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THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE
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.
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS!
HOLIDAY GREETINGS AND SPECIAL NEWS FROM OUR MINISTER AND BOARD CHAIR
Rev. Florence Caplow and UUCUC Board of Trustees' Chair, Randy Locke, wish everyone a happy holiday season and share their gratitude for the services and kindness that you have shown this year. Watch now...
From Randy Locke, Board Chair

I have some exciting news about new possibilities for UUCUC in terms of our ministerial support. In recent years we have experienced a profound increase in energy, vitality, and membership here at UUCUC. We currently have 330 voting members (a 25% increase from 2017), and we are averaging more than two hundred children and adults attending each Sunday. And this is not about “growth for growth’s sake” but rather a clear need in the wider community for the spiritual depth and social engagement that we offer, a need that our values as UUs call us to respond to with love and dedication. Read more....
UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES
JAMES ENGELHARDT
Sunday, December 29 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

We’re used to making resolutions on New Year’s Eve, but we all know the feelings that come with breaking our resolutions. So what happens if we flip the whole idea of the resolution on its head? Is there a way to be kinder and more open with ourselves? What about letting go, instead? Join us for in interactive service that will have us thinking about letting go as we head into the new year. James Engelhardt will lead an exploration into an alternative way to think about approaching change at the turn of the calendar.
MEREDITH OLSON
Sunday, January 5 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary

JENNY HUNT AND DREAM TEAM
Sunday, January 12 at 10:15 a.m. in Sanctuary
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Bookmark our  UUCUC Events   and  UUCUC Calendar  webpage for future reference.
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
SUNDAY MORNING CLASS SCHEDULE
 
  • 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.
  • January 12: Regular RE classes with Nursery care for ages 0-5. 
OUR CARING CONGREGATION
It’s with great sadness that we share the news that UUCUC friend and choir member, Ray Watson, died in a tragic accident in the Chicago area on December 13. Ray was part of our choir for the few months he was with us earlier in the year, and also sang at the Spring coffee house. Read more...
JOYS, CONCERNS AND SORROWS

A joy shared by Katriena Knights
Joy for a great visit with my son in Atlanta over last weekend.
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....
Our Faithify exceeded the goal and raised $8495 for FirstFollowers FirstSteps Re-entry House! The MidAmerica Region of the UUA will contribute another 10% of what we raised. Thank you SO much to everyone who supported the FirstSteps House. We hope to hear from FirstFollowers about the progress on the house early next year.   Read more...
GIVING AND GRATITUDE
RECENT SHARED OFFERINGS

In November 2019, CU@Work was selected to be the shared offering. CU@Work puts homeless individuals and panhandlers to work in the City doing beautification projects. The one-year pilot program currently goes out Wednesday mornings for 4 hours and pays individuals $10/hour. Participants get lunch afterward and have the opportunity to receive case management services, as needed.

The UUCUC congregation contributed a total of $2,392.88 to CU@Work!
THANK YOU FROM LATINO PARTNERSHIP OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

In August 2019, the Latino Partnership of Champaign County was the organization selected to receive UUCUC's shared offering. UUCUC donated a total of $1,827.00. David Adlock, Treasurer of LPCC, sent a thank you card noting:

Your donation will directly help support the needs of the Latino community in Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding area. As you can imagine, in the current environment, there are more needs than ever among this population in our community.
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 19
UU Happy Hour / 5:00 p.m. / Maize at the Station, Champaign IL
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

Friday, December 20
No events scheduled

Saturday, December 21
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 4:30 p.m. / Classroom #1

Sunday, December 22
Adult Discussion Group / 9:00 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
Mindfulness Meditation Group / 9:00 a.m. / YRUU Classroom
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
Women CrUUner's Rehearsal / 11:45 a.m. / Sanctuary
Generosity Team Meeting / 11:45 a.m. / Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room
UU Voices Book Group / 12:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
OWL / 4:30 p.m. / Children's Chapel, Fellowship Hall Small Meeting Room, Library (Lower Level)

Monday, December 23
Bridge Group / 1:00 p.m. / Mary Joncich's House

Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve Service / 5:00 p.m. / Sanctuary
Christmas Eve Service / 7:00 p.m. / Sanctuary

Wednesday, December 25
UUCUC Office Closed
(Smart Recovery) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
 
Thursday, December 26
UUCUC Office Closed
(Many Paths: An Agnostic AA Group) / 6:00 p.m. / Classroom #1
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Next eNews: January 2, 2020
Last day for content: Wednesday January 1 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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