Website: uucw.org | Email: uucw@uucw.org | 262-782-3535

Worship with us in person at 13001 W. North Ave., Brookfield, WI 53005

or online at uucw.org/livestream

Rev. Julie Stoneberg and Ruben Piirainen, Music Director

The holidays are a time for awe and wonder — and music has the power to spark them in us — setting our hearts and minds ablaze with joy! Traditional, contemporary, and unexpected holiday songs and awe-inspiring stories and reflections will lift your spirits this morning. Featuring brass music by Kristin and Henry Busse, harp music from Carolyn Wells, choral music from our Adult and Multigenerational Choirs, and piano music from Jess Hamel and Ruben Piirainen. Invite your friends for a marvelous experience of how Unitarian Universalists celebrate the season!

UU Church West has been notified that someone in attendance at the Sunday service on December 4, 2022, at 10 am, tested positive for COVID. Those who sat in the immediate area of this person have been notified. The Reopening After Covid-19 Task Force (ROC-19) continues to monitor the Covid status in the community at large.

Contact Vicki Banville if you test positive for COVID and believe it is a result of being exposed.

You are invited to attend a UUCW Conversation hosted by the Transition Team and Rev. Julie.

“Looped in and Woven Together”

A UUCW Conversation about Vision.

Sunday, December 11

from 12-2:15 pm

Why does UUCW exist? What’s the impact UUCW has in the world? At its core, who is UUCW, and who does it want to be?  

If you need childcare during this event, please let Dave Cicero know by Friday the 9th.  

Zoom Coffee Hour Returns

Sunday, December 18th!

Come talk with Rev. Julie and friends after Sunday service. Members and visitors are all welcome! Bring your favorite tea or coffee!

Use this Zoom link:

https://zoom.us/j/93759589589?pwd=dHhyTExHL3ZBcW5EQVhKV2QwUkZTQT09 

Meeting ID: 937 5958 9589

Passcode: 012807

Dial in +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

The Holiday Giving Tree

Religious Education students are coordinating a Giving Tree to collect items appreciated by Running Rebels Youth. Check out the ornaments hanging on the tree in the east foyer. In exchange for each ornament taken, you are invited to return a wrapped gift suggested on the reverse side. All gifts received by Dec. 19 will be delivered to UUCW’s Split the Plate partner this month, Running Rebels, as chosen by UUCW youth. 

Solstice Singers Needed

Join the Solstice Singers, a small group that leads chanting and congregational singing at EarthSpirit services throughout the year.

The Solstice Singers will be performing at the Winter Solstice service on December 21. There are two rehearsals: December 13 and 20 at 7 pm. Music will be learned by rote, so non-music readers are welcome to participate. Contact Ruben Piirainen if interested in participating. 

Children who are able to enjoy a dramatic, hour-long worship experience are welcome to attend with their parents or guardians.

EarthSpirit Winter Solstice Ritual

Featuring the EarthSpirit Team & Dancers, and Solstice Singers

Wednesday, December 21 - 7 pm

In-person and Online https://uucw.org/livestream/

We honor the moment when the night is longest here in the northern hemisphere with darkness, drumming, stories and a powerful earth-based ritual to “call for the sun’s return.” Through ritual, storytelling, singing, silence, and reflection, our Earth Spirit worship services help us tune in to the seasons of the earth.

Bring your drums and shakers!

Did you miss last week's virtual presentation hosted by BLM2WUU? Watch the recorded session below.

Guest panelists discussed the book "My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies" written by Resmaa Menakem. Panelists included Sienna Lytle, Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity and Belonging for Hubspot, Dr. Geof Swain, Founding Director of the Wisconsin Center for Health Equity, and Erica Turner, Co-founder of Bridge the Divide

Holiday Services

EarthSpirit Winter Solstice Ritual

December 21, 7 pm

Christmas Eve Service

“The More We Wonder,

the More We Love” - Dec. 24, 4 pm

“Christmas Morning”

Share breakfast with Santa

Dec. 25, 10 am

“Centering for the Year’s Turning”

A Candle-lit Labyrinth Walk

New Year’s Eve - Dec. 31, 6 to 9 pm

New Year's Day - “Centering to Life”

January 1, 2023 - 10 am

Start Your Christmas Day Off Right!

“Christmas Morning”

Sunday, December 25, 10 am

Yawn, stretch, and then come gather in the warmth of community, maybe even in your jammies. There’ll be breakfast, glad tidings, and a special visit.

If you wish to contribute to the festivities, please select a category from the linked sign-up. With your RSVP, we can better plan for this event but an RSVP is not required. This community gathering takes place at UU Church West and is not offered online.

Start the New Year with an informed and inspired spiritual journey!

Join us for the next set

of Orientation sessions.

Newcomers and long-time visitors are invited to join Rev. Julie, Dave Cicero, and Membership team members for a

Two-part UU Orientation Class

Saturdays, Jan. 28 and Feb. 4

9:30 am - 12 noon 

For more information, contact Anne Deahl or Larry Hawley Start your unique UU journey! 

Share Joys & Concerns

If you or someone you know needs Pastoral Care, contact Rev. Julie or the Lay Pastoral Care Team.

Enter your Joy or Concern with the link below and choose whether you'd like them shared in the e-news or shared privately with Rev. Julie.

This Sunday will be a highly-attended service with extra visitors. Join Rick Beattie on the Usher team.

Ushers are a core element of our in-person worship. USHER SIGN UP

Thank you to Joyce Cable, Julieann Gaetano, Kathy Herrewig, and Susan Foley for being greeters this Sunday.

You can help make our church a welcoming place -- sign up to be a greeter on an upcoming Sunday. GREETER SIGN UP

David Gross could use a coffee-making assistant this Sunday!

You can bring joy to folks just by making and serving coffee! Sign up for the following Sunday! COFFEE SIGN UP

DID YOU KNOW? - We are still collecting plastic bags/film. We currently have over 250 pounds of plastic but we have a long way to go. Collect bags from your neighbors and friends!

You can drop bags off in the containers in the foyer. These containers will be available for the next few months. Help us earn another bench!

Recycle Your Non-working Holiday Lights Strings

Bring your broken light strings to church to be recycled!

Place lights in the labeled bin

in the east entrance foyer.

UUCW Food Pantry

The Interchange Food Pantry (IFP) will receive non-perishable food items in December. IFP distributes food from three locations in Milwaukee. IFP serves about 45,000 guests of which 82% live in food desert areas. Children represent 47% of those served. It is the goal of IFP to provide guests with quality food items to maintain or improve their health. Especially needed are the following:

• peanut butter
• canned peached
• canned pears or other fruit
• fruit juice
• rice
• canned tuna or chicken

UUCW's Split the Plate Partner for December is

Running Rebels of Milwaukee

The Running Rebels Community Organization guides Milwaukee youth into adulthood through mentoring, positive programming, and community connection.

Religious Education and Childcare

in December 



Dec. 11 – Nursery open; all are welcome to attend Holiday Music service in Sanctuary, but RE also planned; YRUU holiday party at 7pm 

Dec. 18 – Nursery open; Elementary & MS RE meet; YRUU will not meet 

Dec. 24 (4pm Worship) – Nursery open at 3:45; no RE classes 

Dec. 25 – Multi-generational Christmas breakfast social; No Nursery or RE classes 

Library Update

The UUCW Library in UL-3 is now open. Stop by after the service on Sunday to see the new books and magazines. A member of the Library Committee will be available to help you find the library materials you want. 

Watch for news of the special Grand Reopening Celebration after the New Year. Contact Carolyn Lawrence for more information.

Join the Men’s Breakfast Group for a conversation on current events, philosophy, movies, vacation spots, seminal books, and more.

The Breakfast Group will meet on Tuesday, December 13 at 8 am at Panera Bread, 2095 N Calhoun Rd., Brookfield (second Tuesday of the month). The group also meets online on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 8 am. For more information, contact Jerry Kashmerick.

The Wisdom and Whimsy Group Welcomes You!

Bring your lunch and a beverage and join us for conversation and/or listening. We as a group will decide on future topics so you are involved in shaping the group. This is a group for 50-plus but if you are a bit younger and want to come, we welcome you.

The next meeting is December 14, 11:30 am – 1 pm, and continues every second Wednesday of each month. Contact co-facilitators Kathy Allison or Susan Foley with any questions.

CommUUnity Connections

provides a helping hand

or tangible support to members

of the church community

in times of need.

Nora Vrakas

is the CommUUnity Connections coordinator for December.

Online Yoga

Tuesdays at 10 am

Treat yourself, or gift a loved one, with a month (or more) of weekly mindful practice – from the comfort of home. All ages & abilities welcome. Chair yoga is accessible to most, and Rev. Monica demonstrates modifications to suit individual needs.

Beyond UU Church West

Click below for community events and resources from outside our church that align with our UU values and may be of interest to members and friends.

Karen and Sharon Van De Loo (left) give a fond farewell to fellow quilter Eva Boryer (right) at the last "Show and Tell" PieceMakers' meeting. Eva is moving out of state to where her fiancé is stationed in the military. She will be missed by all members of the group. The next Piecemakers' meeting will be Saturday, December 17, at 10:00 am at UUCW. All abilities are welcome. For more info, contact Carolyn Lawrence.

Worship Leader: Stephen Frey

This is definitely an open-ended question. Put yourself in the presence of Wonder and your Happiness lights up!! Guest speakers share stories of wonderment and what inspires them.

It’s New Member Sunday – a time to recognize those who have recently joined the congregation!

Watching online? Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour with Rev. Julie after the service.