The kickoff of the new Holiday Gift Fair will be on Sunday December 2, 2012 during coffee hour and will run for 3 Sundays in December.  December 2nd, 9th and 16th.

The Holiday Gift Fair is a bit different from year’s past.  We are accepting donations for Gifts made from the Heart – handmade items like crocheted or knitted gifts, sewn or decorated items like aprons, T-shirts, potholders or cat nip toys, pottery bowls or cups, soaps, jewelry, etc.  Gifts made from the Hearth – homemade goodies like canned vegetables and fruits, jams and jellies or maybe your very own salsa.  And finally Re-gifted items that are new or like new.

We will also be taking orders the first two Sundays for our NEW commemorative holiday ornaments.  If you were at the Thanks 4 Giving Auction you saw a few that were generously donated by Perfect Circle Designs.  This year they feature our colorful graphic design of the church, our church name and the year 2012.  The ornaments are very pretty and look frosted!  They come in a crush proof box for easy storage.  These are special order items made just for our church!  They will sell for $15 each and we plan on introducing a new design each year!  They will be delivered on Sunday December 16th or 23rd, depending on the number ordered.  The more we order the longer it may take to make them but there shouldn’t be a problem having them in time for the Christmas Holiday.

Another new addition to the fair is a Gift Wrapping Station!  The youth will man a gift wrapping station and for a free-will donation they will be glad to wrap your holiday purchases from the Holiday Gift Fair or items you bring already boxed or packaged.  Please note we cannot handle overly large items.  Shirt box size or small electronic box is our limit.  We will have some lovely decorator gift boxes available for a small donation if you need a box or container.

Look for the donation tote in Fessenden Hall beginning this Sunday and drop off your donations for the new Holiday Gift Fair.  Every item you donate must be tagged with a price sticker, but not to worry we will have stickers available for you to use!

Thank you for your support of this UUCK tradition.

2 December     Yes!

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Elaine Bowen

What might happen if you were to say yes to the possibilities tugging at your spirit?  This first Sunday of Advent we will consider Mary’s yes and the difference it made.

 

9 December     Bright Possibilities

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate John Marfy

There was only one day’s worth of oil left in the Temple.  The miracle of Hanukkah is that the oil burned for eight days.  This morning we will consider again the story of Hanukkah and consider what inspiration there might be in the story for our own lives.

 

16 December     Seeking Serenity

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Sophie Smith

It is the most _________ time of the year.  You fill in the blank – wondrous, exciting, beautiful, stressful, lonely, challenging . . . .  This year more than one of those words might fit for you.  Whichever words you choose, this service will invite you to settle into a space of serenity and just breathe peace.

 

23 December     Chances Taken

Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Director of Religious Education Karen Lapidus, Worship Associate Bonnie Harper, Music Director Hal Walker, Rev. Rod Thompson and many more!

It has become our custom to celebrate with a special multigenerational service the Sunday before Christmas.  This year we look forwarding to sharing what happened when Emmet and his Ma took a chance with the delightful story of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.

 

24 December     Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

Led by the Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Kristina Spaude

6:30 pm               A special family friendly service of lessons and carols to welcome the spirit of Christmas into the world.

8:30 pm               A special service of lessons and carols to welcome the spirit of Christmas into the world.

 

30 December      A Loaf is only Half a Loaf Unless We Share It

Led by Lois Weir and assisted by Liz Bright

We will explore and celebrate the ancient rite of bread making. Service is adapted from the Worship Arts Clearing House of the Department of Education and Social Concern UUA 1975.

Our 2012 Thanks 4 Giving Auction was a HUGE success!!!  And we aren’t done yet…

If you missed the auction you still have a chance to purchase some great dinners and events.  There are even a couple items left from the silent auction.  Those items will be set up in Fessenden Hall for the next 2 weeks so come take a look.

We have attached a listing of the Dinners & Events with seats still available so take a look and get ’em while they last!  We will have extra program booklets in Fessenden Hall for the next couple of weeks if you want to read the details of the events still available.

If you couldn’t make it but would like to give a free will donation we will be accepting those at the Thanks 4 Giving Auction table in Fessenden Hall for the next couple of weeks also

Thank you again one and all for making this year’s auction so fun and successful,

Your 2012 Thanks 4 Giving Auction Committee

Meg Milko – Chair

4 November      An Unexpected Gift
Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate MaryLou Holly
That is my favorite definition of grace – an unexpected gift. This morning will serve as an introduction to the theme of grace. What other definitions are there? What is grace all about? How do we make space for it in our lives?

 

11 November      What’s Luck Got to Do With It?
Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer and Worship Associate Justin Czekaj
Does luck have anything to do with grace? Theologically, what is the difference? And practically speaking, what differ-ence does any difference make in our lives? This morning we’ll dive deeper into the questions.

 

18 November      Cultivating a Grateful Heart
Led by the Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Director of Religious Education Karen Lapidus and Worship Associate Bonnie Harper
Grace, gracious, grateful – these all share the same root. This morning during our special multigenerational celebration of Thanksgiving we’ll lift up the connections. Special music and a Thanksgiving communion will be part of our celebra-tion this morning.

 

25 November      Living Life at Life’s Terms
Led by the Mike Hovancsek with Worship Associate Joel Slater
This service will tie together spiritual and therapeutic concepts about acceptance and healing.