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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 AM in Sanctuary
"Anything Is Possible"
January 6, 2019
Rev. Florence Caplow

Our Soul Matters theme for January is "Possibility". In this first service of the New Year, we will celebrate the unexpected and the magical. Every New Year pundits offer predictions for the coming year. We may think we can know what the future holds, but history and life shows us that great changes are often not at all the ones that were predicted, and this can be very good news. This service will be for all ages, although childcare will be provided. There will be a visiting magician, so don't miss this one!
"Buddhist Practices for Resilience and Renewal"
January 13, 2019
Rev. Florence Caplow

As UUs we are people who are passionate about helping to create a better world, but how do we keep going for the long haul? Contemplative practices can ground our activism and develop our resilience in challenging times. In this service we will explore teachings and practices that can guide us in our call to skillful, compassionate action. Rev. Florence Caplow is a Zen Buddhist priest and teacher, as well as a UU minister.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Bookmark our UUCUC Events and UUCUC Calendar webpage for future reference.
Creating a Unitarian Universalist Learning Roadmap
Saturday, January 12, 2019 9:30 am to Noon
  • What do we teach
  • What do we wish to learn?
  • What do we wish our children to learn?
  • What do we hope everybody knows?
These and many other questions will help the congregation create a learning roadmap. Creating a roadmap needs lots of voices and ideas. This workshop if for parents, religious education leaders and all life long learners. In other words, this workshop is for the entire congregation! We hope you will attend. 

We need you! Join us in this effort. 
RSVP to Michele Grove at re-director@uucuc.org or call the church office (217) 384-8862 by Tuesday, January 9, 2019. Child care will be available on request.  
UU Voices Reading Group, led by Rev. Florence Caplow

When:  Sunday, January 13 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)!
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, if you would like to "sign the book" and become a member of our church community. Childcare & lunch provided.
Questions? Contact Sherry Bohlen (217) 384-862. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Staff News : UUCUC member Kate Barton, who has been our Events Coordinator for the last six months, is transitioning to a new position: Facilities & Events Coordinator. In addition to her responsibilities that include events and rentals, will now also include building care, maintenance, project management, and supervision of our Custodian, Shornor Vineyard. Kate has property management experience and we are delighted that she has been willing to increase her hours and take on a new role. If you see Kate on Sunday morning, please be aware that Sunday is not one of her work days: she attends services for her own well-being and as a church member, so please do not corner her with property questions on Sunday. The best way to reach her in regard to property related questions is via email at facilities@uucuc.org .
Wake Joy! Class Continues in 2019!

Rev. Caplow's Wake Joy class will resume in January. This class focuses on practices for cultivating happiness. There will be six sessions, starting January 24th, from 4:30 to 6 pm on Thursdays at Channing Murray Foundation on campus. The class is open to those who attended in the fall, and for new students. All are welcome. There is no charge for the class, but please register at https://uucuc.breezechms.com/form/e249ee
Our spring Soul Matters Covenant Groups will begin in late January and continue through April -- generally with two sessions each month. These are small facilitated groups of 8-10 people, exploring our monthly themes in more depth. Many who participated in our fall Soul Matters Covenant Groups reported that the experience was a wonderful way to deepen their own spiritual discernment while developing deep connection with others in our church community. 

Sign-up sheets will be available beginning this Sunday, January 6, in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome, whether you're a member, a friend or a visitor. For questions regarding the program, email Sherry Bohlen  or call (217) 384-8862.
January is brought to you by Hospitality Team C
Welcome Hospitality Team C co-leaders, Marcy Joncich & Wendy Graves & Team C volunteers who will assist with bell ringing, ushering, welcoming, providing decorations & snacks during the month of January.

Thanks to Team F co-leaders, Tamara Ducey & Trisha Locke & Team F volunteers who helped out in December. Stop by the Hub table in Fellowship Hall to sign up for a Hospitality Team or to find out which Team you are already on.
Come to our UU Skate and Birthday Party!
(From Jody Hanger and Chris Hannauer)

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

Please email auction@uucuc.org to sign up for this awesome event!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) NEWS
2019 Religious Education Updates
The new year brings exciting new opportunities for religious education. Here is an update of what families can expect:

  • The year will begin with an All-Ages worship service on January 6th.
  • Starting January 13th children and youth will begin in the worship service each Sunday. On most Sundays, they will go to their classes after 15 minutes of worship time with the full worshipping community. 
  • Nursery care and the PreK class will not begin in worship each Sunday. The child care providers and PreK leaders will be ready to greet children starting at 10:00 each week. PreK class officially starts at 10:15 AM. Nursery care and the PreK program end at 11:30 AM. The PreK leaders invite parents to join their class for their closing and chalice extinguishing at 11:30 each week. 
  • The Coming of Age class for 7th and 8th graders will also begin in their class each week at 10:15 since this transitional year needs a longer class time to focus on this amazing journey. 
  • There will be several opportunities for the congregation to engage with religious education this year. Watch for opportunities and remember: religious education is more than a program for children and youth. We are all a learning people! Religious education is for the entire community. 
6th Grade Parent Meeting
Following worship, parents of our congregation’s 6 graders are invited to join Michele Grove and Laura Haber for a class conversation. Every able parent is encouraged to attend for a time of covenanting and dreaming about the future of this class. Lunch will be provided. If you have any questions, please call/text or email Michele Grove, Interim director of religious education (605) 237-1319 re-director@gmail.com
Resolving Conflict, Finding Agreement - Part 1
Sunday, January 20, 2019 Noon-4:00 PM, UUCUC Children's Chapel
Light Lunch Provided, Child Care provided
RSVP to Michele Grove at RE-director@uucuc.org or by calling the church office no later than January 16, 2019 so we have enough food and may ensure that child care is properly staffed. 
At a time when differences seem more pronounced, simple disagreements can turn into difficult conflicts. Join Gail Schiesser and Virginia Brubaker to learn how to deal both more effectively and more comfortably with conflict, in this fun and hands-on experience.
This class will help anyone who finds themselves in situations where those around you are in conflict with each other from time to time. If you would like to be more helpful in those situations, this class is for you.
Virginia and Gail have taught communications skills for many years through the NLP Institute of Chicago. As partners in Common Sense Mediation, they resolved complex conflicts through mediation for couples and groups. Please feel free to call them if you have questions about this class. Virginia's number is (217) 419-3106.
CARE CORE NEWS
Joys and Sorrows

Jim Hannum - A joy! Sandy and I were married on Christmas Eve 46 years ago. It's been a lovely journey!

Sarah Wisseman - Joy: As my husband says, walking around and breathing in and out is an under-rated pleasure! Last weekend, Carle Hospital saved my life. Thanks to so many of you who have sent food, flowers, funny emails, and friendship. A very Happy Christmas to you all.
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Happy Birthday to those who celebrate in January.

Check out our birthday webpage to see who celebrates in January.
RACIAL JUSTICE PROJECT NEWS
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.
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 .

Our Shared Offering for January is NAACP
Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the largest and most recognized civil rights organization in the United States. NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

The Champaign County Branch of NAACP provides programs and services to promote and enhance civil and equal rights of all citizens, promotes political empowerment and the enactment and enforcement of civil rights laws, and promotes educational excellence, economic development, and outreach. One NAACP program, the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), is a yearlong achievement program to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
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 pweichelberger1@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, January 3
(Rental: Many Paths, an Agnostic AA) 6:00 pm / Classroom #1

Saturday, January 5
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, January 6
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 am / Library
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 am / Library
Partner Church Committee Meeting / 9:00 am / Children's Chapel
Worship Service / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Visitor’s Welcome Room / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
6th Grade Parent Meeting / 11:45 am / Children's Chapel & OWL Classroom

Monday, January 7
Stewardship Committee Meeting / Noon / Library
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children’s Chapel

Tuesday, January 8
Worship Committee Meeting / 5:30 pm / Library
Board of Trustees Business Meeting / 7:00 pm / Classroom #1
 
Wednesday, January 9
Last day for content for eNews & Order of Service by noon, the latest.
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary
 
Thursday, January 10
Care Core Steering Committee / 11:00 am / Library
Safety Committee Meeting / Noon/ OWL Classroom
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 pm / Rm #1
Racial Justice Project Meeting / 6:30 pm / Library
Finance Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall
Trust Fund Trustees Meeting / 7:00 pm / Children's Chapel
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: January 10, 2018
Last day for content: Wednesday, January 9, 2019 by noon the latest.
Winter Uniter

Click to read the Winter Uniter .
IMPORTANT!! Send your submittals to pubs@uucuc.org - Please 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
Facilities & Events Coordinator
Stephanie Cobb
Sunday Kitchen Helper
Kelsey Libert
Childcare Coordinator
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