Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta

“The Arc of the Moral Universe: King, America, and the Battle for Justice”

Happy Saturday, y'all!
We will practice one of my favorite and most meaningful rituals tomorrow during worship, the burning bowl! This will be an intergenerational service so the kids can be involved in the ritual, too. I invite everyone to grab a piece of flash paper and a pencil from the greeters as you arrive. We'll explain what to do with them during the service.

We'll also be reflecting together on the paramount importance of transformative liberating love in our faith tradition. Including through age-appropriate faith formation activities following the service at 12:15 PM. I hope you can join us!

Feel free to virtually join through the link on our website uuaugusta(dot)org
In good faith and good trouble,
Rev. Nic

30 Days of Love 2024 — Side With Love Side With Love is thrilled to announce 30 Days of Love 2024! Our annual month of spiritual nourishment, political grounding, and shared practices of faith and justice, 30 Days of Love will go from Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15) through Valentine’s Day (February 14).

Getting tuned up for Christmas Eve! Please join us as we explore and celebrate the mystery of the incarnation at 6 pm on Sunday! We'll be doing A LOT of singing.

Thank you, Piano Doctor Tim Arbissi, for fitting us in this week to help us keep our harmony tight 🙂

🌟 Join Us for Soul Circles! 🌟

Embark on a transformative journey with Soul Circles—a unique small group experience designed to deepen our exploration of monthly worship themes.

🗓️ Dates: January 25th, February 22nd, March 28th
🕒 Time: 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM
📍 Where: Common Room
🧸 Childcare available with Ms. Morgan

Immerse yourself in experiential learning, personal reflection, and meaningful conversations that shape our collective spiritual path. Commitment is key—attending in January means committing to all three sessions.

This isn’t just attendance; it’s an opportunity for personal growth and community connection. RSVP now to secure your spot and be a part of this enriching journey!

Join us for Soul Circles—let's explore, learn, and grow together! 🌿✨



RSVP HERE: http://tinyurl.com/8p9ksky6

We will not have regular Sunday morning worship on December 24th. Instead, we will focus our shared creative efforts that day on our annual Christmas Eve Service and Cookie Exchange, which will begin at 6 PM this year.

This is our best-attended service all year, and there is a possibility that you may not find a seat if you arrive late. Also, please hang your jacket outside of the sanctuary so as not to limit the available space. I promise we won't keep it too cold in the sanctuary 🙂

Warmest regards,
Rev. Nic

🌟 **Save the Date!** 🌟

Join us tomorrow from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm at the UUCA Common Room, 3501 Walton Way Ext, Augusta, GA, for the Creating Theology Together Workshop!

🤝 **Who Should Attend?**
This dynamic workshop is open to individuals aged 12 and up, eager to contribute and shape our congregational theology.

🎯 **Goals:**
- **Welcome New Members:** Extend a warm welcome to new members and invite them to be part of shaping our theological beliefs.
- **Build Inclusive Community:** Create a respectful and inclusive space where everyone's input is valued.
- **Foster Trust and Dialogue:** Develop trust and a safe space for open discussions on justice, equity, and compassion.
- **Challenge Stereotypes:** Together, let's broaden perspectives and break biases.

🍲 **What to Bring:**
- A dish to share at our potluck.
- Homework sheets (Tree of Life activity sheets) will be provided to facilitate discussions and self-reflection.

📆 **Additional Sessions:**
- December 20th, 6-8 pm
- January 24th, 6-8 pm
- February 21st, 6-8 pm

📝 **Note to Registrants:**
By attending the Retreat on December 16th, you commit to participating in all sessions within the AMONG module. We look forward to a transformative journey of collective theology creation together! Register here http://tinyurl.com/2h9zymvj and join us for a transformative journey of collective theology creation!

Spread the word, bring your friends, and let's make this an enriching experience! 🌈✨

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate. We share this message from UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt and echo her wish that we all find reconnection to the essence of life.

On the first night of Hanukkah, I send my love and blessings to all who will gather to light the menorah in sacred remembrance of the struggles and the miracles experienced by those who came before. May our love be great enough to encompass all humanity and may our prayers be for peace.

During this festival of lights in the Jewish tradition, in this time when we are called to renew our faith in miracles, may we each find ourselves reconnected with the essence of life. May we find those brief moments when the world stops and nothing lies before us but the wonder and goodness of the small things in life.

December 6 December sixth, The Modern Look and Lore of Santa Claus (1863). Universalist Thomas Nast produced over seventy illustrations of Santa....

I am so appreciative of the Rev. Jacqueline Brett’s reflection on co-creating worship at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) in Durham, NC. As she guides the deeply spiritual work of creating a sacred container for worship in her community, she asks questions worth uplifting and echoing:

Rev. Brett says, “I would like to see more people bring curiosity to worship, asking themselves, as they sit in a service that’s not what they expected: What might I learn about this? What’s the opportunity for my heart to open in a new way? Everyone needs this practice: What’s here for me in this moment? Where is the holy for me in all this? Is the sacred not present because I don’t care for the music today or someone is shouting Amen or Ashe or clapping their hands—or choosing not to do so?”

Read the full story, "Worship: Co-creating the Sacred Container," from UU World with the link in the comments.

Image courtesy of UU World.

On November 30th at 6:30 PM, please join us and several interfaith organizations as we join together in love, grief, and solidarity; collectively call for an end to the violence in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world; and, as we give thanks for and celebrate the multitudes contained within ourselves and our community. Let's practice and model what it means to live with love in our complex, diverse, multicultural, and often tragic interdependent web of existence.

A small potluck with light snacks will follow the service.

Hey y'all, with my birthday tomorrow, we have just over a week remaining in the fundraiser to support the Final Friday Jazz Series at UUCA. Please consider supporting this important and valuable ministry as I celebrate my 40th year around the sun.

I'm including a picture here and a link for the online fundraiser in the comments to bypass the FB al gore rhythm.

- Rev. Nic

This Sunday, November 26, our Guest-in-the-Pulpit will be Rev. Debra Guthrie-Joyce, speaking on "My Journey Now".
She has served the Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church in Aiken SC since 2016 and has been called as their settled minister. She is a lifetime member of NAACP and is heavily involved in Racial Justice issues and GLBTQ rights. Her ministry draws heavily on personal story, open honest dialogue, and close listening.
She lives in Aiken with her wife, Donna, two cats, Jimmy and Gaga and Buddy, the dog. She has numerous ongoing projects around the house at any given time.

Please join us at 11 am in the Sanctuary or on Zoom.

🌟 Exciting News for Parents! 🌟

Introducing EarthCraft Exploritorium 🚀, the perfect place for kids aged 6-12 to have a blast while learning!

🧪 Join us every Thursday, 6-7pm, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta. For just $40 a month, your child can enjoy:

🌈 Creative Fun: Watch your child's imagination flourish.
🛠️ Hands-On Activities: Kids love to tinker and create.
📚 STEAM Learning: We make science, tech, engineering, art, and math awesome.
🌍 Eco-Friendly: We keep it low-tech and eco-conscious.
👫 Social Time: Build friendships and teamwork skills.

Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/5yw2demz

Give your child the gift of exploration and fun! Enroll today and let the adventure begin. 🚀

🌟 Join us for KIDS NIGHT at Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta! 🌟

📅 Every 1st and 3rd FRIDAYS
🕕 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Looking for a fun and safe place for your kids to enjoy a fantastic Friday night? Look no further! At Kids Night, we've got an exciting lineup of activities that will keep your little ones entertained and engaged.

🎨 CRAFTS: Let your child's creativity shine as they explore various arts and crafts projects.

🎮 GAMES: Fun and games are the name of the game! We have a range of games to keep the kids active and laughing.

🍔 FOOD: Delicious snacks and treats are on the menu. We've got a variety of options to satisfy those little tummies.

😃 FUN: Most importantly, it's all about having a blast and making new friends in a safe and inclusive environment.

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity for your kids to have an amazing time in a supportive and welcoming community. Feel free to invite friends and family - the more, the merrier!

Location:
📍 Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta
3501 Walton Way Ext. Augusta, GA 30909

Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/bde44tkj

Open to ALL!

Mark your calendars and let's make the 1st and 3rd Fridays unforgettable for your kids. See you there! 💫

For many, Samhain is a time to honor the dead and reflect on the changing of seasons. During this time we ask our ancestors for their wisdom, guidance, and encouragement as we move again into the gentle darkness of the coming season.

To all who celebrate, we wish you strength, peace, and bright blessings.

We uplift this All Souls Chalice Lighting written by Florence Caplow from the UUA’s online WorshipWeb collection.

https://bit.ly/2XY2lU9

Happy Halloween and blessed Samhain to all! 🎃

Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Halloween! May this be a time of fun and frightful gatherings, with moments of mystery and wonder.

This Sunday morning at 11:00 we will be celebrating Samhain, the season of the final harvest, and the time to honor those who have gone before. This is an all-ages service, and everyone is encouraged to dress up - robes, garb, cosplay, Halloween costume, or at least your favorite spooky t-shirt. Please bring a photo or small memento of your departed, including pets, for our altar.

🌟 Exciting News from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta! 🌟

🗓️ Join our Youth Group every 3rd Sunday of the month!

🕐 Time: 12:30 PM
📍 Where: Common Room

👫 Who: 6th-12th graders

Are you ready to embark on a journey of exploration, growth, and service with like-minded individuals? Look no further! Our UU Youth Group provides a meaningful space for young minds to come together.

Got questions or want to learn more? Reach out to our dedicated Youth Advisor, Melinda (Mindy) Gales, at [email protected]. We can't wait to see you there! 🤗