This Week at UUP: December 16-21

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
An Oasis for Heart and Mind Every Sunday in Downtown Petaluma
For complete up-to-date info on the Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, see our website: http://www.uupetaluma.org
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SUNDAY SERVICES

(Social time with refreshments begins at 10:00 am , at the Petaluma Woman's Club, 518 B Street. Worship service begins at 10:30 am. )

Sunday, December 17: "Winter Solstice and Santa Lucia Service"

Worship Associate: Tony Blake
Many western religious observances are rooted in ancient earth-centered recognitions of seasonal events often marked with celebrations. Ancient cultures, especially those from Northern latitudes, were acutely attuned to seasonal changes related to the longest or shortest days of the year. Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and has been recognized for thousands of years through ceremonies that typically involve welcoming the light back into our existence. Long, ago, the Vikings of Sweden held festivals to mark the first day of winter, the exact middle of winter, and the last day of winter. This ceremony later became known as Santa Lucia. Come join us just prior to the Winter Solstice in a participatory intergenerational service full of song, ceremony, and a UUP community drum circle to celebrate the light coming back into our lives.

This is a Share-The-Plate Sunday! We will split our non-pledge offering with COTS (Committee on the Shelterless), as part of our ongoing commitment to support local community organizations. COTS offers help and hope to homeless persons in Sonoma County by providing safe shelter and housing, helping people develop steady incomes and helping them get back under a roof of their own. They help homeless families become stable and break the cycle of homelessness by teaching homeless parents to make their children's needs a high priority and to provide a safe, loving and secure home for their children.

Sunday, December 24, 2006: Christmas Eve Day
Join us for an intergenerational Christmas service with music and holiday cheer.

Sunday, December 31, 2006: "Past, Present, Future"
Worship Associate: Michael Iritz

Join us for a time of Community & Sharing. We will be gathering as a community to share a [mostly] POTLUCK BRUNCH. While nourishing our bodies, we will fill our spirits as well. UUP & our Guests will be welcome to speak about memories of the past year and hopes for the coming one.

If you wish to contribute a dish to our [mostly] POTLUCK BRUNCH, contact Michael Iritz (email: michael at theiritz dot com) by December 27th. Please include the name of your dish, main ingredients and if it considered vegetarian or vegan.
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Caroling Potluck! TODAY, Saturday, December 16th
Come celebrate Beethoven's Birthday (he would have been 236 this year...) at 6 pm on Saturday the 16th. We'll have a potluck and a sing at Nancy and Tony Blake's home. All UUP Members and Friends welcome! Call Nancy (765-9231) to RSVP and/or for directions or more information.
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Santa Lucia Ceremony
This Sunday, all children and youth are welcome to participate in the Santa Lucia Ceremony, an ancient Swedish tradition for the solstice. In this tradition, a girl appears wearing a wreath of candles, as a symbol of light and warmth returning to the world. If your child or youth will participate, please ask him or her to wear a plain white shirt or blouse. I will provide the rest of the costuming. This ceremony will be part of the intergenerational service. Afterwards, the children and youth will be joining the Community Drum Circle.

The Youth Group will be baking special holiday cookies for us to enjoy after the service.
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Community Drum Circle
Following this Sunday's Winter Solstice Service, UUP is sponsoring a Community-wide Drum Circle at the Petaluma Woman's Club from 1 pm – 3 pm. Led by master facilitator Kim Atkinson of Pulsewave Percussion, this drum circle is open to all levels and abilities. Instruments provided, or bring your own! Donations requested. Visit http://www.uupetaluma.org/drumflyer.pdf for details!
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Book Club
A group led by Earl Cruser is meeting regularly to discuss A Chosen Faith, An introduction to Unitarian Universalism. The group will meet next this Sunday after the Winter Solstice service in the Woman's Club Fireside Room. New members welcome!
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Updated Church Directory
The 2007 UUP Church Directory is now available. Please pick up your copy from the table at the back of the room after the service on Sunday.
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If you have changed your email address or would like to be added to or removed from the UUP list, please email us at uupetaluma at gmail dot com.