The
Flame will be published on Wednesday
next week.
That edition will
include the latest information on the 4:45
Christmas Eve service as well as other
celebrations and community
news.
Countdown to Chaos (A Holiday Survival Guide)
Sunday, December 21 at 11 am in the Church Sanctuary
service conducted by Rev. Gregory Stewart
The winter holidays hold up the stories of our
lives to the mirror of The Story of the
holiday or holy day we choose to celebrate
during the time of year when days are
shortest and nights are longest. 
But
our
own stories can easily be muffled by festive
gatherings and families griping, rituals and
routines, tree-trimming and candle lighting,
and all of the awe and agony that is the
reason for the season.
Each year I say to myself, "I refuse to get
crushed by the holiday spirit!" only to find
myself straining under its terrible weight.
Then when the Big Day arrives, I am
completely calm, in contrast to the preceding
holiday haste.
I'm left to wonder, "How can I embody the
spirit of the holidays during the days and
hours before the holiday?" This Sunday I'll
share stories that inspire us to rise above
the holiday hype to help us regain both the
momentum and meaning for a tired, and perhaps
outdated holiday season.
Joining me on the pulpit will be Pastoral
Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux,
Faithful Fools Outreach Minister Denis
Paul, Ministerial Intern Peter
Olandt, and Worship Associate Claire
Weber. Music of the season will be
shared by our choir.
We also will rejoice to receive new members
into the Society, which makes this a great
Sunday to invite a friend who might also
resonate with a lively, liberal, and
reasonable faith.
— Rev. Gregory
Stewart
Holiday Sing-Along in the Martin Luther King Room
Religious Education Joins the Forum Starting at 10
from Betty Skwarek
Acting Director of Religious Education and
Karen Melander-Magoon
Come and enjoy singing the old holiday songs
at Forum with Erich Sylvester, Eric
Shackelford, the Folk Orchestra, and friends.
Cookies, treats, and music will be served up
all in one place!
Religious Education program participants will
follow-up the signing with Christmas crafts
in the Chapel at 10:45 and a dress rehearsal
for the Nativity tableau at 11:45. People in
the tableau will have a second dress
rehearsal in the Sanctuary following the
service.
An updated version of the Adult
Religious Education brochure is now
available. Copies are also at church and
will be in the January edition of
Firstnews. The 2008-9 brochure
for the Children's Religious Education
program is available online, too.
Barbara Bourns
We are saddened by
the death Tuesday of
Barbara Bourns. She has been a
friend to many and an effective participant in
the communities of the Society.
Barbara died while being treated at Kaiser
Hospital for lung cancer.
We extend our sympathy to her friends and
family.
We will share memorial service information
when it is available.
Botanicals: Combining Science and Art
Artist Reception Sunday after the Service in the Kings Gallery
from Liz Breger
The work of many artists will fill both
gallery rooms Sunday after the worship service.
These paintings of flower and leaf forms are
both artistically pleasing and scientifically
accurate in their rendering.
Everyone is invited to see the new group show
of Botanical paintings and meet the artists
in the Kings Gallery. Refreshments will be
served.
The show continues through Sunday, January 25.
Good and Welfare
Friends and family of Hilda Fleming
will gather Saturday (December 20) in the
Thomas Starr King Room at 2 pm for a memorial
service. Hilda died at home earlier this
month after an extended illness. She was
89.
Dr. Karen Melander-Magoon's talk,
"Catch a Falling Star", at the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of the North Bay
was noted in the St. Helena Star.
Congratulations, Karen!
Year-End Countdown
from Grace Lam, Bookkeeper
Many members and friends pay their annual
pledge in full in December, or make special
donations.
If you would like to be sure your donation is
credited for the 2008 tax year, please be
sure it is in church office no later than
December 28.
Please call the church office or email
bookkeeper Grace Lam
for more information, or to arrange for a
credit card payment or stock transfer.
More Fun at the Faire
photos by John
Steele
The Society's Holiday Faire mixed together
fun and community both during the party
and during the preparation and
behind-the-scenes work.
John captured views of both celebrants and
happy elves preparing the feast.
Gluttony
Last week's
Sunday service on deadly sins for lively
liberals focused on the vice gluttony.
Contrarian Worship Associate Alison
Rittger stood at the lectern and told the
Congregation she's all for gluttony.
Allyne Bequest Circle Donors Elevated and Feted
from Joan Rost
The Congregation thanked the forty-four
members and friends who have confirmed as
requested by the Planned Giving Committee
their intention
to provide for the Society in their
estate plans.
Sister
pins were distributed as a token of
appreciation during last week's worship
service. Some of those applauded are shown in
the Sonnie Willis photographs
accompanying this article.
Other circle members have been
honored previously, and additional
members will be receiving pins the in
near future.
The Allyne Bequest Circle is named in honor
of the Allyne sisters whose generous bequest
stimulated the Sanctuary refurbishment and
the Church Center completion in 1969.
Mike Thomas Remembered
Last Sunday the Society paid tribute to
long-time member and staff, Mike
Thomas, who passed away on Christmas Day,
2006.
Reiko Lane dedicated the Recessional,
Toccata from the Organ Symphony No. 5,
to Mike — he loved the organ and
hand-built an electronic octave of the pipes.
A memorial fund was designated by the Thomas
family for sound improvement and organ
maintenance.
A plaque honoring Mike was dedicated at the
back of the Sanctuary where Mike often stood
to monitor sound.
