UUFTC Holiday Service and Festivities In This Issue ... · 12/12/2017  · the Catalyst 1 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2 In This Issue December theme is Circle of Life Dec. 15: Skyline Discussion

the Catalyst 1 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

In This Issue December theme is

Circle of Life Dec. 15: Skyline Discussion

Dec. 16: Holiday Service

and Party

Listening Hearts

Dec. 24: Douglas Flat

Service

Dec. 31: UU Adventurers

Hike

Green Bags Success

UU Book & Gift Shop

Minister’s Column

No Guilt Book Club

Jan.7 : World Religions

class

Photo Gallery

UUFTC Holiday Service and Festivities

With Rev. Sonya Sukalski

Sonora Hills, 19601 Greenley Road, Sonora

Saturday, December 16 3:45 pm Wassail and Carols

4 pm Service

Our special UU holiday service will be Saturday

afternoon (not Sunday) at Sonora Hills (not the library)

Come join us for this special event featuring the music of

Sincerely, Becky Miller-Cripps, and others

Potluck feast following service,

bring your favorite holiday dish

There will be no Sunday morning service this week

The only collection at the holiday service will be for the

Lambert House gift bags

Hanukkah

The proper response, as Hanukkah teaches, is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle.

Irving Greenberg

May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world... Unknown

A candle is a small thing. But one candle can light another. And

see how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other.

You are such a light. Moshe Davis

the Catalyst 2 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

Skyline Discussion Group, Friday, December 15, 3:30, Skyline Place Skyline residents, visitors and UUFTC members and friends are invited to a discussion of the

Touchstones Journal essays and quotes on “The Circle of Life.” Elie Wiesel says, “The books I

have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers

and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests. And so are you.” We will

discuss the people, books, experiences and quests that have enlivened us.

Douglas Flat Service – Tom Spiritbringer

Sunday, December 24 - 10:30

Douglas Flat Schoolhouse, 1358 Main St.

Tom Spritbringer will be doing a winter solstice presentation

UU Adventurer’s Hike

Sunday, December 31

Bob Smitheman will be leading a hike on the Green Springs Trail in the Peoria Ridge area. The

group will meet at 10:00 in the Adventist Pharmacy (formerly Bertelli’s) parking lot. Bring a hat,

water, hiking poles (if you use them), sunscreen and lunch. Boots are advised. Hike will be 3 ½ -

4 hours in duration. Call Bob 586-5975 for further information.

Listening Hearts – Adult Covenant Group, will not be meeting in December but

will resume on Saturday, January 20th.

The days have been growing shorter, ...darker.... Heading into the night of

the winter solstice, every spiritual tradition has some kind of festival of

light. Lawrence Kushner

the Catalyst 3 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

Green Baggers Rock!

Yesterday Green Baggers delivered 5602 lbs. of

nonperishable food items and $395 in cash donations to the

ATCAA Food Bank in Jamestown. This is a 40% increase

over our October collection. These donations will be

distributed by ATCAA to the various food pantries in the

county, including Interfaith.

Our totals for 2017:

Nonperishable food: 24,141 lbs.

Cash donations: $1385

Both the USFS (24) and the TC Office of Education (32) donated an unusually large number of

green bags. Also the TCAM master swimmers at Sonora Sports and Fitness contributed their

donations (35 very heavy bags).

In gratitude to all of you for your efforts to help our neighbors in need during this holiday

season. Merry Christmas and best wishes to you in the new year.

Ellen Beck, MLFP Coordinator

Editor’s Note: UUs also donated 16 full bags, don’t you think we can beat the Forest Service’s 24

next time? I will bring empty bags to every service until then.

www.uua.org/bookstore

Gather round the hearth to share these wintry tales. Drawn from

countries and cultures all around the world, these eight stories

express the magnificent and unique aspects of the winter season,

and each story is preceded by an introduction with background

information on its origins.

Ages 5 and up

the Catalyst 4 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

Minister’s Column December 2017

Expect Something Good to Happen

One of my favorite traditions is to reach out to friends and loved ones during

the holidays. Sometimes I miss this entirely – too busy with life. Sometimes

I convince myself that Valentine’s Day qualifies as a Winter Holiday and

send out a mass mailing then. Sometimes I make a photo album and post it on Facebook, hoping

friends will find it - though who knows how things bubble up in each person's feed? I used to try

to get my whole family to sign each letter – phew – those days are gone, and so is all of the

complaining that usually accompanied it.

Yesterday I was tired at the end of the day, but decided to just try a few cards. I think the part

I love is thinking of each person – even if all I am doing is attaching their address label to the

envelope. I love the looking back and looking forward, even if looking back in the context of a

particular friendship was not a peak experience. Saying what I valued or noticed to each person

helps me connect with the authenticity in the relationship. And then looking forward I just

wonder. Will I see the colleague who has moved away? Will I share another glass of wine or

mountaintop view with this being? What parts of the year are they thinking back to that we

shared? I love how this opens up the possibilities and makes me feel full of possibility.

As Rev. John Taylor says, “If we don’t expect good things to happen, it is almost certain that

they won’t. If, however, we expect the wonderful and prepare ourselves for it, there is a good

chance that our expectations will be fulfilled.”1 And I am reminded of Teri Olsson’s effort to fill

her feed on Facebook with uplifting stories. In this time when so much is outrageous, and not in

a good way, it is easy to forget that if we don’t expect good things to happen, they almost

certainly won’t.

I know the Hoedown committee is expecting good things to happen – your participation and

your enthusiasm for spreading the word about our little corner of fun and love before Valentine’s

Day, February 10th. I know that being the recipient of the expectation of good things to happen

by so many in the congregation for the installation, not to mention so many colleagues who came

and brought gifts was cell-DNA altering for me. I feel it too when I hear one of Dave Ingram’s

new compositions or taste one of his ambrosial creations. I revel in it when Patti Cherry brings in

her supplies to create a visual focus for our time together. I know it when the social- justice-

minded folks let us know of an opportunity to show up and make a difference.

I’m sure I am preaching to the choir when I say, “Expect good things to happen,” so maybe

what I should say is, “Thanks – it is so good to be part of this community!”

What good things might we dream up for 2018?

1 Touchstones Journal, A Time So Hallowed and Gracious, Winter Holidays 2017

the Catalyst 5 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

Gardeners instinctively know that flowers and plants are a continuum and that the wheel of

garden history will always be coming full circle. Francis Cabot Lowell

Common Spirit Common Ground

A monthly study of the Wisdom Literature from World Religions, an

exploration for common themes and universal truths.

Local Author/Presenter: Michael Strange

Location: Sol-Y-Breath, 14709 Mono Way

$20 donation requested each class - book $15

First Sunday each month, 2-4 pm beginning January 7, 2018

Mike Strange has been invited to present a 5-session series based on his book published in 2003.

Please join us for the class, and/or let Mike (510) 332-6736 know if you’ve an interest in attending

this series at the Fellowship house.

UUFTC: 19518 Hess Ave Sonora, CA 95370 / (209) 533-8883

Quick links: UU Fellowship of Tuolumne County/ www.uuftc.org ; Pacific Central District/ www.pcd-uua.org

UU World Magazine/ www.uuworld.org ; UUFTC Calendar/ www.uuftc.org/calendar

UU Service Committee/ www.uusc.org UU Association of Congregations/ www.uua.org

the Catalyst appears on our website twice a month. When each new issue is posted, notification of its availability is sent to all

subscribers via email. We do not share our list of addresses.

Linda DuTemple, Editor 209/928-4364 [email protected]

Laurie Livingston, Web Design

______________________________________

Rev. Sonya Sukalski, Minister / Rev. Craig Scott, Minister Emeritus

Board Members: Dusty Taylor, President; Linda DuTemple, Vice-President; Chel Oldham, Treasurer;

Janet Telford, Secretary; Pam Taylor 209/533-8883 Church Office

No Guilt Book Club

The group will not be meeting in December, next meeting will be the usual time, 4th

Tuesday of the month, January 23 and time, 7:00 p.m.

This month’s selection is A Horse Walks Into A Bar by David Grossman.

the Catalyst 6 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

UUFTC GALLERY

December 3rd Sonora Service

Rev. Craig Scott led a heartfelt service that touched

the entire congregation as was demonstrated by the

many enthusiastic and useful responses.

< Marguerite and Dave leading us in song

Beautiful & creative alters by Patti >

the Catalyst 7 Dec. 2017 Vol. 2

Check out this happy, good looking congregation (come on Rachel smile )

UUs demonstrating against new tax bill December 5th