On January 1, 2017 we will have one service at 11:15am. This service is going to be a bit different as it will be a Question & Answer session with our Interim Minister, Rev. Dave Johnson. To make this service go smoothly please submit all questions to our worship associate, John Hochella at jhochella@cox.net, no later than Friday, December 23.
9:45 am & 11:15 am
“You Were Expecting Someone Special?”
Rev. Dave Johnson, Interim Minister
The word “mystery” has two distinct meanings. The familiar meaning of mystery is that it’s a puzzle, or a problem to solve by careful observation, interpretation, and ingenuity. A mystery, in this sense, is a barrier to be overcome. An alternative interpretation is that mystery is the realm of uncertainty, doubt, and ambiguity in which we live. A mystery – in this sense – fosters deeper curiosity, the framing of different questions, and openness to amazement. Christmas is this second sort of mystery. We’ll consider the down-to-earth ordinariness of the Christmas message
The Ministerial Search Committee invites you to join us for a Cafe Conversation following each service on December 18th. Hear about the completion of our Congregational Record and Profile Book as well as next steps. We look forward to answering your questions!
Year-End Holidays: Office Closings and Staff Schedule
Monday Dec 19 through Sunday January 1
The WUU offices will be closed on the following days for the Christmas/New Year holiday period:
Monday December 19 office will close at noon
Friday December 23 office closed
Monday December 26 office closed
Friday December 30 office closed
Our staff anticipates the following work and vacation schedules:
Interim Minister: In office through Dec 25; away Dec 26 to 31
Program Assistant: Monday, December 19-Thursday December 22 8am-1pm; Tuesday December 27 and Wednesday December 28 8am-1pm; Thursday, December 29 8am-noon.
Financial Assistant: In office Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays through the end of the year from 10:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. except as noted above. (Subject to change – please call or email to confirm.)
11:15 am-One Service Only
Christmas Day
Rev. Dave Johnson, Interim Minister
We will gather in the Sanctuary for a brief period of readings and personal sharing of Joys and Sorrows. Then we will car-pool to visit in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities with WUU members and friends who are living alone. Stacy Bolling and Eva Burke are arranging and coordinating these visits.
What are café conversations? These are opportunities for dialogue, information-sharing, and action-initiatives. When do they happen? Most often following worship services. Why should I participate? Because face-to-face conversations allow nuances, ambiguities, and relationships to be appreciated in situations where electronic communications may be insufficient or mis-interpreted.
We have FOUR sets of café conversations scheduled at WUU during the coming few weeks – beginning this week. The locations of each will be announced at the time – depending on spaces available. Here’s what’s upcoming:
Sunday December 18: Conversations with our Ministerial Search Committee
Times: 10:30 (after first service), and 12:30 (after second service)
Sunday January 08: Experimental Sunday programs (Feb thru Apr)
Times: 10:30 (after first service), and 12:30 (after second service)
Sunday January 15: Mosaic Makers Dialogue: MLK and UU principles
Time: 12:30 (after second service)
Sunday January 08 (12:30, after second service) AND Sunday January 15 (10:30, after first service) Proposed Revisions to WUU By-Laws – as recommended by the Board and the By-Laws Review Committee. Please note that the Board will schedule and announce a congregational meeting on Sunday January 29 to vote on the proposed By-Law revisions. These two café conversations are your opportunity to review and discuss the proposed revisions.
Yes, there are exciting initiatives emerging. Each of these represents the work of many folks over a long period of time. Each of these merits your enthusiastic attention and participation. Please attend as your time allows. Thanks so much.
Tuesday, December 20
7:30 pm
Sanctuary and Outdoors
Please join us to mark the Return of the Light on the eve of the Winter Solstice with the first use of our new Outdoor Space. The reverberations of Tibetan Singing Bowls, the glow of a candlelit labyrinth and the warmth of a bonfire will help you reflect on the turning of the year and move forward with renewed spirit. It is time to realign your vibration. Older children who may appreciate a service that is at times quiet and meditative are welcome, however no childcare will be provided.
On Sunday, we will be collecting the Guest At Your Table boxes during the service, so please remember to bring them in! The theme for this year is "Defying Hate" and the money will go towards organizations which serve refugees, asylum seekers and other marginalized groups here in the U.S. and all over the world. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Usher (usherle@gmail.com). http://www.uusc.org/welcome-to-guest-at-your-table/
Building a Vocal Community: The Power of Song in Community
January 27-28, 2017
6-9pm Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday (lunch provided)
William & Mary School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room
In this workshop, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, a former long-time member of the renowned musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock, will lead participants in experiencing the musical traditions of Africa and the Diaspora (including chants, spirituals, ring shouts, and songs from the Civil Rights Movement), and exploring the power of music to bring communities together. No musical experience or talent needed; just a willingness to raise your voice and learn.
Sponsored by All Together, the Lemon Project, William & Mary Africana Studies Program, William & Mary Music Department, Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
NAACP ACT-SO MLK Breakfast Monday, January 16 8:30 am
Join your WUU friends at the 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. NAACP/ACT-SO Breakfast. We have a table with 10 places and we usually sell out. Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for students. This is an event that celebrates the stellar academic achievement of our local minority students. It is sponsored by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and takes place at the Williamsburg Lodge at 8:30 am. Please contact Jessica O'Brien to reserve your seats at SJchair@wuu.org.
Food For FISH (Our local community food & clothing pantry)
FISH continues to ask for BEEF stew (it seems people really like beef and they don't get much of that) and holiday foods: mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread stuffing, broth, green beans, yams, cranberries. thank you!
Please make sure packages are sealed and all "use by" dates are current. Thank you all!
A memorial service for Rollene Wells will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond on December 30, 2016, at 3:00 PM. The church is located at 1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, 23221
Please contact caringchair@wuu.org if you know of a member of the Congregation in need of support, or if you are in need of support.
Each year during the winter holiday season we ask for you to bring in new packages of socks and underwear (all sizes, ages, genders). These donations are collected in our red "FISH wagon" and placed underneath our Christmas tree. Right after the new year begins we take the much needed donations to FISH to be distributed to those in need. They are very grateful for our unique donation each year. Let's make this our biggest donation year yet!
Peninsula Agency on Agency Giving Tree
Please make sure to return your ornament and gift by Sunday so that they may be distributed. Thank you for all of your help!
The Ministerial Search Committee invites you to join us for a Cafe Conversation following each service on December 18th. Hear about the completion of our Congregational Record and Profile Book as well as next steps. We look forward to answering your questions!
182 individuals and families made an annual pledge to WUU this year
These 182 pledge units represent about 285 individual members and friends of WUU
Another 55 “friends” and newer members of WUU also support WUU by their presence, involvement--and, we hope, by also making pledges for the coming year
Yes, WUU is nearing its annual pledge drive. Just as public television and radio conduct regular pledge campaigns, so does WUU. Our pledge drive will kick off on Sunday, Feb. 12, with brief congregational information sessions after both services, and end the last Sunday in March.
Newer members will be asked to participate in “giving circles” in January, and our Pacesetters will also be contacted for our usual advance campaign.
We are a congregation that is more than generous. Last year you pledged more than we targeted to support our budget. We thank you, and you can thank each other for supporting a congregation that is vital to our lives and community.
We know this year that your spirit of generosity will continue—and THIS year we have so much to look forward to with a new minister and new building.
Stewardship Co-Chairs Allen Cooke and Linda Lane-Hamilton
Our book sales program is quite busy. Please bring your used padded envelopes on Sunday so we can save some shipping costs. The box will be near the door.
Tabernacle Band
Tabernacle Band plays December 20. What is Tabernacle Band you ask? It is WUU's intergenerational "no-fault" band. This is the place for musicians young, old and in between who play or have ever played an instrument. So get those instruments out of the closet and join us. There in ONE rehearsal at 10:15 on Sunday before we play at the 11:15 service. Jamie Bartlett makes the magic happen. Music will be available two or three weeks before we play at http://tabband.weebly.com/index.html Click on the instrument(s) you play and print out your music.
Sunday Morning Teams
We are still looking to fill vacancies in our teams that help to make our Sunday's run smoothly. If you can volunteer to help pass out Orders of Service, help direct folks, or maybe even to help coordinate volunteers please contact Ellyn in the office at 757-220-6830 or office@wuu.org and she will match you up. We can't do it without you!
Building Our Future 2016-Construction
There has been a lot going on here on the WUU Campus. Click Here to see the latest photos.
