Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 10 am

"To Meet a Stranger and See a Neighbor"

How do we bless a world full of broken-hearted people? In a world where hurt people hurt people, how do we help to heal? 

• Rev. Kerry Mueller, Guest Speaker
• Kim Agee, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Mindy Miller, Greeter
• Elisabeth Tully, Coffee Host
• Theo Kehm, RE

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

This week's hymn numbers:

• "What Wonderous Love" — # 18 (grey hymnal)
• "Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire" — # 34 (grey hymnal)

December 15 | "What to Expect When You're Expecting"

— In-person & Zoom

December is a time of waiting, as the calendar connects us to holy days of anticipation, hope, and expectation. Sometimes the waiting helps us find stillness, and sometimes it brings anxiety. Together we’ll explore what it means to wait and dwell in possibility.

• Rev. Kimberley DeBus, Guest Speaker
• Jan Sprinkel, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Judy Graham, Greeter
• Joy Kim, Coffee Host
• Fantaye Kehm, RE

December 23 | "This Night is a Holy Night" — In-person & Zoom

— Eve-of-the-Eve Service at 7 PM

Each night a child is born is a holy night. This Eve-of-the-Eve we will celebrate the presence of life in each birth, the opportunity in each turning of the globe for us to witness the rebirth of the earth, and to be lights in the healing, restful darkness. May this be a community of restful darkness and glowing light; of presence in the world and spiritual deepening. May we be beloved community.

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Michael Casey, Musician

December 29 | "Count My Blessings" — In-person & Zoom

On the cusp of the new year, between having completed our wish lists for Christmas and ruminating on our resolutions for the New Year, we might very well take a moment to reflect on our blessings; those we celebrate every day, those we too often overlook and take for granted, and all those in between.

• Rev. Greg Chute, Guest Speaker
• Annie Lavin & Connie Schroth, Worship Leaders
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Theo Kehm, RE

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• This Week's Worship Service
• Upcoming Worship Services
• This Issue's Contents
• Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
• Minister's Column
• "Shared Values" — new feature
• Calling All Singers! — Choir Interest Meeting — Dec 8
• From Your Social Justice Committee
• Special Gathering & Service — Dec 11
• Photos Needed for New Members & Friends Directory
• Help Needed for Soup Sampler Supper — Dec 13
• Soup Sampler Supper Fundraiser — Dec 13
• UUCR Building Use is in High Demand!
• MD Lynching Truth & Reconciliation Public Hearing — Dec 7
• Feed the Homeless & Coat Drive in Chestertown — Dec 12
• Birthdays

Friends,

This is a powerful and historic week, from the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec 3^rd, the start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on Dec 5^th, and Human Rights Day on Dec 10^th. This makes Dec 7^th at 10 am the perfect day for the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Hearing. Registration is preferred for either in-person attendance or to participate in the live stream. 

This is powerful work. I want to thank Philip Dutton and all those who have contributed to making this happen over the years. This is powerful local work that heals and transforms. May we look at truth, honestly, openly, and find healing, transformation, and love. These tellings are a powerful way to honestly and openly receive truth and a deeper understanding of our community.

In gratitude,

Rev. Kathryn

SHARED VALUES

ENCOURAGEMENT

Unitarian Universalists throughout the centuries have been bastions of safety and encouragement operatives. In good times and challenging times, we have always had an open heart for those who want or need a place to express themselves.

This section of Reflections is designed to do just that—what makes UUCR special to you? Everyone is invited to write a few words about the reason why you are here; or perhaps why you think our community is important to the Mid- and Upper Shore region that we serve; or even why it is important to exist for a higher purpose.

You are encouraged to join in!

If you are interested (or think you might be interested) in singing in a UUCR Choir, please join us on Sunday, December 8, following the service. We will meet to assess if there is sufficient interest in forming a choir and hopefully explore rehearsal logistics and music. If you have questions or are interested but cannot attend the meeting, contact Nancy Holland or Michael Casey.

Thanks for gifting our Adopt a Family this year. Bring those wrapped gifts into church this Sunday, Dec 8. USE THE GIFT TAG YOU TOOK FOR IDENTIFYING THE FAMILY. This is how DSS will know which individual the gift is intended for.

Next Wednesday, December 11, at 3 pm at UUCR, please join your fellow congregation and Reverend Katherine as we gather to reflect and consider the impacts of the recent US and global dramatic changes on ourselves and our local communities. This is a time for sharing and supporting one another.

Thanks to everyone for their generosity throughout our 2024 Social Justice Outreach Offerings. If you are interested in how our committee works or simply have ideas for our 2025 outreach offerings, please contact Linda Dutton. Our in-person meetings are always open to the entire congregation. We will be meeting this Friday, Dec 6, at UUCR at 10:45 am.

We have been living in liminal times since November 6^th. Many of us feel uneasy and worried about the direction our country appears to be taking. There have been expressions of a lot of feelings of loss, grief, sadness, and confusion as there is a desire to do something as our values and siblings with marginalized identities face new dangers, while what to do is not clear. The uncertainty is hard. It is harder as one person; let us be in community.

Join Rev. Kathryn and the members of our Social Justice team on Dec 11^th at 3 pm for a special gathering and co-created service titled "Community Weaving — Spirit, Love, and Honoring our Voice."

It’s that time again! It's time to update the photos in our members and friends directory of our smiling faces to share with our community. We especially want to invite our new attendees. Also, there have been many changes at UUCR and in the UU world that need to be reflected in our directory. We can make arrangements to take your photo at a Sunday service, or you can upload your own picture to our website HERE.

SET-UP and CLEAN-UP HELP NEEDED for our Soup Supper on Friday, December 13!

We will set up for our Soup Sampler Supper during the day on Friday, December 13, and need some help in moving chairs, rolling in tables, and then setting them up.

Muscle is needed particularly in the morning.

Also, we need a few folks to help clean up after our supper, starting at 7:15 or so. 

Please email Jane Hardy, janewhardy@gmail.com to volunteer.

Thanks!

ONLY ONE WEEK REMAINING TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

We've been having many more requests to use the building from both internal and external groups. Please check the UUCR calendar (available at the UUCR website or here in the newsletter under "Links and Contact" above) before assuming it will be free. Many groups use the entire facility, or your activity may interfere with their use (or vice versa). Please contact the UUCR office to schedule your building use so that it can be added to the calendar. Thanks!

DECEMBER

07 | Pat Bjorke

08 | Lynn Donahue

We want to help celebrate your birthday!

If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email