HighLights

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA)
333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401; Phone: 410/266-8044; Fax: 410/266-6910
mailto:newsletter@uuca-md.org Web site: The Home Page at: http://www.uuca-md.org

Staff:
Reverend Dr. Fredric J. Muir, Parish Minister

Reverend Amber Beland, Assistant Minister
Francoise H. Ateto, Director of Religious Exploration
Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Minister of Music
Christol Medley, Church Administrator/Editor

Theresa Novak, Intern Minister

Susan Eckert, Members Services Coordinator

Lori Frederick, Office Assistant

Stephanie Meredith, Sunday Assistant/DRE Assistant

Church Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Next News Deadline: midnight, 01/03/20076

Next Mailing: 01/09/2007

Volume 49, Issue 23

December 12, 2006

No Newsletter on December 26, 2006

Strategic Planning Actions & Resources Committee Update, December 2006

A new building ?

This Autumn has been a busy time for SPARC--UUCA’s Strategic Planning Actions & Resource Committee.  Many of you will have noticed co-chair Margaret Martin’s intriguing story-boards outside the sanctuary.  You will be able to continue viewing both the SPARC story-boards and Margaret, outside, as long as the weather permits!  We have visited other UU churches in the area that have recently undergone expansions and have surveyed the members of those churches who were most closely involved to assess what they did, how they did it and how it worked out for those congregations.  We still have a few more local churches to visit, as well as a few long-distance congregations we also want to contact.  SPARC has been working on a web-page to keep the congregation informed and this should be up and running in the near future.  In the meantime, you can look for an update via the newsletter on a monthly basis.  Also in the near future we will be having the church property surveyed.  This survey will identify all the physical features of the property (plat, all man-made improvements, etc.), identify specimen trees, critical areas and buffers, show us where our boundaries are, and also re-set the boundary markers where needed.  Once we have reviewed all the proposals and chosen a surveyor the survey will get underway—we will be sure to let you know when that is going to begin.  On December 1st we held a social hour to talk with members and address any questions or concerns they might have about the work SPARC is currently doing.  We hope to repeat the SPARC social-hour approximately every six weeks.  In the meantime, if you have questions or would like more information, you can send an email to: sparc@uuca-md.org or speak with any of the current SPARC members:  Art Hansen, Bill Curtis, Bill Irwin, Cindy Hackett, Danie Kinkade, Debbie Cole, Diane Ratcliff, Betsy Kraning, Kirk Albright (co-chair), Margaret Martin (co-chair), Pinto Soin and Sandi Roddy.

Upcoming Sermons

Dec. 17

THE SYMBOLS OF

DECEMBER

The Intergenerational Services on Sunday, December 17 will explore the various symbols which are woven into the celebrations of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and the winter solstice with the sharing of songs and stories.  Special music will be provided by the Intergenerational Choir directed by Lynn Rose.  The entire family is invited to attend!

Dec 24

Christmas Eve

“Have Yourself A merry UU Christmas”

One Service @ 9 a.m.

There are some who believe that Unitarians and Universalists saved Christmas. This Christmas Eve morning, join Fred Muir as he exposes the truth of this legend!

December 24

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

There are three Christmas Eve Candlelight Services. At 5:00 p.m. is a family service: Families with younger children are encouraged to attend (it’s a bit shorter too). The services at 7:00 and 9:00 are a more traditional UU service with readings and music. All three services light candles. See you Christmas Eve!

December 31

New Year’s Eve

“Middles and

Muddles”

(One Service at 9 a.m.)

This time of the year we tend to focus on beginnings and endings, and sometimes forget that most of the changes of life are not as simple as turning the last page of a calendar

January 7

“Seemingly Serene”

The “Serenity Prayer” has always intrigued me – its origin, meaning, and use. Distinguishing what can and cannot be changed and having the wisdom to know the difference is laudable. But it’s harder than that, isn’t it? Join me this morning as I reflect on the nature of serenity.

Jan. 14

“King’s Vision of Justice”

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a big vision, a vision that included justice and wholeness for all. For example, attributed to him is this statement: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” This Sunday, “King Sunday,” let’s reflect on King’s vision of wholeness and justice

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

Keeping the Faith

Thomas Nast, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Edmund Sears, Lydia Child, Charles Follen, James Pierpont, Henry Longfellow, Harriet Martineau, Catharine Sedgwick, Samuel Coleridge, and there were others. Perhaps you recognize one or two of these names, but they probably don’t roll off your tongue at this time of the year. But they would have about 150 years ago because they were among the individuals who kept the American Christmas alive, at least the Christmas we know today. Carols and songs, stories and tales, decorations and pictures, and other December traditions are among the contributions these people made to our holiday spirit. Their lives and skills were amazing, their reasons for what they did often surprising, the public’s response wasn’t always supportive, and for some their contributions weren’t recognized until long after they had died. Yet what they gave us has become a valued part of Christmas. And you know what else? They were all Unitarian Universalists!

In his wonderful book The Battle for Christmas: A Cultural History of America’s Most Cherished Holiday, Stephen Nissenbaum notes: “In the early nineteenth century it was [the Universalists] that proselytized for Christmas more actively than any other [denomination]….Unitarians were calling for the public observance of Christmas by 1800. They wished to celebrate the holiday not because God had ordered them to do so but because they wished themselves to.”

Occasionally, I hear people ask why Unitarian Universalists observe Christmas and tell its story. One answer is, Because it’s in our “institutional DNA!” We have a long line of people and practices that have contributed to our cultural holiday: Unitarian Universalists have been instrumental in shaping what Americans do and how we do it. Also, of course, our faith heritage is Christian (albeit it liberal Christian) and to not tell the gospel story simply makes no sense; this tradition is also part of our faith make-up.

But whether it’s the people or the story, there’s a third characteristic of Christmas that we value: It’s the message of promise and hope. At the darkest time of the year, we embrace the darkness for what it is and what it means because we can, if we will, gather hope from the light within and the promise of sharing that light with each other. This message is as true today as it was 150 years ago or 2000 years ago.

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. See you soon and keep the faith,

Fred

InterGenerational Cover-Dish & Celebration of fun, Food and Fellowship

What better way to begin the New Year than an InterGenerational Celebration of Fun, Food and Fellowship with fellow UUCA members and friends of all ages? Please mark your calendar now for Saturday, January the 13th from 4-7pm in the Sanctuary. You only need to bring a Covered Dish and an Open Heart (and your place settings)!

We will get better-acquainted, share a meal, play some InterGenerational games, and laugh and learn together from 4-7pm on the Second Saturday of January 2007 (Second Sundays beginning in February). Watch for details in the Newsletter and Order-of-Service. For more information or to volunteer please contact: Teresa@uuhe.org or Lisa@uuhe.org. To register please go to http://public.serviceu.com/registration/default.asp?OrgID=2929&EventID=2571359&OccID=75282037.

Second Sundays are brought to you by UUCA's own

Unitarian Universalist Home Educators Group

“UUCA Seminarian"

As the first semester at Harvard Divinity winds down to a close and we enter the holiday season, I send warm greetings to my UUCA family. I also look forward to any warm greetings from you all, especially considering it is getting cold here in Boston! I am truly enjoying my time here, and highly recommend divinity school for anyone who is interested in quitting their career to sit around discussing theology with people who may not agree with you. I certainly have learned a great deal from my classmates and the courses that we have together. The Div School (as it's commonly called on this side of the Charles River) requires all students studying for the ministry to enroll in two courses; one is an introduction to ministry and the other a history of Christianity. Of course, the ole' Unitarian/Trinitarian debate has naturally come up on more than one occasion. I am also studying Ancient Greek and taking a class on psychoanalysis and character ethics. Life in Cambridge has been idyllic so far, but then again the weather has been forgiving up until this past weekend. Despite the effects of global warming, I'm sure we will get our share of snow and unpleasant bitterness this winter - so if anyone has a light therapy lamp lying around please let me know. Though I live far away these days, I am always available to anyone who would like to hear more about the Div School and my road to ministry. I’d also like to find out how you are doing and plan to be at church when I visit the third weekend in January. Take care and I look forward to seeing everyone next month.

Michael Looft

mlooft@hds.harvard.edu

Web of Life

When I was in college, I took a wonderful course in storytelling. At that time I had already decided that I wanted to be a minister so I thought that it would help me to be more natural and comfortable speaking in public. It turned out to be one of the best courses I ever took. As a group, we improved from nervous voices and forgotten lines to retelling stories that when they were finished had most of the class teary eyed. Taking this class brought me back to a bedtime ritual that my mother and I had from the time I was small into high school. She is a wonderful storyteller with voice inflections and a delivery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Sitting together, we read everything from Madame Bovary to the Berenstein Bears. Storytelling is such an amazing thing – it passes on traditions and family history, it gives us a chance to slow down in our busy lives and be together. The holidays can be stressful, full of shopping and wrapping, buying and rushing but today I was reminded again that there are things we each can do to slow down. I wish you a happy holiday and hope that you find in the rush of the season some time to spend with those you love as I plan to do this Christmas Eve with my family telling stories of other years and shared memories.

May you be blessed, Amber

UUCA Outdoor Club

UUCA Outdoor Club is open to all members and friends of UUCA who wish to enjoy the fellowship of UUs in the setting of an outdoor activity. For more information or to sign up for an activity, please contact Eloise Hoyt 410-768-4932 or ehoyt@toadmail.com

UUCA Book Club

Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the church library.

In December there will be no meeting. Our book selection for January 16 is American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin. This award-winning biography of Oppenheimer, known as “the father of the atomic bomb.”

All are welcome to join us for this discussion. If you have any questions, contact Jackie Rocca at 410-349-8351.

Welcoming, Caring & Connecting

PASTORAL CARE TEAM NEWS

UUCA PASTORAL CARE TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU!

During the month of November Team Care Providers:

Picked up groceries for a church family that is caring for a seriously ill member

Provided transportation for various members on 5 occasions

Provided several meals to a family in need.

Made numerous phone calls to follow up on various individual care needs

Met at the home of a family to set-up a long-term care plan for meals, respite care and small household tasks

Mailed five cards from the Care Corner

Listening/Communication Skills Workshop scheduled for the evening of Sunday, January 14. Mark your calendar now; more details will be available at a later date.

Are you in need of a caring friend who will listen, empathize, encourage and provide confidential care and patiently support you as you work through a crisis or difficult time? Do you know a church member who could benefit from this type of care? Then contact one of our Coordinators. They can tell you more about our Pastoral Care Ministry and how you can be matched with a Care Minister.

Care Minister Coordinators:

Susan Eckert (410) 266-8044 (weekdays)

Carol Friend (410) 544-2846 (evenings, weekends)

Kathy Hughes (410) 798-4719 (evenings, weekends)

Care Ministers:

Pat Fleeharty Jerri Kohler

Kathy Higdon Marge Matthews

Bill Hope

♥ Please be sure to register as a Unitarian Universalist if you are admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Center. Due to regulations, it may be the only way our Care Ministers will know to check on you and offer support.♥

Welcome New Members!

We would like to welcome our newest members who signed the Membership Book on November 26 and December 3:

Kenneth (Ken) S. Apfel

Caroline S. Hadley

Cody M. Werner

Alex Crilly

Ben Parafina

Thomas (Tom) Fellowes

Judith (Judi) C. Bulliner

Michelle Morningred

It’s good to have you with us!

The New UU Class

The “New UU” class is designed for newcomers and new members.    The next class will be offered on Saturday, January 13, 8:45 a.m. – 12 Noon in the Sanctuary, covering UU theology, UU history and the UU Church of Annapolis.    It’s a wonderful way to learn more about Unitarian Universalism.    Anyone thinking of becoming a member of the congregation is strongly encouraged to attend.    Please call Susan Eckert at 410-266-8044, Ext. 110 to request childcare.

Faith Development

Religious exploration News

Next Sundays, December 17, 24 and 31: Intergenerational Celebrations - Religious Exploration groups will not meet. Children and youth are encouraged to sit with their family in the sanctuary for all services. Nursery coverage will be available on December 17 as an option for parents who wish to use this service for their young children only (ages: 6 months-5 years). Roots and Wings at 9 AM will resume on January 7, along with Nursery coverage during both services; Worship for All Ages at 10:30 AM and F.L.A.M.E. at 11 AM will resume on January 14.

Ever considered getting involved in R.E.? There are still a few openings for the second Religious Exploration semester (January 7-April 29). You do not have to have children enrolled in the R.E. program to participate! To meet our goal of having four facilitators on each team, we need a few more adults for K/Grade 1 and for Grades 4/5 at the 9 AM session. Facilitators rotate to cover about fifteen Sundays, so you won’t be working every week. Please contact Fran if you have questions (410-266-8044 x101 or dre@uuca-md.org).

Un-trimming the Christmas Tree

No sooner have we finished decorating the Christmas tree than we already have to think about un-trimming it! If, on Stone Soup Sunday, you made an ornament that you would like to keep, please plan to take it off the church Christmas tree on Sunday, December 31 after the service.

R.E. Facilitator Sharing and Social

Sunday, January 7, 2007, 10:30 AM-12:00 noon. Childcare will be available. All facilitators and advisors for the first or second semester (or both!) are invited to participate. Mark your calendars and look for an invitation in the mail!

Please join us for our Yuletide celebration the evening of 17 December!

The Winter Solstice, or Yule, celebrates the rebirth of the sun to the earth following the longest night of the year. This solstice marks a crucial part of the natural cycle as the sun begins anew its journey toward longer days, times of new growth, and renewal of the world once again. In a spiritual sense, it reminds us that for a new path to begin, the old one must end, and that spring will come again.

For many pagans, Yule is the birthday of the new Sun King, the Son of God -- by whatever name you choose. The modern Yule festival is a blend from many cultures, including the Romans, Celts, and Saxons.

Decorating with evergreens is an ancient custom, most commonly seen today in Christmas trees and wreaths. Such plants were considered magical and protective in being evidently alive at this seemingly dead part of the year, and so are symbolic of the survival and rebirth of the sun. A Yule log may be burned to provide a light in the darkest night, symbolizing hope and a belief that the sun will return. (Please contact Brenda Gilmore, brendagilmore13@hotmail.com, for more information about our Yule celebration.)

New Pathwork Winter Course Offering

Articulating Your UU Faith

Tuesdays starting January 16 from 7 – 8:30 pm

Articulating Your UU Faith is designed to help UU’s speak more effectively about our liberal religion and their particular perspectives on it. This course incorporates active participation and role-playing. Over five weeks the participants will have an opportunity to write a personal belief statement and practice sharing it with others. We will also learn about Unitarian Universalist history and explore different ways of explaining Unitarian Universalism to those unfamiliar with our faith tradition.

Emergence of Ancient Israel

Wednesdays starting January 17 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm

How did pastoral nomadic tribes settle in the highlands of Canaan during the early Iron Age, and begin to identify themselves as a separate ethnic group with a distinct religion? We will try to answer these questions using information from the Hebrew Bible, Egyptian records, archeology, and Hittite, Philistine and Mesopotamian cultures. We will examine how evolving myth defines an ethnic culture and how a liberal religious approach to spirituality can help us understand this process. This course runs for six weeks.

The Bible: An In Depth Look Part Two

Join us as we continue to examine the Bible in more depth by examining certain chapters, books and passages through many different lenses. Having attended the first part of the course is not required for you to attend part two. Watch the order of service for dates and times.

Evensong 2, Spiritual Practice and UUs, and Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships will be offered at sometime during this quarter please watch the order of service bulletin and newsletter for dates and times.

Holiday Dates to Remember

December 17

9 am and 11 am “The Symbols of December” Holiday Service

(No Religious Exploration – only Nursery Care)

6-9 pm Yule Celebration – Winter Solstice

December 24

9 am “Have Yourself a Merry UU Christmas” Sunday Service

(No Religious Exploration or Nursery Care)

5 pm – Family Candlelight Service

7 pm and 9 pm – Traditional Candlelight Services

December 26-January 2

Church Office Closed

December 26

No Newsletter

December 31

9 am “Middles and Muddles” Sunday Service

(No Religious Exploration – only Nursery Care)

December 31

All 2006 contributions must be received or postmarked December 31

To be included in 2006 Tax Contribution statements

Resource Stewardship

As we prepare to finalize the 2006 Tax Contributions Records please remember tha