Holiday Events

During this holiday season there are celebrations to mark the birth of the Prophet , Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve (not to mention Festivus).  Join the Unitarian Universalists of Charlottesville and celebrate the season with us.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE
Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24 at 7:00 PM

Christmas Eve service at 7pm

This service will be a lovely and meaningful blend of traditions, suitable for all ages.  This Zoom service will include beautiful music from our own members, readings and reflections from Revs. Linda and Leia, and end with a telling of the Christmas story of the birth of a babe in Bethlehem.  Congregational children will be costumed and acting out the parts of all the characters – shepherds, angels, Magi, and even a baby

The service will end with the singing of “Silent Night” as we see a video of members of our congregation passing lights from candle to candle.  You can be included by sending in a video of yourself to office@uucharlottesville.com, or by lighting a candle in your home.

This will be a meaningful service, made special by your presence.  Invite your friends and family!

Christmas Eve Offering

It is the tradition at the UU Congregation of Charlottesville to designate the Christmas Eve offering to replenish the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund.  That fund is used by the ministers to assist with emergency needs in our congregation or neighborhood, to tide individuals over until more permanent assistance can be located.  Sometimes it is used to help a church member who is facing an emergency shortfall in funds and needs assistance to pay a utility bill, to buy medicine, to afford groceries, or to be able to move in a crisis.  The funds, distributed in confidentiality by the ministers, have also been used to help a congregant’s family, and to help neighboring clergy support needs for their food ministry to the hungry or to support other projects to people in crisis.

In the year since last Christmas, we gave more than $2,500 in emergency assistance, and we can foresee the need may be greater in 2021, due to remaining effects of the Covid crisis.  Please give generously at our Christmas Eve service to replenish our funds for emergency relief to our members and neighbors.  We do not want to turn anyone away.

OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT/ORIENTEERING EVENT
Postponed (TBD)

Janine Jakim and Lauren Doran are planning a fun scavenger hunt and orienteering adventure in Charlottesville. Due to health guidance from the state of Virginia, the Scavenger Hunt and Orienteering Event will be postponed until a time when it can be safe to gather in 2021.  Information will be posted when the new date is determined.

NEW YEAR’S DAY LABYRINTH WALK
Cancelled

Due to health guidance from the state of Virginia.  The New Year’s Day Labyrinth Walk has been cancelled.

NEED A LITTLE HELP?
If your family’s finances are tight during this Holiday Season and you would like to be a recipient of this year’s giving tree offerings or a grocery gift card, please contact Rev. Leia Durland Jones.

SEASON OF LIGHT ART SHOW
ongoing

Each December we invite all artists, young and old, to submit artwork to be shown for the month of December and January. Of course, when the theme is “Light” all visual art embraces the theme. Work will be displayed in the Wednesday Soulful Home newsletter, sometimes during our Sunday Service, and on our website.