Sister Sheila writes, "This sermon considers aspects of spirituality, presence, wholeness (fragmentation/chaos/unwellness) and healing. In our own fragmented world, I believe we need to tap into spirit-presence."

Sister Sheila comes to us from South Africa where she is a leader in the Kopanang Community and the Sithand'izingane Care Project of Geluksdal, South Africa. Those communities address poverty, the impact of AIDS, violence, and the legacy of apartheid in the local townships of Tsakane and Geluksdal.

Joining Sister Sheila on the chancel will be Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Rev. Denis Paul and Worship Associate Stephen Schwichow.

This Sunday's collection will go entirely to support Sr. Sheila's work in South Africa. Crafts from Sister Sheila's community will be available for purchase in the Starr King Room after the service.

Come share your Sunday morning with us -- and invite your friends -- Welcome Home!

There is a spiritual yearning on the part of a large and growing segment of the population to integrate personal values into all aspects of life, including finance and investing.

Ian McLeod, CFP, who works with Social Equity Group, will speak to the Forum on Socially Responsible Investing. Joining him will be Duncan Meaney and Ron Freund.

Over 50 million people now identify as "Cultural Creatives" interested in supporting sustainable societies in all aspects of their lives. Come Sunday and find out how to blend social justice and financial success in your life.

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

Sing-Along At 10:00 am join Carolyn Jayne and Eric Shackelford in the chapel for a rousing good time singing old favorites and some new music to celebrate the season.

Children's Religious Exploration Children love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This week they will be hustling and bustling first in the chapel then in the Martin Luther King room as they learn about Hanukkah.

Children's Marketplace Activities While adults shop in the marketplace, children have a chance to visit with Santa, participate in a snowball fight, eat latkes and work on a variety of craft projects to win the hearts of parents and grandparents alike - wonderful busy-ness and great fun.

Adult Religious Exploration December, the month that many in our society dedicate to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, may be the perfect time to join the Unitarian Universalist Bible Study group led by Bob Burchfield. This month's meeting will be at 1pm Sunday. The fee is $5 per class.

Youth Our Youth Group, YUUDA, is having their second meeting this Sunday. All youth grades 7 through 12 are invited. Just show up or for more information contact the Religious Exploration office. The meeting is scheduled for 12:30 pm in the Thoreau Room.

Our Lifespan Religious Exploration Is for Everyone!

Look for Elmer Owens and place your cookie order at the Up On Top table at the Holiday Marketplace after the service.

Volunteers from Up On Top are making and selling holiday cookies again this year. The proceeds benefit the after school program for neighborhood low-income families that meets at the church.

Please order your cookie selection by Sunday. Orders can be placed by filling out an order form at coffee hour. Or, you may shop at your leisure and email your order, fax an order to 776.4400, or leave a voice mail at 885.6018, ext. 612.

Select among decorated sugar cookies, reduced-sugar sugar cookies, ginger cookies, chocolate chip cookies, walnut oatmeal cookies, Russian cakes, thumbprint cookies, and toffee bars.

While you are at the Up On Top table Sunday, check out the giftables at the table. They're for sale to benefit the church.

Sunday at 12:15 pm in the Thomas Starr King room.

The Holiday Marketplace is the 1-stop shop for all your gift giving items. We are featuring Kopanang crafts, Social Justice Committee gift baskets, and exciting crafts from the very talented members of the community.

Fair Trade Gift Baskets

A wide variety of Fair Trade Gift Baskets of varying prices will be available for purchase at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) table after the service today and again on December 13 and 20. In addition, delicious fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, hot chocolate, baking cocoa, almonds, and cranberries are available for purchase most Sundays from our local UUSC group. Your purchase of these baskets and fair trade items benefits the human rights work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee as well as supporting the international fair trade movement's work to assure that the farmers who produce these goods earn a fair, living wage and work under humane conditions.

The Social Justice Ministry is seeking additional sponsors for children who are part of the Angel Child program.

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. They distribute these names through their Angel Child program to various community organizations such as ours.

Our congregation has pledged to provide presents for 50 children this year. This Sunday is the last day to sign up as a sponsor and there are still several children who need sponsors.

Please stop by the Angle Child table in the Starr King Room after the service Sunday or call Linda at 215-7292 for more information.

All gifts will need to be returned to the church by Sunday, December 13 so they can be distributed to the children's families before the holidays.

The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office will collect warm clothes and blankets for the Faithful Fools on Sundays December 6 and 13.

It's cold out there, so please bring old coats, sweaters, hats, gloves/mittens, warm scarves, sturdy shoes, and blankets.

Make space in your closets while helping San Francisco's homeless.

The Menu for lunch Sunday is Amy's vegetarian chili, corn bread and salad for $5. Cookies by Kate Kuckro and fizzy waters and wine for a small extra charge.

Won't you join Sister Sheila and the Intern Committee for a community holiday meal!

Lunch begins Sunday at 12:15 pm in the Thomas Starr King room.

Saturday (December 5) from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.

There is nothing like giving back to our church and making sure it looks good to all. You can say, "I helped make it happen and it looks great."

We will plant daffodil bulbs, weed the sarcophagus area and plant additional adjuga, the purple ground cover that has worked so well this year.

Bring a spade, shovel, and work gloves and we will provide the water and materials to garden with.

Thank you!

Saturday (December 5) and Sunday at 7 pm.

Reiko Oda Lane will be the organist for the San Francisco Lyric Chorus's concert. Works will include Poulenc,Britten, Praetorius, Rutter, Tavener and others. The concert also includes the world premiere of Robert Train Adams' Christmas Fantasy.

Tickets: $20 general; $17 seniors; free admission for students 5-18 with ID. Please, no children under 5.