REACH. December Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northfield. Theme: Hope

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1 REACH The Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northfield Services are held at the Fellowship Hall, corner of West 2nd & Linden Streets in Northfield. Childcare and children s religious education are provided. Minister Kristin Maier minister@uunorthfield.org Director - Children/Youth Programs James Coulter jcoulter@uunorthfield.org President Beth Goodell, goodellb@gmail.com Vice-President John Owens, (cell) john.owens552@gmail.com Treasurer Tory Borovsky, Secretary Karen Ratzlaff, Board Member-At-Large Kevin Chapman, arkazae@gmail.com Sunday Services Naomi Estes-Tullo NaomiET@Sleepyeyetel.net Music Bev Topp bevorleetopp@frontiernet.net Membership Brynda McCoy, bryndamccoy@yahoo.com Facilities Open Community Outreach Suzannah Ciernia syciernia@gmail.com Ministerial Liaison Lee Topp bevorleetopp@frontiernet.net Reach Editor Emma Onawa emmaonawa@unetus.com A Welcoming Congregation December 2017 Theme: Hope Sunday, December 3 rd 10:00 am Approaching the Gates of Hope Rev. Kristin Maier Are we gate keepers or gate openers for hope? How can we invite each other into a hope that opens possibilities for us all? Sunday, December 10 th 10:00 am "In Darkness and in Hope" Rev. Kristin Maier Have we any right to hope in the midst of despair? How about to dance or celebrate? Rather than foolishness, might these be small but powerful seeds of love and justice, already growing in the dark? We also will welcome new members who are joining UUFN! Sunday, December 17 th 10:00 am Winter Solstice Celebration Nita Wolf with Paul and Barbara Krause Nita Wolf, with Barbara and Paul Krause, will lead a celebration of the the Winter Solstice and return of the light. The service will feature music, readings, and a special appearance by our very own UUFN youth! Sunday, December 24 th 4:00 pm A Hope Filled Night: A Candlelit Christmas Eve Service Rev. Kristin Maier As the sky darkens, join us for a Christmas Eve service with a distinctly Unitarian Universalist flavor. We will enjoy a blend of traditional and contemporary readings, stories, and carols as we celebrate the birth of one baby whose teachings of love would touch the world, and the hope that every child brings to the world. If you are able, please bring a plate of cookies or snacks to share after the service. Sunday, December 31 st 10:00 am Burning Bowl Ceremony John Owens It's the eve of turning to a new future and a new calendar. What things do you want to complete and release in your life? What do you want to honor in your life now? What do you wish to welcome for the new year? We will take a moment out of our busy and engaged lives to take a meta-view of our lives, values and connections. Our burning bowl ceremony will spice up reflective pauses with fun, magic and surprising possibility. UUFN P.O. Box 363 Northfield MN info@uunorthfield.org

2 MINISTER S COLUMN The Spiritual Work of Hope by Rev. Kristin Maier There are times when I catch myself being unnecessarily pessimistic, leaping into the future in a way that isn t particularly helpful, allowing some small worry to balloon beyond its rightful size. Then, a small voice inside reminds me to have hope! and I am more able to ground myself, see more of the whole picture, regain balance, and make peace with the moment I am in. Invitation to Join UUFN This nurturing, hopeful community exists because each member has made the commitment to belong. We would love to welcome you into our community also. Joining is simple, it requires signing the book and making a contribution of record of any size or form. The benefits of belonging are endless. Contact Rev. Kristin Maier to learn more. That works for the little things. At other times, when the weight of the worry is greater, when more is at stake, and true dangers loom, the cheery voice of have hope! falls flat. If a well-meaning friend offers those words, it sounds tinny and the worry feels only heavier. With our deepest, most heartfelt worries, a gossamer like hope easily plucked from the air is too filmy to support what weighs in the balance. In hard times we need a more solid hope, one that requires spiritual work. When we find ourselves feeling hopelessness, it is because the expectations our earlier hopes rested upon have been pulled out from under us. We struggle to accept that the old hopes cannot be, at least not in the same form. The spiritual work of acceptance requires opening ourselves to the loss seeing and appreciating its fullness, acknowledging its impact on our lives and hearts, understanding it as part of our life s story. Yet when we mourn the dreams that cannot be, we make room for the dreams that still might be, dreams quietly waiting to be acknowledged. Sometimes our hopes are small, sometimes they are as big as the planet. Whatever their size, if they are genuine they live within us and to deny our true hopes is to deny a part of ourselves. Hope may or may not be in the air around us, but it is always inside of us, no matter how deeply down it is buried. No matter how vulnerable and fragile those hopes might feel at times. Reaching down for that kind of hope takes courage, but it also offers an unshakable strength. Hope that is easily come by can also be easily uprooted. But the kind of hope one must dig deep for, the kind that is rooted in both reality and our deepest desires, that kind of hope is the kind we can cling to and it will hold. Board Bits This column is an ongoing feature regarding general business and actions taken by the UUFN Policy Board. Official minutes are filed by the secretary and are available upon inquiry. Weeks of discussion, followed by canvassing, then synthesizing suggestions regarding tasks that could be done by a part-time administrative assistant, led to a formal authorization at the November 19th board meeting to hire. The Board also voted to approve Board Memberat-Large Kevin Chapman and Congregational Member Katrina DeYoung-Harper as members of the Safe Congregation Committee. They serve with Rev. Kristin Maier, Board President Beth Goodell, and Director of Children and Youth Programs, James Coulter. Karen Ratzlaff, Secretary

3 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Children and Youth Programming by James Coulter Sunday, December 3 RD K-4/5: Fifth Principle Youth group: Reflections and "Holidays" Sunday, December 10 th Winter Solstice Craft Day Sunday, December 17 th Multi-generational Service Sunday, December 24 th Multi-generational Service Sunday, December 31 st NO CYP From the Children & Youth Programming Director Wind-Chill Epiphany Haiku Winter s night: beauti Who the heck am I kidding? Time to go inside. -By You Know Who Sunday Adult Services: A Look Ahead SUNDAY SERVICES/ACTIVITIES FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2018 (Watch for updates - topics/speakers change) Sunday, January 5 th Rev. Kristin Maier Sunday, January 12 th MLK Service Sunday, January 19 th Rev. Kristin Maier Sunday, January 26 th Credo Service Greetings! The days continue to shorten and I hope all of you are keeping warm! I m looking forward to our annual Winter Solstice Craft Day on the 10th, when we ll throw out the old scarecrow and create new things as a reminder that the light will return. Plans for the multigenerational winter solstice service are still forming, but I promise it will be an illuminating experience! The CYP program is exploring volunteer opportunities for our youth with Three Links Care Center in Northfield. Stay tuned as this continues to unfold! James Coulter, Director CY Programs Sunday, February 4th Rev. Kristin Maier Sunday, February 11th Love Service with the Coulter Family Sunday, February 18th Rev. Kristin Maier Sunday, February 25th Standing On the Side of Love Service

4 LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION UUFN Social Group Please contact Marcia if you're interested in participating in the social group or have suggestions for places to go. Watch for updates! This month s dates are: Saturday, December 9 th, 8:00 am The Tavern Tuesday, December 19 th, Noon St. Olaf Buffet Coffee Hour Java and treats are an essential part of after service coffee hour. A heartfelt thank you to all who provide delicious refreshments to the congregation every Sunday! COFFEE HOUR HOSTS FOR DECEMBER: 12/3 Robert Olson 12/10 Azna Amira 12/17 Sharon & Matt Thieding 12/24 Cookies provided by all 12/31 Jeanne Agee Questions? Call Marcia Chalice Lighters Light the Way! Many voices together make our Sunday services into a space where people can reflect, feel nurtured, be challenged, and know they are part of a vibrant and loving community. Are you willing to add your voice (and match lighting skills)? If you are willing to lead the congregation in the words to light the chalice, please sign up for an open Sunday here 6xtF2iQsG9EHmF28WxdlHJmLS5UNfZdv2R- D_Wtg/edit?usp=sharing. Or, Kristin with your availability Thank you! CHALICE LIGHTERS FOR DECEMBER: 12/3 Brynda McCoy 12/10 John Owens 12/17 Larry Vorwerk 12/24 Kaija Maier 12/31 Brynda McCoy Help UUFN Grow by Welcoming Newcomers UUFN is growing!! Greeters are a critical part of that growth and to keep the "fire of commitment" going. We are all grateful to those who greet every Sunday. There is no such thing as "too many" greeters. Ideally, there are two people each Sunday so one can take visitors with children to the nursery or RE. If you want to serve this critical function and need a partner, find a friend to help or let me help. To choose the best Sunday for you, please contact me ASAP or look for the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. Please let me know if you would like to join the team contact Brynda at: bryndamccoy@yahoo.com or GREETERS FOR DECEMBER: 12/3 Janet & Bill McGrath 12/10 Anna Hamilton & Jeanne Agee 12/17 Larry Vorwerk & Lois Burnes 12/24 Mae & Pat Clayton Brown 12/31 Janet Scannell & Beth Goodell

5 Fall Equinox Crafts and Halloween Mask Making!