UUCUC OFFICE CLOSED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17: The office will be closed for the President's Day holiday. Regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will resume on Tuesday February 18.
THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE
REV. FLORENCE CAPLOW AND UUCUC STAFF
Sunday, February 16 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

Have you ever wondered what your minister could possibly be doing all week? What about the other staff here? In this service we will give you a glimpse into our secret lives on the OTHER days of the week. Hear funny and heartwarming stories from shared ministry at its finest. What is the most surprising thing we have found in the building? What gives us joy in our work? The UUCUC Choir will be singing.
HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

Our annual Generosity campaign, “ Let’s Leap …Together!” is in full swing. Thank you to all who have pledged and to all the members and friends who are preparing to pledge. Every pledge matters and is deeply appreciated. You can pledge online, by mail, or at church. If you requested a print packet, you should receive it this week or you can print a form here. Questions? Contact Mona Shannon at generosity@uucuc.org. UUCUC is self-sustaining and self-governing. Through your generosity we fulfill our mission to: Build Community. Seek Inspiration. Promote Justice. Find Peace.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES
EMILY MCKOWN AND YRUU YOUTH
Sunday, February 23 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

Listen up UUCUC! The service February 23, 2020 is being carefully crafted by our Young Radical Unitarian Universalists (YRUU). These high schoolers have chosen to speak on the topic of listening. How does our culture listen? How does what we regularly listen to define who we are? How does listening build empathy? Bring your open ears, hearts, and minds to gather the wisdom of YRUU on listening.
REV. FLORENCE CAPLOW
Sunday, March 1 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

Our Soul Matters theme for March is “Wisdom”. Wisdom is a word we don’t hear so much these days, but great thinkers from Plato onward have recognized wisdom as one of the virtues that lead to a good life. How do we find sources of wisdom, in the world or in our own hearts, especially in these confusing and fast-paced times? We will celebrate the quiet power of wisdom. This is also Pledge Sunday, the end of our four week Generosity Campaign to support our church and programs for the coming year.
UPCOMING MEETINGS, CLASSES & EVENTS
Bookmark our  UUCUC Events   and  UUCUC Calendar  webpage for future reference.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
OUR CARING CONGREGATION
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR BOB SPTIZE

A Celebration of Life for UUCUC member Bob Spitze will be on Sunday, Feb. 23, in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Library, University of Illinois, at 2 p.m. All are welcome. 
REMEMBERING ANNE REESER

We will have a quiet gathering and sharing memories of Anne Reeser on Saturday, February 29th at 10:30 am in Children's Chapel. If knowing Anne touched you in some way, please join us. Care Core will be providing refreshments.
JOYS, CONCERNS AND SORROWS
Those cards that specifically note a request to print in eNews are featured in this section.

From the February 9, 2020 Service

A joy from Anonymous
Thanksgiving for Salt & Light! So many in the Philo Rd. area were left in the lurch - elderly, blind, disabled - when County Market left. Salt & Light makes it possible to live without without stress!

A sorrow from Anonymous
Deep sorrow for all who are being impacted by the Coronavirus including the family of Yingying Zhang who might not be allowed to travel to the U.S. in March for the premier of the film made in their daughter's honor. And sorrow for all who are expecting racist retribution because of their Asian ancestry.

A joy from Christine Cahill
A joy! Daughter Colleen and husband Tony are expectant parents! Baby is due in September. Husband Michael and I can't wait to be grandparents!

A joy from Marsha Clinard
My son Eric is recovering well from his neurosurgery 2 weeks ago to remove a large tumor in his spine. The tumor was benign.

A joy from A.J. Herzog
Mother nature foiled my plans to surprise Jonah in New York at the St. Olaf Choir concert at Carnegie Hall on Friday. The weather caused so many delays and cancellations. I just didn't make it. Disappointed? Yes. And I'm grateful for the people I met that day waiting at the airport, and the friendships that will come from our time together. I'm grateful I and others made it home safely. And I'm grateful we'll get to see our boy and the choir at Krannert on Tuesday. It was a welcome reminder that many things are out of our control and accepting that can make space for other gifts, like connections with strangers and deep gratitude.

A joy from Karen Khusro
The joy I'm sharing is for all the love, care, and support I was offered by Care Core, Caregiver's Chalice Circle, members, and Florence at the passing of my dear father-in-law last month at the age of 93.

A joy from Katriena Knights
My dad's surgery went well - he is home and being cantankerous. And, I will officially be a grad student in the fall at the School of Library and Information Science.
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 the month of February, we will support Salt & Light Ministries. Salt and Light Ministries which "strives to empower individuals towards lasting change by affirming their dignity." The youth of UUCUC voted to nominate salt and light because of their revolutionary model for meeting basic needs of low-income families in C-U, while also providing a dignified work exchange opportunity. Read more....
GIVING AND GRATITUDE
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE UPDATE!

The response to the Leadership Circle invitation has been extraordinary! As of today, we have eighty-five members of the Leadership Circle who have either committed to raising their pledge by at least 15-20% and/or have committed to make a one time donation to the Ministerial Set Aside Fund, and the Fund has $56,050 of committed donations! Thank you to all who have been inspired to be part of this initiative. If you would like to join the Leadership Circle, sign-up online by pledging and/or donating to the Set Aside Fund. Prefer paper? Mail or bring your pledge form and/or check to church. 
RECENT PODCASTS & VIDEOS
Below are the recent videos and podcasts that have been published on our website.


Visit our profile on Libsyn to view our catalog of previously published podcasts, and our YouTube channel for recently published videos.
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, February 13
Care Core / 2:30 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Meditation Class Series: Whole-Hearted Living in a Brokenhearted World Class / 4:30 p.m. / Channing Murray Foundation
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1

Friday, February 14
No events scheduled

Saturday, February 15
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 p.m. / Classroom #1

Sunday, February 16
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 a.m. / YRUU Classroom
Children's Choir Rehearsal / 9:00 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
Computer / Google Lab / 11:30 a.m. / Library (Lower Level)
Young Adult Group / 11:30 a.m. / Fellowship Hall
Magazine and Book Exchange / 11:30 a.m. / Fellowship Hall
Church Tour / 11:45 a.m. / Church Foyer
UU Voices Book Group / 12:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
Soul Matters Covenant Group / 2:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Navigators Meeting / 2:30 p.m. / Children's Chapel
Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit, and Life / 3:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
OWL Parent Meeting Room / 3:30 p.m. / Fellowship Hall
OWL K/1 / 4:00 p.m. / Classroom #2
OWL 8th-9th Grade / 4:30 p.m. / Children's Chapel, Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room, Library (Lower Level)

Monday, February 17
UUCUC office closed for President's Day holiday
Bridge Group / 1:00 p.m. / Children's Chapel
Caregiver's Chalice Circle / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
UU The Vote Organizer's Meeting / 7:00 p.m. / Children's Chapel
OWL K/1 Leader Meeting / 8:00 p.m. / Classroom #2

Tuesday, February 18
Finance Task Force Meeting / 7:00 p.m. / Children's Chapel
UU Feminist Book Group / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Social Action Committee Meeting / 7:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, February 19
Last day for content for eNews & Order of Service by noon, the latest. 
REEF Meeting / 5:00 p.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
CrUUners Rehearsal / 6:00 p.m. / Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal / 7:00 p.m. / Sanctuary
 
Thursday, February 20
Membership Committee Meeting / 5:30 p.m. / Fireplace Room
(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: February 20, 2020
Last day for content: Wednesday February 19 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
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