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The Winter Solstice Takes Place
This Evening, 5:23 p.m.
To help you celebrate, our December 19 Winter Solstice service can be viewed at
this link online.
It included special music by Colleen Haas (Worship Artist in Residence), Women of Mass Percussion, the UU Children's Choir, and Ray Fellman, piano. Also, the moon is almost full tonight, and if the clouds clear, we'll get to see it, since moonset is not until early tomorrow morning.
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Sunday, December 23, 2018
9:15 am and 11:15 am
How Is It with Your Soul?
Reverend Scott McNeill
As our monthly theme of "Deep listening" nears its end, I wanted to give you - the people of my community - one of the greatest gifts I have ever received (and since have given). The simple pause and the deep breath that prepare you for peace before the inner turmoil that may arise. So, when you see friends from your hometown, people you had an awkward interaction with once, that one frustrating relative, someone from whom you are estranged, with whomever you come in contact - may that simple pause and deep breath allow us to move into a space of deep listening, and from the heart asking (and encouraging the ears to hear), "How is it with your soul?"
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This Week in Religious Exploration:
We will have all our children in Preschool-8th grade together in Room 208 to share holiday stories, make crafts and sing songs. Childcare is available in Room 108. Middle School OWL and High School Youth Group will resume on January 6th.
Religious Education has purchased some beautiful wooden finger labyrinths for busy hands to use for mindfulness during services. They will be located at the back of the meeting room near the family side. Please return them to the basket after use.
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UU Freethinkers Meet Sunday, December 23 at 12:45 p.m.
The UU Freethinkers discussion group will meet this Sunday at 12:45 p.m. in Room 208 for an open and non-structured discussion of issues of social, political, and theological/religious concern.
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MAM's Musical Musings Video Note:
The December 6th Women's Alliance presentation by Reverend Mary Ann Macklin,
2018 MAM Musical Musings
, can now be viewed without waiting for download time.
This brief bio through musical reminiscence lasts a little over 20 minutes, with an additional five minutes of slideshow.
Thanks to our Tech Staff, Andy Beargie and Ned Joyner, for making this recording possible and gratitude to Laura Jesseph for the slideshow.
Special thanks to the UUCB Women's Alliance for inviting MAM to make a presentation "to get to know her a little better."
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Monday, December 24, 2018
4:00 pm
Away in a Manger Nativity Pageant
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education
This service in Fellowship Hall is designed with families and the young at heart in mind. Newcomers and guests especially are invited to join us for this informal service. There will be a few chairs around the room and plenty of room for kiddos and families to sit on the floor. This is an interactive pageant where you are welcome to participate actively or simply be present to the experience.
What to bring: - a stuffed animal or doll to put in the manger and share with the babies and other children - soft blankets, pillows or floor chairs, and if your budget permits, a plate of cookies to share, or a pair of new mittens, adult gloves or men's socks for the Mitten Tree.
Specific age groups are invited to come dressed for parts
and to become familiar with a few lines. These ages are just suggestions; if your child feels called to play a certain role assigned to a different age group, that is fine! Please let Adrienne Summerlot (
[email protected]) know if someone in your family can arrive a little early and be an Inn Keeper and help pass out candles and programs.
0 - 3 year olds - Angels - Wear halos perhaps made of aluminum foil and whatever else you feel makes you angelic. Practice saying, "Oh, what a wonderful child" and "Peace to all people on earth!"
4 - 5 year olds - Shepherds - Wear shepherd hats like a towel on head tied with some type of rope or tie and whatever else would keep you warm if you were a shepherd. Practice saying, "Let's go look for that baby" and "Oh, what a beautiful child!"
6 - 8 year olds - Wise Ones - Wear crowns and other wise-one garb. Practice saying, "Look at that amazing star! It must be shining for something very special!" and "This child will be our teacher."
9 and up - Inn Keepers- Help pass out programs and play the role of Inn Keeper. Please let Adrienne know if a youth or adult in your family can help in this way.
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Monday, December 24, 2018
7:00 pm
Lead On, O Spirit of Christmas
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin and Reverend Scott McNeill
and Friends
Candlelight Christmas Eve service with music from our choir, special guest soloists and singing of carols, including Silent Night by candlelight. While much of the Candlelight Christmas Eve service is an annual tradition, this year's theme will encourage us to explore what the Spirit of Christmas might lead us toward, in these unprecedented times. We'll be using the UU hymnal for carol singing at this service as well as projected words, but please feel free to sing the words you like the best! No childcare provided at this service.
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Sunday, December 30, 2018
9:15 am and 11:15 am
A Love Universal
Reverend Forrest Gilmore
In challenging times, we can find ourselves doubting what the future holds. We can question the basic goodness of people. Yet our faith tradition offers us a response of hope to carry
us though.
Join us as we welcome our Affiliated Community Minister as a guest in our pulpit. Reverend Gilmore also serves as Executive Director of the Shalom Community Center. Large group Religious Education as well as childcare will be provided at both services.
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Choir Schedule for the Next Few Weeks
Sunday, Dec. 23
No Sunday morning choir
Monday, Christmas Eve Choir rehearses in the library at 6:15
Thursday, Dec. 27 No choir rehearsal
Sunday, Dec. 30 No Sunday morning choir
Thursday, Jan. 3 Choir rehearsals resume. Childcare available if reserved in advance; contact Kitty at [email protected]
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Thank You from the Hope for Prisoners Task Force
The Indiana Dept. of Corrections Watch organization and Kids with Absent Parents (KAP) Program thank everyone who contributed to the toy drive. The KAP children will receive their gifts on Dec. 22, and Indiana Dept of Corrections Watch will be deliver over 500 gifts around the state in time for Christmas. UU member Tony Reilly, who solicited 400 pairs of boots from PLAE Shoes last year for students at Fairview Elementary School, has this year arranged for each KAP kid to get a new pair of shoes. The spirit of Christmas is alive and well among us and gratitude flows freely from many hearts, ours included. --Mary Goetze
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Our Folks...
This season can be difficult for many people -- the lack of sunlight affects our mental health, the holidays can remind us of difficult times or loved ones who are now gone, and sometimes health issues flare up in the winter. We hope that all of our members, friends, and their families take care of themselves as best they can. If you are struggling and in need of support, the ministers are available for pastoral care (contact information is found at the end of each issue of the Prologue, or in the directory).
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Our Pledge Dollars at Work
Your generous financial pledges help us provide candles for our services--including Solstice, Equinox, and Christmas Eve, as well as multi-peril insurance for our building!
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Our Minds Will Stay Open but
Church Offices Are Closed December 24-January 1
Regular weekday office hours resume Wednesday, January 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. There will be administrative staff in the office, Room 204 on Sunday, December 23 and Sunday, December 30.
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Buy Grocery Cards on Sunday and Support the Church
Fresh Thyme Cards Now Available
We have grocery gift cards for sale in the Commons every Sunday between services. The participating grocery stores send a percentage of your purchases back to the church to support our operating budget. We have gift cards for Fresh Thyme, Bloomingfoods, and Lucky's, and you can register your Kroger Plus card by clicking
here.
Our new Kroger organization ID number is EW763.
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Livestream This Sunday's Service
If you can't physically make it to church this Sunday, we invite you to join us via the
livestream on our website. At the church we also have screens set up in the nursery (Room 104) and in Fellowship Hall, if you need to leave the Meeting Room for any reason but still want to watch the service.
Direct Links to Archived Video of Recent Services
You can find direct links to archived recordings on this page of our website:
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How to Subscribe:
If you are not already regularly receiving emails like this from us, you can subscribe by sending an email to [email protected].
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For More Information
see the December 19
edition
of our newsletter, The How to Subscribe:
If you are not already regularly receiving emails like this from us, you can subscribe by sending an email to [email protected].
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Masthead photo from the Internet. (modified by mro)
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