Family Promise is a nonprofit organization serving homeless families to provide resources that enable families to move from homelessness to home. These resources include compassionate care, hospitality, professional support, lodging, meals, donated goods, and – most importantly – volunteers.

Family Promise’s shelter program relies on a partnership of interfaith congregations, civic organizations, and other volunteer groups to help families facing homelessness. Host sites provide lodging, meals, and hospitality to families in need. For families in the program, each day begins with breakfast available at the host site with volunteers, followed by a van ride to their Day Center. In the evening, guests return to the host site, where volunteers provide dinner and spend some quality time. The evening hours are for homework, relaxing, and family fun time, as they would be with any family. Each day begins with the family together, and ends with the family all together, under one roof.

Their programs also include Prevention from Homelessness and a Road to Success. For more details visit their website at www.familypromisehcr.org

Tonight – Book Selection for January – October 2025.

The UUCV Book Group meets at 6:30 pm on the 4th Sunday of each month for a lively, thoughtful discussion on our worship ZOOM channel https://zoom.us/my/uucvpa

Tonight, we will select our books for January-October of 2025. Everyone is invited to nominate two books, which will be voted on by those in attendance. Please submit your title suggestions to Bev Motich by no later than Sunday, November 17th.

You don’t have to be a regular participant in this group to suggest a book and get involved! We’d love to have you join us!

We are taking orders for poinsettias to once again fill our sanctuary with beauty and to recognize our loved ones.

Contact Pam in the office [email protected] or 717/249-8944 to complete a form for you. You can then send in a check marked “poinsettia” in the memo line…$15.00 per flower.

Orders need to be received by Sunday, December 1.
Please take your poinsettia with you after service on Sunday, December 22 or on Christmas Eve.

There will be a short town hall on Sunday, December 8 following worship. The Finance Committee will share mid-year financial information as well as a few budget revisions.

On Monday, December 9 the Downstairs will be closed for floor cleaning and waxing. The Downstairs will remain closed on Tuesday, December 10 for drying.

Staff will be working remotely on these days. The Upstairs floors will be scheduled for 2025 and dates will be shared when scheduled. Thanks for your cooperation.

Volunteers will be needed to help move some tables/chairs from the dining room into the classrooms following the town hall on December 8. See Paula Terry or Denny Stone.

The Choir will seing “In December” a lovely choral piece for the holidays. on Sunday December 22nd. Rehearsals will be right after church on the following Sundays.
Today-will hand out the music for those who are at service and have a rehearsal. December 8th, December 15, December 22 before serivce at. 9:45

Please inform Carole if you need babysitting services. [email protected]

Are you interested in personal and spiritual development? Do you consider yourself a life-long learner? Would you like to deepen your connections with fellow congregants and friends of UUCV? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then the Adult Religious Education (RE) group might be just what you’re looking for.

Join us on Sunday January 5th at 9 AM in the boardroom for a planning session where we will propose and decide upon the topics for our next series of Adult RE classes to be held February through May. The planning session will last approximately one hour. If you can’t make the meeting in-person, you can join via Zoom using this link: https://zoom.us/my/meetingsuucv.

Questions? Reach out at any time to Keith Bittinger at [email protected]

On SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, we will deliver a special HOLIDAY DINNER to the CARES Resource Center on W Penn St in Carlisle. This meal will need to feed at least 40-50 people.
Your donated items can be brought to the church kitchen & labeled for CARES, or to the church parking lot between 3:00-3:30 on Sunday, December 15.

Please sign up by emailing Pam [email protected] at the church office.

2 Large Hams – Cash or Check donations needed to purchase from Costco.

SIDE DISHES-Potato, Pasta, Vegetable Casseroles At least 5 or 6 Large ones Suggestions : potato & sweet potato casseroles, green bean/broccoli casseroles, spinach dishes, baked corn, Mixed Roasted Veggies, Baked Squash

BUTTER – 2 lbs.

HOLIDAY COOKIES – At least 9 or 10 Dozen needed

December 8 Game Night for all

Cultures all over the world have used spirals to represent internal paths and provide opportunities for reflections. In the cold, dark nights of winter, we look forward to the winter solstice as it means the days will begin to get longer again.
Join us as we walk the Solstice Spiral, a magical and meaningful winter solstice ritual that offers us a unique opportunity for self-reflection about the past year and a space for intention setting as we move through the season of the cold, dark winter.

We will meet at 6:00 PM in the Dining Room.

This time of year, I like to think about my blessings. One of these is accessible public education. Education, particularly at the secondary level, is not accessible to many Mozambiquan teenagers who live hours away from the nearest high school.

The UUCV Mozambique Bursary Project provides rural girls with the opportunity to attend high school. $445 dollars provides one girl with room and board, school uniforms and supplies, and hygiene materials for one year. Our contributions also pay the salaries of the boarding center housemothers and security guards. Donations of any size help and are gratefully received.

Our auction was a great success and hope all of you that attended had a wonderful time. AND….the really good news is there are still events open for anyone to sign-up for. Please check out the sign-ups on the Auction Table in the Social Hall. Sign up for the event you want and send payment to Pam in the office with “Auction” written in the memo line.

December 12 7:00 PM Christmas Sing-a-Long $20 (Susan Vernon & Carole Knisely)

January 24 6 – 8:30 PM Date Night Drop Off $25 ($10 each additional child) (Lynn Sodora and Pam Martin)

January 31 6:30 PM Before, During & After for Poetry Lovers $30 (Wendy Gebb and Cheryl Parsons)

Mitten Tree Collection begins Sunday, 12/1/24: We will be collecting NEW winter gloves, mittens, scarves, hats and thick socks through Sunday, December 15th. All items will be donated to Community CARES in Carlisle.

Slowly, the 2024 growing season is coming to an end.
A thank you to the volunteers who maintained specific UUCV beds. A special challenge during long, hot spells. Job well done: Emily Balog, Susan Stonecash, Dee Lauderbaugh, Rebecca Fratanuno, Carole DeWall, Brent Dickerson and Paula Terry.
**Plus, a big thank you to the helpers during B&G Work Days who moved mulch and trimmed shrubbery.

These classes will be held on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 am in the Board Room or join via Zoom at https://zoom.us/my/meetingsuucv (572 887 2212).

December 1: The Great Filter Theory
Discussion leader: Matt Burr

December 15: What does activism look like in your life?

Maybe you’re a seasoned activist, or maybe an aspiring one, or maybe activism has never really been your thing. We’ll have an open discussion of what activism looks like in our lives and consider the different forms activism can take.

Who doesn’t love a nice hot meal surrounded by friends?  Join in the fun by bringing a favorite dish and game while in your comfiest clothes.

Please add your name and # of attendees to the list located in the Social Hall on the Volunteer Table even if you are not sure of what to bring just yet.

Reach out to Emily Cappucci with questions at 737/422-6710 or [email protected]

Check out UUCV Announcements on our website www.uucv.org under NEWS or https://uucv.org/about/news/announcements-2-2/