Dr. Reyna Vergara has an MDiv from Truett Seminary at Baylor University and an MA and PhD in Spanish Language and Literature from The State University of New York at Buffalo. She is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Mississippi University for Women. Her talk today is based on her creative writing. At the moment, her short story “Mami me marca,” appears in the 2018 Summer volume of Ámbitos Feministas. “Where is Home, My Child?” was published in the Spring volume of Confluencia, and “White Girl” received a Pushcart Prize nomination from the Modern Language Studies journal. Her presentation will focus on her short story, “Mami’s Girl,” a coming-of-age narrative.

Content Warning: 
Reyna's talk will touch on sensitive topics that are gender specific, such as female body parts and functions. The content might make some adults uncomfortable, and it is definitely not recommended for young children.

We are a welcoming congregation and invite you to join us this Sunday.  However, due to security concerns we are unable to publish the link to the service.  Contact Sandra Moss at [email protected] to have the link sent to you.

Our UUCO Holiday Lovefeast is our traditional “Tis the Season” worship service! It will be online this year, of course, but the spirit of this service and many of the traditional elements will still be present! So, we invite all -- youngest to oldest, longtime members as well as newcomers, intergenerational families and households of one or two-- to join in!  We will hear seasonal stories for all ages as well as the familiar songs of the season, read words from historic texts, enjoy traditional Lovefeast buns and warm cider, and hold aloft our candles at the conclusion of the service. This is our own adaptation of the traditional Moravian Lovefeast.

We are a welcoming congregation and invite you to join us this Sunday.  However, due to security concerns we are unable to publish the link to the service.  Please contact Sandra Moss at [email protected] to have the link sent to you.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE UUCO LOVEFEAST!
Enjoy fresh-baked lovefeast buns and more for the whole family!

UCO’s Lovefeast, set for Sunday, December 13th, is a cherished seasonal tradition, with shared food, song, and candlelight – and the pandemic just prompted our creativity!! We may be virtual this year, but we’ll still have a communal celebration!

All you have to do is pre-register by Wednesday, Dec 9th, and we’ll prepare a packet with fresh-baked Moravian Lovefeast buns (specify traditional – which contains dairy – or vegan) for you and each family member, a candle and holder, and recipe card and cinnamon stick for UUCO Lovefeast hot apple cider. We’ll arrange curbside pick-up on Saturday, December 12th at UUCO’s building; if the times announced (TBD) don’t work for you, we’ll look for alternate arrangements to try and accommodate everyone.
 
To RSVP for your UUCO Lovefeast packet, send an email to Michelle Harvey at [email protected] and provide the following:

Last name(s) of participants:
Number of buns requested:
Specify “Traditional” or “Vegan” or number of each:
Preferred pick-up time – specify “Late AM (10:00-noon)” or “Early PM (noon-2:00)

LOVEFEAST HOT CIDER . . . (At home... in 2020)


The ‘recipe’ for the hot cider that is part of UUCO’s Lovefeast service each year is pretty simple!!  In this year when a pandemic prevents us from an in-person Lovefeast, here’s the ‘homemade recipe’ for having some ready for 2020’s Zoom Lovefeast!  (Boy is this easy... and adaptable to taste and quantity!)

Ingredients:  
Apple cider or juice
Cranberry juice
Cinnamon stick/s
Whole cloves

Process:
The ratio of apple to cranberry has been about 1/4 cranberry to 3/4 apple for “UUCO Lovefeast Hot Cider”.  (“About’ is the operative word here!!  That’s about how much of each has gone into stock pots on the UUCO stove to get warmed up!!  Mix to suit your taste!!).  You’ll have to do your own calculation of how much you want to make for your household. 

To a pot for several people add a cinnamon stick and several whole cloves to add to the flavor and aroma. (Powdered versions of the spices are a little messier...) 

Just heat it all up — and enjoy the aroma that fills your house!  Do it the night before and then cut off the stove and let it all sit overnight to enhance both the flavor and the aroma in your house!!  Warm it again when ready you’re ready to pour in the cups... 

Especially delicious with Lovefeast buns...!!  

Enjoy — with the Lovefeast Service or at another hour of the day when the options for additional spices and flavorings could expand even further!!   

​The recipes for traditional and vegan lovefeast buns:

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During this holiday season marked by division and isolation, it's comforting to curl up with a good book, and connect with people from distant times and places, people with different backgrounds and perspectives. The airports may be closed, but in a novel we can take a vacation from politics and quarantine, re-charge our batteries of compassion, and return with new ways to connect with old friends and relatives.  
John Snodgrass is a freelance Unitarian supply preacher who has appeared at numerous fellowships in Western New York. He earned a Master's degree from Union Theological Seminary in NYC, and teaches religion courses at Canisius College, in Buffalo, New York. His books include Genesis and the Rise of Civilization, Chaos, and Natives Discover America (all available at amazon.com). He lives in Buffalo with his wife and their four children.
https://misterjsnodgrass.wordpress.com/about/

We are a welcoming congregation and invite you to join us this Sunday.  However, due to security concerns we are unable to publish the link to the servi