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UNIverse Weekly
November 30-December 6, 2018
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America’s First Christmas Tree
The Order of Service for Sunday, December 2
Read here
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First Sunday, December 2, America’s First Christmas Tree
Rev. Jonathan Rogers
Did you know the first Christmas tree in North America was in the home of Charles Follen, a Unitarian minister and radical abolitionist? Hear more about this Harvard professor who was an immigrant from Germany and why the introduction of the Christmas tree ritual was both more festive and more necessary than we imagine.
Sunday, December 9, The Light in the Tattoo Shop
Rev. Joan A. Davis
This is a sermon about the heritage of the Enlightenment and how the principles of that 16 -17 Century movement still undergird our liberal religious movement today. It’s also the story of a humble preacher and a powerful symbol and the values which each embodied that have much to teach us about the way forward during such divisive times; a way which can bring hope and healing.
Sunday, December 16, Holiday Pageant-The Last Straw
RE Program
A holiday pageant, The Last Straw, will be presented by the Religious Education program.
Sunday, December 23, The Season of Humility and Awe
Rev. Jonathan Rogers
“Jesus embodies the best of what humanity can be: compassionate, humble, brave, and mortal. Jesus asks us to make the most of our life, to create joy where there is pain, to care for the poor and question the powerful, and —perhaps most importantly — to question the purpose of our own lives. What will we leave in our wake? In whom will we be reborn? What light can we bring in the darkness?”- Alex Klingenberg
Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve Service
Rev. Jonathan Rogers and Rev. Joan A. Davis
For everything there is a season—a time to die and a time to be born. With the arrival of winter’s low dark sky, communities around the world look to the miracle of light as a sign of rebirth and a source of hope. We celebrate the promise of new life and recommit ourselves to the protection of everyone’s right to his or her own radiant humanity.
Sunday, December 30, Labyrinth Walk 10 am-12 pm. No worship service.
Says Jeff Bridges: “With a labyrinth, you make a choice to go in – and once you’ve chosen, around and around you go. But you always find your way to the center.” Join us in preparing to welcome the new year by walking the labyrinth in NWUUC’s sanctuary. Hand labyrinths will also be available. Families are invited to walk the labyrinth together, there will be no RE or nursery care.
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Care Corps
If you are going through difficult times and would like emotional support or are in any situation where support and caring are needed, contact:
Rev. Jonathan Rogers, Minister, 770-955-1408
Rev. Joan Armstrong Davis, Community Minister, 404-275-0236
Maria Drinkard, 678-644-6480
Karen Edmonds, 770-851-1354
Linton Hopkins, 678-938-8858
Valerie Johnson, 404-281-4255
Lil Woolf, 404-276-6189
Care Corps Announcements
We send our loving thoughts and prayers to Lissa Newman and her family, after her husband, Jim Newman, passed away on Monday night. He died peacefully, with his family at his side. He had had a very recent diagnosis of cancer. Memorial service information will be forthcoming.
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Hungry Ear Coffee House
Saturday, December 1, 7-10 pm
Sanctuary
Join us in celebration of the Winter Holidays with our Holiday Extravaganza at the Hungry Ear Coffee House. This year we’ll be dancing and singing along with the Downing Street Holiday Band, featuring Rhonda and Troy Lashbrooks on vocals and guitar, the amazing, Dustin Cottrell on keys, and the talented Billy Gewin on bass, along with special musical guests. Guaranteed to be the best show in town!
Video – https://youtu.be/km8j8n_JB7o
Second Hour–December 2, 11:30 am
Our Fifth Source
Our discussion topic will be entitled Reason, Emotion and Instinct. It will be led by John Hagler and Marilyn Matlock. We plan to discuss how these supposedly different modes of cognition interact in our daily lives in the Art Gallery.
Northwest’s Holiday Bazaar is this Sunday!
In addition to all the creative vendors that have tables full of appealing treats, amazing hand-crafted items, beautiful photographs, holiday decorations, interesting plants and eye-catching jewelry of all kinds, we will be hosting a special red-suited guest! For only $1, children from ages 1-10 can “go fishing” to get a gift from Santa’s bag!
Please walk over to the Chapel in the Chalice House after coffee time to browse through all the lovely items for sale, between11:30 and 2:00. Take home some delicious fudge or baked goods (or eat it there!), and pick up some charming gifts to use as stocking stuffers or gifts to express love, friendship or appreciation.
Support the Choir at the Holiday Bazaar
This Sunday, the NWUUC Choir will be selling baked goods, crafts and holiday decor at the Bazaar! Proceeds will support the choir’s sheet music library and enriching upcoming performances.
If you’re interested in contributing to the Choir table, please email Catalina (catalinammoore@gmail.com).
In the Spirit
December 4, 7:30 pm
Sanctuary
Take some quiet time before the busy December holidays and join members Traci Montgomery and Lil Woolf as we share music, readings, candles and silent meditation. We meet the first Tuesday of each month. Please join us.
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 9
Dear Members and Friends of Northwest,
Please plan to attend a Congregational Meeting at Northwest on Sunday, December 9. At this meeting we will hear updates from our wonderful staff and Board, as well as updates regarding the special projects we have underway. We will also hear an update from our Endowment Fund Committee and vote on an amendment to the Endowment Fund Charter. We will devote any remaining time after the end of our meeting to an informal Town Hall session. Please see the attached agenda and proposed revisions here.
NWUUC Book Groupies
Tuesday, December 11, 7 pm
Art Gallery
 On Tuesday Dec. 11 at 7 pm the NWUUC Book Groupies will meet in the Art Gallery to discuss News of The World by Paulette Jiles. Set in the 1870’s, this historical novel follows an itinerant former Civil War Army Captain, Jefferson Kidd, as he makes his living traveling Texas and entertaining Westerners with recent news from the East and exotic areas around the world. Then he is asked to escort a young girl, raised by Kiowa Indians after they massacred her family, and recently rescued from her captors, to her aunt and uncle in San Antonio from Wichita. A heartwarming and suspenseful tale unfolds as the two travel 400+ miles by wagon through the perils of early frontiers. This is a jewel of a book you don’t want to miss reading. Copies are available in our bookstore. All readers are welcome.
Hawk’s Hoop CUUPS Yule Celebration
Sunday, December 16, 7 pm
Please join Hawk’s Hoop CUUPS as we hold our yearly Yule celebration Sunday, December 16, 7 pm. We will celebrate the season by letting go of the things that made us unhappy, and setting our intentions for the upcoming year. We ask that you bring something to add to the communal potpourri during the service, and something to eat or drink during fellowship time.
Homeless Veterans’ Clothing Drive
December 2-February
Some members have asked when our annual homeless veterans’ clothing drive will begin. With the weather having been quite warm until recently, it had been difficult for them to carry around heavy clothing, so we will begin collecting Dec. 2nd and run through February. There is a new procedure begun last winter whereby a group called Veterans Community Resource and Referral Center has been set up at Fort McPherson for verified homeless vets, along with a collection center at the VA in Decatur. Frequently they also go out directly to the Vets living under the bridges, etc. The clothing we donate is given to them and the veterans can choose what they need.
Clothing for job interviews is now accepted, whereas before only street clothes were needed. The vets are also given help finding shelter and job training. Sleeping bags, underwear, socks, gloves, shoes and hats are always in big demand. The usual big blue box will be in the lobby for your donations. Please put everything in plastic trash bags that tie on top. The drive has been very successful the last few years, so let’s keep it going! Any questions? Ask Renee or Michael Burke: reneeandmike@mindspring.com.
Launchpad Update
Who’s Who in Oak Ridge (ORUUC), Our Launchpad Partners
Find bios and pictures for Fred, Jeannie, and Rae on the ORUUC website.
Fred Holland, Director of Operations– NWUUC has worked with Fred extensively in his role of “helping…expand outreach and multi-site initiatives.” Most of our “big picture” questions or initiatives regarding our relationship with Launchpad are ones that Fred will help with. You can reach Fred at office@nwuuc.org or northwestuuc@gmail.com or 404-955-1408.
Jeannie Cuevas, Office Administrator– Jeannie is the person in Oak Ridge who NWUUC folks will interact with the most. She and Fred are the ones who answer our phone calls (404-955-1408) and emails (office@nwuuc.org and northwestuuc@gmail.com). Jeannie will also usually be the one to help with ordering supplies, managing the listing of events on our calendar, routing Realm-related requests, and generally helping folks connect with the resources they need for programs at NWUUC. You can reach Jeannie at office@nwuuc.org or northwestuuc@gmail.com or 404-955-1408.
Debby Crider, Communications Specialist– Debby puts together our UNIverse weekly newsletter and the Order of Service. Folks can send announcements and other items for these publications to Debby and our NWUUC publications team directly at nwuupublications@gmail.com.
Rae Navy, Bookkeeper– Rae helps our Finance Team and Board with record-keeping and financial practices. You can reach Rae directly via northwest.bookkeeper@gmail.com, or through the office@nwuuc.org or finance@nwuuc.org email addresses.
Michael Bjerke, Database Expert– Michael helps maintain and utilize church database systems, including Realm for us through Launchpad. Most folks won’t be working with him directly, but if he gets looped in on any Realm questions, we want you to know who he is.
Second Friday Documentary Night: Coming Soon
As a way of inspiring discussion within our community, Beyond Coffee is starting a monthly Documentary Night! It will be a great opportunity to meet new people and to hear a perspective you may not be otherwise exposed to.
The first documentary screening will be in January, open to everyone. There will be a sign-up sheet in the lobby throughout December. Please add your name and email if you’re interested in attending and would like to receive updates.
From the Building Expansion Steering Committee
The Steering Committee for the building expansion is looking forward to sharing the architect’s drawings with the congregation. We expect to have them in less than a month.
Recent activity on the expansion includes the architect coordinating with other professionals to incorporate necessary elements in the drawings. In addition to the architectural aspects, the plans must include structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical as well as the work of civil engineers. These are critical elements, even if they are not the most exciting.
Once we have the drawings, with all necessary elements, we will get a formal bid. At this point we will share the expected cost involved in the project and the latest drawings. We will do this in town hall format to encourage dialog and to enable us to answer questions.
December Share-the-Plate
Community Assistance Center
This month, Northwest will again be supporting our long-time partner, the Community Assistance Center (CAC). The CAC is on the forefront of the effort to fight food insecurity and hunger in Northwest’s Sandy Springs / Dunwoody neighborhood. While the CAC provides numerous services to families in need, including emergency rent and utilities assistance, clothing, school supplies, and job placement assistance, one of the primary roles filled by the CAC is alleviating hunger at their food pantry facility in Sandy Springs. There, the CAC provides non-perishable groceries, produce, fresh food and holiday baskets to low-income families. CAC’s pantry is a “client choice market” that allows the families they serve to shop for their own groceries from the items that they have available on the pantry shelves using vouchers. More than 1200 families per month visit the CAC’s food pantry and they provide nearly $1 million in no-cost food to the community annually.
CAC relies upon donations of food, time and money from individuals, groups and local businesses. However, CAC’s member congregations – which number more than two dozen Sandy Springs faith communities, including Northwest – are vital to its ability to serve the community. In recognition of our support of CAC’s good work, we have selected CAC as our December Share-the-Plate recipient. Each Sunday during the month of December, half of all non-designated funds collected during the Sunday offering will go the CAC. Please give as generously as you are able.
RE This Week
Photo courtesy of Nancy Johnson
Pageant Practice after Story Wisdom till 11:30 am
Activity Time during 2nd hour till 12:30 pm
Nursery from 9:45am – 12:30 pm
RE Events
HOLIDAY PAGEANT PRACTICE SCHEDULE
The annual holiday pageant is Sunday, December 16th. The story is really fun. The costumes will be delightful. The story is called The Last Straw, based on a book by Fredrick H. Thury and adapted by Vlasta van Kampen. It is about a camel who isn’t thrilled about the upcoming journey to Bethlehem but finds himself glad to have made it once he got there.
Pageant Practice Schedule:
Sunday, December 2, 10:15-11:30 am
Sunday, December 9, 10:15-11:30 am
SATURDAY Dress Rehearsal, December 15, 9 -11 am
Sunday, December 16, 9 am curtain call.
YOUTH JOIN IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE EACH 1ST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
The younger and older youth are invited to join in the worship service on the 1st Sunday of each month as readers, worship associates, chalice lighters, sound tech help, story tellers, and even musicians. Contact the DRE to join in.
CALL FOR CHALICE LIGHTERS
NWUUC welcomes children’s participation in the Sunday services as chalice lighters. Please sign up your child or youth to be a chalice lighter at least once each semester so NWUUC can honor them. Here is a link to sign up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4aaeac2f4-nwuuc
Questions? Concerns? Please contact the DRE, Christina Branum-Martin,
re@nwuuc.org 713-492-8374
Usher Coordinator
I’m pleased to announce that Keith Lockhart has agreed to serve as the Usher Coordinator. Thanks Keith!
Currently we still need 2 ushers for the Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24 at 7 PM, as well as a substitute for John Wienert on Dec. 30, as he’ll be out of town. And of course, two new ushers are still needed for the 4th Sundays of the month, to replace Sandy and Marc.
If anyone is able to swap their assigned Sunday in December with John, or to simply take his place, please contact him directly to make the arrangement and then let Keith know so he can update the schedule. Also let Keith know if you can work on Christmas Eve.
Thanks everyone!
Laura Hall
Leadership Development Committee
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Internship Available
The Atlanta Council on International Relations is seeking interns who will contribute to its mission while gaining the opportunity to develop professional skills related to international affairs and policy issues. Candidates will also have the opportunity to network with national and international leaders. Course credit for interning with the ACIR is possible. Internships are available in a number of areas, including media, marketing, membership services, and others. If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for this program, please contact Bob Thacker (rthacker@atlantacir.org or 404-550-0715) for more information and an application.
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Saturday, December 1, 1 pm Shannon Williams Memorial Service
Saturday, December 1, 7-10 pm Hungry Ear Coffee House
Sunday, December 2, 10 am America’s Christmas Tree
Rev. Jonathan Rogers
Sunday, December 2, 11:30 am-12:30 pm Our Fifth Source, Art Gallery
Sunday, December 2, 11:30 am-2 pm Northwest Holiday Bazaar, Chalice House Chapel
Sunday, December 2, before and after worship service Homeless Veterans’ Clothing Drive
Tuesday, December 4, 7:30 pm In the Spirit, Sanctuary
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Copyright © 2018, All rights reserved.
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