You have the opportunity to preach part of the sermon.

Please wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt to church with a message that proclaims your passion and then verbally share it from the Chancel.

Together we’ll articulate the tenets of our liberal, living tradition. This is one Sunday service at which you are what you wear!

Caitlin Furney will be the Youth Worship Associate.

At the Sunday service please welcome the youth that are attending the Coming of Age Social Justice retreat. Our Society's 8th - 10th graders will be there with other Unitarian Universalist youth who are exploring what social justice means to them and how it is interwoven into our faith. Group members will also participate in the Faithful Fools day-long Street Retreat.

from Henry Kroll

Reese Erlich, one of the nation's most acclaimed international freelance journalists, returns to the Sunday Forum.

He is just back from Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran researching developments on the ground for Mother Jones magazine and his new book The Iran Agenda - What the US Government Doesn't Want You to Know.

His last book was Target Iraq with Norman Soloman, Howard Zinn, and Sean Penn.

January, 2007 is a pivotal time for our nation as Democrats take over Congress and President Bush promises new initiatives in Iraq. Don't miss this insightful hour by one of America's most informed journalists who will discuss what might lie ahead for our nation in 2007.

The program will start at 9:45. Come at 9:30 for conversation, coffee, and (for a slight charge) a light breakfast.

from Natalie Freeburg, Acting Director of Religious Education

Religious Education learners will be exploring Transylvania in anticipation of the visit of our partner church's minister at the end of this month. The classes will also be working on art projects to display during the Winter Shelter.

Students not currently registered for the program are very welcome to attend. We invite you to contact Natalie Freeburg at 776-4580 during the week so that we can personally welcome you and make sure your questions are answered. Class locations will be available from the greeters at the church entrance.

Adult Religious Exploration participants are able to find out about winter/spring classes in the newsletter and on the bulletin board in the gallery. The Clues Mystery Book Club met yesterday, and The General Book Club will begin their spring series next Thursday. Read The Hummingbird's Daughter, by Luis Alberto Urrea, and come discuss this One City, One Book selection next week (January 11) from 2 - 4 pm. The General Book Club fee is $20 for series, and readers meet the second Thursday of the month.

Crafts and Needle Arts will continue to meet every Thursday from 1 - 4 pm. Bring your portable project, your knowledge, and an eagerness to socialize. There's no charge for this activity.

Members can send condolence cards to Mike's wife, Barbara Thomas (daughter Marieka and son David) at their home or in care of the church. Cards can also be sent to Mike’s sister Melissa Fafarman and Mike's nephew E.D. at their home address or in care of the Faithful Fools.

Our sympathy to sexton Leland Jones whose mother, Dorothy May Jones, died on December 30 after a difficult struggle with cancer.

Special thanks to Building Manager Donald Johnson for working double shifts this week covering the night shifts in Mike and Leland’s absence.

Mike Thomas will be missed in too many ways to count. Here is a brief update on how those big shoes will be filled – or not - and how you can help.

For the next two months, Jonathan Silk will work Sunday through Thursday so that on Sunday he can record the service as well as assist members with audio and video set up. We need members with A/V ability to train with Jonathan, learn to use the recording equipment, and be a resource for Society groups who show films, set up microphones, etc. Volunteers are invited to contact Jonathan at 776-4580 to schedule training time.

In addition to the newsletter, Jonathan will now produce the Order of Service. The new deadline for material for the OOS will be noon Wednesday. Send your items to JSilk@uusf.org and copy nevans@uusf.org.

Donald Johnson would like to train more Members in emergency preparedness as Mike was the only back-up on many nights and weekends.

David Jones encourages more trade skill people to step forward and join the Building and Grounds committee. This group has guided the Society through many significant repairs and upgrades, and will be more important now that our multi-tasking engineer, electrician, lawyer, and friend is not with us any more. Please contact David at 334-3686 or uudavidjones@aol.com .

Thank you for your support as we go forward together.

The William and Alice Hinckley Fund will accept grant applications from non-profit organizations through noon on Sunday, January 28th. Requests for funding should be submitted to the Hinckley box in the church office.

The fund was established in 1892 to foster "religion, learning, and charity". Approximately $92,500 was distributed to organizations in 2005, and a separate spring application process awarded $32,500 in scholarships to graduate students.

The Executive Team (Interim Executive Director Nancy Evans and Rev. Greg Stewart) will be presenting the consolidated list of requests for the Society. Church committees and groups who would like to apply for a Hinckley grant are invited to contact Nancy by January 14th.

On the Internet the publication's spiffy new layout includes some color photographs... and corrections to any typos that escaped the copyreaders when the newsletter went to press. The color picture at left (courtesy of Sonnie Willis) is "Contours in the Air" from the Society for Community Work article in the January newsletter.