Epiphanies Here & Now...
at UCG, 1/8-1/22

As we reflect on our own call to be a part of God's work of caring for and healing a troubled world, we pause, this month, to consider that some of the traits which "revealed" Jesus as the Christ .  These are qualities we still aspire to, in our own brave new world... 

Sunday, Jan. 8 - A Tough Mind & A Gentle Spirit

Sunday, Jan. 15 - MLK, Jr. Day Worship - Claiming our Unique Capacities for Good

THIS Sunday, Dec. 22 - Choosing to Not "Go it Alone"     
     Lunches on the Square preparations in the Chapel after Worship

     No Equal Exchange Fair Trade Goods table after Worship this month

Sunday, Dec. 29 - Doing Justice, Loving Kindness, Walking Humbly with God 

"Morning has Broken!"  A Blessed Season of Epiphany to you!


Thanks to all who are speaking--and showing--up! 
Recent Sister March/Women's Marches have hearty UCG participation

A word of thanks to all those from UCG who participated in Sunday's Sister March at the Statehouse and who are planning to participate this Saturday in the Women's March on Washington.

We all thank you for not standing by as the gains the US has made in women's rights, health care, environmental protection, education, affordable child care and essential services for the neediest among us are being put at risk!

Another word of thanks!
We appreciate all of this year's DU LeaderShape Program participants who volunteered at UCG!

The LeaderShape program at Denison is an opportunity for students to spend an entire week before the spring semester begins in dialogue and self-discovery--building leadership skills and personal leadership capacity.  It ends with a significant volunteering experience. 

This year, almost 50 students arrived at UCG on Friday afternoon, Jan. 13th, and offered over 150 total volunteer hours...
- painting the Annex foyer, bathrooms, upstairs hallway, and part of our gym
- painting the Main building's "Seuss" room & north hall
- demolishing a wall we no longer needed in the basement
- removing an exterior window well cover
- and giving the Sanctuary, Nursery, & Martin Reading Rooms a thorough cleaning!

Thanks also to team supervisors from UCG: Mathew McFarren, Mike & Lyn Robertson, Zach Dobbelaer and Richard Crawford!  A great deal of work was done in four short hours!  And while students were here, they had the opportunity to learn about some of UCG's recent work in the fields of environmental, racial & criminal justice, peace/non-violence and interfaith education, food security & sustainable development, and more...  An enriching experience for all involved.


Coming up!
197th Annual Meeting of the Congregation, Jan. 29, 2017 after worship

Mark your calendars for this year's Annual Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, Jan. 29th.  At our Annual Meeting, we'll celebrate those who have volunteered for leadership positions in 2016, remember some highlights of the year, and consider the 2017 slate of officers & budget proposal.  We'll also spend some time with an activity getting at the heart of a question the Church Board had been working on this fall & winter--"What is our unique calling in Granville?  What does the community need & expect from us that we, uniquely, can provide our neighbors?"  The Board has spent a good deal of time on this, and we'll share some of that discussion--but in a "congregational" church like ours, we should all lend our voices to these significant conversations.

During this meeting, we'll be proposing a few changes to the wording of the Church Constitution, as the Board is proposing a reconceptualization of our Mission & Social Action Committee as a "Mission & Social Action Network."  Moderator David Ball has posted on the bulletin board near the kitchenette a document detailing the proposed changes--you may have a look at these before the meeting if you care to.

Also, note that the beginning of a new year is a good time to try out something new in service through the church!  If you have interest in serving on any of the following committees/teams, please contact Pastor Dwight, Moderator Dave Ball or Nominating Chair, Lyn Robertson:  Christian Education, Congregational Life, Congregational Care, Finance, Outreach, Property, Stewardship, or Worship.  Our Mission & Social Action work will be taking a new form this year--we'll share about this at the Annual Meeting, as well!


New Opportunity
From Feb. 5th!
"A Theology for our Time:
Luke as Subversive Theology"
A Six-week Adult Group
led by Student Pastor Meghan Link
Sundays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, Mar. 5, 12, 19
11:30 AM-12:15

The Bible is a collection of many theologies, as different as the many authors of the Bible and their contexts. In the book of Luke, we find a theology that is strikingly different from that of the other gospels. It is shaped by the daily experiences of followers of Jesus, people who lived in a world occupied by malevolent authorities and social ills. These followers experienced Jesus as a radical accepter of outsiders, provoker of authorities, wise teacher, and healer of body and soul. The author of Luke uses his ability to craft a narrative of Jesus' life and death in order to tell us what it meant, how we are saved, what we are to do, and who is included in his vision of what the world could be. This story may yet have ways to challenge and inspire us as we face a difficult next chapter in our country and in the story of followers of Christ. Join me for a journey through this narrative as we explore the subversive theology of early Christianity!    

Peace, Meghan


A Showing of Ava DuVernay's "13th"
UCG Chapel, Saturday, Feb. 11th, 4 PM



The Racial Justice Discernment Group will soon be hosting a showing of the acclaimed documentary film, 13th, in UCG's Chapel.

The title of Ava DuVernay's extraordinary documentary 13th refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States." The film tracks the progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry.

More details coming soon!  We hope you will join us for food, film, and discussion.  Child care will be provided.


Circle News
UCG Circles are member-organized groups which provide opportunities for people to gather together to do something they enjoy or to explore a common interest!  Thank you, Circle conveners!

A new Prayer Group has begun.  It will meet every Sunday morning at UCG in the Martin Reading Room (Library) from 9:30-9:50.  This is a time for people to gather and hold others in prayer with care and intentionality.  All are welcome to join in!

The Re-Imaging the Sacred Mythos of Christianity Circle will be meeting Thursday, Jan. 26th at 7:45 in the Martin Reading Room (Church Library).  From now on our meetings are going to be held--same time/same place--on first & fourth Thursday nights!

Sitting Zen (Zazen) has changed during winter break!  Because the Open House is closed during Denison's break, we're holding sitting Zen only on Thursdays at 7 PM in UCG's Chapel.  Tonight, 1/19, we meet once again in the Chapel!  All are welcome to join us.  If it's your first time, just come 20 minutes or so early for an orientation.

The next UCG Dinner Circle will be hosted by Susan Richardson & Barbara and Ken Klatt on Saturday, Feb. 18th, at 6:30.  The party will be at 211 W. Elm St. in Granville.  All are welcome!  More details TBA.

Growing Older Together will meet Tuesday, February 21st at 7 PM in UCG's Chapel.  This group is open to all.  Contact Judith Thomas for details.


Spirituality Reading Group News
Note the Time Change during the Winter Months!
Meditation/Contemplation will be from 2:15-2:45 PM in the Chapel
Book Discussion to follow, 3-4 PM
 
Our seasonal topic is:  Gently Treading  the Spiritual Path.  We will be looking at various authors, messages which have attracted us. We will rotate leadership.  This discussion/reflection  is open to all.  Note: please enter the church through the "office" door, as the others are generally locked!

Doris Jane Conway (djconway40@gmail.com)


Are you on the UCG Message Board?
Sign up for our new e-mail Message Board to see what people are sharing!

As many of you know, we've created a new way of sharing information--the UCG Message Board.  Since folks are sharing information about community initiatives and events directly with all others on the Message Board, these bi-weekly "What's Up" e-mails are containing news primarily related to events directly sponsored by UCG.

If you have not yet signed up for the UCG Message Board, you're encouraged to go back to Nov. 10th's e-mail, and follow the simple instructions listed there.  Or you can follow this link to sign up!
 

New "Baptist Peacemaker" online
Quarterly journal of
The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America

Long-time pastor George Williamson and various member of UCG were influential in the founding of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America in the 1980s.  BPFNA's quarterly, "The Baptist Peacemaker" is now online -- you can   read it here!


Coming Up!
This week...

Every Weekday, 9AM-3 PM
SPARK Day Program for Adults with Disabilities in the Annex upper levels
Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool in the Annex lower level

Thursday, Jan. 19
Property Committee, 10 AM
Zazen in the Chapel, 7-7:20 PM sitting

Friday, Jan. 20
Pastor Dwight at "Chaplain's Table" at DU's Slayter Dining Hall, Noon-1 PM
AA in the Annex, 7 PM

Saturday, Jan. 21
Women's March on Washington


Sunday, Jan. 22

Prayer Group in the Martin Reading Room, 9:30 AM
Worship
in the Sanctuary, 10 AM
Lunches on the Square preparations in the Chapel after worship
Nursery, 10 AM -12:15 PM

Monday, Jan. 23
Meditation/Contemplation to follow, 2:15-2:45
Spiritual Book Group, 3 PM
AA in the Main Building (Basement), 6 PM

Tuesday, Jan. 24
Pastor's River Road (Granville) Coffee hours, 1:30-3 PM

In weeks ahead..

Sunday, Jan. 29 - The 197th Annual Meeting of the Congregation (after worship)
Sunday, Feb. 5 - Commissioning of our Rancho Ebenezer Team members
Friday, Feb. 10 - American Red Cross Blood Drive in the UCG Chapel, 2-7 PM 
Saturday, Feb. 11 - CSEOA Special Association Meeting, Grace UCC, Lancaster, 10 AM - Noon
Saturday, Feb. 11 - Showing of 13th, UCG Chapel, 4 PM 
Sunday, Feb. 12 - Baptist Alliance Day
Wednesday, March 1
- Ash Wednesday 

Remember that you can always access a detailed calendar on the church website.
Click here & bookmark it if you'd like!