"The River"
This Sunday
December 8
Speaker: Rev. Rick Reynolds  
Celebrant: Matt Bianconi
Music: SusanWakeman

Lessons From the Street
In 25 years in working with homeless people in Seattle, Rev. Rick Reynolds has some stories to tell, which will challenge and inform us, not only about the current state of homelessness in the Pacific North- west, but also our own attitudes and prejudices about our neighbors outside. 
Parents' Night Out will occur this Friday, December 6th, from 5:30-8:30 at the Fellowship.

Will have games, craft activities, a movie, and food. 
Happy December birthdays!!!  Best wishes to Judy H., Kathy K., Jon, Susan T., Dorothy and any others celebrating your special day this month.
Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund Thank you Pat Young for representing the Skagit UU Fellowship and helping a young mother with a 3 year old daughter and a baby have a merry Christmas.
REMINDER from Kathy Roche-Zujko.  Cantabile Chamber Choir performs it's Winter concerts THIS WEEKEND; Dec., 6, (The Depot in Anacortes) Dec. 7 (Tidelands Church in Stanwood) and a 4 pm matinee on Sunday, Dec. 8 (St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 18th St. in Mt. Vernon). Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door.
Upcoming Services

December 15
 Speaker: Rev. Barbara Gilday
Celebrant: Doris Brevoort
          Music: Susan Wakeman
Reuse, Renew, Recycle and the Christmas Story
The traditional Christmas story is one we UU’s often reject - and for many good reasons. How much is history? How much is magical thinking? How reliable are sources that tell the story up to 80 or so years after the death of Jesus. And yet, how does one account for miracles and mysteries associated with Christianity in the past 2 centuries? (And yes, wars and atrocities.) What signs in this old story comfort us, challenge us, bring us to hold the story with open hearts and minds? Experience in life tells me that such a big story which has lasted for such a long time, is worth considering. Can we find the essence of the story, and so, revalue it for our time?
  
December 22
Speaker: Rev. Lena Breen
Celebrant: Rosemary Stevens
Music: Sally Riggers  
Winter Solstice: A Time of Kindling Light and Hope
By holding gratitude for our earth home and paying tribute to it's changing season we are restored and reminded of our essential nature. During part of our
service we will share a ritual together including a call "To The Four Directions", time in darkness, singing, and sharing of light. Our community's joy will connect us to each other and sooth our fears.

*And remember Lena's Yoga For All at SUUF, the day before (12/21), 4-5pm.

December 29
Congregational Sharing
Celebrants: Jim Heard & Kathy Roche-Zujko
Independence From Foreign Influence
Bring yourself.. but leave everything else behind! Today we gather to greet the new year as empty vessels, ready to fill ourselves and our lives with joy, positive influences and certainty. A clean slate is yours for the taking. What baggage are you going to discard today?

25th ANNUAL
SKAGIT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
WOMEN'S HOLIDAY
PARTY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH, 5:00 PM
AT THE USUAL LOCATION

PLAYFUL EXCHANGE OF GIFTS UNDER TWENTY DOLLARS!
SHOCKING NARRATION OF LORE!
EXIMIOUS CONVIVIALITY AND IRREFUTABLE SARCASM!
NO PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED!
MODEST IMBIBING OF
SPIRITS
AND
CONSUMING OF
COMMUNALLY SOURCED CONFECTIONS, CONDIMENTS, CONGERIES OF CULINARY CONCOCTIONS
AND SUNDRY COMESTIBLES
Are you or your faith community looking to take bold action in faithful resistance in the lead up to 2020? The UUA's new UU the Vote Campaign is collecting donations now to fund its values-based electoral justice efforts in the new year. In 2020, UU the Vote will mobilize voters, counter voter suppression, and engage in spiritually grounded, values-based issue conversations with voters in their communities. You can donate today and a ll gifts made by December 3rd will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000. This is a grassroots campaign that relies on grassroots support. We'd also like to offer these important resources on activism, organizing, and democracy as you #VoteLove and bring your religious convicti ons to bear on the issues of our time.
 
by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber III

In this age of political division and civic unrest, Rev. Barber's message is more necessary than ever. This volume features Rev. Barber's most stirring sermons and speeches, with response essays by prominent public intellectuals, activists, and faith leaders. Drawing from the history of social movements in the U.S., especially the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign, Rev. Barber and the contributors to this volume speak to the most pressing issues of our time.
by Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen

An optimistic book for Americans who are asking, in these troubled times, What do we do now? The answer: We need to organize and fight to protect and expand our democracy. Legendary activist Frances Moore Lappé and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen teamed up to tell the underreported story of a "movement of movements" arising to tackle the roots of the crisis. To save the democracy we thought we had, argue the authors, we must take our civic life to a place it's never been.
  
by Becky Bond and Zack Exley

Rules for Revolutionaries stands as a challenge to the political establishment and the low expectations
that dominate the campaigns of too many advocacy, non-profit, organizations. Becky Bond and Zack Exley, digital iconoclasts who have been reshaping the way politics is practiced in America for two decades, have identified twenty-two rules of "Big Organizing" that can be used to drive social change movements of any kind. Using these rules, the authors point the way forward to a future where political revolution is truly possible in this fast-paced and provocative read.
The work of the Unitarian Universalist Association is made possible by the generosity of member congregations and individual donors.

Find us on
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But Giving Tuesday is more than a just a reminder on the calendar. It’s a time when we choose where we will pitch in to make a real change in people’s lives around the world.
 
I am so grateful that you entrust UUSC to live out your values. With your generous gift, here are some examples of the things we can achieve together:
  • Your gift of $25 helps our partner Freedom for Immigrants provide a free half-hour phone call for migrants held in the Otay Mesa federal detention center so they can connect with their loved ones.
  • Your gift of $40 provides a meal and a safe place to stay for a family at our partner Espacio Migrante’s newly constructed shelter in Tijuana.
  • Your gift of $75 helps adolescents deported to Guatemala receive physical and mental health services alongside educational support and vocational training from our partner Asociación Pop No'j to ensure their reintegration back into the community.
  • Your gift of $125 helps our partner Asylum Access Mexico offer legal consultation, representation, and documentation services for an immigrant applying to receive asylum in Mexico. 

You can DOUBLE the impact you make for human rights. Rosemary, that’s why I’m asking you to be especially generous on this Giving Tuesday.
 
 
Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Rev. Mary Katherine Morn
President and CEO
We are opening the Fellowship early on Sunday mornings -- 9:15 AM -- for simply socializing and for regular meetings of various groups and committees. Enticements will include fresh coffee, snacks, and cheer.
This space awaits a photo or poem or news or reminiscence from you, when you're ready. Email your contributions to the office.
Soup-er Sunday 4th Sunday each month. Stay after the service for a delicious bowl of soup and bread $6. If you would like to help make soup contact Greg Sherman at 360 421-0633 or [email protected]
Soup-er Sunday fundraiser has a new goal - pay off the mortgage on our building! Beginning in October, 2019 , soup money will go to separate mortage payoff account.
S UUF will be having a series of discussions based on the UU curriculum,
 "Build Your Own Theology". First Sunday of the month.
Our first meeting was after church on the first Sunday in November, Nov 3rd at noon. (Circle of chairs = meeting!) All are welcome to hear about the curriculum, which is available from the the UUA website Bookstore). I suggest that the study group meet once a month for 9 months, until next June to work through book One of the curriculum. We will break down the curriculum into monthly units, suggest some readings and journaling, if people wish to do so (writing, art, song, whatever!),
and discuss our own thoughts and feedback on the topics.

People are welcome to check this out-- no "obligation"!  Monthly meetings with be open to all, as is the basis of our UU theology-- with caring, curiosity, faith-seeking, and respect!
Call Doris, 360-336-3453 for more information.
Hearing at SUUF Applified earphones are available at the back of the hall for those wanting to better hear the service. Also we are equiped with a hearing loop system similar to what was recently installed in the Lincoln Theatre. SUUF's loop was installed by Jim Brown and Dundas Winn. Jim passed away a few years ago, but our thankfulness for his donation remains.
Covenant Circle now meets Wednesdays.
We are living in a time both fascinating and terrifying. Please come and add your reflections as we discuss magazines, books, the news, and life.

Every Wednesay afternoon at 1:30 at Haggen on Division Street in Mount Vernon. Call Joy Lindberg (360-424-8090) for further information.
For the children   CRE with Maddie Schleif Sunday 10:30 am.

The smaller babies room has a speaker system installed. If you should need to leave the service, you can still hear everything in there..
Yoga with Lena Breen at SUUF fundraiser. There will be three more classes 4 pm to 5 pm on 12/21/19, 3/9/20 and 5/24/20.
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Office Administrator, Newsletter : Claire Phillips [email protected] Hours: Tue. & Thur. 12-4 pm

Worship Team Leader : Sally Riggers [email protected]

Board contact: Jim Heard [email protected]