Chat Sunday News from the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church December 13th 2015

SHARING OUR PLATE: December YOUTH FAITH FORMATION Our Father’s House, a private, PROGRAMS nonsectarian agency providing shelter and related services to homeless men and December 13th women, with facilities in Fitchburg and Nursery opens at 9:45; all children/youth Devens. Its programs encourage and assist begin in Fellowship Building. each guest to become self-sufficient. Butterfly Garden (PreK-1st): Solstice theme Professionally trained staff offer client (Nativity Spirit Play) advocacy, assistance in searching for Rock Garden (2nd-4th Gr): TBD housing and employment, crisis counseling, Cosmix (5th-6th Gr): Mummers Play practice and referral to community resources. 50% Building Bridges (7th-9th Gr): Mummers of cash donations will go to our church and Play practice 50% to Our Father’s House, please make checks out to Our Father’s House. Looking ahead to December 20th Nursery opens at 9:45; Solstice Story for All Ages in the Sanctuary. This Week’s Service Dec. 13, 10:00 a.m. “Good King Wenceslas” Rev. J. Mark Worth ANNOUNCEMENTS Good King Wenceslas, or Wenceslaus, was actually a Bohemian Duke named Vaclav. Meditation for December Wednesdays at He was murdered by his brother, Boleslav 7:00pm. Feeling overwhelmed, rushed or the Cruel, in 935. Wenceslas is a national disconnected? Come join us for 30 minutes hero and saint today in the Czech Republic. of meditation and perhaps a reading. We Come and hear how Duke Vaclav became will sit together in the quiet and peaceful the centerpiece of one of our favorite silence. You may leave feeling more carols. Children begin in the present, perhaps with clarity and/or a sense Fellowship building. of connectedness to our community and to With the Chimers. this moment in time. We welcome all who care to join us, in the Fellowship Building: 3:30 & 4:30 p.m. Ecumenical Christmas Charlanne Van Wormer Community Room Pageant (CR) or Sutherland Hall (SH): Dec. 16 CR, Dec. 23 SH, Dec. 30 CR David Kendall [email protected] Pam Frederick [email protected] Next Week’s Service Dec. 20, 10:00 a.m. Intergenerational Solstice Service Sunday Morning Volunteers There are Come join our dancers and mummers and still many slots to be filled this church year singers as together we celebrate the arrival for Greeting, Ushering and Fellowship. of winter. Please visit the church's website (uuharvard.org) and click on the link for Messiah Sing-In 5:00 p.m. Sign-Up Genius.

Our words for the chalice lighting and lighting of the candles are from Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman (1899-1981). January 3rd is Loaves and Fishes Sunday Tom Rosiello and Intern Minister Ilene While many people remember to donate Gillispie leading worship. food during the holiday season, sometimes it is easy to forget that the need is great after Save the Date! HUU Church Auction: the holidays as well. If you are able, please March 5 bring in boxed or canned pasta and jars or cans of tomato sauce, which are some Save the Date for the UU Seder – of their most needed items, and leave them Friday, April 8, at 6pm in the Loaves and Fishes donation area in the church’s foyer. If you have questions, CHURCH CALENDAR please feel free to contact Risa Goldman at [email protected]. Sun. Dec. 13 9:45am Nursery open We are now recording Sunday Services, 10:00am Worship Service available on our church Web page “Good King Wenceslas” (UUHarvard.org). Pull down from “Other Rev. J. Mark Worth Information” to /Services. If you 3:30 & 4:30pm Performances want printed copy call Elinor 456-8752. If in our sanctuary of the town’s you want to record a concert or event please Ecumenical Christmas Pageant plan to use your own ‘thumb drive.’ Wed. Dec. 16 7-7:30pm Meditation Music instructor with over 20 Sun. Dec. 20 years playing experience and 10 years 9:45am Nursery open teaching will be providing lessons at the 10:00 Solstice Service Fellowship Building in guitar, bass, Intergenerational drums/percussion and piano. For more Mummers & Sword Dancing information please email 11:30-12:30 Bargains open?? [email protected] 5:00 p.m. Messiah Interfaith Community Sing-In First Parish Church of Stow & Acton Unitarian Universalist • (978) 897-8149 Our own Emma Sullivan (graduated last Sun. Dec. 13th "Christmas Vespers" at 5 year) is continuing her UU traditions by PM Featuring Camille Saint Saëns' joining a service trip sponsored by the Christmas Oratorio This very special Center for Service, Spirituality, and Candlelight Vesper service will include a Social Justice at Dickinson College. She is beautiful string orchestra prelude and the one of 15 people heading for Cameroon, in Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint Saëns Central Africa, to work with the local sung by the First Parish Adult Choir with schools and orphanages of this bilingual guest soloists and accompanied by a string population. The trip is focused on social orchestra and organ. The service will also justice and understanding the inequities of include carols for all to sing and a reflection their educational system. She hopes to bring on the music offered. We will conclude the back what she has learned to the larger service by remember those affected by Dickinson community. To help make this terrorist attacks around the world and mission possible for her, she would greatly together pray and sing for peace. This appreciate any financial support we can musical service is our holiday gift to the give her. If you are willing and/or able greater community. Please let people in the please send in your tax deductible check community know about it and bring your made out to Dickinson College, with Emma friends and neighbors. The music will be Sullivan in the memo, and send it to the under the direction of Mike Pfitzer with Center for Service, Spirituality, and Social Malcolm Halliday, organist, and The Rev. Justice; PO Box 1773; Carlisle, PA 17013 by December 17th.