ANNOUNCEMENTS

•  Introducing Faith Matters - Our New Publication
According to Cheryll Wallace, our Director of Religious Education, the purpose of Faith Matters is to "support parents as they go about the awesome task of nurturing the spirits of their children."  Faith Matters will be sent out quarterly to our families as a way to help nurture our UU faith in their homes.  You can read Faith Matters on the church website at http://www.firstuuomaha.org/files/Publ/faithmatters.pdf.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

•  Courageous Measurers on Tall Ladders Needed
 The windows in the sanctuary need to be covered with dark paper for the December 20 morning services.  Cheryll Wallace will need 2 or 3 people willing to take charge of this project.  She will provide the paper and tape.  You will need to measure the windows, cut out the paper, hang the coverings using a tall ladder, and then take the coverings down no later then Wednesday morning, Dec. 23.  Contact Cheryll Wallace.

•   YRUU – Donations Requested
The Stephen Center Emergency Shelter operated at 144% capacity in 2008, and the Stephen Center programs served over 100,000 meals to the hungry and provided 43,551 nights of shelter.
The majority of shelter clientele is women and children, often arriving with only the clothes on their backs. To make this transition a little more comforting for the children, YRUU will be putting together WELCOME BAGS to give the kids.  We will tie dye pillow cases and fill them with some essential items that the families will need. 
The YRUU needs your help to help make this service project a success!  Below is a list of items we are in need of. We would welcome any donations.  Nothing is too small. If you have access to any of these items or you know someone that works where these items might be available as a donation or a low cost, please let us know!

Items We Need:
White Pillow Cases
Ribbon to tie cases
Fleece Blankets of any kind (please consider donating fabric for YRUU to make homemade tie blankets)
Shampoo/Conditioner/Shower Gel (any size, sample sizes)
Combs/Brushes
Activity Books, Cards, small games of any kind, crayons

PLEASE BRING ITEMS TO CHURCH - Collection bins will be at both 1st and 2nd church for the next few Sundays. 

• Prairie Star District Annual Awards.  The Prairie Star District gives annual awards to Unitarian Universalists in the district who have made significant contributions in the areas listed below.  Our church's Nominating Committee is charged with selecting and submitting the nominees to the PSD.  We are asking the congregation to offer names of potential nominees.  Please submit your suggestions by any of the following methods: 1) Putting the PSD form from this month’s Flame into the collection plate on Sunday 2) Submitting the form to the office by US Mail or email; 3) Sending the form to the Nominating Committee convener, Marie Sedlacek, or any member of the committee.  Please submit names by November 26.
    —  Unsung UU Award affirms those UU's whose actions inspire, support, and express Unitarian Universalism, but have not been previously recognized.  The award is given to a person or group whose lifetime activities have made a significant contribution to the cause of Unitarian Universalism.
    —  Keeping the Faith Award was established to recognize people who live by UU principles.  It is presented to persons who have worked to keep Unitarian Universalism alive in their community and who touch the lives of congregation and community members in a positive way. (Established in 2000)
    —  PSD Social Justice Award pays tribute to those who witness to the ideals of social justice and responsibility so important to our UU heritage.  Two awards are presented: one to an adult and one to a youth (under age 18).
    —  O. Eugene Pickett Award is presented annually to a congregation that has made an outstanding contribution to the growth of Unitarian Universalism.  The PSD recipient of this award will be our nominee for the UUA O. Eugene Pickett Award.
    —  Ellie Morton Award to honor an individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to religious education in our District.  The award recipient is selected by the Lifespan Faith Development Council.
    —  Betty Gorshe Heritage Award to recognize an individual or group who have made a significant contribution to preserving, understanding, and celebrating our Unitarian Universalist history.  The award recipient is selected by the Heritage and Archives Committee.

•  Share the Plate.  The Share the Plate recipient for November is the Siena/Francis House.

LEARN TO DANSPEAK

• Learn DanSpeak, the language of effective church leadership.  It’s easier than Esperanto, more fun than Pig Latin.  Our blueprint for governance change is Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership by Dan Hotchkiss. Dan uses a number of terms differently than you might expect.  Today’s DanSpeak Quiz definition is: “In Dan’s book, the terms _____ and ministry are used to differentiate between two spheres of leadership in congregations.  _____ means “owning” the congregation, exercising ul­timate control of its human and material resources and ensuring that it serves its mission.  _____ is holding the whole institution and its work in trust, voicing its intentions, making its biggest decisions, and taking responsibility for its performance.  _____ produces minutes, policies, mission statements, goals, and strategic-planning documents.  _____ is the job of the Board.”

Is the missing DanSpeak word: a) Oversight b) Governance, c) Strategy, or d) Ministry?    Learn more about our governance change process.

SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 21

•  Youth Advisor Meeting — 8:00 A.M. to Noon — Whitney Young Room

•  Rehearsal for Sunday’s Service — 10:00 A.M. — Sanctuary

SUNDAY – November 22

•  Sunday Services.  9:30 A.M.:  Eclectic Service;  11:15 A.M.:  Traditional Service
Gratitude and Praise - Rev. Kate Rohde

•  The Women's Alliance is having a delicious Bake Sale THIS Sunday.  In addition they will be selling All- Natural Glycerin Soaps in the following fragrances: Wine, Lemon-lavender, Bewitched (floral), Cranberry Sauce, Fairy Dust and Man-Up (a masculine-scent).  These attractively packaged bars will be $5.50 and are lovely gift ideas, stocking-stuffers or wonderful additions to your own bathrooms.

•  Be a part of a Caring Congregation.  Please take a few minutes during coffee hour Sunday morning to pick up Thanksgiving cards for some of our long-time or distant church members.  We have many members who are unable to join us on Sunday mornings and would enjoy hearing from other First Unitarians.  Addresses will be printed on the back of an insert in this Sunday’s order of service and greeting cards will be provided in the common room.

•  7:00 P.M. — Creative/Art Night — Whitney Young Room
Need a little quiet time to feed your creative impulse?  Bring your passion — writing, painting, journaling, quilting, drawing, etc., and simply work without interruption.  Contact Kate Godfrey.

NEXT WEEK

•  November 25 — Choir Rehearsal — 7:00 P.M. — Sanctuary

• November 26-27 — OFFICE CLOSED in observance of Thanksgiving. 
Because of the shortened week, please have announcements for the e-broadcast and order of service in the office by Wednesday (the 25th) at 9:00 A.M.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

•  November 29 — Sunday Services.  9:30 A.M.:  Eclectic Service;  11:15 A.M.:  Traditional Service
Partner Church Committee co-lead with Cheryll Wallace
We Need Not Think Alike to Love Alike

•  November 30 — First Unitarian Book Club — 7:00 P.M. — Merritt Lounge
For November we decided to do something on the lighter side.  We will discuss humorist, David Sedaris' collection titled When You are Engulfed in Flames (available in paperback from Amazon for $9.35.).  We chose to forego a December meeting and next meet on January 25 when we will discuss Half the Sky; Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (available in hardbound from Amazon for $15.97).

• December 12 — Annual Holiday Dinner —Common Room.  The social hour starts at 5:30 P.M. followed by dinner at 6:30 P.M.   We will enjoy Pat Allender leading us in a sing-along at the dinner.  The delectable menu (including vegetarian selections) will be prepared by Attitudes on Food.  The cost is $17.00 per person.  Your check is your reservation.  However, if confidential financial assistance would make it possible for you to attend, please contact Cheryll Wallace at the church.  Reservation forms can be found in the November Flame and this Sunday’s Order of Service.  Reservations must reach the church office by Monday, December 7th.  Please make your childcare reservation when you RSVP for the dinner.  Pizza and all the fixings will be provided.
 

Please visit the Social Justice/Green Sanctuary web page. Don't miss the GREEN TIPS OF THE WEEK! Submit your own Green Tip to Ken Deffenbacher or Glenn Pollock.