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From the Board of Trustees |
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Hello fellow UUCV’ers!
Here goes, newsletter after the Nov 2024 elections. Our country just finished a free and fair election as we did in 2020 and 2022. We will have a peaceful transition of power. That is about the only positive thing I can say about it.
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Like many of you, I am saddened by the result. This is not a unique situation in our history. We have had populist movements in the past that came close to what happened. In the past, we recovered from those threats. I am not trying to minimize the seriousness of the situation. We are not completely helpless. We can still write to our elected officials. We can still attend protests to make our voices heard. We can still vote when the time comes.
I do believe each of has a responsibility to keep optimism alive. One of the ways to do that is to embrace our common faith. Unitarian Universalism and our UUCV community offer us the opportunity to connect to each other and to develop ideas for countering the populist goals. As the father of a gay man, married to a black man, living in the deep south, I am worried. As an old friend once told me, “You worry, I’ll worry, I’ll get Michele to worry too. Let me know what all that worry accomplishes.” The truth is our work has just begun.
I believe true patriots do not have to wave flags or sing patriotic songs. True patriots educate themselves with a healthy bit of skepticism. They learn the truth about our country and work to change things for the better. We have a whole lot of work to do.
A recent example of what we can do was exemplified by our Transgender Day of Remembrance on the town square in Carlisle. This was an opportunity to stand for a group of people under assault by the Far Right. I believe we will have other opportunities to stand up to prejudice and discrimination very soon. Let’s not hesitate.
Jim Burton,
UUCV Board President
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Focus on Finances
On Sunday December 8 there will be a Town Hall meeting to update the congregation on the status of UUCV’s finances and explain some revisions made to the Budget that was approved in June. The revisions are necessary because of changes to the UUA retirement plan, changes in the Church Administrator’s healthcare, and, in light of the reality about our search for a minister, the need to include an additional six months reimbursement for the services Chris Kapp is providing.
The Finance Committee worked on these changes and submitted them to the Board of Trustees(BOT) for approval or revision at their November 2024 meeting. After discussion about the proposed revisions, the BOT approved the Revised 24/25 Budget without additional changes.
A copy of the Revised 24/25 Budget will be available in advance of the December 8 Town Hall meeting and has been formatted to include actual expenditures for July-October 2024. This is being done in response to feedback offered at the June Congregational Meeting.
Please plan to attend the December 8 Town Hall where a more detailed explanation of the revisions will be offered and you will be given an opportunity to ask questions.
I’m not sure when this edition of the Newsletter will be published, but I hope all of you have (or had) a Happy Thanksgiving, and I wish you all the best for a safe, healthy, and merry Holiday Season.
Wendy Gebb
UUCV Treasurer
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The Worship theme for
December is Presence |
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December 1 – "Light a Candle" Advent. A time of waiting. A season of anticipation. Join us as we explore how UUs can incorporate the ideals behind advent into our own spiritual practices. Jedd Brenneman speaks about growing up Mennonite and the impact the Advent Wreath still has on his life today with worship associate Ben Ramirez.
December 8 – "Tis the Season: Magic and Wonder" Do you believe in magic? Join us as we explore what magic is and can be to rational adults, whether it's oil that lasts 8 days, a virgin birth, or the daily miracle of a rising sun. There is magic all around us this time of year, if we only open our eyes to see it. Melissa Mattson leads the service with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
December 15- "A Song Cycle for the Season" Join Service Leader Alicia Riegel-Kanth & Worship Associate Rev. Chris Kapp for hymns & meditations exploring Anticipation, Preparation, Expectation, & Rejuvenation in the context of the holiday season & impending Solstice. During the service, Rev. Chris will dedicate the UUCV Little Food Pantry newly developed by our children & youth. As always, Carole Knisely will provide beautiful music. Don't miss this chance to celebrate our fabulous UUCV young people, practice holiday mindfulness, & look forward to the new year!"
December 20 - "Winter Solstice" Cultures all over the world have used spirals to represent internal paths and provide opportunities for reflections. In the cold, dark nights of winter, we look forward to the winter solstice as it means the days will begin to get longer again.
Join us as we walk the Solstice Spiral, a magical and meaningful winter solstice ritual that offers us a unique opportunity for self-reflection about the past year and a space for intention setting as we move through the season of the cold, dark winter.
We will meet at 6:00 PM in the Dining Room for this Service.
December 22 - "A UU Christmas Carol" Whether you think of Ebenezer Scrooge or Ralphie shooting his eye out, A Christmas Carol tells a story of presence, which can be the greatest Christmas present of all. Rev. Chris Kapp leads the service with worship associate Melissa Mattson.
December 29 - "The Gathering of Spirits" Another year is winding down. As singer Carrie Newcomer says, 'Life's a twinkling and that's for certain. Rev. Chris Kapp leads the service with worship associate Susan Rimby.
Join us for in-person worship in our Sanctuary every Sunday at 10:30 am or on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 550 751 6685
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December 24 - 6:00PM "Christmas Eve Candlelight Service" Christian, UU, or somewhere in between, there's something special about December 24th. Join us to discover the wonder of Christmas Eve. Rev. Chris Kapp and Lynn Sodora lead the service.
Join us for in-person worship in our Sanctuary at 6:00 pm or on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 550 751 6685 |
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The UUCV Book Group meets at 6:30 pm on the 4th Sunday of each month for a lively, thoughtful discussion on our worship ZOOM channel https://zoom.us/my/uucvpa
January 26 – Solito by Javier Zamara (Darlene Smith leads discussion)
A memoir of a nine year old boy making the long arduous journey alone from El Salvador to the United States. A memoir as gripping as it is moving, Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home. Everyone who has any anti-immigrant sentiments need to read this, and it is gripping. 2022, 416 pp.
For more information, or questions, contact
Darlene Smith
darlenesmith@embarqmail.com
For a full list of the 2025 Book Selections see the complete article under "UUCV Announcements" in this newsletter.
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The UUCV Office will be closed and staff will be off for Thanksgiving Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 as well as the Christmas Holiday from Wednesday, December 25, returning on Thursday, January 2. They will be checking emails daily and will reply as soon as possible.
If you have an urgent pastoral issue during this time, please call 717/249-8944 and select option "9" You will be instructed to leave your name and phone number and Rev. Chris will get back to you as soon as possible.
Regular Sunday service will be held on December 29 at 10:30am in the Sanctuary or on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 550 751 6685
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Mark your calendars:
- Sunday, December 1 Friendsgiving 3:00PM in the Dining Room
- Friday, Decmeber 6 UUCV Game Night for all 7:00PM in the Dining Room
- Sunday, December 8 Town Hall
- Sunday, December 8 Choir Rehearsal following the town hall
- Sunday, December 9 and 10 Downstiars Cleaning and Waxing of Floors.....no entry downstairs permitted. Staff will be working from home.
- Sunday, December 15 Choir Rehearsal following worship
- Sunday, December 15 Holiday Cabaret by Empowered Music Students and Instructors at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary
- Wednesday, December 18 UUCV Hosting Red Cross Blood Drive 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Social Hall
- Sunday, December 20 Winter Solstice 6:00 pm in the Dining Room
- Sunday, December 22 Choir Rehearsal 9:45am
- Tuesday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary
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Grocery Cards…Easiest Fundraiser Ever!!
Did you know?
- Buying Giant or Karns or Weis grocery cards from UUCV is the easiest fundraiser ever!
- Buying a $100 grocery card is a win-win:
- You get $100 worth of groceries, wine, beer, gas, prescriptions.
- UUCV gets $10 for each Giant card you purchase or $5 for each Karns or Weis card purchased.
- There are multiple ways to buy grocery cards from UUCV:
- By check or cash on Sundays – before or after service.
- By setting up an ACH payment through Pam or through your own bank.
- By credit card or paypal* over the phone. *UUCV pays a service charge for these purchases.
- Buying grocery cards to give as gifts is an awesome idea!!
Reach out to the members of UUCV’s grocery card team if you have any questions OR if you’d like to join our team. Thanks from the team: Margie Akin, Lynn Michels, Rebecca Fratantuono, Dee Lauderbaugh, Cindy Good
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December Social Justice Opportunities |
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Programs under the umbrella of the Social Justice Committee include the monthly CARES dinner, Change for the World (CFTW), the Mozambique Bursary project and the UUCV Antiracism Initiative. Another component this year has been assisting an Afghan family as they transition to America from war-torn Afghanistan. Other events we regularly participate in include Project Share’s Farm Stand, the annual Pride Festival in Harrisburg, National Public Lands Day, and United Way’s One Day of Caring. We anchor our efforts around UUCV’s mission to transform lives and care for the world. Thank you to all who serve on the committee and for outside support we receive from many others in the congregation.
The next Social Justice meeting is at 6:30 on Wednesday, December 18 in the Board Room and on ZOOM All are welcome to join our meetings. |
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Change for the World for October, November and December
Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region
About Family Promise:
Family Promise is a nonprofit organization serving homeless families to provide resources that enable families to move from homelessness to home. These resources include compassionate care, hospitality, professional support, lodging, meals, donated goods, and – most importantly – volunteers.
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Family Promise’s shelter program relies on a partnership of interfaith congregations, civic organizations, and other volunteer groups to help families facing homelessness. Host sites provide lodging, meals, and hospitality to families in need. For families in the program, each day begins with breakfast available at the host site with volunteers, followed by a van ride to their Day Center. In the evening, guests return to the host site, where volunteers provide dinner and spend some quality time. The evening hours are for homework, relaxing, and family fun time, as they would be with any family. Each day begins with the family together, and ends with the family all together, under one roof.
Their programs also include Prevention from Homelessness and a Road to Success. For more details visit their website at www.familypromisehcr.org.
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CARES Holiday Meal
On SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, we will deliver a special HOLIDAY DINNER to the CARES Resource Center on W Penn St in Carlisle.
Two large hams will be purchased from Costco with any cash or checks which have been donated.
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Donations of side dishes, fresh fruit, beverages & holiday cookies will be needed to complete this dinner menu. Bought or homemade holiday cookies will be the dessert. This meal will need to feed at least 40-50 people.
Your donated items can be brought to the church kitchen & labeled for CARES, or to the church parking lot between 3:00-3:30 on Sunday, December 15.
Thank you for helping to keep our local mission to feed the homeless folks in our area!!!
ITEMS STILL NEEDED for DECEMBER 15th CARES HOLIDAY DINNER
2 Large Hams - Cash or Check donations needed to purchase from Costco.
SIDE DISHES - Potato, Pasta, Vegetable Casseroles At least 5 or 6 Large ones needed
Suggestions : potato & sweet potato casseroles, green bean/ broccoli casseroles, spinach dishes, baked corn, Mixed Roasted Veggies, Baked Squash
BUTTER - 2 lbs.
HOLIDAY COOKIES - At least 9 or 10 Dozen needed |
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COOKIE PACK TO BENEFIT THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PRISON
We need your help to gift one dozen cookies to every individual housed at the Cumberland County Prison during this holiday season. Homemade preferred but store bought accepted. Goal is 425 dozen. You need not register to donate.
To volunteer to pack cookies on 12/16/24, go to: https://www.justserve.org/projects/4f371896-c55f-4a8b-a44b-c2345be8c5e6
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Project SHARE
5 N. Orange St.
Carlisle, PA 17013
(Packing will be done in the distribution area)
Cookies can be dropped off at Project SHARE December 12, 8:00am – 4:00pm; December 13, 8:00 am – 4pm
December 16, 8:00 am – 4 pm or bring them to the packing at 6:30 pm.
Project SHARE will be closed December 15.
Questions, call
717-574-0521 |
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Racial Justice Opportunities - Come, Join the Conversation, and Bring a Friend!
Moving Circles meets at the Carlisle YWCA on Monday, December 16th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Carlisle Bridge Builders meets in the lower level of Bibleway Church of God in Christ (corner of Walnut St. and South West St. across from the YMCA) on December 14th from 10:00 am to noon. |
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UUJusticePA is working for real change for real people.
UUJusticePA is working for real change for real people. Our members help sustain the fight for justice for all in Pennsylvania. Our annual membership drive is from mid-December through January 31st. |
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Donations pay UUJusticePa's three staff members and underwrite website costs, mailing costs, and travel expenses across the state. We hope you’ll consider joining or making a donation today. Donate on line at www.uujusticepa.org. We also invite you to sign up for our FREE email list, which will provide you with Action Alerts, social justice news, and other vital information — at NO cost. Now more than ever, it's important to be in the know about legislation in our state. We need to be vigilant and keep making our voices heard. However you choose to help, we thank you.
Donations to UUJusticePA, our 501c3 go toward our general operating budget and are tax-deductible.
Donations received through UUJusticePA Education Fund, our 501c4 organization,are used for our direct lobbying activites and are not tax deductible. No goods or services are provided by this organization in exchange for your donation. |
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Please Consider when Donating to Food Pantries!
Now is the time of year when many folks make generous donations to local charities.
Most people buy what they think food pantry users want, but have never asked them. If you help families, single people, foster youth and the homeless, this list can help better tailor your donations! |
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Some tips and guidance if you donate to food pantries derived from feedback by those who use them:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix, and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dish Soap / Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury, and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
Also, please consider donating dog and cat food. Some people have hit a temporary low point and don’t want to give up their pets but find they have to choose to feed themselves or their pets. |
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Learn how easy it is to use RaiseRight to build UUCV's Fund for a Commercial Dishwasher.
UUCV is partnering with RaiseRight for Gift card fundraising, the #1 fundraiser for nonprofit organizations across the U.S. for more than 25 years. Earn simply by buying gift cards to use for everyday purchases, instead of cash or credit cards.
With RaiseRight, nonprofits and other community-based organizations earn money simply by shopping for their favorite brands—turning daily or weekly purchases into the opportunities that matter for their favorite organizations.
How to Get Started:
Visit http://uucv.info/raiseright to Sign Up from your computer or access the QR Code Below.
Set up your banking or credit card preference.
You can then shop anytime by visiting https://www.raiseright.com/brands and see the daily bonuses and specials which will earn more money for UUCV. Check the % for each card to see what your donation will be to UUCV….with a very minimal fee to you.
How to Pay:
When you are done selecting your cards, check out at your shopping cart. You can pay by your own Credit Card (getting points on your card) or LINK to your bank account
How you Receive your Cards:
- You can choose ecards (which will show up in your wallet on your APP or in your wallet on the main website http://www.raiseright/shop
- You can print a copy of your purchase to act as a gift card when you shop
- DO NOT select your card to be sent to the Coordinator….any cards sent to the coordinator will be cancelled and your sale will be VOID
Contact Pam pam@uucv.net if you need help in getting set up or if you have questions about this program.
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The UUCV Auction is right around the corner!!!
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Many events are still open. You can sign up in the Social Hall at the Auction Table or contact Pam in the office to sign you up..... no bidding number is needed. Just issue a check to UUCV with Auction marked in the Memo line for any open events you would like to attend.
December 12 7:00 PM Christmas Sing-a-Long $20 (Susan Vernon & Carole Knisely)
January 24 6 - 8:30 PM Date Night Drop Off $25 ($10 each additional child) (Lynn Sodora and Pam Martin)
January 31 6:30 PM Before, During & After for Poetry Lovers $30 (Wendy Gebb and Cheryl Parsons)
February 8 2:00 PM Cupcake Decorating Party $10 (Emily Cappucci)
February 21 Time TBD Learn to Make Dumplings $30 (Rev. Chris Kapp)
February 22 6:00 PM Winter Party Game Night $30 (Susan and Mark Green)
March 21 6 - 8:00 PM Hot Pot Extravaganza $35 (Rev. Chris Kapp)
March 15 7:00 PM Choose Your Game Table $30 (Carole and Tom DeWall)
April 17 10:00 AM Vernal Pool Tour at Kings Gap State Park $10 (Dee Lauderbaugh and Rebecca Fratantuono)
May 3 5:00 PM Kentucky Derby Party $20 (Cheryl Parsons and Susan Vernon)
May 17 Time TBD Campfire and Singalong $35 (Joe and Midge Osborne)
May 24 4:00 PM Croquet & Billiards Picnic $30 (Carole and Tom DeWall)
And....work out time and date details with the event holder for these open items:
Pianist for your special celebration $75 (Carole Knisely
Routine Eye Exam $75 (Dr. Matt Burr)
Pet Sitting for three days $80 (Dee Lauderbaugh)
Introductory Class on Cybersecurity $5 (Michael Cappucci)
How to Make your Own Retro Gaming System $10 (Michael Cappucci)
Get to Know your Human Design $15 (Tara Sollman)
Custom Sewing - Historical Items $75 (Lisa Balog) |
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Greetings all!
Welcome December and the holiday season! In addition to our Sunday RE programming we have several special events this month: Our annual Mitten Tree collection which begins 12/1, a Friendsgiving Potluck on 12/1, an evening Winter Solstice service on 12/21, our Group RE Winter Holidays Party during service on 12/22 and an all-ages Christmas Eve service on 12/24 at 6:00 pm.
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Please note that there are is no RE programming or Nursery during the Christmas Eve service or the Sunday 12/29 service. Of course, all are welcome in the Sanctuary during these services and there will be new items on the activity rack in the annex. The RE volunteers are taking a much-needed break! RE will resume on Sunday, January 5, 2025. |
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To Learn more about our RE program offerings for this year, click here
LINK TO REGISTRATION FORM: https://forms.gle/gqa3x3ZPC9buDEbo6
Below is our Faith Development Sunday schedule for our children and youth for December:
December 1: Regular RE Classes
December 8: Regular RE Classes
December 15: Regular RE Classes
December 22: Group RE Winter Holidays Party, during service
December 24: All-Ages Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary, 6:00 pm (No RE or Nursery)December 29: There is NO RE today. The Nursery will also be closed today. All children in attendance are welcome in the Sanctuary for the service.
COMING OF AGE class is meeting on Zoom on Sunday, November 10 from 6:30-8:00 PM and will have their second extended in-person workshop/overnight beginning Saturday, November 23, at 2:00 PM.
NURSERY CARE is available every Sunday from 10:15 - 11:45 am for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Our Sunday Morning Worship Services being at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary. On "Regular RE" days, the children and youth go downstairs to their RE classrooms after the Time for All Ages. Classes end at 11:45 am.
**Please sign out your young children (up to 5th grade) from their classrooms by 11:45.** This gives parents the opportunity to socialize before pickup, while respecting the Volunteer Teachers' time as well.
Thank you to all our November volunteers! Ryanne Mack, Emily Cappucci, Julie Cullings, Brent Dickerson, Gary Hendrickson, Melissa Mattson, Primajoy Ramalingam, Michael Cappucci, Tara Sollman, Ben Ramirez, Staci Kendall, Susan Green, Susan Rimby, Rebecca Fratantuono, Kim Stone, and Gail Black. Thank you so much for your time and energy! Members of the Congregation are encouraged to volunteer with the Children's RE Program! Please email Lynn Sodora DLFD at re@uucv.net to check in about submitting clearances
May we continue to learn and grow together!
In faith and service, Lynn
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Adult Religious Education |
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Adult RE Group -
Class Schedule – Fall 2024
These classes will be held on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 am in the Board Room or join via Zoom at https://zoom.us/my/meetingsuucv (572 887 2212).
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December 1: The Great Filter Theory
Discussion leader: Matt Burr
December 15: What does activism look like in your life?
Maybe you’re a seasoned activist, or maybe an aspiring one, or maybe activism has never really been your thing. We'll have an open discussion of what activism looks like in our lives and consider the different forms activism can take.
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Adult Religious Education Group - Planning Session -
January 5, 2025 - 9 AM
Are you interested in personal and spiritual development? Do you consider yourself a life-long learner? Would you like to deepen your connections with fellow congregants and friends of UUCV? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then the Adult Religious Education (RE) group might be just what you’re looking for.
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Join us on Sunday January 5th at 9 AM in the boardroom for a planning session where we will propose and decide upon the topics for our next series of Adult RE classes to be held February through May. The planning session will last approximately one hour. If you can’t make the meeting in-person, you can join via Zoom using this link: https://zoom.us/my/meetingsuucv.
The Adult RE group is open to exploring a wide range of topics from life's big questions to the smaller ones too. Rooted in Unitarian Universalism’s six sources and guided by the principle of a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, the Adult RE group gives participants a setting where they can live-out UUCV’s motto of “Seeking Truth Together”. Questions? Reach out at any time to Keith Bittinger at kbittinger@comcast.net.
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Minister Search Committee |
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Update from your Minister Search Committee
Things remain quiet on the Minister Search front. We haven’t received any new applications. This is very typical for this time of year — even more so due to the current minister shortage the UU church is facing. |
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If you know of someone who would make a great guest minister for UUCV, please send their info to the committee by emailing co-chair Tara Sollman at tarasollman@gmail.com. You can also provide anonymous feedback or input anytime by visiting: tinyurl.com/uucvminister |
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December Choir
The Choir will seing "In December" a lovely choral piece for the holidays. on Sunday December 22nd.
Rehearsals will be right after church on the following Sundays.
November 24. will hand out the music for those who are at service and have a rehearsal
Skip December 1st as this is the Thanksgiving celebration
December 8th
December 15
December 22 before serivce at. 9:45
I will send this out to the choir members tonight and hope they receive it.
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News from the Mozambique Bursary |
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My mother said she didn’t want anything for Christmas…
so we made a contribution to the UUCV Mozambique Bursary Project in her name. My mother is interested in our work, enjoyed my photos from Mozambique, and brags to her neighbors about my involvement in the Project. So making a donation in her name seemed the perfect gift for someone who didn’t want a gift. The donation we made can pay for:
· One girl’s room and board at the Namarroi Boarding Center for one year
· Feminine hygiene supplies, soap, a towel, and toothpaste for one girl for one month
· Breakfast for four girls at the Molumbo Boarding Center for one year
Perhaps you have a family member or friend who would enjoy being part of this life-changing social justice project. As you can see by the photo of our Project Manager, Sonia Assane Saule, and our student, Nateceria, the girls appreciate our help.
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Susan Rimby for the UUCV Mozambique Bursary Committee. Other Committee members are Martha Bergsten, Dianne Dusman, Deb Genet, and Brian McPherson. |
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Town Hall - December 8
There will be a short town hall on Sunday, December 8 following worship. The Finance Committee will share mid-year financial information as well as a few budget revisions. |
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UUCV Friendsgiving Pot Luck |
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Join us on December 1st at 3:00 in the Dining Room for a UUCV Friendsgiving Pot Luck.There will be a sign-up sheet in the Social Hall or you can contact Emily 717/422-6710 or mvercappucci@gmail.com or email Pam in the office pam@uucv.netpam@uucv.net to list your food item you will be sharing and the number of guests who will be attending with you. |
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Text block at your service. Replace this text with yours. |
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Poinsettia Orders Due - December 1 |
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HONOR, THANKFUL FOR, IN APPRECIATION FOR, IN MEMORY OF
We are taking orders for poinsettias to once again fill our sanctuary with beauty and to recognize our loved ones.
Complete the order form in Sundays OOS or off the "Information" table in the social Hall or c ontact Pam in the office pam@uucv.net or 717/249-8944 to complete a form for you. You can then send in a check marked “poinsettia” in the memo line…$15.00 per flower.
Orders need to be received by Sunday, December 1.
Please take your poinsettia with you after service on Sunday, December 22 or on Christmas Eve. |
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Friday Game Nights for All - Friday, December 6 |
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UUCV Mitten Tree
Beginning Sunday, December 1, we will be collecting new and handmade hats, mittens, gloves, socks, scarves, etc. on our Mitten Tree in the Sanctuary. Please place your items gently on the tree.
The last day to put items on the tree is Sunday, December 22.
The children will remove all the items from the tree and Lynn Sodora, Director of Lifespan Faith Development will deliver them to Carlisle CARES.
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Special Winter Solstice Service December 20
Cultures all over the world have used spirals to represent internal paths and provide opportunities for reflections. In the cold, dark nights of winter, we look forward to the winter solstice as it means the days will begin to get longer again.
Join us as we walk the Solstice Spiral, a magical and meaningful winter solstice ritual that offers us a unique opportunity for self-reflection about the past year and a space for intention setting as we move through the season of the cold, dark winter.
We will meet at 6:00 PM in the Dining Room. |
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UUCV Book Group
Selections for January - October 2025
The UUCV Book Group meets at 6:30 pm on the 4th Sunday of each month for a lively, thoughtful discussion on our worship ZOOM channel https://zoom.us/my/uucvpa |
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January 26 – Solito by Javier Zamara (Darlene Smith leads discussion)
A memoir of a nine year old boy making the long arduous journey alone from El Salvador to the United States. A memoir as gripping as it is moving, Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home. Everyone who has any anti-immigrant sentiments need to read this, and it is gripping. 2022, 416 pp.
February 23 - The Vaster Wilds: A Novel by Lauren Groff (Bev Ayers-Nachamkin leads)
A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her. Lauren Groff’s new novel is at once a thrilling adventure story and a penetrating fable about trying to find a new way of living in a world succumbing to the churn of colonialism. The Vaster Wilds is a work of raw and prophetic power that tells the story of America in miniature, through one girl at a hinge point in history, to ask how—and if—we can adapt quickly enough to save ourselves. 2023, 272pp.
March 23 - Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski (Susan Rimby leads)
Nathan, Callie, and Andy are residents of down-and-out Locksburg, PA, a former coal and steel town that has seen better days. Each thinks they've gotten a raw deal in life, So, when each is faced with a morally ambiguous situation, they make questionable choices. The bulk of the plot deals with how they each navigate those choices.
Jaworoski is a graduate of Shippensburg University and models Locksburg after Shippensburg Borough. If you're familiar with Shippensburg, you'll recognize some of the settings. If you are familiar with the campus, you'll recognize the names of some of the secondary characters. 2023, 261 pp.
April 27 - Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan, by Sima Samar (John Katz leads) March 23 - Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski (Susan Rimby leads)
The impassioned memoir of Afghanistan's Sima Samar: medical doctor, public official, founder of schools and hospitals, thorn in the side of the Taliban, nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, and lifelong advocate for girls and women. Sima Samar's wide-ranging experiences both in her home country and on the world stage have given her inside access to the dishonesty, the collusion, the corruption, the self-serving leaders, and the hijacking of religion. And as a former Vice President, she knows all the players in this chess game called Afghanistan. With stories that are at times poignant, at times terrifying, inspiring as well as disheartening, Sima provides an unparalleled view of Afghanistan’s past and its present. 2024, 324 pp.
May 18 - The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (Bev Motich leads)
Set in Chicken Hill, a small town near Pottstown Pennsylvania, where Black, Jewish, and European immigrants, rich and poor, old and young, collide—defending, fighting, entertaining, feeding, and sheltering one another. This cacophonous melody of characters with all of their schemes and dreams reveal how home is where you make it—and how all of these “outsiders” are anything but. 2023, 400 pp.
June 22 - The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi, by Wright Thompson (Susan Rimby leads)
Wright Thompson was born and raised within miles of the Emmett Till murder, but only learned about that horrific event a few years ago. After thorough research and interviews with first-person witnesses, Thompson gives us the context of the 1950s Mississippi Delta, the events surrounding Till's murder, and the impact the murder had, particularly on Till's surviving family and friends. Throughout this process, Thompson supports the people and institutions seeking justice for and preserving the memory of Till. 2024, 448 pp.
July 27 - The Black House by Peter May (Bev Ayers-Nachamkin leads)
Two bodies are found hanging from trees: one in Edinburgh, the other on the Isle of Lewis, the most northerly isle in the Outer Hebrides. Edinburgh cop Fin Macleod, originally from Lewis, is assigned to the case for no more reason than that he speaks Gaelic. Two narratives vie with each other. One involves Macleod’s struggles with confronting people whom he left behind years ago. The other, which eventually informs the first, is Macleod’s first-person memories of his life growing up on the island. The two narratives are brilliantly executed until they converge in an absolute stunner of an ending. For once in crime fiction, a detective confronting demons from his past is not merely a stock plot device. May gives it an urgency that, by novel’s end, makes perfect
sense. A gripping plot, pitch-perfect characterization, and an appropriately bleak setting drive this outstanding series debut. (Connie Fletcher, Booklist) 2012, 368pp.
August 24 - Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis (Brian McPherson leads)
The rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. This rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side, had his world come crashing down and is now serving 25 yrs in prison for defrauding investors. 2023, 288 pp.
September 28 - The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (Bev Motich leads)
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. 2025, 312 pp.
October 26 - The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology by Nita A. Farahany (Keith Bittinger leads)
Summary: A new dawn of brain tracking and hacking is coming. Will you be prepared for what comes next? Imagine a world where your brain can be interrogated to learn your political beliefs, your thoughts can be used as evidence of a crime, and your own feelings can be held against you. A world where people who suffer from epilepsy receive alerts moments before a seizure, and the average person can peer into their own mind to eliminate painful memories or cure addictions. Paperback: 304 pages, Audio Book: 8 hrs 27 mins
November 23 – 2026 reading selections
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UUCV Downstairs CLOSED December 9 and December 10 for Floor Cleaning and Waxing
On Monday, December 9 the Downstairs will be closed for floor cleaning and waxing. The Downstairs will remain closed on Tuesday, December 10 for drying.
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Staff will be working remotely on these days. The Upstairs floors will be scheduled for 2025 and dates will be shared when scheduled. Thanks for your cooperation. |
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UUCV will be hosting this blood drive in our Social Hall. If you are able to help close up the church and put the Social Hall back together, please contact Pam pam@uucv.net |
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