Weekly News Update

General Church News

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

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

Featured this Week

Potluck Sunday! Bring a dish to share with an ingredient list

Nov. 2 is a first Sunday, and that means it’s potluck time after worship!

Please bring a main dish, side dish or dessert if you are able, and please stay if you can’t because there’s always plenty of food to go around. To accommodate those with dietary restrictions, please provide a complete ingredient list for your food contribution and indicate whether it is dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan and/or vegetarian. Go here for a fillable PDF form for your contribution.

Also, please help set up the Sanctuary for the potluck and stay after to help clean up and return the Sanctuary to normal order. Many hands make light work!

UUJME plans chili fundraiser on Nov. 15

On Saturday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m., Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) will be having its annual fundraiser Chili Supper to help Palestinian children who are struggling with the effects of war, famine and loss.

Everyone is welcome, including families with young children. The chili supper is free for everyone, but donations are welcome and will go directly to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).

There will be a short program at about 7 p.m.

If you would like to help by donating chili or sides, or in some other way, please email UUJME Chair Margaret Tyler, or text Win Scott at 573-823-8400.

Please plan to join us for this fun event and great cause.

Music and Variety Show scheduled on Friday, Nov. 21

The annual UUCC Music and Variety Show will take place at church from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, Music Director Violet Vonder Haar has announced. The event will be an opportunity to come together in community and showcase the many talents within our congregation.

Members (and non-members) of all abilities and talents are invited to participate. Whether you have a song you’d like to share, a story or poem you’d like to recite, or even a choreographed dance, you are welcome and encouraged to sign up. There will be a 5-7 minute time limit for each performer. All ages are welcome to participate.

There will be a $5-20 suggested donation, with all proceeds going toward the UUCC music program.

Honduras Ministry plans trivia night fundraiser on Nov. 29

The UUCC Honduras Ministry has scheduled its annual Trivia Night Fundraiser for our partner projects in Honduras at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at church.

Besides trivia fun in seven-person teams, the evening will feature a chili/soup cook-off for a chance to win bragging rights, 50-50 games, and a silent auction. Childcare will be provided.

All proceeds will go to support the El Pital, Honduras Health Clinic as well as latrine-building and other partner projects in Honduras.

Early-bird tickets are $25. Tickets will be $30 at the door, or $15 for students. Tickets will be on sale before and after worship on Nov. 9 and 16 and at the door. For more information, email Allie Gassmann.

“Coming Back to Life” programs planned on Saturdays starting Nov. 1

UUCC members and friends are invited to share their care for the earth and engage in relational and earth mindfulness practices in these sessions that will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays beginning Nov. 1.

“Living Earth Dialogos” will take place on first and third Saturdays at Show Me Dharma, 1600 East Broadway. Read more about what is planned.

“The Work that Reconnects” will take place on second and fourth Saturdays at UUCC. Read more about what will be covered.

You can sign up for these programs and ask questions by emailing livingearth1400@gmail.com. The sponsors are UUCC, Show Me Dharma and Columbia Friends Meeting.

Chalice Circles signups now open

Need community? We’ve got you.

Being in community might just be the most important thing we can do right now for ourselves and for each other.

As a small-group ministry of our church, Chalice Circles are designed to build that community, foster connections between members, and provide opportunities to share your heart in a safe, brave space.

These groups of no more than 10 members are led by fellow UU volunteers and topics are planned to complement the monthly themes of the church year. A Chalice Circle commitment is for one cycle of eight or nine sessions, though some chalice groups may elect to continue in some form over the summer. Groups will meet once or twice a month for one and one-half hours, from September or October 2025 to May 2026.

You can learn more here or go ahead and sign up here!

If you have questions, you are welcome to email the Chalice Circles Leadership Team that consists of the Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, Gretchen Maune and Crystal Paddock Buffaloe, or call or text Crystal at 573-289-9705 (please leave a message!).

We look forward to a fun, connected, meaningful year ahead!

With Gratitude,
Crystal, Gretchen, and Rev. Molly

“Wild Wonder” playground campaign announced; workdays scheduled

What: An accessible wooden tree deck surrounded by natural play materials to connect our kids with our grounds and each other in imaginative play.

When: To be built this fall! Workdays have been scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Nov 1, 8, 15 and 22.

Where: In the shade on the east side of the grounds – look for the newly poured concrete sidewalk!

How: The contributions of our community! We need to raise $25,000, and we’ve already received $5,000 in leadership gifts. You can:

Make a gift at uucomo.org/give by selecting Children’s RE Reserved Fund in the dropdown menu
Look out for fundraisers after church held by our kids – including a lemonade stand this Sunday
Buy a handprint for your child in the planned decorative concrete border alongside the sidewalk, or donate in honor of a family who might not be able to purchase a handprint. $100 per print. Fill out this form to purchase handprints or to request a donated handprint!

Who: All of us! We’ll be holding great big family workdays to build the deck in October. Stay tuned for more info.

Check us out on the UUCC Facebook Group Page

Coming up Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 – First Sunday Potluck!

For Forum meetings, meditation and worship,
drop-in childcare is provided. No reservation needed.

Reminder: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Set your clocks back one hour before retiring Saturday night, or you’ll be an hour early for church.

9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group

The Forum Discussion Group meets at 9 a.m. Sundays from September through May. On Nov. 2 Steve Weinberg, retired MU Professor of Journalism, will speak on “Why I decided to devote the final four decades of my investigative journalism career to freeing innocent individuals from prison while seeking the actual murderers and rapists.” Weinberg has worked for newspapers newspapers and magazines and has published ten books. He was the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. and founder of the Midwest Innocence Project.

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

“Remembrance Sunday” – Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, Intern Minister Monica Clark-Robinson and the UUCC Choir

As the veil grows thin in this liminal season, join us for our annual Remembrance Sunday ritual. We will speak the names of our beloved dead build a remembrance altar with fall leaves, photos, and mementos. You are invited to bring items for the altar (and reminded to take them home with you again after the service). This year our service will be powerfully anchored by a series of songs from Alexandra “Ahlay” Blakely’s collection “WAILS: Songs for Grief” shared by our choir.

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 – Service Sunday

After a centering time in the Sanctuary at the beginning of worship, the children will go downstairs for a Service Sunday project instead of their usual classes. The project will be cleaning the Memorial Garden and making memorial altars. Free nursery care for infants to 3-year-olds will be available until 11:45 a.m.Read about our Youth Religious Education program.

After Worship – Coffee Hour – Greeting Area

Enjoy beverages and conversation in the Greeting Area after worship.

Noon – First Sunday Potluck – Greeting Area and Sanctuary

Bring a dish to share with an ingredient list and stay for a monthly potluck. Please help set up and clean up as you are able.

Noon – YRUU

Members of YRUU, our high school youth group, will gather for the regular weekly meeting.

Noon – Chalice Circles Facilitators Meeting – Lower Level-Centering Room

Facilitators of Chalice Circles gather periodically for discussion, planning and training. This will be the first such gathering this program year.

1:30 p.m. – Social Action Team – Online

Our Social Action Team will hold its regular monthly meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to participate. For information, email the team’s chair, Fred Young.

Announcements

Exploring mutual aid and radical neighboring

Thirty-six UUCC members and friends gathered to explore possibilities for radical neighboring and mutual aid following our worship service and Rev Molly’s sermon on “Mutual Aid, Labor and Faith: A History” on Sunday, August 31.

The theme that afternoon was “What forms of radical neighboring and mutual aid do we want and need? How might we begin?”

Folks then proposed and hosted small group exploratory discussions on these topics:

Childcare collective
Farming and gardening work sharing
Meal sharing
Goods & services exchange / skills sharing
Barn-raising-style yard work and home repair
Peer- or co-counseling, self-resourcing and self-care
Local “rapid response” political activism

Want to know more and how you might be part of next steps? If so, read on.

Care Team re-launches

The UUCC Care Team has been re-launched with new members and new focus. Team meetings will be held at noon on the third Sunday each ]month ]in the Centering Room. Feel free to drop in or reach out for more information.

The Care Team has several areas of focus:

Meals – after a birth, surgery or illness, etc.
Rides – to church, medical appointments, etc.
Memorial Services – for UUCC members
Cards – joys, sorrows and support
Visitation – Pastoral visits to those needing special attention

A new group of pastoral visitors has been formed and trained by Rev. Molly to extend the pastoral reach of the congregation. This team will collaborate with the minister to offer emotional support, spiritual encouragement, and pastoral care in situations of transition and difficulty. It will also help maintain connection with those in our community who need special attention. The visitors group currently includes Kathie Bergman, Todd Iveson, Kathy Nettleton, Roger Nettleton and Jim Treece, in partnership with Rev. Molly. Pastoral visitors will each regularly visit several folks in need of care. If you would like to receive visits or join the team of visitors, please email Rev. Molly.

Are you Interested in joining the Care Team to build community? The team needs more willing volunteers to grow the team and expand its mission.

Use these links to offer care or request care: Offer care – Request care

Monthly worship theme workshops planned on first Fridays

Join us on the first Friday each month from September through May for Guidebook to the Garden, an all-ages workshop to engage the theme of the month with creative prompts. Participants will receive a blank book to fill up with inspiration over the course of the year. Come get inspired with us!

New Philosophy Club will meet on fourth Sundays

Philosophy Club, led by Michael Davis, is a group for anyone interested in discussing a topic more deeply with others. No philosophical training is needed, all worldviews are welcome, and any member can submit a subject to be discussed from spirituality to sociology, psychology, ecology, science and anything else. The group will meet at church from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on fourth Sundays.

What’s happening soon?

Weekly and bi-weekly recurring events

Choir Rehearsals – 7 p.m. Wednesdays

The UUCC Choir rehearses at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Sanctuary. If you are interested in joining the choir, click the button below to learn more and to sign up.

Choir Info & Signup

Gentle Yoga with Karen Dwyer – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Gentle Yoga is offered at the church:

- 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays
- 6 to 7:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays

Effective the week of Sept. 15, Gentle Yoga is no longer offered on Thursday evenings. Additional information is available from Karen Dwyer, or contact the church office.

Crafting Group – 1 p.m. Thursdays

The crafting group meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in the Greeting Area from September through May. For more information, email Bonnie Johnson.

Sacred Song Circle with Violet Vonder Haar – 6:30 p.m. Thursdays

Join Violet for group singing. No experience or RSVP required. Just come join the group and sing.

“Coming Back to Life” – 9 a.m. Saturdays

A collaborative program of UUCC and two other faith groups will offer a “Coming Back to Life” series of programs on Saturday mornings from November through March with a theme of “Empowerment in the Fact of Planetary Suffering.” UUCC members and friends are invited to share their care for the earth and engage in relational and earth mindfulness practices in these sessions that will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays beginning Nov. 1.

- “Living Earth Dialogos” will take place on first and third Saturdays at Show Me Dharma, 1600 East Broadway. Read more about what is planned.
- “The Work that Reconnects” will take place on second and fourth Saturdays at UUCC. Read more about what will be covered.

You can sign up for these programs and ask questions by emailing livingearth1400@gmail.com. The sponsors are UUCC, Show Me Dharma and Columbia Friends Meeting.

Scheduled events coming soon

Play Area Workdays – 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22

Mark your calendars for family workdays to build our tree-deck play area this fall! We will gather from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22 when weather allows. If you would like to financially support this playground project, we are still inviting your gifts. You can make a gift at https://uucomo.org/home/stewardship/give/ by selecting Children’s RE Reserved Fund in the dropdown menu.

Kaleidoscope Pagan Gathering – 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1

Join Kaleidoscope for Samhein (sa-win): Year’s Ending, and the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead grows thin. Now is the time to remember those who have passed, and explore within ourselves those changes we need or want to make in our lives. We’ll gather at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at the church. We will join in ritual, followed by a finger food potluck and friendship. All are welcome, no matter what their personal paths.

New Member Ingathering – During Worship Sunday, Nov. 2

New members will officially join the church during an Ingathering Ceremony as part of the 10:30 a..m. worship service.

UUJME Chili Supper Fundraiser – 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15

On Saturday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m., Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) will be holdings its annual fundraiser Chili Supper to help Palestinian children who are struggling with the effects of war, famine and loss. Everyone is welcome, including families with young children. The chili supper is free for everyone, but donations are welcome and will go directly to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). There will be a short program at about 7 p.m. If you would like to help by donating chili or sides, or in some other way, please email Margaret Tyler or text Win Scott at 573-823-8400. Please plan to join us for this fun event and great cause.

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

More activities

View Online Calendar

View Upcoming Events Page