December 2013

December 1, 2013 – Thanksgiving Weekend

"Hinduism"

Anand Bhattacharyya

(Mr. Bhattacharyya is the father of Mike Acharya, of our congregation.)

(Church Potluck Lunch – 12:15.)

(Sanctuary decorating for the Holidays.)

December 8, 2013

“The Tree Downtown”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

In the middle of downtown, Santa Claus arrives, the giant tree is lit, and a prayer is said over the festivities.  What can it mean to celebrate quasi-religious holidays in the town square amidst all the sectarian squabbling among neighbors?

December 15, 2013 – Solstice Celebration

– an intergenerational worship service –

“We’ve Got the Power”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

We honor the winter solstice in song and story, celebrating our dip into the rich darkness as well as the journey back into the light.

December 22, 2013

“The Time Is Near”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The season of Advent comes down to this:  waiting for the "fullness of time" and the accompanying birth to arrive.  As always in the spiritual realm, it's not here quite yet.  But also as always, the time is near.

December 24, 2013 - Christmas Eve

–  7:30 in the evening  –

–  an intergenerational worship service  –

“A Game of Christmastime”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

In a traditional candlelight service, we’ll hear modern stories of holidays gone by, read from ancient texts about myth and mystery, and celebrate hope together on a very special night.

December 29, 2013

“Making Room in the Backpack”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The old year is leaving and many of us have things we need to let go of before the new year arrives.   Today we’ll ritually remove the unhelpful stuff we’re still carrying around so we can travel into the future feeling lighter.

December 1 – Tracey Howe-Koch – The Bible

December 8 – Dr. Ronald Glossop – Philosophy

Our fourth class on "Issues in Philosophy" will mark a shift in subject from what is true to what is good.  What is the greatest good for a human being?  Possibilities to be discussed include having pleasure and avoiding pain, following one's duty to God or to humanity, accepting without complaint whatever comes, realizing one's potentialities, having knowledge and understanding, being a virtuous person, and being the kind of person with whom others like to associate.    

Peg Flach – Dutiful Daughters and Sons (DDS)

Dutiful Daughters and Sons is a support/sharing/venting group open to anyone who is struggling with the many issues involved in care-taking or advocating for an elderly parent.  We will meet in Khleber's office at 9:30 am.  If you have any questions, contact Peg Flach.  

December 15 – Michelle Bryant Barbeau – Meditation

December 22 – Jerry Johnson – UU History

During this month's session, our UU history video will finish covering the establishment of Unitarian churches in U.S.  We will view  the contributions of early notable Unitarians, such as William Ellery Channing, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Theodore Parker.  For more information about the video presentation, visit http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/290764.shtml?utm_source=n.

December 29 – The Jar of Questions:

The jar of questions helps us to learn more about ourselves and each other.  Join us!

December – All Sundays

Cheryle Tucker, Coordinator - "Expect Life!" 

Based on a reading by Elizabeth Tarbox, we will explore living in the present, miracles, and the interconnectedness of joy and sorrow.

A First Glance

As each episode of the TV series Downton Abbey begins, the opening credits roll while we watch the downstairs staff preparing the massive upstairs rooms for the upper-class residents’ day:  dusting the fixtures, creasing the linens, polishing the silver, adjusting the table settings just so. 

Underneath all the activity, the Downton Abbey theme song plays.  The composer of that theme song named it “Preparation.”

That’s what this time of year feels like to me - a time of preparation as we scurry around in service to the holidays:  readying our houses, readying our hearts, readying our lives, for something.

Outside, the weather turns colder, the leaves pile up and become frozen together in the morning frost.  The winter wind begins to blow through before the blood has had a chance to thicken.

Inside, too, it can be a difficult time, with too much going on, too much to do, too many people relying on us, too much stuff in limbo, too many things waiting to happen. 

With all the stress and strain, the holidays can feel more like a period of mourning than a time of celebration.  What was it again we were supposed to learn from all this tumult and mess?

Oh, yes, now I remember:  patience, that quality of character I’ve been praying for most of my adult life.  And, I should say with barely contained frustration, rarely receiving.

It occurs to me:  if I haven’t received the gift of patience for Christmas before now, maybe I've overrated it.  Maybe it's something I don’t really need.  Maybe instead of praying for patience, I should just grab hold of the holidays like a child.  Getting excited about everything.  No patience expected, no patience required.  Without sophistication, without picking apart the myths and the mysteries to see whether or not they're rational and reasonable enough to be believed.

Okay.  That settles it - I'll offer up a different holiday prayer this year, one that skips over all that stuff about patience and simply asks for help living in the moment, giving my self up and accepting the multitude of gifts that come unbidden, reveling in all that’s going on within and without me, feeling both the joy and the anxiety, and being thankful for it all.

There'll be time to pray for patience again after the holidays.   Maybe as a New Year's resolution ...

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you and yours,

4^th Saturday Lunch & Personal Care Items for those in need

December 28 – 11:30 am

Information about what will be needed for this month’s 4^th Saturday Lunch will be available at church, via email from the Church Office, on UU Friends, and on the First Unitarian Church of Alton’s facebook page.

Our distribution of personal care items has become very popular – as many of these needed items cannot be purchased through the government’s “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program” (SNAP - formerly known as food stamps). 

If you can contribute any of the following items, your donation would be very welcome.  Toilet paper – feminine hygiene products – shampoo – laundry detergent – bleach – baby wipes – diapers/pull-ups – AfroAmerican hair products – cleaning supplies – toothpaste - soap. 

It is better to contribute 5 of 10 of the same item rather than one or two of each.

A course in Esperanto

At 12:30 pm Sunday, December 8, the third meeting of the Esperanto class will take place in Emerson Place.   This course is led by Dr. Ronald Glossop.

Questions?  Contact Ron.

Building and Grounds News

For the next three months,  Jim McKeever will serve as the Building Co-Chair.   If there is anything you see that needs attention in the building, please contact Jim.

The workday in November resulted in new ceiling tiles being put up in the Wuerker Room to cover the hole made by the raccoon several months ago; the mold-laden ceiling cut out of the Wuerker Room closet; the Wuerker Room closet neatened up; and other building concerns addressed.

If you notice something around the church grounds that needs attention or repair, please contact our Grounds Co-Chair, Bob Larson

Church Potluck Lunch & Tree Decorating

DECEMBER 1^st

Following the 2^nd service.

Plan to stay following the service on December 1^st to share in our monthly potluck lunch.  Note that from now on the lunch will be held on the first Sunday of each month.

We will also be decorating the sanctuary for the Holidays.  Please plan to stay a little while and help trim the tree.

Worship Team Associates

Monday, December 2

7 to 8:30 pm

Have you wanted to share in bringing new perspectives to Sunday morning worship?  Would you would enjoy a deeper study of what happens (emotionally, spiritually, intellectually) during worship, and how to make those experiences more meaningful to yourself and the congregation? 

If so, please plan to attend the “Worship Team” meeting.

The theme for December’s meeting is “brokenness.”

Contact:   Khelber Van Zandt.

Save the Date!

UU Family Winter Gathering

December 20 – 6 pm

Sayer Johnson is organizing a “UU Family Winter Gathering.”  This will include a soup supper, conversation, fellowship, gaming for the kids, and is planned as an “intentional” time to be together.

Details will be coming soon. 

Alton Community Christmas

Our Community Christmas collection is on!  The United Way is collecting new winter clothing items for all ages, new toys for all ages, diapers, personal care items, coats, socks, etc.  The collection ends on Thursday Dec. 12 so please bring items for the Collection Box by Sunday, December 8.  We have been a partner in this effort for many years, keep it going!

Interest Groups

The Anna D's will meet at Castelli's Moonlight Restaurant at 3400 Fosterburg Rd. on Thursday, December 5 at 11:30 am.     MaryLu McManus is hosting.

Please let her know by the end of the day Monday, December 2 if you are planning to attend.  All women of the church are invited.

At the last Anna Ds meeting, members donated money in memory of Ruth Shaw.  Those funds will be given to the 4^th Saturday Lunch fund.  The 4^th Saturday Lunch was one of the several church projects that Ruth supported financially.

Fifty-Plus (50+) Forum

First SATURDAY of every month

December 7, 2013

10:30 am to noon at church

We invite anyone who is over 50 or even getting near that milestone to join us. We have a lot in common: long work lives, preparation for or entry into retirement, a vast array of interests … and we love sharing all of it.

December 12

11:30 am

The Men’s lunch bunch meets the second Thursday of each month.  Join us on Thursday, December 12 at 11:30 am at the Best Buffet at 615 Wesley, Drive in Wood River, IL.

Coordinator:   Jim Moore.

All men in our church are invited.

Renegade Women - topical discussions

1 pm to 3 pm every 3^rd Saturday.

December 21

For information for the topic of this month’s discussion, contact Dee Evans.

Donations to the Alton Crisis Food Center

The Crisis Food Center, down the street from the church, is always in need of donations of food items.  The Center is in need of canned green beans, corn and other vegetables; tuna; canned meat; peanut butter; boxes of mac ‘n cheese; and basic food staples.

Please bring non-perishable food items and put them in the collection container in the RE Foyer.

Currently we are working in tandem with the Food Center for the distribution of personal care items.  They are bringing all the personal care items donated to the Food Center up to us for our monthly personal care item distribution during our 4^th Saturday Lunch.

Please support the Food Center.

Thank You.

Amal Kambal joined

the church recently. Please introduce yourself and make her feel welcome.  Her contact information is given in the November 4 issue of the Church Directory.

Below is the list of members of the Caring Ministries Team.

Marcia Custer is the Coordinator. You may always contact a Team member in time of illness, loss, crisis, or other need.  Keep this list of contact people available in case you or your family is in need of pastoral support.

The Caring Ministries Committee is ready to welcome several more members! If you are interested in engaging in conversations with other church friends and getting to know them on a deeper level, please consider joining our group! Please contact Marcia Custer for more information.

SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING OF CHURCH MEMBERS

Sunday, December 15

following the 2^nd service

The agenda will include a proposal as requested at the May annual meeting to amend the Endowment Fund section of the Bylaws.  The following is the proposed language:

In the event that the Board deems it necessary to withdraw funds from the Endowment Fund over and above the spendable income formula, it will provide the congregation with an explanation of the need for such a withdrawal thirty days prior to the meeting as part of the notice of a regular or special congregational meeting. Such a special fund withdrawal, as proposed by the Board and/or revised at the congregational meeting, requires a motion to that effect approved by a 2/3 majority of those members present and voting.

A PDF copy of the complete Bylaws with this proposal incorporated was sent by email.  Copies will also be available at church.

UU Central Midwest District

Women & Religion

Winter WomanSpirit 2014

Wisdom for the Journey:   A Weekend with Sue Monk Kidd

“Ms. Kidd is one of the foremost \explorers of the feminine divine and spiritual creativity for women.  Her fiction works dance on the edges of magical realism as she celebrates the connection between writing, creativity, and soul; and her non-fiction writings have provided a map for women seeking to expand and reclaim their own spiritual power.”

Date:  February 7 – 9, 2014

Where:  DuPage UU Congregation, Naperville, IL

Registration fee:  $175

To register online go to https://www.regonline.com

Hotel:  Hilton Lisle in Lisle IL (hotel accommodations not included in the registration fee).

For hotel reservations call 1-880-552-2599 or to reserve online go to www.hiltonlislenaperville.com and proceed to the reservations tab.  The group code for the WomenSpirit weekend is CCMW

December Birthdays

Most people enjoy getting a card, email, or phone call on their birthday.  Below is the list we have of church members and friends celebrating birthdays this month.  If you do not think the church office has your birthday on file, please contact Becky Green at church@firstuualton.org and give her that information.

12/05     Benjamin Hoeft, (11)

12/05     Cody Wucher

12/06     Melody Hardman

12/07     Mary Weber

12/16     Linda Van Zandt

12/18     Layne Simpson

12/23     Wendy Moore Hershey

12/23     Marty Moore Johnson

12/28      Sara Schulz

12/31     Eric Johnson

Chalica

Chalica is a weeklong celebration of our Unitarian Universalist Principles.   The holiday first emerged in 2005 out of a wish to have a holiday organized around Unitarian Universalist values.  Chalica begins on the first Monday in December and lasts seven days.   Each day, a chalice is lit and the day is spent reflecting on the meaning of that day’s principle and doing a good deed that honors that principle.   Not all Unitarian Universalists celebrate Chalica, but it has a growing following.   There is a Chalica Facebook page, blog, and many Chalica-themed videos on YouTube.

http://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/174566.shtml