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DECEMBER 2023 WUUC NEWSLETTER
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A Chalice Challenge: Find the chalice hidden in this newsletter (not the one above). Click on it, record your name on the resulting Google doc, and you will be entered to win a special little gift from Rev. Dan Lillie.
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Photo by Christo Anestev from pixabay
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Monday Morning Sister Circle
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Early newsletter Deadline
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Christmas Eve Festivities at WUUC
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Continuing Zoom & Hybrid Events
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Online Feedback & Suggestion Form
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Got comments on or questions about this newsletter? Please email office@wuuc.org
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December 2023 Soul Matters Theme
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Passage from Soul Matters December 2023 Theme: Mystery
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Welcome to the Gift of Mystery We live in a culture that loves to conquer mysteries. For us modern folks, the unexplainable is simply a lock to be picked, a code to be cracked, a puzzle to be figured out. But what if mystery isn’t just something to solve? What if it’s …
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Communication Creates Connection
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Greetings from the Board of Trustees! Communication Creates Connection – submitted by Board Co-secretary Linda Sherry One of the Board’s continuing goals for this year is to Enhance Board/Congregation Communication with this description: We will work to have continuous engagement with Members and Friends in all matters of church life, and are committed to not only healthy transparency, but also to …
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Safer Congregation Task Force Updates
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At WUUC we intend to promote and nurture a culture of respect and consent, providing a place where everyone can participate in a congregational life that is free from sexual harassment and misconduct. The WUUC Board appointed the Safer Congregation Task Force (SCTF) to study and implement Sexually Safer Best Practices. Creating Sexually Safer Congregations | UUA.org The SCTF began its …
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WUUC Launches Ecological Connection (Eco Connect) Committee
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The inaugural meeting of WUUC’s Eco Connect committee will be held on December 6 at 7PM in the sanctuary. Eco Connect (Ecological Connection) Mission: To protect the web of all existence and prevent climate anxiety by mitigating the impacts of climate change through personal actions and changes in behavior, political and policy advocacy, and increased education about and exposure to …
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Giving Tree for Greenleaf
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We’re launching our 2023 Giving Tree, which will again support families living in the Greenleaf Apartments, a King County subsidized housing community in Kenmore. You can give any amount now at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/form/give/givingtree. Donations to the Giving Tree Fund will help purchase gift cards that families can use toward gifts for their children and groceries for the family. We are …
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Justice & Service Monthly Collection
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The Advocates for Social Justice (ASJ) special collection on December 17th will support the Na’ah Illahee Fund. This fund supports and promotes the leadership of Indigenous women in the ongoing regeneration of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. Their work addresses climate and environmental justice, food security and food sovereignty, civic participation, youth leadership, and advancing regenerative economies from a personal to systemic level. The ASJ …
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November Pop-Up Blood Drive Results
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For the November 13-15, 2023 blood drive, you had a total of 107 people check in to donate blood, and 93 units were successfully collected. This also included 2 first time donors-we hope it was a great experience for everyone, and that all will continue to donate on a regular basis. The giving continues, as we already have 72 donors booked for the January 22-24, 2024 blood drives! The blood that was collected at your event will go to …
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Circle Suppers – Saturday, December 2 & 9
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December Circle Supper’s will be hosted by Chuck Bean on December 2 & December 9. The December 2 date has been filled. If you’d like to sign up for December 9, please look for the link which will be sent out via the announce email list or click here.
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If you’ve never been to a Circle Supper before and want to know more details before signing up, please keep reading…
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Super Seniors Potluck – Wednesday, December 6
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– Dottie Simpson Super Seniors is a group for WUUCs age 77 and above. We meet every 1st Wednesday of the month for a potluck lunch at noon at the church. If you meet the age criteria we would love to have you join us for good food and good chatting. Questions? Contact Dottie Simpson at dottie9212@gmail.com
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Monday Morning Sister Circle
– Monday, December 11
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– Dottie Simpson Monday Morning Sister Circle is a WUUC group which has met every second Monday (10-12). We are a group of women who meet (via zoom right now) to discuss a person of interest or an essay of interest every month. We have recently discussed women philosophers, women of action, NPR essays, spiritual essays, etc. The group is open to any woman at WUUC and we would love to have any interested woman join us. If you have any questions/would like to join Contact Dottie at <dottie9212@gmail.com>.
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2nd Tuesday TED Talk – Tuesday, December 12
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These events will alternate between being in-person and virtual. The in-person occurrences will be in the WUUC Sanctuary, while the virtual occurrences will be on Zoom. Here is upcoming schedule:
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GenXYZ Night – Saturday, December 16
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An opportunity for pre-retirement age adults to get together to socialize. Maybe you’ve got a partner, maybe you don’t. Maybe you have non-adults at home, maybe you don’t (or don’t any more). Maybe you’re closer to 30, maybe you’re closer to 50. Regardless of your circumstances, if you’re Gen X or Y, we’d love to have you come to our …
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Newsletter Deadline – Tuesday, December 19
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Submit your articles, events, ministry accomplishments, and royalty-free photos for the January 2024 WUUC Newsletter. Please send your contributions to the office administrator at office@wuuc.org. The January 2024 newsletter will be sent out early since the church office will be closed from December 25 until January 1. Deadline will be by the end of the day Tuesday, December 19 if you wish to be included.
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Solstice Labyrinth Walk –
Thursday, December 21
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The Winter Solstice Labyrinth is a beautiful, contemplative way to spend a bit of time to celebrate the longest evening of the year. Let us celebrate the Blessed Dark as a source of calm and comfort, and filled with the potential for spiritual renewal. The labyrinth will go from 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday December 21st, the solstice. You’ll be able to quickly and safely complete your walk through the labyrinth at your chosen time. If you need a specific time slot to walk you can sign up her. You can also walk in anytime and We will be there to welcome you with smiles and cookies between 4 and 7:30 pm. Interested in volunteering to help? Volunteer to help here or contact Ann Lu at annm.lu@gmail.com…
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Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, December 23
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– Brad Hull Men of all ages gather to converse and eat breakfast on the fourth Saturday, at 8:30 a.m. at the Hagen’s Supermarket in Woodinville. Eat breakfast, drink coffee, talk about guy stuff. It’s the most fun you can have on a cold, wet Saturday morning. Information/RSVP: Brad Hull, bkhull@gmail.com
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Christmas Eve Festivities at WUUC – Sunday, December 24
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Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, which means we will have a Sunday morning service at our usual time, 10:00 a.m. Then, as is our tradition, we will have a Christmas Eve Candlelight service in the evening (well, late afternoon) at 4:30 p.m. Because we have the two services with a lot of time in between, let’s make a day of it! We’ll have a variety of Christmas Eve events and activities to participate in. After the morning service ends, stay for the food, fun, and community connections. More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned to see what we are planning for a full day of Christmas Eve festivities!
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Golden Girls Lunch – Thursday, December 29
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– Stephana Ditzler All ladies are cordially invited to join the Golden Girls Thursday, December 29th, for lunch and fine conversion at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. The address is 7211 – 166th Ave NE, Redmond. The time is 11:30. We will be eating together at a table in their back room busily getting to know each other better. An RSVP request will be sent out closer to the date. Looking forward to seeing you all at this final lunch for 2023! Questions? Contact Stephana Ditzler, ditzlers@gmail.com
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Flash Stance – Sunday, December 31
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East Shore Unitarian Church’s Black Lives Matter Flash Stance is held every Sunday at rotating locations on the eastside. Every 5th Sunday of the month), it will be held in downtown Woodinville, on the corner of 175th and Garden in front of Jamba Juice. Show your support by joining them! Bring a sign and wear a mask. Safety Protocols: Everyone …
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Continuing Zoom & Hybrid Events
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Dear WUUC, The pandemic has been hard on all of us. Engaging with our shared community is more important than ever. To that end, we encourage all folks who plan, develop, or coordinate WUUC events to carefully consider including people who may not be able to participate in person by offering hybrid or online options whenever possible. Training and/or help with setting up virtual/hybrid events is available. Please contact May Killorin, Office Administrator, for assistance.
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WUUC Online Feedback & Suggestion Form
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Dear Community, WUUC is committed to providing the best experience possible for all our congregation members, friends, and visitors. We encourage you to participate in our continuous improvement by submitting constructive suggestions regarding our church, our services, or even our website. Tell us your questions, comments, or concerns. Your feedback is a valuable part of our program. What can we do to grow and become a stronger and more welcoming faith community? Appreciation and positive feedback are also very valuable … What’s working well for you? What do you like about WUUC? Your suggestion will be reviewed promptly and considered for possible further action. You may use this link to submit your suggestion online. Anonymous feedback is permitted.
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Alternatively, you may send your suggestion in an email directly to the Board at board@wuuc.org. Thank you for your input.
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Seeking connections?
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WUUC offers numerous opportunities to get to know one another, delve more deeply into spiritual topics or just gather for song or conversation. If you’re seeking connections, the first place to try is here.
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Numerous Zoom & in person meetings are held each week, including opportunities to grow our spirits and opportunities to connect for fun and entertainment. Please check the calendar link above for the schedule. Contact office@wuuc.org or your facilitator if you need the Zoom link to a meeting.
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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!
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We get the list Birthdays from the realm database. Please make sure your birthday is updated on the database so we don’t miss you. You can also email office@wuuc.org
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Elisa Schmitt Richards – December 1
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Natalie Mietzner – December 4
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Lindsay Rogers – December 4
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Jennifer Ikeda – December 6
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Drake Sweeney – December 8
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Henry Goss-Grubbs – December 10
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Carol Pitman – December 19
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Camlin Vespaziani – December 28
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Dawn Blomberg – December 29
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12/03 – Hope
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Join us on this first Sunday of Advent. “We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.” President Barack Obama, 2014
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Meeting ID: 940 3686 1969
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For audio only, call: 253-215-8782
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12/10 – Kindness
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Kindness is one of those words that can seem “fluffy”; a nice idea, but maybe a little naively optimistic or insufficient, especially when we sense conflict, confrontation, or opposition to our own goals or ideas. Sometimes we’ve got to be tough, unapologetic, and resolute, right? But I wonder how we might be transformed if we tried to be as kind as possible in everything we do? How might we show up differently if kindness was one of our highest values?
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Meeting ID: 940 3686 1969
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For audio only, call: 253-215-8782
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12/17 – Winter Presence
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Winter is the season of cold and dark; a season of slow, quiet, and calm. Let’s explore the gifts of this season and consider inviting its wisdom into our lives.
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Meeting ID: 940 3686 1969
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For audio only, call: 253-215-8782
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12/24 – 10:00 a.m. It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas
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This Christmas Eve morning service will celebrate the Christmas holiday through the music of the season. And, consider staying between the morning and evening services for a day of Christmas food, caroling, and festivities!
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Meeting ID: 940 3686 1969
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For audio only, call: 253-215-8782
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12/24 – 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
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All are invited to this special holiday evening service filled with music and candlelight. Merry Christmas!
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Meeting ID: 940 3686 1969
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For audio only, call: 253-215-8782
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