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Dear RE families, Youth, and Volunteer Leaders at UUSS,
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Service for all ages this weekend!
Don't miss a chance to share a Sunday morning together in our service for all ages this weekend. There will be children participating from our True Reflections 3rd -5th grade group with Rev Lucy. Please sign in at the RE Welcome Table. There will be coloring pages and crayons at the RE Table if your child(ren) would like. Thanks!
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In Loving Memory
Our loyal member Tami passed away November 11 after a long illness from a recurrence of cancer. UUSS members and all the people from the parts of Tami's rich and varied life are invited to a memorial service here at UUSS at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 13. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tami's memory may be made to the UUSS Religious Education Fund to honor Tami's commitment to RE, especially to youth ministry. Dedicating her time, knowledge, and compassion to our Senior High Youth Group (SHYG), I recall countless times Tami provided our youth with support that will travel with them in the years to come. Loving thanks to Tami for being a role model to not only our youth but to me as well.
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Freedom Club Travels Update
They arrived safe! As an extension of the Freedom Club a group of 4 friends from UUSS are in India to visit partnering organizations that work to combat human trafficking. They are helping with training and documenting stories of those who've been rescued. Also, discovering new ways that UUSS can be involved. They are posting to this
page throughout their trip, so please check back for updates and photos.
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Junior High Youth Group (JHYG)
JHYG - Mark your calendars for
Sunday, November 29! Looking forward to seeing the youth present and ready for games. JHYG meeting dates for the rest of 2015 are: 11/29, 12/6, and 12/27.
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Holiday Fun at UUSS
We are inviting people of all ages to bring an ornament they like (or use one of our own) and place it on a tree during a ritual as part of the all ages Yule service on December 20. The trees will be trimmed that day and be ready for the Christmas Eve service. Plus be beautifully on display on December 27 and January 3. We cannot promise that an ornament in our much-used sanctuary wouldn't be at some risk of breakage so please leave your ultimate favorite ornaments at home!
We will have at least one tree up and invite anyone to donate a second tree for that day, to be with us until after the January 3 service is over. Please contact Rev. Roger if you have any questions. Thanks so much!
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Alice in Wonderland
Again our Theater One company has recruited and rehearsed an excellent cast and made a beautiful set. "Alice in Wonderland" is now playing. There is a performance on Saturdays 11/21, 11/28, and 12/5 at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. It's a brief, child-friendly play but it will delight all of us. Tell your friends to bring their kids! See Theatre One.
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Senior High Youth Group Advisors
We are scouting additional Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) Advisors. Spend two Sundays a month with our talented youth enriching their lives with conversations, spiritual discussions, and community. Please contact Miranda if you would like to help!
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Spirit Play Training - Save the date!
On Sunday, January 10, you are invited to a training for those who currently volunteer, or would like to volunteer, in our Sunday School program for elementary school age children. All volunteers are invited to enjoy soup Sunday after our church service that day and then come to the first hour (noon - 1 pm) of the training for an overview on the day in either Spirit Play (Kindergarten through 2nd grade) or True Reflections (3rd through 5th grades). Those who have not previously received Storyteller and Doorkeeper training are invited to stay the rest of the afternoon (1-5 pm). We will provide a full training on the Spirit Play method
. Contact Miranda to reserve your spot!
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Sunday Morning gets Bigger
Rev. Roger will be doing the 9:45 am Spiritual Practices this Sunday in Room 6! Also the Newcomers' Orientation and Tour at noon- with Rev. Lucy.
Come learn more about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation.
Each class includes presentation, activities and discussion.
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices:
9:45- 10:15 every Sunday (except 5th Sundays). Child care available in our Room 11 Nursery so RE parents can attend.
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Baby/Child Dedication
Reverend Roger is planning to have a baby/child dedication on the morning of Sunday, January 10 at the beginning of the service. If you would like your child to participate please let me know.
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Thanksgiving Day Dinner at UUSS
Thursday, November 26, 2:00 pm Annual Thanksgiving Day pot luck dinner, $5 plus pot luck dish per person. Sign-ups and donations every Sunday after service. Last year at the rental church we had about 80 people, singles, couples, families, and friends. Some people have said that they will go to feed the hungry and then come to UUSS. Please try to bring food at 1:00 p.m. for organizing. Help needed: registration table staffers, turkey cooks, set-up, clean-up needed. E-mail organizer
Laurie Jones.
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Burundi UU Minister Arrested by Government
By Reverend Roger
The minister of one of our UU churches in Africa has been arrested, interrogated and threatened with death by the government there.
At two international UU conferences I met and became friends with this wonderful man, who has a lovely French accent and a wife and children.
Converted from Catholicism when he found out about UUism. He's been leading the church in the capital city of Burundi, and his parishioners include human rights activists and NGO employees.
This message came Thursday from the UUA's International Office and the International Council of Unitarians & Universalists.
Please hold our Burundi UU family in your thoughts and prayers, and if you have time, please write to draw attention:
STATEMENT:
Within the context of extreme civil unrest in Burundi, recently the Unitarian Church of Burundi (the Assemble Unitarien Chretian de Burundi) was attacked and ransacked, with bullets fired into walls and doors and money stolen. Members of the church were questioned by government officials who visited on a Sunday. Two days ago the minister of the church, the Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana, was arrested from the church at gunpoint, taken into police custody and interrogated severely, regarding the activities of his church. He was threatened with physical harm and death. At the moment he remains in custody, with other members of the church also being questioned.
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, along with our member groups and partners around the world, is calling upon the Burundian government to cease these activities immediately, which we interpret as persecution for reasons of faith. Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists in the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Romania and beyond are united in concern for the Unitarians of Burundi.
We call upon the government of Burundi to immediately cease and desist the persecution of the Unitarian Church of Burundi and its members stemming from reasons of their faith. We call for the immediate release of the minister of that congregation, the Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana, from police custody. Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists around the world stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Burundi, who are dedicated as we are to religious freedom, and a civil society in which all persons are respected and valued.
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John Kerry, Secretary of State
US. Department of State - Diplomacy in Action
Burundi Embassy
Ambassador Ernest Ndabashinze
2233 Wisconsin AVE NW
Suite 408
Washington DC 20007
Ambassador Dawn Liberi
American Embassy Bujumbura
B.P. 1720
Avenue Des Etats-Unis
Bujumbura, Burundi
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Thank you for reading and for all of your continued support!
Miranda
UUSS RE Coordinator
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