General Church News
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Featured this week
Coming up Sunday
Announcements
What’s happening soon?
Joys and sorrows
More activities
Featured this Week
June 1 will be potluck Sunday – with a twist!
This Sunday, June 1, we’ll be having “Brunch Church.” Join us to celebrate summer with a special All-Ages Brunch Church Potluck Service!
After a brief worship period, we’ll spend the rest of our service time breaking bread together. Please bring a brunch dish to share along with an ingredient list for those with food allergies.
This will replace our usual post-service First Sunday Potluck.
Newcomer Retreat scheduled June 8 – RSVP by June 1
The Membership Team‘s next “Getting to Know UU” Newcomer Retreat will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 8. If you are considering becoming a member of the UUCC, we strongly encourage you to attend.
Retreat participants will learn about Unitarian Universalism and our own church, connect with newcomers, dine with UUCC members/friends, and share a bit of their stories. Register here by June 1. For more information, see the How to Join page.
UUCC members, friends, and those who have previously attended a retreat or new member class are encouraged to bring a dish (please list ingredients) and meet the newcomers starting at 6 pm. Register here by June 1.
Childcare is available with a registration. For questions email the Membership Team.
June Searchlight is now available
In case you missed the email yesterday, the June issue of our monthly electronic newsletter, The Searchlight, is now available on the Current Newsletter page. The June issue also is linked on the Monthly Newsletter page along with past issues.
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.
Check us out on the UUCC Facebook Group Page
Back to Top
Coming up Sunday, June 1, 2025
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 – “Brunch Church”
Join us to celebrate summer with a special All-Ages Brunch Church Potluck Service! After a brief worship period, we’ll spend the rest of our service time breaking bread together! Please bring a brunch dish to share along with an ingredient list for those with food allergies. This will replace our usual post-service First Sunday Potluck.
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. – No Youth Religious Education
There will be no children’s religious education classes. Instead, the 10:30 a.m. “Brunch Church” worship service will be for all ages – please welcome the children and their families. 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.
1:30 p.m. – Social Action Team
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.
Back to Top
Announcements
2025-26 budget adopted, new board members elected
The 2025 Annual Congregational Meeting was held in the Sanctuary and via Zoom after worship at noon on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Business conducted at the meeting:
- The proposed 2025-26 operating budget was approved. (To protect the privacy of staff members, the linked version of the budget omits individual payroll details. Upon email request to the Website Administrator, voting members can obtain a copy of the full budget.)
- Shannon Mulvania-Beck, Sarah Oldfather and Jeff White were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Trustees starting July 1. (Biographical sketches and photos appear on the Annual Meeting page.)
- The Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon presented her annual report.
- Rebecca Graves presented a preliminary report from the Mission and Vision Task Force.
Stewardship campaign was a big success
Annual Giving Chair Christine Heath and Rev. Molly report that our stewardship campaign for the 2025-26 fiscal year was extremely successful. The total pledged exceeded the aggressive goal of a 9% increase over current year pledges, allowing us to increase our budget from $327,000 this year to more than $356,000 for the next fiscal year starting July 1. Here is a summary of pledging for 2025-26:
- Total pledges increased from $306,811 to $351,101, an increase of 12.5%.
- The number of pledging units increased from 118 to 128. Of the 128 pledges, 18 were first-time pledges, and more than 60 were increased pledges.
- The 68 online pledges included 7 first-time pledges and 40 increased pledges
- 66% of those who pledged online increased their pledges between 5% and 15%.
The goal of a 9% increase in giving sought to fully fund our congregation’s growing budgetary needs, including a long-deferred compensation increase for our staff. With the actual pledging increase of 12.5%, we will be able to not only live our values well as an employer, but also meet increasing required costs like insurance and utilities, and provide funds for new, revitalized, and emerging ministry programs.
Rev. Molly said: “I am especially moved by this result as it stands in stark contrast to the deadly austerity and cuts to social services we see at the state and federal level this year. Our congregation has responded to that reality with courage and commitment. This result, created by every single gift of every size, communicates a sense of abundance and an investment in the way we want to live together, with love at the center and care for the collective reaching out. It shows us that we can thrive together, even and especially now.”
Christine and Molly thanked the congregation you for its support. Rev. Molly also thanked the entire Stewardship Team for the successful campaign, and she gave extra big thanks to Christine for chairing the team and to Kevin Fritsche for coordinating an extremely effective steward follow-up process.
Board approves contract to repave parking lot
At a special meeting of our Board of Trustees on Sunday, May 4, the board approved a contract with Christensen Construction for $32,332.50 to repave the church parking lot.
The cost of the repaving will be paid from the Building and Grounds Accrual Reserved Fund.
SIJT plans “rights training”
Be on the lookout for a “Know Your Rights and Accompaniment Training” organized by the Sanctuary and Immigrant Justice Team (SIJT).
We all have certain constitutional and legal rights in this country, no matter whether we are U.S. citizens or not. It is important for all of us to know what our rights are.
The SIJT has decided that the best way we can support our migrant neighbors is by educating ourselves about our rights and passing our knowledge on. We want to be allies and companions to our migrant neighbors. What this will look like exactly is still evolving, but we would love to have you be a part of the conversation!
If you would be interested in joining us, please get in touch!
Allie Gassmann and Dave Gibbons, Co-Chairs
Back to Top
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.
Minister’s Office Hours – Tuesdays and Fridays
The Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon’s office hours are:
-
- 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at church
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays at Uprise Bakery downtown
Other meeting times are available by appointment. Schedule an appointment online. If you can’t find a time that fits your schedule, email Rev. Molly and she may be able to work you in at a different time.
Crafting Group – 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays
The crafting group meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in the Greeting Area from September through May. May 29 will be the last gathering until September. Beginners are welcome, and there is no hard commitment – come when you can. For more information, email Bonnie Johnson.
Living Earth Meditation – 9 a.m. Saturdays
With the arrival of warmer weather, Living Earth Meditation has resumed weekly sessions at 9 a.m. Saturdays at 1400 Gary St. It is 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, May 31 – 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.
Newcomer Retreat – RSVP by June 1 – 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 8
The Membership Team‘s next “Getting to Know UU” Newcomer Retreat will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 8. If you are considering becoming a member of the UUCC, we strongly encourage you to attend.
Retreat participants will learn about Unitarian Universalism and our own church, connect with newcomers, dine with UUCC members/friends, and share a bit of their stories. Register here by June 1. For more information, see the How to Join page.
UUCC members, friends, and those who have previously attended a retreat or new member class are encouraged to bring a dish (please list ingredients) and meet the newcomers starting at 6 pm. Register here by June 1.
Childcare is available with a registration. For questions email the Membership Team.
Kaleidoscope Pagan Gathering – 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Join Kaleidoscope at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21, as we celebrate Litha, the summer Solstice. The longest day and the shortest night are here. The Sun stands in his glory and full strength. Glory with him, this bringer of warmth, light, and hope.
We will join in ritual, followed by a finger food potluck and friendship. All are welcome, no matter what their personal paths.
Back to Top
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
Back to Top
More activities
View Online Calendar
View Upcoming Events Page
Back to Top
