First Unitarian Universalist RVA- Jan. 4, 2019
This week's quote is by Thich Nhat Hanh , author and spiritual leader.
We GROW in search of wisdom,
we CARE in support of community, we ACT in service of justice.
WELCOME
All are invited to join us for services!
January's Theme-"Possibility"
The packet for this month is available on the member portal at richmonduu.org
(Ask your group leaders for the member password.)
Sunday Services, Care, & Leadership News
Sunday
Services at
9:00 am
and 11:00 am
coffee hour
10:00 am-11:00 am

9:00 am & 11:00 am: Services

Sermon announcement not available at time of distribution.

First UU Care Team for
January 2018  

Lay Pastoral Care Coordinator
Linda Ericson
717-319-2317
linda.ericson@aol.com

Team Kindness
Janet Goin
804-263-5746

Contact First UU Care Team for a little touch of nice. ❤️
Check out our JANUARY blog post about the church's history, by member Pat Vaughn!
"Rev. Nicholas Cox created a preaching circuit that took him into Virginia (1809-1810). Among the first itinerant missionaries from the northeast, his unorthodox message of Universalism was, a challenge to those that came to hear him, 'to reach out and embrace people whom society often marginalized.'"
News for Visitors
Thank you so much for signing up for First News Weekly! We are so glad you're here. If you haven't visited our congregation yet, we hope you will soon. You can find all the information you need at our website here:

New to UU Conversation
10:15 twice per month
Next conversation is January 13th
ask at the front desk for
that Sunday's location!

NEXT PATHWAYS to
MEMBERSHIP CLASS
will be on January 20th, 2019
Want to know more about this community? Is it time to learn more about how to get involved at First UU? Do you want to meet more folks from the church?
We offer a Pathways class to assist you in doing all these. This class is necessary to become a member. 
The next pathway class will be on January 20th, 2019. The session runs 9:00-3:00 and includes attendance of the 11:00 service followed by lunch. 
All are welcome.  
Communications & Bookkeeper News
Please note the following
changes regarding
submitting information for the
FIRST NEWS WEEKLY
AND THE ORDER OF SERVICE:

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS
WEDNESDAYS AT 10:00 AM

Items for the Order of Service Sunday Bulletin
need to be emailed to
Desiree Woodson

Items for First News Weekly, updates to website, Britesign, etc.
need to be emailed to
Megan Nolde

[Shelly Thompson is no longer the contact person]
Information on Pledges
There is no update due to church offices being closed.
Share the Plate Collection
There is no update due to church offices being closed.
SHARE THE NEWS
Attention: this newsletter serves the entire congregation. If you are looking for a particular group or event, you may need to scroll down and click the "view entire message" link on your email. The entire newsletter will appear.

It may look like this: [ Message clipped]   View entire message
Have you noticed?!

Every week in the Order of Service, and now in First News Weekly, we will be providing an update on where we are on our pledge collection for the year.  

If you have questions about where you are on your personal pledges, please email Kelli McNeal at bookkeeper@richmonduu.org  and she would be happy to give you an update and help you get current if needed. 

If you are not receiving monthly statements, please confirm your email address with her, or let her know if you need them mailed to you. 

We will also be providing information on how much money we receive for our Share the Plate recipients every week.  
GOT PHOTOS OF FIRST UU HAPPENINGS?
Email them to communications@richmonduu.org!

We are always looking for new images for the website, social media, or FNW!

While we can't guarantee we'll use every image, we would appreciate the help in gathering more of them!
Please contact Rhonda Wingfield

The Nursery
The Nursery is open during worship services to serve those 3 and a half years old and under. Children are welcomed by experienced staff and engaged in gentle play. Please label your child's belongings, and bring your own snack if desired. Cheerios will be offered. If you have allergy concerns, please provide your child's snack.

The children's activity box for those attending worship will now be located outside the Great Hall on the right side of the lobby.

Religious Education Class Meeting Sunday, January 6th, from 11:00 - 12:00 are:

PreK-K: Theme: The Gift of Spirit . Children will focus on the intangible gift of spirit by learning about the Unitarian Universalist Chalice and how that represents spirit and energy. 
 
Gr. 1-2: Care for the Earth . Students will study the meaning of the Unitarian Universalist's 7th principle and the work of environmentalist Rachel Carson.
 
Gr. 3-4: Stewardship . Students will be guided to consider what this word means and how we can put the practice of good stewardship into our everyday lives.
 
Gr. 5-6: Showing Your Good Side . In a quest to live a life of integrity, how does peer pressure influence what we do?
 
Gr. 7-8: Prayer and Spiritual Practices . Students will consider the value of spiritual practices in their lives. They will create prayer/meditation beads.
 
Gr. 9-12 Meets 10:45-12:15.
Please be prompt to start on time.    
Lesson: Integrity.  What is integrity and it's relationship to honesty and trust? Can you be trustworthy and not have integrity? These questions and more will be considered through story, activities and sharing personal examples.
Annual Chili Cook-off and Corn Bread Competition
 Sat., Jan. 19, 5:00-7:00 

Time to pull out that favorite chili or corn bread recipe and get cooking!

Prepare a crock pot of your favorite chili or a large pan of corn bread to enter this festive annual contest! Great food and merriment abound! 
 
Will you take home the trophy and prizes this year?
Sign-up to enter at the table in the Lobby, Dec. 30-Jan. 13.
For questions, contact Rev. Sue Sinnamon

A REMINDER: Unless otherwise noted in the information, these groups are open to newcomers and would be happy to welcome you! We encourage everyone to participate in these many wonderful opportunities to
learn and grow together.

The sign up for groups for the new year will happen on Sunday, January 20th after each service! Stay tuned for more information!
You're Invited!
to the
Ordination of Lee Anne Washington

Sunday, January 13th at 4:30pm
Clergy arrive at 4pm for robing

RISC, the Richmond Pledge to End Racism and January 20
The movement to end racism is everywhere you look at our church. The yellow Black Lives Matter banner along the entry way. The Richmond Pledge to End Racism in our lobby that many members have signed . The two day Richmond Pledge workshop that identifies the causes, the ways to better recognize, and the ways to battle racism.
So how can we actually make the Pledge real? How do we LIVE THE PLEDGE? The first three elements of the Pledge are about personal belief and the next three are about personal action. But the seventh item asks us to:
…commit to working with others to transform the Greater Richmond region into a place that treats people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures with justice, equity, and compassion…
There are many ways that our church members can do that: efforts with the Greene School, support for CARITAS and many other causes through our “Share the Plate”. But the one organization where our congregation is working with others to transform the systemic structures that racism creates is RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities).
Our church is one of the 22 interfaith congregations that make up RISC. The RISC work starts with the listening process when RISC members talk about the problems that keep them up at night. Then, based on those conversations, chooses an issue to take on. And do the research to find a solution; creating affordable housing and ensuring that students are reading to grade level are recent successes.
How does RISC do this? How are those involved with RISC living the Richmond Pledge to end Racism? Join us on January 20 after second service and we will fill you in! Sign up at the Social Justice Table.
Questions? Contact Steve Saltzberg (804-306-5184, stevesaltzberg@gmail.com) or Dorothy Hollahan (804-744-9412, dorothyhollahan@comcast.net).
First UU Leadership / Small Group Facilitators' Group meeting
Saturday, January 19th
from 9:00-11:00 am

Come eat donuts and participate
in a sharing circle on the February packet

We would like ALL groups to be represented at these monthly meetings.
Contact Dianna MacPherson to be added to our email distribution list. suusi.macpherson@gmail.com   
New Opportunities
Have you registered yet for
Adult OWL at First UU??
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Using values, communication skills and spirituality as starting points, this program explores sexuality issues for adults of all ages. Builds understanding of healthy sexual relationships, affirms diversity and helps participants accept and affirm their own sexuality throughout their lives. 

Rev Sherman Logan, Rev. Faith Harris, Nikki Rovner, and Regina Largent, facilitators.
January 10 through February 28,
Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30 pm. (8 Sessions)

 Contact Rev. Sue to register. sue.sinnamon@richmonduu.org

Learn more about OWL for all ages:
THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
PARTNER CHURCH COUNCIL PRESENTS:
July 2019 Cross-Cultural Pilgrimage to Transylvania
July 31, 2019 to August 13, 2019

Learn more on the First UU website:

Price: 
$1,195 (double occupancy) + $150 non-refundable registration fee

CONTACT Rev Sue Sinnamon for more details.

Small & Practice Group News
More information on these areas of interest can be found at the website:
CIVIL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

The Civil Discussion meeting will not be held in January. The next meetings is February 7, topic to be announced.
The First UU Jewish Spirituality and Practice Group is forming! If you would like to be involved or would like more information, contact Elisa O'Brien at efhobrien@gmail.com .
Vespers
6:00 pm-6:30 pm
A quiet center to our week!
Vespers continues year-round
Vespers is an intimate, contemplative, and conversational half-hour service provided by our ministerial interns. We welcome you and appreciate you just as you are and whenever you can join us. MEETS IN THE GREAT HALL

Simple Supper
6:30 pm
Come enjoy good food and fellowship. Soup salad and bread are typical fare. Volunteers prepare the supper. Consider signing up with your group or team! See the volunteer section below.

Ministers Present
7:15 pm -8:30 pm

January 9th: no information available.
Life Stage Groups News
Want to know when the following groups meet? Visit our Growth Groups page on the website for contact information for each convener!
Young Adults
Young Marrieds
Parent Group
Upcoming Practice Group Meetings
Looking for a contact person?
Want to know the overall schedule of when a group meets?
Check out our website page on Practice Groups !
Antiracism Group
next meeting
January 13th at 12:15 pm
Library
[must take Living the Pledge
before joining]
__________________

Tai Chi
Every Monday from 6:30-7:30 pm
President's Hall
_________________

UU Christian Fellowship
next meeting
January 15th from 5:30-7:00pm
Library
________________________

Humanism in Practice
3rd Wednesdays at 2:00 pm
for location and date in December.
______________________

DOGWOOD SPIRIT CIRCLE
next meeting
January 6th from 10-10:45
Library
Vespers Contemplative Service
Every Wednesday 6:00-6:30 pm
in the Great Hall
____________________

UU Zen Group 
Sitting and Walking Meditation
Every Thursday at 7pm
Nursery
_____________________

Yoga with Jodi
Contact: Jodi Bock for schedule
_________________________

Dances of Universal Peace
next meeting
January 12th at 7:30 pm
President's Hall
Contact Hayat Bain for more information.
_________________________

RVA Western Mystery 
School Study Group
3rd Tuesday of each month 6:30 pm
 for December date and location.
_______________________

Greater Richmond Humanist Group
next meeting
January 22nd from 6:30-8:00 pm
Great Hall/President's Hall
Help Greene School get
much-needed school supplies!

We will be collecting Box Tops for Greene School. Go to the website
https://www.boxtops4education.com to learn about the program then bring your boxtops to church each Sunday.

Look for the box and a list of products on the social justice table
or contact Joan Lewis for more information

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
We have the opportunity to develop after school enrichment clubs at Greene school . A whole range of activities could be considered. Do you have a hobby or activity that you would like to introduce to the kids? Topics like dance, singing, a reading club, boardgames, but the opportunities are only limited by your interest.

To talk about this possibility please contact Joel Blum at jokerblum@gmail.com .
Remember - our church is a community built around mutual love and giving. We need YOU to complete the circle by giving back to the community through volunteering your time or resources!
Simple Supper needs more coverage!!
We have a new sign-up site--- and it's mobile-friendly!

Pick a date or two during this season (through May), to prepare and donate Simple Supper. Each supper needs six to eight people to prepare, set up, serve and clean up.

Sign up here:

Come and eat supper with us!
Or shadow any group providing supper ahead of your time. 

Please contact Rick Carr to set up a 90-minute class to learn about the machinery in the kitchen.  Rick can be emailed through the link on his name, or call 804-349-5303 (voice/text).

Darlene Dragavon, Simple Supper Coordinator
804-562-2175
Sunday Ushers and 
Visitors Table Welcomers are Needed!

Choose a Sunday and a service, (9 am or 11 am) and come receive training with an experienced hospitality person. Plan to arrive 20 mins before service starts. Shadow and assist to learn the ropes and then commit to serve one service on one Sunday per month.
or contact   Ben Wharton
Miss a sermon? Listen now on:
Need to know more about events?
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond | 804-355-0777
communications@richmonduu.org | www.richmonduu.org