Weekly Update 12/9/11

Hello!
Do you remember a time when you wish you could go to a church and not feel like you were uncomfortable, or unfairly judged, or just like you didn't belong? Do you remember a time sitting at home, thinking about how all your friends went to church, but you never had, and didn't really understand how it all works? All across the Cedar Valley, people are feeling like this. And like people everywhere, they are struggling with divorce, cancer, upset, job loss, difficult families, and confusing times. And the the holidays are so hard on people--we all think we are 'supposed' to be having a wonderful time, with a wonderful family. Will you do me a favor, and stop and think for a minute . . . do you know someone who might be in this category? Don't just keep reading, stop for a second and think!  Ok. Got a name? Now do this. Give them a Christmas present. Ask them if they'd like to come to church with you. Tell them its ok if they say no, and that we aren't join to pressure them to feel they have to join. Just make it a cheerful, "thought you might want to try it out--its meant a lot to me"--kind of ask. I know that talking about religion can be awkward. But feeling alone is awkward too . . . or feeling out of place. Take a moment and give someone that gift--the gift of offering them the chance to experience something that is meaningful to you. Don't worry if they say 'yes' or 'no' . . .  the real gift is in the asking.

See you in church!
~Eva

This Sunday: December 11th

 8:30 am Music Rehearsal

 9:30 am Service: Direct Connection to Love"  Rev. Eva Cameron, Worship Associate - Deblyn Russell

    Deblyn and Rev Eva are preparing a service that will help us open our hearts to the love that is here all around us, in this season and always. As we are engaged in the Advent season or preparing for the re-birth of the Sun, now is the time to pause and make space in our lives for love. Join us! The choir will sing too.

10:45 am Fellowship Time

11:00 am Children's Chapel

11:15 am Sunday School for Children & Youth (classrooms)

11:15 am Adult Religious Education "Google Docs Overview"

  3:00 – 5:00 pm International Folk Dancing

Calendar Updates for this Coming Week
Tuesday
      7:00 pm Religious Services Council
Wednesday      **Calendar Deadline**
      5:00 pm Festival Sunday planning meeting
      5:15 pm Children's Choir
      5:45 pm Dinner:  Hungarian – Chicken Paprikash, beans, rice, salad & fruit.
      6:30 pm Adult Choir
      7:30 pm Theoretical String Band
Thursday
      7:30 pm Buddhist Path
Friday     **Newsletter Deadline**

Our Christmas Eve Service is at 5:30 pm.  

Join us for a family holiday tradition!  Invite your neighbors and friends to join us as we welcome in the spirit of Christmas in carols, scripture, story and candlelight!  Please bring a treat to share for our holiday party after the service. There will be a social action collection for our Khasi Hills School.

Pastoral Update
Dorothy "Dottie" Forsberg continues to slowly decline at this time. She remains at Friendship Village's Lakeview Landing currently, under care of hospice. I'm sure she and Gordon would appreciate visits from friends, as well as notes with stories of good memories. (see address below)

Dick Shane - will be 100 on December 17th !!!
We will host a birthday party for him during the lunch hour of Friendship Village Chapel service at Lakeview Lodge on Dec 21. Chapel at 11am, lunch at 12noon. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Judith Harrington, 277-1106. (She is heading up our little Dick Shane Birthday party committee--along with John Miller, Donna Kroeger, and Brian Forster). Judy will have some cards for you to sign after the service this Sunday as well.
Dick is having difficulty hearing, but his mind is sharp. We encourage you to send notes in big, bold print to him--tell him a story, or share your thoughts about things that are going on. He would love hearing from you, even if he doesn't know you!

Lakeview Landing
332 Southbrooke, Apt. 1010
Waterloo, Iowa 50702

Do, please, let me know of any other pastoral updates to include from week to week. People want to know, and send you love, prayers or bring you a pot of soup!  ~Eva

Church Announcements

Alternative Activites
If your child or children are participating in Alternative Activities during the service, please pick them up upstairs after the service before you head down to the fellowship hall.  This will make it easier for the childcare workers to make sure the children get to their parents. Thank you!

The Mitten Tree
The Social Action Committee and the children of our church have partnered up to gather mittens, hats and scarfs for the children of Khasi Hills. Please take an ornament off of the tree and return with a new hat, scarf or mittens for a youth or child and place your item under the tree. At the end of the holiday season, we will package up our gifts, along with messages from the children, and send it off to the Khasi Hills so our friends there can keep warm in their cooler months. Help us fill the bottom of our tree with colorful cold weather items!

SCRIP FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS
Looking for a gift for that hard to please someone on your list? Gift cards make great gifts and are available in many denominations. Come see what's new at the scrip table during coffee hour on Sunday mornings, or contact scrip coordinator, Shanlee McNally, scrip@uusbhc.org or 296-2780.


Stay Informed/Keep Us Informed:
Please send any information for the Weekly Updates to administrator@uusbhc.org or call 266-5640.

The Calendar and Newsletter deadlines are this next week.  Please send your January Calendar and January Newsletter information in soon. Thanks!

The December newsletter is available as follows:

• for downloading  UUSBHC December newsletter

• paper copies are available in the fellowship hall at church.

• Also let the office know if you would prefer to receive the newsletter by email administrator@uusbhc.org

Community Announcements:

Bank Protest at Well Fargo: The Occupy Cedar Valley along with some Tea Party members have joined forces to stage a protest about the unfair banking bail-outs at Wells-Fargo branch office in downtown Cedar Falls today from 4:30 to 7:30pm . . . .
They got bailed out. We got sold out. Let's give 'em an earful.
Join Occupy Cedar Valley in collaboration with local Tea Party members and the voices of many various political ideologies and sentiments as we peacefully protest the chain of abuses that Wells Fargo & Co. and others of the so-called Big Six banks have committed against its lenders and taxpayers. They have emerged from the bailout era more powerful than ever, and it's crucial that we raise awareness about the perpetual corruption that these institutions are culpable for.
Bring your signs. Bring your voice. We are the 99%.

The Reckoning: the Battle for the International Criminal Court
Free screening in honor of International Human Rights Day.
Monday, Dec 12th 6:30 pm  Cedar Falls Public Library, 524 Main St, Cedar Falls

Walk the Labyrinth
Labyrinths represent a sacred journey, a time to go inward, to move away from everyday life, into our inner life.  Come rediscover this ancient tool of contemplative prayer.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2410 Melrose Dr, Cedar Falls (off Waterloo Road, across from Earle May Nursery)  Friday, Dec 9th and Saturday, Dec 10th  10:00 am - noon.

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