December 18, 2020
a whole-hearted community,
feeding body, mind & spirit

Theme for December: Kindness
UCH Community Calendar: Dec 18-25
Sunday, Dec 20 @ 10:00am: Annual Holiday Pageant - on Zoom!. See links below

Sunday, Dec 20 @ 1:00pm: Tech Team meeting, join HERE

Sunday, Dec. 20 @ 1:00 pm: Forest Walk, contact Linda Karlen

Sunday, Dec 20 @ 7:00pm: Winter Solstice Celebration, join HERE

Monday, Dec 21 @ 7:00pm: Buddhist Inspired Mindfulness Meditation, contact Lenny Edgin

Tuesday, Dec 22 @ 3:00pm: Conversations with our Wise Elders, contact Tracey Olson

Tuesday, Dec 22 @ 7:30: Non-Fiction Book Group, join HERE

Thursday, Dec 24 @ 10:00am:  A Diaspora Christmas
Caring Corner
The ripples of our lives touch those around us. We keep in mind all of our members and friends including...

  • Sympathy to Sarah Joyner whose brother was killed in a car accident.
  • Benjamin Van Horne, Liz Reyes & Rafael as they mourn Benjamin's father's death this past week. Send love and care during this difficult time.
  • Deidre Waltz whose father passed away after a long illness. Deidre is back at her home in Elmhurst.
  • For all our members and friends who are suffering loss or struggling with illness during the holiday season. Please be safe!


Please let us know of folks we should add to our list and share with our Caring Circle Coordinators by going to our Caring & Comments page on our website.
 
Thanks and Best Wishes to Linda Liberacki
Linda's last day at church will be December 18th. We are grateful that she stayed on to help with the transition this fall and are very sad that we can't gather together for a celebration of her time with us. We will miss her infectious laugh, amazing green thumb, and warm presence in the office and wish her health, peace and happiness in retirement.
You can send thanks and appreciation to Linda at:
6917 Williams Drive
Woodridge IL 60517
A Note from Linda
I would like to say that it has been a pleasure working at UCH. I will always remember the wonderful people i have met over the years, the events, the laughs, the struggles, but mostly all the great times! My wish for all of you is a Happy Holiday and hoping that 2021 brings love, peace, good health and joy into all your lives.
Thanks for the memories!!
Linda
Annual Christmas Pageant - Only Virtual!
Join us Sunday at 10:00 for our all-ages friendly Christmas Pageant.
Some of our church friends will play along as Mary and Joseph, a shepherd, wise people, an angel and even a donkey.
Photos of our young and young at heart will be featured along with some wonderful music.
Hope you and your family will join us!! See below to link in and enjoy!!
Search your toolbox for this week’s tool- - a Stethoscope! Watch the lesson video HERE and listen to the story HERE
Second Sunday Collection
DuPage PADS provides shelter for the homeless in DuPage Country. For the last five years our congregation staffed the homeless shelter at Redeemer Lutheran Church. We weren't able to do that this year because PADS, to keep them safe, is housing clients in motel rooms. READ MORE
Relax and enjoy an 8-day/7-night getaway (June 1 thru August 30, July 4th excluded) in this beautifully appointed home, only a 3-minute walk from the lake. READ MORE
We need your Messages of Hope and Joy Click to share.
Let us take this time to remember that our family extends beyond our church building.
Get Your Articles in for January Touchstone
Send your news and longer articles to touchstone@hinsdaleunitarian.org  by Dec 20th.



Join us for the Winter Solstice/Yule Celebration on Sunday, Dec 20 at 7:00pm on zoom HERE. We will sit around the virtual bonfire in quiet introspection planning the year ahead and celebrating the return of the light.
Racial Resources
Change Proposed to 13th Amendment to End Prison Slave Labor: The joint senate resolution seeks to amend the controversial clause, which has permitted the exploitation of labor by people convicted of felonies since the abolition of chattel slavery. READ HERE
Pen Pal Needed
We have two names of people who are incarcerated who would like to have a pen pal. Please let us know if you would be willing to write to someone monthly.
 
We have six new pen pals at UCH and we're thrilled about that. They've all sent their first letter and are waiting for responses. 
 
Thank you Unitarian Church of Hinsdale for "remembering those in prison as though you were there too." These cards really enriched my holiday spirit and resonated in my heart what Christmas is all about: loving and giving. Christmas is the tradition that calls us to remember what our lives are meant to be about. It's not just a day , an event to be observed and speedily forgotten. It is a spirit which should permeate every part of our lives.
Christmas is a state of mind. There is a way to fact check to be sure that you're celebrating Christmas well. Want to keep Christ in Christmas? "Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you. Then imagine what the rest of the year would be like. Merry Christmas, everyone.

In solidarity, Lonnie
Prison Industrial Complex 101: Virtual Training
Saturday, January 16, 2021, 10:00am - 11:30pm CST and
Saturday, January 23, 2021, 10:00am - 11:30pm CST
Register HERE
Worship this Week
Dec 20: Annual Holiday Pageant - on Zoom!
Join us as we reenact the story of Christmas - with costumes, carols, pictures of friends and families and some great participatory theater! While we cannot gather to enjoy this holiday tradition in person, we trust that this gathering will bring a twinkle to your eye and offer a sprinkle of the holiday spirit into your life. ~ Rev Pam Rumancik & Pam Fodor
OR
Pay Your pledge online here or simply mail into the office at 17 W Maple St, Hinsdale, IL 60521

The office will be closed (virtually too) from
Dec 24 - Jan 1st for the holidays.
Have a blessed Christmas season and
a happy and healthy New Year!

You can reach us at our regular email addresses:
Note: Google was having issues with Gmail accounts this week and we may not have received things sent Dec 14-16th.
If you didn't get an expected reply, please send again. Thanks!
For more info:
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 find us on Twitter at @UUHinsdale.