January 1 -- In the Beginning: literature circle, coordinated by Jean Wentz. Do you have a favorite poem or literary passage about new beginnings? How about a favorite creation story? Celebrate the New Year by bringing in your stories to share.

January 8 -- We will be led on an Exploration of Classism in UU by Karon Sandberg. Karon has a Master of Divinity with concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling; she has served as a ministerial intern at Fox Valley UU Fellowship and is currently a Chaplain for Heartland Hospice. Her visits with UU partnership churches in the Philippines exposed her to how our faith can resonate with people who have little education and are very poor – a demographic quite unlike our typical mid-west fellowships. We surely can benefit from Karon’s experience.

A quarterly meeting follows this service. Please plan on staying to attend.

January 15 -- "What legacy will you leave?" by Claudia Moder. How will you be remembered when you are gone? A discussion centering on character, deeds, and the Seven Principles.

January 22 -- "The Joy of Good Argument: The Dialogue We Need in 2012" by Judy Crain. Judy has a masters in theology from Garrett Theological School in Evantston, Illinois and is an annual guest.

January 29 -- "Carl Jung on the Collective Unconscious and Spirituality" by Don Abel. Don has a PhD in Philosophy, teaches Philosophy as well as courses on Jung and Freud at SNC, and is a former Jesuit priest. Don will make us aware of the connection between Jung’s notion of the Collective Unconscious and our seventh UU principle (which you will find on the back of the bulletin).

February 5 -- "New Wine in Old Wineskins: ‘Living Biblically’ in the Modern World" by Tom Bolin. Thomas M. Bolin is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at St. Norbert College and spoke to us last April following his sabbatical in Rome. His research focuses on the ancient literary and cultural contexts of the Hebrew Bible as well as ancient Israelite history, specifically wisdom literature and post-exilic texts. The inspiration of this week’s message is drawn from A. J. Jacob’s 2008 book "A Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.