FREEDOM MARCH WITH THE UUCL GROUP

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Monday, January 16, 10:00am

The Freedom March starts from the Lexington Center Heritage Hall, West Main Street, Lexington.

Meet the UUCL group in the corridor outside Heritage Hall at 9:00am if If you would like to march with us and carry our banner and signs. Be sure to bundle up!

Contact Stacey Stone for more information, uucldre@uucl.org.

Additional Events

Commemorative Program, 11:00am, Heritage Halls East and Center. Featured guest, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Professor of Education at Columbia University. In 2011, Dr. Hill was named one of America’s 100 most influential Black leaders by Ebony. He is a founding board member of My5th, a non-profit organization devoted to educating youth about their legal rights and responsibilities. Dr. Hill also works closely with the ACLU Drug Reform Project, focusing on drug informant policy. In 2001, he started a literacy project that uses hip-hop culture to increase school engagement and reading skills among high school students.

Free Screening of “Freedom Riders”, 2:00pm, Kentucky Theater.

Path to Membership Class - Saturday, January 14, 10:00am-Noon

Please come to this class if you are thinking of becoming a church member. Sarah Herbener, UUCL's Membership Coordinator, will facilitate a discussion about the history and mission of our church, about what brought us all to Unitarian Universalism, and about what we hope to experience as church members. At the end of the class, there will be an opportunity to sign the membership book, for those who would like to do so. Child care will be available.

Potluck lunch follows at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Please email Sarah Herbener, membership@uucl.org by January 9 to let her know you plan to participate.

During Rev. Cain’s sabbatical, we’ll share some of the congregation’s favorite Cynthesis columns from Univiews past. This is from the March, 2010 Uniview and was written after Rev. Cain had been to visit her daughter in Spain.

Cynthesis: Fresh Eyes

On the way home from Spain (that’s fun to say!) I read a meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh in which one says, “I love my eyes...” It is from a book called TRUE LOVE. It does not mean that one thinks he/she has beautiful eyes, but that we remember daily to be thankful for our eyes which help us to see, and to learn, and to enjoy visual beauty.

It gave me pause, for I had just been in a country where people were very interested in blue eyes (which I have and which are rare) and commented on the appearance of my eyes. Fresh eyes are eyes, whatever the color, that are willing to see things anew, over and over, until they close for the last time. In Buddhist teachings, this is called “beginner’s mind.”

Nothing is so freeing as to admit that we don’t know it all, we may be wrong, and we can be completely changed for the better by life’s circumstances, even, especially, the hard ones. That’s what I was thinking about several years ago when I got my first (only) tattoo at age fifty: Om mani padme hum, the jewel in the lotus. There is a hidden beauty and gem in almost everything. And everything is more complex and multi-faceted than we’d like to imagine.

What I saw with fresh eyes this time was my own homeland. T.S. Eliot wrote: We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. That is how I felt!

In the past, I have tended to agree with Europeans who think that all Americans are like the quintessential “ugly American” who is loud, ignorant, rude, etc. I didn’t actually think that, but I could see why they did. This time, I listened more carefully and looked around. I was actually accused of asking too many questions! But at the same time, almost no one asked me a single question about me. How strange. How could they judge me, then? Americans are, like any other nationality, as diverse and impossible to categorize as they can be, but they are nothing if not gregarious, interested, affable, and, in general, ethical. I don’t know what has changed since my last foray abroad, other than two things:

Obama, and Haiti. But now I see the extraordinary generosity of spirit and the determination to seek justice that characterizes my people, the American people. I was so delighted to come home and see their big goofy smiles and hear their loud laughter. Fresh eyes!!

With Love, Cynthia

See Page 8 for list of Sunday services during Rev. Cain’s sabbatical.

Our Journey Together

Religious Exploration (RE)

for Children and Families

Stacey Stone, Director of Religious Exploration

for Children & Youth

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart not in the mind." Lionel Hampton

Our Caring Gifts touched many people over the holiday season. We received notes of appreciation saying how much the visit, gift and carolling meant, including "Very nice! People care!" from Eldon Smith.

I know the children had a good time decorating the bags and the teens helped fill them with fun donations. Thank you to everyone who brought in items for the gifts!

A warm thank you to everyone who donated to our Share the Warmth offering. On Christmas Eve, we served a delicious breakfast at the Catholic Action Center and gave colorful scarves, hats and gloves to many people. Toboggan knit caps were in high demand! If you have some new or like-new knit caps please bring them to UUCL or donate them directly to a program helping those in need.

We had a large number of families helping out over the holidays, but please remember that UUCL sponsors the Catholic Action Center Breakfast every fourth Saturday.

Contact office@uucl.org if you would like to help bring food, cook and serve breakfast. Next date: January 28. This is a great activity for families!

Upcoming Events

· Mystery Pals – This is a chance for a teen or adult to correspond with a child (age 5-12 years) starting ASAP, then they get to meet on Sunday, February 12 at 10:00am.

If you want to be a Pal but are not able to meet at the pancake breakfast, we will make other arrangements. Contact Stacey to sign up or for more information, uucldre@uucl.org.

· Parents’ Night Out

Our next PNO is coming soon. Contact: uucldre@uucl.org for additional information.

Activities, snack, movies and supervised fun are provided. Thank you for supporting this ongoing RE fundraiser!

· MLK Day Freedom March - Another great activity for families and people of all ages is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March in downtown Lexington on Monday, January 16. Bundle up and help carry our UUCL banners!

See details on page 2 of the Uniview.

· “CREATE-A-CON” - UUCL is proud to be hosting "CREATE-A-CON" for middle school students in January. Our experienced high school students will be Workshop Leaders.

If you would like to help with the Food Crew preparing and serving meals (lunch, dinner, snacks and breakfast) to the teens and their advisors, please let Stacey know.

Registration: If your middle school student would like to attend, you must go to www.heartlanduu.org for the registration forms. Registration Deadline: Saturday, January 14.

Upcoming Studios

This semester in RE Studios (grades 1-8) we will be learning about the 7 sources, with a special focus on "Wisdom from the world's religions."

If you would like to learn more about the 7 sources of UU faith, you can volunteer to be a Leader or Guide this semester. You can also visit http://www.uua.org for more information.

We love the RE volunteers who bring their heart and energy to every class and group working preschool through high school!

We have openings in a number of classes. Thank you for finding time to help.

Online Training Reminder

Darkness2light.org has a highly recommended training program available online to help people learn to protect children from sexual abuse. If you have a computer, you can take this 2.5-3 hour training at convenient times for you (the fee is only $10).

To help us know how many people from UUCL have completed the training, please send an email to uucldre@uucl.org when you’ve finished it.

A heartfelt thank you for the generous gifts of appreciation and special lunch at UUCL on Dec 11 in my honor. I was surprised, and deeply moved with the overwhelming support, not to mention the life sized photos! I feel blessed to work at this church in this community, with families and people I love,

Warmest wishes for a New Year full of wonder,

Stacey

uucldre@uucl.org

Stacey Stone Director of Religious Exploration

PianoForte Notes

Sally McCord, Music Director

Mother Spirit, Father Spirit where are you?

In the sky song, in the forest, sounds your cry

What to give you, what to call you, what am I?

I am empty, time flies from me, what is time?

Dreams eternal, fears infernal haunt my heart.

What to give you, what to call you, O, my God?

-Words and Music by Norbert Capek

Do you ponder these ephemeral questions? This hymn is only one example of the many ways UUs give credence to the art of questioning. Music is one of the most deeply satisfying ways to explore the philosophical, the unanswerable and the deeply mystical, especially when we do it together.

Does the New Year give you the impetus to try something different and exciting? Come and be a part of the music program at UUCL. No matter how you make music, it will enhance your spiritual journey.

Music Calendar

Adult Choir

Wednesday evening practices, 7:00-8:30pm

Sunday morning practices for the services that we sing are at 9:00am.

Social Time: The third Wednesday of every month is our "hang out after rehearsal time" for food, beverage and company. Come join us!

January

11 Wednesday - Adult Choir Practice resumes

We will review a song to be ready for the Jan 15

service, a surprise for our fellow UUs

15 Choir will sing for this service on Addiction

18 Wednesday Choir Practice

25 Wednesday Choir Practice

29 Choir sings for this service, a premier work!

Another treat for our congregation!!

February

1 Wednesday Choir Practice

8 Wednesday Choir Practice

12 Choir will sing for this service of LOVE

15 Wednesday Choir Practice

22 Wednesday Choir Practice

Looking Ahead, Musically

Sunday, February 26, 4:00pm in Richmond KY. Our UUCL choir will sing for the Building Dedication Service at the Richmond KY UU. We hope to do a choir exchange by having their crew join us one Sunday as well. Plans are being finalized as this goes to press. Come be a part of this exciting musical UU exchange!

Kids Music Program

Back by popular demand, our Children’s Music Program will resume .

Community Drumming at UUCL

This new program, for the beginner and the expert, starts January 14. It is on Saturdays from 11:00am-Noon in the Allen House East.

Open to all, no experience necessary, facilitated by Diana and Caitlyn Warnken. A registered nurse, Caitlyn is a part of the Health Rhythms program and Diana will be teaching us new drumming patterns.

Bring a drum, but if you don’t have one, don’t let it stop you from coming, we have a few extras to share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please care of yourself during these winter months, let as much light and sunshine into your life as possible, sing everyday for deep cleansing breathes and the joy of being alive.

Musically yours,

Sally

Sally McCord, Music Director

office@uucl.org

Service Auction 2012

Woodstock Comes to UUCL on February 25

For those who don’t know, the Service Auction is a UU fund raising tradition. It is typically UUCL’s largest fundraising event of the year, providing us all with an opportunity to come together and buy and sell services, sign up for activities, and trade other unique and interesting items.

Over the years, the Service Auction has been an important part of UUCL culture, generating many fun memories of costumes, entertainment, activities, services, vacations, and events that take place throughout the year.

Who knows what this year’s costume contest and decoration theme of “Woodstock: Were you there? Wish you were there? Or were there and don’t remember? Now’s your chance to live or re-live the moment!” may bring out from some of the hippies of all ages at UUCL. This year, one challenge that has been issued so far is to see who can come up with the best Janis Joplin costume.

This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday evening, February 25, and will feature:

· A live auction facilitated by Mike Gooch, UUCL’s favorite professional fast talking, bid calling, auctioneer

· A silent auction organized and arranged by Linda Richardson, the mastermind behind UUCL’s successful and visually exciting 2011 garage sale

· A new reverse services option where you list services that you need and people bid to fill them

· Tasty food and snacks prepared by Sharon Schilling

· Entertainment appearances by UUCL’s talented actors, musicians, comedians, and performers

· A large array of fun and fellowship providing services, activities, dinners, parties, vacations, and unique items to choose from

Start thinking about what services or activities you might like to provide or solicit (a pottery class, a Greek dinner, a fancy evening of wine tasting and grand piano playing, a hike in the Red River Gorge, a time-share rental at the beach, a game night at your house, having your faded guest room repainted an elegant Victorian green). Stay tuned for upcoming information about educational workshops that will give a chance to learn more about how to participate and will provide a preview of what to expect.

Please feel free to share any suggestions regarding decoration props, costumes, offers to help!, or anything else at all with the Service Auction Team, office@uucl.org.

HOLLEY BOOKSTORE NEWS

Another Profitable Year, Thanks for Participating, and January Specials!

Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who continues to help make our Holley Bookstore profitable.

Thank you to all of you who participated in my Mystery Tea Tastings in November and December! My boys and I had great fun with the tastings and I hope those of you who participated had the chance to try a new tea or two. Perhaps you even found a new favorite. I am still waiting to hear the results of the Travel to India contest and am hopeful that I may be going to India to visit tea farmers!

Please keep buying your Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, cards, bracelets, Peel Pals, and, of course, books from our own Holley Bookstore. We are making a difference for many people in our world, including ourselves.

January Specials

Equal Exchange Mind, Body & Soul Coffee $7.00

Equal Exchange English Breakfast Tea $3.50

Equal Exchange Hot Cocoa $5.50

Equal Exchange Very Dark Chocolate Bar $2.75

Equal Exchange’s new tea line is terrific both for the excellent taste of the different teas and their continuing commitment to small farmer tea cooperatives in India and Sri Lanka. When you purchase Equal Exchange teas you can be sure that the farmers are profiting and re-investing their money in their farms to produce excellent teas.

Come by to stock up on a favorite or try something new! We are always happy to see you when you come by to make your purchases.

I wish you peace and much happiness in the New Year.

Ruuf Top Cafe Returns

Sundays, January 15 and February 5

Breakfast is available from 9:00-10:30am. Brunch served after church, from 12:15-1:00pm. Profits go to the “ruuf” fund.

Organize your own group and meet for brunch. Make reservations, and we'll arrange a special table just for your group. How easy is that? Email: office@uucl.org.

Humanist Forum

Wednesday, January 11, 7:00-8:30pm, Allen House

Geoff Young, UUCL member and Green Party candidate for the 45th district state house seat, will lead a brainstorming session on "A Political Strategy for Humanists". People of all beliefs are welcome at these discussions. Childcare is provided. Contact: Dick Renfro, frickdan@windstream.net.

Silver Chalice and Chuck Sohner Awards

Recommendations Requested

The Nominating Committee is now accepting recommendations for these awards, which will be given this spring in order to catch up to the current year.

A member may only receive each award once. Any member of UUCL may be suggested for the award.

Silver Chalice Award – conferred upon two individuals who have significantly benefitted the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington over an extended period of time.

Chuck Sohner Award – conferred upon one individual who has significantly benefitted society over an extended period of time.

Recommendation Process

To facilitate the Committee’s decision-making process, priority will be given to written recommendations which include the following:

• Name of person or people, and award for which

they are being recommended

• Their membership date

• Reason(s) person is being recommended

• Supporting evidence, such as dates of

participation.

Recommendations may be emailed to any Nominating Committee member, office@uucl.organd will be kept confidential.

Thank you,

Larry Iaquinta, chair

Vegan Cooking Class

Sunday, January 29, 12:30-2:00pm

Join Leslie Dodd and friends in the Fellowship Hall for lunch, nutritional guidance, recipes and inspiring tips.

$10 per person. Reservations Required: office@uucl.org.

Your Fundraising Committee Thanks You

The Fundraising Committee thanks everyone who has participated in our 2011 projects, including the garage sale, concert series, Kroger gift card use, summer BBQ, Mini Farmers’ Market, and Craft Fair Bake Sale. Check the fund raising page on the church website (http://uucl.org/fundraising.htm) for more information about recent, current, and upcoming projects, including church donations as part of EBay sales, and establishment of an aluminum collection and recycling process.

3^rd Annual Fair Trade Chocolate Night

Saturday, February 11, 7:00pm

Plan now to bake a treat for, and/or attend the 3rd Annual Fair Trade Chocolate Night (and RE fundraiser). Lively music, and good times or all! There will be childcare offered for this delicious event. For more information, contact: uucldre@uucl.org.

OLLI Spring Class Registration

Tates Creek Christian Church, 3^rd Floor Gym

Wednesday, January 19, 10:00am-Noon

OLLI at UK offers educational and enrichment classes created for dynamic lifelong learners aged 50+ who are continually searching for exciting topics and exploring new opportunities in learning. Classes fill up fast!

Spaceship Earth Course Taught by Dave Carpenter

UUCL member Dave Carpenter will teach an OLLI course, “Spaceship Earth II”, on Tuesdays, February 7 through March 27 from 10:00am-Noon, at Twin Pines Christian Church, 1139 Tanbark, Lexington. This class will primarily consider natural resources and interactions between humanity and the Earth.

Although this is the second of a two-part course focusing on the Earth, our home in the vastness of the universe, newcomers are welcome.

Ongoing Activities at UUCL

Classes Listed on UUCL Calendar

Many non-church activities take place in our facilities each week. These and other activities are listed on our website.

Jazzercise: Jazzercise classes are offered seven days a week, at a variety of times. Contact Robin Jennings, Certified Jazzercise Instructor, robin.jennings@insightbb.com.

Taoist Tai Chi: Wednesday Evening, Fellowship Hall. A new beginner's class will start Wednesday, Feb 1 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. For more information about the classes at UUCL, contact: taoisttaichilexington@gmail.com.

Open Heart Yoga: Monday and Thursday evenings, Tuesday morning, Great Hall. For more information about the classes at UUCL, contact: http://www.oh-yoga.com.

OLLI: UUCL is a frequent host to OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UK) courses. There will be acting classes this spring, as well as a beginning Taoist Tai Chi class.

For the Fayette Cooperating Preschool and Kindergarten, only events that take place outside regular school hours or use a different part of the buildings or grounds are included on the calendar.

Co-op, which leases the lower level of our main building, is a non-profit, non-discriminatory, independent educational institution that is licensed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Co-op shares our facilities year-round. For more information about Co-op, contact: www.coopschool.org.

Christmas Eve Service Thanks

Sally McCord and Marie Conger would like to thank everyone who helped make Christmas Eve at UUCL a memorable event. This year, we felt it was more important than ever to produce a memorable service that would resonate with the evening's diverse congregation: new members, veteran members, once-a-year visitors and everyone in between.

More than 40 volunteers came together to accomplish that goal, and create an evening that exemplified our terrific community. Thanks to all the volunteers - for greeting, reading, singing, playing music, decorating, and/or participating in the manger.

UUCL member Barbara Kemp, who knew she couldn't attend due to work, wanted to be a part of the service and gathered material for our stories.

UUs Inspired by Jesus Fellowship group would like to thank everyone for viewing and participating in the third annual Christmas Eve Service Nativity Scene. As always, the kids had a lot of fun and this year Eileen O’Donohue's sheep were a big hit! We would also like to invite everyone to come hear Rev. David Chumney speak at the January 29th service, which our group is sponsoring.

Here’s a tasty fundraising suggestion from Jeanne Van Arsdall: At our office, many of us give Christmas and holiday cards to each other. Since many of my office friends are chocolate lovers, I put two small Equal Exchange chocolates in each card. This was a big hit and good publicity for Equal Exchange. You could also do this for birthday, anniversary and get well cards. People would probably get well quicker since dark chocolate is good for you!

Sabbatical Sundays

Service Schedule and Guidelines

Each service during Rev. Cain’s sabbatical has a Worship Associate supporting it – and sometimes leading it. If you want to assist with a service in any way, please first ask a Worship Associate. They will make sure the Worship Leader is able to accommodate a request. Due to safety concerns, we will not use candles as decoration, and any use must be pre-approved.

If you want the board member on duty at Sunday’s service to make an announcement related to a particular church function or activity, please send your request and information to office@uucl.org by 10:00am Thursday.

SUNDAY	SPEAKER
January 15	David Shadd, Hope Center
January 22	UU Rev. Dawn Cooley
January 29	Rev. Dave Chumney
February 5	Dave Cooper, MTR Road Show
February 12	All Ages Service, Stacey Stone
February 19	Mary Crone
February 26	UU Rev. Elwood Sturtevant
March 4	Buddhist Sangha /Kari O’Connor
March 11	Heather Carpenter
March 18	Mark Adams
March 25	UU Rev. Dawn Cooley
April 1 – Rev. Cain Returns

Next Uniview Deadline

Wednesday, January 25, noon

Next issue covers February 2 – February 29 Send items to office@uucl.org

Group/Committee News

Breakfast at the Catholic Action Center: Saturday, January 28, 8:30am. UUs are invited to come and help cook breakfast for the homeless. We meet at the Center, 400 E. Fifth Street, at 8:30am and are usually finished by 9:30 am.

Fundraising Committee: Sunday, 2/5, 12:30pm in Classroom 1. The committee collects, discusses, and helps implement ideas related to church-wide fund raising.

Humanist Forum: Second Wednesday of the month, 7:00-8:30pm. Wednesday, January 11. We welcome people of all beliefs. Childcare is provided. Contact Dick Renfro, (859) 255-7029, frickdan@windstream.net.

LexCUUPS: Sundays 12:30pm, Allen House. LexCUUPS promotes the practice and understanding of Pagan and Earth centered spirituality within a UU environment. We meet on Sundays after the service for program, discussion, and business. All interested persons are welcome to attend. Contact Brian Shorkey, coragus@hotmail.com, for more information.

Interweave: On hiatus till February. Interweave is the GLBTQ and allies social/support group in the church. We welcome all interested people to attend. Contact interweave@uucl.org.

Men’s Night Out: Tuesday, 2/7, 7:00pm. We meet the first Tuesday of each month for an evening of fellowship. All UU men and friends are welcome.

Moms’ Group: Saturday, 1/14, 10:30am, Panera on Richmond Road, Lexington. Are you a mom? No matter what labels we use or what other roles we play in our lives, the bond of motherhood ties us all together. Come share in that common bond

with the UUCL Moms' Group. We meet the second Saturday of every month. Newcomers are ALWAYS welcome. Contact office@uucl.org

Peacemaking Subcommittee: Sunday, 1/29, 12:30pm in Classroom 2. Contact Geoff Young, 859-278-4966 or energetic@windstream.net.

Website: http://newantiwarmovement.blogspot.com/2010/06/welcome-to-newantiwarmovement.html

Sitting Meditation: Sundays, 9:00am in the Allen House. Vipassana-style meditation, in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Please be on time and remove shoes before entering. Contact Carol Lowery, rettor@aol.com, 264-8056.

Sunday Sangha: Sundays, 9:45am in the Allen House. A group-led, adult Buddhist discussion hour. Each week a different member presents a Buddhist topic, reading, teaching and/or a practice. The conversation is then opened to the group with an intention to more fully understand and apply its principles to modern life. All paths and drop-ins are welcome. Contact indigohilldesigns@gmail.com.

UU Community of Frankfort: Sundays, 1/15, 1/22, 2/6, 10:30am. Services are held in the storefront space at 859 E. Main St., behind the East Side Diner (in Frankfort). Visit: www.frankfortuu.org.

UUs Inspired by Jesus Fellowship: Sunday, 2/12, 12:30pm, Music Room. We are a fellowship group centered around an interest in and an inspiration in the life and message of Jesus as well as in the religious tradition of Christianity. Regular monthly discussion meetings on the second Sunday of the month at 12:30pm, following the service. All are invited and welcome to attend.