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Show your fellowship spirit by wearing your UUFB t-shirt
to service on the last Sunday of the month!

THIS SUNDAY...

Rev. Lori G. Hlaban, Minister
Chris Raskind, Director of Music
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort
178 Sams Point Road, Lady's Island
https://uubeaufort.org

Upcoming Sundays
December Theme: Awe
December 22 – Watch for the Light – Rev. Lori
December 24 – Christmas Eve Service! 5:30pm
December 29 – Ring in the New Year – Rev. Lori

UUFB Current Events: Click Here

UUFB Membership Blood Drive!

UUFB is teaming up with the American Red Cross for a Blood Drive at our site to be held early in 2020.  Our first motivation for doing this is helping the Red Cross, who is always in need of donors.  Secondarily, we are hoping to introduce some of our Ladys Island neighbors to our fellowship, where we remain largely unknown to many who pass by on their daily commute.

While we have not yet selected a date, we need to know how many members and friends would be willing to participate if their schedules permit.  This Sunday you will find a sign-up sheet for this event in the foyer of the sanctuary.  I hope that many of you will find it in your hearts to participate, if so, please add your name to the list.  For efficiency, you will be given a donation time slot as we get closer to the event.

SAVE THE DATE
UUFB Connections Class
You Are Invited!

Come learn about Unitarian Universalism and our Fellowship.
Everyone is welcome!

Sunday, January 26 from 11:30-1:30
UUFB Fellowship building

Sign up at the Visitor’s Table in the Sanctuary or email Ellen Kelley. Please see a membership-blue button person or email if you need more details.

My Turn….
by Mal Martino

My turn to write a few paragraphs to share who I am and what I do within our UUFB community.  Actually, I volunteered to write.  That’s our nature as UUs… volunteering, helping, giving, leading, listening.  It took me a few years to feel comfortable enough to truly get involved but once I did it was many things -- fulfilling, exhausting, worthwhile, being useful, feeling a part of a community of caring people.

For the last three years, I have served as an At-Large Board member.   To attend and participate in the Board Meetings has been an interesting process.   The Board is a collection of personalities and talents -- our discussions are civil, sometimes animated, always educational and a cooperative effort.   I represent the Board on the Nominating Committee serving as its Chair.   At the moment I am the entire Policy Committee, and would welcome another member or two to join me.  Give me a call.  Finally, I am on the Aesthetic Committee when it is called upon for a decorating decision -- don’t really know why I am on this committee as the other members are much more qualified to pick the right color than I am.   

2019’s Budget made me concerned that we couldn’t continue to have deficit budgets and stay financially sound.   Deena Culp and I did some brainstorming and held some fundraising dinners, John Hoffman led the men of the UUFB to a offer a fabulous 
‘Men Who Cook” event, Jean Griffith and I co-chaired the Spring Yard Sale with the help of many, and of course our JW & Jinny Eads with their Service Auction Team extraordinaire which was a great success.  We all worked to raise some funds while at the same time had fun, deepened friendships, made us feel responsible and accountable to UUFB’s financial health. Work never felt so good.

I am looking forward to doing some more dinners in 2020 and hope other UUs will step up with their ideas to put on events which are fun, inclusive and will help our Budget stay in the BLACK. 

I appreciate being a part of the UUFB family, I love our generous hearts and community spirit.

GUEST AT YOUR TABLE
REMINDER

At the November 24 service, UUFB members and friends received informational pamphlets and small cardboard boxes to put on their dining room table to collect change each time they sit down to a meal.  This is part of the annual “Guest at Your Table” fundraiser for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).The box with donations will be collected Christmas Eve or Day and sent to UUSC as our contribution to UUSC’s efforts. This year’s theme is “Women Leaders, Strong Communities.”

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. (UUSC) is an independent nonsectarian 501 c3 nonprofit membership organization, affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. They are a leading voice for human rights and social justice in the United States and the world.  UUSC partners with local organizations in many countries working for justice and improving lives. UUFB is a member and supports this organization through our Social and Environmental Justice Committee.

If you weren’t able to get a donation box, there is one in the foyer of each of our buildings where you can contribute! Thank you for your generosity!

Braving The Wilderness Book Groups Forming!

As we know,  Minister Emeritus, Rev. Nan urged us in her sermon during Founders Weekend to read Brene Brown's Braving the Wilderness together. Rev Lori has embraced this idea.  In chatting with many of you, there is a lot of interest in doing just that.  We are planning an organizational meeting to find out just how many of us are interested and how we would like to proceed.  The organizational gathering will be Sunday,  December 15th at 11:30.  Because we are expecting that there may be quite a few of us, we may need to break up into groups, based on our needs and interests.  We hope to have the book group(s) begin in January.

Several approaches to reading and discussing the book can be considered:

• A one-time discussion upon completion 
• A four - six part discussion every other week as we read.
• Shared facilitation
• Group sizes: 6-10 members
• Choose one or more possible meeting times.
• Consider using Quaker, Parker Palmer's Circle of Trust Touchstones as a guide for discussion.

Join us for this organizational meeting.  Sign up then for the format you prefer, and choose a time that works for you!  And if you would like to see Brene Brown in action, you can watch her TED Talk here.

~Jennifer Rhodes and Kate Hudson

THE CHRISTIAN AFFINITY GROUP 
PLANS BOOK DISCUSSIONS FOR 2020

The Christian Affinity Group met on November 3, 2019 and had a lively discussion of books for reinterpreting Christianity. Members suggested a wide variety of excellent books and decided on the following to read and discuss. Discussion leaders are also listed. The meetings will take place in the Religious Education room at 11:30 after the Sunday coffee hour. All meetings are open to UUFB members and friends.

January  12, 2020: “Why Christianity Must Change or Die”  by Bishop John Shelby Spong. Discussion leader: Jay Weidner.

March 8, 2020: “The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers” by Amy Hollingsworth. Discussion Leader: Ben Sellers.

May 17, 2020: “Christ for Unitarian Universalists” by Scotty McLennan. Discussion Leader: Rev. Lori. 

Also mark your calendars for the popular Christmas Carol Hymn Sing and Pot luck on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 5:00PM in Fellowship Hall.

For more information contact Barbara James.

Habitat Faith Build Events!

UUFB is partnered with other Beaufort area faith groups on the Faith Build house, a project of Habitat for Humanity of the LowCountry.  Our volunteers who have gone through the introductory training have already been emailed, but we'd like to highlight an event open to the general public.

12 noon - Saturday December 14 - The Faith Build house (2523 Mossy Oaks Road in Beaufort) will be dedicated and the keys presented to the Green family.  You are encouraged to attend this event if you volunteered on the house, or if you contributed financially.  UUFB made a significant contribution in both ways, and it would be fun to have to a good showing.  

Also, I'd like to remind you that there remain opportunities to do items from the final punch list of the Faith Build on Thursdays, 8am-12. Sign up at https://lowcountryhabitat.charityproud.org/VolunteerRegistration/Calendar/542

Any questions? Contact Tom Hlaban.

To Be Continued…
a column by Rev. Lori G. Hlaban