Sunday, January 18 - 11:00am in the Sanctuary, Sunday Service
All That Jazz with Rev. Rebecca Hinds and musical Guests Alva Anderson and Richard White Jr.
On Jazz Sunday this year we will explore the concept of flow. How can jazz teach us to be more free, more creative, and more spontaneous? Jazz musicians Alva Anderson and Richard White Jr. will be providing all the music.
Nancy Simpson will give the Time for All Ages,
Scott Morgan will be our Worship Associate,
with music provided by Alva Anderson, Richard White Jr.,
Robbi Kenney, and Sue Findlay.
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. 10:00 AM - RE Classes, Annex and Upper Gage Hall - 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.
10:00 AM - Forum, Lower Gage Hall Jason Overby – Nobel Chemistry Prize-winners
12:00 PM - Social Justice Letter Writing, Gage Hall Take a minute during coffee hour to write postcards to state legislators to demand a state hate crimes law. The SC UU Justice Alliance (SCUUJA) team has chosen this as a statewide project, working with SC NAACP and ACLU. We will provide all of the supplies then mail these on the dates designated by SC NAACP for the greatest impact!
New UU Happy Hour Friday, January 16; 5:30 - 7:30pm
Holy City Brewing, North Charleston
Take a step to build community this year and attend our new to UU Happy Hour. Whether you've just started for attending recently or still feel new to UCC join us in Park Circle next Friday!
Books and Coffee Sunday, January 18; 4:30pm
West Ashley
For January Our book selection is EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS by JOHN GREEN. A book about the injustice in the delivery of medical care for diseases that have cures and how the people in poor countries still die of these diseases. We will meet at the Morgan's house in West Ashley email office@charlestonuu.org if you need the exact address.
MLK Day Parade Monday, January 19; 8:00am
Burke High School, Downtown Charleston.
This year we are continuing our tradition of joining CAJM in the MLK Day Parade on January 19th!
📍 Meet at Burke High School at 8:00 AM
👉 Let CAJM know you're coming... Click Here
Call Richard Hayes for further details,.
Death Cafe Monday, January 19; 7:00pm
Lower Gage Hall
The Unitarian Church in Charleston is pleased to host a monthly Death Cafe. At a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. The objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." To learn more about Death Cafes in general, click here.
Participate in the Auction next week!
The 2026 Church Auction will run online next week January 22 - 24!
The Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year and it is only 1 week away! Items starting bids and final sale range from $10 - $200. There is something for everyone!
Attend a Mystic Arts Luncheon with Rune and Tarot Card readings
Buy a homemade key lime pie
Join one of our famous 8 person gourmet dinners featuring curated cuisines from around the world
Select from a wide variety of donated gift cards and experiences. You can support the church without spending any extra than you already would at your favorite local restaurants or Amazon!
The catalog will be sent out early next week and bidding goes live at 5:00pm on Thursday January 22.
We are still accepting last minute donations!
We have three dates open for Auction dinners: May 23, June 6, and October 31. Any kind of food event for 6 to 8 people would be appreciated. Please let Abby know if you are interested at abbyhimmelein@comcast.net. If you have baked good or experiences to donate please reach out by 2:00pm on Friday!
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!
The Nominating Committee invites you to nominate yourself or another church member to serve by being on the Vestry Board starting in the new church year. Guided by a close connection to our members, you will be part of a team that works with the Minister in determining the direction of our beloved church at a challenging time in our history. Explore the roles of the Vestry Board and Endowment Investment Board (no EIB vacancy this year) by visiting https://www.charlestonuu.org/governance and picking up Fact Sheets and a Nomination Form in Gage Hall.
Let any member of the Nominating Committee know who you're nominating before the March 22, 2026, deadline or email Lisa Hajjar at hajjarlm@gmail.com. Members of the Nominating Committee are Lisa Hajjar (Chair), Ginny Morgan, Amy Hudock, Susan Garrison, and George Tempel.
SCUUJA Banned Book Club January 20 & 27; 7:00pm Zoom
This month SCUU Justice Association is reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Join a discussion via Zoom to connect and discuss with UUs across the state. Register online HERE.
SAVE THE DATE
Minister's Book Club Saturday, January 24; 10:00am
Lower Gage Hall
Join Rev. Rebecca to discuss Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans.
Women's Book Club Tuesday, January 27; 6:00pm
Main Library Branch + Zoom
Our January book is Redwood Court by DeLana R.A. Dameron. Join us in person or on Zoom!
Green Sanctuary 2030 Wednesday, January 28; 6:30pm
Upper Gage Hall
The Green Sanctuary team is starting back up on January 28th at 6:30 pm in Upper Gage Hall with a Vegetarian Potluck Dinner, followed by the UUA presentation on the status of "Green Sanctuary 2030".
Our church congregation has long been fully committed to Environmental Justice. We are strong supporters of the CAJM initiative on Gadsden Creek and now the Marsh Project, and the church, through Connie Hayes' leadership, has strongly supported the SCUUJA efforts at the state level, with several significant victories!
Come learn more about how we and other UUs are transforming our congregations through climate justice!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join the Music Program this New Year! Now is the perfect time to get involved with our music program at UCC! The two primary ways to be involved are our Chancel Choir, which meets Wednesdays at 6:45pm, and our House Band which typically meets once a month. Professional training/experience not needed! For any questions, please reach out to our music director at ryan@charlestonuu.org
Announcing the Dinner Anywhere in the World Raffle Tickets on Sale Now 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 will 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 are on sale now!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 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 everyone in your life. 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.
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.
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.
