This service offers a time for meditation, reflection, and  renewal through music, brief words, and silence. Come sing, light a candle, and nurture your spirit during this nontraditional worship experience - and bring a friend! There will be a rehearsal from 6 to 6:45 pm for singers who would like to learn the harmonies to the chants we will sing.

We are also looking for instrumentalists interested in participating, but would need to know in advance who is able to come. For more information, please contact Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger at 603-410-4830 or michael@concorduu.org.

In this season of sharing, we hope that you will stop by the UU Friends of Refugee’s Giving Tree. It will be set up in the parlor December 2 and December 9. On the tree you will find tags. Each will describe an item requested for a member of the families that make up the core of our refugee program. This year, we are looking for fewer gifts per person so that we might extend help to several other refugee families. Items range from small toy trucks to warm gloves or (the always essential) boxes of diapers. None of the suggested items will cost more than $25.00; many will cost far less.

We ask that you return the gifts either December 9 or December 16. Two important things to remember: Please make sure that the tag you took is returned, taped to the gift so that we know to whom it is going, and please wrap the gift.

Would you like to really light up your Christmas this year? Consider taking the gifts to one of the families. If you would like to know more about this part of the project, please contact Cheryl Bourassa at cheryl@concorduu.org.

Our annual Christmas ‘shopping’ spree for the Boys and Girls Club is Tuesday, December 18. Do you want to find a way to get into the spirit of Christmas without getting swept into the consumerism of the season? Join us on Tuesday, December 18 at the Boys and Girls Club where we will help kids shop for gently used gifts for everyone in their family. This is an event that is as much fun as it is fulfilling.

On Sunday, December 9 and 16, bring in gently used items that can serve as presents for siblings, parents and grandparents. We need toys, books, hats and mittens, jewelry, knickknacks, kitchen items and whatever else you think will make a good present. Historically, we have had slim pickings for men. Perhaps while you are shopping you could consider buying a pair of warm socks or mittens that we can offer as gifts. Last year, we had a huge pile of Legos, which we broke into small boxes. Hands down, these were the most popular gift we offered. If your child has extra Legos or Playmobiles that they will share, that would be fabulous.

We will also need donations of tape, tags, ribbons, wrapping paper and holiday bags (the easiest option on our wrappers; gently used is perfect). To get all of this over to the Boys and Girls Club, we’ll also need some good sized packing boxes.

Lots of helpers make this project possible. Those who are available early will meet at church at 2:00 where we’ll load up all of the donations and drive to the club. We’ll have until 3:30 to get everything nicely arranged. The kids shop from 3:30 to 5 o’clock. During that time we need people who can help kids shop, ensuring that they get age appropriate gifts. We also need people with the ability to do a lovely job packaging the gifts. Some of us will stay after 5 to clean up. This is an appropriate activity for older kids who can help with the shopping and wrapping.

You can let me know if you’ll participate by emailing me at cheryl@concorduu.org. You can also go to www.concorduu.org/volunteer.php. From there, you’ll see a link to Volunteer Spot where you can sign up. Please let me know if you’d prefer to meet at the church, or join us later on at the club.