December 24, 2019
a whole-hearted community,
feeding body, mind & spirit

Theme for December: Compassion
Wishing you all a Very
Worship
Dec 24 – 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Family Service: Our traditional family service features music by the Celebration Singers and a time to celebrate the timeless message of Christmas.  ~Rev Pam Rumancik

5:00 pm Christmas Cookies & Fellowship between services in the Alice Warren Room

Dec 24 – 6:00pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Service: A quiet service of familiar hymns, poetry and readings. Find a space of calm in the midst of a busy season. Join us to remember the many blessings and reasons for this season. ~Rev Pam Rumancik
Dec 29 - Don't Worry, Be Happy ~ Dave Lloyd
COMMUNITY
Caring Corner
The ripples of our lives touch those around us. We keep in mind all of our members and friends including...

  • Tony Meadors & family who lost his dad this week.
 
Please let us know of folks we should add to our list and share with our Caring Circle Coordinators .
 
*You will find the Caring Circle list of Area Coordinators at the end of the Touchstone found on our website at http://www.hinsdaleunitarian.org/new/the-touchstone/
This Week In The
Religious Education Program

Play Group:  Will not be available
Spirit Play: No class- children are welcome in the service
Chapel Service:  No Chapel Service- children are welcome in the service
Coming of Age: No class- youth are welcome in the service
Senior High Youth Group: No meeting- youth are welcome in the service

One of the best things you can do to help your child(ren) benefit from the RE program and to enjoy church school is to provide regular attendance. Consistent attendance enables participants to build on previous experiences and develop a rapport with classmates and teachers. Each child is important and has unique contributions to make! See you soon!
Our Second Small Group Ministry leader will provide space for reflection. Looking for connection and deep, satisfying, and thoughtful conversation? A new SGM meeting will be offered the first Thursday of the month with the next meeting on Jan 2nd at 7pm in room 5. Contact Lenny Edgin ledgin@gmail.com if you are interested in participating. All are welcome to attend!
Emergency Relief Fund
Most every life faces at least one of those moments when just about everything seems to go wrong. Often, family and friends can help but sometimes no assistance is forthcoming – that’s why we have the UCH Emergency Relief Fund .
If a crisis swamps you or a family member and temporary financial assistance would make a difference, please contact Rev Pam and let her know what you need. All requests are confidential. This fund was established for our church to be able to support one another in times of need. We refill the fund each year with the offering at our Christmas Eve services.
If you or someone you know needs help – please do not hesitate to talk to Rev Pam.
Fair Trade
The Fair trade table will be closed through January, then we'll be back in early February for your Valentine treats. Thanks for a great year - all proceeds go to UCH!


The Final two "A New Earth" Classes - based on the book by Eckhart Tolle will be Saturday Jan 11th and 18th at noon in the Rutherford Room (living room) in the church.   Join Rev Pam for the chapters 7 & 8 in exploring Tolle's insights to help us grow a new earth in our own community. You can listen to a discussion of the chapters by Oprah and author Eckhart Tolle here. The final class will be Jan 11th at noon.
There will be NO styrofoam collection this month (Karen needs her car for other purposes) but if you want to part with your holiday stuff, you can drop it off at the Theater of Western Springs parking lot Saturday, Jan 4, from 9-noon. Karen will collect the last Sunday in January (26th)

We Are Getting New Folding Chairs!!
The church will ring in the new year with fancy new folding chairs to be used for potlucks and meetings and events.
To make room for the new we need to find a home for the current chairs. We will be giving them away for a free will donation. Please feel free to take some home anytime over the next two weeks and leave your free will donation in the collection plate.
DuPage United Leaders Meeting
Tuesday Jan 14 @ 7:00pm
Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn
 
The next DuPage United Leaders Meeting will be  Tuesday, January 14 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Faith Lutheran Church (41 N Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn) in Luther Hall on the lower level . At this meeting we will discuss and vote on two proposed actions this winter and summer. If you plan to attend please RSVP by responding to this email or filling out the  google form . Representatives from interested non-member institutions are welcome to attend and learn more about DU. 
 
The next  2-day leadership training will be on Saturday, 2/15 and Sunday, 2/16  in Hinsdale. We encourage anyone who has not been to a 2 or 3-day training to attend this training if possible. Please see the attached flyer for more information. Also, because of the unpredictable severe weather in February we will have a "snow day" make up weekend on March 7 and 8.
 
Please checkout the most recent  Metro IAF newsletter . If you do not receive these newsletters and would like to please let me know and I can add you to the list. Also, Mike Gecan recently penned an interesting article called " How Not To Do Activism " in the Boston Review. 
 
It's not too late to include DuPage United in your  end of the year giving  or to ask a friend or loved one for a contribution. All contributions are tax deductible through DuPage Sponsors.  http://dupageunited.org/donate
Conscious Aging
Join us here at UCH for a 6 part workshop on aging. The workshop will focus on listening to our own inner wisdom and guidance, integrating Talking Points and best practices, sharing in intimate conversation circles, and listening to the collective wisdom of the group.
 At this workshop you will learn how to:
·        Explore unexamined, self-limiting beliefs, stereotypes and assumptions about aging and make better, more conscious choices about our worldviews on aging;
·        Develop self-compassion to cope more effectively with change, worry, and stresses associated with aging;
·        Discover and reflect on what has given heart and meaning to our lives and how that informs our intentions for our aging process;
·        Enhance connection and reduce isolation from others and the web of life by understanding our shared humanity in the aging process;
·        Reduce fear and increase acceptance in the presence of death and dying for ourselves and for our loved ones.
The fee is $99 for all six dates which are Thursdays – Jan. 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 7:00 – 9:00pm.
Click HERE for more information!
Advent Greetings!
St. John of the Cross parish will begin hosting a monthly support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one from suicide. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. L.O.S.S.
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) is a non-denominational program that provides a safe, judgement free environment intended to help survivors and family members share experience, and draw strength and hope within a loving community. Trained counselors are on hand at each meeting. Call LOSS at 312.655.7285 or SJC (708) 246-4404 for more information.
Visit the LOSS website for additional information.  https://catholiccharities.net/GetHelp/OurServices/Counseling/Loss.aspx  
Early Registration Open Now
Adult full-time registration is $400 through March 15.
NEW! Registration Payment Plan: With a $50 down-payment, the cost of registration can be paid over the course several months. Final payment must be received by February 29, 2020. When the final registation is complete, special consideration for dormitory lodging bundles,  financial aid  and  volunteer opportunities  will become available.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
2020's MLK Day Community Renewal Society (CRS) Faith in Action Assembly will be on Monday, Jan 20, 8am to 12 noon at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 2151 W Washington Blvd and will feature a panel discussion with Chicagoland youth. This is an annual event that Chicagoland UUs attend in coordination with UUANI to learn about and support CRS’ legislative advocacy agenda. UCH attendance is being coordinated by the Racial Equity Team. Questions? Contact mhonelwilson@gmail.com.  To sign up, RSVP to socialjustice@hinsdaleunitarian.org with your name, email address, cell phone, and yes or no to going out for lunch afterwards with other UUs. Also, please register on the CRS website here:
 
New Name - Same important Work!

UCH Racial Equity Team (formerly The Black Lives Matter Initiative / Beloved Conversations Alumni) team meetings will now be scheduled on THIRD TUESDAYS.
Black Lives Matter Initiative Weekly Link:



To view the full Race Resources page on our website, please click HERE
and More.......
Emergency Exit Map
Please note that in the back of every Singing the Living Tradition hymnal there is an emergency exit route map. In case of an emergency, refer to this guide and please assist others who do not have a map.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check Us Out and “Like" the UCH Facebook Page!
In addition to News and Notes and The Touchstone, we will be using our Facebook page to keep the congregation and the community informed about upcoming events and initiatives. Share our posts with your family and friends. Just click on the logo above and search for “Unitarian Church of Hinsdale” in the search bar.
You can also find us on Twitter at @UUHinsdale .