Sunday, January 22 "The Spirit Level" Rev. Amanda Aikman Disturbing global research shows that the ills a society experiences – from crime to teen pregnancy – are directly related to income inequality. We’ll look at a few dramatic graphs – and also explore the religious and personal implications. Coffee Hour between services

Monday, January 23

Monday Night Meditation,
TUUC sanctuary, 7 - 8:45 p.m. If you care to, join us on Monday evenings for meditation in the Vipassana tradition. We typically sit or walk in meditation for 30 minutes, listen to a recorded dharma talk, and then have a short discussion in the spirit of awareness. No previous experience or preparation is necessary. All are welcome.

Tuesday January 24

TUUC Supper Club
6 p.m.
Come in out of the cold! TUUC's Supper Club's next get together will be on Tuesday, January 24th at 6:00 p.m. at the Swiss Bar and Restaurant. The Swiss is located downtown near the UW campus at 1904 Jefferson Avenue, Tacoma, 98402; (253) 572- 2821. Come eat dinner with your church friends in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. No RSVP is necessary. Just show up and join us. Christine Stalnaker, christine.stalnaker@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, January 25

Noon WEEKLY & SUNDAY SERVICE notes DUE - editor@tuuc-wa.org

Adult Spiritual Development
6:30-8 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Occupy Tacoma
Join Reverend Bill Graves at ASD next week as we have a presentation and discussion with an Occupy Tacoma activists. .

Thursday, January 26

6:00 p.m. Yoga
7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Friday, January 27

Saturday, January 28

RE Swim Party for Families with Children
Saturday, January 28 at the Fife Pool (5410 20th St. East, Fife, 98424, (253.922.7665) from 1 - 3 p.m. Join your UU friends to swim and play!

Eagle Watching at the Cabin
The T.U.U.C. North Cascades Cabin will be open January 28 & 29 for the final days of the Skagit Eagle Festival, near Concrete and Rockport. Bald eagles are gathering at the nearby Sauk and Skagit rivers to harvest the annual salmon runs. Their coming attracts bird-watchers and photographers to the Howard
Miller Steelhead Park at Rockport. Free guided walks are planned from the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center there beginning at 10 a.m. each day. A gift shop and bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cabin has sleeping accommodations for six, and room for folding cots. A $10 donation is suggested this weekend for each overnight adult camper. Day visitors are welcome. Advance notice is helpful--contact Mary Watson at mwatson @harbornet.com. The rustic, one-room cabin was a gift from the Kauffman family, for use as a spiritual retreat. It is a center for Northwest recreation, in the heart of fishing, hiking, biking and mountaineering activities. Brochures with a map are available in the church lobby. The cabin is available for weekend and week-long rentals. It is a 2 1/2-hour drive from Tacoma.

TUUC Music Committee

The newly formed Music Committee of TUUC invites anyone who has an interest in the music for our services to attend monthly meetings for planning. If you don't care to be a member but have ideas to offer the committee about music, please contact Kathy Strickland, Chair.

Social Action Committee

Please hold magazines and paperback books for the Northwest Detention Center until I can find out more about a changing policy. It looks like there's a shift to NEW BOOKS ONLY. This is the policy in most prisons to avoid the smuggling of contraband. We had thought the NWDC policy of accepting books and magazines from churches was very compassionate. It seems that it is over. We will do our best to keep us informed.

On-Line/Hard Copy Photo Directory Update

Later this month the Membership Committee plans to pass out the 2011 new members supplement along with a color photo collage of the congregation. This will be given to all those who have purchased the 3-ring binder directory. New directories will be on sale for $10 no later than the first part of February. Another way to view the TUUC membership is by going online. If you've misplaced your pass codes or not received them, please contact Susan Kunkel.

Monday Night Meditations: two new series beginning January 30

Our format typically includes a 30 minute silent sit, a talk or reading, and a discussion held in the spirit of mindfulness. While it can be helpful to attend from the beginning of a series, each session also stands by itself. Therefore, feel free to join us anytime with “beginner’s mind.” All are welcome.

Register Now!  

It's Time for Annual UU Women's Retreat at Camp Seymour! March 2-4, 2012

If you haven't been before, it's a lot of fun and also a chance to connect with other UU women and just "renew your spirit" in a beautiful woodsy setting on the shores of Puget Sound (but with modern amenities). This weekend is yours to use as you wish: Engage with others, spend time in quiet contemplation – or do both!

• OUTDOOR activities: hiking, archery, boating, climbing wall
• WORKSHOPS: chocolate appreciation (the sequel), getting healthy & staying healthy, Pierce County Suffragettes, journaling your life, book sharing, nature walk, art, yoga & more
• EVENING WORSHIP: a time to gather with other women and re-center yourself
• FRIDAY KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Lisa Voso, trial attorney, trainer & speaker

TUUC Progressive Dinner Fundraisers

Three Seats Left for February Progressive Dinner Fundraiser

There are three seats remaining for the February 4th TUUC Progressive Dinner Fundraiser. The 2012 Progressive Dinner Fundraisers are being hosted by North Tacoma TUUC congregants. The February 4th hosts are Debbie Cafazzo & John Froschauer, Jennifer Johnston & Tommy Harlow, Susan & Steven Garrett, and Chris George & Rob Ramsey. The dinner consists of four courses, one course in the home of each of the four host couples, and will begin with appetizers at 5:30 pm. The dinners are prix fixe at $35 per person and limited to 16 persons for each date. To reserve one of the three remaining spaces on February 4th, send a check made out to TUUC for $35 to Joan Benderson at 9201 65th St Ct W, University Place, 98467. You may also want to call Joan at 253-566-4334 to confirm whether the dinner has yet sold out.

The next Progressive Dinner Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, March 10. Each dinner will consist of four courses and will begin with appetizers at 5:30 pm. The dinners are prix fixe at $35 per person and limited to 16 persons for each date. To reserve your seat at the table, send a check made out to TUUC for $35 to Joan Benderson at 9201 65th St Ct W, University Place, 98467.

Intrepid Snowshoeing

We are planning outings for February 11 and 25 with departures from TUUC at 8:00 a.m. The likely destination for the 11th is the beautiful trail along the Carbon River, just inside Mt. Rainier National Park. The destination for the 25th TBA. Appropriate winter clothing and willingness to rent snowshoes if loaners
not available required. Join us and enjoy the beauty of winter! Questions and sign up with Fran at tatooshie@yahoo.com, or Felice, fdavis1944@gmail.com

Valentines Dance is February 11

TUUC Valentine's Dance will be Saturday, February 11 from 6 - 8:30 p.m.! This is an all ages event! Come dance like no one is watching to hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and today! Bring a finger food to share if you can. $5 donation per person with a $10 limit per family. For those who come early to set up or stay after to clean up, the donation is waived.

February Third Friday Potluck

February 17th is the next date for our Third Friday Potluck. Andy Bartels will bring us a program of fun and music. Andy has performed from our pulpit on Sundays so i know he will delight us with his music and stories. Maybe we'll all be a part of the program. Come with your contribution for the noon meal at 12:00 Friday, February 17th.

Mystery Pals Begins February 19

Mystery Pals is an exciting way to connect with people at TUUC! Just sign up with Lori and she will assign you a code name (which will be a famous UU). For four Sundays, between February 19 and March 18, you leave a clue about who you are in the Mystery Pals Mailbox that will be in the church lobby. Your pal will leave a clue for you too! If you wish you can give your pal small gifts like candy, drawings, poems, trinkets, or flowers, but gifts are optional. On March 25 we will have a Reveal Celebration in the social hall at 10:35 a.m. If you want to be a mystery pal you must agree to be there for the Reveal Celebration to meet your pal, and give clues for all four Sundays. Adults and children are encouraged to participate in Mystery Pals. Adults will be paired with children as much as possible, to make this an inter-generational activity. Please e-mail Lori by February 5 at dre@tuuc-wa.org if you’d like to participate and she’ll send you instructions to get started!

Step Up for TUUC

Coffee Hour Needs Volunteers
Please consider joining the Coffee Team! We need volunteers for this year. It would involve helping to make the brew and set up/clean up tables one Sunday per month. We are trying to expand into teams of at least two persons per Sunday and you can choose which one works best for you. Please send a response to Tim Battin, spatialresearch@yahoo.com or 253 - 988 4342. Thanks!

Help Needed: Building and Grounds!
As our church ages, the effort to keep it sound and presentable increases, as well as the need for volunteers. Any amount of time is appreciated. Current needs are: yard and parking lot weeding, electrical work, sump pump upgrades, painting the wheelchair ramp, etc. The current contracted maintenance hours don't cover all this work.

These projects must be done to not only make it enjoyable and safe to use the facility, but also to make sure that when it comes time to sell, it is marketable. Interested in pitching in? Contact Bob Lane at boblane@harbornet.com or Felice Davis at fdavis1944@gmail.com

Lost Something?
There are numerous items in the lost & found on the shelf above the coat rack off the foyer. At least 5 pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses, shirts, hot cups, etc. One item of note is a beautiful Christopher & Banks seersucker shirt primarily of brown with gold, red, green and blue threads running through it. If you’re missing something, please take a look.

Around the PNWD

“Seminary for a Day”
Yearning for Depth:
Come to Seminary for a Day at First Unitarian Church of Portland

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
First Unitarian Church "Eliot Center" 
1011 SW 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97205
Fee: $30 (scholarships available)

Are you yearning for greater depth in your spiritual life? If Unitarian Universalism calls your spirit to explore your theology more deeply; if you've always wanted to know more about the Bible and other sacred texts; if you long to grow in your understanding of our Unitarian Universalist history and heritage; if you seek spiritual practice that might inspire and sustain your own bending toward justice --- then Seminary for a Day may be
the best way you can spend Saturday, Jan. 28. It will be a day of reflection and depth for all, in no way limited to people considering seminary.

You are invited to have a taste of seminary education according to the learning model at Starr King School for the Ministry <http://www.sksm.edu/>, one of our UU seminaries. Rev. John Buehrens <http://www.uuneedham.org/AboutFP/minister.html>, recent member of the Starr King Board of Trustees and former President of the UUA, and a team of local clergy, will offer you a day of theological reflection and spiritual exploration. Workshops will include sessions on the “Understanding the Bible,” “Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People’s History,” embodied theology, process theology, spiritual practice and environmental awareness.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS - The Rev. John Buehrens
"WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE ROOT . . ."

A Chinese proverb says, "When you return to the root, you find the meaning." Asking "What is liberal religion for? What evolutionary purpose does it still serve?" former UUA president and author John Buehrens will draw on history, theology and anthropology to kick off our "seminary in a day" explorations. Respondents to the address will include Rev. Marilyn Sewell, minister emerita of First Unitarian Church of Portland.

Registration and more detailed information available at
http://firstunitarianportland.org/our-programs/other-news/325-seminary-for-a-day

Social Change As Religious Vocation
The Fruits of the Radical Spirit
Saturday, February 25, 2012
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Atkinson Memorial Church, 710 Sixth Street, Oregon City
Reverend Deborah Holder
Minister of Beloved Community Formation
Mountain Desert District UUA

Deborah Holder is a community minister specializing in religion and social change, community organizing and social administration. Prior to entering the ministry, she was an economic justice organizer and social
justice funder with the UU Veatch Program at Shelter Rock. As the MDD Justice Ministries Program enters its tenth year, she joins us to share some of the faith-based resources for congregational social change
developed along the way.

FOCUS OF TRAINING:
Building Beloved Community:
How Do We Talk About Race, Class & Privilege
Shifting the Paradigm:
Small Group Ministry & Social Change as Vocation
At Home In Creativity

$100 for your congregational team - Lunch is included - Goodwill offering will be invited for a Social Justice initiative of our host congregation - For home hospitality and lodging options, enquire when you RSVP - Childcare arrangements made upon request when you RSVP

RSVP AS A CONGREGATION TO DISTRICT OFFICE BY February 17, 2012 (SPACE MAY BE LIMITED) pnwd@uua.org - (425) 957-9116

Alaska UUs
Whale Coast Alaska 2012
Alaska UUs Offer Unique Tour After PNWD Assembly in May

WhaleCoast Alaska -- a tour program that is sponsored by Alaska UU congregations -- would like to invite you to a unique 9-day tour of Alaska, beginning immediately after the historic 2012 PNWD Assembly in Anchorage. The tour will visit the highlights of Anchorage, travel to picturesque Seward, spend two nights in wild Denali National Park, and end in historic Fairbanks. The tour is organized by Fairbanks UU Dave Frey, who travels with the group. It was created especially for participants in this year’s District Assembly who want to experience Alaska in the company of fellow UUs. It lasts 9 days and 8 nights – from May 20-28 -- and features spectacular experiences in nature, scenic travel on the Alaska Railroad, and warm UU home hospitality. The cost is $2,339, including all lodging (double occupancy), travel, tour activities, and an average of two meals per day. The tour is a fundraising event for the Anchorage and Fairbanks congregations. There is a $50 early registration discount through January 31. (Contact us if you receive this notice later than January 31 and need an extension of this deadline.)

WhaleCoast Alaska has been organizing annual fundraising tours since the 1990’s. Many PNWD UUs have participated over the years, but this is the first time the program has ever organized a tour around a PNWD event. The Anchorage and Fairbanks UUs are eager to show you their beautiful state. Complete tour information and registration forms can be found atwww.WhaleCoastAK.org, by emailingdfrey@whalecoastak.org, or by calling 907-322-4966.

We at Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation are a liberal religious congregation of about 200 members, plus friends, who share our lives, our values and principles, our questions, and our faith and spirituality with one another. We have Sunday services, and we have other activities and programs all week. We are one of over a thousand independent congregations that voluntarily belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

TUUC's Online calendar
Please look here and send a message to your adminIstrative staff members with corrections and additions a soon as possible. Thank you! Mike Field