The Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara has two services on Sunday at 9:30 and 11:30 AM. Sunday, December 14, 2008, Rev. Aaron McEmrys will speak and the topic will be Napoleon in Iraq. Sunday, December 21, 2008, Rev. Aaron McEmrys will speak and the topic will be A Winter’s Tale.

Family Fun Night. Friday, December 12, 6-8 PM, Parish Hall. Come, enjoy a delicious potluck meal, help decorate our holiday tree, and sing songs led by our Youth Choir Director, Viava Janusoniene! We begin with a Gratitude Circle and end around the lit tree. Bring a dish to share and your own utensils. Invite a new family to join the fun! Melitta Haslund, 965-4583 x229.

Esperanto Circle will meet this Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 PM in Blake Lounge, not Friday, December 12 as listed in last week’s Announcements.

Holiday Craft Party. Sunday, December 14, 9:30-11:30 AM, Parish Hall. Create beautiful holiday crafts for your home & friends. Don’t miss this beloved USSB holiday tradition. To volunteer at a craft table, contact Melitta Haslund at 965-4583 x229, lifespan@ussb.org. Please bring greens for wreath making.

Giving Tree. Sunday, December 14, Parish Hall. Help a family in need. Stop by our USSB Christmas tree and take a card with a holiday wish from a family being served by Domestic Violence Solutions. Return your wrapped gift, with the card attached, to Parish Hall by Sunday morning, December 21. 

Want to help, with no time to shop? Coming of Age Participant, Kaeli DiStefano and Mentor, Nancy Edmundson will shop for you! Select a card from the Giving Tree, bring the card and your donation check (written to USSB) to the gingerbread house table…and we’ll take it from there! (Limited to first 10 requests!) We shop for service!

Holiday Gifts & Stocking Stuffers. Support your church & choose handmade note cards, bookmarks, shopping bags with our local UU logo, Story People whimsical prints & books, Good Taste cookbooks, & if you are quick, a USSB mouse pad, handmade journal & a pair of “spark bugs” made by our RE kiddos. Locally made UU refrigerator magnets with inspirational quotes, & sets of adult & children’s versions with our UU principles. These items are for sale in the front office. Check it out!

Wrap Your Gifts in a Novel Way! Pick up UU green shopping bags “Green Thoughts Into Action…Heal the World,” $5 each in front office. These make an easy & non-polluting way to wrap gifts. Just put your gift in with some tissue & add a bow. Voila! Wrapped & functional!

Social Justice Holiday Cards. Celebrate the holidays while supporting UUSC’s focus areas: defending civil liberties & democratic processes, advancing economic issues, environmental justice; & protecting rights in humanitarian crisis. Available at the Social Justice table Sunday, $15.

Congregation Potluck & Theatre Night Grand Opening with Chuck Wolfe! Saturday, December 20, 5:45 PM, Parish Hall. Bride & Prejudice puts a cross-cultural spin on Jane Austen’s story of spirited courtship. Come early & bring food to share. We’ll eat about 5:45 so the movie can start about 7! Those who can, please come by 5 PM to help set-up. Bruce Hanna.

RE Family Caroling. Sunday, December 21, 6:30-8:30 PM. We will begin the evening singing for the residents of Sarah House, then carol through the halls of Santa Barbara Convalescent Hospital. Rev. Melitta Haslund, 965-4583 x229.

Christmas Eve Services. Wednesday, December 24, 5 & 7 PM. This special Christmas Eve our services are centered on the blessings of Faith, Hope, and Love with traditional carols as well as new music ripe with the sentiment of the season. From a candle-lit Gaudete to our traditional Silent Night around the fountain, these services are sure to warm your heart. Guest Guitarist Anthony Ybarra will be on hand to add a special touch to our caroling. In the first service our own Youth Choir led by Viava Janusoniene will be a special treat. Carol singing before and aftereach service will make this holiday a special experience of music, Christmas spirit and community.

Employment Opportunity. USSB is currently accepting applications for to the position of Childcare Coordinator. Contact Rev. Melitta Haslund, 965-4583 x229 for further information.

Parking Ministry. Volunteer to be a valet or shuttle driver to ensure that all of our members, especially our elders, feel welcome & included. If you are able, please leave the closest parking spaces at the Society free & enjoy a short walk to Sunday service. See Kaleidoscope for details. For info & to volunteer, Tammy Shorb.

Dogs on Campus. For the comfort & safety of all our congregants, only service dogs are allowed on campus on Sunday mornings.

Youth Choir. Sundays, 10:45-11:30 AM, Jefferson Hall. Youth Choir is open to all children ages 5-12. No previous musical experience necessary. Contact Viava Janusoniene, for further information.

Chancel Choir. Thursdays, 7 PM, Parish Hall. This choir has an open policy to all members & friends of USSB. If you’ve got the music in you, come let it out Thursday evenings. Special Christmas rehearsal Saturday December 20, 9 AM-12 PM. Come join us! Ken Ryals.

Kaleidoscope submission deadline is December 17 for January 3-16.