Church Administrator April Rodeghero’s computer in the church office stopped working yesterday. She is working on replacing the computer and will then need to work on setting up the new computer.
In the meantime, if you have an urgent need, you can call April at the church office, 573-442-5764. If your need is not urgent, please wait until next week after April’s new computer is functional.
April will still have access to email messages sent in the interim before the new computer is set up because they are stored on the church’s email server, but she may have a large backlog, so be patient.
Board of Trustees will meet this evening
Our Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 this evening at church. Per church bylaws, church members are welcome to attend and observe board meetings.
The board’s agenda and related documents can be viewed on the password-protected Board Information page.
RE Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon set May 31
If you have volunteered in R.E. this year, we want to celebrate you with a party! You and your family are invited to join us on Sunday, May 31, after service. We will be catering the event, so RSVP promptly. Let us know how many people you will be bringing and any dietary requirements you have.
20s-30s Group plans pool party on June 13
The 20s-30s Group is planning a UU Young Adult Pool Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 13 at the Lake of the Woods Pool. Members are invited to come and bring a friend for a fun and relaxing evening by the pool. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
Faith-to-Action nominations for 2026-27 open until July 1
Our Social Action Team is requesting nominations for the Faith-to-Action collection recipients for September 2026 through August 2027. The team is requesting that nominations be submitted by July 1, 2026. If a full set of nominations has not been received by that time, the team will continue to consider nominations that come in later, but nominations made by July 1 will be given priority.
Any member or friend of UUCC may submit a nomination. “Friend” is defined as a person who attends UUCC, participates in church activities, and supports the church financially. Click this button to make a nomination:
Selection Criteria: Nominees may be local, regional, national, or international organizations, programs, or agencies that align with our church mission and vision. Preference will be given to local or regional efforts wherein members of the congregation have an ongoing working relationship. Three months are initially reserved for nominees that have not been FTA recipients within the past three years. These months will be released for other nominees after July 1 if there are no “new” nominees. Note also that, at this time, the Social Action Team intends to contribute directly to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, so no nomination of the UUSC is needed.
Sabbatical Minister has reported for duty
Rev. Molly will be away from all UUCC work for her sabbatical from May 4 through Aug. 3, and Intern Minister Monica Clark-Robinson has stepped up to keep everything running smoothly as Sabbatical Minister.
Rev. Molly’s email address will not be monitored during her sabbatical. An auto-responder will provide information about how to reach appropriate people, and all messages sent to her email address during sabbatical will be deleted upon her return. Rev. Molly asks that any messages just for her be sent after she returns.
Monica is delighted to have the opportunity to fill in as Sabbatical Minister. She will be working part-time, preaching two Sundays a month, and doing meetings, pastoral care, and staff supervision both in-person and virtually. She will have time for hospital and pastoral care visits during her in-person weeks. She will also be available for phone or Zoom call pastoral care during the weeks she is back in Arkansas.
Here are the dates Monica will be present in Columbia:
May 9-17
June 13-21
July 4-12
Monica’s office hours will be on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. She will hold them at church when she is in Columbia and on Zoom when she is back home. And on Fridays when she is in Columbia, she will hold community office hours from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nourish Café.
After Monica completes her time as Sabbatical Minister, she will head to Wilmington, Del. where she has been called as the next Settled Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington.
For Forum meetings, meditation and worship,
drop-in childcare is provided. No reservation needed.
9 a.m. – Forum Discussion Group – No Meeting – Holiday Weekend
The Forum Discussion Group meets at 9 a.m. most Sundays from September through May except holiday weekends. Forum will not meet on Memorial Day weekend.
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
“That’ll Preach” Lay Preaching Series – “The Unitarian Universalist Land of Oz” – Anna McAnnally
What do the 14 Wizard of Oz books have to do with surviving authoritarianism? It turns out, a whole lot! These books, and our times, invite us to consider our roles in the fight and how to continue holding hope for the future. How can children and children’s media help us hold onto optimism while learning and planning along the way?
10:30 a.m. – Youth Religious Education – Lower Level
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. 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.
11:45 a.m. – Philosophy Club – Sanctuary
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 fourth Sundays. For more information, email Ben Schulz.
Noon – Milestones Circle – Lower Level-Forum Room/Library
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 May 24 topic will be “Passing Your Wisdom to the Younger Generation.” For more information, contact Kathie Bergman by email.
Noon – YRUU – Lower Level-YRUU Room
Members of YRUU, our high school youth group, will gather for their regular weekly meeting.
Noon – Finding Our Way Forward Team – Lower Level-Barton Classroom
The Finding Our Way Forward Team, consisting of James Gordon, Dottie Mathews, Lindsey Saunders, Mark Price and Kim Wade, meets on the fourth Sunday of each month after worship. All are welcome to participate.
The 2026 Annual Congregational Meeting was held in the Sanctuary and via Zoom after worship at noon on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
After preliminaries including recognitions, the Minister’s Annual Report and an update on the process of revising our Mission/Vision statements, the members present voted to approve:
The ordination of Intern Minister Monica Clark-Robinson
Rev. Molly delivered lecture at Columbia College on April 7
Rev. Molly delivered the 2026 Schiffman Lecture in Religious Studies at Columbia College on April 7. The lecture was well attended, and the audience included numerous UUCC members and friends.
The text of the lecture, titled “Progressive Faith and the Public Square,” is available here.
Have you noticed the Little Free Pantry yet? It sits on some pavers are located in the grass near the entrance to our parking lot.
Our pantry is for anyone who needs to use it. We will have a special focus on items that school-age kids can grab and use, but anyone is welcome to fill and use items from the pantry any time. You may begin donating or using items now.
Please leave only unexpired food donations in the pantry.
Questions or comments should be directed to April Rodeghero, Church Administrator — 573-442-5764
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 Thursdays (except first Thursdays)
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 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays (May 20 through June 24)
Join Violet for group singing. No experience or RSVP required. Just come join the group and sing. Sacred Song Circles are held on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. except the first Thursday of each month and on holidays. If you are interested in participating, please sign up here for the weekly email. The Sacred Songs program is co-sponsored by UUCC and Compass Inc. For questions, contact Violet by email.
Living Earth Meditation – 9 a.m. Saturdays
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
Board of Trustees – 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21
Our Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21. Per church bylaws, church members are welcome to attend and observe board meetings.
Men’s Group – 8:30 a.m. May 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.
Philosophy Club – 11:45 a.m. Sunday, May 24
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 fourth Sundays. For more information, email Ben Schulz.
Milestones Circle – Noon Sunday, May 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 May 24 topic will be “How do you define wisdom?” For more information, contact Kathie Bergman by email.
Finding Our Way Forward Team – Noon Sunday, May 24
The Finding Our Way Forward Team, consisting of James Gordon, Dottie Mathews, Lindsey Saunders, Mark Price and Kim Wade, meets on the fourth Sunday of each month after worship. All are welcome to participate.
Disability Justice and Inclusion Team – 12:15 p.m. Sunday, May 24
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.
RE Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon – Noon Sunday, May 31
If you have volunteered in R.E. this year, we want to celebrate you with a party! You and your family are invited to join us on Sunday, May 31, after service. We will be catering the event, so RSVP by May 17. Let us know how many people you will be bringing and any dietary requirements you have.
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.
