At its July 16 meeting, the Board of Trustees selected church officers for 2026-27. Jeremy Duke, selected by the previous board as President-Elect, will be the 2026-27 President. Other 2026-27 officers will be:
President-Elect – Mark Price. This means Mark will be the 2027-28 President.
Secretary – Shannon Mulvania-Beck. This will be her second year as Secretary.
Treasurer – Jeff White. This will be his second year as Treasurer.
August Searchlight published
The August issue of our monthly electronic newsletter, The Searchlight, was sent out on Monday last week. If you missed the email, you can view the issue on the Current Newsletter page. The issue also is linked on the Monthly Newsletter page along with past issues.
Retreat for prospective members set on Sept. 13
Are you considering joining our congregation as a member? If so, please register for the Sept. 13 “Getting to Know UU Newcomers Retreat and Dinner.” Learn more about the history of Unitarian Universalism and about the rich story of our own church.
This will be our last new member retreat in 2026. It will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the church. Please register here.
For Forum meetings, meditation and worship,
drop-in childcare is provided. No reservation needed.
9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group – No Meeting
The Forum Discussion Group takes a break from June through August. Forum meets at 9 a.m. Sundays from September through May except holiday weekends.
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
“When the Earth Comes Alive” Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon
Rev. Molly
Join us for Rev. Molly’s return to the pulpit after her sabbatical.
She will reflect on the pace of life that allows us to notice the magic all around us.
10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – Summer R.E.
The summer religious education focus is on fun, friendship, and community building. We will spend time at the park, on our new play structure, or indoors on those days that are just too hot or rainy for outdoor play. We will have a few structured activities and a lot of free play. It is a great chance for kids to get to know each other better and form connections. 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 – Care Team Meeting – Lower Level-Centering Room
Our Care Team holds its regular monthly meetings at noon on third Sundays. All are welcome to participate. For more information, email the Care Team.
Noon – LGBTQ Collective – Sanctuary: We anyone interested to join us for this and our September meeting.
The LGBTQ Collective meets on the third Sunday each month after worship. The group will be making plans for Columbia Pride Sept. 26-27. All UUCC attendees are invited to attend. Snacks and childcare will be provided. For information email Heidi Shearer.
4:30 to 6:45 p.m. – Loaves & Fishes – 1300 Bowling St.
Our Social Action Team organizes volunteers to provide the evening meal at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen on the third Sunday each month. Click the button below to sign up to prepare food for this meal and/or to help set up, serve, and clean up.
Effective July 6, 2026, the location of Loaves and Fishes is the Voluntary Action Center Opportunity Campus, 1300 Bowling St. (view map).
Times have changed. Both the volunteers providing food and those who will serve and clean up are now asked arrive between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. The meal will now be served at 5 p.m. instead of 4:30. Cleanup is expected to be complete by about 6:45.
Please submit receipts for all food items, and some or all of your expenses may be reimbursed by the church. Email the Church Administrator to obtain the church’s sales tax exemption certificate to use when purchasing food for Loaves and Fishes. If you have questions, email Fred Young or Gregg Suhler of the Social Action Team.
The siding replacement project at UUCC originally was set to begin Aug. 5, but due to supply chain issues, it now appears the work will not begin until September. All the work will take place outside, and the building will remain accessible. However, on dates to be announced, the electricity will be turned off.
Siding replacement is necessary because last fall it was discovered that the existing siding, original to the more than 30-year old parts of our building, is suffering from dry rot decay.
The Board of Trustees has approved a contract for about $105,000 with TAPS Exteriors to perform the work.
The proposed new siding is an innovative product made of recycled carpet fibers, is rot-resistant, mimics the look of wood, and can last up to 50 years. The siding is available in a color and style similar to our current siding, enabling us to maintain the appearance and charm of our beloved building.
Loaves and Fishes location has changed
Effective July 6, 2026, the location of the Loaves and Fishes meals was changed to the Voluntary Action Center Opportunity Campus at 1300 Bowling St. (view map). Read more in this Columbia Missourian article.
Our next third-Sunday turn to serve the Loaves and Fishes meal is Sunday, Aug. 16. Please sign up here.
2026-27 Faith-to-Action recipients announced
Our Social Action Team received a more-than-sufficient number of nominations for 2026-27 Faith-to-Action recipients by the July 1 deadline, and the team has now announced the recipients for the church year starting in September. They are:
Weekly Living Earth Meditation – silent meditation outdoors with an opportunity to share insights and reflections – resumed on April 4 and will be held at 9 a.m. every Saturday at 1400 Gary Street. The sessions will be facilitated by Jared Belden, M.A., Peter Holmes, Ph.D., and Tricia Straub. The focus of the sessions is to be at home in nature while building a connection between spiritual practice and ecological awareness. This is a collaborative program of UUCC, the Columbia Friends Meeting and Show Me Dharma.
Scheduled events coming soon
UUJME – Palestinian Cultural Night – 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15
Join UUJME at Orr Street Studios for Palestinian Cultural Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15. UUJME is a co-sponsor of this event.
Book Discussion – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 – online
Our Care Team holds its regular monthly meetings at noon on third Sundays. All are welcome to participate. For more information, email the Care Team.
LGBTQ Collective – noon Sunday, Aug. 16
The LGBTQ Collective meets on the third Sunday each month after worship. The group will be making plans for Columbia Pride Sept. 26-27. All UUCC attendees are invited to attend. Snacks and childcare will be provided. For information email Heidi Shearer.
Loaves and Fishes – 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 – note time changes
Our Social Action Team needs volunteers to prepare servings of various dishes and other volunteers to serve the meal and clean up afterward. The new location of Loaves and Fishes is the Voluntary Action Center Opportunity Campus at 1300 Bowling St. (view map). The meal time is now 5 p.m. Both the volunteers providing food and those who will serve and clean up are now asked to be at the Ashley Street Center between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. Cleanup is expected to be complete by about 6:45 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.
Conversations, Etc. – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 – 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.
Board of Trustees – 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20
Our Board of Trustees hold its regular monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday each month. Per church bylaws, church members are welcome to attend and observe board meetings.
Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 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.
Life Writer’s Group – 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
The UU Life Writers’ Group meetings on the first and third Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Centering Room at church. The group meets to write and share. For Information email Mary Herde.
Philosophy Club – 11:45 a.m Sunday, Aug. 23
Philosophy Club 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 meets from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays. For more information, email Wade Schuette, leader on second Sundays, or Ben Schulz, leader on fourth Sundays.
Milestones Circle – noon Sunday, Aug 23
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. For more information, contact Kathie Bergman by email.
Finding Our Way Forward Team – Noon Sunday, Aug. 23
The Finding Our Way Forward (FOWF) Team, consisting of James Gordon, Dottie Mathews, Lindsey Saunders, Mark Price and Kim Wade, meets on the fourth Sunday of each month after worship. The team is working on a plan for where its efforts will be focused going forward. All are welcome to participate.
Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 – 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.
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.
