UU minister Jordinn Nelson Long will do research at UUCC
Jordinn Nelson Long
Rev. Molly has announced that UU minister and cultural geographer Jordinn Nelson Long will be visiting with us during the 2025-2026 church year to support her research on thriving progressive faith communities.
Jordinn will be with us for most of September and from January to mid-March. She will be embedding herself in the congregation, meeting many of you, and learning what we’re up to. She will also lead us through some reflection about our community connections and the impact of our work.
Rev. Molly has known Jordinn for many years, and she is one of Rev. Molly’s most enlivening thought partners.
As part of her planning, Jordinn is seeking a homestay for the time she is here. She has $500/month funding available from her university to rent a room in a congregant’s home. If you are interested in the possibility of hosting Jordinn, please email Rev. Molly.
Jamila Batchelder, our Director of Religious Education, has scheduled an orientation for families new to our R.E. program and a potluck for all R.E. families on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Jamila and R.E. volunteers are excited to be getting ready for a new year in R.E. We have many great curricula to introduce to the children and projects for them to work on. But at the heart of what we are trying to do in our program is to create a community in which to practice the skills of care and connection that Unitarian Universalism is all about. To get us started for the the year, especially with the arrival of so many new families joining us over the last year, we would like to start the year with an orientation for new R.E. families and a community-building potluck.
The new family orientation will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 in the Greeting Area. If you are new to R.E., this is your opportunity to learn more about our approach to religious education, share about your hopes for your child and family in joining our community, find out about how to get connected, learn more about what programming we offer for your child, and get all your questions answered! Childcare will be provided.
The all-family potluck will follow at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Sanctuary. All families are invited to join us for this community potluck. It is a chance to be a part of welcoming new families, and also an opportunity to share ideas and dreams for how our R.E. program will continue to grow in the year ahead and into the future. Children are invited for the potluck, and while they are welcome to join us in sharing ideas, childcare will be provided if they prefer to go play.
Please email Jamila by Aug. 18 to let her know if you are coming so we can make sure enough childcare is available.
Rev. Molly requests Discretionary Fund contributions
Every year at Christmas time we take up a collection for our Discretionary Fund that allows us to meet immediate, urgent survival needs for our members and neighbors. These are things like utility assistance, emergency short term housing in very hot and very cold weather, grocery gift cards, gas gift cards and other transportation assistance, help with medical and prescription expenses, and more.
Every year our community is beautifully generous. And every year, the needs keep coming. And this year, under cruel federal and state budgets and administrations, the need will keep growing even more. Our safety nets are being slashed. And as a community we are committed to opening up our arms to catch as many of us as we can.
Every year by July our fundraising from December is nearly depleted, and I turn to ask your generosity again. If you have some resources to spare, I would be grateful to help direct them to those in our community suffering under the violence of this system and these federal and state policies.
You can give by check to the church with “Discretionary Fund” in the memo line, or online at uucomo.org/give by selecting “Discretionary Fund” in the drop-down menu. If you have spare gift cards to grocery or big box stores, you can drop them by or mail them the church, and I can also pass those along to those in need.
Thank you for your care,
Rev. Molly
2025 Honduras Service Trip report is now available
Allie Gassmann, leader of the Honduras Ministry Team, provided this report on the team’s March 22-29 service trip, which includes 15 photographs. This is the sixth trip our church has sponsored to aid the people in a rural area of Honduras by building latrines and working on other projects.
Thirteen UUCC members and friends went on the trip. This year the travelers painted a school and got a good start on building 10 latrines in the upper hills area of El Pital and in Las Mangas, which were finished by the local residents.
For Meditation, Forum meetings and Worship,
drop-in childcare is provided. No reservation needed.
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
“Grieve Global, Thrive Local” – Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon
In these times of overwhelming cruelty coming from the halls of power, we take the time to grieve deeply. And we also center our hearts on the loving care that powers us right here where we live.
10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – R.E. at the Park
Our summer children’s programming is all about giving children an opportunity to connect with each other and with our adult R.E. volunteers in a relaxed way, giving friendships and fun a chance to flourish. This takes the form of Park R.E., where, weather allowing, we will head to Shepard Boulevard Park after a centering time in the worship service for some fun and games. On rainy days (or extra hot days!), we will stay inside with Legos, board games and craft supplies for some indoor fun.
Noon – Middle School D&D – Lower Level-Latimer Classroom
Middle schoolers gather on the second and fourth Sundays to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Noon – 20s-30s Group – Sanctuary
The 20s-30s Group meets on the second Sunday each month in the Sanctuary after worship for a potluck lunch and activities. All UUs and visitors in their 20s and 30s are warmly welcomed. Please email Rev. Molly to request childcare or ask any questions!
1:30 p.m. – Sanctuary & Immigrant Justice Team – online
Rev. Molly receives 2024 Skinner Sermon Award from UUA
Click to enlarge
Our minister, the Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, is the recipient of the 2024 Skinner Sermon Award from the Unitarian Universalist Association for her Oct. 20, 2024 sermon “How to Have an Enemy,” the UUA has announced.
The announcement said the sermon was recognized “…for its powerful clarity, deep power analysis, and unwavering solidarity with vulnerable communities. The award committee praised her bold affirmation that on the path away from empire and toward liberation, naming our enemies can be not only necessary—but empowering.”
The Skinner Sermon Award honors sermons that boldly express Unitarian Universalist social principles. Since 1959, it has uplifted prophetic voices that speak truth with courage and care.
Monica Clark-Robinson will be our new intern minister
Monica Clark-Robinson
Rev. Molly has announced that we will be serving as a teaching congregation once more for the 2025-2026 program year. In September we will be welcoming Monica Clark-Robinson to UUCC to complete the second year of her two years of ministerial internship. She completed the first year at Church of the River UU in Memphis, Tenn.
This is something of a beautiful full-circle moment, as Monica was a member of our congregation from 1999-2001 while living in Columbia before graduate school. UUCC was, in fact, the first Unitarian Universalist congregation that Monica and her wife Greta joined as members! She remembers the warmth and creativity of our congregation fondly.
Monica currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas (where she has been a long time UU lay leader), and will be with us for a part-time, hybrid-style internship: She will be in residence here in Columbia for an intensive 8 days each month, spanning two Sundays, and then will offer a limited amount of virtual ministry in the remaining weeks of the month. Monica will be with us on this schedule from September through May.
Monica is a seminarian in her final year at Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary and was also previously the Intern Minister at the Church of the River in Memphis. Before seminary, Monica received an MFA in Acting from Michigan State University and an MFA in Writing from Hamline University.
She’s the author of several children’s books, including “Let the Children March,” illustrated by Frank Morrison, “Standing On Her Shoulders,” illustrated by Laura Freeman, and the forthcoming “Teaching for Change: Septima Clark’s Legacy of Literacy and Liberation,” co-written with Yvonne Clark-Rhines, Septima Clark’s granddaughter. Monica’s books have won an International Literacy Association Debut award and a Coretta Scott King Honor award for illustration.
She has also worked with two different organizations teaching and mentoring incarcerated writers. Monica has spent time as an actor, theatre and English professor, unschooling mom, and vegan cook.
For fun and leisure, she loves to write poetry, read, cook, watch episodes of The Walking Dead, sing, act, work on her stand-up comedy set, and go thrifting. Monica lives in a yurt in the woods of Arkansas with her wife and daughter and is currently pursuing an honorary doctorate in Kitty Snuggles.
Board of Trustees issues public statement on our commitments in these times
Members of our Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a public statement regarding our commitments in these times at their March meeting. The statement was circulated by email to church members and friends on April 29. You can also view a video version of the statement. The statement also was published on April 29 on the editorial page of The Columbia Missourian.
Office hours are by appointment only from June 13 through Aug. 14, 2025. Schedule an appointment by emailing Rev. Molly.
Regularly scheduled office hours will resume Aug. 15 as follows:
2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at church.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays at Uprise Bakery downtown.
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.
Living Earth Meditation – 9 a.m. Saturdays
Living Earth Meditation holds weekly sessions at 9 a.m. Saturdays at 1400 Gary St., facilitated by Peter Holmes, Ph.D., Jared Belden, M.A., and Tricia Straub. Sign up to attend by email. During cold weather months, 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. The meditation and study group programs are a joint project of UUCC, the Columbia Friends Meeting and Show-Me Dharma.
Scheduled events coming soon
Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 – 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.
Writing (and Reading) for Spiritual Sustenance – 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9
Join us at church 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 (journaling totally counts), levels of experience, and interests. We 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.
20s and 30s Group – noon Sunday, Aug. 10
The 20s-30s Group meets on the second Sunday each month in the Sanctuary after worship for a potluck lunch and activities. All UUs and visitors in their 20s and 30s are warmly welcomed. Please email Rev. Molly to request childcare or ask any questions!
Middle School D&D – noon Sunday, Aug. 10
Middle schoolers gather on the second and fourth Sunday each month to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Sanctuary and Immigrant Justice Team – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 – online
Conversations, Etc. – 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13 – online
Conversations, Etc., the UUCC senior women’s group, will meet via Zoom. We gather together to enjoy the company of women friends. If you would like to join us, email Pam Springsteel.
Life Writer’s Group – 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16
The UU Life Writer’s Group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the first and third Saturdays of the month to write and share at the church. For questions email Mary Herde.
LGBTQ Collective – noon Sunday, Aug. 17
The LGBTQ Collective meets the third Sunday each month after worship. Our next meeting will be at noon Aug. 17 in the sanctuary. Please email Heidi Shearer if you would like to be a part of the following upcoming events (allies welcome):
Mid-Missouri Pridefest is coming up Oct. 4-5. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
A book club this fall for Jim Obergefell’s book Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. This book club will occur leading up to a speaking event featuring Obergefell giving the Schiffman Lecture in Ethics at Columbia College on Oct. 23.
Upcoming meetings: Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16.
UUJME – Noon Sunday, Aug. 17 – online
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) will meet via Zoom at noon Sunday, Aug. 17. For information, email Margaret Tyler, chair.
Loaves & Fishes – 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17
Our Social Action Team needs volunteers to prepare servings of various dishes and other volunteers to serve the meal and clean up afterward.
The location of Loaves and Fishes is the Ashley Street Center, 1509 Ashley St., behind the city power plant (view map). The meal time is 4:30 p.m.
Both the volunteers providing food and those who will serve and clean up are asked to be at the Ashley Street Center between 4 and 4:15 p.m. Cleanup is expected to be complete by about 6:15 p.m. Please sign up here.
You can also support this effort by making a donation to the church specifying “Loaves and Fishes Fund.” For more information, email Fred Young or Gregg Suhler.
Board of Trustees – 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21
Our Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Per church bylaws, church members are welcome to attend and observe board meetings.
Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 – 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.
Middle School D&D – Noon Sunday, Aug. 24
Middle schoolers gather on the second and fourth Sunday each month to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Milestones Circle – noon Sunday, Aug. 24
The Milestones Circle is an open, drop-in small group for older adults to meet, share thoughts and concerns, and receive support and friendship in a UU setting. The group meets each month on the fourth Sunday after the worship service in the Forum Room/Library on the lower level of the church. Bring a brown bag lunch and help explore the spirituality in your life.
Milestones materials are available here. The Aug. 24 topic is “Using Our Time and Energies Wisely.” For more information, contact Kathie Bergman at 573-999-3938 or by email.
Disability Justice and Inclusion Team – 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24
DJIT meets on the fourth Sunday of each month in the Centering Room and via Zoom. The group is specifically for people with various types of disabilities, including chronic illness, neurodivergence, cognitive issues, brain injury, mental illness, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, and more. This includes people who were born with or who acquired a disability or are disabled through aging. The group serves as a support group, advises the board and minister on accessibility issues, provides the congregation with education opportunities on disability rights issues, and potentially participates in activism.
R.E. Orientation and Potluck – 4 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24
We are excited to be getting ready for a new year in R.E. We have many great curricula we are excited to introduce to the kids and projects for them to work on. But at the heart of what we are trying to do in our program is to create a community in which to practice the skills of care and connection that Unitarian Universalism is all about. To get us started for the the year, especially with the arrival of so many new families joining us over the last year, we would like to start the year with a community building potluck.
A new family orientation will take place at 4 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Greeting Area at church. If you are new to R.E., this is your opportunity to learn more about our approach to religious education, share about your hopes for your child and family in joining our community, find out about how to get connected, learn more about what programming we offer for your child, and get all your questions answered! Childcare will be provided.
An all-family potluck will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Sanctuary. All R.E. families are invited to join us for this community potluck. It is a chance to be a part of welcoming new families, and also an opportunity to share ideas and dreams for how our R.E. program will continue to grow in the year ahead and into the future. Children are invited for the potluck, and while they are welcome to join us in sharing ideas, childcare will be provided if they prefer to go play.
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.
