The UUCUC office will be closed and staff will be generally unavailable between December 25 through January 1. Regular office hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will resume on Thursday, January 2. Because the office will be closed, there will not be an issue of eNews distributed on December 26. For those of you planning to promote any events or announcements during the week the office is closed, please submit content by noon on Wednesday, December 18 to be included in the December 19 issue of eNews. Happy holidays!
THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE
"WE ARE THE LIGHT WE ARE LOOKING FOR"
EMILY MCKOWN
Sunday, December 15 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

A costume pageant! If you or your children feel inspired to dress up for this years pageant, please come on Sunday Morning Dec. 15th in a costume which brings the most joy and light to your spirit. All creatures welcome! We also have a collection of costumes in the R.E. closet, so if you'd like to pick one out before the service, come to the Children's Chapel at 9:30 a.m. and pick out your favorite! 

This theatrical, all-ages service will feature children from the congregation as well as our children’s choir. The pageant, inspired by a children’s book called, “Gathering Sparks,” tells the story of the Jewish notion, Tikun Olam, whereby people heal the world through gathering light each time they perform good deeds.
HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES
"SOLSTICE: CELEBRATION OF THE DANCE OF THE LIGHT AND THE DARK"
REV. FLORENCE CAPLOW
Sunday, December 22 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

In this service we will honor the powerful energies of the winter solstice, and remember the integral ways that the light and dark support one another. The UUCUC Choir will be singing.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Bookmark our  UUCUC Events   and  UUCUC Calendar  webpage for future reference.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED!
We will have a 5:00 p.m. traditional service with Lessons and Carols, and a 7:00 p.m. “less traditional” service. Many of our musical groups will be part of the evening.

Please join us for the evening!
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
SUNDAY MORNING CLASS SCHEDULE
 
  • December 15th: UUCUC’s annual winter holiday pageant. No RE since all children and youth are invited to participate. Nursery care is available. 
  • December 22nd: Special religious education programming for children up to age 10 with Stephanie Cobb. Nursery care is available.   
  • December 29th: No RE classes. Have a wonderful winter holiday break! Nursery care is available for children ages 0-5.  
  • January 5th: Regular RE classes. It is possible that some of the classes will be combined or cancelled since it is still a part of winter break.
OUR CARING CONGREGATION
JOYS, CONCERNS AND SORROWS

A joy shared by Anonymous
Joy for the light in this Sanctuary.

A sorrow and memory shared Sally Babbitt
For Nilah Espel Reiman, a nursing classmate (1957), who died recently. And, for Holt Babbitt, our 52nd wedding anniversary would have been December 9.

A joy shared by Diedra Cobb
BLMCU has successfully transferred Lead Organizer position from Diedra Cobb to the brilliantly talented and active Satchez Johnson, who was born and raised in Urbana and is well-known and loved in the CU black community. .Diedra will remain and Advisor to BLMCU. Please pray fro and support BLMCU in helping to address and heal the trauma and to lift up the brilliance of the CU black community. Joy!
SOCIAL JUSTICE 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 will 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. Read more....
We’ve added a stretch goal of $9000. The campaign will end this Sunday, December 15th at 10:55 p.m., so there’s still time to contribute and share. We’ve added some photos under “Updates” where you can see the work that’s been done to prepare the FirstSteps House ... Read More
GIVING AND GRATITUDE
YEAR END GIVING

As we approach the end of this year we want to thank all those who have given so generously of their time, talent and financial resources. For those of you who must take a required mandatory distribution (RMD) on your IRAs, please consider making a charitable contribution to our church directly from your RMD. For those wishing to make a year-end gift in honor or memory of someone special, or make payments on your pledge balance, you can make an online donation. 

If you have any questions or need more information contact Kathy Vance, Financial Secretary, at finsec@uucuc.org.
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 12
Care Core Committee / 2:30 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1

Friday, December 13
No events scheduled

Saturday, December 14
Loss of Life Partner Covenant Group / 11:30 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 p.m. / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 15
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 a.m. / YRUU Classroom
Racial Justice Project Meeting / 9:00 a.m. / Fireplace Room
Children's Choir / 9:15 a.m. / Classroom #1
Nursery / 10:00 a.m. / Classroom #4
Religious Education / 10:15 a.m. / Children's Chapel, Classrooms #1, #2, #3, Library (Lower Level), YRUU Classroom
Sunday Service / 10:15 a.m. / Sanctuary
Young Adult Group / 11:30 a.m. / Fellowship Hall
Book and Magazine Exchange / 11:30 a.m. / Fellowship Hall
High Street House: Meeting to Update the Congregation on Recent Developments / 11:30 a.m. / Children's Chapel
Generosity Team (Stewardship) / 11:45 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Women CrUUners Rehearsal / 11:45 a.m. / Sanctuary
OWL / 4:30 p.m. / Children's Chapel, Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room, Library (Lower Level)

Monday, December 16
Bridge Group / 1:00 p.m. / Children's Chapel
Caregivers' Chalice Circle Group Holiday Potluck / 5:00 p.m. / Julie Zilles House
Caregivers' Chalice Circle Group / 7:00 p.m. / Julie Zilles House
Finance Task Force Meeting / 7:00 p.m. / Fireplace Room

Tuesday, December 17
Pastoral Care Associates Leadership Team Meeting / 5:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Board of Trustees Business Meeting / 6:30 p.m. / Classroom #1
UU Feminist Book Group / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Social Action Committee Meeting / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, December 18
Last day for content for eNews & Order of Service by noon, the latest.
UU Playgroup / 9:00 a.m. / Classroom #4
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 p.m. / Sanctuary
Choir / 6:00 p.m. / Sanctuary
RE and Navigator Meeting / 6:00 p.m. / Children's Chapel, .Classroom #2
UU the Vote Organizing Team Meeting / 6:30 p.m. / Fellowship Hall
 
Thursday, December 19
Membership Committee Meeting / 5:30 p.m. / Fellowship Hall
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
Reflective Writing Circle / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Next eNews: December 19, 2019
Last day for content: Wednesday December 18 by noon the latest.

IMPORTANT!! Send your submittals to pubs@uucuc.org
Please do not send to admin@uucuc.org.

Don't forget to publicize 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
Kate Barton
Director of Facilities
Sherry Bohlen
Director of Congregational Engagement
Austin Cody
Acting Choir Director

Brian Franklin
Director of Congregational Administration
Matthew Gladden
Assistant Music Director
Michele Townsend Grove
Interim Director of Religious Education

Kelsey Libert
Childcare Coordinator
Emily McKown
Youth Coordinator
Blake Preston
Religious Education Assistant
Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
‌