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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 AM in Sanctuary
December 16, 2018
 “The Gifts of the Journey”
UUCUC Pageant, led by Michele Grove

Sophia Lyons Fahs said, "Every night a child is born is a holy night." We will celebrate this truth in our all ages holiday pageant called The Gifts of the Journey. The story will unfold as the participants travel to find a newborn baby and bring gifts to honor the holy event. This all ages worship experience gives everyone the opportunity to experience the holiday season and while providing children with the opportunity to participate in a way that is special to this time of year.  
December 23, 2018
“The Light Inside the Dark”
Rev. Florence Caplow

In this service, we will celebrate the winter solstice and the gifts of darkness and of light at this sacred and oh-so-dark time of year.
December 24, 2018
"Christmas Eve"

We will have services at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The earlier service will have traditional Christmas readings, music, and carols, the second service will celebrate the transforming power of compassion, through reflections and music. All choirs will be singing, and both services will end with a candlelit "Silent Night."
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Bookmark our UUCUC Events and UUCUC Calendar webpage for future reference.
Our Minister at the Border.

Rev. Florence joined nearly 400 other clergy from around the county and from many different faiths on the San Diego/Tijuana border, on Monday the 10th, International Human Rights Day. #LoveKnowsNoBorders was organized by the American Friends Service Committee, in response to the militarization of our border and the horrific and inhuman treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. 

To learn more about this event, NBC news did a powerful article .  (click to see an extraordinary photograph). 

Rev. Florence will be talking about her experience, and ways to engage with what is happening on our southern border, tonight (Thursday the 13th) from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
Our Monthly Book & Magazine Exchange is Sunday, December 16
Bring in your books and magazines for exchange in Fellowship Hall after our service on Sunday. Books and magazines can be for children and adults. You can take home books or magazines without donating any and vice versa.
UU Voices Reading Group, led by Rev. Florence Caplow

When: Sunday, December 16th at Noon in Classroom #1 

Many Unitarian Universalists also maintain a relationship with other theological and philosophical understandings: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Paganism, Humanism, or (fill in the blank!) Skinner House books has published a series of short books with short, personal, heartfelt essays by UUs who feel that they are, in one way or another, "trans-religious". This reading and discussion group will meet once each month on Sunday after church, and will begin with reading    Christian Voices in Unitarian Universalism    (available in paperback or as an e-book). All are welcome (with or without a book)!
Join us on Thursday, December 20th at Fiesta Cafe for the UU Happy Hour. The UU Happy Hour is on the third Thursday this month due to Christmas. The Fiesta Cafe is location at 216 S 1st Street, Champaign. Come anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 pm to get together, chat & relax. For more information about the Happy Hour Group contact Russ Rybicki at russadr@fastmail.fm .
ALL CONGREGATION WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION. All are welcome!
 
6:30 - 7:30 pm / Friday, December 21st / Fellowship Hall
The ritual will begin promptly at 6:30 pm so please arrive by 6:15 pm, so that you can enter, find your seat and get settled before 6:30 pm.
UUCUC’s Pagan Ritual Group is inviting all UUCUC Members & Friends to join in a celebration of the Winter Solstice. The celebration will be a family-friendly ritual where all ages can participate together. Questions? Contact Virginia Brubaker or Gail Schiesser .  
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We have 8 windows to fill! Won't you sponsor a poinsettia today? We will use them to decorate our Sanctuary windows and will be available to pick up after the Christmas break. We will have a special dedication in the order of service, if you choose to dedicate The cost is $25 each, please contact the office to reserve today. 
Calling All Christmas Eve Helpers

If you will be attending either Christmas Eve service (5:00 pm & 7:00 pm) this year, we could use your help. Everyone is invited to bring a plate of cookies or bars for our collective hospitality which will occur BETWEEN the two services. NOTE that this is a change from past practice. If you are attending the 7:00 service on Dec. 24, please come 30-45 minutes early to enjoy hospitality with those coming out of the 5:00 service. Also note that he Hospitality Teams DO NOT provide snacks on Christmas Eve. Place your plate on the snack tables in Fellowship Hall & remember to bring it home at the end of the evening. Three ushers & two welcomers are needed for the 5:00 service. Three welcomers are needed for the 7:00 service. 

If you can help with any of these tasks, contact Peggy Patten. Thank you!
THE UNITED DREAM TEAM. What – oh what – is that???

You may have heard a rumor…. or maybe not…. about some “strategic visioning” going on. That is, some work on how to manage our ever-growing UUCUC community, and increasing social action, and space concerns, and…and…and... And of course you’re aware ….. or maybe not ….. that Michele Grove is working with us to “re-envision” what Religion Education means and how to expand the concepts of RE beyond children and youth.

And yes …. we know that you need to know more about what going on!! SO… the United Dream Team is the two groups working together – in tandem – to ensure collaboration, cooperation and communication between the groups and more importantly, with you, the members of the congregation.

We will need your ideas as we move forward, and are creating a communication plan to be sure that happens. Please see the bulletin board outside of Michele’s office to learn more as we negotiate the twists and turns of this very important work.
Publications Deadlines for the Holidays! Please plan your announcement submissions accordingly. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the church office.

The church office will be closed Tuesday, December 25th through Friday, December 28th. There will be no eNews on Thursday, December 27th. The Order of Service for December 30th will be collaborated and printed the week before Christmas.

Announcement submissions for eNews December 20th, Orders of Service December 23rd and 30th are due no later than noon on Wednesday, December 19th. Please note in your subject line which publications (can be both) and which date you would like your announcement to be included. If you would like more details regarding publications, please read our policy for more details.Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Save on Taxes and Pay Your Annual Pledge! For those over 70 ½, did you know that you can pay your church pledge directly from your IRA/403b accounts with a check sent from your account custodian to the UU Church? It is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), persons over 70 ½ may gift up to a total of $100,000 each year to qualified charities from tax-deferred IRAs. You pay no income tax on the IRA withdrawal gift and the gift counts toward meeting your minimum required distribution (RMD) amount. Doing a QCD from your IRA can be especially beneficial for folks who will no longer itemize due to increased standard deduction amounts in 2018. Most account custodians/plan administrators have a simple form to request that a QCD gift check be mailed directly to the church from your IRA/403b account.

Note: withdrawing the funds yourself and giving to the church does not qualify as a QCD. Consult your tax advisor to determine if this QCD gifting strategy can save you income taxes.

Please inform Amy Robison , Financial Secretary, when you request a QCD distribution check so she can properly credit it to your pledge or other fund when it arrives. Submitted by Karen Folk – if you have questions, ask me about it!
Pathway to Membership Class  
Sunday January 13, 2019
Noon to 3 pm
UUCUC Children’s Chapel
 
Learn about UUCUC governance, activities, opportunities and social action mission. Learn about benefits & responsibilities of membership. Meet others interested in UUCUC membership. At the end of the class, you'll have an opportunity to "sign the book" and become a member of our church community and a vested partner. Childcare & lunch provided.
 
Questions? Contact Sherry Bohlen (217) 384-862. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER .
Come to our UU Skate and Birthday Party! (From Jody Hanger and Chris Hannauer)

Chris Hannauer is turning 50 in January and we are having a UU Retro Roller Skating Party to celebrate! This event was offered at the last Service Auction and there are still plenty of spaces left if you and/or your family or significant others would like to come. The price is $12.00 per person and includes pizza dinner and skate rental. We will have the entire place to ourselves, so it should be a very low-stress skating environment and, although the music will shade to oldies (think 1983), it won't ONLY be that, so people of ALL ages should feel welcome. What better way to spend a cold January evening than skating in circles with your fellow UUs? Oh, and there WILL be a couples skate, so bring your spouse/partner along!

Date: Sunday, January 13th, 2019
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Skateland in Savoy
Price: $12.00 per person

Please email auction@uucuc.org to sign up for this awesome event!
Our tenant, ECIRMAC, is outgrowning their space and is looking for a new location to provide services to their ever expanding client base. In our efforts to continue being supportive of their mission to provide services essential to refugee and immigrant resettlement in East Central Illinois, we are providing their “wish list” for a new ideal space. If you think you might be aware of a space which could meet ECIRMAC’s criteria please contact their Director, Lisa Wilson at (217) 344-8455 or admin@ecirmac.org

Description of Ideal Property for ECIRMAC
  • 750-1,000 sq. ft. office space, including a small conference room that could potentially be used as a computer lab to teach clients computer skills
  • 500-1,000 sq. ft. of storage space
  • Must be on an MTD bus line. Free parking also very important
  • Restrooms, secure entry, kitchenette with access to water and refrigerator at a minimum
  • Phone / Internet ready
  • Outdoor signage to identify our office
  • Rent $1,000 per month or less
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) NEWS
Gifts of the Journey: A Winter Pageant

Sophia Lyons Fah’s said, “Every night a child is born is a holy night.”

This year’s winter pageant is a celebration of this holy event. This all ages worship service will include children and youth as our journeyers to find a child. Children who wish to be in the pageant are invited to come early to the Children’s Chapel where a volunteer will help you select a costume. Sunday, December 16, 2018 10:15 AM
Gum Containers Needed: Have you had a craving for gum? This is a great time to satisfy this craving because Michele Grove needs gum containers like the ones pictured. On December 23 rd , the children will make something special in Children’s Chapel. Please collect and turn into the church office or the Religious Education Welcome Table. She needs them by December 16, 2018. 
Mark Your Calendars: January 12, 2019 9:30 AM to Noon

Creating a Unitarian Universalist Learning Roadmap.
  • What do we teach?
  • What do we wish to learn?
  • What do we wish our children to learn?
  • What do we wish we had learned?

These and many other questions will help the congregation create a learning roadmap. Creating a roadmap needs lots of voices and ideas.

We need you! Join us in this effort. RSVP to Michele Grove or call the church office (217) 384-8862 by Tuesday, January 9, 2019. Childcare will be available upon request.
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS
UUCUC Shared Offering. Each month a selected organization is chosen to receive half of our weekly Sunday plate collections, designated checks written to UUCUC with organization's name written in the memo line, cash envelopes designated for "Shared Offering" within the specified month and on-line donations through our give webpage .

During December, we support our Partner Churches with our Shared Offering . 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.
The UP Center is also collecting items for backpacks for local homeless youth that fall through the cracks of the current homeless shelter system. 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, usually because they have been thrown out by their family. Look for a flier at the Social Action Table, and a list of specific items for each backpack. Contact Jerry Carden if you have any questions. Date to have the backpacks ready for pickup is December 17th or before. 
Save the Date – Saturday, February 2, 2019. UUCUC will host the Critical Cultural Competency Workshop presented by trainers from Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. You won’t want to miss this workshop, presented here at UUCUC. Make a note on your calendars, and watch for more details soon!

Action Opportunity – If you are a City of Champaign resident, please stop by the Social Action table to sign a petition asking city council members to repeal the city code which allows landlords to discriminate on the basis of conviction record. Even someone whose sentence is probation can be denied fair housing rights for 5 years under Champaign’s law. This practice increases risk of recidivism, separates families, and disproportionately affects African-American people because they are twice as likely to be renters. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION on the Social Action table.
New Social Action/Recovery Support Group Starting. The Social Action Committee is sponsoring a non-AA, science-based addiction recovery group that will be meeting on Wednesdays from 6 - 7:30 pm in Classroom #1. This group is facilitated by UUCUC member Phillip Eichelberger, and is open to people both within and outside our church. To learn more about Smart Recovery:  https://www.smartrecovery.org/ . Questions? Contact Phillip at pweichelberger@gmail.com .
CHURCH CALENDAR
Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our UUCUC Calendar page .

Note: Parenthesised meetings/events are outside rentals. Asterisk meetings/events are closed.
Thursday, December 13
Care Core Steering Committee Meeting / 11:00 am / Library
Report from the Border / 5:30 pm / Fellowship Hall
(Rental: Many Paths, an Agnostic AA) 6:00 pm / Classroom #1

Friday, December 14
Windowless Classroom is reserved all day for Religious Education
Stewardship Committee Meeting / Noon / Library

Saturday, December 15
Windowless Classroom is reserved all day for Religious Education
UU Horn Band Rehearsal / 11:00 am / Sanctuary
(Rental: Winters) / 3:00 pm / Children's Chapel
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1
Children's Chapel is reserved all evening for Religious Education

Sunday, December 16
Please note Children's Chapel & Sanctuary is reserved all morning for Pageant
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 am / Library
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 am / Library
Worship Service / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Visitor’s Welcome Room / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
Book & Magazine Exchange / During Fellowship Hour after Worship Service
UU Voices Book Group / Noon / Classroom #1

Monday, December 17
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children’s Chapel
Caregivers' Chalice Circle / 7:00 pm / Library

Tuesday, December 18
(Rental: DSC Playgroup) / 8:30 am / Classroom #3
UU Feminist Book Group / 7:00 pm / Library
Budget Task Force / 7:00 pm / Library
Social Action Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall
 
Wednesday, December 19
Last day for content for OOS & eNews by noon to pubs@uucuc.org.
(Rental: ECIRMAC Board Meeting / 4:00 pm / Children's Chapel
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Adult Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary
 
Thursday, December 20
Membership Committee Meeting / 5:30 pm / Fellowship Hall
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 pm / Rm #1
Board of Trustees / 7:00 pm / Children's Chapel
Reflective Writing Circle / 7:00 pm / Library
 
Friday, December 21
All Congregation Winter Solstice Celebration / 6:30 pm / Fellowship Hall
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: December 20
Last day for content: Wednesday, December 19 by noon the latest.

This will be the last eNews until the New Year! Happy 2019!
Winter Uniter

Click to read the Winter Uniter .
IMPORTANT!! Send your submittals to pubs@uucuc.org - Do not send to admin@uucuc.org.

Don't forget to publize your meeting/event!
UUCUC Contact Information
Regular Church Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Church Office
(217) 384-8862
Rev. Florence Caplow
Minister
Sherry Bohlen
Membership Coordinator
Michele Townsend Grove
Interim Director of Religious Education
Emily McKown
Youth Coordinator
Matt Sheppard
Music Director
Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
Rosalyn Maziarka
Office Administrator
Matthew Gladden
Accompanist
Kate Barton
Events Coordinator
Stephanie Cobb
Sunday Kitchen Helper
Kelsey Libert
Childcare Coordinator
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