UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
in Sanctuary
TONIGHT - Thursday, December 21, 6:30 pm
“Winter Solstice/Yule Ritual and Ceremony”

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 - Christmas Eve Services, Rev. Florence Caplow

THERE WILL BE NO SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

We will have two musical candlelight services on Christmas Eve. Our UUCUC Choirs and new UUCUC Horn Band will be part of both services.

Our 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service will include carols, music by the Horn Band and Choirs (including the Children's and Youth Choirs), and the traditional reading of the Christmas Story from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
Our 7:00 Christmas Eve Service will include carols, music by the CrUUners, the Choir, the Horn Band, and Matthew Gladden, and readings of poetry and stories in the Christmas spirit. 

There will be time for refreshments and conversation after both services. You are invited to bring holiday treats to share. Just remember to bring your plate home with you after hospitality.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Tonight (12/21) is the UU Happy Hour Group at Crane Alley. Come anytime between 5:00 and 6:00 pm to get together, chat, and relax. Crane Alley is located at 115 W. Main, Urbana. For more information about the Happy Hour Group contact Russ Rybicki at russadr@fastmail.fm .
Rev. Florence is leading a weekly meditation at Channing Murray on campus, 4:30-5:30 pm every Thursday except December 28th. The weekly meditation will continue in January. 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.
Join us for our next Pathway to Membership Class!
Sunday, January 28, 2018, Noon - 3 pm
Children's Chapel

Light lunch provided. Child care available.

During this fast-paced interactive class, you'll learn about the principles and foundation of the Unitarian Universalist Church. You'll also learn about the governance of UUCUC, activities and opportunities available to our church community, our social action mission, religious education offerings, and the role you can play as a supporter. 

At the completion of this class, you'll have an opportunity to "sign the book" and become a member of UUCUC. For questions and to sign up, see Sherry Bohlen or (217) 417-1148.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Christmas Week Office and Staff Vacations. The UUCUC office will have limited hours in the week between Christmas and New Year's (see calendar below). Sherry Bohlen, our Membership Coordinator, and Cindy Wakeland, our Director of RE, will be on vacation. Rev. Florence Caplow will be on study leave at a retreat center in Indiana. For emergency pastoral care needs, please contact Cindy Loui.
Many Hands Make Light Work...Especially on Christmas Eve! We still could use a few helpers to clear off the tables & put away the snacks at the end of Hospitality after each Christmas Eve service (5:00 & 7:00 pm).If you can help out, please contact Peggy Patten . Dishwashing is NOT part of the clean-up. Thanks in advance for your help.
Thank you to all who made it possible for our church to be decorated with thirty poinsettias this year. Click the link to read the donor list . Paper sleeves will be available for you to use to take your plant(s) home after the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service. Please contact Beth Cobb , if you need to pick up your plant later.
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.
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Donations for the Women’s Shelter (Austin’s Place). Now through March 1 we will be collecting items for the Women’s Shelter - Austin’s Place, which is located at the First United Methodist Church in Champaign. The shelter welcomes up to 8 women a night from December 11 through March 15. You can find a donation box by the SAC table in Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions, contact Cindy Loui . Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Donations of the following would be welcome:
  • Cases of water (mini bottles are best)
  • Juice boxes
  • Individually wrapped crackers (cheese/peanut butter)
  • Soft granola bars or cereal bars
  • Underwear (we usually do a size large/stretchy, they usually get worn once and tossed)
  • Deodorant (mini travel sizes are best)
  • Socks (Any kind are good, but the ladies do usually throw them away, so don't spend a lot!)
  • Lysol spray (for disinfecting the mats each morning)
Thanks for what you have donated for the Men's Shelter . Keep donating; small, 'packaged' items, NOT economy-sized, every little bit helps. 

There is a need for volunteers to help clean the New Covenant Fellowship's Fellowship Hall which is done every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:50 AM to 8:50 AM. Sign up alone or with a buddy for any one or more of that string of opportunities. The need will continue through March. Sign-up by e-mailing Rev. Cory Blackwell at FUMC at   cory@champaignfaith.org .
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.

If you wish to help support this on-going 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)
Thank you to everyone who made the holiday pageant a beautiful solstice vision.  
RE classes will take a break on December 24 th since there is no morning worship.

There will be a broadly graded class on December 31 st, the children and youth will have a New Years Eve Party as their theme.

Regular RE classes resume on January 7, 2018.

Sign up sheets for the Annual Mystery Pen Pals Program are now available online and on the RE table. Everyone is encouraged to sign up and write to a new friend for six weeks. There will be a reveal breakfast on March 3 rd.
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 22
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom

Saturday, December 23
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 24
Please note: there will be no morning worship service.
Christmas Eve Worship Service / 5:00 pm / Sanctuary
Christmas Eve Worship Service / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary
Childcare is available in the nursery during both services.

Monday, December 25
Church Office is closed.
Please note: No bridge group today.

Tuesday, December 26
Church office is closed.

Wednesday, December 27
OOS content submittals are due by noon to the office administrator.
Church office has limited hours: 9 am to noon.
Retirement Group / 2:00 pm / Library
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Adult Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary 

Thursday, December 28
Church office has limited hours: 9 am to noon.
(Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1

Friday, December 29
Church office has limited hours: 9 am to noon.
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: January 4, 2018
Deadline for content: Wednesday, January 3 by Noon
January 2018 Uniter: Thursday, December 28
Content for Uniter is now closed.
UUCUC Contact Information
Church Office
(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