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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman
An inclusive community embracing individual spiritual growth
-- living our beliefs through works
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Our services begin at 11 a.m. Sundays in the Lodge at Woodlawn School,
just north of Davidson. A nursery for children up to pre-kindergarten age starts at 10:45 a.m. in the classroom adjacent to the Lodge. Children in K-5th grade go to Spiritual Exploration following the children's story during the service.
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Dec. 6: "Expectation" with members of the Worship Committee
Join Marilyn Campbell, Nancy Brower, John Lawrence and Laurie Walker as we think about the solstice, Christmas and other holidays that occur this time of year celebrating the return of the light.
Dec. 13: "The Third Agreement" with Rev. Mary Frances Comer We often focus on the agreements we make with others as we look to our futures and live out our expectations, but the most influential agreements of all are the ones we make with ourselves. Rev. Comer is affiliated community minister at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlotte.
Dec. 20: "Evening Solstice Program" at 6 p.m. with the Worship Committee and Fellowship musicians Join us for an evening of music, readings and children's activities related to holiday festivals and many traditions, including Hanukkah, Diwali (Festival of Lights), winter solstice, and Christmas -- see details in Music Notes below. Please bring light snacks to share after the presentation. Beverages will be provided.
Dec. 27: "Endings and Beginnings" with members Marilyn Campbell and Laurie Walker This service will give us a chance to think about what we want to discard or leave behind us in 2015, and what we want to be sure to take with us into 2016.
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Milestones
Our thoughts are with Rev. Amy Brooks and her family as she recuperates from surgery. Our expectation is that she will return to us in January.
We extend our support and care to Kerry Miller during his recovery from surgery and a stroke.
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Sunday morning groups
The Humanist Group welcomes all those interested in discussing life from a humanist perspective. It will be on hiatus for the month of December, but will resume meetings on the first and third Sundays of each month at 9:45 a.m. in classroom #2.
The Adult Discussion Group will base its discussions this month on An Open-Hearted Life by Russell Kolts and Thubten Chodron. The book discusses compassionate living and is based on the work of a Tibetan Buddhist nun and a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on compassion. The group meets at 9:45 a.m. in classroom #3 and all are welcome.
Youth Spiritual Exploration (grades 5 and up): Youth are welcome to stay for the service or leave with the children for a separate break-out discussion.
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Music notes
Over the river and through the woods
And we're off, on the wild ride known as the holidays. At UU Lake Norman, our service leaders will help us explore our traditions, memories and hopes, and in doing so, hopefully find meaning in the holidays today.
Of cou rse, music plays its part. Did you grow up singing Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, let's light the menorah? Did you feel enveloped by sound when you stood on the pew and felt the choir, congregation and organ shake the rafters with O Come O Come, Emmanuel? Some of the music that still means something to us isn't heard in the shopping malls, but in the quiet echoes of our memories.
Here's a memory of mine: With our family of five and all our gifts piled in the car for the five-hour trip over the rivers and through the woods to our grandmother's house in the mountains, my mother had to end the "who-can-sing-the-loudest" contest on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. She liked I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas and Silver Bells better.
How about you?
Do you know the story about Christmas Eve at the trenches of World War I, when one brave soldier stood up to sing Silent Night and men on both sides laid down their arms and joined in?
We can always hope. And sing.
Highlights of the Dec. 20 holiday service
You can look forward to: A solstice chant acknowledging the movement from darkness to light .... Jeff Pender in the music of Diwali ... our own arrangement of the French carol Noelle Nouvelet sung by the choir .... a string quartet made of four young UU Lake Norman players (yes, we have even a viola!) ... John Boles and Dana Brower playing cello ... Laurie Walker singing We All Need a Little Christmas ... and let's not forget Silent Night.
Theresa Woody
Music Director
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Social Action
The Social Action Committee will meet after service on Dec. 13 and welcomes anyone interested in social action, letter-writing campaigns or fundraising.
Adopt-a-Highway was rained out in November and is re-scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5. Please help in our quarterly trash cleanup of Davidson's Concord Road. All equipment is provided. For details or to volunteer: action@uulakenorman.org.
Eddie Gunn is spearheading the Fellowship's holiday letter writing to our troops. Please show these brave soldiers that someone cares about them and wishes them a happy holiday. During Coffee and Conversation before the Dec. 6 service, take a minute and write your name on one, or write a short note to one of the service members fighting for our freedom. Eddie will bring the signed cards to welcome home veterans at Richie's Coffee House in Mooresville, where there is an ongoing program to get cards and care packages to the troops. We -- and our troops -- appreciate your support!
Guest at Your Table is an annual fundraising and education program that supports the UU Service Committee's human rights work. We invite everyone to take part through mid-December. As you gather with your family and friends at a meal, we ask that you figuratively invite a guest to your table -- someone who doesn't have food on their table or clean running water in their house. For every meal that you get to eat in a safe home, put some money into the collection can. Money will be collected through Dec. 13 and will be donated to the Ada Jenkins Center and the UUSC.
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Announcements
Building Fund
We are accepting gifts into our Fellowship's Building Fund. Please keep the Fund in mind when planning your giving.
Board meetings
The Board of UU Lake Norman meets on the second Monday evening of each month and visitors are welcome to join us. Please speak to Veronique Singerman at president@uulakenorman.org for more information.
Parking rules
Parking on the hill (closest to the Lodge) is for people with handicap and health issues and for those loading and unloading items for our programs. All others may park at the bottom of the hill or in the upper lot across the field. No one may parallel park on the edge of the hill, by order of the Fire Marshal. Thank you for your consideration.
Book group The Book Group next meets on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Please bring a favorite reading, poem, or story to share. RSVP to bookclub@uulakenorman.org.
Volunteers needed
We still need volunteers for Dec. 27 to set up the room, sound system and snacks. Please see Chris Johnson or Marilyn Campbell if you can help.
Women's Centering Group
The group meets on Fridays at 8 a.m. at Community Yoga in Cornelius. For more information, contact Laurie Walker at laurie1059@gmail.com.
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Our website is full of information on our congregation and Unitarian Universalism.
Board of Trustees: Veronique Singerman, president: president@uulakenorman.org Sandy McFeeley, secretary Anne Pender, treasurer Rodger Clark, trustee Dan Aldridge, trustee Nicole Gantz, trustee Eddie Gunn, trustee Remember to "Like" us on Facebook. We announce our upcoming services and events there and hope you will share them with your friends and family.
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