Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service.

December Theme: Hope

Our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service is a truly special celebration. It's at 5:30p on Wed Dec 24. Music, stories, reflection. For the whole family.

Practice of the Week: Feel Safer

" In effect, most of us feel much less safe than we actually are. The unfortunate results include unpleasant feelings of worry and anxiety; not hunkering down and reaching as high and wide as one might; stress-related illnesses; less capacity to be patient or generous with others; and a greater tendency to be snappish or angry (the engine of most aggression is fear). It's not good to feel like it's always Threat Level Orange!" READ MORE...

Saturday Zen: Canceled for Dec 20 and Dec 27

Zen practice at the Parsonage. 10:00 - 11:45a, resumes on Sat Jan 3

Sun Dec 21: Bird Walk

Meet behind the parsonage (lower parking lot) at 8:30am. We'll celebrate the winter solstice as we reflect upon the themes of light and dark. Led by Rev. LoraKim Joyner.

Sun Dec 21: "Amahl and the Night Visitors"

1:00pm. Don't miss this wonderful production.

Sat Jan 10: Film and Discussion: "Virunga"

Rev. LoraKim Joyner will host this movie and discussion about the efforts to save the mountain gorilla in the Congo. READ MORE...

Opportunities for Giving: CLICK HERE.

Yours in the faith we share,

-Meredith

Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister

Worship Dec 21, 10:00: Unitarian Christmas

Rev. Meredith Garmon & Perry Montrose

The annual all-ages service includes our Christmas pageant.

Sunday's Music

Piano music by Adam Kent. READ MORE...

10:00 - Prelude

10:10 - Inviting the bell & gathering song

Worship Wed Dec 24, 5:30p: Christmas Eve Service

Rev. Meredith Garmon, Perry Montrose, Rev. Deb Morra, Rev. LoraKim Joyner

The special Christmas Eve service includes beautiful music, carol singing, stories and reflections on the meaning of the season. Concludes in candlelight.

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas! We look forward to seeing you on Sunday when there are many special happenings and we will share the holiday spirit together. Please see the following four (4) announcements:

1) This Sunday, December 21 at 10am - All Ages Worship Service, including
...The No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant!

As the story unfolds, you become Mary, Joseph, goats, sheep, cows, horses, angels, shepherds, and wise folk.

Costumes provided; just bring a joyful spirit.

After the worship service, stay for the Festa Italiana Holiday Brunch and then the CUC opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors: A Musical Christmas Miracle Story. Children and youth of all ages will enjoy this performance. Childcare is offered for those too young to attend.

2) Talking to Your Children About the Holidays

This Sunday, Dec. 21 at 11:40am, meet at the special table during the holiday brunch.

A discussion with Rev. Meredith and DLRE Perry about explaining the holidays from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Bring your questions and thoughts.

3) There's still time to help those in need this holiday season...

Bring in your gift cards for children at the Coachman Family Center. Gift cards should be packaged so that cards for each family are all together with names and room numbers. Individual gift cards also need to be marked with child's name and room number.

Toiletries for the local shelters: special request for deodorant and razors for both men and women along with other toiletries. Look for the posters the 4th grade class made and put your items in the box in the foyer.

The Food Pantry is in need of more items for the holidays.

The Mitten Tree - mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for all ages and in all sizes are collected until New Year's. Put them under the tree in the sanctuary.

4) Is your child participating in a scouting program? There are Unitarian Universalist Faith Emblem Award programs for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. We have mentors who

will help children through the process. It's a great way to discover more about the meaning of UU identity and connect it with the scouting activities they enjoy. To see the program guides, CLICK HERE. Please contact Perry for more information.

I wish you the joy of connection during this holiday season and peaceful moments of reflection. Please let me know if there are ways we can bring more of both of those things to your holiday season.

Sincerely,

-Perry

Perry Montrose
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development

Links & Reminders

Journey Groups. Get the Dec packet, "Hope": CLICK HERE. If you're not in a Journey Group, sign up online: CLICK HERE.

What's In a Name Committee -- 20-min meetings are now scheduled, and we hope everyone can participate in one of them. READ MORE...

Our Child/Youth R.E. Classes Descriptions of each of our eight R.E. classes meeting on Sunday mornings: CLICK HERE.

The UUA Common Read for 2014-15 is: Paul Rasor, Reclaiming Prophetic Witness: Liberal Religion in the Public Square. Order your copy! READ MORE...

General Assembly 2015 is in Portland, OR -- Jun 24-28. GA is amazing fun, enriching, deepening, and transformative! We encourage all CUC members to begin planning now to attend.

Dec issue of the Communitarian: CLICK HERE.
The web site for Community Unitarian Church: CLICK HERE.

The Liberal Pulpit 2014 #4 (six sermons): CLICK HERE.
"My Spiritual Journey" by Rev Meredith Garmon: CLICK HERE.

The Five Foundational Spiritual Practices
- Journal daily
- Study daily
- Silence daily
- Group monthly
- Mindfulness as much as you can
READ MORE...