UU Family News

• Exciting Reminder: Sheikh Naser from Jordan is visiting our UU in February! Please plan on attending and bring your friends!

• Save the Dates:

Guest Speakers: Sheikh Naser (Ramadan) 2/1 & 8,

Morgan (Harry Potter) 3/8, Jessica M. (Yoga - TBA)

Holy Days & Holidays: Ramadan 2/17, Lunar New Year 2/17, St.Patrick's / Pi Day Party 3/15
FM Games & Gatherings Kick Off in February! Stay tuned!

• Weather Updates: Sunday Service 1/25 is being held REMOTELY only. Worship will be available via Zoom. Sunday School will be held via Google Classroom. There will be no events on campus this weekend due to the expected storm.

• Communication Options: Ways to get Snow Day updates in the future. Your pick!

• Remote Sunday School: Google Classroom login info

• Link to Watch the Service on Youtube: Links to livestream

• Snow Day Resources for Parents: outdoor activity suggestions and link to free audio books

"Rev. George and UUFH Board president Charlie Mitchell have made the decision to go ahead and cancel this Sunday's service since it is evident that our area will be hit hard enough that everyone should just stay home. There is a good likelihood that the power at UUFH may be out - it's an area that tends to be affected.

Rev George will have a Zoom gathering at 10:30am on Sunday in place of our regular service. He will be sharing info and experiences from his recent trip. This is the link; https://zoom.us/j/94544712162?pwd=SLY72yPqkesfUA4EWsK3lpg0Htsf4A.1"

This Sunday, January 25 at 10:30 a.m., Rev. George will lead a special Zoom gathering in place of our regular service to share powerful reflections and lessons from his recent trip to Minneapolis.

His experiences connect deeply with the Unitarian Universalist commitment to justice, compassion, and the inherent worth and dignity of every person, values we are called to act upon in the wake of recent events.

Across the country, faith communities, including UU congregations, have been responding to the shooting death of Renée Good in Minneapolis by a federal immigration agent, a tragedy that has sparked widespread protest, interfaith organizing, and calls for accountability and humane treatment of immigrants and their neighbors.

UUs from across the country have marched and vigiled, and religious leaders from many different faiths have stepped into the public square to stand with grieving and outraged communities demanding justice and systemic change.

Rev. George’s travels brought him face-to-face with communities living these same struggles, and people working for peace, human rights, and social justice.

In our Zoom gathering, he’ll share stories that illuminate how our UU values call us beyond comfort and into solidarity, courageous love, and transformative action in the world.

Please join us on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday to listen, reflect, and be inspired as we explore how faith intersects with justice in our time.

Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/94544712162?pwd=SLY72yPqkesfUA4EWsK3lpg0Htsf4A.1

All are welcome—and feel free to invite a friend!

This Sunday, we’re rolling out the crayons, the courage, and the creative justice!

We will watch a video read-aloud of Nikkolas Smith’s The Artivist , and then we’ll dive into why making art is so important for all of us.

We’ll look at how art can be a superhero for social justice. Art doesn’t just talk to your brain, it sneaks right into your heart, makes itself comfortable, and often refuses to leave.

Kids will learn that by making art, they can make invisible experiences visible, amplify marginalized voices, and invite people to feel empathy for lives different from their own.

We’ll explore some famous artivists this Sunday:

• Jacob Lawrence, whose bold paintings told the story of the Great Migration and the resilience of Black communities

• Banksy, who uses street art to challenge war, inequality, and power (sometimes overnight, sometimes anonymously, always dramatically)

• Billie Holiday, whose song “Strange Fruit” forced listeners to confront the brutal reality of racial violence

• Diego Rivera, whose murals made workers, farmers, and everyday people the heroes of history

• Keith Haring, who used bright, joyful art to advocate for AIDS awareness and LGBTQ+ rights

We’ll talk about how art can challenge injustice, inspire hope, and spark conversation in ways that facts and arguments alone often cannot. Meanwhile, we'll be busy creating art ourselves. It's sure to be a fantastic experience for all!

Families are invited to participate in Sunday School remotely via Google Meet and Google Classroom.

Chalice circle will start at 10:45 in Google Meet on Sunday, January 25th.

Here's a link to join the Chalice Circle in Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/oau-zwzi-dcz

Here's a Google Classroom invitation link: https://classroom.google.com/c/ODQwNzYxMjAwMjA4?cjc=txyiho6e

Here's the Google Classroom class code: txyiho6e

Having trouble getting into our Google Classroom? Don't worry. Log in to the Google Meeting and tell me. I'll forward you the ppt. and music links. 🩷 Sunday

Note for Parents and Caregivers:

For children, creating art is not only a way to express ideas about fairness, kindness, and community, art is also deeply supportive of their health and well-being.

Making art helps kids process big emotions, especially feelings like anger, fear, or sadness that can arise when they learn about injustice.

Art offers a safe, creative outlet where there are no “wrong answers,” reinforcing a sense of agency and self-worth.

Research shows that creative activities can reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and build resilience by giving children... or really all of us...the tools to express what we may not yet have words to express.

Art-making also strengthens social connections. When kids create together, they practice collaboration, empathy, and listening - key skills for building inclusive, caring communities.

Making art boosts confidence, encourages problem-solving, and nurtures play, all of which are essential to healthy development. Plus, it’s joyful. And joy, it turns out, is very good for the soul.

By engaging in art that reflects UU values like compassion, justice, and hope, children learn that their voices matter, that our UU values are important, and that they can be part of shaping a more fair and loving world.

That's why making art is always an option on Sunday mornings at UUFH.

Sheikh Naser Husien Abdelqader Ostah of Jordan will be joining us in the Fellowship Hall during Learning Hour (10:45–11:45) on the first two Sundays in February.

This is a special opportunity to deepen your understanding of Islam, explore the meaning of Ramadan, and learn about everyday life in the Middle East—directly from a respected religious leader and teacher.

All are warmly invited! Please spread the word and bring friends to join us at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, February 1 and February 8. You won’t want to miss these engaging and enlightening opportunity!

• Sundays in February from 12-2PM - Games (Chess, D&D, Monopoly, etc) and Gatherings
• February 1 - Sheikh visit and lesson downstairs in Fellowship Hall 10:45-11:45. All are welcome!
• February 8 - Sheikh story during the service and lessons downstairs 10:45-11:45. All are welcome!
• February 17 - Start of Ramadan, Lunar New Year Celebration
• March 8th - Harry Potter themed lesson guided by Morgan M
• March 15 - Post Pi Day & Pre St. Patrick's Day Party. Wear green and come to UU hungry! You can plan for having pizza and pie for lunch. 😋

How to find out if we have a weather-related delay or closing:

• Sign up here for Sunday morning text alerts
• Check the UUFH website on Sunday morning
• Visit our Google Classroom on Sunday morning
• Check the UU Family Newsletter webpage for updates.