Tip: There are clickable links throughout the eNews. Look for colored underlined words - click for an easy access of an email, address, web shortcut or further reading.
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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
10:15 AM in Fellowship Hall
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Sunday, September 2, 2018
"A Brave and Startling Truth"
Rev. Florence Caplow
Maya Angelou wrote, "We, this people, on a small and lonely planet...It is possible and imperative that we learn a brave and startling truth...We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world"
(
https://www.best-poems.net/poem/a-brave-and-startling-truth-by-maya-angelou.html
).
In September we will be exploring the theme of "Vision" beginning with this beautiful poem, and what it can teach us about vision and possibility.
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Sunday, September 9, 2018
"Shared Ministry: Going Deeper"
Rev. Florence Caplow
Last year, as Rev. Caplow began her ministry with us, she brought us the vision and practice of "shared ministry," which is based on the understanding that ministry is done by all in the congregation, not just the minister, and ministry reaches well beyond our walls. As we begin our second year of shared ministry with her, how have we traveled together in the last year? Where might we go from here? This will also be our annual Teacher Dedication and beginning of Children's Religious Education classes for the year. Children and youth will begin in worship service before heading to their classes. The UUCUC Choir will be singing.
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New Soul Matters Monthly Themes!
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For this church year we will be exploring all-congregation monthly themes in Sunday services, Covenant Groups, and Religious Education, through the national UU program,
Soul Matters
. The theme for September is
"What Does It Mean to be a People of VISION?"
We will be exploring the role of visionary thinking in our personal lives, in the world, and in our church. If you'd like to follow the theme on Facebook, please visit
https://www.facebook.com/soulmatterssharingcircle/
.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
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Did you know our church
calendar
is available on our website? It is and you can view specifc dates, view the calendar as a week, a month or an adgenda. Its a valuable resource to plan your upcoming event or meeting. Also, you can add already scheduled events or meetings to your own google calendar - just click the title of event/meeting and chose "copy to my calendar".
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UUCUC Church Office will be closed on Monday, September 3 for Labor Day. Office hours will resume on Tuesday, September 4.
We will resume regular office hours starting on Tuesday, September 4th, which are Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
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Special Volunteer Position: "Keeper of the Flames".
We are looking for a volunteer who would be willing to monitor our candle supplies and keep our chalice oil filled. Are YOU the potential keeper of our flames? If this seems like something you would like to do, please contact Rev. Florence Caplow at
minister@uucuc.org
.
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Wake Joy Class! Six weeks from September 20 to October 25, Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 pm, Channing Murray Foundation. Rev. Caplow will be teaching a free 6-week class on Buddhist practices for developing greater joy and ease in your life, at the Channing Murray Foundation on campus. This is the first part of a two-part series (the second six weeks will be in the winter). Some of the material in the class will be based on the book
Awakening Joy, by James Baraz. Register at the first class. Questions? Email Rev. Caplow at
minister@uucuc.org.
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Write on!
Thanks to enthusiastic responses, our book project--The Story That Changed My Life--has gotten off to a rousing start with nearly 30 people indicating their interest in participating. To jump-start your writing effort, stick around after services on Sunday, September 23rd for the short workshop, "3 Steps to Start Writing Your Story." We will meet in Children's Chapel at 11:45 am. Looking forward to getting this bus on the road!
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The Accessiblity Team is pleased to soon be getting a new Assistive Listening System for the sanctuary! The Audio Everywhere system works with our WI-FI and the receivers are smartphones or tablets! Many people already have a smart device which will be compatible with this new convenient system. For people who do not already have their own smart device, we will need to have devices available to loan during services. If you have recently upgraded your device and have an extra you would be willing to donate to the church please contact Wendy Graves at
wgraves7@msn.com or (217) 493-8824. Devices compatible with this system should be an iPhone 5s or higher or an iPod Touch 6
th generation or better or an Android device at least OS 5 with Wi-Fi at least 802.11 a/b/g/n.
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“SOUL MATTERS” COVENANT GROUPS
are now forming!
Sign up today!
Details of the program available at Hub Table in Fellowship Hall. Or see Membership Coordinator, Sherry Bohlen, with questions & concerns. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make connections in a growing church community while deepening your personal spiritual journey.
All members and friends welcome!
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Tagore Festival, Saturday, September 29th at Channing-Murray, 5-10 pm.
The festival is in honor of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), poet, dramatist, musician, philosopher, and humanist who became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. The festival commemorates Tagore's visit to the UIUC campus in 1912 when he delivered a series of lectures at the Unitarian Church of Urbana, now the home of Channing Murray Foundation.
Join us for a festive evening with a keynote address by Elleke Boehmer, Prof of World Literature in English at Oxford University, a catered Indian dinner, and a cultural program by the East Central Illinois Bengali Assn. This will be the 29th year of the festival. Tickets for the dinner go fast - $16 adults, $14 for students, free for children under 8. You may send a check to Channing Murray (
1209 W. Oregon, Urbana
) with Tagore Festival in memo line or use paypal at
eciba.mailing.list@gmail.com
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) NEWS
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Register Your Children and Youth for Religious Education!
As UUCUC gears up for another great year of religious education, we ask parents to register their children ages 0-18. Registration helps us to know these young people, meet their unique needs, and keep them as safe as possible in our programs. Please take a few moments and fill out the registration form.
We ask that every family register, even if you have registered in the past!
This
link
is to an online version. There are also paper copies available at the church. Please note that this online registration is a test. It is our hope that all will work smoothly. Please call or email Michele Grove, Interim Director of Religious Education, if you have any problems.
RE-director@uucuc.org (
217) 384-8862
.
https://uucuc.breezechms.com/form/0aadff
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Religious Education Ingathering
Everyone is invited to join us for the UUCUC Religious Education Ingathering on Sunday, September 9, 2018. All ages will gather in worship to celebrate the beginning of the year and meet religious education leaders. Children will then go to their classes to get to know their leaders and each other.
This year, the following children and youth programs will be offered:
- Nursery care for children ages 0-5.
- Pre-Kindergarten class for ages 3-4.
- Kindergarten-1st grade
- 2nd - 3rd grade
- 4th - 5th grade
- MAGS (Middle Age Group 6th-8th grade)
- Coming of Age (7th-8th grade)
- YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists 9th-12th grade)
Also, children and youth are invited to participate in special religious education opportunities including:
Super Sundays
with special guests and opportunities for learning and service,
All Ages Worship
Opportunities,
Children Chapel
Opportunities,
Special Events
for All Ages.
Watch the eNews and church website for upcoming opportunities. And if you have questions, please email or call Michele Grove, our Interim Director of Religious Education for more information.
RE-director@uucuc.org
(217) 384-8862
.
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The Coming of Age program will occur this year for anyone ages 12-15
who wish to participate. This program is a special part of our Unitarian Universalist heritage because it guides our young people through a process of group-building, dialogue and reflection in a process of becoming an adult. Through this process participants examine their beliefs, ideals and then participate in a Rite of Passage worship service in May 2019. Many people at UUCUC give testimony to this enriching experience. If you are interested in being a part of this program (most sessions are held during the religious education time on Sunday mornings), please register with Michele Grove, Interim DRE
RE-director@uucuc.org
(
217) 384-8862
. The first class will meet on Sunday, September 9th.
There will be a parent orientation on September 26th (Time to be announced).
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Children and Youth Religious Education looking for passionate volunteers!
This year’s program is still looking for people who will serve as a part of a leadership team, a religious education associate, or a part of one of the many support groups that make children and youth religious education happen. Do you have an interest in:
- Working as a part of a leadership team to lead a Sunday morning religious education class?
- Working as a part of a leadership team as a youth advisor?
- Working as a Sunday Superintendent who take turns supporting the Sunday morning leaders (a new program this year)
- Working as a special guest leading an activity in which you have passion (music, social action, racial justice, art, recreation or other cool thing)?
- Learning more about Unitarian Universalism while you lead?
- Bake goodies to share with Sunday morning religious education leaders?
If so, please reach out to Michele Grove, our new Interim Director of Religious Eeducation,
RE-director@uucuc.org
; (217) 384-8862. Michele is working to create a supportive program which nurtures both learners and leaders. No experience necessary!
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Joys and Sorrows
Lynn Wiley & Sam Beshers - Joy for our daughter Caroline, who has moved to Chicago and has a job with the National Health Corps.
Christine Cahill - Two joys, Parner Michael and I traveled to NY to celebrate the wedding of daughter Colleen. Michael is finally on a medication which is successfully treating his nausea and dizziness. It was a long summer for him but things are finally looking up.
Jim & Sandy Hannum - Our grandson's Alec's 6th birthday.
Betsy Oakley's partner Tom Brown passed away on Monday, August 20th, after a brief time on hospice. She will be leaving us and moving to New York State on September 2nd, to be closer to her daughter and family.
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The "2018 Out of the Darkness Walk" to raise awareness and help fight suicide
will take place on Saturday, September 22 in Crystal Lake Park. For more information, to join the walkers, or to make a donation, please go to
www.afsp.org/ChampaignUrbana
or contact Marilyn Ryan at
marilyn.ryan@gmail.com
.
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Do you need a ride to church? Would you be willing to give a ride to a fellow congregant?
Volunteers who could pick up others on the way to church are still needed. We'd like to have a list we could use to find rides for folks who need them. Volunteers would not be committed long-term but would be contacted as needed. Please call Anne Reeser (217) 369-1764, if you would be willing to be let us add your name to this list.
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SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS
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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 collected within the specified month designated for "shared offering" and on-line donations through our
give webpage
.
For the month of September we are supporting
GCAP
- The Greater Community AIDS Project.
GCAP
serves the needs of those affected with HIV and AIDS in East Central Illinois and educates the public about HIV and AIDS. GCAP offers a variety of programs including: Champaign House-- a 4 bedroom transitional housing facility for people living with HIV who are homeless. In addition we coordinate with the Eastern IL Foodbank to provide food needs for those with HIV; provide emergency assistance grants (over $19,000 last year) through a client's HIV case manager over a 10 county area. We provide education to individuals and group about HIV related issues including prevention, living with HIV and caring for those that are HIV positive. We coordinate with Shelter Plus Care – GCAP is a sub-recipient of the Housing and Urban Development program administered by Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) that helps to place individuals in housing while receiving intensive support services. There have been over 1100 visits to the Foodbank this past year. Champaign house has had 7 individuals and their families move in and 5 move on to a more permanent housing situation. Mike Benner is the Executive Director. GCAP formed as a grass-roots effort in 1985 as the Gay Community AIDS Project, but changed it's name a few years later as it became clear that HIV could infect/affect anyone.
By giving generously to GCAP, your dollars will help support neighbors in our own community.
To read more about GCAP, click
here or visit their
website.
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The UP Center (Uniting Pride) is once again hosting a weekend of fun activities as part of their annual pride weekend
. Our congregation turns out in big numbers for the Pride Parade, this year to be held on
Saturday, September 15th, parade starts at 5 pm.
More information will be available, but mark your calendars now! Watch the eNews for more details as the event draws near. Check out the UP Center FB page for other associated events:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1926540987420964/
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Mark your calendars to learn about getting big money out of politics!
When:
Monday, September 24th 7-9PM
Where:
UUCUC Fellowship Hall
Child care & refreshments to be provided
. Please RSVP (see below) if you will need child care.
Move to Amend, the national campaign to end Corporate Personhood and get big money out of politics, in collaboration with the Social Action Committee, invites you to a community presentation on the topic of challenging corporate rule and creating authentic democracy.
Greg Coleridge, the Outreach Director of Move to Amend, will give a historical overview of how 132 years of Supreme Court rulings have bestowed corporations with constitutional rights. He will then address how we can mobilize locally to overturn this trend and pass a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end corporate personhood. Community members will present in conjunction with Greg on the intersection of corporate rule and the local issues they work to overcome. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion and Q&A.
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CROP Walk 2018 is Coming!
UUCUC Social Action Committee supports the C-U CROP Walk 2018. CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. The six-mile loop walk will begin at 2 pm on Sunday, October 14 at Faith United Methodist Church (1719 S. Prospect Rd., Champaign).
Participating walkers will gather donations to help overcome hunger and poverty, both locally and internationally. Of the funds raised in this event, 75% will go to developing countries where the need is greatest, and 25% will go to these local groups: the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, the Wesley Evening Food Pantry, and the Sola Gratia Farm. This year the focus of the overseas program is Indonesia, promoting nutrition and sanitation in rural communities.
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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.
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Thursday, August 30
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
Saturday, September 1
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1
Sunday, September 2
Mindful Meditation Group / 9:20 am / YRUU Classroom
Worship Service / 10:15 am / Fellowship Hall
Broadly Graded Summer RE / 10:15 am / Children’s Chapel
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
Monday, September 3
Church Office is closed for Labor Day Holiday
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children's Chapel
Tuesday, September 4
(Rental: DSC Playgroup) / 8:30 am / Nursery
Personnel Committee Meeting / 5:00 pm / Library
Worship Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Library
Wednesday, September 5
Last day for content for eNews & Order of Service at noon.
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary
Thursday, September 6
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
Membership Committee Meeting / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall
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Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
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Next eNews: September 6
Last day for content: Wednesday,
September 5 by Noon the latest.
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Fall Uniter: September 9th
No longer accepting content for the Fall Uniter
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Don't forget to publize your meeting/event!
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UUCUC Contact Information
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Regular Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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Church Office
(217) 384-8862
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Rev. Florence Caplow
Minister
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Kate Barton
Events Coordinator
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Michele Townsend Grove
Interim Director of Religious Education
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Sherry Bohlen
Membership Coordinator
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Matt Sheppard
Music Director
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Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
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Rosalyn Maziarka
Office Administrator
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Matthew Gladden
Accompanist
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Jody Hanger
Assistant for Religious Education
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Mary Foltz
Childcare Coordinator
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Emily McKown
Summer RE Teacher
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Stephanie Cobb
Sunday Kitchen Helper
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