During the winter holidays, the last thing on my mind is personal and social transformation. I'm simply too busy to be either passionate or compassionate about change.

That is until I learned about The Work, a program designed by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell and described in their book Loving What Is. We will consider four questions that claim to be able to change your life and your world.

If, as Advent suggests, the work is in the waiting, then the opportunity for transformation that is the promise of Christmas should be drawing neigh. Is it just my imagination or do I hear sleigh bells on the roof and angels in the sky?

The choir and soprano Juin-Chiy Yew will sing Mozart's Laudate Dominum. The Reverend Greg Stewart will be joined on the Chancel by ministerial intern Jeremy Nickel, religious education director Betty Skwarek and worship associates Christine Patch-Lindsay and Tobias Sunshine.

Julia Wald, a long-time Member who has been especially active in social justice and Up on Top, will present a narrated photographic journal of her trip to the Falklands and South Georgia Island. The highlights will include her boating expedition along the coast of Antarctica.

The Forum meets every Sunday morning to welcome speakers of distinction and offers different cultural, historical, spiritual, and political perspectives. Forum's ministry is to educate and challenge while remaining open to the whole community both inside and outside the Society.

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

Religious Education learners continue to explore the December theme of "sharing". This Sunday classes will talk about sharing love. Children and youth will also begin practice for the nativity tableau that will be presented at the Christmas Eve candlelight service.

"Holiday Art Sunday" will begin at 10 am. Theda Burke will lead the children in making garlands and wreaths, cards, and ornaments. There will be no Youth Choir this week.

More information about religious education programs for children and youth is available in a Google Group. Anyone interested in programs for young people may join. It is a moderated group so you need to call or email Betty Skwarek, or phone her at 776-4580 to be added to 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.

Meet young and gifted photographer Ashlee Fairchild Jones at this month's artist reception after the Sunday service.

Ashlee is an award and scholarship winning graduate from Kansas and Missouri, and she is at San Francisco State University finishing her degree in studio art with an emphasis in photography.

Many of her photo subjects are children and her photo exhibition includes pictures of orphaned children that she lived and worked with in the highlands of Tanzania.

Fool Martha Boesing (pictured), Rev. Kay Jorgensen, and Sr. Carmen Barsody will be on KPFA Radio today (December 13th) from noon to 1pm on the Living Room program with Kris Welch.

Living Room is a daily program about politics, society, and culture.

Martha will share some of her play, Song of the Magpie, for which she recently was a winner in the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition.

We learned this week of the death of Christine Patch-Lindsay's father. We send her and her family our condolences and love.

from Executive Director Nancy Evans

Members and friends ate, played, and shopped at a myriad of non-profit vendors using their holiday dollars with intention and zest at last Sunday's Holiday Faire. Singers, bell ringers, and games entertained and enchanted the community.

Young Adults and Art Hubbard served lunch to 150, while the Tea Room and Pub provided a mellow retreat for others.

The village women of Kopanang will see $4,000 from the sale of their handiwork, and many other groups enjoyed the success and spirit of this annual event. Luanne Schulte reports that Up On Top was given over $725 for cookies and another $150 for books. The Society also earned almost $5,000 from all of the day's events.

Hats off to co-chairs Cheryl Deaner and Leslie Bader, and all who worked Saturday and Sunday to create this traditional community celebration.

You can still participate! The "Giftable" table will be in the gallery this Sunday for last-minute purchases, and Fair Trade gift baskets will be sold at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee table. Please stop by!

This Sunday is also the last day to donate to the fund for the display of poinsettias on our Sanctuary chancel. You may make a dedication to a special person in your life or the memory of a loved one. Dedications received by Sunday will be printed in the Christmas Eve order of service. Please mail your check for $25 or more per plant, and the printed name(s) of the honoree, as well as your own, and mail it now or leave it at the church office this Sunday.