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Around the Fellowship
St. Vincent de Paul 2nd Saturday Lunch*
December 10 Menu: Fried or baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, applesauce, 100% juice, 2% milk
*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 kfreeman@mvuuf.org or sign up in the Gathering Space.
Community Discussion Group*
December 4 - "Ask the Doctor." Moderator: Tom Starr, Sam Kramer, & Wil Brooks
December 11 - "Integral Relationships." Moderator: Don Heidorn
December 18 - "Guardians for the Legally Incompetent." Moderator: Heather Schroeder
December 25 - NO CLASS
*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.
Mandatory OWL meeting
There is a mandatory OWL parent meeting for parents who wish to have their 7th, 8th, or 9th grader attend the OWL program beginning in January. Please attend this mandatory session in the Founders room at 7:30 p.m. on Fri. December 2.
Mark Your Calendars - We're Having a Party!
Jesse Minnefield, our custodian of oh, well, 30+ years is turning 75 - and if that doesn't warrant a party, I don't know what does! So mark your calendars now for after service on January 29. If you'd like to contribute to a gift for Jesse, there will is a box in the Gathering Space to put your donation. You can also send a check to Kristin in the Fellowship office. Checks should be made out to MVUUF and indicate Party in the memo line. Please plan on helping us celebrate the birthday of such a wonderful staff member!
Wassail
Our annual tradition of singing by the piano and, more importantly, enjoying holiday treats, is just around the corner! Please join us in the Sanctuary at 5:30 p.m. on December 11 for our Wassail celebration. If singing's not your thing, that's OK! Come watch, enjoy & encourage our singers. Please bring some holiday nibbles to share!
December 18 Sunday Service
What does Christmas mean to you? Is it a special time to be together with the people you love? Is it a quiet time to snuggle up with a good book and listen to holiday music? In our service on December 18, we'll be sharing what we think the "miracle" of Christmas means. If you'd like to share, please contact Rev. Amy.
Congregational Meeting
Our next Congregational Meeting will be immediately following service on Sun., January 22.
Leadership Positions
The following leadership positions will be filled by election on January 22 during our Congregational Meeting. The MVUUF Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations and suggestions for leadership opportunities for terms commencing March 1, 2012. The Nominating Committee will consider your input and complete nominations in the coming weeks.
Board positions (1 year term): President, V.P., Secretary, Trustee A, Trustee B, Prog. Council Chair
Program Council positions (2 year term): Communications, Membership, Music, Religious Education
For more information and job descriptions, you may check the Fellowship web site at www.mvuuf.org/governance or talk to one of the members of the Nominating Committee: Genevieve Harvey, Jamie McQuinn, Carol Narigon, Phil Wise, or Ruby Powell. Please give us your input in writing by December 4. If you're interested in the Endowment Committee, Nominating Committee, or any other area of the Fellowship, you can let us know and we will pass your name to the appropriate body.
Holiday Giving Tree
Our holiday giving tree is in its usual holiday place, the Gathering Space! This year, we'll be gathering donations for St. Vincent de Paul. Currently, their greatest desire is for baby items. Next to the tree you'll find a list of items they need. Let's help make the holidays of local families in need a little bit brighter! Please bring all donations to the Fellowship no later than December 28.
Chalice Night!
We invite all Fellowship members and friends to join at the Fellowship on Fri., December 9 at 6:30 p.m. This month we're having a lasagna dinner (yum!), craft tables where you can decorate gingerbread cookies, make ornaments, etc., and a cookie exchange...not a bad way to spend a Friday night! Remember, Chalice Nights are for everyone - young, young-at-heart, singles, couples, families of all shapes and sizes. So please don't be shy, we're hoping you'll be there! If you want to participate in the cookie exchange, please bring 2 dozen cookies. One dozen will be exchanged, the other we'll pass around for dessert. Also, list your ingredients, so people can choose according to dietary restrictions. Get away from the malls & holiday crowds - unwind with your friends at the Fellowship!
Socrates Café
The first meeting of Socrates Café was a hit! Please join us for our next lunch on Tue., December 13 at 1 p.m. We'll start with a brown bag lunch (coffee provided), followed by a lively, respectful discussion. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet interesting people and explore new ideas. Please RSVP to Jim Faulconer at jgfaulconer@att.net if you'll be attending.
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.
December 13 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
January 10 - The Elephant and the Dragon, by Robyn Meredith
February 14 - American Pastoral, by Philip Roth
March 13 - Paris Wife, by Paula McLain
Daytime Book Club Title*
December 7 - Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham **Potluck at the home of Carol Vincent**
January TBA - Dreamers of the Day, by Mary Doria Russell
February TBA - Still Alice, by Lisa Genova
March TBA - What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America, by Thomas Frank
*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!
Young Adult Meeting
The Young Adult Group will start meeting every Sunday evening at 5 p.m. beginning December 4. They'll be meeting at Sky Stewart's house for informal get-togethers. Sky's address is 121 Arlington Dr. Franklin 45005. She can be reached at 286-2205.
Humanitarian Giving
During December, the Humanitarian Giving donation will be to the Minister's Discretionary Fund. The economy has taken its toll on many people, including those in our own church community. The Minister's Discretionary Fund allows Rev. Amy to provide assistance to our members in their time of need.
Smart Choices
Ladies of the Fellowship are invited to attend Smart Choices on Thu., December 8 at 2 p.m. for card-making. Join us in the kitchen as Jan Campbell leads us as we learn to make wonderful holiday cards!
Chalice Light Gallery
During December, the Gallery will be displaying the photography of member Maury Wyckoff. Through Maury's lens, see revealed the majesty of our world, capturing ordinary, extraordinary, and humorous moments, and presenting them in a way that draws you in as if you are there. Or could have been there. Or wish you were there. An artist's reception will be held in the Sanctuary on December 11 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Interested in Eliminating Stress?
Bill Hill, facilitator of the Spiritual Awakening group that meets Sundays in the library at 12:30 p.m., has a handout available that addresses a simple way to reduce your worrying and eliminate stress from your life. As stress can place hardships on every aspect of your life, eliminating stress is a kindness to yourself! The handout is available in the Gathering Space.
Possible Theist Group
There appears to be some interest in forming a group of people who might call themselves "theists." This group could meet to pray, meditate, do bible study, or just discuss ideas. Rev. Amy Russell will lead a discussion after service on December 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Founders room. By attending the meeting, you're just exploring this idea. It does not mean you're committed to the group.
General Seminar on Family Law
The Dayton Family Law Center is a nonprofit law firm, and part of its mission is to provide free legal information sessions to the general public. On Sun., December 4, an attorney from the firm will present a session on various aspects of family law. Topics will include adoption, child custody, divorce, dissolution, home foreclosure, bankruptcy, and legal considerations of children turning 18. This informal session will begin with the basics of these and other topics, and you will be invited to ask questions of a general nature regarding the law. The attorney cannot answer specific legal questions you may have. The session will be held after service at 12:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Unsung UU Award
MVUUF has a tradition of honoring an "unsung UU" every year. An unsung hero is someone who tirelessly shows their commitment to the Fellowship behind the scenes. It's not typically a person in a formal position, rather someone who sees something that needs to be done and gets it done. This recognition is made by the board of trustees. However, we welcome recommendations from the congregation. Please send your suggestions to Alice Diebel at diebela@msu.edu no later than December 11.
Which witch is witch? I mean, which?
If you're ever wondered what that called Paganism is, I would like to invite you to join me, Shannon Heather, after services for a Pagan 101 class. Look for specific dates and times to be announced soon. I will be covering the basics of common Pagan beliefs, practices, holidays, celebrations, the major pantheons, and hopefully be able to answer any questions you may have. This is an academic class, not a worship or convenant group. If you have any questions, please contact me at shannon.hd.hansen@gmail.com.
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