Today At Your Fellowship
Thursday, December 1, 2022
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This Weekend @ AUUF
Thursday 12/1/22
6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal
Friday 12/2/22
12:00 pm Freethinkers on Zoom
3:00-7:00 pm Drop off for the Alliance Holiday Sale
Saturday 12/3/22
8:30 am AA Slap Happy Group at AUUF
1:00 pm Private Rental
3:00-7:00 pm Prep & Drop off for the Alliance Holiday Sale
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Sunday 12/4/22
9:00 am-4:00 pm The Alliance Holiday Sale
9:00 am Virtual Forum
11:00 am Sunday Worship Live at AUUF & on Zoom
11:30 am Youth Group Campout/Lock-in Planning with UUFF
12:30 pm New Day for Social Justice
4:00 pm Anchorage Friends Meeting
Monday 12/5/22
4:30 pm Private Rental
6:30 pm Fireweed Sangha of Mindful Living
Tuesday 12/6/22
4:00-7:00 pm Private Rental
6:00 pm Community Connection -Private Rental
Wednesday 12/7/22
6:00 pm Connections Team Meeting
7:00 pm Building & Grounds Meeting
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Virtual Forum
9:00 am Sunday, December 4, 2022
December at the Forum
We’re finishing off another great year of Forum programs, with three last Forums before a holiday break.
On Sunday, December 4, we will hear from the first Alaska Native, the first Alaska woman, and Alaska’s only, member of the United States House of Representatives, Mary Peltola!!
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to join the Zoom Forum with Rep. Peltola, for this week only you will need to “register” first. It’s easy, and when you do, you’ll get an email with a link you will use to join the Forum on Sunday. (During the campaign season unfortunate incidents compelled their staff to adopt this policy for Zooms. We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to register without waiting until the end of the week, and spread the word to others who attend the Forum to do the same.)
If you miss it, you can find a recording of her talk along with other Forum podcasts—thank you, Ken Winterberger—by going to the blue box in the left column of the AUUF Home Page under “Stay Up to Date,” AUUF podcasts.
On Sunday, December 11, our speakers will be Anchorage School Board President Margo Bellamy and ASD’s Chief Financial Officer Jim Anderson. They will talk with us about “School Closures and Other Tough Choices—Who Pays?”
The following week, on Sunday, December 18, we will finish our year by hearing from Rev. Lise Adams Sherry. What does the holiday season mean for UU’s? Rev. Lise will talk to us about “UU Christmas and Sophia Fahs.”
We will be taking a break, with no Forums on December 25 and January 1. Looking forward to seeing everyone back to kick off the Forum’s New Year on January 8.
Speakers’ bios and photos can be accessed from the AUUF Home Page under Sunday Services or in the butterscotch-colored box in the left-hand column, “Sunday @ Zoom.”
As always, we encourage you to send your ideas for either programs or specific speakers to the Forum Committee Chair John McKay at mckay@alaska.net, or pass them along to other Forum Committee members: Dennis Arashiro, James Dryden, Heather Flynn, and Lynn Hallquist, and Rev. Lise Adams Sherry.
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Sunday Worship at AUUF and on Zoom
11:00 am Sunday, December 4, 2022
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December Worship Services
It's a season of wonder and for wondering. Here's what we're planning:
Dec. 4, 11 am In-person & Zoom
Blue Holidays
Rev. Lise, Marty Freeman, Renee Frost
The winter holidays are billed as a joyous time for spending time with family, friends and consuming in celebration thereof. But sometimes our lives are not in a place where we feel we can celebrate or buy stuff, and our values may tell us to do otherwise as well. What then? How do we get through this month and make it okay to not partake, or partake on the same extreme level that society dictates?
Dec. 11, 11 am In-person & Zoom
Dignity, Freedom & Justice For All
Rev. Lise Adams Sherry, Barb Clark
Dec. 10 is Human Rights Day and this year the United Nations is beginning its 75th year of focusing attention on this issue. As our 7th UU principle encourages us to consider that we are all interconnected, and our 2nd UU principle discusses how we affirm justice and equity for all, it seems appropriate that we lift up this day. How can we build on the work others have done in the past to bring human rights to fruition?
Dec. 18, 11 am In-person & Zoom
Here Comes the Sun!!
Rev. Lise Sherry, Dr. Ray Macfarlane
Join us as we celebrate the return of the sun with story, poetry, song and dance. This is a multigenerational service and wiggling is welcome!
Dec. 24, 6 pm In-person & Zoom
Silent Night, Joyful Night
Rev. Lise Sherry, Dr. Ray Macfarlane
Much is made of Christmas Eve being calm, quiet and holy. But what is quiet about a bunch of sheep showing up, or boisterous wise ones who want to share their gifts, or babies making their entrance into the world? Join us as celebrate Christmas Eve with our own UU twist, sing songs, and enjoy time together.
Dec. 25, 11 am In-person only
Christmas Potluck Breakfast
Rev. Lise Sherry, Dr. Ray Macfarlane
If you're in need of some Christmas morning company, we'll supply pancakes, you bring other things to share. We might sing some carols.
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Together for the Holidays!
You are invited! As we come together to celebrate through this holiday season, we hope you know that we are celebrating you, and us, journeying together in this beautiful world, as partners in service, and as a supportive family. We cherish the love and energy that we build together here. Holidays can be a pull for time, but we hope that you come and fill your cup with us, as you are able, and feel the appreciation we have for everything you bring to this congregation!
Dec 4th 11am - Blue Holidays
Coping with all the holiday feels! Time for All Ages upstairs, then kids downstairs for Learning & Exploration!
After Service: The New Day for Social Justice Listening Session - 12:30p Help set the AUUF Social Justice Agenda!
Dec 11th ~12:30 - Soup Sunday & Winterfest Stay & Make
Dignity, Freedom & Justice For All! Time for All Ages then kids downstairs for Learning & Exploration!
After Service:
Last Soup Sunday of the year! Support Children’s Social Justice Projects
Holiday Cards for Sale - supporting the UU Service Committee
Stay & Make Holiday Ornaments and Tree Decoration!
Dec 18th 11am - Winter Solstice Multigen & Mitten Tree
Celebrate the return of the Sun! Multigen together!
After Service: Mitten Tree! Bring mittens to donate for those in need to add to the tree!
Dec 24th 6p - Christmas Evening Service
Songs and Celebration with our AUUF Family - Multigen together!
Dec 25th 11am - Christmas Morning Pancake Breakfast Potluck
No class, no service, just food and friends!
Jan 1st 11am - New Year’s Day
Celebrate and Renew with a New Year! No classes - Caregiving provided
Holiday Volunteers Needed!
For all these wonderful events, we need your help! Please let us know if you can help with:
Winterfest Ornament crafts
Soup Sunday Set-up, Clean-up, Food Contributions
Winter Solstice Service
Mitten Tree Donations/Decoration
Christmas Eve Music/Activities
Childcare New Years Day
- Learning & Exploration
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Small Groups / Chalice Circles - ALE
AUUF Adult Learning & Exploration (ALE) groups are up and running!
Being part of a group is an opportunity to build connections, to listen and to be heard by others. Members covenant to support and be present together for a period of time, and can be a great way to build community, engage meaningfully with each other and enrich the AUUF experience.
Groups may be informal or structured, and are generally made up of 5-12 people. Some groups may meet in person, at the fellowship, in people’s homes, in nature, or out in the community working on service projects. Groups decide together how their connection will look, and within the facilitator's availability, where, when and how often to meet. Generally, most groups meet for one to two hours, every week, every other week or monthly, depending on what the group decides.
We currently have two groups:
AUUF Chalice Circle:
Facilitator: Marisol Bundtzen
Meeting: Weekday or Sunday Afternoon, TBA
Location: Online - a great chance to connect with UU’s around Alaska!
Our online group is just starting up, and has space for more members! This group
AUUF Small Group:
Facilitator: Susan Orlanski
Meeting: Tentatively Thursday evenings, every other week,
Location: In-person
Capacity: Full
The in-person group has filled up and begun meeting!
Next AUUF ALE Group:
Facilitator: You?
Meeting: A time that works for you
Location: A venue that works for you
Capacity: Opening soon?
We would like to offer another in-person group, but need a facilitator! Could this be you? What type of group could you imagine yourself leading? If you are interested in leading an in-person group, whether it is discussion-based, service-based, or nature/experiential, please get in touch!
Share your ideas about what a good and engaging connection group looks like for you!
Let us know your availability and interests! New members may join throughout the year as space allows, so long as we have enough leaders and members to get started!
Sign up and/or let us know if you would like to facilitate using this link for Groups!
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The Freethinkers
12:00 pm Friday, Dec 2, 2022
The Freethinkers is a book discussion group currently reading The Righteous Mind, Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Haidt. Join us anytime – everyone is welcome. You don’t have to have read the current book to join in. Find the zoom link on the AUUF website; Friday at noon for 1½ hours.
The Righteous Mind addresses the provocative theory that intuition comes first, and strategic reasoning second. We are not the thoughtful, rational people we thought we were; rather, we try to justify our behavior in a sensible and balanced way only after our emotions, intuition, and gut reactions have led us down an already defined and charted path. Apparently, that’s why we’re only human when we first make up our minds, then have a very hard time changing our minds when faced with solid, contradictory facts that indicate otherwise. We want to rationalize our behavior, whether right or wrong, if at all possible. The three chapters we’re reading for Friday are titled Where Does Morality Come From, The Intuitive Dog and its Rational Tail, and Elephants Rule. Titles like that indicate this book is not your usual sociological or psychological textbook.
Wray Kinard
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The New Day for Social Justice
Dennis Arashiro
“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Many challenging years for us all. A pandemic persists in waves. A long search for a settled minister. An enduring fight for social justice. The time is now for all of us to meet the new day and share our new strengths and new thoughts. And time for a listening session to allow all of us to have a voice in the direction and substance of our coming social justice efforts. What are the needs in the wider world? What are our capabilities? What should be our priorities? What should be our first steps? Who will step forward? Please join the Social Action Council to answer these questions at:
THE FIRST NEW DAY MEETING
TIME: 12:30 - 2 PM on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2022
PLACE: FELLOWSHIP (room to be determined by the number of members planning to attend)
FORMAT: Listening session with light refreshments provided. RSVP to Dennis Arashiro at elvischannel@yahoo.com or 907-444-4324 by Thursday, December 1, 2022
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Did You Know Expressing Gratitude Can Make You Healthier?!
Research shows that having a grateful heart and then actively expressing that gratitude makes you healthier. And who doesn’t want to feel better? Studies indicate that we sleep better, overcome adversity quicker, handle stress easier, and lower our blood pressure when we lead with gratitude. And when we feel better and approach life with thanksgiving our social interactions are healthier and more positive. Yes, gratitude is contagious!
There are several small ways to jump-start a more grateful life: keep a daily or weekly gratitude journal, write a thank you note to a friend or co-worker, call someone and tell them how much you appreciate them, and hug yourself. And the next time you’re at AUUF, add a leaf to the Gratitude Tree in the social room, or grab a colorful notecard and jot a message to someone in our community. Leave it on the bulletin board for them or drop it in the mail.
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Draft of Possible New UU Principles
Last Sunday during the worship service I discussed that it is written into the UUA bylaws that we need to re-examine our principles and purposes every 15 years. This re-examination doesn't mean that we have to change our principles, just make sure that they are still meeting our needs. We do this to make sure that our association supports a living, breathing tradition, not one that becomes carved in stone and inflexible. As part of this process, a commission is appointed to evaluate our principles, and if they feel it is necessary, to propose amendments, additions, or maybe a new version. Once changes are made, the information is sent out to congregations for feedback, and then if the feedback seems mostly positive, the changes are brought before the UUA membership to vote on at the General Assembly in June. If they are passed, then the UUA membership is asked to vote on the changes again during the next year's General Assembly to confirm this is what everyone really wants. (In my brevity, I'm sure I'm leaving out some details to the process, but these are the basic points.)
As I also shared, we are at that re-examination point once again. A commission has been appointed, and there is a new draft of principles for folks to consider and provide comments on. We read the newest version and discussed it some during our worship service and I hope that those of you who had concerns and comments will take the opportunity to give the commission your thoughts.
I'd be interested to know what folks think, too, and look forward to discussing these changes with anyone who might like that conversation.
Warm regards,
Rev. Lise
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The December Half Portion offering goes to Facing Foster Care in Alaska
Our mission is to improve the foster care system through sharing our experiences, supporting and educating youth and social services, and implementing positive change in society as awhole. Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA) is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the foster care system, developing leadership skills among current and former foster youth, and creating a network of peer support that is a lifeline for many foster youth and alumni. FFCA provides foster youth and alumni opportunities to share lived expertise about life in foster care to raise community awareness, educate child welfare staff, and government officials, and educate foster youth throughout Alaska about their rights, resources, and opportunities to share their voice to promote change.
Click on the Half-Portion note or Donate/ Pay
at the bottom of the home page.
Enter your donation under
“Half-Portion for Social Action”
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Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
(907) 248-3737
Minister, Rev. Lise Adams Sherry, ( she/ her) 907-248-3737 x2, RevLise@anchorageUUF.org
Office hours are usually Tues, Th & Fri 10 am - 2 pm
Shellie Gooden, (she/ her) Congregational Administrator, 907-248-3737 x1 Admin@anchorageUUF.org AUUF
Office hours are usually Mon-Thurs, 10 am - 2 pm
Please call before coming.
Kelly Spring, (she/ her) Communications Specialist, Communications@anchorageUUF.org
Kelly's remote office hours Mon-Fri 9 am -1 pm
Dr. Ray Macfarlane, Director of Lifespan Learning & Exploration, DrRay@AnchorageUUF.org
Office hours are usually Tues/Thurs 10 am - 2 pm, remote Wed 10 am - 2 pm Please confirm for appointments.
Contact the Connections Team for more information on how to get involved at AUUF
Connections@AnchorageUUF.org
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