The caring and sharing coordinator for the month of January is  Jasmine Hatzopoulos who can be reached at 617-942-7402 or click HERE to email Jasmine

On Christmas Eve, at the 5:30 church service, our congregation donated food for the Reading Food Pantry. Indeed, we can donate paper goods and nonperishable food items year-round, to support the roughly 90 families--our UUCR church members and friends and our Reading  neighbors--who turn to the pantry for help. The donation basket is in the front foyer (Woburn St. entrance), under the coat rack. Ed Barbagallo kindly transports donations to Old South Methodist in Reading Square, where the pantry is located.

Some of the most requested items are juice, juice boxes, coffee, canned meats and fish, stew,  hash, chili, canned fruits, rice (brown and white), boxed and canned potatoes, canned pasta, brownie and cake mix, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce, unsweetened cereal, detergent, toilet tissue, shampoo, and toothpaste.

The pantry also needs cash donations to provide supermarket vouchers for perishable items. Checks (payable to Reading Food Pantry) can be sent to Reading Food Pantry, 6 Salem St., Reading, MA 01867-2697.

What Do I Want To Do With The Rest of My Life?
Saturday, February 23, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Facilitated by Ann McClorey Fisher

Are you at that point in your life when you’re stepping back – taking stock of where you’ve been and thinking about what lies ahead? Are there interests that you yearn to pursue? Are there changes – big or small – that you want to make? Is the life you’re living in alignment with your passions and principles? Join with others for a morning of personal exploration. Using exercises involving private reflection and group conversations, we will clarify values, articulate dreams and make commitments aimed toward creating lives of passion and purpose. 

Please sign up for What Do I Want To Do With The Rest of My Life? - February 23, 2012 - by clicking here.

For more information about this program, contact Ann McClorey Fisher by clicking here.

The Ivy Chord Coffee House needs bakers for the John Gorka concert on January 26. Let Beth Murray know if you can contribute.

Perhaps you have extra treats at your house from all those extra holiday desserts? Would you consider freezing them and contributing them?

Contact Beth Murray by clicking HERE or by phone at 781-229-9394.

Ivy Chord tickets will also be sold for the John Gorka performance during our Social Hours on Sunday, January 6,  January 13 and January 20th.

Finally,  Ivy Chord tickets can be purchased online HERE 

Hello Folks! 

Relax with others for a meal and then enjoy an circle of spirit and friendship, themed activity, and a great discussion. Sign up by January 10th (Thursday) HERE, or through our Director of Faith Development, Anne Principe by clicking HERE.

This time for all ages and stages is for singles, couples, families, children, youth...you! You are encouraged to bring a friend.

The next meeting of the Intergenerational Book Club takes place on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in Loring House, Room 101. Our next book is "Rules" by Cynthia Lord. 

What 12 year old child doesn't want to just have a normal family? Just what is normal? Catherine is dealing with just that in a family that revolves around the needs and often inappropriate behaviors of her younger autistic brother, whom she cares deeply about, yet is frequently embarrassed by. Catherine forms an unlikely friendship with a boy named Jason, who leads her take a close look at herself, her family, her brother, and almost anyone with disabilities in a whole new light. 

Please Join us! Snacks will be served.

Please sign up for the Intergenerational Book Club discussion of the book "Rules" by clicking here.

For further information, please contact Diane Chapin by clicking  here or contact Beth Brauer by clicking  here.

Hungry For Change
Sunday Evenings, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
January 6 through February 3, 2013
Facilitator: Tricia Schwartz

Hungry for Change explores the true meaning of the phrase "you are what you eat." This 6-week discussion course challenges participants to examine their roles, not only as consumers of food, but also as creators -- of food, of systems, and of the world we all live in. Each session includes readings, short assignments and accompanying discussion questions that address the impact of individual food choices on a range of issues, including ecosystem health, the treatment of factory and farm workers, and the global economy. Hungry for Change helps participants commit to lasting change by developing and sharing personal Action Plans with each session. Purpose: To explore the interconnected nature of food systems and our relationships to them. To examine the impact our food choices have on our health, the health of others and the health of our planet. To consider the ethical and political implications of our current food system and our personal food choices.

Please sign up by clicking HERE.

"Kids, Guns, Non-Violence and America" 
Martin Luther King Sunday
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
9:15 AM and 11:00 AM

Martin Luther King, Jr. taught non-violence. He was outspoken against the Vietnam War. What would he, a victim of gun violence, make of America’s fascination with guns today? Rev. Tim revisits and re-evaluates a sermon he preached six years years ago about the intersection of kids, guns, and our Unitarian Universalist values. Come and be part of the discussion. Music: 9:15-The UUCR Choir; 11:00 AM-Roald Wilson, vocals

"Second Sunday"
Rev. Tim Kutzmark and Anne Principe, Director of Faith Development
5:00 PM 

Join us for our next "Second Sunday" on January 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM.  Relax with others for a meal and then enjoy an circle of spirit and friendship, themed activity, and a great discussion. Sign up by January 10th (Thursday) HERE, or through our Director of Faith Development, Anne Principe by clicking HERE.

This time for all ages and stages is for singles, couples, families, children, youth...you! You are encouraged to bring a friend.

"What Is Spirituality?" 
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
9:15 AM and 11:00 AM

We talk a lot about spirituality. Some of us are hungry for spirituality. Many of us say we are on a spiritual journey. Others of us say we are spiritual but not religious. What is spirituality? Is it real? How can you find it? Music: 9:15-Classical piano with Jennifer Maxwell; 11:00 AM-The UUCR Choir

"To Boldly Go: A Service for a New Year" 
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
9:15 AM and 11:00 AM

Join us as we look back at what was, and look ahead to what could be. As part of our service for the New Year, we will have our annual lighting of candles for friends and families who died in 2012, and we’ll celebrate the many babies born into our congregation as well. Tim will preach a sermon about claiming the freshness of the New Year. Music: 9:15 Rose McAuley, vocals; 11:00 AM-Rose McAuley, vocals, and UUCR Choir

From all of us who make music, may we wish you the very best of times with all of those you love. To make your season a little brighter we would like to share with you our performance of Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. 

{mp3}20121209-UUCR-Choir{/mp3}

Greetings & Happy Holidays from Mark Bennett, Jennifer Maxwell and all the members of the UUCR Choir! Best wishes for all good things to come to each of you in the New Year!

Have you borrowed or seen a small oak table that belongs in the narthex at church?

Bill and Carolyn Grace purchased and finished this little table specifically for a small area of our Woburn Street entryway several years ago when our elevator was installed.  It was part of the refurbishing of the narthex and we would love to see it back in its place.  We think that it went missing this past September.

If you have any information please call Bill and Carolyn Grace at 781-944-9353 or let the church office know HERE

We will be having a special offertory collection at our Christmas Eve Services.

Proceeds from the collection will benefit the Charahi Qaumbar Refugee Camp and The UUCR We Care Fund.

60% will be used to purchase warm clothing, shoes, and blankets for the children living at the Charahi Qaumbar Refugee Camp in Kabul Afghanistan.  Rev. Tim visited the camp during his sabbatical last winter to see first hand the desperate need these children face, living in unheated tents and tarp-covered shacks.  Last winter, seven children froze to death during the night.  

The other 40%  percent will be given to our established UUCR fund, “We Care” for disbursement to members and friends of the UUCR  who are in facing challenging financial times.  This fund is a tangible embodiment of our commitment to care for one another in a beloved community where all are welcome, all are held and all are loved. This fund is administered in a confidential manner by Rev. Tim, and is used to assist members of the church with the occasional gift of a food card, a retail store card, or a gas card.    Please let Rev. Tim know if you know of someone who is in need of assistance or if yourself are in need by contacting Rev. Tim in confidence at revtim@uureading.org or 781.944.0494 and extension 101/Rev. Tim’s confidential voicemail  

If you will be donating by check for our Christmas Eve Services kindly make checks payable to “UUCR” line item note  "Christmas Eve”.  Donations may be placed in the offertory plate during Christmas Eve services or mailed to:  UUCR, 239 Woburn Street, Reading MA  01867

"Responding To What Life Gives Us" 
Betsy Tabor, Intern Minister
9:15 AM and 11:00 AM

We are wired to open our hearts and give to one another.  Join us in this service about the spiritual practice of everyday giving.  Music:  Bill Grace Vocalist 9:15 and 11:00 AM

Dear fellow readers, Because the last Tuesday of December is Christmas, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 29th at the home of Janet Bringola, 9 Marla Lane, Wakefield at 1:30 PM. We will discuss two books. The first is The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and the second book is Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris. I hope your holidays are filled with joy. See you all in January.

CHRISTMAS EVE:  MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2012
Please plan to attend one of our beautiful Christmas Eve Services

At 5:30 PM we have a Family Service and at 7:15 PM we celebrate our Traditional Candlelight Service

The 5:30 PM service is an interactive child-friendly service suited to families and children who might need to wiggle a bit. The service will include the telling of the Nativity Story and our annual pageant. The UUCR Choir will sing. As an opportunity to help our children reach out beyond themselves on Christmas Eve, we are requesting that each child please bring a non-perishable food item to the 5:30 PM service for our special collection for local food pantry.   And at 7:15 PM we celebrate our Traditional Candlelight Service -  a reflective service of carols and readings, ending with the traditional candle lighting and passing of the flame. The UUCR Adult Choir will offer selections, including the long-standing choral benediction of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Tidbits and Tour this Sunday at 10:15 AM and 12:15 AM  

Are you new to the church?  Join Reverend Tim and Amy Burton for a quick tour of our church campus and chat about Unitarian Universalism.  This twenty-minute mini-introduction will give you a chance to meet Rev. Tim and Amy and ask any questions you might have.  No registration necessary!  Meet Amy Burton at the front of the church after both services. 

Coming up for All Ages:

December 23rd: 
9:15 AM Families begin in the Sanctuary and then children/youth (and parents if desired) are "sung out" to the Atrium.  All present will then be a part of a "living pageant," meaning we will create it together.

December 24th:
5:30 PM  Family Christmas Eve Service with Pageant

I write to you today with some bittersweet news to share: I will be leaving the position of Member Services and Volunteer Coordinator.

In a sudden and exciting turn of events, I have been offered a position working with an organization in the Conflict Resolution field. As some of you know, Conflict Resolution is the industry in which I am currently seeking a Masters Degree. The organization does wonderful and interesting work in Reflective Structured Dialogue- a model that helps communities and individuals discover constructive ways of speaking about divisive and challenging issues. This job offer represents a significant professional opportunity for me; one that I must follow. And while I look forward to starting a new direction in my career, I will be sad to say good bye to UUCR.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading has been a wonderful work-home over the past fifteen months. It has been a joy to engage, connect, work and celebrate within this community. You have given me the gift of warmth, curiosity and kindness. You welcomed my exuberant parade wave every Sunday and tolerated my sometimes excessive bubbliness (no easy task).  

The staff at UUCR has encouraged, challenged, celebrated and strengthened my work here. It has been a privilege to work with each of them so I thank you for supporting such a wonderful group!

I look forward to a chance to share a goodbye with you all while I wrap up my work over the next few weeks, leading up to the holidays. My final Sunday Service will be January 6th. I would love to see you there or share a cup of tea in Fellowship Hall after the service!

Whether we are able to say good bye in person or just in our thoughts, I wish you all the best as you continue to build and engage in this amazing community. Thank you for the opportunity to share of my personality and ideas while growing and learning from everyone here.

Amy

p.s. I love hugs, high-fives, waves and notes – but if you want to make my last few weeks here really special, consider signing up to volunteer during one of our worship services. Our Christmas Eve service is in particularly dire need of ushers - we need four at both of these services! :)

http://uureading.org/worship/worship/worship-volunteers-signup

5:30 PM — Family Service
7:15 PM — Traditional Candlelight Service

Join us for this sacred evening of story, carols, and hope renewed.

5:30 PM Family Service—An interactive child-friendly service suited to families and children who might need to wiggle a bit. The service will include the telling of the Nativity Story and our annual pageant. The UUCR Choir will sing. As an opportunity to help our children reach out beyond themselves on Christmas Eve, we are requesting that each child please bring a non-perishable food item to the 5:30 PM service for our special collection for local food pantry. 

7:15 PM Traditional Candlelight Service—Join us for a reflective service of carols and readings, ending with the traditional candle lighting and passing of the flame. The UUCR Adult Choir will offer selections, including the long-standing choral benediction of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Our Special Offertory Collection At Both Services:
From the money donated tonight, 60% will be used to purchase warm clothing, shoes, and blankets for the children living at the Charahi Qaumbar Refugee Camp in Kabul Afghanistan.  Rev. Tim visited the camp during his sabbatical last winter to see first hand the desperate need these children face, living in unheated tents and tarp-covered shacks.  Last winter, seven children froze to death during the night.  The other 40%  percent will be given to our established UUCR fund, “We Care” for disbursement to members and friends of the UUCR  who are in facing challenging financial times.  This fund is a tangible embodiment of our commitment to care for one another in a beloved community where all are welcome, all are held and all are loved. This fund is administered in a confidential manner by Rev. Tim, and is used to assist members of the church with the occasional gift of a food card, a retail store card, or a gas card.    Please let Rev. Tim know if you know of someone who is in need of assistance or if yourself are in need by contacting Rev. Tim in confidence at revtim@uureading.org or 781.944.0494 and extension 101/Rev. Tim’s confidential voicemail   If you will be donating by check at our Christmas Eve Services kindly make checks payable to “UUCR” line item note  "Christmas Eve"

December

2    Rev. Tim        Feliz Navidad: Who Gets a Merry Christmas?
      Anthem I:     The Hills are Bare at Bethlehem, Southern Harmony, Arr. by, Thomas Somerville
      Anthem II:     Espiritu de Dios, Traditional Cuban, Arr. by, Brian Tate
 
8 (Sa)    Dress Rehearsal: A Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten, 1-5 pm, Sanctuary

9    Rev. Tim        Annual Choir Christmas Service (9:15 & 11:00)   
            A Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten    
 
16    Rev. Tim       So What Is Spirituality?
       Anthem I:     The First Noel, English Carol, Arr. by, John Stainer
       Anthem II:    O Come, O Come Emmanuel, #225 All are invited to come sing!

23    No Choir

24    Christmas Eve Service (5:30 & 7:15 pm/Rehearsal: 4:30-5:20 pm)   

    5:30     Anthem I:      Angels We Have Heard on High, French Carol
               Anthem II:     On This Day Everywhere (#249) All are invited to come sing!
   
    7:15     Introit:          O Holy Night, Adolphe Adam: Heather Chu, soprano
               Anthem I:      “Wolcum Yole!”, Benjamin Britten, A Ceremony of Carols       
               Anthem II:      African Noel, Arr. by, André J. Thomas or There is no Rose, Benjamin Britten, A Ceremony of Carols
               Benediction:    Hallelujah Chorus, George Frideric Handel, Messiah
       
30    No Choir

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT CLOSES ON THIS MONDAY JANUARY 7
10 Sessions on Wednesday evenings beginning January 9, 2013 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm in Loring House, Room  103

The Adult Enrichment programs in October that focused on healthy eating were well received and as a result the Enrichment Committee is sponsoring a educational/coaching and support group that will meet for 10 sessions this winter to facilitate a healthy relationship with food and if necessary, weight loss.  Terry Courier and Paula Koppel will facilitate this program.  Terry is a personal trainer, hypnotherapist, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) practitioner and yoga teacher.  Paula is an integrated health coach and nurse practitioner who also facilitates mindfulness training.  Registration before January 7th is required and can be done online, by calling the church office or contacting Paula.

The purpose of this group is to offer education, skill development and coaching support to individuals seeking to create a healthier relationship with food and weight. The program includes weekly 60-90 minute group sessions for ten weeks. Mindfulness-based practices (meditation, informal mindfulness practices), complementary approaches to managing eating behaviors (emotional freedom techniques and hypnosis), group discussion and education regarding nutrition and exercise are the core components of the program.

A commitment to attending all sessions is requested, as well as a $50 fee to cover expenses for the program. To learn more about this group contact contact Paula by phone (617-835-7087) or email by clicking HERE.

Terry Courier is a personal trainer, hypnotherapist, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) practitioner and yoga teacher. Paula Koppel is an integrated health coach and nurse practitioner who also facilitates mindfulness training.  

Please register by signing up, by clicking HERE; or by contacting Paula by phone (617-835-7087) or email by clicking HERE.

We regret to report that Mindfully Eating for a Healthy Holiday scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2012 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm has been cancelled for lack of enrollment..

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Paula by phone (617-835-7087) or email by clicking HERE

From the UU Service Committee (UUSC): In preparation for "Justice GA" [our faith's summertime General Assembly] in Phoeniz, AZ, the UUA's Faith Without Borders program (FWB) and the UUSC have organized three service-learning trips to the US/Mexico border with their partner organization, BorderLinks.

Through education, meetings with partners, service opportunities, and theological reflection, participants will grow in understanding the human-rights issues at stake on the US/Mexico border and return to their homes informed and inspired to be leaders for immigration justice.

BorderLinks has deep experience designing programs and guiding groups, including UUs. They will make arrangements for accommodations, meals, transportation, and translators. The UUA will set the faith-context for the journey and provide UU theological reflection.

For more information: http://www.uua.org/international/engagement/travel/190290.shtml

Dates: January 24-27, April 20-23, May 25-28

You are invited! Sunday, Jan. 15, the UU Urban Ministry will open its doors to honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (First Church in Roxbury, 10 Putnam St.). The event is free.

2 p.m.: Following the Dream toward a Just Community: "The Letter," a film about a controversy over newly arriving Somali refugees in a small city in Maine. Panel discussion featuring Miriam Gas (Refugee Immigration Center), Abdulkadir Hussein (ACEDONE), and Ron Marlow (MA Office of Access and Opportunity).

5 p.m.: Light supper

6 p.m.: Hope Out Loud: Performance of spirituals, gospel, jazz, dance, and spoken word by Boston Community Choir, Peter Terry, First Parish in Concord Children's Choir, Fred Woodard, Regie Gibson, Barry Gaither, Spiritual Life Dancers, Erica Vigeland.

If you’d still like to support the work of the UU Service Committee through a Guest at Your Table donation, you haven’t missed out! Last call for returning boxes and donations is this Sunday, January 22 (baskets at sanctuary doors, both services).

Before returning your donation, please complete the form on the box. (Note: Gifts of $ 100 and up qualify for a matching gift from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, NY.)

By donating to the UUSC, you'll participate in its transformative work in the US and around the globe, partnering with local organizations to advance economic justice, environmental justice (esp. right-to-water issues), civil liberties, and the rights of marginalized people in humanitarian crises.

What does this mean in practice? Here are a few of the many ways the UUSC translates support from GAYT donors into tangible projects to advance human rights (from www.uusc.org):

• $ 20 pays for training in survey collection for a worker member of the Northwest Arkansas Workers' Justice Center to collect data from poultry-processing workers on their wages, working conditions, and the most serious issues facing them on the job. The center will use these surveys to launch an organizing campaign against a local poultry plant.
• $ 25 can inspire future leaders in the Middle East and northern Africa by helping a youth activist to print and distribute five Arabic-language copies of The Montgomery Story, a comic book about Martin Luther King Jr.'s use of nonviolence during bus boycotts in Alabama.
• $ 40 helps 30 families in Myanmar bring their crops to market successfully. Participating in revolving loans allows farmers to buy food and meet basic needs while waiting for their harvest, when they will be able to sell their rice at a better and fairer price.
• $ 75 helps workers in Arkansas, enabling the Northwest Arkansas Workers' Justice Center to conduct outreach and education projects tailored to specific challenges faced by poultry-processing and construction workers.
• $ 100 spreads the word by paying for 25 copies of STITCH's Women, Labor, and Leadership curriculum, which trains women workers in organizing and empowers them to make an impact through their unions. STITCH is a network of women unionists, activists, and organizers that educates women workers about gender, globalization, and unionism, and connects women in Central America and the US so that together they build their voices for economic justice.
• $ 170 supplies water-testing strips and chemicals for one month to members of indigenous communities in San Marcos, Guatemala, to carry out water-quality monitoring of rivers downstream from the GoldCorp mine.

Thank you for considering a donation to the UUSC in the new year!

The book selection for the month of January is Major Pedigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. We will meet  at the home of Ruth Goldberg on Tuesday,  January 31 at 1:30 p.m. New people are welcome. If you are a regular member and can't make it, please notify Ruth at 781.944.6386.

Once again, I will be collecting used holiday cards for the purpose of turning them into gift tags and other items that we will sell at the Kris Kringle Fair.  Please consider donating your cards after the holidays so I can continue this "creative recycling" tradition.  There will be a collection bin in Fellowship Hall for the duration of January.  Please also consider asking your family and neighbors to pass along their used cards to you.  The more we receive, the more money we make back for the church.  You do not have to do anything to the cards unless you want to remove personal notes.  Please don't tear off the backs, as this often destroys the image on the front.

Thank you,
Sharyn Taitz

The Buddhist Meditation Group will not be meeting Monday, January 2 due to New Year's. 

UUCR Members Volunteer At Winchester Hospital
On Sunday,  December 4th,  about twelve members of the Choir took part in "The Tree of Lights Ceremony" at Winchester Hospital.  This has become a yearly event, and is very much appreciated by the organizers.  Ron Cavicchio conducted the group and George White took his keyboard for accompaniment.  Everyone had a great time with refreshments following the program.   The invitation for next year has already been extended.  Many thanks to those who took part. 

On behalf of the Malden Department of Children and Families and specifically on behalf of the nearly 80 children whose Christmas mornings will be brightened by your generosity, we would like to thank you for opening your hearts and wallets to provide gifts and support through our annual "Undecorate The Tree" project.  The truck (aka "Santa's sleigh," courtesy of Cruz Electric) arrived last Friday morning and a hard-working crew of volunteers loaded the truck with hundreds of bags of toys, clothing and other gifts.  (See photo right.) Those gifts will be delivered to the homes of the children that you so kindly "adopted" for Christmas and many Christmas wishes will come true for children who would have otherwise received little or nothing.  So thank you for your kindness, for your enthusiasm for this project and for your open hearts.  This is just one more example of how UUCR is such a warm and giving community. 

Sincerely,

Linda King, Sharyn Taitz, Margaret Soli and the Malden office of DCF

The Buddhist Meditation Group will not be meeting Monday, December 26 due to Christmas. 

Thank you for your donations and dedications.  Enjoy the beautiful display of poinsettias at our Christmas Eve Services but please remember that all plants will remain on the altar through our January 8 services at which time thriving plants will be delivered to homebound friends and members.  Thank you.  Rosemary

"A Time Apart"
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
9:15 and 11:00 AM 

Our holiday season concludes with our annual opportunity to light candles for those who died during the past year.  We’ll also look ahead at the possibilities of a fresh New Year.  This will be Rev. Tim’s final service before his Sabbatical begins.  Tim will preach on the gifts found in being together, and in being apart.  

Music: 9:15-Rose McAuley and Roald Wilson; 11:00: Rose McAuley and Roald Wilson, and the UUCR Choir.

"New Years Day Worship Service"
Meg Soens, Intern Minister
One Service Only at 11:00 AM 

Join Meg for a relaxed service of readings, music, silence and ritual to mark the turning of the years from old to new, and reflect on what this moment can mean for us.  One service only on this day at 11:00 AM.

Special music on Sunday, December 25, will be provided by Dasha Bukhartseva. Dasha's home town is Odessa, Ukraine.  Dasha didn't start taking piano lessons until she was 8 years old, and then she had to practice on a paper keyboard her mother had made because they couldn't afford a piano. However, only three months later she had won her first competition. She seemed to thrive on competitions, winning one in Paris which she understood was for children, but was in fact for adults! She was invited to play at concerts designed for foreign visitors to Odessa, which is where Janet Nussmann and Bob Cary first heard her in 2006. Other travelers heard her also, understood her talent, and spontaneously took up the cause to help Dasha get further training--and so Team Dasha was born. The following two summers she participated in the Aspen Music Festival, appeared twice on the NPR Program From the Top (a showcase for young classical musicians), and then she went to New York City to take her senior year at the School for Young Performers (where she aced her classes and was chosen to play at graduation). During this time she was also participating in the Juilliard pre-college program and studying for her college auditions. She is currently a junior at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore--and still acing her courses. 

Rev. Tim’s last service with us before starting his four month sabbatical will be on 8 January 2012 – just four weeks away! There will be not one, but two, festive send-offs that Sunday – during the coffee hour after each service! We are planning to serve some finger foods from parts of the world that will figure in to Tim’s travels -- and there’s more … contributions from the children, original music, a short speech from Tracy Sopchak, spiffy decorations! Please plan to attend one – or both – and add your personal farewell for the occasion.

We have scheduled a community food prep session in the church kitchen on 7 January 2012 – the day before -- and will also post recipes after Christmas for those who would like to cook at home. Stay tuned!

5:30 PM —Family Service
7:15 PM —Traditional Candlelight Service

Join us for this sacred evening of story, carols, and hope renewed.

5:30 PM Family Service—An interactive child-friendly service suited to families and children who might need to wiggle a bit.  The service will include the telling of the Nativity Story and our annual pageant.  The UUCR Choir will sing.  As an opportunity to help our children reach out beyond themselves on Christmas Eve, we are requesting that each child please bring new or lightly used hats, mittens, gloves, warm socks, and pullovers to the 5:30 PM service for our special collection of clothing for local children in need. 

7:15 PM Traditional Candlelight Service—Join us for a reflective service of carols and readings, ending with the traditional candle lighting and passing of the flame.  The UUCR Adult Choir will offer selections, including the long-standing choral benediction of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

From the money donated at both of our Christmas Eve services 60% will be given to the Food Project to fund Community Supported Agriculture in Lynn, Massachusetts by funding Lynn CSA memberships which will provide a healthy supply of sustainably grown, fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs to Lynn CSA participants.  40%  will be given to our established UUCR fund, “We Care” for disbursement  to  members and friends of the UUCR  who are in need, the mission being to help our church family  with the occasional gift of a food card, a Visa cash card, a retail store card, or a gas card.  Kindly make checks payable to “UUCR” line item note Lynn CSA/UUCR We Care.

Ushers
5:30 PM - Sam Beckwith, Calley Beckwith, Dru Wood-Beckwith, Geoff Beckwith
7:15 PM - Sara Bettencourt, Stefany Cunningham, Ann Fisher, Nate Fisher, Adam Fisher

Altar Flowers
Our Altar is adorned with poinsettias gratefully received by members and friends.

The Coming of Age 2 class and the Partner Church Committee invite everyone to welcome our church's new international partner: a young Unitarian from the Philippines. Gerry is a 14-year-old high school student. His father is a Unitarian minister and a farmer; his mother is a homemaker and a farmer. Gerry's hobbies are singing and reading.

Come see a photo of Gerry and learn more about him, at the Partner Church table at coffee hours on December 11 and 18. You can also sign a Christmas card for our partner congregation in Transylvania.

We'll be selling our traditional organic, free-trade Equal Exchange chocolate bars and taking orders for coffee, to raise money for Gerry's next-year school fees. The chocolate is delicious--a great stocking stuffer or general holiday treat. Bars are 3.75 or 7.50 (USD) for 2.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Please join us Monday Evening at 7:15 PM in Fellowship Hall for an hour of peace and mindful community. All are welcome.

9:15 AM -- Families begin in worship then children are sung out to their Faith Development Explorations.

3:15 PM -- Families gather in the lobby of nearby Daniels Nursing Home for a caroling party.

From Reading's Mission of Deeds, which distributes donated furniture and housewares to people in need in Reading and surrounding towns: "As we move into the winter months, Mission of Deeds is requesting donations of gently used or new blankets, comforters, and bedspreads. For each new bed set that we  provide to our clients [which are purchased with monetary donations], free of charge, we include each of these items along with a pillow and sheets. But our supplies are running low. Each year we experience a large increase in clients in need and we expect this situation to continue in 2012."

Donated blankets, comforters, and bedspreads can be brought to the MOD warehouse at 6 Chapin Ave., Reading (781-944-9797, www.missionofdeeds.org).

Rev. Tim has just created a new Sharing of Joys and Sorrows bulletin board for logged-in members and friends, only. You can find a link to it in the Top Menu, once you log in. 

Please welcome our newest renter to the UUCR, Cindy Gittleman.

Cindy is the owner of a program promulgating The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR), originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Cindy begins instruction here at the UUCR in our Community Hall on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

Cindy tells us that this will be a highly engaging and supportive program including  guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices, gentle stretching, group dialogue, daily home assignments, and home practice materials, including guided mindfulness practice CDs. MBSR is backed by research and well-respected within the medical community as a complement to traditional treatment approaches for people experiencing general life stress, chronic illness, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression and anxiety, among other challenges. The program is led by Cindy Gittleman MA, CAGS, founder of Sunrise Mindfulness, LLC. Cindy was trained at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School in Worcester. She completed the Stress Reduction Program, the Practicum in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and the Teacher Development Intensive, an advanced training for experienced MBSR teachers. Tuition: $350 if registration completed by January 23rd, $375 after January 23rd. To learn more or to contact Cindy, please visit www.sunrisemindfulness.com.

Our Second Offering at the December 18 services will go to WEECE—the Women’s Education and Economic Centre—in Tanzania. Liz Connor, daughter-in-law of UUCR members Steve and Lorraine Dennis, will speak at both services about her experience volunteering for two months with WEECE in Tanzania last summer. As the Social Action Committee learned when she attended a meeting in the fall, Liz speaks passionately about the difference that WEECE's many programs are making in people's lives. You can talk with Liz further at the December 18 coffee hours.

WEECE (www.weece.org) is a grassroots organization founded in 1999 by four dynamic Tanzanian women determined to improve the harsh economic and cultural environment women experience in Tanzania. One of the founders, Valeria Mrema (Mama Mrema), remains its Executive Director.

WEECE provides opportunity for women to

• participate in economic development through expanded access to microloans and training necessary to run small businesses;
• use legal assistance and counseling related to domestic/sexual abuse, property, and divorce, and to gain and sustain economic and social security;
• develop leadership skills to promote social justice, health, and education.

Money donated to WEECE stretches far and touches many lives. In health care alone, here are a few ways WEECE reaches out. In addition to the core education, information, and counseling programs:

• WEECE funding has built a modern health clinic in the isolated town of Nganjoni. Villagers from a wide area will use its services.
• WEECE offers trainings throughout the region on basic health issues, often in collaboration with other NGOs, and has formed "living with HIV/AIDS" support groups.
• WEECE provides treated bed nets throughout the region to protect women and their families against deadly malaria.
• WEECE has rehabilitated a traditional irrigation canal, provided training in crop rotation and diversification, and provided good seed stock to address the issues of food security and hunger.

If you'd like to donate by check, please make it out to Friends of WEECE. FOW is the US-based 501c3 group that serves as the fundraising and project evaluation arm of WEECE. By donating to WEECE through FOW, we share in the partnership between FOW and WEECE that is based in equality and the understanding of global interconnection.

Please be as generous as you can in support of this important work, which resonates with several of our UU Principles and Purposes.

Four times each year, our congregation has the chance to learn about and financially support a local, regional, or national organization that reflects our Unitarian Universalist principles and values. Usually nominated by a member of the congregation and then designated by the Social Action Committee, the group is introduced at a Sunday service, and then we give a Second Offering to further its social action/social justice work.

(Some of this notice is adapted from the WEECE website.)

Sunday Morning Christmas Day Worship Service
One Service Only at 9:15 AM with Rev. Tim 

Join Rev. Tim at 9:15 AM for a simple, meaningful Christmas morning service of contemplation and joy. Music by Alex Gordon and our guest classical pianist from Ukraine, Dasha Bukhartseva.

“When the Holidays Hurt”
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
1:00 PM 

Join Rev. Tim and members of our Pastoral Care Team for a gentle service of support for anyone who finds themselves grieving a loss, challenged, hurting, or struggling in any way during this holiday season. The holidays can be such a difficult time for many of us.  Perhaps we've lost a loved one, or a job, or our sense of hope.  Perhaps we struggle with depression or stress or anxiety.  Perhaps someone we love is ill, or we are ill.  Perhaps we feel alone.  We are opening our doors to anyone who hurts in any way this holiday season, and offering a safe and healing place for comfort and support.  Everyone from the community is welcome.  Invite a friend.  Special music by Roald Wilson (Please note special 1:00 PM time.) 

“The Winter Solstice”
9:15 and 11:00 AM

Celebrate the Winter Solstice and explore the ongoing dance between light and dark.  What will nature and the cycle of the seasons tell us about our light and shadow-filled lives?  Music: 9:15-Marsten Parker, violin; 11:00 AM-The UUCR Choir.   Today we will hear about WEECE (the Women’s Education and Economic Centre) in Tanzania. Liz Connor, daughter-in-law of  Church members Steve and Lorraine Dennis, will speak about her experience volunteering with WEECE and about the difference it is making in the lives of women, men, and children in the area around Mt. Kilimanjaro. Checks can be made out to Friends of WEECE (a non-profit organization).

Our choir's Christmas concert connects us to our congregation's Christmases many years ago. From the Reading Chronicle, 12/23/1871: The Christian Union Society [for so our congregation was known then] will hold a Christmas Tree Festival, Monday evening, Dec. 25th, at 7 o'clock, at their church [which at the time was in Reading Center]. The programme will be an interesting one, and consists of three parts, viz.: Part first, Organ introductions, Christmas chorus, by Sabbath School. Part second. A vocal concert, consisting of choice songs duets, trios and quartettes, by Miss Nellie Pinkham, Mrs. Wm. Reed, Miss Lizzie Cox, Miss Belle Dinsmore, and Messrs. F. C. Harnden, W. S. Richardson and C. D. Wright, with Miss Laura Dinsmore at the organ and piano. Part third. Distribution of Gifts. Admission ten cents.

Also from the Reading Chronicle, 12/23/1871, re our UUCR ancestress Emily Ruggles, who had a dry-goods store in Reading Center: Miss E. Ruggles, in Lyceum Hall building, has opened a holiday department, under the peculiar patronage of the child's saint, Santa Claus. The poet, inspired by inspection thereof, thus rhymes about a few of the attractions: "But just go where the toys are / Oh, 'My!' ain't it jolly and gay? / Little trunks that a fairy might envy / For packing her wardrobe away. / Fancy workboxes, desks, and decanters, / Drums, building blocks, ten-pins, and balls. / Splendid tea-sets of silver and pewter, / And at least seventy bushels of dolls." Heads of families, and branches of families will be sure to find their wants supplied and their tastes gratified by a call at Miss Ruggles'.

The Reading PFLAG support group will be meeting this Thursday, December 8 at 7:30pm in Loring House, 211 Summer Ave., on the campus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading.  As usual, look for the rainbow flag on the porch. 

Poinsettia Deadline Extended to Friday, December 16! -  Donations and Dedications Needed!
Can you help beautify our sanctuary for the holidays?  We do not have enough donations or dedications yet to get our usual complement of lush plants.  We have asked the greenhouse to extend the ordering deadline for us.  Please consider a donation of ten dollars and writing a dedication for our holiday order of service.  Donations and dedications due by Friday, December 16.

Please join us Monday Evening at 7:15 PM in Fellowship Hall for an hour of peace and mindful community. All are welcome.

Sunday, December 18—9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
“The Winter Solstice”
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Celebrate the Winter Solstice and explore the ongoing dance between light and dark. 
What will nature and the cycle of the seasons tell us about our light and shadow-filled lives?  Music: 9:15-Marsten Parker, violin; 11:00 AM-The UUCR Choir

Sunday, December 18 (Special 1:00 p.m. Service)
“When The Holidays Hurt – A Service of Support”
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Join Rev. Tim and members of our Pastoral Care Team for a gentle service of support for anyone who finds themselves grieving a loss, challenged, hurting, or struggling in any way during this holiday season. The holidays can be such a difficult time for many of us.  Perhaps we've lost a loved one, or a job, or our sense of hope.  Perhaps we struggle with depression or stress or anxiety.  Perhaps someone we love is ill, or we are ill.  Perhaps we feel alone.  We are opening our doors to anyone who hurts in any way this holiday season, and offering a safe and healing place for comfort and support.  Everyone from the community is welcome.  Invite a friend.  Special music by Roald Wilson (Please note special 1:00 PM time)

Christmas Eve Services
5:30—Family Service
7:15 PM—Traditional Candlelight Service
Join us for this sacred evening of story, carols, and hope renewed.
5:30 PM Family Service—An interactive child-friendly service suited to families and children who might need to wiggle a bit.  The service will include the telling of the Nativity Story and our annual pageant.  The UUCR Choir will sing.  As an opportunity to help our children reach out beyond themselves on Christmas Eve, we are requesting that each child please bring new or lightly used hats, mittens, gloves, warm socks, and pullovers to the 5:30 PM service for our special collection of clothing for local children in need. 
7:15 PM Traditional Candlelight Service—Join us for a reflective service of carols and readings, ending with the traditional candle lighting and passing of the flame.  The UUCR Adult Choir will offer selections, including the long-standing choral benediction of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Sunday, December 25
Sunday Morning Christmas Day Worship Service
One Service Only at 9:15 AM with Rev. Tim
Join Rev. Tim at 9:15 AM for a simple, meaningful Christmas morning service of contemplation and joy.  Music by Alex Gordon and our guest classical pianist from Russia, Dasha Bukhartseva

Sunday, January 1, 2011
New Years Day Worship Service
One Service Only at 11:00 AM with Meg Soens
Join Meg Soens, our Intern Minister, for a special New Year’s Day service at 11:00 AM only.

Sunday, January 8, 2012—9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
“A Time Apart”
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Our holiday season concludes with our annual opportunity to light candles for those who died during the past year.  We’ll also look ahead at the possibilities of a fresh New Year.  This will be Rev. Tim’s final service before his Sabbatical begins.  Tim will preach on the gifts found in being together, and in being apart.  Music: 9:15-Michael Ricca, guest vocalist; 11:00: Michael Ricca , guest vocalist and the UUCR Choir.

Several local folks have gotten together to discuss what we can do related to socio-economic injustice and other issues.   We will be meeting again in Community Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading (see attached flyer) this Wed., 12/7, 8 - 10 pm. We know that this is coming up awfully quickly, but with the holidays coming up too, we thought we'd go ahead with this meeting on short notice and hope for a good turnout. If you can make it, we'll be delighted, but especially in view of the short notice, please don t worry if you are unable to be there. Please spread the word to anyone else who you think would be interested in joining us, either this week or in the future!

If you are interested but are unable to attend this meeting, please let us know so that we can keep you informed of future activities.

Flyer

- Carolyn Whiting

At the Thanksgiving services on Nov. 20, the congregation donated 26 well-filled bags of food and paper goods for our church's neighbors who depend on the Reading Food Pantry. The bags, containing everything from pasta sauce and cereal to paper towels and toothbrushes, filled a sedan--seats, trunk, and all. Members of the Reading HS Service Learning Class, who happened to be dropping off donations at the same time, helped carry everything into the pantry at Old South Methodist in Reading Center.

Charlotte Harlan of the Food Pantry sends this note: "Dear Members of the UU Church, Thank you for your Thanksgiving donations to the Reading Food Pantry. Grocery donations are so important to keeping our shelves supplied with items needed by Reading friends and neighbors in need. We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season."

Dear Fellow Readers, The next meeting of the LTOM Book Club will be held at the home of Mary Ellen Campbell on Tuesday, December 27 at 1:30 pm. Please choose a book by Alexander McCall Smith, read it, and describe it to the group at the meeting. Happy Holidays! - Janet

There’s a lot going on this holiday season at UUCR.  Here’s a list of scheduled events.

Once again the Green Sanctuary Team will be recycling Christmas lights from now until January 8th.  Please leave them on Loring porch.  If you have other copper wire to recycle you can also leave it now, but please, no other metal recycling at this time, we have no place to store it.

The next general metal recycling is expected to take place this spring.

Questions?  Call or email Linda King or call 781-944-3617.

On November 19, seven UUCR adults and two young people from North Reading HS helped out at the Greater Boston Food Bank, a visit arranged by the Social Action Committee. The group joined 40 other volunteers who spent several hours inspecting, sorting, and packing food.  The effort helped to sort 10,981 pounds of food—salvaging 80%, which provided 6,783 meals for those in need. That’s 172 pounds of food sorted and 133 meals made possible, by each volunteer. The Social Action Committee hopes to organize another visit in the spring.

The Caring and Sharing coordinator for December is Francesca Auciello.  Francesca can be reached by email.  Looking ahead the caring and sharing coordinator for January 2012 will be Ann Mottl who can be reached by email