While others approach the winter holidays with certainty, I find this to be the most confusing time of the year, says Rev. Stewart. Moreover, I have to work at being jolly, given how both church and state join forces to co-opt Christmas for personal gain. Frankly, I'm not a believer in the reason for the season.

What I have to celebrate is doubt, and Sunday I'll tell you why and how it is done.

The religious season of Advent begins with this sermon in the Hope Series.

The choir will sing, and ministerial intern Jeremy Nickel, pastoral care minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux , and worship associate Milo Hanke will join Rev. Stewart on the Chancel.

Bring a friend to worship this month!

Matt Gonzalez, former San Francisco president of the Board of Supervisors, young progressive attorney who narrowly lost to Gavin Newsom in the mayoral race of 2003, both a published poet and artist, speaks to the Forum on Green Party politics and specifically the politics of conscience for San Francisco, California, and beyond.

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

from Betty Skwarek
Acting Director of Religious Education

In December, Religious education learners will examine "sharing" in combination with themes from the Sanctuary Advent worship services.

Children and youth will explore "Sharing Faith" in the first lesson of the series. In chapel the story will reveal ways people from other religions share their faith and what we can learn from that as Unitarian Universalists.

Class activities will include continuing painting the sets for the Holiday Faire and making gratitude boxes. Some students will practice their jobs for the Holiday Faire and will have an opportunity to make and serve snacks to the members of the group.

New students are welcome throughout the year, and parents are invited to phone Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek at 776-4580 for more information.

from Cheryl Deaner and Liz Strand

The elves will staff their Holiday Faire workshops at coffee hour after the service Sunday. The festival itself is Sunday, December 9, and the workers are gathering materials and orders now so that the holiday celebration will be perfect!

You're invited to join in and:

• Buy your fresh evergreen wreath after the service.
• Bring your "giftable" donations to the Murdoch room.
• Pick up Holiday Faire announcements and give them to your friends and neighbors. Invite them to come with you on Sunday, December 9.

Then come with the merry-makers at 12:30 to the Kincaid Room for final Holiday Faire meet-up. This will be the last chance to fix co-ordinates with the North Pole and get the scoop on the lunch menu, kids activities, gift tables, music, Tea Room goodies, and brew in the Fireside room. New volunteers are welcome!

A memorial service is planned for 3 o'clock Sunday at the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park.

Each year the Bay Area Women and Children's Center collects names and gift requests of children whose families have little or no resources with which to buy them holiday presents. The Society's Social Justice Ministry is signing up sponsors for these "Angle Child" children at the coffee hour after the service.

All gifts will need to be returned to the church by Sunday, December 9th so they can be distributed to the children's families before the holidays.

Thank you to the busy committee chairs, event organizers, and dedicated staff for taking the extra time to send in descriptions of your work so that others can join in. Thank you to professional ministers, lay leaders, and participants for creating such an active congregation with so many choices for spiritual deepening and community growth.

Thank you all for reading and for your compliments and encouragement.

The Unitarian Universalist, the Society's comprehensive monthly newsletter has also grown and gotten snazzy!

Have you seen its color photographs and graphics? They're now published in the Unitarian Universalist's online edition every month. (The golden bells at the left are reprinted from the December newsletter.)

The electronic edition is available as soon as the paper edition is mailed. So, now there's no need to wait for the Postal Service to deliver, the monthly newsletter can be downloaded from the Society's website.

Check out the Unitarian Universalist online.