Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Emerald Coast

Cold Night Shelter Update: We activated Wednesday night. While there were no guests, we did have one inquiry. Thank you to Denny & Karen Lauer, Rece Howley, Rod & Jeannette Debs, Fred Boyer, Juanita Garcia, and Winky Sweet for your time.

Opportunity Place Holiday Party, December 19, 2011 from 2-6. Where the magic is happening this Christmas: music by Jordan Chalden: small children grateful for having “the food no one else wants:” Opportunity Place staff; noted local pianist Ben Gaza, visit by Santa, and there will be food! It really doesn’t get any better than this! 305 Lovejoy Road, Fort Walton Beach. Come celebrate!

Don’t miss the Eve of Christmas Eve, Friday, December 23, 6 p.m. Bring a finger food to share or make Moose Milk (see Jeannette for the recipe) the traditional drink. Mary Misiak will accompany us on the piano for the Christmas Carol sing along. Bring a game to play. It’s a fun night for the whole family.

As we approach the holiday season we think of others in our congregation who may be struggling. The older Minister’s Discretionary Fund where our minister deposited his earnings from wedding and other gifts he received has been expanded in scope to become the Minister’s Emergency Assistance Fund. It is hoped that this enlarge fund will provide our Minister with needed resources to help individuals in emergency need.

If you wish to donate to this fund, please put your check in the collection plate or send it to the Fellowship. The check should be made out to the UUFEC, with “Minister’s Emergency Assistance Fund” or EAF written on the memo line. All donations are tax deductible.

Please consider making this donation as an alternative gift for those who have “everything they need.” A note on UUFEC letterhead will be sent to tell your loved ones that a gift has been made in their honor to this charitable fund. If you wish to utilize this letter, please ask our Church Administrator for a copy.

Your Board of Directors’ have honored our retiring Chair for the past two years with a memento plaque. Board members who served with Denny will be making individual donations to the EAF in honor of Denny’s service.

UUFEC offers us all a place to learn and practice our liberal faith. It is a place where we can nurture our children and reach out to the wider world, knowing that others will be there when important  milestones occur in our lives. All these things and more happen because our Fellowship community has created a structure whereby we give and receive from one another. 

This holiday season is a time when our virtual and physical mailboxes are stuffed with solicitations.  December is a good time to remember all the good things our Fellowship makes possible in our lives and support it with your financial commitment.  December, the eighth month in our fiscal year, is a good time to consider remitting the remainder of your annual pledge (our FY ends April 30,2012) or making an additional financial gift to UUFEC. 

Sometimes tax benefits of this action are helpful.

A big “thank you” to all our members and friends who have given so generously in 2011. Your continued financial support and service make possible the work and ministry of this Fellowship. 

Lunch on the Town is on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 11:30 am at Helga’s Restaurant in Bluewater Bay.. Contact Inge at 609-0239 or Modestlady1@cox.net

Our Fellowship provides dinner once each month at Opportunity Place, December 15, 2011 this month.  If you would like to contribute food for this dinner please contact Aaron Galonsky, galonsky@nscl.msu.edu, 279-4347.

To clean blocked drains – don’t use toxic chemicals. Pour about 10 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda down the sink, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. The reaction between these two substances will get rid of the blockage. Rinse with boiling water.

We will be having a Joining Ceremony in December for those who have already signed the membership book and those who are ready to do so. please contact Ashleigh for more information: ashleighandbella@gmail.com or 303-478-4445