Beloved congregation, I am writing with a heavy heart to tell you that I will be resigning from UUCUC on January 3rd, at the end of my time of medical leave. Although there have been some improvements with my rheumatoid arthritis and its complications since my medical leave began in September, my health has not yet stabilized, and I continue to experience levels of fatigue that make ministry an impossibility, for now. I remain determined and hopeful that I am on a path toward remission, but it’s clear that healing needs to be my full-time job for a while. Continue reading...

Rev Florence shares a video message with UUCUC's children, youth, and families regarding her leaving UUCUC.

We have created a Kudoboard space for the congregation to leave messages of support and love for Rev. Florence. The Kudoboard will be delivered to Rev. Florence on Saturday, December 18th. If you have a moment, please wish her well!

On December 19th, we will have space in our sanctuary for 40 “backstage passes.” That is, you and your family can sign up to attend in-person, with the understanding that there will be some cords and cameras cluttering up the view, some pre-recorded online elements you’ll miss out on, and some overall tangles still being worked out.

Do you have questions about how the hybrid service will work? This outline should have your answers.

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.

Join our online Zoom Fellowship Hour after the service on Sundays (around 11:30 am).

If you have missed any of the previous services, you can view them on our past streamed services webpage. You can also view previous live streamed services on our YouTube channel.

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.

Bookmark our UUCUC Events and UUCUC Calendar webpage for future reference.

As you plan your holiday winter giving, please consider donating to the Little Free Pantries run by Julie Laut (in Urbana) and AJ Herzog (in Champaign), which they have maintained since March 2020. Their Amazon wish list has been updated to include unique winter items. All items off the wishlist will be delivered to Julie's house and shared between the two pantries. You are also welcome to drop off items in person at both locations. Questions? Contact Julie (jlaut@hushmail.com), or AJ (zogs92@gmail.com).

JOYS AND SORROWS sent to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org for last Sunday, December 12, 2021.

From Jerry Carden: As the tornadoes tore apart a large swath of the midwest, may they have strength for a season of healing and rebuilding.

From Jerry Frye: Feeling great joy in the overwhelming support and encouragement of the UUCUC congregation following my injuries. Priscilla and I are so grateful to belong to this caring community.

From Amy Hassinger and Adam Davis: We are so sorry to have to say goodbye to Rev. Florence as our lead minister, and simultaneously so grateful for her wisdom and her teaching these past years. She will remain in our hearts as our beloved teacher, both through her words and even more powerfully through her actions. We are more grateful than we can say for her leadership and her example.

From Andrea Herzog: Our dear neighbor died this week after a valiant, longterm fight with cancer. Please hold her young adult daughters in your thoughts as they navigate so many things without a parent in their lives.

From Ellen Jacobsen: So hoping we will be able to maintain the growing momentum of the UUCUC community without the loving hand of rev Florence. Feeling really sad but glad to visiting family soon.

From Emily Laugesen: Sharing deep gratitude for Florence's ministry. She has helped us to grow as a congregation in so many ways -- especially in becoming more engaged with our larger community.

From Julie Laut: The YRUU is happy to be meeting in the youth room again. This morning we will be painting one wall of the room after missing this fun tradition in May 2020 and May 2021. We are smiling under our masks!

From Mick McEnroe: I don't have the words to express how grateful I feel for Florence's service to the community and our congregation, or how much she has helped and supported me on a personal level. I am holding her in my heart as she continues her healing journey.

From Cameron & Michelle Pitcel: Sorrow for the passing of our feline daughter, Gwen, this past Thursday, after an extreme and unexpected decline in her health. We adopted her the year we got married and luckily had her almost 15 years. She will be so tremendously missed.

From Andy Robinson: I give thanks for the words of hope from neighbors about our church’s help for an Afghan refugee family and especially the coordination from Pam and Lan Richart. Also thanks that my mom was able to go out to help gather Christmas decorations from storage with our family.

From Lane Schwartz: Joy and great thanks for the ministry and wisdom that Rev Florence has brought to my life over the past years, and joy for the amazing new opportunities that next year will bring as I begin a new position as an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.--When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere. -- R.A. Heinlein, "Time Enough For Love"

Please send your joys or sorrows to joysandsorrows@uucuc.organy time before the Joys and Sorrows portion of the service. They will be read aloud.

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:

During the month of December 2021, we will support our Partner Churches with our social action 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.

During the month of October 2021, DREAAM House was selected to be the shared offering. The UUCUC congregation contributed a total of $1,577.50 that month!

DREAAM embraces and engages with DREAAMers as early as the age of 3 with the commitment to remain in their lives until they are 24. They work with children and young adults who need DREAAM the most. Some of them face tough odds, needing to overcome challenges such as school suspension, anger issues, parental incarceration, and low academic skills. However, where others see problems, DREAAM sees potential. They reach out to families, community organizations, churches, schools, and service providers to produce caring, outcome-driven services for children and young adults..

Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our UUCUC Calendar page.

As of December 2021, the UUCUC building has reopened to host small group meetings and activities. Please refer to the Covid Safety Reference Guide for safety precautions to take inside the building.

Don't forget to publicize your meeting/event!

Read our policy on publications for details.

Please send your submittals to pubs@uucuc.org and not to the admin email.

Closed until further notice

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