THIS SUNDAY, 10 AM:
REVERENT AMAZEMENT
IN-PERSON, and available via Zoom
Online: Join us 10 minutes early to chat and connect in Breakout Rooms before the service: https://tinyurl.com/UFPsundayservice
Reverent Amazement
Socrates once said that wisdom begins with wonder. The experience of awe can lead us toward greater insight. What gets in the way of our experiencing this? Can we cultivate an attitude of amazement? What sort of wisdom might arise from wonder?
We hold services in person when the local COVID-19 Risk Tracker is stable at Moderate risk.
We require N95 or better masks for participants.
Speaker: Rev. Peter Boullata
Service Leaders: Jovanna Soligo
Tech: Ben Wolfe, Tracy Galvin and Ben Taylor
Music: Linda Clark
Invite your friends!
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION:
RE staff welcome families to join us in person at UFP for service this week, or online if it suits your family better. There is no pressure to come every week or even regularly, you are welcome whenever you make it! In respecting the need to be flexible and responsive to families needs (which we appreciate can change from week to week), we will be offering a choose your own adventure model for all families.
When families arrive, children are welcome to choose from these options, changing between them as they need to throughout the service:
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Join the service in the sanctuary with their parent(s) or guardian(s), bringing a colouring page, craft supplies, or a book to read
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Choose a colouring page, a book to read from our little UFP library, or craft materials from our craft cart and join RE staff in the entryway at a table or in the library room (parents/guardians are welcome here too, as needed)
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Request outdoor playtime with RE staff – we will always have our winter gear ready!
Our Special Collection for December: YWCA Crossroads Shelter Donations can be made through Canada Helps or through UFP with a comment line saying "YWCA Crossroads Shelter"
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IMPORTANT - BUDGET MEETING
Your Attendance is Requested!
Your UFP Board and Finance Committee have called a general meeting to review and approve the 2023 UFP Budget. Please join us for this hybrid in-person/virtual meeting after the service this Sunday December 11, 2022, 11:30am
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please familiarize yourself with the budget, attached.
If you have any questions please contact our Treasurer Joan Higginson here.
Click HERE for a copy of the 2023 Draft Budget.
Any member requiring another member to vote for them via PROXY is asked to send an email by 9am on December 11th to:
bookkeeper@peterboroughunitarian.ca
Please copy the person who will be taking your proxy vote on that same email. This will ensure the person voting for you is aware of their responsibility and so we can accurately count the votes.
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Video of our December 4 service.
Our recent services are here.
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A COMMUNITY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
Zoom links for our Sunday service and all programs can be found HERE.
Keep connections alive by joining our private Facebook group by request. (Email our Administrator, Barb at uu.ptbo@gmail.com). There, you can share joys, sorrows, questions, pictures, and invitations to watch parties, or book discussions, or other activities.
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UPCOMING UFP EVENTS
DECEMBER SERVICE CALENDAR
This year, the calendar throws us a curveball with respect to scheduling. On December 18, the morning service will connect again with the Unitarian Congregation of Kingston and join in their worship online. That afternoon, the second Grounded In Love event, organized by our Director of Religious Exploration, Jessica Smith and the RE Committee will take place from 3-5PM at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre.
The Christmas Eve Service of stories, caroling and candles begins at 7:00pm on December 24, in the sanctuary and online. Christmas Day falls on a Sunday and there will not be a Service here that day. We have been invited to join the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship ONLINE service that day.
More details will follow as we move through the month. The links for the services online will be in The Flame and on our website each week.
CHRISTMAS EVE --- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
December 24th with our Candlelight Service is approaching. Meredith Hill and Jessica Smith are well into plans, but this is a community event with lots of opportunities for YOU to take part. If you’ve enjoyed being a reader in the service or if decorating the sanctuary is of interest, please step up again. Perhaps greeting would be fun or serving hot cider and cookies? This service really requires a team. Please get in touch with one of us and we'll happily welcome you on board meredithhill631@gmail.com or uu.ptbo.dre@gmail.com
JOURNEYS GROUP in DECEMBER - WONDER!
Journeys packet for December should now be in your hands, and is on the UFP Journeys page.
The theme is Wonder. What fills your heart with wonder? We’ll be sharing our stories of Wonder and perhaps finding new ways to look at the world – with wonder. Come ponder what’s in your heart with our community of explorers. As well, Journeyers may be practicing and reflecting on November’s theme of CHANGE until we meet.
Two opportunities:
- Thursday Dec 15 at 7 – 9 pm on Zoom.
- Tuesday Dec 20 at 3:30 – 5:30 pm in person at the Fellowship. (Enter on the west side and follow signs.)
Barbara and Marcia look forward to seeing you soon. For further information and to find out how to join please contact Donna Harris at (705) 743-0795 or donnah.lifewalk@gmail.com
NON-FICTION BOOK CLUB | DECEMBER
Maude Barlow shares her story in Still Hopeful: Lessons from a Lifetime of Activism. 
In this timely book, Barlow counters the prevailing atmosphere of pessimism that surrounds us and offers lessons of hope learned from a lifetime of activism. She knows first hand how hard fighting for change can be and that it can happen with an essential ingredient - hope.
Join us via Zoom on Thursday Dec 8 and 22 at 2pm: https://tinyurl.com/UFPBookClub
GROUNDED IN LOVE: An Illuminating Outdoor Winter Experience for All Ages
Sunday December 18
The UFP’s next Grounded in Love event takes place in the afternoon as the sun is setting, at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. Roaring fires, soup & cider, cedar spiral, lantern walks, & more! Invite your friends & family (especially any young folks in your life) and your neighbours!
Volunteers needed to make soup, bring cider & help support our three fire circles. Email Jessica if you're interested uu.ptbo.dre@gmail.com.
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UFP NEWS
Gift Card Proceeds Benefit our UFP Community!
You are invited to purchase gift cards in the foyer/lobby after the Sunday service. We have a variety of retail, grocery and gas cards available for sale. Cards may also be purchased by contacting Cesca at 705-743-0795 or by email at francescawarriner@gmail.com.
The email for e-transfer payments for gift cards is: payforgiftcards@peterboroughunitarian.ca.
We appreciate your continued support.
"Helping Hands" to Revive Coffee Hour
Coffee hour after service is a time-honoured tradition and centrepiece of community in most churches and that includes us! Our system for making that happen on Sundays needs reviving now that services are back in person. If YOU think that this time of being together is important, might you help to form a team to take it on? There are purchasing, set up, serving and clean-up responsibilities — and past volunteers familiar with all of these tasks. Please contact Barbara at the office to add your name to the list!
Used Books Conundrum
A few years back we had a books and CDs fundraiser at the Blue Horse Café. Remnants were stored in the Program room on the main floor, where they remain today. It’s time for a purge. Who wants to take ownership of the books? The alternative is a donation to the Friends of the Library (Peterborough City Library). Contact Scott Donovan if you have information or want to help with boxing and transport. Thanks!
Refugee Sponsorship Update
It’s the time of year to make sure charitable donations can be included in your 2022 tax return. You are likely hearing from every charity you ever supported and we are no exception! while we are extremely grateful for your generosity so far, funds are still needed for Nada and for the Zaki family of 8, who continue to wait in Tajikistan for clearance. Cheques can be made out to the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, with
“Refugee Sponsorship” on the memo line, and dropped off at the office. We also accept donations through the Canada Helps web portal on the Fellowship website, Faith In Action.
Happy Holidays from our Steering Committee, Arthur, Ben, Donna, Erica, and Linda!
Special Collection
Our special collection for this month is for the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, an organization that provides services and programs for local women and their children escaping gender based violence. Your donation will support the YWCA’s Crossroads Shelter, which provides 24 hour emergency shelter, meals and support for women, with and without children, experiencing abuse of any kind (physical, emotional, sexual, financial, stalking, etc.), 365 days a year.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SOLSTICE FUNDRAISER CONTEST
Unicamp is thrilled to announce their 2022 Solstice Fundraiser! You could win a weekend at any of the cottages in 2023. All you have to do is make a minimum donation of $15. For every additional $15 donation you get another entry! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/065224ec-b537-4431-a199-b916bac688b1
Contest runs to Dec 20 - winner chosen Dec 21st!
SACRED CIRCLE DANCE
Special Solstice Dance: Tues Dec 20, 7-9 pm.
"In Deep Darkness, Dreaming of the Light"
Try an embodied spiritual practice. Connect with yourself, the community and all life. Sacred circle dance encompasses music, dance, meditation, reflection and connection. No dance experience, musical background or partners are needed to participate – just your dancing spirit! We dance on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month 7-9 PM at St. John’s Anglican Church, 99 Brock St. For more information email Paula Greenwood
LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITALS for ADVENT 
CONNECTING CIRCLES
Connecting Circles meet about twice monthly for an hour of sharing and mutual support. If you want to be part of a circle, contact Steph Wildheart.
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OUR WIDER COMMUNITY
More information about all of these is available on our website.
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Seeking volunteers at the New Canadians Centre
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Peterborough Community Carol Sing
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Sacred Circle Dance
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Fundraising for Elder Dorothy Taylor
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Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group
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Monthly Peace Vigil
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Community Art-Making hosted by Creating Space
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