UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary
Sunday, December 10: "Buddha’s Enlightenment and The Hidden Lamp ", Rev. Florence Caplow
Buddha’s Enlightenment is celebrated on December 8 th each year in Japan, Korea, and China. We will celebrate the possibility of enlightenment in each one of us, and Rev. Caplow will share stories of women’s enlightenment from her book, The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women. Rev. Caplow will have some copies available for purchase and signing after the service. The UUCUC Adult Choir will be singing.

Sunday, December 17: "Children’s Pageant: ‘The Yule Spirits’”
The children of UUCUC will enact their annual holiday pageant in this service. This year the pageant is based on a pagan story adapted by Rev. Caplow, about the journey of the Flower Spirits to find out what has happened to the old Sun King. The Children’s Choir will be singing.

Thursday, December 21, 6:30 pm: “Winter Solstice/Yule Ritual”
The UUCUC pagan group will be sharing a winter solstice/yule ritual and ceremony for the whole congregation. All ages are welcome to join in this celebration of the birth of the sun. The ceremony will be held in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday, December 24, 5:00 and 7:00 PM: "Christmas Eve Readings and Carols", Rev. Florence Caplow
THERE WILL BE NO SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Our 5:00 service will include the traditional reading of the Christmas story from Luke, interspersed with Christmas carols. Our 7:00 service will be readings of Christmas poetry, interspersed with Christmas carols. Both services will end with a candle lighting. UUCUC choirs will be singing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Last Call for items in the Lost & Found to the left of the entrance to the men's bathroom in Fellowship Hall. Large navy fleece, brown leather jacket, purple knit scarf and more assorted hats, mittens, etc. Items will be cleaned and donated January 1 st , 2018. Please check KITCHEN ITEMS in the clear plastic bin, they all need to go home, as well. Thank you - Maryly Crutcher
Thanks to all who are recycling.  Please remember that not all foam is recyclable. Look for the triangle with a 6 inside to make sure that your foam can be recycled.
CALLING ALL HYMNALS!
A few hymnals are missing from our sanctuary-the grey & teal covered hymnals, the regular & large print editions. If you borrowed any hymnals & forgot to return them, please put them on the ushers' stand inside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for your help!
Are the holidays particularly difficult this year? Our minister is here for conversation and support. Please email her at minister@uucuc.org if you would like to meet.
Christmas Eve Hospitality and Assistance Needed Volunteers are needed to help clean up after each service's hospitality hour on Christmas Eve - 5:00 or 7:00 pm.

If you can assist with the clean-up after either service, sign up at the Hub table on Sunday or let Peggy Patten know directly. Many hands make light work & clean up does NOT involve washing dishes. All are also invited to bring a plate of holiday treats for our collective hospitality after each Christmas Eve service.
Bring your plate of goodies to the kitchen and remember to bring your plate home at the end of the evening.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Local Schools RJI Discussion - Please join us for the next RJI meeting TONIGHT, December 7th from 7-8:30pm in the UUCUC Library. We will have an informal discussion about equity issues in local Champaign and Urbana schools. All are welcome to attend.
Come to our special celebration and dedication recital for our new baby grand piano! 7 pm, Sunday, December 10, in the Sanctuary of the UU Church.

The program features four of our very own staff musicians: Matthew Gladden (piano), Matt Sheppard (violin), Pierre Tang (piano), and Simon Tiffin (piano). They will be performing music by Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Ginastera, Debussy, and more.

Join us for desserts and refreshments afterwards.

This event is sponsored by the Music Committee and the adult choir of the UU Church.

The baby grand piano was purchased with funds from the Kent Conrad Music Fund and the annual budget of the UU Church. Thank you to all who contributed to make this wonderful instrument a reality.

Meditation at Channing Murray continues in December. Rev. Florence is leading a weekly meditation at Channing Murray on campus, 4:30-5:30 pm every Thursday except December 28th. All are welcome, no meditation experience necessary.
Moving Forward: Supporting Each Other Through Divorce and Separation. For those who are going through, or have gone through, divorce and separation. On Fridays, 3:30-4:30 in the YRUU room (downstairs beneath the sanctuary). All are welcome. Questions? Contact Snaps Ginger for more details.
CARE CORE COMMITTEE
Joys and Sorrows (Shared in Worship Service on Sunday 12/3/17)

Beth Cobb was sadden to hear that a high school classmate and friend died this past Wednesday evening. He comes from a large family, Emer Broadbend in your hearts.

Ali Newbold is experiencing great challenges in completing a building project in Champaign. She asks for your good thoughts and prayers in support of a positive resolution.
Matt Tittle had surgery on Friday December 1st in Chicago to remove a brain tumor. The surgery went very well, recovery has been rapid, and he is home. 
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Holiday Backpack Project 2017
The Daily Bread Soup Kitchen celebrates the holidays by giving filled backpacks to the men and women who are guests at lunch. Our church will again participate in this program. Packs will not be given to children, since there are many gift programs in the community specifically for children. However, for many of the men and women who attend the soup kitchen, these backpacks will be their only holiday presents.

See the Social Action table for a list of suggested items to include. Packs will be collected at the church this Sunday, December 10 th . If you have questions contact Sandy Hannum.
Report on the CU Men’s Shelter Use: The operation is going smoothly. There are special needs for a) the guests: travel size toothbrush, toothpaste, and small deodorant. And b) for the staff who do the laundry (on site): laundry detergent pods and dryer sheets.

In the first 14 nights of operation a total of 55 different men have been served, with a running total of 305 nights of stay and a running average of 22 men/night. As Winter sets in that number will rise, and “No one will be turned away.” Thank you for supporting this worthy cause.
SHARED OFFERING for Our Partner Churches "Keeping the Partnership Strong"
The mission and objectives of the Partner Church Committee are to develop long term, mutually supportive relationships with our fellow UUs in Transylvania, Romania, and in the Khasi Hills in North East India.

To this end, we promote an exchange of people and ideas, and we provide funds and other forms of assistance to help our partner churches in Szekelykal in Transylvania and in Nongtalang, India. We also help their communities to improve the quality of life for all inhabitants and foster economic development through improvement of educational opportunities. 

If you wish to help support this ongoing effort, please note that half of all plate cash collections and all designated checks received this month do just that. 

If you would like to join our congregation’s Partner Church Committee, please contact the chair, Brigitte Pieke . 
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
Parents and Friends, the RE committee is in need of old white sheets that can become snow for the holiday pageant. If you have some sheets you can donate, please leave them under the RE table in the Fellowship Hall by December 16th. Thank you.

This Sunday, December 10, there will be a holiday pageant rehearsal during the RE class hour at 10:15 .m. in the Children’s Chapel. Children should report to their regular classes first. Teachers will be in the classrooms with those who are not participating in the pageant. Our second rehearsal will be Saturday, December 16, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
From Cindy Wakeland -
I would like to apologize for the words spoken in the Time with Young People November 19. I have received comments from a few members how some of my words hurt and offended them. I realized my misspoken words as soon as I said them. I was trying very hard to tell the children what some of the “Stories of Hope” for our Guest at Your Table offering were really like, in words they could understand, yet tell them like it really is. I ended up taking words out of context. The following is the original quotation from the Guest at Your Table booklet: “Women from Central America who have been abused and are detained in centers and treated more like criminals than who they really are: survivors of trauma pursuing their legal right to seek asylum.” They themselves are not the criminals. I am sorry for anything that was said. It was not meant to be hurtful or painful. I will be more careful in the future to write down exactly what I want to say. You can find booklets about the Stories of Hope at the hub table or RE table in Fellowship Hall.
UUCUC Mindfulness Meditation Group - Join fellow UU's in a mindfulness mediation practice before worship service on Sundays ( detailed schedule) in the YRUU room. As always, the door will be left slightly open so that late arrivals can enter quietly.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our events page .
Friday, December 8
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom

Saturday, December 9
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 10
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:05 am / YRUU Classroom
Children's Choir Rehearsal / 9:15 am / Classroom #1
Worship Service " Buddha’s Enlightenment and The Hidden Lamp ", Rev. Caplow / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Regular RE Classes & Child Care / 10:15 am / RE Classrooms
Adult Discussion Group / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
"Winter Concert" Celebration of New Piano / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary

Monday, December 11
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children’s Chapel
Death with Dignity Group / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, December 12
Property Committee Lunch Meeting / Noon / Fellowship Hall
BOT Business Meeting / 7:00 pm / Library

Wednesday, December 13
OOS & eNews content submittals are due by noon to the office administrator.
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Adult Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary 

Thursday, December 14
Care Core Steering Committee / 11:00 am / Library
(Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
Finance Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall

Friday, December 15
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: December 14
Deadline for content: Wednesday, December 13 by Noon
January 2018 Uniter: Thursday, December 28
Deadline for content: Wednesday, December 20, 2017
UUCUC Contact Information
Church Office
info@uucuc.org
(217) 384-8862
Rev. Florence Caplow
Minister
Cindy Wakeland
Director of Religious Education
Matt Sheppard
Music Director
Sherry Bohlen
Membership Coordinator
Rosalyn Maziarka
Office Administrator
Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
Beth Cobb
Assistant for Services
Matthew Gladden
Accompanist
Stephanie Cobb
Sunday Kitchen Helper
Mary Foltz
Childcare Coordinator