Site Updates

May 28, 2023

Here’s what’s new on our website since last Sunday:

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Next Sunday, June 4, Rev. Molly and DRE Jamila Batchelder will lead an all-ages Flower Ceremony Centennial worship service recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the very first Flower Ceremony celebrated by Norbert Capek in Prague in 1923. Join us alongside Unitarian Universalists across the world for a historic and beautiful centennial celebration. Please bring a flower to share! And plan to stay after the service for our First Sunday Potluck to continue the celebrations!

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – First Sunday Potluck
- Noon – YRUU
- 1 p.m. – Social Action Team

A video of the sermon this morning by the Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson, Jr., guest preacher, appears near the top of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

RE Volunteer Appreciation Lunch – noon-1:30 p.m. June 25

DRE Jamila Batchelder posted this news item about the annual RE Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on June 25.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

May 21, 2023

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Next Sunday, May 28, our guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson, Jr.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – Service Sunday
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU

A video of Rev. Molly’s homily this morning, “Getting Free Together,” appears near the top of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Religious education volunteers recognized

R.E. volunteers were honored at our worship this morning. See the complete list here

UUCC member Paul Litton appointed Law School Dean

Our member Paul Litton has been appointed permanent Dean of the MU Law School after serving as interim dean since last July.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

May 14, 2023

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Next Sunday, May 21, DRE Jamila Batchelder and Rev. Molly will lead a Graduation Sunday worship service, “Getting Free Together.” Join us for this beloved annual service as we launch our graduates out into the world with messages about the work of collective liberation that gets us all free… together.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- 4:30 – Loaves and Fishes – there are 33 open slots now – please sign up here

A video of portions of this morning’s worship service celebrating completion of our Accessibility Project appears near the top of the home page along with a photo of the congregation. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Sign Up to Help

The signup sheets for Ushers, Greeters and Board Welcomers have now been extended through the end of August.

Article II discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16

Rev. Molly will lead a discussion of proposed revisions to Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s bylaws at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 at the church. Read the details here. This event has also now been added to the Upcoming Events page.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

May 7, 2023

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Next Sunday, May 14, Rev. Molly will lead an all-ages service, “Draw the Circle Wide,” to rededicate our building after completing our Accessibility Project and to recommit our energies to carrying our mission beyond our newly painted walls.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – no classes – all-ages worship
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- 12 p.m. – Retirement Conversation with Intern Minister George Grimm-Howell
- 1 p.m. – Sanctuary and Immigrant Justice Team
- 4 p.m. – 5th-6th Grade OWL Class

A video of Intern Minister George Grimm-Howell’s sermon this morning, “Women Who Fly,” appears near the top of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Annual Meeting

The 2023-24 operating budget was approved and three new Board of Trustees members were elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting held at 1 p.m. today. Also, volunteers were recognized, and Rev. Molly presented her annual report. Read the details on this page.

Chalice Circle Materials

The May order of service for Chalice Circle gatherings is now available here.

Upcoming Events

Several additional May activities have been added to this page.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

April 30, 2023

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Next Sunday, May 7, Intern Minister George Grimm-Howell will be in the pulpit with a sermon titled “Women Who Fly.” Get your wings on. Inspired by the scholarly book of the same title by Serinity Young, George Grimm-Howell will invite us to celebrate the indomitable feminine spirit that wants to escape earthly bonds of oppression and soar to her fullest potential. We will lift up airborne women in the worlds of mythology, on the 19th century Iowa prairies, and in our own families and communities.

The worship service will include a New Member In-Gathering. The service will be followed by the First Sunday Potluck and then the Annual Congregational Meeting.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- Noon – first Sunday Potluck
- 1 p.m. – Annual Congregational Meeting
- 4 p.m. – 5th-6th Grade OWL Class
- 4 p.m. – Social Action Team

A video of portions of this morning’s worship service featuring a sermon by Rev. Lucinda Isaacs, guest preacher, appears near the bottom of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Congregational Meeting has been scheduled at 1 p.m. next Sunday, May 7. You’ll find all the details on this page including links to the proposed 2023-24 budget and photos and biographical sketches of the three candidates nominated for seats on the Board of Trustees.

Current Newsletter

In case you missed the earlier email announcement, the May issue of our monthly newsletter, The Searchlight, is now available on this page. The PDF version also is linked on the Newsletter Download page along with links to past issues.

Faith-to-Action Nomination

Faith-to-Action nominations for the 2023-24 church year are now open and can be submitted on this page through mid-July. There is also a button at the top of the home page linking directly to the nomination page. In addition, the Faith-to-Action Collections page also has been updated with new information about the program.

News blog

The following items are new this week on the Church News Blog:

- Church work day planned on May 6
- Ministry Reboot Breakfast, Part II – May 20
- May worship theme is ‘Liberation‘
- Intern Minister offers liberation prayer
- SAT announces Faith-to-Action news
- May immigrant support update

Worship Services

The schedule of May worship services appears on this page.

RE Schedule

DRE Jamila Batchelder provided the information on this page about R.E. classes and activities coming up in May.

Forum Discussion Group

The schedule of May Forum programs appears here.

Upcoming Events

This page has been revamped to include information about weekly recurring events and links to related pages. As usual, it also lists upcoming events in the near future.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

April 23, 2023

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Next Sunday, April 30, we will have a special guest preacher, the Rev. Lucinda Isaacs. Rev. Isaacs is a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister from Ohio now preaching in guest pulpits across the country. As a trans Christian, she offers witness of an inclusive and loving God.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- 4 p.m. – 5th-6th Grade OWL Class

A video of portions of this morning’s Earth Day worship service appears near the bottom of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

April 16, 2023

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Next Sunday, April 23, Rev. Molly and DRE Jamila Batchelder will lead an all-ages Earth Day worship service. Turning to the many teachers all around us on the earth, they will unveil the lessons of plants, stone, animals, waters and more, and identify which earth teachers might speak most clearly to each of us.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – No Classes – All-Ages Worship Service
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- 4 p.m. – 5th-6th Grade OWL Class

A video including Rev. Molly’s sermon this morning, “Risking Trust,” appears near the bottom of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

Joys and Sorrows

We share the joys, sorrows and prayers of our community on this page.

April 9, 2023

Home

Next Sunday, April 16, Rev. Molly will be in the pulpit with a sermon titled “Risking Trust.” We live in a time of unprecedented precarity – it can sometimes feel that there is no solid ground beneath us. And yet, we cannot live full human lives without trust in something. How do we risk trust in an age of precarity? Join us.

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – Regular Classes
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- Noon – Membership 102 Class
- 4 p.m. – 5th-6th Grade OWL Class
- 4:15 p.m. – Loaves and Fishes – we still need 33 signups – please sign up here

A video including Rev. Molly’s Easter sermon this morning, “Risking Life,” appears near the bottom of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.

Current Newsletter

In case you missed previous announcements, the April issue of our monthly newsletter, The Searchlight, is available here. The PDF version is also linked on the Newsletter Download page along with past issues.

Weekly News Update

The most important weekly news is posted on this page every week. You can easily get to this page by clicking the “Weekly News Update” button near the top of the left sidebar.

April 2, 2023

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On April 9, Easter Sunday, Rev. Molly will be in the pulpit with a sermon titled “Risking Life.” Join us for a Unitarian Universalist take on the symbolism of resurrection – in the face of loss, heartbreak, and death itself, where do we find the courage to risk life? In the face of empire and oppression, where do we find the courage to risk love? Perhaps the story of an ancient teacher can give us some ideas….

Other activities next Sunday (see home page for details):

- 9 a.m. – Forum will not meet because of the Easter Holiday
- 9 a.m. – Mindfulness Meditation
- 10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – “Easter Service Sunday – Can Hunt”
- 11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour
- Noon – YRUU
- 1 p.m. – Sanctuary and Immigrant Justice Team monthly meeting

A video of portions of this morning’s worship service including Intern Minister George Grimm-Howell’s sermon “Risking Theological Openness” appears near the bottom of the home page. The video also is directly available here and is linked on the Sermon/Worship Archive page.