The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter December 2007

So I did it just this past weekend. I was hoping to get away this year without putting up Rudolph. Rudolph is a pretty primitive lighted reindeer sculpture that I purchased years ago at a radical Home Depot sale mainly because he looked so sad and lonely. His front paws move on a crude turning wheel device, his body is outlined in crude plastic tubing. For all that, Rudolph did find a good home on our front railing, where it looks like he is sailing over the neighborhood.

But just as soon as I thought we could do without Rudolph, the complaints came from all quarters. When are you going to put up Rudolph? We have to have Rudolph! It is not a holiday without him! Sure enough, once he was up and running, he looked beautiful indeed for all the enthusiasm surrounding him.

And so we enter into the danger of the holiday season, where the smallest act is in danger of becoming Eternal Ritual. And so we enter into the magic of the holiday season, where even the worn-out turns luminescent when shared.

Which is why we have some pretty great holiday traditions around here—new and old. I’m looking forward to adding our first ever full scale musical production, Amahl, to my holiday evenings out list. And there are some Eternal Rituals that deserve the name: be sure to join us for our lovely Candlelight Christmas Eve service, 7PM on Dec. 24.

Enjoy the magic!

To Life!
Susan

Dec. 2 Hanukah: Saving Traditions. Which traditions save, which stifle, and how do we tell the difference?

Dec. 16 Music of the Spheres. Solstice prompts a reflection on the special spiritual awe inspired by both the order and the incomprehensibility of the cosmos.

Dec. 23 Christmas: the Anticipation of Peace. The special connection between Christmas and expressions of peace suggests the importance of anticipation both as a personal spiritual practice and as a way to change the world.

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Candle Service 7:00pm.

Dec. 30 Commissioned Lay Leader Teri Cornell offers a participatory service.

Jan. 6 Polyanna, Never: On Choosing Hope. Hope is not optimism: it is a chosen act of courage that can be made in the face of any circumstance.

Children's Worship

Dec. 2 Explorers: Hanukah!

Dec. 9 Explorers: The story of Jonah: what to do with hard to believe stories.

Dec. 16 Explorers: The reasons, facts, and scripture behind the celebration of Christmas.

Dec. 23 No Children’s Religious Education

Dec. 24 Children in main worship

Dec. 30 No Children’s Religious Education

Jan. 6 Explorers: Adam and Eve…are there new beginnings?

Also in this issue
Page 2  Events & Activities.  Find out what's happening this Month!
Page 3 From the Committees and Board. 
Page 4  A Call to Action!  See how you can support your congregation and your world!