Calendar 

Please visit the church calendar here.       

The We Care program is a network led by volunteers who reach out to address short-term needs - food deliveries, rides to doctor's appointments, a listening ear in the event of a loss. The Cedar Lane congregation is organized geographically by "neighborhoods"; each neighborhood has at least one chairperson to coordinate support. Look at your name-tag or the map in the church office to find your neighborhood.  

Condolences are with Donna Messersmith Jones and Steve, Melanie and Greg Jones (Neighborhood 4) with the sudden death of Donna's mother, Sherry Messersmith, on Thanksgiving morning. She is remembered as a beloved pillar of her family, community and congregation. A memorial service will be held at her church, Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church, 33 University Blvd, East, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, December 8, at 3 p.m. All are welcome. 

Should you know of a member of our community in personal need, you are encouraged to reach out to them. If you learn that this person wishes to receive a response from the church, please contact Heather Janules at hjanules@cedarlane.org.  All ministers offer pastoral care to our members so  you are also encouraged to contact any member of the ministerial team.  

CLUUC member Sylvia Fisher will discuss her new book, "Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth". The book is a collection of best practices for working with LGBT youth and their families.

The Cedar Lane LGBT Task Force will also give an update on the country's historic election gains and what is next for the Maryland LGBT movement.

Come to Learn, Stay to Celebrate!

"A must read for anyone interested in effectively meeting the needs of LGBT youth" Robin McHaelen, Exec. Dir. True Colors, Inc.

Cost is $5, unless already registered through Adult Programs.

Refreshments will be served (including alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages).

Monetary donations will be collected for LGBT youth organizations impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

*The book is geared to health and school professionals, but we urge everyone interested in LGBT or youth issues, social justice, church advocacy, or mental health care to attend*

Around the Church   

December Community Lunch Canceled:  So as not to interfere with the Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop, today's Community Lunch is canceled.  We hope to see you at next month's lunch on January 6!

The 100% Collection for the Sandy Hurricane totaled $3,443!!! Well done, Cedar Lane. The funds will be distributed by the Central Eastern Regional Group (CERG) of the UUA which provides resources to 4 districts of the UUA: St. Lawrence, Ohio-Meadville, Joseph Priestly, and Metro New York. Very well done, Cedar Lane. 

Have some great ideas about how to improve our worship services? 

Is worship something you like thinking about, and doing something about? The Worship Committee works with the ministers and the congregation to ensure that worship remains engaging and meaningful. It is the committee that launched the Worship Associates' program, and the joys and concerns chalice at the side of the auditorium in each worship service, and we consider everything from how welcoming our services seem to how to better include children and teens. Meetings are on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.; terms are for two years, and it's a lively bunch of folks. If you're interested in joining us, please contact Worship Committee Chair Jack Welch, jack1165@gmail.com.

UU Young Adults at Cedar Lane

(20s/30s):  Interested in socializing with a newly formed Young Adults Group at Cedar Lane? We'll congregate after the second service on December 9 in the vestibule (in front of the library door) and then head off for brunch in the area. Sponsored by the Membership Services Committee. Questions? Contact Marlene Berg of the MSC at mgkpberg@gmail.com.

Gifts for Beacon House:  Share the spirit of giving with children and teens (ages 5-18) at Beacon House by bringing new, unwrapped gifts to church later than noon on Sunday, Dec. 16. Toys, books, puzzles, coloring books, crayons, sweaters, hats, gloves, sweatshirts and sweat-pants are needed. There are collection boxes upstairs by the front door and downstairs in the RE Administration area until the morning of Dec. 16, which will be the LAST day to bring them. If you can help with delivering gifts, contact Interim Director of Religious Education Karen Lee Scrivo at kscrivo@cedarlane.org.

  

What Is a Child Dedication?

Most faith traditions have a way to welcome young ones into our spiritual community. Our Child Dedication service is an opportunity for all of us - parents, family, friends, church - to promise to the child and to each other that we will love and nurture her or him, that we will teach the best of what we know, dedicating ourselves to this responsibility of raising a child and joyously celebrating the possibilities of a new life.

 

On Sunday, Dec. 23, we will have a dedication ceremony within the regular worship service, which will be at 10 a.m. and include all ages because of holidays.  If you and your family would like to participate, please contact Interim DRE Karen Lee Scrivo at

kscrivo@cedarlane.org or (301-493-8300) by Dec. 16.

 

 

 

A Win-Win Holiday Gift Idea

Got 

a young sports fan on your shopping list?  We've got an interesting gift idea that will thrill your young fan and help Cedar Lane too!

  

Church member Fred Bowen writes sports stories for kids ages 7-12. (He also writes the weekly Washington Post/KidsPost sports column.) And he has donated 100 of his books to Cedar Lane to sell during the holidays. And here's what will make the gift extra special: between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Fred will try to be around between our two Sunday services to autograph the books (while your kids aren't looking!).

  

The books are $5 each and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Cedar Lane general fund. You will find his books for sale in the book corner in the lounge on Sundays from Nov. 25-Dec. 23.

If you would like your event posted on Cedar Lane's social media, please e-mail socialmedia@cedarlane.org.

International Concerns Coalition

Our Alternative Gift Market is back! Seems like many of us are opting for charitable donations rather than material gifts. This year, remember Cedar Lane-affiliated international projects as well as some new projects from our affiliate Alternative Gifts International. Many of Cedar Lane's international projects don't have funding sources outside our walls and your support is always greatly appreciated by those we serve. We will be at the 7th grade Holiday Craft Day table in the sanctuary as well as in the lounge on December Sundays. For more information, contact Annette Scarpitta (annettecedarlane@spamex.com).

7th Grade Session 2 Religious Education Class For those of you looking for material gifts, why not consider some delectable and eco-friendly jewelry made of recycled paper? We are now including free bindings to keep earrings in place. Come visit us at the 7Gs2 table in the sanctuary on Holiday Craft Day as well as in the lounge on Sunday mornings. Formerly known as Paper to Pearls (owner retired), we are now getting our beads directly from Uganda. These are made by "child mothers" who became pregnant under coercion during the war in Uganda. Trained by the premiere Paper to Pearls beader, Sarah Akot, before her untimely passing, these women are trying to earn income of their own and gain economic independence. Their creations are also being sold in Europe, Michigan, and hopefully more places soon. We are for the moment calling our jewelry social enterprise "Creative Connections for Congo Kids." 100% of the profit goes to the 7th-grade, session 2, social justice project: educating the children of violated women in DR Congo. Our Congolese kids are happy and proud to be in school but raising funds for tuition has been a challenge of late.

In addition to featuring Alternative Gifts and paper jewelry, the 7Gs2 sanctuary table at the Holiday Craft Fair will also sell hot coffee for adults, hot cocoa and hot cider for everyone, and Clementines! Plus one of our dedicated students has pledged to bake a gingerbread house, which will be raffled off during the Holiday Craft Day program. We look forward to seeing you at our table!

Volunteer for Cedar Lane's 

6th annual rebuilding trip to New Orleans! 

January 19-26, 2013 are the dates now set for our work week to help rebuild

NOLA's much needed housing.  1000s of New Orleans home owners still are out

of their homes 8 years after Hurricane Katrina.  Personal livelihoods and NOLA's

economic recovery depend on having viable housing to live in.  For info, look

for trip veterans in the lounge on Sundays, or email team leader extraordinaire

Mike Burski: mga1960@earthlink.net.  Make this your year to be in NOLA. 

Beyond the Church 

Tonight and Tomorrow!!!

As a participant of the PARTNERS IN HARMONY outreach program led by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC, the Cedar Lane community is being offered $5 off each ticket purchased for GMCW's holiday show, WINTER NIGHTS, November 30 and December 1 at the Lisner Auditorium.  Enter promo code HARMONY when ordering online at GMC.org or mention the code when ordering by phone at 202-293-1548.

Thom Guthrie plays a Christmas pipe organ program in Washington, D.C. - Dec. 6 at 6:00 p.m.  Thom will perform in a 45 minute program of Christmas music at First Congregational UCC Church at 10th and G Street NW, D.C. Reception will be at 5:30 p.m. before the concert. The church is located on the first level of the newly completed high rise building. All are welcome.

 

 ------------------------------------- 

Click here to learn about some events sponsored by friends of Cedar Lane.