December 23, 2021
Weekly Message from Rev. Ben
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"My weekly video urges all to come to Christmas Eve services tomorrow night! Collection will be taken for the Minister's Discretionary Fund, which responds to immediate needs that serve the Church's mission. Then we'll go outside with our masks on and sing Christmas carols! See you tomorrow."
Please write to Rev. Ben for any reason - joys, concerns, etc. He would love to hear from you. Feel free to email him here.
A Conversation:
Annual Review of the Facilities Master Plan
When: After worship service, Sunday, January 2nd, in the sanctuary & live-streamed.

What: UUSP's Facilities Master Plan was created in 2020 and outlines needs and priorities identified during a lengthy evaluation of our facilities - and how our buildings & grounds can better serve our mission and programs. Now we're ready to start an annual review process to assess current conditions, gather input on new needs and re-prioritize projects for funding.
How to participate: On Jan. 2nd, we'll premier a short video, starring your Annual Review Team, highlighting our work to date and eight potential 2022 capital improvement projects. The video will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with the Team. If you join via the live stream, you'll have the option to text in your questions and comments. [Click here to watch a blooper from our videotaping session... rest assured that we did more rehearsing before taping the final video.]

Can't make it? The video will be posted to our Facilities webpage after January 2nd. Read the Renew-Restore-Rejuvenate newsletters for updates.

What's next? Following the Jan. 2nd conversation, a survey will go out to all congregation members asking for their input in narrowing the potential list for further study and possible funding. We need & value what you have to say; please respond!
~ Sharon Winters for the Annual Review Team
Religious Education

Our Religious Education and Nursery department needs your help!
We are implementing Youth Ministry, where all ages gather in the classroom to be led in group worship. Teachers and volunteers will be present to take the children, according to their age groups, to further discussions, conduct arts & crafts, meditations, etc. At the end of class, children will be released to their parents. We will begin this January 9th! We are excited!
We are seeking volunteers to assist with our program. So far, most of January is covered but the hunt continues for two volunteers to cover January 23 in RE & the nursery. We will start classes on January 9th on the first floor in our Conway building. Volunteers are asked to give one Sunday a month.

We are also hiring a nursery worker. Click here to be directed to the application process.
UU St. Pete Connects
Audre Zieres
 Memorial Service 
Monday, December 27, 2021
2:00pm

Please join the Zieres’ and Audre’s church family for a memorial service in celebration of her life.
Unitarian Church of St. Petersburg
100 Mirror Lake Drive N 
St. Petersburg FL 33701

After the service, the family will gather outside the church to sing and receive condolences.

There will also be a Graveside service at Bay Pines National Cemetery Tuesday, December 28th at 9:00 am.

Please Note the Following Change:
Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, there will not be a reception at the Sunshine Center. 
Instead:  The family is planning a private reception for Audre’s relatives. 
If you would like to donate cookies for their reception, please contact
Dani Skrzypek (727) 488-3601 zypona2@msn.com or Karen White (518) 524-1100 karenannwhite52@gmail.com 
All events have moved! Click the icon above to be redirected to our church calendar!
Hey Members of UUSP! Take a moment to update your membership information by completing this form. For any membership information, reach out to our
Social Justice - A Season of Giving
Our UU St Pete donated a total of 22 toys to Toys For Tots this year. These toys help families across Pinellas County create Christmas for the children. Many of the toys were distributed to families this past Saturday in Clearwater. In the season of giving, efforts like this provide hope to those in need. Thank you for your contribution!
UUSP Ways To Give
Legacy Builders have remembered UU St. Pete in their estate plan for a future gift to the permanent Endowment Fund,
in support of our congregation’s important work.

Go here for the Legacy Builders brochure.
Go here for the quick form that qualifies you as a Legacy Builder Founding Member and gives $500 to UU St. Pete in your name!
Go here to apply now!
What’s one easy way to do this?
Simply designate the UU St. Pete permanent Endowment Fund to receive a percentage of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
or another retirement account.

Contact below:
You can contribute appreciated securities to UU St. Pete and forgo any taxes on the gain. Contributions must be made directly from your broker to UU St. Pete’s broker. Contact the UU St. Pete treasurer at Treasurer@uustpete.org.

Thank you for supporting your congregation!
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UUA Corner
Click here for the December Newsletter.

The UUA, including the Southern Region, will be closed from December 18 through January 2. If you have a congregational emergency during this time, please leave a voicemail message at (877) 216-2986 and, your call will be returned as soon as possible. We will respond to all non-emergency voicemail messages, emails, and text messages as quickly as possible after we return on January 3, 2021.
Thank you for your interest in
Unitarian Universalist Church of
St. Petersburg!

Be Safe and Be Well!
Kelli DeGraw, part of your Communications Team.
Thank you to our
UU St Pete contributors & many volunteers!
Our mission is to be an inclusive, evolving religious community
that inspires spiritual and intellectual growth to make our world a better place.