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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES  
10:15 AM in Sanctuary
December 2, 2018
Keine Angst vorm Dracula!
(No Fear from Dracula!)
Partner Church Committee

This annual service honors and acknowledges our relationship with our partner Unitarian churches in Transylvania and India. The UUCUC choirs will be singing.

Check out this video from January 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx5m7BIdaLU&feature=youtu.be
December 9, 2018
  “You Can Do It!”
UUCUC Worship Committee

Patch Adams is a doctor, clown, activist, visionary, and a member of our community. In this service Patch will talk about his work, the Gesundheit Institute, his concepts of “health care” and “hospital”, and his vision of the world as it should be.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Bookmark our UUCUC Events and UUCUC Calendar webpage for future reference.
Upcoming Auction Item (#200) - Slide Show: In the Land of the Kami on Friday, November 30th at 7:00 pm at UUCUC.

In the spring of 2016, Rev. Caplow traveled to Japan to experience, first-hand, life inside a 2,000-year-old Shinto shrine. Tsubaki (Camellia) Grand Shrine. Come learn about one of the least well-known world religions and see images of this ancient and mysterious place. Green tea and Japanese sweets will be served.

There are still spots available and are only $10 per person. You can purchase your spot through our give page, https://uucuc.org/give, see under "other - service auction purchase" or you can pay at the door.
Sing! (or listen)! Join members of We Wanna Woke Community Justice Choir from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm in the Sanctuary this Sunday, December 2. We'll teach quick-to-learn songs that celebrate our collective power to make social change. Be invigorated and inspired in these literally dark times! 
 
Listen to a sample here:  bit.ly/wwwriseup
 
We Wanna Woke is a song community of people who:
  • educate each other and the greater community about social and political issues through making a visible and audible presence
  • engage and release our grief, joy, anger, courage, frustration, love together so that we can keep going in the work of social justice
  • build resilient community that can withstand difficult times
  • provide a community resource for social justice events
A Free Winter Recital! You are invited to join us in the sanctuary for our second winter recital. Matthew Gladden and a couple of his talented friends will present music selections from Liszt, Brahms, Czerny and more. 

When: Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm, at UUCUC

Come hear Matthew along with Sam Gingher – pianist and Dasom Nam – clarinetist. A reception will follow the performance. Questions? Email thodg01s@gmail.com .
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From our minister: 
I will be in New Mexico on a 7-day silent Zen retreat from December 1st to December 8th, commemorating Buddha's Enlightenment Day on December 8th. During that time I will not be reading emails or answering calls. On Monday the 10th (International Human Rights Day), I will be participating in a Clergy Witness on the San Diego/Tijuana border, organized by the American Friends Service Committee.

I will return to Urbana on December 11th. If you have a pastoral care concern during this time, please contact the office. There will be members of Care Core and other ministers on call. Take care, be well, and enjoy this wintry time.
This Sunday, December 2, we will celebrate our tradition of holiday giving by placing mittens, scarves and hats on the mitten tree. The child-size items will be given to ECIRMAC and the adult-size items will go to the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Backpack Project.
Patch Adams MD (whose life was portrayed by Robin Williams in the 1999 film,  Patch Adams , and who has recently moved to Urbana) will be speaking during our service on service on December 9th . Additionally, you are invited to talk with members of the Gesundheit! Institute during fellowship December 2, and on the evening of Dececember 2 from 6-9pm at the IMC. You are invited to join in a community fundraiser for Patch Adams, including Drag Queen Storytime, A Love Strategy workshop with Patch, and a performance by local band, Rational Dress Society. Funds raised will be used to complete his teaching center that will move health care away from a for-profit model towards models of care based on service and compassion.

If you love THE POINSETTIAS , with Beth's departure we did not set up the whole "poinsettia project" early enough, but if you would like to sponsor a poinsettia for our windows at Christmas, at $25 each, please contact the office. 
If you would like to help with  GUEST AT OUR TABLE, a fundraising project of the UU Service Committee, this year anyone who wishes to give may do so through the following link: 

We also have small boxes to take home and collect change. If you would
like one, please speak with Michele Grove, our Interim DRE.
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!
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 Holiday Pageant
Sunday, December 16 will be the winter holiday pageant. What a great day this will be! To make it extra special, Michele Grove is looking for the following persons to volunteer:
  1. We still have two places for children or youth to have speaking roles. Email Michele if you are interested in learning more re-director@uucuc.org. These roles are very short – 3 lines each!
  2. Children, youth and adults who are willing to be angels, shepherds, wise persons, donkeys and sheep. They can travel with the caravan or stay seated in the pews. Come in costume (pick your favorite) or come early and we will provide a costume for you. Children and youth may decide to wear a different costume – of course! We are only limited by our imagination. The more people who dress up, the more festive it will be! 
  3. Persons willing to help make some simple costumes ahead of time. This will be very simple! Who would like to help? 
Please email Michele Grove at re-director@uucuc.org or call her at the church (217) 384-8862. 
Religious Education Class and Worship Schedule for the Rest of the Year

December is a sacred time full of many winter holidays. Here is a schedule of activities involving the children and youth religious education program. Parents- keep this schedule handy!

December 2 – Children and Youth attend worship for the first 15 minutes and then go to their religious education classes.  On this day, children will learn more about the upcoming Winter pageant.

December 9 – Regular religious education classes 10:15-11:30. Everyone begins in the classroom.

December 16 – All Ages Worship – the Winter Pageant:  Gifts for the Journey! Nursery available for ages 0-5. No regular RE on this day.

December 23 –Children’s Chapel for children, youth and families.  No Regular RE on this day.   Nursery available for ages 0-5.
Theme: Happiness and Sadness: A Winter Holiday Roller Coaster .

December 30 – No Religious education classes.  Nursery available for ages 0-5.

Happy new Year! Stay tune for upcoming religious education opportunities in 2019!
Guest at Your Table: Every year, the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice promotes the Guest At Your Table Program . This is an education and fundraising program supporting Unitarian Universalist social justice and outreach programs all over our world. There is an effort to strategize how this program is structured at UUCUC to be sure it provides the education and promotion it deserves. We will be sure to roll it out with great fanfare in 2019. 

For this Winter Holiday season, anyone who wishes to give may do so through the following link:  https://donate.uusc.org/give/75595/#!/donation/checkout
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. Please collect and turn into the church office or the Religious Education Welcome Table.  She needs them by December 16, 2018 . 
CARE CORE NEWS
Joys and Sorrows

Shamim Nanozi: I am happy I received my work authorization document (work permit). I can now legally work in the USA YEEEEE!!!!

Sam Beshsers: My father Daniel, his wife Barbara and my brother Neil are all able to be in service last Sunday.
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 .

For the few days remaining in November, we are supporting DREAAM House, a local community impact organization with a justice-informed mission to reduce the achievement and opportunity gaps among boys and young men.
December is just around the corner and as always, 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.
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 .
Continuing a Tradition of Generosity
Our church has enjoyed giving generously to the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen backpack project since it began several years ago. The soup kitchen celebrates the holidays by giving filled backpacks to the men and women who are guests at lunch. These packs are much appreciated, since they are often the only gifts they receive during the holidays.

Backpacks should be stuffed with hats, gloves, scarves, socks, thermal underwear, sweatshirts or pants, and toiletries such as deodorant, hand lotion for hands chapped by the cold, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and shaving cream. Other appreciated items include hand warmers, cough drops, books, decks of cards, small fleece blankets, candy, gum, food items. We are asking that backpacks and included items be new. All backpacks should be labelled with the gender and size of recipient (from S to XXXL).  

We will collect backpacks at the church on December 2 and 9. When dropping off a pack, please sign your name to the list at the Social Action table so that your gift can be acknowledged. Tax forms will also be available.

Backpacks will be given away at the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen on Friday, December 14 beginning at 10:00 am. If you have questions about this project contact Sandy Hannum at smhannum@gmail.com.

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 Dec. 17th or before.
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, November 29
Winter Recital Rehearsal / 5:00 pm / Sanctuary
Membership Committee Meeting / 5:30 pm / Fellowship Hall
(Rental: Many Paths, an Agnostic AA) 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
Vision Team Meeting / 7:00 pm / Children's Chapel

Friday, November 30
Stewardship Committee Meeting / Noon / Library
Slide Show: In the Land of the Kami / 7:00 pm / Fellowship Hall

Saturday, December 1
Loss of Life Partner Group / 11:30 am / Library
(Rental: Many Paths: an Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 2
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 am / Library
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 am / Library
Children’s Choir Practice / 9:15 am / Classroom #1
Worship Service / 10:15 am / Sanctuary
Visitor’s Welcome Room / 11:30 am / Library
Young Adult Group / 11:30 am / Table in Fellowship Hall
We Wanna Woke Community Justice Choir / 11:45 am / Sanctuary
IREAG/Strategic Visioning Meeting / Noon / Children’s Chapel, Classroom #2, #3 & #4
Soul Matters Covenant Group #8 / 1:00 pm / Classroom #1
Soul Matters Covenant Group #7 / 1:30 pm / Library
 
Monday, December 3
Bridge Group / 1:00 pm / Children’s Chapel
Tuesday, December 4
(Rental: DSC Playgroup) / 8:30 am / Classroom #3
Personnel Committee / 5:00 pm / Library
 
Wednesday, December 5
Last day for content for OOS & eNews by noon to pubs@uucuc.org.
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 pm / Classroom #1
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 pm / Sanctuary
Adult Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 pm / Sanctuary
 
Thursday, December 6
Care Core Meeting / 2:00 pm / Library
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 pm / Rm #1
 
Friday, December 7
Stewardship Committee Meeting / Noon / Library

Saturday, December 8
Loss of Life Partner Covenant Group / 11:30 am / Library
(Many Paths: an Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 pm / Classroom #1
Upcoming Publications - Mark Your Calendars!
Next eNews: December 6
Last day for content: Wednesday, December 5 by noon the latest.
Winter Uniter
(Covers: December / January / February)
Submissions: Closed
Distribution: December 5

Did you miss our Fall Uniter?
Click here to check it out!
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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