Community Discussion Group Topics*
December 19 - "My Best and Worst Christmases and Other Holidays." Moderator: Carol Vincent
December 26 - "Thirty Ways the World Could End." Moderator: Lindy McDonough
*This adult group meets every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Founders' Room for fellowship and thought-provoking discussions led by member volunteers. For a more detailed listing of topics, please see the Sunday bulletin.
St. Vincent de Paul 2nd Saturday Lunch*
January 8 Menu: hamburger buns, green salad, fruit salad, baked beans, 2% milk
(Pulled pork will be generously donated by Adina & Rita Reeve)
*All items must be delivered heated and ready to serve 15-20 people. Donations should be taken to 120 W. Apple St. by 10:30 a.m. Contact Kristin at 436-3628, sign up in the Gathering Space or call Evan James.
Decorate Our MVUUF Holiday Tree with Kindness!
From November 28 - December 31, we will be collecting unwrapped baby items for the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter. Needed items include: baby bottles, baby wipes, bottle brushes, diaper bags, diaper ointment, diapers, formula (milk or soy based), Pack-N-Plays, Pedialyte, play yards, shower shoes, socks, sturdy strollers, children's underwear and thermometers. You can place your items under the tree in the Gathering Space - thanks for your kindness and generosity!
New Study Group
A new course of study will be offered beginning on January 9. The study, "Spirit Awakening", will explore several channeled books which describe the human experience from the perspective of the soul and spiritual reality. For more information, contact Bill Hill.
Daytime Book Club Title*
January 19 - Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery & Alison Anderson
February 16 - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
*We meet one Wednesday a month, at 10:30 a.m., in the Fellowship Library. We then go out for lunch together. All are welcome!
Evening Book Club
Please join us at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Christopher's Restaurant (2318 Dorothy Ln., Kettering). For more information, contact Ann Snively.
January 11 - Oil on the Brain, by Lisa Margonelli
February 8 - Lush Life, by Richard Price
Humanitarian Giving Action Group Collection
During December, the Humanitarian Action Group welcomes plate offerings for Daybreak. Daybreak is an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless teens. They operate the area's only 24 hour crisis hotline and have branched into outreach, prevention, transitional housing, life-skills training and other services.
Joining a Covenant Group
A covenant group is a small group (4-10) of people who meet regularly with the purpose of deepening relationships, spirituality, and a sense of community in an intimate setting. We have two such groups currently meeting. They have been meeting for about 7 months. These groups will be meeting for another three-four months. They have room for a few new people. One group meets every Monday night and one group meets twice a month on Sunday nights. If you would like to join one of these groups, please see Amy. New covenant groups will form in March.
Harvest the Power - Leadership Curriculum
Join us for a four-week adult religious education program titled, Harvest the Power. This is the second in a 3-part series, but you need not have participated in the first part to join us. The topic is "Purpose: What ends do we serve?" This workshop will help leaders explore several aspects of the experiences, challenges and responsibilities of their role. New and existing leaders are encouraged to participate. The class will be held from Tue., January 11 through Tue., March 1 from 7-9 p.m. Please contact Alice Diebel with questions, or sign up in the Gathering Space or with Kristin Freeman in the office.
Congregational Meeting
The next congregational meeting will be Sun., January 9 at approximately 12:20 p.m. following the service. Childcare will be provided. The agenda items include: election of all Board members and half the Program Council members. We will also award the Unsung UU award. Finally, we will decide whether the Draft Statement of Conscience, Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice, should be placed on the final agenda for the General Assembly in 2011.
Christmas Eve 2010
Our Christmas Eve service will be held December 24 at 7 p.m. Rev. Amy Russell will not be leading the service this year, as she will be with her family, this the first Christmas without her father. Please come and celebrate the season with candles and carols.
Wassail (Let's Try This Again!)
Since we were snowed out last week, Wassail will be held Sun., December 19 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a holiday treat to share and we'll enjoy carols and fellowship!
Slate of Candidates
The Nominating Committee will be presenting the following slate of candidates for election at the January 9 Congregational meeting.
Board members:
Alice Diebel - President Alysoun Taylor - Vice President
Catherine Queener - Secretary Joe Law - Trustee A
TBD - Trustee B Kate Halpin - Prog. Council Chair
*All Board positions have a one year term, March 1 - February 28.
Program Council members:
Dawn Bellinger - Membership (completing second year of two year term)
Bob Lewis - Social Justice Rita Schindel - Activities
Sean Halpin - Operations
*All P.C. positions have a two year term beginning on March 1.
Open positions:
Public Relations Music Worship Internal Communications
Guest at Your Table
The Guest at Your Table program will begin on December 12 and end January 30. This program serves as the annual fundraiser for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee founded in 1939. Since 1975, the Guest at your Table program has been putting UU faith in action, by raising funds to help people struggling for basic human rights both in the U.S. and around the world. The UUSC partners with self-help groups to fund the projects these groups have developed for their communities.
Through December and January, there will be a table in the Gathering Space with information on the UUSC's activities, as well as envelopes and boxes for contributions. Guest at Your Table boxes encourage families and individuals to reflect on others' human rights and needs and to make an appropriate daily contribution to sponsor an imaginary international visitor at their table. If you can total the coins and bills in your box, enter the requested information on the box, and write out a check for the corresponding amount made out to UUSC by January 30, it cuts down the delay in submitting all our contributions. However, you can also just bring your box to church marked with your name and I'll total your donation. Many of us opt to bypass the box and simply submit a check made out to the UUSC.
Stop by the Guest at Your Table table for an envelope. Please return your contribution to me or to the office on or before January 30, so I can report our total contributions back to the congregation. Guest at Your Table is an ideal time to become a UUSC member or to renew your membership. I have a list of current UUSC members, if you wish to check the status of your membership. Basic UUSC Membership rates are: $40.00 -regular, $75 dual regular (2 adults), $20 Seniors (65 and over), $10 for Students and Youth., If you are able, please consider making your contribution go twice as far. Donations of $100 or more from a family or individual are matched by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock.
~ Maureen O'Meara
Adult Sexuality Education: Our Whole Lives
Your sexuality is a major part of your identity. It grows and changes-it's part of your health and relationships and your age and your self-image. But our Western culture trivializes sexuality and often has an underlying current suggesting that sexuality is only for the young and beautiful.
The Our Whole Lives program for Adults allows people to have adult conversations about an adult subject. Using values, communication skills and spirituality as starting points, OWL explores sexuality issues for adults of all ages inviting adults to strengthen connections between their sexuality and spirituality, between their values and their behavior, and between themselves and their religious community. Besides, why should the kids have all the fun of learning (or relearning) about sex! OWL for Adults affirms diversity and helps participants accept and affirm their own sexuality throughout their lives.
Our Whole Lives for Adults, led by Leslie and Chris Woodward on Sun. evenings, January 23-March 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m., first come first served with a maximum of 12 participants. A donation for materials and curriculum will be appreciated from participants who are able to contribute. Contact Kristin Freeman at 436-3628 or kfreeman@mvuuf.org to register.
Lunch with Amy at Panera
Lunch with Amy at Panera by the Dayton Mall is cancelled for December 23 and 30, as she will be spending the holidays with her family. It will resume in January.
Job Opening in the Nursery
Beginning January 2, the Nursery has an opening for a childcare staff member. Hours vary, but most Sundays it's 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. with some Sundays needing staff until 2 p.m. There are possibilities for more hours on different days. Childcare/nursery staff work with children 10 years old and younger. Applicants must have taken the Red Cross Babysitting Course or be certified in CPR and First Aid. Applicants must also be at least 16 years old. For a job description or for any questions, please contact Natalie, our DRE at dre@mvuuf.org or Shannon Harper, LRE Rep. Application deadline is December 26!