UU Family News

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

• Photo Highlights: MLK Day of Service Photos

• Snow Day Resources for Parents: outdoor activity suggestions and a link to free audiobooks

Dear UU Family,

Brrrrr… for the second week in a row, winter is making its presence known, and yes, unfortunately, we are under another winter weather advisory. Boo!

While it’s hard to predict whether we’ll wake up to a light dusting of snow or something far more slippery and dramatic, we do know this: very cold temperatures and fierce wind chills are in the forecast. We also know that as UUs, caring for one another’s safety is not optional. It’s a core expression of our love and our values.

With that in mind, all early morning and evening activities at UUFH will be canceled for Sunday, February 1, including the Family Ministry Council meeting.

Rev. George will make a final decision about whether we can safely hold our 10:30 a.m. worship service by 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning, based largely on road conditions.

If Rev. George and I can make it to the Fellowship safely, we will hold worship, and the doors will be open to anyone who feels comfortable attending in person. That said, safety always comes first. We all know how wildly weather and road conditions can vary in the Blue Ridge Mountains, sometimes from one neighborhood to the next.

Whether or not you drive on Sunday is entirely your choice, and I wholeheartedly support you staying home if that’s what is safest for you and your family. If the 10:30 service happens, it will also be livestreamed, so you can join us from the warmth of home with slippers and hot bevs for parents and lovies and cocos for the kids strongly encouraged!

If we can gather, please note that Family Ministry staff and volunteers are welcome but not expected to attend. Again, your safety comes first.

I want to pause here and send extra love to the thoughtful and tenacious parents and caregivers who are gracefully engaging in peaceful protest and calling their senators, all while juggling work, school closures, childcare curveballs, and snow-day logistics! It's a lot! Your UU family sees you. We appreciate you. We are holding you in care, compassion, and deep admiration! You’ve got this, and we’re here to help. Please let us know what you need!

And to our incredible UU volunteers and Family Ministry staff: lots of love and thanks! You are the quiet heroes who keep the lights on, the pipes from freezing, the coffee flowing, the dishwashers humming, and the refrigerator stocked. A special shout-out to Mrs. Joni and her Coffee Hour queens and kings: your behind-the-scenes magic is a cherished part of what makes UUFH feel like home!

Please stay warm, stay safe, and remember that whether we gather in the sanctuary or on a screen, we remain deeply connected by love, by care, and by our shared commitment to one another and our UU values. As always, please know that at UUFH, you are loved, your children are cherished, and our faith is love in action.

❤️ Sunday Shae Parker

PS - Want a text if the service is going to be remote? Sign-up here.

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.

Sheikh Naser Husien Abdelqader Ostah of Jordan will join us for the Story for All Ages in the sanctuary and in the Fellowship Hall during Learning Hour (10:45–11:45) on February 8th.

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 8. You won’t want to miss th!

• GGG Time - Games (Chess, D&D, Monopoly, etc) and Grown-up Gatherings kickoff 2/22.
• 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
• February 28 - 2pm Film Viewing: Color Beyond the Lines about Integration of Hendo Schools
• 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 hungry! You can plan to have pizza and pie for lunch at UU. Proceeds from pie and pizza sales will go towards the FM Activity Fund 😋