UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary
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.

There will be no "Joys and Sorrows" this Sunday, but in the lobby you will find cards and a basket if you have a joy or sorrow to share with the minister and/or to place in the Enews.

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, 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 Gospel of Luke and Matthew, 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.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Bring in your books and magazines on Sunday, December 17 for exchange to the far east table in Fellowship Hall. Books and magazines can be for children and adults. You can take home books or magazines without donating any and vice versa.
Caregivers' Chalice Circle December meeting on December 18th at 5:30 pm . Join us for a potluck, followed by 7 pm meeting. Note Location change: Julie Zilles's home. RSVP Potluck food offering to  Julie Zilles, p hone: (217) 352-5931.
Next UU Happy Hour Group will be at Crane Alley on December 21st. Join us at the next UU Happy Hour, at Crane Alley in Urbana. 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 .
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.
Join us for our next Pathway to Membership Class!
Sunday, January 28, 2018, 12 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
Collective Hospitality on Christmas Eve. All are 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.
Many Hands Make Light Work...especially on Christmas Eve! We 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 sign up at the Hub table on Sunday OR talk to Peggy Patten . Dishwashing is NOT part of the clean-up. Thanks in advance 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.
CARE CORE COMMITTEE
Joys and Sorrows (Shared in Worship Service on Sunday 12/10/17)

Julie Laut shared a joy and is proud of her daughter, Celia, who competed at the USATF Cross Country Nationals on December 9th.

Jan Kalmar requests to hold the spirit of Robin Mittenthal, friend to all he knew, who died in a farm accident last week. The world lost a kind, generous, capable person.

Elizabeth Cox shares a sorrow for the death of her marriage and the putting to rest so many hopes and dreams that died with it.

Jerry Carden & Tim Temple share both joys and sorrows in the first week of December; a farm machinery auction - seeing generations of equipment sold; spending time with Tim's aunts in Cedar Falls; Jerry's mom being moved to palliative care status being sorrow.
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
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)
Pageant Rehearsal is Saturday, December 16th at 10:00 am in Children's Chapel.

All those children and youth in the holiday pageant please be at church this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and meet in the Children’s Chapel. We dress in costumes, rehearse music and run through part of pageant and service.

Remember to keep adding coins to your Guest at Your Table (GAYT) boxes and remember to return them on Christmas Eve, at either the 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. service.

Looking Ahead:
No classes or worship on the morning of December 24 th. There will be no RE classes on January 31 st. All classes will meet together for a New Year’s Party in the Children’s Chapel. Regular classes resume January 7 th.
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 15
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom

Saturday, December 16
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 17
Children's Pageant Rehearsal / 9:15 am / Children's Chapel
Children's Choir Rehearsal / 9:15 am / Classroom #1
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:20 am / YRUU Classroom
Worship Service "Children's Pageant: 'The Yule Spirits" / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Childcare / 10:15 am / Nursery
Adult Discussion Group / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall

Monday, December 18
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children’s Chapel
Caregivers' Chalice Cirlce / 7:00 pm / Julie Zilles home

Tuesday, December 19
UU Feminist Book Group / 7:00 pm / Library
Social Action Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, December 20
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 21
(Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
Winter Solstice/Yule Ceremony / 6:30 pm / Fellowship Hall
Reflective Writing Chalice / 7:00 pm / Library

Friday, December 22
Moving Forward Divorce/Separation Group / 3:30 pm / YRUU Classroom
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: December 21
Deadline for content: Wednesday, December 20 by Noon
January 2018 Uniter: Thursday, December 28
Deadline for content: Wednesday, December 20 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