can bring your items (please package and label for sale!) to the Social Hall at 9:00 am on December 10th. We also need volunteers for set up, clean up, cashier, and table running, pricing and packaging. It's a big fundraiser for UUC so please volunteer if you can. Contact Kathy Krohn at [email protected] or 727-744-8632.
Compassion and Choices Webinar this Saturday, Dec 2nd. See below for details

Jonathan Patterson, a lawyer with Compassion & Choices, will be giving a webinar about "Competence and Capacity: Are You Able to Make Decisions about Medical Care?”. I heard this at the conference on VSED in Charlotte. If you would like to join the webinar, here is the registration link.

We have the webinar set up for this coming Saturday, Dec 2nd from 1-2pm EST. The following link should work for people to register.
Please register for Ocala Action Team Presentation on Dec 2, 2017 1:00 PM EST at:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3888404566957151489
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
UUC Committee Meetings and Events
Please get your meeting information to [email protected] NO LATER than one week before the next E-Octagram (publishes on Thursdays). If there are changes, they must get to the above email NO LATER than the Wednesday before publishing. Thank you. 
--Black Lives Matter, December 3rd, 12:15-2:15, Chorale Room
We will focus on quotes from People of Color regarding our white supremacy culture and discuss how the characteristics of this culture,  as presented in Tema Okum’s article, affect each of us and our institutions.  Susan Allen will be facilitating. Note that this is our last meeting for 2017 and will cover initial planning for exciting programming in 2018. 

-- Environmental Justice Committee, December 3rd, 12:00-1:30 pm, Westwood Room.

-- End of Life Choices, Thursday, December 7th, 1:30-3:00 pm, Westwood Rm.
Our December meeting is going to be a mixture of topics. We’ll talk about the Diagnosis Decoder which Compassion & Choices has developed for talking to your doctor and the Trust Card which is to set up your preferences with your doctor. Also we’ll talk a bit about Dignitas.  Mark Dann, from our national organization is going to call in to talk to us about what’s happening nationally. 
Our November meeting was a wonderful presentation by Kayt Kennedy about Alzheimer’s disease and caring for someone with that affliction. Those of you who were there know that it hit me hard. However, it also somehow helped me reach a new understanding, and in the days that followed, my husband and I decided that if either of us had that diagnosis, we would try to go to Dignitas in Switzerland. We’d rather spend our money on a peaceful ending of our lives than in a long, drawn-out dying process. That has been a huge relief to me, a tremendous comfort—what Compassion & Choices is all about, although C & C can’t be used for Alzheimer’s. I wrote to Justin Trudeau and suggested that Canada implement a program like Dignitas. It would be a lot closer and less expensive for us in the States. I hope Canada does something like that.

I hope you will join us on Thursday, December 7 th  from 1:30 - 3 pm in the Westwood Room of the home of the Unitarian Universalists at  2470 Nursery Rd, Clearwater . We will take up a love offering for the use of the room, the utilities, etc.

With warm wishes,
Marcia

-- Women's Lunch: Thursday, December 7th, 12:00 pm, Benedict's
A Note from Marie Chapman:
I want to let you know that I am now the one to contact if you plan on attending the women's lunch on the first Thursday of the month. It's an enjoyable time for conversation with people you are going to like being with, a side benefit being good food!
We meet at Benedict's Restaurant , at the corner of Belcher Road and Old
Coachman Road in Clearwater at noon. They are very good to us, and we are
becoming favorites of the waitstaff! 
Because they are a small restaurant, I am suggesting that letting me know 
you are going to there is important. I will always add a couple of seats to the
number of attendees, but if we have a group that shows up without reservations, you may have to find your own seating, if it's available. At times, we have reserved for 10, and six or seven more have arrived. The restaurant can't always accomodate so many extras at one table. As I said, they are very good to us, but there are limitations to what we can expect. We want everyone to have a pleasant experience, so planning ahead will make that happen.
I'm hoping we can make this a fun time for all for the next year, and beyond!!

You can email me, text, or call to make reservations.

Hope to see you there on Dec. 7th.
Marie Chapman

A Dollar’s Worth of Spirit

Last year, in response to a Hospitality Committee request for help with
Sunday Morning Snacks, we turned to leaders in our congregation and asked if we could try a concept called Service Leadership , where leaders within the
congregation joined together to help prepare and clean up after the Sunday
Morning Snack. A resounding success resulted, as together we’ve covered every Sunday scheduled thus far
Now another opportunity has arisen. This time everyone in our beloved
community can show visitors our warm side and provide much-needed
sustenance after our morning’s activities. Each week we provide a small spread of various snacks, drinks and coffee, along with napkins, plates, cups and cutlery. All this costs money. Hospitality provides a jar by the coffee and a separate jar by the snacks. The collection helps defray the cost. Your contributions are voluntary, of course, but please keep in mind that the better the collection, the better the provisions. And, unfortunately, the reverse also applies.
Taking charge of this Service Leadership request is fortunately very easy for
each of us. What I do, prior to departing for church Sunday morning, is pick up a buck or two and pocket them for the jars. If each of us did the same, the basics would be more than covered and showing off our loving community is a done deal. So, on your way out of the house, pick up a buck and when you come for coffee and snacks, put a dollar’s worth of spirit in the snack jar.
Adult Religious Enrichment Presents
Readers Forum...
Readers Forum
Dec 1 & 8.... 10:30 am, Chorale Rm.

No meeting on Nov.23. On Dec. 1, & 8th we will discuss Origin by Dan Brown. On Dec.15 and 29th we will discuss The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore and Jan. 5th and 12th we'll be reading Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders by David Grann. No meeting on Dec.22nd. Happy Thanksgiving!
FOOTNOTES FROM THE LIBRARY:

We now have the complete set:

Buddhist Voices in Unitarian Universalism
 Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism
 Pagan and Earth Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism
 Humanist Voices in Unitarian Universalism

Check them out, you will see how our movement encompasses all
seekers! That is one element that makes us unique!

Comments or suggestions are always welcome at:  [email protected]

Thanks,
Bruce


P.S. When committees or individuals use the library, please clean up, move the furniture back to where it belongs and remove any materials that you have used. Thanks! BG



Suggestions for additions to the library are encouraged. Please email  [email protected] .

The Library is also expanding a shelf featuring UUC authors, but we need some help. The section is located just below the Unitarian Universalism section. Please stop by and see if your favorite UUC author is there, and more importantly, if you have copies of these UUC works, consider donating them to the Library.


Happy reading!
Beyond UUC...
Explore Cuban education, arts and culture Jan. 7-16th, 2018 with Witness for Peace
Explore Cuban education, arts and culture in January of 2018 with Witness for Peace. Get to know Cubans from all walks of life while taking part in this People to People Delegation, a travel and study experience we’ve been leading to this island nation since 1999.  
 
This trip is aimed at educators and others who want to visit and study Cuba's urban and rural educational programs from primary to university levels, including professional schools such as the Latin American School of Medicine and the National School of Arts. Included are meetings with professionals, families, elected officials, neighborhood organizing committees, and visits to artists’ collectives, museums, and historical sites.
For more details about the trip click HERE.