Monday, December 24, 6:30pm, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
We embrace the mystery and wonder of Christmas in this annual service featuring readings, carols, special music, silence, and candle lighting. A space for young children and families to be free to move around and make joyful noises will be set up in the Fireplace Room. There will not be nursery care available for the service. The service will be preceded by a Fellowship Hour of cider and cookies at 5:30PM in the Vestry.

Multigenerational Spiritual Exploration

Family Potluck for Fun, Feasting, and Brainstorming
Fri. January 18th
5:45 - 7:30pm ~ UCM Vestry
Here’s a chance for kids and parents in our congregation to make new connections. We’ll share food and some social time all together, followed by some time in separate spaces. Kids will have a chance to share how church is going and also watch a short film together. Parents will have time together to brainstorm ways we might better support parents generally and also as guides for their child/ren’s spiritual journey. If you can’t bring a big potluck dish, don’t stress! Snacky finger foods, fruit, or drinks are fine. If just getting there is what you can do, that’s great too. Questions? Ask Liza (ucm.dre@gmail.com).

Monthly Multigenerational Story Circles
January 19, February 16, March 16 ~ 3 p.m.
Children's Chapel
The theme for January is Possibility. If you can't come for the January session, no problem. Come when you can. And feel free to invite others to join us. Share a story, poem, song, or just come to listen!

Adult Spiritual Exploration
For parents of young children, we do our best to provide childcare for you to participate in Spiritual Exploration of your own. Please notify the facilitator or Liza of your interest with at least one week's notice. To view the latest UCM brochure of Multigenerational/Adult Spiritual Exploration please click here.

Speaking Up for Racial Justice PRACTICE session: “Interrupting Hate and Addressing Unintended Bias”
2nd Wednesdays: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, Apr. 10
6-8pm in the UCM vestry
Several recent requests have been made for white people to be more active in response to biased and racist comments being made in public. Each session will have a similar format and focus on practice, but the scenarios will be different, so participants may greatly benefit from attending one or multiple sessions. Facilitated by Kathy Johnson and other members of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). Co-sponsored by Lifespan Spiritual Exploration.

Above: Participants in Building Your Own Theology had a fabulous discussion for their second session. They wrestled with the workbook, particularly with a description of Buddhism which did not align at all with some participants' experience of Buddhism. People left the circle feeling enlivened and energized by the discussion.

White Privilege & Critical Humility Workshop
Sat. Feb. 9th
9:30am - 3:30pm
The practice of critical humility is an opportunity for white people to develop the capacity to interrupt white privilege effectively. This workshop is highly interactive. Participants’ engagement will determine the utility of the information in their lives. While we will be addressing a serious and challenging subject, we will engage people with stories and ideas which will help people ameliorate some of their challenges/fears about the topic. All are welcome. Sign-up at the LSE Table during coffee hour or online here.

Cathy Stackpole, presenter/facilitator, is an intersectional feminist, who worked for many years in the movement to end violence against women. She is the mother of two grown African American daughters. She has been the Executive Director of Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine for the last 7 years.

Active Listening Workshop
Feb. 16th and 23rd (rescheduled from Jan. 5th and 12th)
11am - 1:30pm
If you want to really connect with your children, your parents, or people at work, it may be time to do something daringly different. Anybody can do it. Yes. Really. And it always makes a difference. Learn to actively listen and simultaneously improve the quality of your relationships and your life. A two-part workshop with winter sessions on February 16 and February 23. Sign up during coffee hour at the LSE table, or contact facilitator Patty Crawford at pattycrawford613@gmail.com or call 802 760 7856.