This Sunday is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In this dark time let's come together to celebrate the holiday season and keep hope alive! Join us for this festive, earth-based holiday service.
Emily White will give the Time for All Ages,
Priscilla Shumway will be our Worship Associates,
with music provided by our House Band.
9:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex - Children ages 5 and under are welcome in the nursery 9:30am - 12:15pm. - Children ages 7 and under are welcome after RE classes until 12:15pm.
9:45 AM - Meditation, Upper Gage Hall Participants gather for an hour to practice insight meditation and discuss various aspects of the meditative path and its interplay with our lives. This is our last meditation of the year. We will NOT meet on December 28. 10:00 AM - RE Classes, Annex and Upper Gage Hall (please meet in the Churchyard just before 10:00am)
- Elementary aged students (K - 5th grade) will meet in Upper Gage Hall.
- Youth (7th - 12th grade) will meet in the Annex.
- Following RE classes, children will join the service in the Sanctuary.
Notes on the schedule and programming over the holidays🎄
Wednesday, December 24: Join us for a 4:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Service, welcoming all ages. There will be no nursery care on Christmas Eve. Stay after the service for cookies and cocoa in Gage Hall.
Sunday, December 28: There will be no Religious Education classes or nursery care.
Religious Education classes and Nursery will resume on Sunday, January 4.
THIS WEEK AT CHURCH
End of Year Donation Instructions
The 2025 tax year comes to a close in just a few short weeks. If you intend to make a donation to the Church in this tax year, all payments must be made online, or post marked, by December 31. Contact lily@charlestonuu.org with any questions.
Please note there is still another 6 months in the Church Year to complete your pledge, so this deadline only impacts your individual tax strategy.
Christmas Eve Services 4:00pm and 6:00pm
Wednesday, December 24
New Christmas Eve Service Times! 4:00pm will be our Family Service &
6:00pm will be the Traditional Candlelight Service
There will be a Cookies and Cocoa reception in Gage Hall between
the two services, so plan to stay a little later, or come a bit early, to join us! Please bring cookies to share! Cocoa will be provided.
Parking Update! The City is offering two hours of FREE garage parking at Majestic Square (corner of Market and Archdale) and Queen Street Garage (93 Queen Street) on Christmas Eve using the QR code below. The QR code will also be printed in the program on Christmas Eve. Both services historically have double our typical Sunday attendance so please plan to park in the garages and walk as you are able to save the church parking lot for those with mobility challenges.
Announcing the Dinner Anywhere in the World Raffle Tickets on Sale December 21 until March 1
In keeping with our auction theme of “Around the World”, our Auction Team is excited to offer our members and friends an opportunity that could
significantly boost revenue to support the Church’s mission and its ongoing programs through a raffle with a fabulous Grand Prize worth up to $5,000.
The winner will choose either:
One dinner for two anywhere in the world (including airfare for two and two nights lodging), or
Two dinners for two anywhere in the continental US, airfare for two, and four nights lodging.
Raffle tickets cost $20 each and go on sale this Sunday during coffee hour. No more than 1000 tickets will be sold. There is no limit on how many tickets an individual may buy and the buyer does NOT need to be a member or friend of the Church.
Ticket sales will commence this Sunday and run through March 1 when we will draw the winner at our annual Chili Kick-Off. You can purchase tickets via credit card, check, or cash.
They will make great gifts for others from grandchildren to neighbors. So stop by the Auction HQ table to buy some for stocking stuffers before the holidays or to learn more!
Proceeds from the raffle not used to pay for the Grand Prize will support our congregation as we strive to be a welcoming, inclusive community that promotes justice and brings more love and light into the world.
The 2026 Church Auction will run online January 22 - 24, and submissions are already rolling in for dinners, vacation stays, gift cards, and more! If you have an auction item to donate, please click here for the donation form, if you would like to request an item from a local business or organization,please use this form, which has the church tax information, email completed forms to lily@charlestonuu.org
The Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year and it is only 6 weeks away!
We Need Your Help and Donations!
Our Auction is focused on experiences, services, and gift cards based on your unique talents and resources such as...
Local Business Gift cards
Prepared “to-go” meals
Hosting a family friendly brunch
3 hours of babysitting
A weekend at your vacation home
Specialty baked goods
We are also looking for people who can host a themed dinner or brunch for 8 people as party of our dinner auction. If you are interested or would like to learn more please reach out to Abby Himmelein.
Finally - we could still use a couple of volunteers to help with the planning and coordination of the auction. So please reach out to Lily if you are available to volunteer your help over the next 6 weeks.
Community Rest: Office Closed December 25 - January 1
Church offices will be closed over the holidays for a community rest. If you need something from a staff member please let them know in advance of this closure.
If you have any expenses or reimbursements that need to be paid before January 1, please complete an expense form by NOON tomorrow.
Our Church Administrator, Lily, will be out of town starting December 23 and will not be back in the office until January 2. If you need to come to the office for any reason please do so before December 23.
Emancipation Day Parade Thursday January 1; 9:00am
Burke High School / Downtown Charleston
We will gather in the morning to line up and the parade begins promptly at 11:00am. More information will be available as we get closer and will be shared with those who RSVP "YES" on the sign up genius. Learn more about the parade here.
Mitchell Tree Donations December 2025
Lower Gage Hall
In this season of giving, we are supporting Mitchell Elementary School with school supplies that have been specifically requested to meet the needs of students and teachers this year. Please take an "ornament" from the tree, purchase the item, bring it to Gage Hall, and place it under the tree, unwrapped, by January 11th.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Now Hiring: Part-time Membership Coordinator
Help us grow our community!
Welcome visitors and help newcomers make connections.
Equip Sunday volunteer teams for success.
Guide people along the pathway from visitor to new member, established member, and church leader.
Build community by supporting established small groups and helping to launch new ones.
For more information or to submit your resume, contact rebecca@charlestonuu.org
Sign up to fill our Blessing Box
Please consider signing up to bring donations on an upcoming Sunday: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EAAA82EAAF49-57940404-fall#/ We have increased the number of slots available in the sign up genius, but please know, even if the signup is "full" our pantry always has more space.
Blessing box donations can be placed directly in the box, if there is room, or in the storage cabinet in the southwest corner of Gage Hall. Throughout the week, staff will refill the box outside as space allows.
Interested in joining our vibrant Music Program?
For the singers, our Chancel Choir rehearses every Wednesday! Interested singers are welcome to attend. For other musicians, we have a house band that plays in the Sunday service monthly and rehearses 1-2 times prior to that service. Please email our music director at ryan@charlestonuu.org for more details about our music program.
BOOK OF LIFE
To share a significant life event (births, deaths, celebrations, transitions and other joys and sorrows) send to Marcia Castano at BookOfLife@CharlestonUU.org by Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m. or write them in person on Sunday morning.
The physical book is kept at the front of the church near the pulpit.
Interested in joining our wonderful church community?
Click here to learn more about membership.
