Sunday, December 11, 2022 - 11:00 a.m. “The Wisdom of the Ancients"
Rev. Michael J S Carter
Music: Second Sundays - Andy Gwynn, guitar & voice; Linda Metzner, piano
Greeters: Elizabeth Wallace & Bea Lothrop
"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” - J.R.R. Tolken, from The Fellowship Of The Ring, 1954
I want to discuss a few world views of diverse cultures that I feel can be extremely helpful today, in our chaotic and challenging world, in encouraging a healthy sense of community on a micro and macro level.
Order of Service
Gathering Music: “Spanish Fandango” (Etta Baker)
Welcome & Announcements: Marti Saltzman
Opening Words & Chalice Lighting: Diane Graham &
Rev. Michael J S Carter
Opening Hymn: #8 “Mother Spirit, Father Spirit”
Responsive Reading: #464
Second Sundays: “Fruitcake Blues” (Andy Gwynn)
Joys & Concerns
Meditation & Prayer: Rev. Michael J S Carter
Offertory: “Jesus in the Mall” (Andy Gwynn)
Sermon: The Wisdom of the Ancients – Rev. Michael J S Carter
Closing Hymn: #121 “We’ll Build a Land”
Closing Words: Rev. Michael J S Carter
Postlude: “Blues in A” (Andy Gwynn)
Music: Second Sundays - Andy Gwynn, guitar & voice; Linda Metzner, piano
Religious Education: Nursery/Pre-K caregivers: Childcare at this time is limited, and is performed as needed by either Susan Enwright Hicks, DRE, or one of our trusted childcare volunteers
Video: Evan Yanik
Sound Team: Marti Saltzman, Barbara Rogers, Ray Bockhorst, Larry Pearlman & David Reid
The YouTube video of today's service will be available Sunday afternoon, as well as all previous Sunday Services at UUCSV Productions. Click to go to YouTube here.
Joys & Concerns:
We want to hear from you about your joys and concerns. If you cannot attend in person and would like to be heard, please send your message to Rev. Michael Carter by noon on Friday so he can read it during the Sunday service.
For online offertory and/or pledge donations:
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Sunday, December 11, 2022No virtual RE11:00 a.m. at UUCSV with Susan Hicks
This Sunday we’ll learn about St. Lucia and discuss being of service to others as we continue our Blessing Bags projects. Please bring in any toothpaste, etc. donations this week.
Adult RE
Our next Adult RE discussion will be on Michael Sandal’s Justice - Episode 5: Hired Guns. Please join us Monday, January 2, 2022, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided. These discussions may be postponed if weather/road conditions are a concern.
If you have personal items (toothpaste, hand warmers, granola bars, etc.) to donate to the RE blessing bags for the unhoused please bring them in this Sunday!
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting) all are invited to join together at UUCSV for a fire circle! We’ll get cozy and enjoy s’mores, conversation and possibly a solstice meditation spiral. Susan will bring a fire pit, s’mores supplies and cider. Please bring a camp chair and
additional refreshments. Check our Facebook page and/or contact Susan (828) 450-5319 if in doubt.
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Sunday, December 18, 2022 - 11:00 a.m.
 "Hanukkah"
Rev. Michael J S Carter
It begins on the evening of Sunday, December 18, 2022, and ends on the evening of Monday, December, 26, 2022.
The Struggle for Liberation in the Face of Oppression
One of the most prominent themes of Hanukkah is the ongoing struggle for liberation in the face of oppression. In the case of Hanukkah the oppression was complete, in that it was attached to both religion and nationality. The Syrian-Greeks forbade Jews to practice their religion, declaring mere identification as a Jew to be a crime punishable by death. The question of a strong identity and the freedom to express it therefore became central to the holiday of Hanukkah. Some believe that this is "The Jewish Christmas."
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Reminder: Rev. Michael will be taking vacation from
12/26/22 – 1/3/23
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News from UUCSV Groups & Committees
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Ride Needed for Ellyn Kirschner from Charlotte to Black Mountain
If anyone will be in the Charlotte area from December 16 - 19, 2022, and headed to Black Mountain, Ellyn Kirschner, would appreciate a ride and will contribute towards gas. You can reach her at (704) 533-2694.
Greeter Appreciation
Every week you're welcomed to UUCSV by the warm smiles of our team of greeters, who arrive 45 minutes before the service to open the building and make sure everything's in place for Rev. Michael (or a guest speaker), the musicians -- and YOU! They love the job, because they love meeting visitors and new members and, of course, seeing every one of you each week. So, please share in giving a big thank you to these dedicated volunteers
(including those with asterisks who've joined the team this year).
Andy Reed, Greeters Team leader
Greeters: Bea Lothrop*, Carol Sheeler, Carrie Schmidt*, Tina Rosato, Elizabeth Wallace*, Goetz Wolff*, Heidi Blozan, Jackie Franklin, Jonathan Braden*, Larry Pearlman, Marti Saltzman, Mary Soyenova, Nancy Gavin, Paula Sirola*, Rhea Bockhorst, Sally Smith, Susan Hurley.
UUCSV Women's Group - UPDATE
The UUCSV Women's Group will meet on Thursday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. Jackie Franklin will host the gathering in the portico of the church. The focus this month will be on... FUN! We will play a fun Gift Exchange Game (see below) and tell humorous stories from holidays past. Your host will
provide drinks so bring some snacks and your smiles. Seasonal garb is
welcome. All UU members and friends who identify as female are welcome.
In the Gift Exchange Game each player brings a gift, wrapped so you can't see the gift. Each player draws a number and takes a turn in order, starting with 1. Players may choose to take a gift from the table, or she may choose to “steal” a gift from someone else.
Use your imagination and find simple gifts around your house or something you made. Examples are a poem, a book you would like to pass on, a pretty card or photo, homemade goodies or things from your garden. We also
encourage some “white elephant” gifts which makes choosing more interesting. The purpose of the game is to have fun.
Auction Update - Scarf is still available
Someone asked me if I had one more scarf like this. The scarf is available and I told the inquirer, mistakenly, that it was not. If you are that person, please contact Larry Pearlman (larryrpearlman42@gmail.com) and become the proud owner of this scarf while you add to the auction total revenue.
New Americans - UPDATE
Continued thanks to everyone for all of the generous donations for our
family. We have an abundance of infant diapers for now, but we also need big girl diapers (size 4). Gift cards are always welcome and appreciated.
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Cookie Reception & Cookie Donation
When you do your holiday baking this season, please keep our veterans in mind. Bring your home baked cookies to church on Christmas Eve (or during office hours that week). We’ll put some of the cookies out for our cookie
reception after the Christmas Eve Service. The remaining cookies will be
donated to The Vet’s Quarters. The Vets Quarters is an ABCCM project which transitions vets from homelessness to permanent housing. Located in East Asheville, 250 vets are housed and fed three times a day. It would be
wonderful if we could donate 500 festive homemade Christmas cookies to be served to the vets on Christmas Day!
Sandy Hook Vigil
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
5:15 p.m. at the Black Mountain town square
Hello all,
I am heading up plans for a vigil in remembrance of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, at the 10th anniversary of that horrific event. Please refrain from
posting the vigil on social media, to avoid attracting any kind of opposition (this is a vigil, not a protest).
Thank you,
Linda Tatsapaugh
Sacred Circle Dance for Winter Solstice
Light Center - Black Mountain
December 11, 2022 - 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Please join Maggie Moon and friends in Sacred Circle Dances to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the return of the Light.
All are welcome, high school and older. No previous experience or partners are needed and each dance is gently taught. Newcomers warmly welcomed, so come and bring a friend along! Your suggested donation of $12-15
supports the Light Center.
For this Winter Solstice event, please WEAR ALL WHITE if you can, or at least something white (such as a scarf) which symbolizes the return of the Light. We will have extra lights and candles for this festive event.
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Church office: (828) 669-8050 (email preferred during social distancing)
Michael Donnan, Office Manager (Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Rev. Michael J S Carter, (Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)Rev. Carter is available for pastoral care in the church office or virtually via Zoom or Skype. For in-person meetings, protocols of social distancing and face masks are followed. Please email Rev. Michael J S Carter to schedule an appointment.
The deadline for submissions to The Current is Tuesday at 12:00 p.m., please send yours to admin@uusv.org. For more information and guidelines on submissions for our newsletters, website, online calendar, social media, Order of Service, and member news, please see our Publishing Guidelines.
UUCSV
500 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
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