Christmas Eve Reminders

Hello!

We are still planning to hold our Christmas Eve services at 5:30 and 8pm.
Our annual Christmas Party will be between the services at 6:30pm, Hot beverages will be provided, and we ask that you bring a snack, cookies, or some kind of treat to share.

We would suggest that you park in the AEA rear parking lot. If you turn in the driveway just north of ours, for the Trailer Park, then you can turn left into a LARGE lot just above our parking lot. It won't require you to drive up hill on the ice. The hale and hearty mother and daughter team of Amanda and Diana Harwood have chiseled out some steps in the snow between that lot and our parking lot.

Of course if you feel uncomfortable about coming out in the weather, we encourage you to stay home and have a safe and happy HOLIDAY!

~Eva

YES-there is church

Its Dec 20th, and yes we are here to have church. If you feel comfortable driving in the snow, join us.

Weekly Update - 12/18/09

Hello all,
Greetings on this grey and misty Friday. Its been a lovely day, with a gentle softness warming the land. Our service this Sunday will celebrate the wonders of winter and this holiday season. Then join us on Christmas eve for a lovely candlelight service. And if you are traveling, and not in town for me to say this in person, I do wish you the very best in holidays. ~Eva

This Sunday:
8:30 am Band Practice,
8:50 am UU Choir Practice
900 am Childrens’ Choir

9:30 am Service “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”
Sometimes the more natural elements of this season get lost in all the shopping and hectic Christmas plans and parties. But on this Solstice Day, we pause and reflect on what nature has to tell us about how to be better humans. We’ll sing lots of the songs of the season that celebrate our joy at this time of year. Rev. Eva Cameron, Staci Chananie-Hill (Worship Associate)


10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” We will host Bishop Dysert and other members of the local Mormon Temple. (under the balcony)
Buddhist Path: Join Ralph and others in exploring Buddhist spiritual practices. (balcony)
Walkin’ the Talk: Reverend Eva will be giving a talk a about our efforts in the Khasi Hills in India where we sponsor an orphan girl, Iahunlang.

4:00 pm Beginning Yoga

This Coming Week
Wednesday: WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
No Dinner this week! No Music Rehearsals this week!
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)

Thursday: Christmas Eve
5:30 pm Christmas Eve service
A candlelight service of lessons, stories and carols for the whole family. The UU Suzuki Strings will play at this service. Invite your friends and neighbors! An offering will be taken to support our orphaned girl in the school we sponsor in India. Childcare will be available.
6:30 pm Christmas party
Please bring a snack to share: sweets and savories all are welcome. Esther will be providing warm drinks.
8:00 pm Christmas Eve service
Similar to the first service, but there will other musical features. Come early for the Christmas party, and see your friends who came to the first service.! An offering will be taken to support our orphaned girl in the school we sponsor in India. Childcare will be available.


Pastoral Concerns:
Jim Paprocki is back from the hospital and welcomes notes and phone calls!

Weekly Update - 12/11/09

Weekly Update - 12/11/09 Have you gotten yourself shoveled out yet? I hope so! If you are willing to be a Snow Angel, and help someone in need this winter--be sure you sign up on this simple little form, along with some other nice, simple tasks you might be able to do to make another church member's life easier when they are in a rough spot. Thinking maybe that you are the one who needs their walk shoveled, or a pot of soup delivered? Well there is a place to ask for help on this form too. Our community of love can act to help others, if we know who is available to be called upon. So everyone please take a moment and fill this out. Thanks!

And see you on Sunday!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHlfbThrT3prT2xEemU3SWxnQ28wZGc6MA

Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
“A UU Christmas Pageant” Rev. Eva Cameron.
Join us on this Festival Sunday for our annual production of the story of the
birth of Christ, with lots of commentary along the way, giving us different ideas
about ways that UU’s can make meaning of this story, as we share some laughter.

We've got a great cast, including Gary Kroeger, to help bring a little Christmas cheer to your heart.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)

Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)

Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15) for adults & children
Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Mr. George Gregory,
a Christian Science practitioner and other members of the local
Christian Science congregation, will be our guests. (balcony)

Circle Way: Join Deblyn Russell for Winter Solstice (sanctuary)

12:15 pm Traveling UU’s small group
2:30 pm Sunday Afternoon small group

This Coming Week
Monday
6:00 pm REAP Council
Tuesday
7:00 pm Board Meeting
7:15 pm Religious Services Council Meeting
Wednesday Calendar Deadline
11:00 am Friendship Village UU Ministry--Chapel service rescheduled from last week.
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Adult Choir
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
Artistic Fun Workshop
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday Newsletter Deadline

Other items
Friendship Village Chapel service and Religious Services Council Rescheduled
Both of these events were canceled due to weather. They will be held this week instead.

WOW CANCELED

All Wednesday activities are canceled at church due to the weather.

Weekly Update - 12/4/09

Weekly Update - 12/4/09 First of all, please note that First Friday has been canceled tonight. Several of the event planners are sick, and with the weather being bad, it seemed the best idea. Now is probably a good time to give you a general reminder about church events and snow/ice/cold, if you have any question--do check your e-mail. We do email all cancelations. And, on Sundays where the weather is questionable, I will also post to my blog window that appears on the right-hand side of our website if there is church service or not once I reach the church building. We will also answer the phone as we can on those days, updating the voicemail. I have a little Subaru Forrester that doesn't mind slippery weather, and so it is fairly easy for me to get to church. BUT, if you feel at all uncomfortable about getting to church, even if you have a responsibility--we want you to stay home! Just call Tim, Kathy or I (whoever you are responsible to) and let us know you aren't coming. Sometimes you really want to be in church, and there is a good chance something will be happening, even in bad weather. I'm good at going with the flow, and making up something with what we have. Everyone knows their own sense of comfort in winter weather, and we urge you to listen to your 'inner voice' on this one, and make the right call for your circumstances.

Wishing you joy on this snowy afternoon!

Eva

Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
“Sunset in Sabula” Rev. Eva Cameron, Deblyn Russell (Worship Associate)
Sometimes we really anticipate things in life, which leads to a lot of waiting. Advent is the time of year where we honor the spiritual practice of waiting, watching, and being open to the moment.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)

Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)

Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15) for adults & children
Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Deblyn Russell will teach us about the positive aspects of Wiccan and Native American spiritual beliefs. If there is time, she will present other Nature-based beliefs too. (balcony)

Conscious Living: “Health and Beauty Products: Are They Worth the Risk?” Christine Carpenter will enlighten us. (sanctuary)

New Member Meeting: People interested in becoming new members are invited to meet with Rev. Eva & Mica Lorenz in Eva’s office.

12:30 pm Potluck Luncheon
1:30 pm Winter Music Festival/Variety Show
The fun will begin with a potluck lunch at 12:30, followed by a delightful mix of musical, holiday, and comedy acts at 1:30. There will be a freewill donation (suggested: $10) to help the music committee support the general budget of the church.
4:00 pm Yoga with Krystal Hamilton


This Coming Week
Tuesday
7:15 pm Religious Services Committee
Wednesday
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Adult Choir/ Pageant Rehearsal
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
Artistic Fun Workshop
6:30 pm Integral Life Practice Small Group
7:30 pm Pageant Rehearsal
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
6:30 – 8:30 pm Creative Expressive Healing Workshop for women
Saturday
9:00am Pageant Rehearsal
6:30 pm UU Card Club
Other items
Chalice Relay (part 2) The beautiful chalice which is used at our national General Assemblies (aka "GA") needs to resume its travel. Its next stop is Rochester MN for their service on the 13th. Anyone heading that direction in the next week? Or even willing to go up there to see their Sunday service? or go half way and meet someone from their church? Please let me know.

Pastoral Update
Don't forget to send Mildred Pierce her birthday card. 100 years old!!!
Congratulations to Laura Walter, who got great news about being tumor-free!

Weekly Update - 11/20/09

Weekly Update --This Sunday we have many chances to give to show our thanks for the bounty of the universe. We will take a collection of canned goods for the Food Bank during the service. We will also pass out the "Guest at Your Table" boxes . . . where we invite you to set a place at your table in the season of Advent and make a small offering, in the amount of the cost of a meal . . . just as if you were feeding a guest. This money is used by our UU Service Committee to help with their many projects around the world. AND, last but not least . . . some of you remember that at First Friday Shauna Zeck (Jason's sister) shared with us about her special project to help the people of Rosebud Reservation with basic supplies (like clothing, bedding and kitchen items), most particularly the children. Well, it turns out this Monday there will be a pick-up of items heading up to Rosebud. If you would like to contribute things, bring them on Sunday and I will load them into my car to take to Shauna's house. Please look around an donate not only clean things you don't need anymore, but something you still like. Wouldn't you like to share with those who are in such desparate poverty some of the things that bless your life?

See you in church!

~Eva

Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
“Thanksgiving: Festival Sunday”
Join our drama team, choir and others as we celebrate the ample bounty of our lives.
Please bring a canned good or other item for the Food Bank. We will have a “parade of food” during the service where the children will bring the offerings up to the altar.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)

Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)

Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15) for adults & children
Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Shintoism with our own Dr. Joyce Boss (also from Wartburg). (balcony)
“Doc” Shorts: We will watch the second part of Earthdance a short-attention-span environmental film festival. Earthdance has seventeen stunning short films that we will watch over the next three months. Each viewing will be followed by discussion. (sanctuary)

Yoga (4:00 pm) NEW! Drop in beginning yoga by Krystal Hamilton.

T.R.I.B.E. (6:30 pm) Team, rhythm, instruments, & body ensemble


This Coming Week-all regular programming is canceled
Special Thanksgiving Holiday Potluck Dinner. All invited.

Bring your family and friends and join us for a Thanksgiving Day potluck. Church doors will open at 1:00 p.m. and we will eat dinner at 1:30 p.m. After dinner, we will chat, play board games, and enjoy each other's company.

Betsy Brant has offered to cook the turkey and make gravy. Christine Carpenter will provide a vegan main dish and gravy. Coffee, tea and water will be provided.

Each of you should bring:
* Two of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes to share.
* Your favorite board games.

Please let Christine Carpenter know by Sunday, November 22, if you are planning to join us for the potluck.

Christine Carpenter
266-0194
christine.carpenter@cfu.net


Pastoral Update
Mildred Pierce is turning 100!!!
We are organizing a card campaign. Send her a card, and maybe she'll get 100 cards for her birthday!
Address: 1710 Walnut St. CF, IA 50613
We don't see her around very much anymore . . . (that's the prerogative of being close to 100). But for those of you who don't know her, she was around often for many years, helping with Sunday Services, the Vegetarian Potluck, and the Conscious Living group, among others. Its good to honor those who came before us, building this community that we so love.

Weekly Update -11/13/09

Weekly Update 11/13/09 . . . I write this from Ottawa Canada, where I have stepped out of a time of sharing stories and learning from other UU Ministers. There are over 400 of us here, and it is a real blessing to have to connect and pause to think about who I am and what I do from within this larger context. This year, our church is doing this work too, as the Board has had a task force busy over last summer and into the fall working on creating new Bylaws that reflect our current practices. You will have an opportunity to review the results of their work soon. That work also led to the feeling by that committee that some other elements of formal framing of who we are should be up for review . . . including the Mission statement, and the creation of a Covenant of Right Relations. The Board will have much more to say about this in the coming months, including how you can participate in this reflection and creation process. But in the meantime, while I am doing some reflecting here . . . I commend to you the idea of reflecting on the nature of our UU society, and what your hopes and dreams for it are, what you treasure, how you want it to feel at its best, how you want it to engage the stranger, the broken, those hungering for a spiritual home . . . . to pause and reflect is an amazing gift we give ourselves, we give the world.
Keep living and loving! ~ Eva

This Saturday (6:30pm)
Don't forget to attend the Treats and Talents Auction . . . even if you've never gone before, just go and have fun. Buy a little or a lot. Come is costumes or not. Bring a friend, family, or come alone. Its a fun time, and a good way to play with each other while we do make some money to enliven our church.

This Sunday
Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
“Standing on the Side of Love: Gay Marriage”
Join members Al Hays, Staci Chananie-Hill, Mica Lorenz, Lara Martinsen-Burrell
and others who will share what equal marriage rights means to them and explore
the role a congregation such as ours can have as we stand on the side of love.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)
Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)
Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15pm)
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Islam with Dr. Pecen from UNI.
Buddhist Path: Join Ralph Burr and others in exploring Buddhist spiritual practices.

12:15 pm Outreach Committee meeting
2:00 pm Sunday Afternoon small group

This Coming Week
Tuesday
7:00 pm Board Meeting

Wednesday
(Please turn all calendar items in for newsletter)
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm NO Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Adult Choir
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
Artistic Fun Workshop
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band

Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)

Friday
(Newsletter deadline)
7:30 pm Community Drum Circle

Saturday
10:00 am- 12:00 pm Yoga Workshop (Contact Deblyn Russell for more information)

Next Sunday: “Thanksgiving: Festival Sunday”
Join our drama team, choir and others as we celebrate the ample bounty of our
lives. Please bring a canned good or other item for the Food Bank. We will
have a “parade of food” during the service where the children will bring the
offerings up to the altar.

Other Items
I am wondering if someone is interested in hosting a Community Thanksgiving dinner in our building this year. I am generally out of town, but it occurs to me that we have many people who are single, or empty-nesters . . . who might really enjoy a big potluck type dinner with companions from our church community. Let me know if you'd like to host such an event!

Pastoral Update
Lots of people sick with flu or colds . . . Send everyone some extra love. AND, DON'T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN!
Please let me know if you or someone you love should be included in our thoughts and prayers!



--
Rev Eva Cameron
minister
Unitarian Univesalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-610-6605
www.uusbhc.org

Weekly Update - 11/6/09

Today feels like a reprieve, all this delightful warmth and sun! After a hard week, it was such a welcome gift. Many of you (the Facebook crowd) know that I made the decision to put down my old Spaniel dog, Cammy, this week. She has been slowly falling apart for years now, having almost made it to her 15th birthday. And with her death came many fond memories of years past when she was much happier. In this time of the world slowing down, the plants dying back, it has been a good time to mourn her passing, and remember all the good and funny times! I hope between last week's service, and your own private rituals and ways, you have been able to mourn your losses of this year--that we may all enter the newest, the freshness of winter with a pure heart. Because yes, even if it seems like a September day, truly November is upon us. It is time to prepare for winter.
Keep on living and loving! See you in church, Eva

Please don't forget:
Tonight!! First Friday means . . . something FUN is happening at the UU. This month we welcome George LeDuc and Shauna Zeck, who come to share Native American flute, stories, arts and more . . . Potluck dinner at 6pm, program follows. This is for young and old alike! Family friendly. Come and enjoy. Help us to welcome our guests to the church.
AND
The Nature Small Group is having a open meeting this Saturday Nov. 7th from 1-3 pm at the Church. If you'd like to learn more and/or join, please attend. Thanks, Sheri Huber-Otting, Nature Small Group Facilitator

Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
Auction Sermon: “Excluded” Each year at the Treats and Talents Auction, Rev. Eva offers a sermon based on a book of the winning bidder’s choice. The lucky winner at the 2008 auction was Russ Campbell, who chose the book entitled Excluded by Robert Cummins. It tells the story of the Council of Churches and the Universalists. Come and learn this story which has shaped who we are.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)
Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)
Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15) for adults & children
Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Judaism with our own Judy Harrington
Circle Way: Native American Spirituality

This Coming Week
Monday
6:00 pm REAP Council
Tuesday
7:15 pm Religious Services Committee
Wednesday
Eva leaves for the UU Ministers' Convocation-back 11/16. I'm in Ottawa Canada. And I have yet to see if my phone will work there. Our staff and lay-ministers will be here to make sure everything is running smoothly!
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Adult Choir
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
Artistic Fun Workshop
Integral Life Practice small group
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Saturday
6:30 pm Treats ‘n Talents Auction: “A Knight to Remember”

Other items
Christmas boxes for November social action focus
Dear UUs and Friends,
The Social Action Plate Collection for November is for Christmas Dinner Boxes to be distributed to local crisis clients at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. This is the second year we are directly partnering with the food bank for this cause. Please note the following important information:
There will be a tour of the Food Bank on November 14th at 10 am instead of the Adult RE on Sunday November 15th. Let Sheri Huber-Otting know if you would like to attend. The contact information is sheriho@cfu.net or 319-277-7558.
Please give generously to the plate collection for this cause on November 29th.
The distribution of the dinner boxes will be December 21st. We will need volunteers to help pass out the boxes at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank that day. The times of the distribution will be determined later.
Thanks to everyone for Walking the Talk.
Sheri Huber-Otting
UUSBHC Social Action Chair

Canterbury Forum Program - Sunday, November 8th

On Sunday, November 8th, the Canterbury Forum will host the final program in its Fall 2009 series: Holy Terror: Murder, Martyrdom, and the Sikhs, presented by UNI professor Dr. Lou Fenech, a leading expert on the history of the Sikhs, who are concentrated in northern India and are the world’s sixth-largest religion, a people distinguished by their proud military tradition and their wearing of the turban. But among the Sikhs there is also a tradition of giving their lives to take the lives of those who oppress them, and this is the particular focus of Lou Fenech's talk. We associate religious violence with radical Islam, but as he will explain, it isn't confined to radical Islam.
As always, Canterbury Forum programs take place in Will Hall at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2410 Melrose Drive in Cedar Falls. They begin at 7:00 PM; the doors open at 6:30. They're open to the public, and there's no admission charge, though it sure is nice when folks bring treats to share. Bob Dise


Pastoral Update
Karen Impola and her husband Dave are both home with the flu. Send them your thoughts of love for a speedy recovery!
Deblyn Russell is a new Grandma. Join her in welcoming baby Zoya into the world, who arrived last Wednesday.