The Newsletter , December, 2017
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Winter Solstice Service & Drum Circle
Dec. 21, 7:00 PM
Come share in a worship full of poetry, music, and candlelight; with rituals for releasing the past and setting our fresh intentions as wheel of the year turns yet again. The service will be in the sanctuary from 7:00 PM-7:40 PM. All interested are invited to stay for a drum circle that will take place in Fellowship Hall at 8:00 PM. Solstice treats of mulled punch, gingersnaps, and fresh clementines will be served in between the events. This special seasonal event is open to the whole community; please share this announcement with your friends and neighbors!
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If you are a member or a friend planning to make a pledge to our 2018 operating budget, and you haven't yet done so, please let us know your preferences how we might contact you regarding you pledge, or how you would wish to make your pledge, via online form,
by clicking here
.
We need to hear from you by the week of December 4.
And exciting news! We now have the capability of accepting credit card, debit card, or electronic withdrawal from checking!! You can make a onetime donation, or arrange for a recurring donation,
by clicking here.
If you pledged in 2017 and are unsure of what amount you have remaining in your pledge, please contact minister@nuuc.org
Also, if you are a member of the congregation who has not made a financial contribution this year, please make a small donation if you wish to maintain your membership. Our bylaws require a contribution of
any size in each year to maintain membership.
And finally, all friends and members pledging in 2017 will receive their letters documenting your donation for tax exemption purposes by Jan. 15, 2018.
And most importantly, thank you for the varied ways in which you support our congregation.
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With thoughts of the Thanksgiving holiday still fresh, we have something else to be thankful for at NUUC. It is the efforts of the many volunteers who have helped with the mowing this season. We have just completed the mowing season and as you may know, we handled the mowing ourselves at NUUC instead of using a mowing contractor. Our coordinated mowing efforts went quite well and saved a lot of money. We estimate we saved $3,200 by not contracting out the mowing this year. For the yards around the church and Nielsen House, the Building and Grounds Committee members took turns mowing each week except for the 4th and 5th weeks each month, which were handled by volunteers from the congregation.
We give a big thank you to the following congregational volunteers for their fine mowing efforts, which filled out the mowing schedule this season:
Jan Bourke*
Roger Johnson*
Sarah Johnson*
Neil Kirby*
Rod Myers*
Susan Ritchie*
Jeff Turner***
*** = mowed 3 times
* = mowed 1 time
For 3 weeks each month, 3 members of the B & G Committee took turns mowing. We give a hearty thank you to these committee members for their monthly efforts:
Roger Orwick
John Rodeheffer
Bob Keith
Also, we give a great big thank you to B&G Committee member Gary Rusk for his weekly mowing the large field at the rear of our property plus west of the parking lot. Gary generously volunteered to handle mowing the fields for the entire mowing season, which really enhanced the appearance of our property.
If you see one of our volunteers, please give that person your personal thanks for their mowing efforts this season.
Since our volunteer mowing approach worked so well, we plan to continue this approach in the coming mowing season. Watch for more information on our mowing plans as spring approaches.
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he "Spiritual Autobiography" course, facilitated chiefly by Dick Leavy, will be in February instead of January.
Don't forget our Dessert Potluck and Game Night in Fellowship Hall on Saturday, December 16, at 6:30! We'll take a break from holiday bustle by eating sweets and choosing from a variety of fun games. What a good way for long time acquaintances and new friends to meet! Please contact Marty Keith if you have questions. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
Also, NUUC's Women's Group will meet December 18 (at 6:30 pm) to continue discussing Yaa Gyasi's novel, Homegoing, about the lives of two African sisters and their descendants. We've already looked at some of the events in history covered in Homegoing, and the importance of family. These topics are by no means exhausted!
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Christmas Eve Service
Dec. 24, 7:00 PM
(No Sunday morning Worship on Christmas Eve)
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Join us for a special service of candlelight, carols, music and story.
The theme in worship and religious education this month is Continuous Revelation.
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Join Us Saturday, Dec. 2, for an important discussion about our future; stay after service on Dec. 3 to hear our consultant's reflections
Your Presence is Requested! Please join Barry Finkelstein, our Feasibility Study Consultant and other members from our congregation on Saturday December 2 from 2 to 3:15 p.m for "Next Steps Weekend," an important discussion about the past, and more important the future of NUUC. Please bring your memories, thoughts, and ideas for the future and join the conversation. Your thoughts and input are important! Please RSVP by e-mailing the Steering Committee at steering@nuuc.org
Also, you are invited to hear Barry Finkelstein's reflections and recommendations to our congregation immediately after worship on Dec. 3 (babysitting hours have been extended)
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Kickoff of Service Auction Planning - You're Invited!
Our exciting and fun service auction is coming in April and we would like your input in making it the best service auction ever. I invite you to attend the kickoff planning meeting for our annual service auction on Mon. Dec. 11th at 7 PM in Fellowship Hall.
At the planning meeting, we will set the date for the service auction, establish the revenue goal, and seek theme ideas. This meeting involves no commitment beyond just attending and offering your input. Some of you have expressed interest in being part of the ongoing service auction planning team and it will be great to have you be part of the team. Others of you may not want to be on the planning team and that is perfectly fine. We value your opinions and will be thrilled to just get your input at the kickoff meeting.
We hope you will attend this meeting.
Best regards,
Bob Keith
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HOLIDAY FAMILY 2017: HELP US SUPPORT WOMEN IN PRISON
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OOSE CHANGE FOR THE HOLIDAY FAMILY 2017: This year we will again be adopting the women in the Horizon Prison Initiative program at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) for our holiday giving. The December holidays are a particularly difficult time to be separated from their families and the women are especially grateful for the compassion and generosity of our congregation. NUUC will be providing a delicious dinner for the women on December 22nd as well as materials for programming (books, markers, dry erase boards, planners, etc.). Contact Pam Patsch at pgp723@aol.com if you are interested in donating items or providing cookies for the dinner. You can also donate to the Loose Change Offering on December 10th or, at any point in December, by making check donation to NUUC with Horizon Holiday Family in the memo line. During the service on December 3rd, Mary Kerns, Horizon Program Coordinator, will share information about the Horizon program and participants at ORW. If you would like to learn more about the Horizon women, ask Pam Patsch or one of the Outside Sister volunteers from NUUC (Lynn Foreman, Bonnie Beardsley, and Susan Ritchie).
WELCOMING THE STRANGER WITH OUR HEADS, HEARTS, AND HANDS: The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO) and Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) have collaborated to offer the 2nd ANNUAL INTERFAITH PRAYER GATHERING AND POTLUCK: Sunday, December 10, 2017, 5-7 pm at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205. Please RSVP by December 8th to office@iaco.org and include your name, if you are attending the potluck, and the number in your party. NUUC is one of over 36 co-sponsors. As a co-sponsor, we are asked to provide 2 volunteers for the event. Please contact Pam Patsch at pgp723@aol.com if you would be willing to help at the event. This is a great opportunity to join your neighbors for fellowship and delicious food. See the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall, the IACO website or IACO Facebook page for more information.
UUSC FAIR TRADE COFFEE: Shop for delicious Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate after the service on Sunday, December 3, 2017. Your purchase of Fair Trade products means that workers along the supply chain are provided a living wage. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) supports a number of worker-owned, local producers who are in danger of being replaced with multinational corporations that have little respect for workers' rights. Making consumer choices that are aligned with our UU Principles is one way to help create a more just world community.
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