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Our Folks...
Our thoughts are with each and every member of our community, especially during the month of December. The changing seasons and winter holidays can (and do!) provide joy and comfort to so many; and, they can be emotionally difficult, all at the same time. For some, holidays bring about memories of loss and grief; and for others, this time of year glances the tender spot of family or relationship struggles. If you are having a great season, please pass that joy and peace to as many people as you can! And if you're struggling and need someone to lean on, please be in touch with one of the ministers, or someone from the Caring Committee.
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Sunday, December 24th, 2017
9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
--For More Information about Snow Awareness and Cancellations, please read the article at the end
of this Friday Update.--
Set the Bar Low for Joy
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and
Reverend Scott McNeill
During these distressing times in our country, the holidays can add to the stress by creating high expectations for joy and merry-making. Congregation member Sharon Wiseman wisely told me that in such circumstances, she simply "sets the bar low for joy." So join us for a low-bar joyful worship on Sunday morning, Christmas Eve. We will visit the Twelve Days of Christmas, do some merry meaning making, and pray for peace.
On the morning of December 24, Childcare and Religious Exploration for Preschool through 8th grade will be available at the 11:15 a.m. service
ONLY
. Please come to Room 108.
No childcare or RE at 9:15 a.m.
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This Week in Religious Education: 11:15 only!
Children are invited to stay with their family at the
9:15
service--there is no childcare or religious education. There will be a coloring sheet and busy boxes available from the greeters. At
11:15
, all children will gather in room 108 for winter activities. High School Youth Group will be on hiatus until
January 7th
.
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Sunday, December 24, 4:00 p.m.
Away in a Manger Service
Away in a Manger service in Fellowship Hall, especially for children; service includes a Nativity pageant. No childcare for this service, for it is very kid-friendly. You can help by bringing costumes and props! Please also bring some cookies to share.
Details about this service here.
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Sunday, December 24, 7:00 p.m.
Candlelight Christmas Eve--Following the Star
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Reverend Scott McNeill will help us celebrate our Candlelight Christmas Eve service with music from our choir, and singing of carols, including Silent Night by candlelight.
While much of the Candlelight Christmas Eve service is an annual tradition, this year's theme will encourage us to follow the bright star in the dark sky that calls us toward an unknown future, as well as remind us of the need for sanctuary and rest along the journey. (We'll be using Singing the Living Tradition, the grey UU hymnal, so please feel free to sing the words you like the best!)
No childcare for this service.
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Our Folks...
Our thoughts are with all those in our community who are facing challenges during the season, related to their families and all the expectations that come up during holiday times.
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Church Offices Closed December 25-30
The church offices will be closed
December 25-30
and January 1. There will be an administrative staff member in the office
on Sunday
morning
December 24
and
Sunday
morning
December 31
. In case of a pastoral emergency, please call Reverend Macklin at 812-322-0205.
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No Monday Shambhala Meditation on December 25
but YES on January 1
The
Monday noontime Shambhala meditation group with Sarah Flint will not meet on
December 25. However, the group WILL meet on
January 1
at 12 noon in the Library upstairs at church. Info, please contact Sarah at
sflint.ktv@gmail.com.
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New Choral Composition Fund to Honor Dr. Susan Swaney
The Dr. Susan Swaney Choral Composition Fund, newly established with an anonymous gift of $10,000, will allow the Music Director to choose texts and commission new and established composers to create anthems specifically for the choir and congregation of the UU Church of Bloomington, Indiana. This fund has been established to help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of Susan Swaney serving our congregation as Music Director. If you would like to make a contribution to this fund, please send your check to the church, made payable to "UU Church," with "Swaney fund" on the memo line. We are encouraging folks to contribute to this fund by December 31.
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January Religious Education: "Creativity" Intersession Begins January 7th!
Our children are looking forward to learning about Sophia Lyon Fahs during the month of January, through cooking, science, and more! If you weren't
here on December 17th to pick up a family FUN packet, you can pick one up from the office next time your are here or download and print it at home, by clicking here.
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Year End Pledge Payments Welcome!
For those who wish to make year-end pledge payments, please remember that the office will be closed
December 25-30. However, it's fine to mail your checks (UU Church,
2120 N. Fee Ln, Bloomington IN 47408) or use our online Donate page at
www.uubloomington.org to make contributions. Happy Holidays!
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Women's Allliance Meeting January 4 - Correction on Hostesses
Dian Robbins, Susan Herr-Hoyman and Louray Cain will be the hostesses for the Women's Alliance on
January 4, 2018.
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Snow Awareness and Event Cancellations at Church
We are pretty sure it is eventually going to snow on a Sunday morning. When travel conditions become hazardous after snowfall or ice storms, please always check our home page,
www.uubloomington.org, or our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/uubloomington or
www.wfiu.org for updates on event cancellations or delays. If church services or other events in our building are canceled, this information will also be broadcast on radio at FM 103.7 and WTIU television.
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For More Information
including dates and times for holiday services in December, see the December 19 edition
of our newsletter, The Prologue.
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Masthead photo from the interwebs.
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| Unitarian Universalist Church
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