Hanukkah begins Friday evening at sundown (on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, according to the Jewish calendar). It commemorates the rebuilding of the holy temple at Jerusalem during the Maccabean revolt, 2nd century BCE. In defense of their faith, the Maccabeans entered what Psalm 23 calls "the valley of the shadow of death."

We'll look at this beloved Psalm — perhaps the best known passage in the Jewish Bible — and explore what it means to us today, both as literature and as sacred text.

If you find yourself "in the valley of the shadow" this holiday season, then you'll find hope in these words of ancient wisdom.

Joining me on the pulpit will be Pastoral Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Community Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Worship Associates Claire Weber and Antonia Porter, and Trustee Bill Wise.

The choir will minister in music with Hnaerot Halalu, a song for Hanukkah, along with Bobby McFerrin's masterful setting of the twenty-third Psalm.

Please make it a point to bring a friend to church with you during the month of December to experience our unique liberal religious approach to the holidays and holy days of our times.

Come to this discussion/workshop to learn more about the Pagan holiday of Yule and other traditions that mark the Winter Solstice.

Anyone who is pagan-curious and pagans of any path are welcome. The session will be facilitated by Nancy Buffum, member of the Pagan Interest Circle (PICT).

The suggested course fee $5. More information is available from Nancy at 242-1608 and by email.

Gilda Bettencourt of the Non-Violent Peaceforce will speak to the breakfast Forum on the strategies of the the organization and its mission to build a large-scale, trained international civilian non-violent Peaceforce.

The non-violent Peaceforce is sent to conflict areas to prevent death and destruction and protect human rights, thus creating the space for local groups to enter into dialogue and to seek peaceful resolution to local conflicts.

Recently the group has been active in Sri Lanka and the Philippines, and Sunday's Forum discussion will focus on those current projects.

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

It's really winter now. Your donation can help prevent another San Franciscan from freezing.

The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office is collecting warm clothes and blankets for the Faithful Fools until this Sunday. Many thanks to those who donated last Sunday; we loaded up the Fools' van just in time for this freezing weather.

All coats, sweaters, hats, gloves/mittens, warm scarves, sturdy shoes, and blankets are much appreciated. Clean out your drawers and closets and warm up someone who really needs it.

The Society for Community Work (SCW) invites you to their now annual Chrisma-Hanu-Kwanza-kah and Festival of Lighten-Up party Tuesday (December 15).

Come for the blended holiday program which starts off at 11:30.

Come for the blended holiday program which starts at 11:30. Here's what's on:

11:30 -- Happy Half Hour and Multi-traditional Holiday Music;
11:30 -- Multi-traditional Holiday Music Around the Piano;
12 Noon -- SCW President Mason Ingram's Welcome;
The Reverend Greg Stewart-Claus presents a Holiday-ish reading;
Singing of the non-traditional "Chrisma-Hanu-Kwanza-kah" blessing;
1:00 -- Catered Holiday Lunch.

You're welcome to sign up for the party Sunday in the King Room or call 564-3108 by 7 pm Sunday to make your reservations.

Please bring a gift check made payable to the San Francisco Food Bank.

Rev. King, former minister of this Society, helped keep California in the Union during the Civil War.

Rev. Rebecca Parker, president of Starr King School of Ministry, spoke at the dedication on December 2.

King's statue returned to Sacramento after the California Legislature voted in 2006 to remove it from the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall and replace it with a bronze of former President Ronald Reagan.

An exhibit detailing King's efforts for the Union and the nascent Red Cross is on display at the Capitol through June 30. If you'd like to join other community members in a carpool to see the exhibit in Sacramento on Wednesday, December 30 (or other dates to be determined), please contact the church office by Thursday (December 17).

Starting in January, all Small Group Ministry sessions will be accepting new participants into their worship communities. Applications to become a member of a small group are available online now.

Groups meet two hours twice each month and share important parts of their members' lives as well as explore topics the group chooses. The topics are as varied as Peak Experiences, Forgiveness, Is There a God? Our Unitarian Universalist Principles, How Animals Influence Our Lives, Poetry, Creativity as a Spiritual Practice, and Play. As part of their commitment to the larger community, the groups also participate together in a service project.

To join a group or learn more about Small Group Ministry, please fill out the online application, or fill out the paper application available in the Church office.

Please feel free to contact Kate Kukro at 308-1967 or Carol Ruley at 846-3986 (co-chairs of Small Group Ministry) with any questions or assistance you need with this process.

"Sometimes, when people ask me what I do, I say 'I give people back their lives.' " -- Seph Paul

Sunday, at 12:45 pm in Fireside Room.

Are you considering making a change in your life that involves moving to a smaller space? Would you like to pose questions to a Certified Professional Organizer with years of experience dealing with this challenge as well as a myriad of other personal organizing issues?

Seph Paul is also member here as well a certified professional organizer who has been applying his skills to organizing individuals and small businesses full-time since May 2002.

Seph is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers; he co-chaired the 2004 Regional Conference and is presently co-chairing the NAPO-SFBA Green Special Interest Group. Seph is the principal of Absolute Control.

Canciones de Argentina y España -- Songs of Argentina and Spain.

Rest your eyes and open your hearts to the beautiful sounds of Argentina with soprano Laurel Sprigg and pianist David Jones with pieces from famous Argentine and Spanish composers such as Guastavino, Ginastera, Lorca, and Rodrigo.

Hope you can join us!

For Worship services on Sunday, December 20, and Thursday, December 24

Each year we thrill to an abundance of red poinsettias, dedicated in honor and in memory of special loved ones.

Your name and dedication will appear on the Order of Service on December 20 and 24, and the plants will decorate the tables for Tenderloin Tessie's Christmas Day Dinner at the church.

If you would like to contribute to this celebration, please send a check for $25 for each dedication to the church office in care of Grace Lam, with your name and the name of your honoree printed clearly.

Please get your dedication request in by Wednesday (December 16.)

On sale Sunday at the Thomas Starr King room Book Wagon for $10.

The November 22 Worship Service featured the music of Franz Joseph Haydn, "The Nelson Mass," directed by Dr. Mark Sumner.

While musicians sang from the organ loft there was a video compilation of images of our church photographed by Sonnie Willis, David Chabot and Jonathan Silk.

Now this video is available for all to see and hear. When you listen to the music from this performance and watch these images you will fall in love with this place all over again.

Just like to hear the music from that wonderful November 22 Worship Service? CD Recordings are available for $5. Both CD and DVD make great holiday gifts!

Worship Associate Stephen Schwichow explored what those words mean to him in the Credo delivered during the 11 am service last week.

Stephen's journey of prayer and service took him from childhood prayers with his grandmother to his stay with Sister Sheila and the other nuns of the Thabong Community outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

Instead, there was a lot of fun, warmth, food, and community around the church last week as the Congregation celebrated the holidays with a Holiday Market.

Photographers John Steele and Sonnie Willis (whose work is shown at left) snapped memories of the people and craft on display. "Thank you!" to both of them for sharing their visual art.