Sunday, January 11 - 11:00am in the Sanctuary, Sunday Service
1:00pm - Singing for Resistance & Resilience Workshop in the Sanctuary
Holy Doubt with Matt Meyer
"Come with whatever seed of faith you can muster, and listen…” - Enfleshed Liturgies.
Join us for a celebration of faith and doubt through story and song. Matt Meyer, an itinerant UU troubadour, will reflect on a high stakes wager, a secret doubt, and what it takes to stand up to bullies in heaven and earth.
Following the service and coffee hour, Matt will host the workshop Singing for Resistance & Resilience in the Sanctuary at 1:00pm.
A strong movement needs strong music. We'll share contemporary songs for protests, rallies, and organizing. We'll share songs that can be sung in the streets, songs for organizing meetings that bring the energy you need, and songs for community that ground us for the long haul.
Matt Meyer will give the Time for All Ages,
Priscilla Shumway will be our Worship Associate,
with music provided by Matt Meyer and Ryan Pagels.
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 (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.
10:00 AM - Forum, Lower Gage Hall John Thomas - María Corina Machado(Nobel Prize for Peace, 2025) Join us for this very timely presentation on the Venezuelan opposition leader. View the spring Forum scheduleHERE.
1:00 PM - Special Workshop Singing for Resistance & Resilience with Matt Meyer, Sanctuary
Homemade Pasta Sale this Sunday During Coffee Hour!
David Krause is raising money for a middle school service project, and will be selling 1/2-pound bags of his freshly-made pasta in Gage Hall after the service. $5/bag for wheat pasta, and $6/bag for gluten free pasta. All proceeds go to Water Mission International.
THIS WEEK AT CHURCH
Women's Group Saturday January 10; 10:00am
Main Library Branch Room A, 68 Calhoun St
Join us for our January gathering to discuss the Soul Matters packet "Practicing Resistance." You are welcome to join even if you do not review the materials in advance! Last month we had a great and impactful discussion so we hope to see you there this Saturday.
Family Circle Saturday, January 10; 5:00pm
North Charleston
Join others who are raising children in the church for a time of friendship, good food, and thoughtful conversation (plus an hour of child-free adult interaction). This month's meeting is in North Charleston. Please RSVP in the Signup Genius. Location details will be shared by email on Friday.
LAST CALL: Mitchell Tree Social Justice Project Sunday, January 11;
Lower Gage Hall
This is the last Sunday to bring in your gifts for Mitchell Elementary School children you selected from the Mitten/Mitchell Tree!! Next week Rev Rebecca and your social justice leaders will bring the gifts for the children to present to their Principal, Dr. Amber Sainz! Mitchell elementary school is a Title 1 school located in the heart of Charleston, and we use the monies collected from the Coffeehouse to fund their Science field trips!!
CAJM Issue Committee Training Monday, January 12; 6:30pm Zoom
Although our issue committees meet all year long, we use our beginning-of-the-year "Research Kick-Off" to come together with renewed energy and to build out a revised strategy plan. This is intentional planning time that will set us up for success in 2026! And, our newest issue committee, FOOD INSECURITY, will begin fresh by defining a problem statement and beginning to plan out research visits.
All are invited to the "Issue Committee Training" on January 12, which is open to anyone who wants to join a committee or learn more about the research process. There will be a focus on an orientation training, as well as time for the committees to brainstorm and assign initial tasks!
Coffee with the Minister Tuesday, January 13; 9:00 - 10:30am
Odd Duck Market, North Charleston
Join Rev. Rebecca for this month's coffee with the Minister at Odd Duck Market in Park Circle. Drop by to chat with her and meet other members!
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
New Member 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!
SAVE THE DATE
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.
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.
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
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 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 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 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.
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
Last Call for Auction Donations and Volunteers
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 2 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
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.
