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Holiday Events & Opportunities
Solstice Event, UUS grounds, December 19th
Join the Owl Moon Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPS) and Rev. Diana Smith for a special candlelit solstice walk with activity stations on Saturday, December 19th, from 4 to 7 pm. There will be an option to walk through the woods and a more accessible option around the UUS building. Due to COVID, all participants over the age of 2 must wear masks and follow all COVID safety precautions. Pre-register for a time slot here.
Reserve Your Holiday Kit Now!
To help us connect and celebrate the winter holidays, UUS staff and volunteers are putting together Holiday Kits. The kits will contain supplies for:
- The online Christmas Eve service (including candles for singing Silent Night);
- A do-it-yourself midnight candlelight service;
- The New Year's service on January 3rd;
- An Adult RE guide to our December theme of stillness; and
- For RE families, December's "RE in a Box" guides and activity sheets for the services.
If you would like to receive a Holiday Kit, you can pick it up at the UUS Solstice event on Saturday, December 19th, or, if you are not able to pick it up on the 19th, we would be happy to deliver it. They will arrive before the Christmas Eve service. Complete the signup to reserve yours.
UUS Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 pm
This year we'll have one all ages online service from 5:30 to 7 pm on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th. Join us for an interactive and joyful service! ( Link to join, Meeting ID: 824 9355 6805, Passcode: 228948) The offering will go to the Minister's Discretionary Fund to help those in need in our community ( donate online or send a check to UUS with MDF on the memo line).
HACAP Food Box & Backpack Packer Volunteers Needed
Help us pack food boxes and backpacks for hungry families and elementary children in need during the holidays. Shifts available December 15th through 18th. SIGN-UP HERE.
Staff Time Off
- Rev. Diana will be out from December 25th through January 6th (see her section for details).
- Peggy will be out of the office but on call from December 25th through December 31st (see her section for details).
- Jessica will be out on December 23rd, then from December 25th through January 2nd.
- Emma will be out from December 24th through January 3rd (see her section for details).
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From Your Staff & Leadership
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Cycle of Life
Maureen Patterson’s stepfather, who she affectionately called “Saint Bob,” died suddenly this week. We hold Maureen and her family in our hearts.
Ricardo Sauro has been diagnosed with COViD-19 and is currently under quarantine. Cards with well wishes would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to him at 2200 Oakdale Ave., Coralville, IA 52241.
 From Your Minister, Rev. Diana Smith
Away from UUS December 25th - January 6th
I will be away from UUS on vacation and study leave from December 25th to January 6th. If you have a regular operations question, Peggy Garrigues will be the staff member working regular hours through December 31st, with Jessica Zimmer and Emma Barnum returning from vacation on January 3rd and 4th.
If you have a pastoral need while I'm away, please reach out to the pastoral care team through Winnie Ganshaw or the core staff member who's currently working. If you have a pastoral emergency while I'm on vacation, please call me on my cell phone and leave me a voicemail (319-541-4330). Staff members or Board President Joe Rasmussen will also be able to reach me. I hope you have warm and safe end of 2020 and ringing in of 2021.
 From Your Director of Congregational Life, Peggy Garrigues
On Call for the Holidays
I will be working limited flexible hours between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and will be the only "on call" member of the UUS staff during that time. I will be creating plenty of relaxed time for myself during that period, and will be taking dedicated time off at the beginning of 2021, when my family was originally planning (before the COVID surge) to gather in person.
Celebrating a Successful Online Auction
Thank you to everyone for an amazing fully online auction! Thanks to everyone, we raised over $19,000, easily surpassing our goal of $13,000!
Last week's email mentioned Judy Tokuhisa, who did a HUGE amount of work, but inadvertently left off the other auction team members. So I want to extend a thank you to Julia Audlehelm and to Monique DiCarlo who worked with Judy and me on the planning, and Sarah Ross who helped to get auction items to the high bidders!
If you know you have an item at UUS, contact me (dcl@uusic.org or 734-255-2802) to either arrange a pickup time or to ask me to put it in the entryway for you. If you have other questions about how to receive or deliver items, please contact Judy Tokuhisa (judy.tokuhisa@gmail.com or 319-331-3351). If you offered events for the auction, you should have received a list of the high bidder(s)--please contact them directly to let them know how and when you will arrange the event(s).
 From Your Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Jessica Zimmer
Winter Solstice Kids OOS, December 20th
For RE families that will be picking up their holiday kit on Saturday, inside you will find a kids' Order of Service to go along with Sunday's Winter Solstice service. If you will not be picking up your holiday kit on Saturday, you can download a printable kids' Order of Service here.
4th-6th Grade RE, December 20th
Due to the congregational meeting, our 4th-6th Grade RE group will be meeting via Zoom this Sunday at 2:00pm. We'll be having a holiday-themed game day, and wacky holiday attire is encouraged. ( Join Meeting, Meeting ID: 861 6735 5715, Email education@uusic.org for the passcode).
Youth Group, December 20th
The Jr and Sr High youth will be meeting the UU of Quad Cities youth groups at 7 pm via Zoom. ( Link to join, Meeting ID: 842 8639 8368, Email education@uusic.org for the passcode). This Sunday will be a holiday-themed game day, and wacky holiday attire is encouraged.
 From Your Congregational Administrator, Emma Barnum
Newsletter Submission Deadline, December 20th
The deadline for submissions for the January newsletter will be Sunday, December 20th at noon. Because of the holidays and staff time off, this will be a hard deadline. Anything submitted after noon on the 20th will not be included in the newsletter, but can be saved for inclusion in the weekly emails.
Vacation, Weekly Email, and Final 2020 Deposit
I will be taking vacation time from Christmas Eve through January 3rd. There will be no weekly email sent on Wednesday, December 30th. I will be coming in to work once before the 31st to do a final bank deposit- please send any checks or payments to UUS before Monday the 28th if you would like to be sure it will show up on your 2020 giving statement.
Congregational Meeting, December 20th
We will hold our annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 20th, at 11:15 am, following the service. The purpose of this meeting will be to vote to approve the operating budget for 2021. We will also vote to formally elect three appointments to the Board of Trustees to complete the remainder of terms vacated early. The meeting will be held over Zoom using the same meeting information as the Sunday services ( Link to join, Meeting ID 422 482 660, Password: 006311
Online voting for eligible members ends at 11:15 am on Sunday. Voting members should have received an email with a link to online voting in your email (packets with paper ballots were mailed to those who selected it last week). Voting ends on December 20 th at 11:15 am. Please contact Amy Fretz, amymhere@gmail.com or 720-207-4513 if you have any problems submitting your choices for the election.
The meeting agenda, elected official bios, and a list of voting members can be found in the December newsletter. Contact the office ( admin@ uusic.org) or Board President Joe Rasmussen ( uusicc.joe@gmail.com) if you have questions.
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Upcoming Events This Week
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Wednesday, December 16th
Thursday, December 17th
- Informal Social Conversation: 10:30 am via Zoom, hosted by the Pastoral Care Team (Join via Zoom, Meeting ID: 828 8681 5989, Passcode: 433198)
- Green Sanctuary Team: 12 pm via Zoom- See Social Justice Section for details (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 848 8604 5754, Passcode: 228948)
Saturday, December 19th
- Solstice Event with CUUPs & Rev. Diana: 4-7 pm on the UUS Grounds (pre-registration required, see top of email for details)
Sunday, December 20th
- Virtual Sunday Service: 10 am via Zoom. (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 422 482 660, Passcode 006311, or join by phone: (312) 626-6799)
- Congregational Meeting: 11:15 am (after the service, at the same Zoom link)
- Grades 4 – 6 RE: 2 pm via Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 861 6735 5715)
Monday, December 21st
- Virtual Buddhist Sangha: 7 pm via Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 488 251 282, Passcode: 461426)
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Justice & Outreach News and Opportunities
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Green Sanctuary Team
Green Sanctuary Meeting, December 17th
All are invited to the Green Sanctuary Team meeting on Thursday, December 17th, at noon. Sally Hartman, one of the Iowa City climate ambassadors, will be explaining the Climate Action plan of Iowa City. Join the meeting to see what part you can play in Iowa City's plan. ( Link to Join, Meeting ID: 848 8604 5754, Passcode: 228948)
Racial Justice Team
Anti-Racist Action Items
1. Learn more about implicit bias (unconscious bias) at Project Implicit. The mission of Project Implicit is to educate the public about bias and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the internet. Project Implicit scientists produce high-impact research that forms the basis of our scientific knowledge about bias and disparities. Many tests are available to take online at projectimplicit.net
2. Learn more about racial microaggressions (Washington Post article)
UUS Immigration Action Team
Another Opportunity to Support Our Circle of Friends
Thank you all for your generous contributions for immigrant families! Due to their difficulties getting steady work, this is a very difficult time for four Circle of Friends families. Their days will be much brighter due to your kind giving.
A family member of one of our Circle of Friends families has arrived and needs the following men's clothing: Medium winter coat, medium-long sleeve shirts, size 5 1/2 shoes and boots, socks, and underwear, size medium. If you can donate these items, contact Sally ( sallyahartman@hotmail.com) or Deb ( dschoelerman@gmail.com). If you would like to donate money, you can do so through Realm and indicate it is for Circle of Friends.
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Dave Rowe's Annual Holiday Concert, December 19th
UUS's Online Music Leader Dave Rowe will hold his 28th Annual Holiday Concert on December 19th at 7:30 pm EST. It will be available to watch live or anytime afterward here.
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COVID-19 Information
UUS is in Reopening Phase I: Building Closed
We are currently in Phase 1 of our Reopening Plan. The UUS building is closed to all besides staff and essential volunteers. The labyrinth and trails are open for visitors in the same household/pandemic pod. Everyone over 5 years of age is required to wear masks, use hand sanitizer, and keep at least 6 feet away from others who aren’t in their household/pod. Group meetings on the grounds are not allowed in Phase 1.
Contact a staff member if you have a necessary task inside the building. Incidental access to the building (such as using the bathroom or for other unessential purposes) is discouraged as much as possible and requires following all safety protocols and signing in and out. Masks, good hand-hygiene practices, and social distancing are required along with the other guidelines attached here for Phase 1 and for the full reopening plan.
As a reminder, If you are meeting offsite as part of a UUS group, you need to follow all the guidelines for the current phase.
Online Giving Links
UUS Communications Regarding Coronavirus
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