New UU Book Club: Tuesday, December 3, 7:00 p.m.Join Life Long Learning & Women Helping Women’s first book discussion group right here at East Shore. From the UU perspective we will cover three themes: lives of immigrants, living as a biracial African-American woman, and Indigenous Families. The first timely discussion will center around the Beacon Press book “Detained and Deported: Stories of Immigrant Families Under Fire” by award winning journalist Margaret Regan. Please consider bringing a donation for the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. They especially need backpacks or duffels, clothing, food and toiletries.
Cooking with Amanda: Shopping for Plant-Based Foods: Wednesday, December 4, 7:00 p.m.We’ll meet at Fred Meyer, Bellevue, to tour the Natural Foods section, and learn about label reading, choosing fresh vegetables, and finding some new favorite foods. This class is free.
Fourth Wednesday Book Club: Wednesday, December 4, 7:30 p.m.Please join us to discuss Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin on Wednesday, December 4 (not the 4th Wednesday). Are leaders born or made? Goodwin draws upon four presidents—Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)—to show how they recognized leadership qualities within themselves and were recognized as leaders by others. By looking back to their first entries into public life, we encounter them at a time when their paths were filled with confusion, fear, and hope.
Humanist Discussion Group: Thursday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.Our topic will be “Persuading Christians to Become Humanists.” Here are some readings to prepare for the meeting:
- https://www.atheistalliance.org/thinking-out-loud/eight-reasons-christianity-is-false/
- https://irrco.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/10-reasons-why-i-am-not-a-christian/
- https://users.drew.edu/jlenz/whynot.html
- http://religiondispatches.org/when-you-argue-with-a-fundamentalist-you-dont-know-what-youre-asking-for/
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249750
See if you can sketch out your own “elevator pitch” to a Christian, and bring it to the meeting. We’ll try to combine the best points of each one. We typically have about eight people at each meeting, and we welcome newcomers.
Undoing Racism/Community Organizing Training: Saturday, December 7, 1:00 p.m.On Saturday, December 7th, you have the opportunity to attend an “appetizer” training, and get a taste of what you can expect in a full two-day training – created to educate and challenge people to understand the racist structures that interfere with effective social movements and understand that we have the power to dismantle those structures. This program is co-sponsored by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond and 350 Eastside, one of our sponsorees. It is hosted at East Shore with support from Earth and Climate Action Ministry and Adult Programs. Register at tinyurl.com/UndoingRacism350Eastside. Cost: $15-150 determined by your ability to pay.
Puget Soundworks Concert: Sunday, December 8, 2:00 p.m.Puget Soundworks, the region’s newest mixed LGBTQ- friendly chorus launches its second season with “Feast,” a wonderfully warm and hilarious holiday concert that celebrates many different ways we celebrate our various holidays. From a roving band of rogue carolers demanding figgy pudding to a water ballet featuring water bears to a rollicking setting of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody to reflect Hanukkah to a haunting setting of Jane Siberry’s “Calling All Angels” this is a concert that bursts with color and sparkles with joy. Tickets start at $25 and are available at pugetsoundworks.org/attend.
Cookies & Carols: Friday, December 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Eric Lane Barnes will lead us in caroling during the evening. We will have all of your favorite songs, and sing our hearts out. Bring your favorite cookies to share. All ages are welcome!
Winter Solstice Celebration: Saturday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.Please join us for this wonderful gathering to celebrate the return of the sun on the longest night of the year. With worship, ritual, music, stories, and a circle dance, followed by a soup and bread potluck. Please join and bring soup, bread, cookies, or juice to share. An East Shore tradition that is not to be missed.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: December 24, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Furrer & Aisha Hauser for our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Services with story, music, and song.
Please note: East Shore Unitarian Church Campus is closed from December 25-January 1. We will have one worship service at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 29.