General Church News

Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025

Featured this week
Coming up Sunday
Announcements
What’s happening soon?
Joys and sorrows
More activities

Featured this Week

Annual Giving Chair explains church financial needs

Dear Fellow UUs,

Over the next two weeks, we are asking members, friends, and visitors to commit to financial contributions that will fund the operations of the church for the next year.

How much does it take to operate this church? For our next fiscal year, we project a budget of $356,000, which is about 9-10% more than last year. The 3 reasons for the increase are these:

1. Over 70% of our budget expenses go to paying our employees. Since our fantastic staff haven’t seen a pay increase for 3 years — they now fall below fair/competitive market salary and benefit levels. This increase will allow us to bring all our staff closer to fair compensation as part of a three year plan.
2. Insurance premiums and facility costs will increase by thousands this year.
3. We need additional funds to support exciting new, expanding, and existing programs for our growing and diverse congregation.

As you reflect on your pledge, please think about what the church provides and what it means to you. Here are some themes from our mission and vision conversations with members:

• Sense of community, friendships, and support
• The living embodiment of radical welcome, acceptance, and deep connections
• The amazing quality and diversity of musical programming
• Educational programs like children’s RE and OWL classes
• Incomparable leadership for social justice causes, political activism, and spiritual growth

To meet our budget needs this year, we’re asking first-time givers to give generously from your own circumstance, and renewing givers to consider if you are able to increase your pledge by 10-15%. This means if you pledge $10 a month, can you raise it by $1.00 or 1.50? The diversity of UUCC is one of its greatest assets, but it means we don’t all have the same financial resources. The right gift feels good and provides a meaningful connection to the hopes and dreams of our community.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about our pledge process or the budget itself. Please submit your pledge on or before the deadline of Sunday, Feb. 23.

Thank you for helping us thrive together!
Christine Heath, Annual Giving Chair – email

Read more:

• Annual Giving Campaign Overview
• Letters from Minister and Annual Giving Chair
• Online pledge form
• Frequently asked questions

Check us out on the UUCC Facebook Group Page

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Coming up Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025

9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group – Lower Level-Forum Room/Library

The Forum Discussion Group is an adult issues-and-answers discussion program that meets from 9 to 10 a.m. most Sundays from September through May.

On Feb. 23 Mel West will speak on “Habitat for Humanity and Koinonia Farm.” Rev. West served on the national board of Habitat for Humanity. This program is in remembrance of Jimmy Carter.

9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation – Fire Circle or Lower Level-Centering Room

Mindfulness Meditation takes place at 9 a.m. every Sunday. Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome. If the outside temperature is 55° F. or higher and weather permits, meditation will take place at the Fire Circle behind the church. Otherwise, meditation will be in the Lower Level-Centering Room. For more information, email Anna Lingo or Susan Pereira.

10:30 a.m. – Worship Service – Sanctuary

“Collective Liberation Starts at Home” – Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon

In the work of collective liberation, we sometimes forget we cannot expect to build the world we are dreaming about, writ large, without practicing it in our intimate lives. Applying its principles of mutuality, justice, and care to our interpersonal relationships has to be the starting place of our liberation struggle. Join us to talk about some of the ways we can begin right where we are.

 Online worship links – Zoom • Facebook

Submit Joys and Sorrows by 8:30 a.m. Sunday before worship:

Joys and Sorrows Submission

Online Donation or Pledge Payment

Visitors participating in our online worship services are invited to fill out our Visitor Connection Card:

Visitor Connection Card

10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – Lower Level

After a centering time in the Sanctuary at the beginning of worship, the children will go downstairs for their classes. Free nursery care for infants to 3-year-olds will be available until 11:45 a.m. Read about our Youth Religious Education program.

11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour – Greeting Area

Enjoy beverages and chat in the Greeting Area.

Noon – Junior High OWL – Lower Level-Forum Room/Library

7th-9th graders will gather for a session of Our Whole Lives (OWL), our comprehensive and inclusive sexuality education program. Led by trained facilitators, this program goes well beyond biology and covers topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, consent, health relationships, body image, and more. The program fosters an open dialog where we see exploration of our sexuality as a healthy and holy aspect of what it means to be human.

Noon – Middle School D&D – Lower Level-Latimer Classroom

Middle schoolers gather on the second and fourth Sundays each month to play Dungeons & Dragons.

12:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Empowered Resistance Workshop – Sanctuary

We are hosting an in-depth training for our congregation and wider community. The workshop will be led by Jennifer Hofmann, a renowned movement builder who regularly inspires and mobilizes over 50,000 activists all over the world. This workshop is a chance for us to be together as we ground ourselves in the very necessary work ahead. We believe being grounded, skillful, and strategic is crucially important for us as a faith community and as people who care about this country.

Would you like to join us? If so, click here to sign up! Note: The workshop is offered free of charge, but we will collect an offering at the event to show gratitude and to support Jennifer’s ongoing, extraordinary work. Light refreshments will be available, and feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch. If you have questions, email the Finding our Way Forward Team (James Gordon, Kim Wade and Dottie Mathews).

Read more.

Announcements

New Art GroUUp will meet monthly

If you love art and making connections, the new Art GroUUp is looking for you! We will be meeting at the church from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every third Friday of the month. Meetings may include BYO craft nights, art therapy prompts related to monthly sermon topics, collaborative creations to beautify the church, and service projects. Open to all skill levels and experience!

Writing (and Reading) for Spiritual Sustenance group formed

Join us monthly from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the second Saturday each month to listen to the “still small voice within” and to write in response. We are a group of writers of all genres (journalling totally counts), levels of experience, and interests. We will set aside time to read poetry together, share writing prompts related to the spiritual theme of the month or work on our own projects – and also share with one another in affirmation. Please join us!

Chalice Circles signups still open for 2024-25

Rev. Molly requests gifts to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund

Dear UU Churchers,

I am writing you with an invitation to support the community with a donation to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, as many in Boone County struggle to make it through the lean time of winter. We are seeing rent go up all over town, and heating costs have increased as the weather turned cold.

As you know, the Minister’s Discretionary Fund of our church allows me to offer confidential assistance to those struggling in systems that were not set up to help them thrive, and this summer I have been grateful to be able to pay directly for utility bills, groceries, partial rent, and emergency short term housing to keep folks from homelessness in the deadly heat. It is such a sacred honor to be the channel for your material care into our wider community, an honor I take very seriously.

We replenish our Discretionary fund every December at our Christmas Eve service, and by later in the year the fund dwindles just as more need is apparent. So, I’m reaching out to ask for your support. If you have a little extra to spare, I invite you to direct it to those in our community struggling to get by. You can donate to the Discretionary Fund by selecting “Minister’s Discretionary Fund” in the drop down menu of our secure online giving portal, or by sending a check to the church with Discretionary Fund in the memo line. 

Thank you for your compassionate support!

– Rev. Molly

Sanctuary and Immigrant Justice Team seeks volunteer drivers

Our Guatemalan family continues to work toward independence. Our team of transportation volunteers is put to use only when Lilly has car trouble. The car that the Donaldson family so generously gave to Lilly is no longer dependable. With assistance from the team, she has purchased a more dependable vehicle. More dependable doesn’t mean totally dependable – it is quite used. Over the years that we have been assisting Lilly, our group of volunteers has dwindled considerably.

Although we have drivers for the afternoon, if the need arises we currently do not have enough morning drivers to reliably pick up Lilly and the children at 7:30 a.m. and take them to day care, school or the bus stop, and work by 8:30. If you are available and willing to volunteer to stand by for that morning transportation duty, please email Ruth Milledge.

Columbia Room at the Inn now open year-round

Our community partner Room at the Inn has now opened year-round at its permanent location in the former VFW building on Ashley Street. Read more.

The organizers still rely on volunteer help to keep the shelter staffed and running smoothly. Maybe you want to grab a friend, look at your calendars, and sign up for some shifts together soon? It’s getting coooold, and the need will be great! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C49AFAA29ABF94-44559659-room#/

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What’s happening soon?

Weekly and bi-weekly recurring events

Gentle Yoga with Karen Dwyer – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Gentle Yoga takes place at the church from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays and from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays (except the first Thursday each month). Additional information is available from Karen Dwyer, or contact the church office.

Choir Rehearsals – Wednesday evenings

Choir rehearsals with Music Director Violet Vondar Haar take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the Sanctuary at church. All singers are welcome, regardless of experience and vocal part.

Crafting Group – 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays

The crafting group meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in the Greeting Area. The group is recruiting new members and can help with any projects you may have. Beginners are welcome, and there is no hard commitment – come when you can. For more information, email Bonnie Johnson.

Living Earth Study Group – 9 a.m. first and third Saturdays

The Living Earth Study Group meets on first and third Saturdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Show-Me Dharma, 1600 West Broadway. It is facilitated by Peter Holmes, Ph.D. and Jared Belden, M.A. Sign up to attend by email. When warm weather returns next spring, Living Earth Meditation will resume. It is facilitated by Peter Holmes, PhD, and Tricia Straub. Sign up to attend by email. The living earth study group and meditation programs are a joint project of UUCC, the Columbia Friends Meeting and Show-Me Dharma.

Scheduled events coming soon

Board of Trustees – 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20

Our Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Per church bylaws, church members are welcome to attend and observe board meetings.

Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. Feb. 22 – online

The UUCC Men’s Group meets online via Zoom on the second, fourth, and fifth Saturdays of each month. For more information, contact Wiley Miller at 573-864-8574 or by email.

Milestones Circle – noon Sunday, Feb. 23 – canceled this month

12:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Empowered Resistance Workshop – Sanctuary

We are hosting an in-depth training for our congregation and wider community. The workshop will be led by Jennifer Hofmann, a renowned movement builder who regularly inspires and mobilizes over 50,000 activists all over the world. This workshop is a chance for us to be together as we ground ourselves in the very necessary work ahead. We believe being grounded, skillful, and strategic is crucially important for us as a faith community and as people who care about this country.

Would you like to join us? If so, click here to sign up! Note: The workshop is offered free of charge, but we will collect an offering at the event to show gratitude and to support Jennifer’s ongoing, extraordinary work. Light refreshments will be available, and feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch. If you have questions, email the Finding our Way Forward Team (James Gordon, Kim Wade and Dottie Mathews).

Read more.

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Joys and sorrows

You can read the Joys and sorrows shared with the congregation by clicking the button below. The page is also accessible from the Members/Friends drop-down menu. The Joys and Sorrows page is password-protected, so you must be logged in as a registered user of our site to see it. If you have not already registered, you can do so here.

Read Joys and Sorrows

You can submit joys and sorrows online by clicking this button:

Submit Joys and Sorrows

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More activities

View Online Calendar

View Upcoming Events Page

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