NOTE FROM INTERN MINISTER
Our minister, the Rev. Mitra Jafarzadeh will be on sabbatical for the rest of the year. If you need to talk to a minister, Alice Diebel, Intern Minister is available for pastoral care by appointment. You can reach her at adiebel@stjohnsuu.org or at (937) 305-4694. We also have a long-standing Caring Circle, chaired by Ann Schuur. Please do not expect responses to emails or phone calls from Rev. Jafarzadeh.

MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES
Please join us for our next Second Saturday volunteer shift at Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash:  Saturday, December 15th 9am to 11am.  For information about volunteering, see - https://m25m.org/help/volunteering/

If you have any questions, contact Jay (guenther.jay@gmail.com).

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
AT THE BELVEDERE
Saturday, December 15
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The beloved tradition is back after taking a year off! Please join Barbara Hadden, Karen Miller and Frank Meyer as well as some of their neighbors for an open house in the beautiful Belvedere (3900 Rose Hill Ave.). As in the past, please bring a savory or sweet treat to share. We will welcome you on Saturday, December 15, from 3 - 5 p.m. Contact Barbara or Karen with questions

BLUE VESPERS
December 20, 2018, 6:00 pm - Blue Vespers. Maybe you don't appreciate all the merriment of the season, things don't go for you like it seems they do for everyone else. Maybe holidays conjure feelings of pain and loss. Join us for a service of meditation, prayer and reflection to hold these feelings in community with others.
 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
December 24, 2018, 7:00 pm - Candlelight Christmas Eve service filled with stories and carols. 

SPLIT THE PLATE
UU Service Committee Guest-at-Your-Table
St. John’s Outreach Committee has decided that our Dec. split-plate offering will be designated for the UUSC Guest-at-Your-Table program. Historically we’ve had small cardboard boxes for families to put cash in at mealtimes, but times have changed, and this year, in addition to the boxes (already distributed to families with children and available after this Sun. service in Krolfifer) we will have this special split-plate offering. The 2018 theme is Justice Across Borders, emphasizing the UUSC efforts toward supporting our partner organizations that work with people who are forced to cross borders seeking justice and safety. Last Sunday’s bulletin insert showed the highlights of UUSC’s work in the Central American region. Our table in Krolfifer will have more information if you’d like to learn in greater detail how this UU organization helps you reach out to support human rights activities among the world’s forgotten and marginalized peoples.

LIVELY AFTER 50 (LAFs)
Time for an update! We have no dinners scheduled!!!

As always, I'll be on my way to warmer climates the end of the month. My routine is to plan dinners in January and February before I head south. So... please volunteer! The rules are the same-a restaurant that can handle 20-25 people on the second Friday of the month, at 6:30. Also, separate checks for all.

Send me the restaurant, the address, a brief description of their offerings/specialties and website.
You as the host will receive emails from those wishing to attend. The Wednesday before the dinner the host notifies the restaurant of an approximate number. That's it.

I send out emails, announcements, etc.  Let's fill up the calendar for Spring.

Happy holidays. Ho, Ho Ho
Cliff Shisler  (cshisler@gmail.com)

BLACK LIVES UU ONLINE WORKSHOP
The Black Lives UU Organizing Collective offers online worship, providing an explicitly black sacred space, on the first Thursday and third Sunday of each month. Black UUs and all Black people are encouraged to participate. Visit http://www.blacklivesuu.com/worship/ to sign up.

IHN NEWS
Our next hosting week is Dec.16-23. What can you do to share some love and light? Visit the December Volunteer Signup for a brief description of roles: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4dabad2ba6ff2-december1   For more information, stop by the IHN table during coffee hour after the worship service or contact Wanda Crawford (crawford@nku.edu).

COFFEE HOUR CLEANUP AS A SOCIAL EVENT!
Do you have a friend or two at St. John's you wish you could spend more time with? Coffee cleanup is a good way to team up with friends and help St. John's, too. Have you met a new member or visitor you'd like to get to know better? Invite that person to do coffee hour cleanup with you. Looking at coffee hour cleanup as a social event makes the job more fun.  Contact Rich Overturf at overturfrich@gmail.com to volunteer.

READY OR NOT, WINTER IS UPON US! 

As a reminder, In case of closing due to weather conditions, information will be posted on our webpage and Channel 12 will be notified.  You can access Channel 12 at the following address;
http://www.local12.com/  and look for the school/business  closing information.

 
  FLOWER DONATIONS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING MONTHS!
If you would like to donate flowers for an upcoming Sunday please see the sign-up sheet located on the bulletin board just outside the office door or contact the office at 513-961-1938.  The cost is $35 and the flowers can be taken home with you after the service.