REV. SALLY FRITSCHE
Join us this Sunday to reflect on how this global pandemic has disrupted so many of the achievement-based milestones and metrics once taken for granted. Inspired by the work of Unitarian children’s author, Dr. Suess, Rev Sally will ask us to reconsider the possibilities found within chaos, and together we will reimagine the expectations we place on young people as well as the standards by which we measure ourselves. All ages welcome!
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SUBMITTING JOYS AND SORROWS
Please send your joys or sorrows to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org any time before the Joys and Sorrows portion of the service. They will be read aloud. |
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Join our online Zoom Fellowship Hour after the service on Sunday (around 11:30 a.m.). Come chat with UUCUC members and friends! All are welcome.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Your contributions and support allow us to continue to respond with love and resources to the needs in our congregation and the wider community. We couldn’t do it without your support and we are grateful to each of you.
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If you have missed any of the previous live streamed services, you can view them at our past streamed services page. You can also view previous live streamed services on our YouTube channel. |
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REV. FLORENCE CAPLOW
This Valentine’s Day let’s celebrate love in its many forms, particularly the form of our dream for Beloved Community here at UUCUC. UU Leader Paula Cole Jones describes Beloved Community this way: Beloved Community happens when people of diverse racial, ethnic, educational, class, gender, sexual orientation backgrounds/identities come together in an interdependent relationship of love, mutual respect, and care that seeks to realize justice within the community and in the broader world. This is also the opening Sunday of our Generosity Campaign.
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REV. FLORENCE CAPLOW, PAULA COLE JONES
There is a movement within Unitarian Universalism to adopt an 8th Principle to deepen our other Seven Principles: One of the leaders of that movement, Paula Cole Jones, who is a lifelong UU, racial justice activist, and leader from All Souls UU in Washington DC, will speak with Rev. Caplow about her vision for the future of Unitarian Universalism. These are the proposed words of the 8th Principle: We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS, CLASSES & EVENTS
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REGULARLY OCCURRING WEEKEND EVENTS |
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Kerri Peters, Director of Facilities, Stepping Down
Kerri Peters, our new Director of Facilities, will be leaving her employment with us on February 15, 2021. We on the staff are sad to lose her from our team; we were looking forward to working together.
In her letter to the Building and Grounds Advisory Taskforce, she writes: "My life has changed significantly since taking this role at the tail end of last year. I have had to make some difficult decisions to take better care of my family, and myself. I have loved getting to know the building, the staff and the few congregants I have had the pleasure of meeting. I hope that COVID will ease up sooner rather than later so that you all can be in the building at some point this year. I have every intention of visiting once services are in person, so I can experience the building, full of the fellowship it was meant to hold." Read the full post with details.
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New adult religious education offerings for 2021 have been announced in the Adult Religious Education Prospectus earlier this month. It promises to be a fun semester of classes, workshops, discussion and creative learning. The adult religious education committee is working on new programs to be added to this semester’s program. Keep an eye here for updates! Also, updates will be included in the eNews and on the church calendar. |
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Anyone welcome to join this class at any time!
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Please consider donating to the Little Free Pantries run by Julie Laut and AJ Herzog, which they have kept active daily since late spring. In order to address increased and unique needs this winter, they have created an Amazon wish list. All items will be delivered to Julie's house and shared between the two pantries. Donations of all items will continue to be accepted as usual at both locations, if you want to bring them in person.
Thank you for your support and generosity ~ Julie and AJ
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GROCERY DELIVERY AVAILABLE
If it would be helpful to have someone deliver groceries for you, we have several folks who have volunteered to do this. Contact Julie Laut at: jlaut@hushmail.com or 513-544-2682 & she’ll put you in touch with a volunteer.
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UUCUC'S "BUDDY SYSTEM"
Staying connected while
UUCUC facilities are closed
During this time of social distancing, staying in touch and checking in with each other is going to be very important. We hope you will consider being part of our "Buddy System" so we can care for one another.
You can sign up here: https://uucuc.breezechms.com/form/2184f1. Buddies will check in with each other regularly by phone to provide connection, companionship, and connections to help if needed. This is a great way to help each other. |
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Kari Alice Lynn passed away January 29th, after 13 days of conscious VSED (voluntary stopping of eating and drinking). She was supported by hospice and by a circle of friends, including a number of UUCUC members and friends. Please know that she made strong and clear choices about how to respond to an advanced cancer diagnosis, and as a deeply spiritual person, met her death with grace and awareness. Her online Celebration of Life will be Friday, February 12, 6:30 pm, and details can be found in our UUCUC calendar page.
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Claire Szoke, a member of UUCUC for more than 55 years, passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on January 30th, with her daughter Kathy and her family around her. She worked tirelessly for peace and immigration justice, and her bright spirit will be deeply missed throughout the community. Her online Celebration of Life will be Saturday, February 27, at 6 pm, and details can be found in our UUCUC calendar page.
Please take care of yourself, and reach out to our ministers if you need support or a place to talk.
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From Sandy and Jim Hannum: We were honored to share in the last adventure of Kari Alice Lynn as she transitioned from this life with serenity, grace, and joy. We will miss her wisdom and warmth.
From Ellen Jacobsen: Sadness and joy at Claire’s wonderful life and passing. Joy that I Just had a birthday call with my 9 year old grandson Henry and sadness that I haven’t gotten to be with him and hug him for so long.
From Jerry Carden & Tim Temple: We are celebrating our 40th anniversary of being together. Yet it's a bittersweet day as we hold our third memorial service for Tim's mom Florence Temple, who died a month ago today on New Year's Eve. We buried her on Friday in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Today is a virtual service for much loved cousins and friends joining in from coast to coast to share memories of Florence.
From Beth Simpson: Bittersweet Joy at being part of the care circle supporting Kari Alice Lynn’s compassionate choice to transition into death. It was a humble and beautiful gift I will continue to learn from.
From Christine Cahill: Grateful that my husband and I, both teachers in the Unit 4 School District, will be getting our first COVID vaccine tomorrow. Praying that some of the most vulnerable in our community, such as those at the Swann Care Center, get their vaccines soon.
From Kathleen Robbins: A joy - after almost four years in the closet, President Biden opened the door and invited Trans women and men to again serve openly as their true selves in the US military, joining more than 20 of our allies around the world.
From Jenny Hunt and Kristi Mercer: Sorrow at the passing on Friday evening of our dear friend and church member, Kari Alice Lynn. Kristi has known her for over 35 years. We will miss her smile among us.
From Cathy Ritchie: Covid still sadly rages, but I nevertheless feel great joy at seeing several Champaign/Urbana institutions reopen and return to some degree of normalcy, places like the Courier Cafe and both the Urbana and Champaign Public Libraries. It all helps.
From Jocelyn Karsk: Great joy at having a manuscript accepted for publication. Much appreciation to my co-authors for bringing their statistical expertise to the data I collected.
Please send your joys or sorrows to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org any time before the Joys and Sorrows portion of the service. They will be read aloud. |
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UUCUC Social Action Offering. Each month a selected organization is chosen to receive offerings from our congregation. You may donate to the social action offering for the month in one of the following ways:
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UUSC Thanks Congregants for Our Generosity!
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During the month of February, we will support C-U at Home through our social action offering. Your donation supports daily averages of 65 friends who visit the Phoenix Drop-in Center, taking 13 showers and doing 11 loads of laundry; 49 men and 8 women who stay in their Emergency Shelters; 8 men and women who stay in Transitional Houses; 64 people who call their Emergency Outreach line, and 9 people who are involved in their C-U at Work program.
Volunteer opportunities are also available, including helping at the drop-in center and driving. Call 217-819-4569 or visit their website to learn more. |
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RECENT SHARED OFFERINGS
During the month of January 2021, Eastern Illinois Foodbank was selected to be the recipient of the shared offering. As of February 3, the UUCUC congregation has contributed a total of $2,677.50!
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our UUCUC Calendar page .
Note: Parenthesized meetings/events are outside rentals. Asterisked meetings/events are closed.
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As of March 2020, the UUCUC building closed as a preventative measure to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community. All upcoming scheduled meetings and events at UUCUC listed on the calendar should be considered virtual unless noted otherwise. At this time, we are strongly recommending that no groups meet in person.
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UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS! |
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Next eNews: Thursday, February 11, 2021
Last day for content: Tuesday, February 9 by 5pm at the latest.
Don't forget to publicize your meeting/event!
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Please do not send to admin@uucuc.org.
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UUCUC CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Regular Church Office Hours
Closed until further notice
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Church Office
(217) 384-8862
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REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS
Need reimbursement for a purchase or two made on behalf of a committee project? Fill out this online reimbursement form, which will go to the DCA, and submit your receipts via email, if applicable. |
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Rev. Florence Caplow
Minister
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Rev. Sally Fritsche
Associate Minister for Congregational Life
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Austin Cody
Choir Director
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Kendra Gibson
Religious Education Assistant
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Michele Townsend Grove
Interim Director of Religious Education
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Emily McKown
Youth Coordinator
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Erinn Miller
Web & Communications Assistant
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Kerri Peters
Director of Facilities
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Zoe Valentine
Director of Congregational Administration
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Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
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