he original Unitarian Universalist TAdvent Calendar has been a three year labor of love. My great hope is that Unitarian Universalists of all ages would make it a part of their holiday season for years to come. Ralph Yeager Roberts
11 / 2015
To contact the author and artist email Ralph Yeager Roberts at [email protected] his free download should make it almost as simple as it was affordable for you Tto start counting down the days until December 25th. Below are some basic instructions for how to get everything ready to enjoy the Original Unitarian Universalist Advent Calendar, after which you will find some details about the calendar’s creator and links for you to use to access additional resources for personalizing how you set up and use this Advent Calendar. n addition to what is included in this document there are a wealth Iof materials designed to be used as part of The Original Unitarian Universalist Advent Calendar available for you to access and use for free. You can get templates for making ornaments that go with the calendar, 1) Print on 8.5” X 11” white paper. In your print settings select single images you can print to labels and use to decorate Hershey’s kisses or sided color document with a landscape layout. use as a seal for a gift bag or envelope, and all the digital assets you need to share the calendar digitally say posted to your congregation’s web page. For the latest about updates on revisions or additions to the Calendar, additional resources you can use, examples of how people have used and personalized their calendar, and to find links to where all of those good things can be found you should go to and like the UU- 2) Use the dotted blue lines as a guide tocut the pages in half and where indicated use a paper punch to make holes.
3) Make a single stack of the 8.5” X 5.5”pages. Check to be sure . . . he Original Unitarian Universalist Advent Calendar is being featured Ton the UUA Worship web where you will also be able to view each the printed sides all face up, day’s image or download this single document ready to print calendar. the holes are on the top edge and line up, and the pages are in order starting with the cover in the very front or top of your stack, the dates go in descending, and finally the blank templates.
4) Bind your advent calendar with 2 metal binding rings or using a length of ribbon threaded through the punched holes with a double knotted bow. cemb cemb De er e er 1 D 2
World AIDS Day
er the River a nz "Ov nd Kwa aa gh the Woo e rou ds First Cel brated Th The song " "Over the River and Through Kwanzaa’s founder the Woods" is based on a poem by Dr, Maulana Karenga was funded in Unitarian author and human rights champion part through money that the UUA had Lydia Maria Child Inspiration for the poem came . designated for efforts in support of black from her own childhood memories of Thanksgiving empowerment. at her grandparent's house. As Unitarians and others started to revive and Drawing from traditional West African re-imagine Christmas the distinctively Yankee tradition harvest celebrations, Karenga introduced of Thanksgiving became the template they followed in practices he believed could strengthen the establishing how Christmas would be celebrated community, nurture a positive African . American identity, and inspire wider pan-African solidarity World AIDS Day 1844 . 1966 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� emb cemb ec er De er D 3 4
His Inspiration came after a cold day of ice skating. THE ROAD IN WINTER rmu The Ea ff is Currier and Ives Invented Founded by Unitarian When he Nathaniel Currier, The “Currier and was only 15, lifelong Ives” Printing Firm published an annual Unitarian Chester Greenwood set of winter images. Scenes of snowball fights, patented the earmuff from which he horse and sleigh races, and children ice skating, made his fortune. He opened a bike wooed Americans into a love affair with the idea shop where he found it easy to invent of a snow covered New England Holiday. The 1950 choral arrangement of “Sleigh Ride” ways to solve many more problems attests to the spot these illustrations hold in our than just cold ears which earned him respect in the field of mechanical modern Christmas canon. engineering. 1834 1873 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ecembe Dec. 6th cemb D r is the feast e er of St. Nicholas. D 5 In many parts 6 of Europe this is the day when Santa arrives bringing presents and candy.
rn Look and ngle Bells ode Lor “Ji ” he M e o T Santa Claus f It was first Universalist performed for Thanksgiving Thomas Nast produced by the Sunday school children of the over 70 illustrations of Santa. Unitarian Church in Savannah, GA It is from Nast that the world first and under the leadership of the learned of Santa's red suit, that he church music director and the song’s gives coal if you're naughty, and composer, James Pierpont. even that Santa, as a world citizen, “Jingle Bells” was published in belonging to no single country, 1857 but only gained widespread lives at the popularity After it was performed by North Pole. Bing Crosby in 1934. 1863 1857 2 other traditions introduced North Pole ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� by Thomas Nast.
��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� cemb De er ecembe 7 D 8 r December 26, 1912, Wash. D.C. XMAS TREE IN BLUE ROOM.; With the President and Mrs. Taft at Panama, their son and daughter estab- lished a new precedent at the White House in the way of a Christmas party to-night. A large and gracefully proportioned fir tree had been put in place in the Blue Room, which in all White House History has never before known a decoration of this t Can kind. “Eigh dles ” hristmas Tree in st C the 1 ouse Blue Ro Malvina Reynolds was a hite h om 20th century Jewish, Unitarian W President Universalist, socialist songwriter and William Howard Taft was performer who is best known for her a dedicated Unitarian. In 1912 Taft’s song “Little Boxes.” daughter Helen arranged to have a Christmas tree in the White House In 1970 she recorded the Hanukkah Song “Eight Candles.” It has since Blue Room (the first of what has since become a holiday favorite and is often become a tradition). included in choral holiday programs Helen got her Master’s in history and . at 26 was made a dean and soon after 1970 president of Bryn Mawr College.
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tmas Scene Chris s in me Upo tle Wom “It Ca n "Lit en" idnight Cle Unitarian a M ar” Louisa May Alcott wrote “It Came Upon over a dozen Christmas themed a Midnight Clear” was written by stories and poems in addition to the Unitarian Minister Hamilton Sears while Christmas scenes in "Little Women.” Her recovering from a nervous breakdown. The description of a holiday with the March melancholy carol’s conspicuous omission of any family nurtured a growing sense of American nostalgia for a Christmas reference to Jesus or his birth has drawn only newly imagined. criticism from orthodox Christians. Ironically among Sears’ Unitarian contemporaries his 1868 theological ideas about Jesus where considered rather old-fashioned. 1849
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11 12 After the Civil War most in congress opposed involvement in foreign conflicts so there seemed no real point in having a U.S. chapter of what is now the international Red Cross and Crescent Association. To overcome this argument Barton persuaded the organization to expand its mission to include a commitment to provide relief assistance following natural disasters or domestic emergencies. Her plan worked and congress voted to establish the American Red Cross.
les Dicke Char ns’ Christmas Day is ristmas C Barton’s Bir Ch aro lara thda "A Unitarian l" C Clara Barton, y Charles Dickens impacted the Universalist and founder of way Christmas is celebrated today the American Red Cross, is a hero of our more than any other individual. "A Christmas Carol" liberal religious faith. has been credited with popularizing everything from We remember her around the holidays since turkey dinners and family gift exchanges to holiday she was born Christmas day, 1821. But in the season when we recall an army of angels bonuses. Less obvious but still immensely influential is the book’s story of one man’s redemption which proclaiming "peace on earth" it seems right to recall one whose life and legacy have done much Dickens pointedly shows being accomplished apart to realize the angels’ message and who was from the work of God or Church. So while it is a herself known as the "angel of the battlefield" ghost story and Scrooge is helped by supernatural because of her work on the front lines during the beings the help itself is not supernatural at all. civil war providing and managing care for the wounded. 1843 1821 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ecembe cemb D r e er D 14 13 James Edgar’s hometown of Brockton, MA holds an annual Santa’s hat day ard the B in “I He ells Christmas Da Edgar’s On y” honor. Unitarian Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote epartm First D ent "Christmas Bells"* just months before the tore Sant end of the Civil War. The poem captures S a the despair felt by the nation after years Department store of war. Drawing on his own experience of owner James Edgar delighted having hope restored after tragedy, the customers’ children by walking about the final verses celebrates the resilience of store on weekends dressed as Santa Clause. people who endure all manner of grief and Edgar aspired to broad-mindedness misery yet find ways to confidently hope in his religion, and though not a member he toward a day attended the Unitarian church where he paid The poem "Christmas Bells " * of "peace on the anual pledge to was later set to music and was Earth " . reserve a pew renamed "I Heard the . * In fact he paid for a Pew with Bells on Christmas Day." 1865 the* local Unitarian,Congregational, ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� 1890 and Episcopal churches but never actually joined any.
��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� cemb e er cemb D e er D I the introduction was present15 intoat the new country of the spectacle of the German Christmas-tree. 16 Harriet Martineau . . . The children blaze, all eyes wide poured in; but in a open, all lips parted, moment,, every voice all steps arrested. was hushed. Their faces were upturned to the . . . I have little doubt the Christmas-tree will become one of the most flourishing exotics of New England.
mer First A ican istmas Tre Chr e Unitarian istian An Minister Charles Follen Chr der ns sen delighted his son and party Ha Fairy Tales ’s guests with a Christmas tree as he had growing up in Germany. When the man he Follen postponed the festivities loved married a woman Danish until New Year’s so that British Unitarian Hans Christian Andersen wrote author and Unitarian Harriet Martineau one of his first and most beloved fairy tales could attend. Her published account of the party of a mermaid's tragically unrequited love. (perhaps presumptuously) declared the His timeless tales include several Christmas event to be America’s introduction to classics such as "The Little Match Girl," the Christmas tree and (accurately) "The Fir Tree," and "The Snow Queen." predicted the future popularity of this custom. 1835 1832 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� cembe cemb De r De er 17 18
TV GUIDE 'CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS' 10:00 2 3 Twilight Zone 8:30 CHRISTMAS A department store Santa nds true DRAMA Special The Dicken's Classic updated seasonal magic in his depressed by Rod Serling for this rst in a series of neighbourhood on Christmas Eve specials relating to activities of the United Nationas. Also the rst work for News and Weather TV by Director Joseph Mankiewitz. Aired without comercial interuption. December 28th, 1964 "Do You Hear Serling at I Hea Rod ’s Wh r?" as Spe hristm cials Amid the C Though Jewish, anxiety of the Cuban Rod Serling always loved missile crisis Unitarian Christmas (maybe because his birthday was Noel Regney wrote “Do You Hear What I Hear?” as a protest song but Dec. 25th). He became a U.U. while in college and later joined the Unitarian Community the allusions to the Bible stories of Jesus’ birth are so strong that Church of Santa Monica. He wrote several holiday episodes and specials including his own recording artists and the public have modern take on Dickens, "Carol for another always associated it with Christmas. Christmas," and a touching "Twilight Zone" everywh er episode, "Night of the Meek " 1962 le e . R��. .
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urney of the M any M Jo ag he M ood The Eliot’s Ariel P i” “T s “ st of oem of Christmas” 1 s "Magi" is Unitarian T. S. Eliot’s Robert Shaw was first of 5 Christmas poems published after best known as the conductor his ambivalent choice to join the Anglican church. Eliot's feelings about his conversion seem to be of his namesake Chorale. "Many Moods of Christmas" was for its day expressed by the Magus who narrates the poem confessing to the readers his secret disappointment the quintessential sound of the season. Even today the albums sell well around when at last they reach their journey’s end to find only the the holidays and choirs continue to The tradition of reading Isiah 6:3, and Psalms 72:11, baby Jesus perform it for their December concert. together with Matthew 2:1-12 is why people will tell the . Shaw was leading his choral when he Christmas story and sometimes refer to the magi as accepted a call and was ordained as its Another of his kings. In fact magi or wise men refers to royal advisors “Ariel” poems minister of music by the 1st Unitarian who were knowledgeable in astrology, divination, and church of Cleveland that remains . magic. popular is called 1963 1927 “The Cultivation ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� of Christmas Trees.” cemb e er D ecembe 21 D 22 r
*The point along the Earth’s annual solar orbit when the northern hemisphere is at it’s farthest point from the sun. Unitarian C First hurc inter Sols The ed in Transylv h he W tice ound ania T * F Despite The last harvest recognition under the 1557 Act of the year is celebrated shortly of Religious Toleration and receiving the King’s patronage the Unitarian Church in before the winter solstice. In ancient times Transylvania has faced frequent persecution leading people would feast knowing the months ahead to their choice of church crest which is meant to would be dark,hungry times when sickness recall when Jesus sent his disciples to preach and spread quickly. expected they would face opposition and he The cycle of winter’s death forever yielding counseled them to be as wise as serpents and as new life in spring’s rebirth is represented by innocent as doves. A recent UU tradition in the US the ouroboros symbol showing a serpent is to have a special Christmas eve offering to help consuming its own tail. Unitarians still living in Transylvania. 1557 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� �, R��. R . Y. R���rt� cembe cemb De r e er Th D e c a le 24 23 n d a r ' s
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h Holy Night” aming Cha “O The Fl lice The first English translation of The Unitarian "Oh Holy Night"was by Unitarian Service Committee adopted the minister, John Sullivan Dwight flaming chalice as their logo in 1941 who tweaked the original French author's . socialist themes and images to advance Years later in 1965 at the West Shore Dwight's own abolitionist cause. Not only Church in Cleveland, OH, the youth-led was the French author a socialist but he Christmas service opened by ritually also declared himself an atheist and had lighting a chalice. This is the first time it set to music by a Jewish composer, the chalice was used in this way except for factors that led French clergy to ban the in children's classes and youth gatherings carol's use in worship. 1855 where the practice began. ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� 1965 ��, R��. R . Y. R���rt� , ______��, ______, ______��, ______n addition to The Original IUnitarian Universalist Advent Calendar The Rev. Ralph Yeager Roberts is one of the creators of the Montessori inspired curriculum used in hundreds of congregations across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to serving congregations as an Ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister of religious education Ralph has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at several schools and for two years wrote a column on spiritual wellness for a nationally carried Lifestyle and travel magazine. For the past six years he has been half of a two man team helping local performers and area theater troupes fabricating specialty props, set pieces, and costuming elements earning 5 State theater nominations. While making giant squids and pluming the occasional headpiece is a blast it rarely pays for much more than the supplies but how many people make an animatronic demon eyed mouse head trophy do it for the money. Currently not in active ministry Ralph is available for leading a variety of trainings, workshops, or special programs, as well as design work. To learn more details about scheduling a visit with your group or organization you can find more information using links that will be posted to theUU-Advent Facebook page or you can e-mail him at [email protected] for a copy of a promotional flyer.