The Best Gift

Sunday, Dec 22, 2024 @ 10:30 am

Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis

Overview:
In this season, we are pulled by our love of the world and our heartbreak for it. What boundaries need to be in place for us to be in our integrity and live into our generous spirit?

Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering

Calendar

	December 2024
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles December 1, 2024 8:45 am - 10:00 am Conference Room You are welcome to join ongoing weekly sessions of A Course in Miracles, a self-study spiritual program based on universal spiritual themes, primarily including forgiveness as the path to love in order to focus on living more peacefully in this world. To RSVP, contact Suzette Boulais at zetter3@comcast.net. See more details Life Force Tai Chi Life Force Tai Chi December 1, 2024 9:00 am - 10:00 am Fellowship Hall Life Force Tai Chi First & Third Sundays through December 2024 Tai Chi is an ancient discipline from China. Join Dave Grebner for this class, where we will learn how to stand and move to enhance the flow of chi life energy through our bodies. See more details Worship Service Worship Service December 1, 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am Sanctuary See more details Coffee Hour Coffee Hour December 1, 2024 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Patio See more details ARE-Humanist Discussion Group ARE-Humanist Discussion Group December 1, 2024 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Zoom using TV and Harry's laptop See more details Sunday Afternoon CC Sunday Afternoon CC December 1, 2024 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm RE Meeting Room/Senior High Room Galen See more details PRC (Peoria Recorder Consort) Practice PRC (Peoria Recorder Consort) Practice December 1, 2024 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Sanctuary See more details • • • • • • •	2	3 Connection Circle Connection Circle December 3, 2024 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Conference Room See more details SGM Facilitators Meeting SGM Facilitators Meeting December 3, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Conference Room See more details Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 December 3, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr as we invite guest presenters and talk about videos of current events, religion, and politics. We aspire to use empathy, humility, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassionate communications to discuss new insights, controversy, disinformation, irrationality, and magical thinking. See more details • • •	4 Administrative Team Administrative Team December 4, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Zoom 3 - conference room or library See more details CUUPs Meeting CUUPs Meeting December 4, 2024 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Conference Room Conference Room or Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/2nyj5zet Join us for our monthly meeting! We will confirm our plans for Yule, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21, at UUCP. During the second half of the meeting, we will create and activate a Crystal Web access point in the Great Grove. Members may bring a crystal or stone to be placed in the access point. (Note: This is a permanent burying of these items.) See more details UUkulele Strum Group UUkulele Strum Group December 4, 2024 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Foyer See more details • • •	5 Mugs & Musings Mugs & Musings December 5, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm River Kitty Cafe, 3226 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USA Mugs and Musings ~ Thursdays at 10am (except December 26) This month, we’ll meet at River Kitty Cafe ~ 3226 N University St, Peoria. Drop in and join Membership Coordinator Regina Stanley to discuss whatever is on your mind. Questions? Please contact Regina at 309-648-2767 or membership@peoriauuchurch.org. See more details Advent Reflection Service Advent Reflection Service December 5, 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sanctuary Advent Reflection Series Thursdays, December 5, 12, & 19 at 6:30pm Sanctuary ~ In person only As the darkness deepens, we will share a time to pause, reflect, and wrestle with the question of hope. All are welcome for an hour of candles, brief readings, and silent meditation. Join us for one session or as many as you can. See Rev. Jennifer for information. See more details • •	6	7 Offsite: Acorn Equality Family Breakfast Offsite: Acorn Equality Family Breakfast December 7, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino, 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611, USA Join the Acorn Equality Fund for this year’s Annual Family Breakfast, where they will celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ+ and allied students through the awarding of this year’s scholarships! The Acorn Equality Fund is a grassroots nonprofit organization that provides financial support for the advancement of education, health, and civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons and their allies. They raise funds to give out grants and scholarships for higher education. The breakfast is a chance to learn more about the successes and hopes of the youngest members of the community. Tickets are $45. Purchase by November 24 at https://tinyurl.com/3ryjf6hu. See more details Deck the Halls Deck the Halls December 7, 2024 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fellowship Hall & Sanctuary Deck the Halls Saturday, December 7, 2-4pm Fellowship Hall & Sanctuary Our annual ornament-making afternoon is sure to be a good time! We’ll craft original ornaments, enjoy a yummy hot chocolate bar, and sing along to carols. The ornaments will decorate our Sanctuary tree. Supplies and instructions are provided, and everyone is invited to join in! See more details • •
8 A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles December 8, 2024 8:45 am - 10:00 am Conference Room You are welcome to join ongoing weekly sessions of A Course in Miracles, a self-study spiritual program based on universal spiritual themes, primarily including forgiveness as the path to love in order to focus on living more peacefully in this world. To RSVP, contact Suzette Boulais at zetter3@comcast.net. See more details Christmas Pageant During Worship Christmas Pageant During Worship December 8, 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am Sanctuary “A Christmas Pageant” ~ Jesi Laughlin and a Cast of Thousands This year’s interactive pageant will focus on the radical story of an immigrant baby who was born to an unwed mom and grew up to fight the empire. Everyone is invited to participate, either from their seats or by joining the tableau. Email Jesi Laughlin at DLRE@peoriaUUchurch.org if you would like a speaking role. See more details Coffee Hour Coffee Hour December 8, 2024 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Patio See more details In person & Virtual: Caring Committee In person & Virtual: Caring Committee December 8, 2024 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm Conference Room See more details Mah Jongg for UUs Mah Jongg for UUs December 8, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Fellowship Hall Do you play Mah Jongg or do you want to learn? Join the fun on 2nd and 4th Sundays! Bring your own drink and snack, and if you have a Mah Jongg set or mat, bring it, too. Contact Char Rickey at spinwool7@aol.com or 309-472-7085 or Evan Stubbs at sirstubby@hotmail.com or 575-621-5519 with questions. See more details • • • • •	9 Covenant Circle Covenant Circle December 9, 2024 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm See more details •	10 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 December 10, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr as we invite guest presenters and talk about videos of current events, religion, and politics. We aspire to use empathy, humility, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassionate communications to discuss new insights, controversy, disinformation, irrationality, and magical thinking. See more details •	11 Administrative Team Administrative Team December 11, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Zoom 3 - conference room or library See more details UUkulele Strum Group UUkulele Strum Group December 11, 2024 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Foyer See more details Worship Committee Worship Committee December 11, 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Conference Room See more details Amethyst Circle: An Addiction Recovery Group Following UU Values Amethyst Circle: An Addiction Recovery Group Following UU Values December 11, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm RE Meeting Room or Zoom Amethyst Circle: An Addiction Recovery Group Following UU Values Wednesday, December 11, 7-8pm RE Meeting Room or Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/u4tdhkha Gather with others to offer and receive support on your addiction journey. This group is facilitated by Tony Huerta and is open to all. See more details • • • •	12 Mugs & Musings Mugs & Musings December 12, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm River Kitty Cafe, 3226 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USA Mugs and Musings ~ Thursdays at 10am (except December 26) This month, we’ll meet at River Kitty Cafe ~ 3226 N University St, Peoria. Drop in and join Membership Coordinator Regina Stanley to discuss whatever is on your mind. Questions? Please contact Regina at 309-648-2767 or membership@peoriauuchurch.org. See more details Thursday Afternoon CC Thursday Afternoon CC December 12, 2024 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Jr. High Room Rev. Jennifer See more details Advent Reflection Service Advent Reflection Service December 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sanctuary Advent Reflection Series Thursdays, December 5, 12, & 19 at 6:30pm Sanctuary ~ In person only As the darkness deepens, we will share a time to pause, reflect, and wrestle with the question of hope. All are welcome for an hour of candles, brief readings, and silent meditation. Join us for one session or as many as you can. See Rev. Jennifer for information. See more details • • •	13 Holiday Movie Night Holiday Movie Night December 13, 2024 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Fellowship Hall & RE Commons Holiday Movie Night Friday, Dec. 13, 5:30pm Pizza; 6pm Movie; 8pm Pick-Up, Fellowship Hall & RE Commons, Drop off available for kids & youth SIGN UP BY 12/11 REQUIRED Families are invited for some light-hearted holiday time together or to use this as a drop-and-shop opportunity. Sign up is REQUIRED. Email DLRE@peoriaUUchurch.org. We’ll have pizza in Fellowship Hall and popcorn and the movie in the RE Commons. Christmas jammies and snuggly friends are welcome! See more details •	14 Paul Kaiser Memorial Service ~ Visit with Family @11; Service @11:30 Paul Kaiser Memorial Service ~ Visit with Family @11; Service @11:30 December 14, 2024 11:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •
15 A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles December 15, 2024 8:45 am - 10:00 am Conference Room You are welcome to join ongoing weekly sessions of A Course in Miracles, a self-study spiritual program based on universal spiritual themes, primarily including forgiveness as the path to love in order to focus on living more peacefully in this world. To RSVP, contact Suzette Boulais at zetter3@comcast.net. See more details Life Force Tai Chi Life Force Tai Chi December 15, 2024 9:00 am - 10:00 am Fellowship Hall Life Force Tai Chi First & Third Sundays through December 2024 Tai Chi is an ancient discipline from China. Join Dave Grebner for this class, where we will learn how to stand and move to enhance the flow of chi life energy through our bodies. See more details Holiday Fair Trade Shopping Holiday Fair Trade Shopping December 15, 2024 10:30 am - 1:00 pm Fellowship Hall Holiday Fair Trade Shopping Sunday, December 15, Fellowship Hall, 10:30am for kids & youth to shop w/o caregivers; After service for everyone Come pick up some last-minute Fair Trade gifts for your holiday giving! Kids can shop during the service with an elf helper (UUCP Youth), and everyone is welcome to shop during coffee hour. The sale will be hosted by Ten Thousand Villages in Peoria Heights, and there will be a variety of items at all price points,starting at $3 with many around $10 and more above that. Sales tax will be added. Kids can wrap their gifts after making their purchases. If you want your child to participate, please check your kiddo in to RE before worship to complete the shopping list with budget, payment (cash or card), and permission. Those not participating will craft a small gift and participate in holiday-themed activities. See more details Worship Service Worship Service December 15, 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am Sanctuary See more details Coffee Hour Coffee Hour December 15, 2024 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Patio See more details Welcome Committee Welcome Committee December 15, 2024 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm RE Meeting Room See more details Sunday Afternoon CC Sunday Afternoon CC December 15, 2024 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm RE Meting Room/Senior High Room Galen See more details Christmas Caroling Christmas Caroling December 15, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Meet at UUCP to Carpool Christmas Caroling Sunday, Dec. 15, 3pm, Carpool from church; Bring the kiddos! ~ All ages are welcome! Come join the fun! We’ll don funny hats and go to retirement homes. (Thanks to the Woessners for loaning the hats and sheet music.) Can’t read music? That’s ok! We’ll sing carols you know, and Kathy McNeil will play piano and make it easy to follow along. Can’t hit the right notes? That’s ok, too! We’re out to spread holiday cheer! For more info or to RSVP, call or text Kathy McNeil at 687-9739 or Bernie Humphrey at 309-360-4199. See more details • • • • • • • •	16 LGBTQIA2S+ at UUCP LGBTQIA2S+ at UUCP December 16, 2024 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Conference Room Do you identify as LGBTQIA2S+? Do you attend, visit, or belong to UUCP? Join us on the 3rd Monday each month. Questions? Email Tim Herold at herold1961@gmail.com for details. See more details NOW* NOW* December 16, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Conference Room See more details • •	17 Accessible Nature Exploration Accessible Nature Exploration December 17, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm The Great Grove Accessible Nature Exploration Tuesday, Dec. 17, 10am; The Great Grove; For Teens & Adults Dress in layers to explore the Great Grove with Master Naturalist Jen McDaniel. We will walk slowly, never leave anyone behind, and keep an easy pace. There will be lots of time for observation and photo ops. Following the hike, Peggy West will host a small art project focused on leatherworking. As always, take care of your needs! This event is hosted by ACORN, a U of I Master Naturalist Group. It is free and open to ACORN members and the UUCP community. Please RSVP to JenniferCloseMcDaniel@gmail.com. See more details Connection Circle Connection Circle December 17, 2024 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Jr High Room See more details Virtual: Finance/Personnel Committee Zoom #2 Virtual: Finance/Personnel Committee Zoom #2 December 17, 2024 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Bill K See more details Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 December 17, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr as we invite guest presenters and talk about videos of current events, religion, and politics. We aspire to use empathy, humility, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassionate communications to discuss new insights, controversy, disinformation, irrationality, and magical thinking. See more details • • • •	18 Administrative Team Administrative Team December 18, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Zoom 3 - conference room or library See more details UUkulele Strum Group UUkulele Strum Group December 18, 2024 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Foyer See more details In Person Board Meeting (virtual option) In Person Board Meeting (virtual option) December 18, 2024 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Conference Room Zoom #2 See more details Tarot Circle Tarot Circle December 18, 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Library See more details Builder Deadline Builder Deadline December 18, 2024 11:45 pm - December 19, 2024 12:45 am See more details • • • • •	19 Mugs & Musings Mugs & Musings December 19, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm River Kitty Cafe, 3226 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USA Mugs and Musings ~ Thursdays at 10am (except December 26) This month, we’ll meet at River Kitty Cafe ~ 3226 N University St, Peoria. Drop in and join Membership Coordinator Regina Stanley to discuss whatever is on your mind. Questions? Please contact Regina at 309-648-2767 or membership@peoriauuchurch.org. See more details Advent Reflection Service Advent Reflection Service December 19, 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sanctuary Advent Reflection Series Thursdays, December 5, 12, & 19 at 6:30pm Sanctuary ~ In person only As the darkness deepens, we will share a time to pause, reflect, and wrestle with the question of hope. All are welcome for an hour of candles, brief readings, and silent meditation. Join us for one session or as many as you can. See Rev. Jennifer for information. See more details • •	20	21 Yule: Into the Longest Night Yule: Into the Longest Night December 21, 2024 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Fellowship Hall Yule: Into the Longest Night Saturday, December 21, Fellowship Hall; Doors open at 5:30pm; Ritual begins at 6pm Solstice Night is upon us, and winter is here once again. In the dark chill of Yuletide, we call out for the sun to return. Will it answer the call? Keepers of the Great Grove, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans chapter at UUCP, invites you to join us in our observance of Yule. There will be a time for bardic tales, ritual, and a small fire (weather permitting). Bring a dish to pass and stay for the potluck. See more details •
22 A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles December 22, 2024 8:45 am - 10:00 am Conference Room You are welcome to join ongoing weekly sessions of A Course in Miracles, a self-study spiritual program based on universal spiritual themes, primarily including forgiveness as the path to love in order to focus on living more peacefully in this world. To RSVP, contact Suzette Boulais at zetter3@comcast.net. See more details Worship Service Worship Service December 22, 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am Sanctuary See more details Coffee Hour Coffee Hour December 22, 2024 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Patio See more details Mah Jongg for UUs Mah Jongg for UUs December 22, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Fellowship Hall Do you play Mah Jongg or do you want to learn? Join the fun on 2nd and 4th Sundays! Bring your own drink and snack, and if you have a Mah Jongg set or mat, bring it, too. Contact Char Rickey at spinwool7@aol.com or 309-472-7085 or Evan Stubbs at sirstubby@hotmail.com or 575-621-5519 with questions. See more details Sacred Rest Sacred Rest December 22, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Zoom (Link to come) Sacred Rest Sunday, Dec. 22, 4pm; Attend on Zoom (link to come) You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect. ~ Tricia Hersey in Rest is Resistance You deserve time to rest. Come and practice in community. On fourth Sundays, the Central Illinois Religious Educators will facilitate a guided rest experience on Zoom for our four congregations in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, and Springfield. Create a comfortable nest with a blanket or pillow, grab some water, and bring a journal if you wish. We’ll draw from the work of Tricia Hersey. If you would like a copy, her books and nap deck are on bookshelf.org. Watch for the Zoom link to come in the UU News. When you use the link, add your name and location. See more details • • • • •	23 Covenant Circle Covenant Circle December 23, 2024 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm See more details •	24 Christmas Eve Service Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sanctuary “Lessons and Carols for Christmas Eve” For Christmas Eve, we share the message of Jesus’ birth through ancient and modern texts and beautiful music. This service will feature violin music from EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks and piano and organ from Sherry Seckler. Members, friends, family, and visitors are invited. See more details Virtual Only: ACLU* Virtual Only: ACLU* December 24, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm See more details Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 December 24, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr as we invite guest presenters and talk about videos of current events, religion, and politics. We aspire to use empathy, humility, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassionate communications to discuss new insights, controversy, disinformation, irrationality, and magical thinking. See more details • • •	25 Christmas Day - Church Office Closed Christmas Day - Church Office Closed December 25, 2024 See more details UUkulele Strum Group UUkulele Strum Group December 25, 2024 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Foyer See more details • •	26 Church Office Closed Church Office Closed December 26, 2024 See more details •	27 Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email December 27, 2024 See more details Retired Men's Last Friday Lunch Retired Men's Last Friday Lunch December 27, 2024 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Childer's Eatery on University Join other retired UU men for lunch on the last Friday of the month. Questions? Email Bill Keefner at wkeef84@gmail.com. See more details • •	28
29 A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles December 29, 2024 8:45 am - 10:00 am Conference Room You are welcome to join ongoing weekly sessions of A Course in Miracles, a self-study spiritual program based on universal spiritual themes, primarily including forgiveness as the path to love in order to focus on living more peacefully in this world. To RSVP, contact Suzette Boulais at zetter3@comcast.net. See more details Worship Service Worship Service December 29, 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am Sanctuary See more details Coffee Hour Coffee Hour December 29, 2024 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Patio See more details • • •	30 Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email December 30, 2024 - December 31, 2024 See more details •	31 Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email Office Closed ~ Office Manager available by Email December 30, 2024 - December 31, 2024 See more details Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 Virtual only: ARE Humanist Discussion Group via Zoom #2 December 31, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/3rthCHr as we invite guest presenters and talk about videos of current events, religion, and politics. We aspire to use empathy, humility, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassionate communications to discuss new insights, controversy, disinformation, irrationality, and magical thinking. See more details • •

The Best Gift

Categories

Calendar

December 2024

Archives

Recent Posts