UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 AM in Sanctuary
Sunday, February 4, 2018
“When Things Fall Apart”
Rev. Florence Caplow and Julie Laut

What do we do when things fall apart? When divorce, death, or loss come our way? Given the inevitability of change, how do we find our way when we find ourselves in the big gnarly waves that life sometimes sends us? We will explore this through music, poetry, and reflection. Special guest musicians Amy Hassinger, Jim Hannum, and Simon Tiffin.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
“The Joy of Generosity”
Rev. Florence Caplow

Recent scientific studies have shown that generosity is a powerful way of cultivating happiness. The Buddha considered generosity one of the "perfections" of human life. What's so great about generosity? This service is the beginning of our annual stewardship campaign, and the theme this year is "Celebration!" We will also be welcoming and introducing new members to our congregation. The Children's and Adult Choirs will be singing.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence Class Thursdays in February, 4:30-5:30 pm, Channing-Murray

Rev. Florence will lead a four-part class in mindfulness and emotional intelligence, as a continuation of the ongoing meditation group. Through guided meditations, exercises, discussion and listening, deepen your connection with your inner life, those around you, and your world. Register at the first class on February 1 st . No charge.
"In Whose Honor?" Film Screening - Sunday, February 4th, 2:30 pm in the UUCUC Fellowship Hall. Free film showing sponsored by the UUCUC Racial Justice Initiative.  

Filmmaker Jay Rosenstein focuses on the story of Charlene Teters, a Spokane Indian whose campaign against Chief Illiniwek, the University of Illinois' beloved team mascot, turned our town upside down and made people rethink the larger issues of culture and identity. Ross Wantland, Director of the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, will join us for discussion.
Informational meeting, new Widows & Widowers Covenant Group. Saturday, February 10th, 11 am – Noon in the UUCUC Library
 
The intent of the group is to provide supportive community for widows and widowers.
Rev. Florence will facilitate this informational/organizational meeting. For additional information, email Membership Coordinator , Sherry Bohlen.
Workshop on the "Art of Reading Aloud" February 10th, 1-3 pm, Church Library.
Back by popular demand! Rev. Florence will be offering an experiential workshop on the art of sharing prose or poetry through reading aloud, for those who might be interested in participating as readers in future services. No experience necessary! Register online or sign up at the HUB table. 
Red Herring is turning 50! Join us on February 17th for The Red Herring's Golden Birthday Party. We are celebrating The Red Herring's 50-year anniversary with live music, storytellers from over The Red Herring years, memorabilia from half a century of our history, a raffle of local goods and Red Herring swag, cooking from the Red Herring kitchen, and more to be announced soon.
Musicians include Paul Kotheimer, The Merry Travelers , Dewclaw, Relevator featuring Kenna Mae, Harry of the Earth Music , and many others TBA. Storytellers include founding participants Bill Taylor and Vern Fein.
Time: 4:30-10:30pm (scheduled lineup TBA). Admission: Pay-what-you-can donation (*$10 suggestion, more if you can, less if you can't).
Check out https://www.channingmurray.org/ for more details.
Thank you to our community past and present, far and wide, for such a fulfilling 50 years. Here's to many more!
Next RJI Meeting - Thursday, February 15 th, 5:30pm, UUCUC Library.  Want to get even more involved in RJI? Please join us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sign-Up Now for the Next New Member Covenant Group
 ​
Join other new members and friends in our church community as we organize our second New Member Covenant Group .  The intent of the group is to foster sharing, community and growth as a foundation for involvement at Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign. 
 
Our New Member Covenant Group will:
 
  • Include a maximum of 8-10 people.
  • Meet every other Thursday from March 1 to May 10 — March 1, 15, 29; April 12, 26; and May 10.
  • Provide opportunity to deepen our understanding of Unitarian Universalism.
  • Provide a safe and supportive space to reflect on and discuss issues relevant to new members to our church community.
  • Provide framework to create, foster and support deepening our ties to the church and to each other. 

Membership Coordinator, Sherry Bohlen , will be facilitating the New Member Covenant Group and she welcomes you to be a part of it.  CLICK HERE to email her today and let her know that you're ready to make the commitment and reap the rewards.
It’s Time to Start Working on the Next Two-Year Initiative!

What would you like the church to take on as a two-year social justice initiative for 2018-2020? Our previous church-wide initiatives have focused on food security, immigration, and racial justice. Repeating topics is just fine! 
 
Bring your ideas to an after-church gathering in the children’s chapel on February 18, and participate in a fun exercise designed to bring those of us with similar ideas and interests together. Download this simple form , designed to guide both discussions and proposal preparation.
 
This year the Social Action Committee will provide opportunities to discuss and explore proposals with initiating groups before our annual meeting. This will help prepare us for a vote by ensuring everyone is well-informed and ready to make a decision. 
We Are An Island, But We Are Not Alone
By David Gross, General Assembly Delegate

Our UU church is the only UU church in Champaign/Urbana. There are UU churches in Bloomington, Peoria, Decatur and Springfield, but we seldom have Illinois gatherings with those good folks. Annually, it is at General Assembly (GA) that thousands of UU’s gather for four days of music, inspiration, workshops, services and a grand continuous party. This year, GA is in Kansas City in June – for details, visit the UUA website and search for GA 2018. At GA, I find that in the convention hall, in workshops, at lunch and in the bar, any conversation with the person sitting next to me will find common interests. We are not alone. On any Sunday, you can discuss GA with Claudia or David Gross, or Rev. Florence.
CARE CORE NEWS
Sam Beshers shared that his mother, Maxine Beshers, would have turned 94 on January 28th. She attended the Unitarian Church (now C-M) from 1950-1953. 

Tanja Hodges asks for positive energy, as her mother begins treatment for breast cancer. 
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS
March in support of DACA, Saturday, February 3rd, 11:30 am, downtown Champaign . If you would like to march with other UUCUC folk, including Rev. Florence, meet at the church to carpool at 11 am.
The Shared Offering recipient of all designated funds and half of the plate cash collection in February is the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center (ECIRMAC) . In response to the growing diversity of our Champaign-Urbana (CU) community comes a heightened responsibility for us all to ensure every family feels welcome as they acclimate to life in our community. Refugees and immigrant families turn to the Refugee Center to help them to navigate the often arduous process of resettlement. In the last fiscal year, ECIRMAC served 1,400 individuals with a variety of services.
Winter is still not over! Donations are still being collected and delivered to the Men's Shelter at FUMC and the Women's Shelter at Austin's Place. Both shelters will run through March 31st. For specific details of acceptable items or to drop off donations, visit the SAC table after worship service.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) NEWS
The sign up sheet for the Annual Chef-A-Thon is on the RE table . The theme this year is “International Flair.” Children ages 4-12 are welcome to enter. Make a dish of your choice, add a secret ingredient given by Cindy, have the famous judges taste your dish and you may win Best in Show!
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 .

Note: Parenthesised meetings/events are outside rentals. Asterisk meetings/events are closed.
Friday, February 2
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom

Saturday, February 3
(Rental: Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, February 4
Partner Church Committee Meeting / 9:00 am / Library
Children's Choir Rehearsal / 9:15 am / Classroom #1
Mindful Meditation Group / 9:20 am / YRUU Classroom
Worship Service / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Fellowship Hour / Immediately following service / Fellowship Hall
Adult Discussion Group / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
RJI Film Screening: In Whose Honor / 2:30 pm / Fellowship Hall

Monday, February 5
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children's Chapel

Tuesday, February 6
Stewardship Committee Meeting / Noon / Library
Personnel Committee Meeting / 5:00 pm / Library
Worship Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Library

Wednesday, February 7
OOS & eNews content submittals are due by noon to pubs@uucuc.org.
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Adult Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary 
(Moms Demand Action) / 7:30 pm / Fellowship Hall

Thursday, February 8
Meditation Class with Rev. Florence / 4:30 pm / Channing Murray
BOT Business Meeting / 7:00 pm / Children's Chapel
*New Member Covenant Meeting / 7:00 pm / Library
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: February 8
Deadline for content: Wednesday,
February 7 by Noon
March 2018 Uniter: February 28
Deadline for content: Wednesday, February 21 by Noon
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