Next Sunday, February 4, following the service Steering Committee members, Allison Fagan and Rod Meyers, will be available to answer questions about where we are with the building process or just talk with those who are interested about how we got to this point. Questions, comments and concerns are welcome!
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Mindful Writing, NUUC's opportunity for people who like to write prose or poetry and to share these thoughts with others, has resumed meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Next session: February 21.
The Women's Group meets the third Monday of each month, 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Due to risky, snowy road conditions, we canceled January's meeting. We'll wrap up our discussion on Yaa Gyasi's novel, Homegoing and then choose our next project on February 19. Everyone identifying as a woman is welcome!
For information about these two groups, please contact Marty Keith.
In addition, Dick Leavy will be leading "A Spiritual Exploration" class on February 14, 21, and 28 (Wednesdays) fr
om 7:30-9:00 pm. Please contact him if you have questions.
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It's coming! What's that? The exciting Service Auction, a Country Bash, Saturday, April 14 in the evening, starting at 5:00. What a fun way to shake ourselves free of winter!
What to expect: A rousing Live Auction, a Silent Auction, a Theme Basket Auction, and even a Kids' Raffle Auction; PLUS country related activity booths and delicious food.
What to do: Please donate services or goods!
● It might be a theme dinner, lunch, or party you could host.
● It might be something you are skilled at doing, such as music lessons, fitness training, or photography.
● It might be a much-appreciated service, such a ride to/from the airport, or yard/house work.
● It could be some article you can make, like a piece of art, a scarf, jewelry, or gourmet food
(a brisket! pies!)
● OR, you might put together a theme gift basket.
To give you ideas, the catalogs from the past 6 years are available on the NUUC website (see weblink below) and in Fellowship Hall. Another good source is the Theme Gift Basket Idea Book, also in Fellowship Hall.
Deadline for Donations is Monday, March 5. You can submit your donation using either the paper donation form located in Fellowship Hall, or you can use the online All-In-One Donation/Volunteer/
Registration Form found at
www.nuuc.org/service-auction
Questions? Please contact Chris Aultman ( [email protected] or 614-365-0944, or one of the other "Service Auction Magic Makers" (SAMMs): Bob Keith (chair), Dee Burlison, Lynn Foreman, Trina Timson, Jan Bourke, Marty Keith, and Azin Sharifi.
With your help, NUUC can have a great Country Bash!
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...from your Steering Committee
As you probably know, a Congregational Meeting was held after service on Jan. 14 to vote on the 2018 budget, to authorize funds for NUUC building improvements, and to grant status of Minister Emerita to our Community Minister Chris Jones-Leavy, who recently retired. The sanctuary was decorated with balloons and a banner, in the spirit of the celebratory nature of the meeting. We had very good attendance and quite a bit of meaningful discussion before each vote (all of which passed). Here is a recap:
Treasurer Diane Conley gave a review of the balanced budget for 2018, before and the a motion was made to approve it. One important point to note is that the employee compensation values each include a 2% Cost of Living increase over last year. Also, under Administrative Expenses, you will might see notice a substantial increase in bank service charges, from less than $100 to $1,770. This is due to a 5% charge on pledge payments made by credit card. If you contribute electronically and can have the money withdrawn directly from your checking account instead, the fee will beis only 25 cents per transaction.
Next, a motion was made to approve the necessary funds for moving forward with possible renovation and/or expansion of our building. This includes $10,000 for the capital campaign feasibility study, plus $16,520 for the architect and $7,000 for the construction consultant to begin work on the first phase of the project. The deliverables that we will receive at the end of this phase will be a planning report and a site plan that shows basic space definitions based on input regarding wishes and priorities received from five congregational groups (Music, Administration, Religious Education, Buildings & Grounds, and Social Outreach).
During the final agenda item, Rev. Susan Ritchie made a motion to name Rev. Chris Jones-Leavy "Minister Emerita." She explained that while this was partially in recognition of Chris' recent retirement, it is also a great honor-recognizing both the distinguished nature of her ministry and her ongoing presence among us. Chris then spoke about how much she had appreciated the support of the congregation that ordained her while she was performing her hospice work in the community. After the meeting, there was a party in Fellowship Hall with cake and noisemakers.
So now that this important meeting is behind us, what's happening next and how can you stay involved?
First of all, on Jan. 23 you should have received an email from NUUC with a link to the Next Steps Weekend report. If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to review the suggestions that Barry Finkelstein, the feasibility consultant, has made regarding our process moving forward. (There is also a hard copy of the report near the blackboard in the vestibule of the sanctuary, along with other documentation about the committee structures and timelines.)
Second, if you have not yet had a chance to share your ideas about NUUC's future plans, please email them to
[email protected]
or talk to one of the Steering Committee members (listed below). And if you see a way that you would like to participate, seek out the appropriate people to let them know. If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, etc., be sure to raise them. While the Steering Committee is leading the way, this is a process that involves the entire congregation.
The Steering Committee
Allison Fagan, chair Teri Cornell
Chris Jones-Leavy Dick Leavy
Rod Myers Lauren Richards
John Rodeheffer
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Social Justice News
Our Loose Change Offering on February 11, 2018 will be donated to the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio. SARNCO is part of OhioHealth and is the sexual violence intervention and prevention program serving Columbus and Franklin County. SARNCO Programs and Services include: 24-hour emergency room advocacy; 24-hour rape helpline; sexual violence prevention program; aftercare advocacy; and recovery resources. See the bulletin board for more information.
PEACE-BUILDERS is having a "Party with a Purpose: Supporting DACA Dreamers". On Saturday, Feb. 3rd, from 1-4, Peace-Builders will host a letter-writing Party at the University Baptist Church (Lane & High). This Cookie and Conversation Drop-In -- is a continuation of Peace-Builders' raising awareness and support for DACA. Given the tight timeline by which Congress must act (Feb. 8), the goal is a strong turnout of young people and their parents from diverse faith traditions. On Feb. 3rd there will be cookies, drinks, art and writing supplies and opportunity to meet new people. PEACE-BUILDERS is a group of youth and young adults (ages 13-24) in Central Ohio who provide leadership in building positive communications and face-to-face interactions among people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. One of their goals is to provide a visible and strong youth presence in events promoting cultural and religious unity (e.g., Interfaith marches, workshops, conferences, etc.).
UUSC FAIR TRADE COFFEE: Shop for delicious Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate after the service on Sunday, February 4, 2017. Your purchase of Fair Trade products means that workers along the supply chain are provided a living wage. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) supports a number of worker-owned, local producers who are in danger of being replaced with multinational corporations that have little respect for workers' rights. Making consumer choices that are aligned with our UU Principles is one way to help create a more just world community.
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