Is the thought of Christmas making you feel bleak? Let us help.

The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities Announces the Christmas Assistance Program

Quad Cities: The Salvation Army's Christmas Assistance Program - a community wide effort - is The Salvation Army's largest outreach event each year. Last year, for example, more than 6,000 toys and gifts were distributed to 2,206 children and more than 1,900 households received food.

Families who would like to receive assistance during the holidays must register and complete the application process before December 6th.

Registration Location in Scott County, IOWA

3400 W. Central Park Avenue, Davenport 563-391-5325

Registration Location in Rock Island County, ILLINOIS

2200 - 5^th Avenue, Moline 309-764-6996

 

Registration Dates and Times for both Locations:

Mondays– 12:00PM to 2:30PM On October 28; November 4, 11, 18, 25; and December 2

Wednesdays– 1:00PM to 4:00PM On October 30; November 6, 13, 20; and December 4

Fridays– 11am-2pm On November 1, 8, 15, 22; and December

What to bring: Applications will not be taken without the items below:

1. Adults: a. Picture ID with valid date, b. Social Security card & c. Proof of address (2 pieces of mail)

2. Children: a. Social Security Cards or b. Medical Cards or c. Birth certificates for each child.

3. Proof of: a. Household Income & b. Federal or State Benefits.

Generous Quad Cities residents make this program possible with their monetary donations, as well as donations of toys through the Angel Giving Trees. Beginning November 2, Angel Trees will be displayed at all QC Wal-Marts. NorthPark and SouthPark Mall will again host trees in their JC Penney and Younkers Courts, respectively, starting November 29.

To volunteer with The Salvation Army this season, please go to www.ringbells.org.

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PORT BYRON, IL - The Nick Teddy Foundation, in partnership with First Wealth Financial
Group of Clinton, IA, is pleased to announce proceeds results for its Second Annual "Nick Teddy
Fight Against Ewing's Sarcoma 5k."

The Port Byron-based foundation will donate $20,000 to the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, to
be used exclusively for Ewing's sarcoma research. The rare pediatric bone cancer currently
affects several area children and young adults. An additional $5,000 will be used to support
these local patients and their families.

The "Nick Teddy 5k" is an annual celebration of the life of Port Byron native Nicholas Theodore
Strub, who died of Ewing's sarcoma in November 2011 at age 29. The Nick Teddy Foundation
was established in his memory, and works to raise money for Ewing's sarcoma research, to
increase awareness of the disease in the Quad City area, and to support local Ewing's patients
and their families. In two short years, the foundation has donated over $37,000 to Ewing's
sarcoma research.

Leah Shaw, Ewing's patient from Clinton, IA, crosses the finish line at the Nick Teddy 5k
This year's event was held in Port Byron, IL, on Saturday, September 14, and included a 1-mile
family fun run/walk, a kids' dash for children 6 years of age and under, and the 5k run/walk. The
festivities also included kids' games, a silent auction and raffle, and an after party with food and
live entertainment.

More information can be found online at: http://www.NickTeddy.org, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NickTeddyOrg); on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NickTeddyOrg).

UU 101 CLASS Saturday November 2, 2013 Including:

*A brief history of our congregation and the Unitarian and Universalist movements in the United States *How to get involved in activities of the congregation *How the church is governed *What is stewardship and what is expected of members of the congregation *There will be a mini-connection circle.  Lunch and childcare will be provided, but we need to know in advance if you can attend and if you need childcare.

Please call Stephanie at the office 563-359-0816 or Melanie Landa 563-320-6106

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION PRACTICE BEGINS!

 

For many years I have maintained a personal Vipassana Meditation Practice.  In addition, I have participated in and led meditation groups.  My meditation practice has helped me remain centered and focused throughout my life.

 

Please join us for the start of a Mindfulness Meditation Group as part of our Spiritual Practices and Program Team.  We will meet every Tuesday night (unless otherwise mutually agreed) starting October 15^th from 5:30-6:30 in the Sanctuary.  All are welcome whether you are new to meditation or if you have meditated a long time.  There is no commitment to show up.  Feel free to drop in whenever you can make it.   The format will include a brief instruction, formal seated meditation, (possibly a walking meditation) a reading, short discussion time and checkout. I look forward to being with you. Rev. Jay

 

If you need childcare, please call the office at least 48 hours in advance at (563) 359-0816.

 

What Moves Us
Please join Rev. Jay Wolin as he utilizes the Tapestry of Faith curriculum "What Moves Us" to "explore the life experiences of historic Unitarian Universalist theologians, highlighting that which caused in them a change of heart, a new direction, new hope, and a deeper understanding of their own liberal faith. These workshops offer participants a chance to engage with and bring their personal experiences to bear on the very questions explored by each theologian in turn. The program offers a pathway for developing not only one's own personal theology but also one's deep understanding of the threads of our Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist theological heritage."  The classes will be on Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm in the Lounge.

October 30th                Hosea Ballou's Theology of Happiness.

November 6th               William Ellery Channing's Theology of Emotional Struggle.

November 13th              Margaret Fuller's Liberal Theology of the Human Heart.

If childcare is needed, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance at 563-359-0816.

CAKES FOR THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN SERIES UU CONNECTION CIRCLE

Look for signup sheet in the lobby. *PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EACH SERIES YOU WANT TO ATTEND*

Start date is October 24 2013, continuing on the second and fourth Thursday through July, 2014

There are three sessions throughout the year; this means a person can attend session one, two or three or attend all sessions or a combination of them that fits your needs.

• SESSION I -- IN ANCIENT TIMES -- FIVE SESSIONS - OCTOBER 24 - DECEMBER 26, 2013 [we will work around the holidays]
• SESSION II -- ON THE TRHESHOLD -- SIX SESSIONS - JANUARY 9 -- MARCH 27, 2014
• SESSION III -- UNRAVELING THE GENDER KNOT -- SEVEN SESSIONS - APRIL 10 -- JULY 10, 2014.

The material is grounded in feminist thealogy and based on the cakes for the queen of heaven by Shirly Ranck and unraveling the gender knot by Barbara G. Schonborn, PhD, rosemary Matson Ba, and the late Alison Campbell, Ma.

GLBTQIA  Connection Circle

Tuesdays 6:30-8pm November 5 - December 17 Meet others to discuss current topics related to GLBTQIA related issues.

Eight Sessions -  Topics Include

1. Terms/Labels/Definitions/Symbols/Slang

2. Public Figures/History/Authors

3. Legal/Employment/Politics/Crime

4. Dating/Marriage/ Family/Commitments

5. Personal Journey/Coming Out Stories

6. Medical Issues/Mental Health/Suicide/Drugs

7. Support/Resources/Interweave/Religion

What is a Connection Circle?

This is more than a group discussion! Covenant groups are a transformational practice through which we, with others, can discover our own underlying assumptions about reality and examine our ways of being. Participants engage with others in reflection and suspend judgment long enough to hear respectfully the understandings of others, even those vastly different from their own.

Due to the nature of the group, participants are asked to attend all or most of the gatherings. This encourages relationship building, trust, and development of community.

The Connection Circle is based on caring, listening and respect. Group rules allow everyone to talk and ask everyone to listen. The goal is for a balance between total confidentiality and relationship building. Participants should learn something new and gain wider perspectives.

Register Soon!

The group will be limited to 12, so register as soon as you can. A waiting list will be kept with the possibility of additional group formations.

To register or for questions contact:

Christine  Phone: 563.359.0816 or Email natursoul3@aol.com

The curriculum explores female religious history in the western tradition, including Jewish, Christian and earth centered traditions.  The gender knot materials include gender, religion, feminism, economics, invisibility and denial and how to challenge the patriarchal system.

The group is open only to women, in order to better explore the multiple meanings and roles of the female divine in women's lives.

CONTACT LANA LONG [LANASUE6@MSN.COM] OR LUCIA DRYANSKI [MUDCREEKPRAIRIE@NTINS.NET] FOR MORE INFORMATION.

If childcare is needed, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance at 563-359-0816.

Make-A-Wish^® Illinois grants wish to teen girl with life-threatening illness

PEORIA - Kelly Suarez's wish to visit Comic Con resulted in an experience of a life-time that included unique costumes, brushes with celebrities and a trip to San Diego over the summer.

Kelly, age 14 of Sterling, is a shy and soft-spoken teenager that loves to read graphic novels and watch her favorite television shows.  In early 2010, Kelly was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer.

After being referred to Make-A-Wish during her treatment, Kelly wished to go to Comic-Con International in San Diego to meet her favorite characters.  Comic-Con International: San Diego is a convention that celebrates the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. Kelly traveled nearly 2,000 miles from home with her mother and sister.  Amy Suarez, Kelly's mom, described Kelly's Wish as "awesome and crazy."  Kelly met members of the cast of the hit television show How I Met Your Mother, the creator of The Walking Dead and caught a great photo opportunity with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Wish granting volunteer, Mary Beth Eggers, helped Kelly and her little sister prepare for the trip.  Eggers enlisted the help of local seamstress Julie Doty to make the girls custom costumes for the day.  Both girls had a hand in the design process from colors to props.  Kelly dressed as Link from The Legend of Zelda and her sister dressed as Carl from The Walking Dead.  Eggers also took Amy and her sister to a book store to pick out a few books on their favorite characters as well.  "She went above and beyond anything that we could have ever expected," Amy said of Mary Beth.

While on the wish, Kelly and her family met several other wish families at the event and have remained in contact with a wish family from Texas.  Currently cancer free, Kelly will have the memories of Comic Con to look back on as she ventures to the next chapter of her life.

About Make-A-Wish^® Illinois

Make-A-Wish Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. Since being founded locally in 1985, the chapter has granted more than 11,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish^® with special children across the state.  For more information or to find out how you can help, call 309.530.0080 or visit www.illinois.wish.org