By Jan Radoslovich
The WUUC church building was finally able to open for hybrid services on Dec. 5, 2021 after being closed due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions since March 2020. Members and friends of WUUC made extraordinary efforts to bring the church to life in December during this opening period. The Board of Trustees would like to thank all those who made December so special for our WUUC community.
Giving Tree
Thank you to everyone in the congregation and beyond who participated in it, from small to large donations; the BSAFF Team for stepping up to last minute tasks; Denesha McCoy as our Greenleaf liaison; and Pam Green and Cora Goss-Grubbs for overall coordination of the program. Thanks to Carol Taylor, Lane Owsley and Alaine Davis for helping decorate the Kenmore Community Club for the Dec. 20 Greenleaf Holiday celebration. Over $3,000 in money and gift donations was collected.
Church Decorations and Christmas Tree
Chuck and Jean Fowler provided the wreaths to decorate the church portico columns and decorated the front doors, donated the Christmas Tree and poinsettias, and put up the Advent banners (made previously by Laurie Rockenbeck) on the pillars inside the church. They also organized the Choir in decorating the Christmas Tree.
Worship Services
The hybrid services in December were work-intensive to organize the service elements as well as the human resources needed to put on the services. Much effort was put into having two Christmas Eve services. There were many people who contributed significantly to the hybrid services held in December:
WUUC minister and staff: Rev. Dan Lillie, Bridget Laflin, Karen Hyams, Lori Varosh
Guest Speaker: Rachel Eddy (for Burning Bowl)
Worship Leaders: Steve Okun, Winny Schnitzler, Donna Johnson, Jan Radoslovich, Jean Fowler
Music: WUUC Choir, Matt Smith, Johnna Ebanks, Terry Levitt, Kambria Tabor, Seth McGaw
Zoomkeepers/Zoommates: Erika Jackson Kirkendall, Holly Beck, Winny Schnitzler, Jane Flood, David Goss-Grubbs, Lanny Commeree
Camera/Sound/Lighting: Kermit Sprang, Lori McConnell, Linda Sherry, Phil Archibald (in training)
Worship Support: Linda Sherry
Ushers: Chuck and Jean Fowler, Connie Berkowitz, Kate Smith, Dottie Simpson, Norm Hostetler, Ann Lu
Greeters: Kate Smith, Ann Lu, Amelia King
Online Engagement Coordinator: Amelia King
LPAs: Chuck and Jean Fowler, Marian Johnson, Hilarie Cash, Dewey Millar
A special thanks to Jane and Tevina Flood who provided dinner between services for the Christmas Eve Worship Team.
Labyrinth
The Labyrinth was revived this year on the Solstice, Dec. 21. The Labyrinth path was lined with luminarias: lighted candles set inside a paper bag. This year, the paper bags had starry cutouts, which made them shine even more beautifully. The set up was designed and coordinated by Kambria Tabor with assistants: Theresa Rensimer, Jessica Belmont, Donna Johnson, Suzanne Dunn-Plaza, Lori McConnell, Kerrie Vespaziani, Winny Schnitzler, Ann Lu, Brianna Lawrence. Karen Hyams and Lori Varosh created the sign-up sheets and vaccination statuses.
The Earth-based Spirituality Group also wanted WUUC to know that, unlike previous years, very few of the materials used to create the labyrinth ended up in the garbage at the end of the night — the bags were folded and saved to use again next winter, the sand was collected and will find use on the farm, and even the leftover candle bits were saved, re-melted and repurposed. They were able to create a sacred space in a way that was more closely aligned with their Earth-centered beliefs. Thanks to all who walked the Labyrinth, approximately 40 people.
Circle Suppers
Two Festive Circle Suppers & White Elephant Gift Exchanges were hosted by Chuck Bean at his home in Duvall on Dec. 11 and 18. Chuck’s home was brightly decorated with a beautiful Christmas tree and many lights and holiday decorations. The potluck dishes contributed by those who attended were fantastic and the gift exchanges were a hoot as always. Thanks to Chuck Bean for opening his home to 23 WUUC members over the 2 weekends.
Helping Hands Fund
The Christmas Eve offering went to our Helping Hands Fund. This important fund supports immediate need for those in our WUUC community and in the extended community to which we belong. We all need a little help sometimes, and we don’t always know when, or what, or how. Having the Helping Hands fund ready to provide immediate support in a variety of circumstances is an essential tool in ministry. Christmas Eve donations to the Helping Hands fund totaled $781.
COVID Response Team
We are grateful to the COVID Response Team: Barbara Ramey, Joni Brand, Kerrie Vespaziani, Lane Owsley and Leslie Morton. They have had to make difficult decisions regarding timing and type of opening that was safe for our congregation. We appreciate their decision to open the church for hybrid services and selected other activities in December. We understand the fluidity of the COVID pandemic situation and are grateful that this team will continue to make decisions in the best interest of the community.