…for all our knowing, the invitation of this season and its stories is to
enter a deeper kind of waiting – to wait without knowing exactly what we’re waiting for.
It is a kind of faithful listening, an attentiveness to possibilities we may not even yet imagine.
~ Karen Hering
A basket-full of thanks to all of you who donated so many lovely books for the Christmas Outreach program this year...and an abundance of gratitude to our chief book collector-sorter-hauler-organizer volunteer extraordinaire, Beth Macleod, for all of her many hours of generous service to this effort. Many children and youth in our community will receive gifts of story this holiday season because of your generosity - thank you!
In Worship
“What Are We Waiting For?” is the focus question of worship this Sunday, December 20. We will be taking a fresh look at some of the expected…and unexpected stories of the Advent season. Please join us!
“The remarkable thing about the Christmas story is the change it represents in human thought.”
It is a story, not about the god of jealousy and anger, but a god “who needs a humble young woman and the long months of patient waiting and the human process of birth to bring divinity into the world. Imagine…that after years of hearing story after story of men and women bowing abjectly before the might of kings and emperors, tsar, dictators, chieftains and tyrants, you hear a story in which three kings kneel before a tiny child – in praise of possibility.” ~ Barbara Rhode
Upcoming Services
Thursday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m.: “Carols by Candlelight”
We will gather this night for a special holiday candlelight service - a celebration for all ages woven with poetry, stories and songs of the season. Bring your friends and family for an evening filled with warmth and light.
December 27: “The Burning Bowl”
The New Year is upon us again…join us in worship for our annual observance of the “burning bowl” as we reflect on our lives this past year and lean forward into tomorrow together.
“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” ~ Hal Borland
New to UU?
If you are a newcomer to our fellowship - or perhaps have been around for a while – and would like to learn more about this fellowship and UUism as a whole, our next Welcome to UU class is scheduled for Sunday, December 27 following worship at 12:15 p.m. These orientation sessions are offered by our minister, Dawn Daniels, every month on the 4th Sunday and are highly recommended – besides being informative, they are particularly helpful if you’re interested in joining this congregation as a member.
Fellowship Life Meeting
On the third Sunday of each month we hold a brief “fellowship life” meeting immediately following the worship service to give everyone an overview of current issues and/or happenings within the church that our governing board wants you to be aware of. This Sunday we have three topics to review: 1) our inclement weather plan, 2) plan to explore a revised covenant for our church, and 3) explanation of the policy for congregants requesting assistance. We hope to see you there.
CUUPs Yule Ritual - Sunday, December 20
Yule, the winter solstice, is a time of great symbolism and power. It marks the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. It's also a time to celebrate with family and friends, and share the spirit of giving. We invite those of you who are interested in participating in this ritual to bring an item of food or drink to share at the potluck that follows the ceremony. We will gather at 6:30 p.m. and begin our ceremony promptly at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Night RE & UUth Ensemble Cancellations
UUth Ensemble rehearsal is cancelled for tonight and this Sunday the 20th.
Sunday Night RE is cancelled for the 20th
December Calendar Changes
Ladies Who Lunch will not lunch on December 22, but will resume lunching in January.
Sewing Circle will not meet December 21, but will resume in January.
Restoration House News
Volunteers are still needed. If you are willing to serve as an intake volunteer from 4:15 to 6:00 any day of the weeks ahead (until the program ends on April 6), please contact Joyce Henricks at 773-4709, or joyce.henricks@cmich.edu. Thank you!
First Friday Potluck - Hosts Needed
We are still in need of hosts for upcoming potlucks. If you are willing to host a potluck, please use this form to sign up to sign-up or email/phone Chris Bauerle directly at cchris1111@gmail.com or 989-330-8457. The upcoming dates include: February 5, March 4, April 1 (really!), May 6, June 3 and August 5. If you enjoy the potlucks, please consider hosting - it is fun and easy!
Save the Date!
For a #BlackLivesMatter meeting on January 20th. More information to come...
Community Justice Party
You are all invited to our “Community Justice Party” fundraiser for MUUSJN (in lieu of a plate collection) on Saturday, January 30, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. The evening will include a silent auction of social justice items, performances (music, poetry, and readings focused on the three current issue priorities of MUUSJN – Income Inequality (includes classism, racism); LGBT rights/Reproductive Justice; and Environmental Justice (includes water justice). It will also include a youth group bake sale, a cake/dessert walk, and light refreshments. The suggested donation for adults is $10.00 (although more will gratefully be accepted for MUUSJN), and children are free (with child care provided for the nursery).
If you have a social justice item (poster, pin, picture, t-shirt, etc.) that you would like to donate for the silent auction, a social justice performance (song, poetry, reading) that you would like to share, or a cake/dessert that you would like to donate, please contact any one of the four planners (Norma Bailey, Laura Frey, Joyce Henricks, or Jen Prout.
Please feel free to invite your friends and family members who are also interested in social justice for this fun and meaningful social event!
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. An announcement will be posted on our web site (uufcm.org) and on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Annette Pratt (989-400-0173). We hope we won't have to resort to this very often, but we live in Michigan after all, so we need to be prepared!
Got News?
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2015-2016
President: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; ampratt@cybersingerscafe.com)
President Elect/Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
Treasurer: David Macleod (989.772.0595; macle1d@cmich.edu)
Secretary: Vicki Chessin (989.463.3076; vechessin@aol.com)
Trustee: Scott Daigle (989.506.5750; sndaigle@gmail.com)
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; cprard@gmail.com)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)