Together We Thrive!

Annual Pledge Drive is now taking place through the second week of June!

If you are ready to pledge right now and don’t need all the verbiage–just click here!

The Annual Pledge Drive is here—our opportunity to affirm the values that make our congregation a place of welcome, inspiration, connection, and action. Your financial commitment ensures NUUC remains a beacon of support—whether in worship, learning, celebration, or the pursuit of justice.  Last year, we planted seeds for sustainability, expanding programming and strengthening our children’s religious education. This year, we look outward and inward: growing our engagement, deepening our connections, and building teams that can help us serve more people. Every contribution matters. Together, we can ensure that NUUC remains a powerful force for good—for ourselves, our community, and the future. Please pledge today. We depend on those who have signed the membership book as well as friends of the congregation to make pledges that cover our operational costs. All contributions needed and appreciated! If you have participated in the worship services, religious exploration materials and classes, social and service opportunities, please pledge!

What is the Annual Pledge Drive?

Each spring the NUUC asks its members and friends to make a commitment of financial support (a pledge) for the coming fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Our Annual Pledge Drive provides the funds that make the life of our congregation possible. 

What are our Budget Needs This Year?

To continue thriving, we need to grow our budget. We aim to sustain our new and renovated facility, fairly support our staff, and expand administrative assistance so our minister can focus on leading and inspiring. Specifically, we need to assume more of the cost of the loan on our new and renovated facility into the operating budget (currently, our loan is being paid from reserve funds). We also would like to increase our commitments to our staff. We have not offered any increase in salaries for the last two years, as well as more than half of the budget cycles in the past decade—with the rising cost of living, our staff is compensated much less well than before. It is also time that we increased the amount of administrative assistance that we have; now we budget for five hours a week, which is not enough to support our vision for growth. Currently our minister assumes most of the administrative burden; we would love to see her freed up to continue to expand our mission.  

How Can I Pledge?

• If you would like to be contacted by a steward—a fellow member of the congregation who is helping us with our pledge drive–you can request one by writing to minister@nuuc.org.
• You can fill out a pledge form online–just click here!
• You can set up an automatically recurring donation by clicking here. If you already have a recurring donation and would like to increase your contribution, you can ask us to cancel your current contribution schedule, and then you can establish a new one (just write to minister@nuuc.org). 

What is a Pledge? Is it Binding?

A pledge is a commitment to donate to the congregation during the fiscal year—an intention, not a legal obligation. If your financial situation changes, pledges can be adjusted. Your support is vital to our community’s wellbeing, helping us plan our budget. For transparency, our budget is publicly approved each year.

Do I Have to Pledge?

Making and fulfilling an annual pledge deepens our faith and sustains the UUFC for the benefit of us all and the wider community we serve, but you are not required to make a pledge. You do not have to pledge to be a member, although you do need to make a financial contribution (of any size) annually. The congregation depends upon pledges to fund almost all our operating budget, so all are encouraged to make a pledge.

What Are My Payment Options?

• Online: You can give online by clicking on the big red donate button at www.nuuc.org.
• Mail a Check: Checks can be made out to NUUC, please write the word “pledge” in the memo line of the check, and mail to NUUC, PO Box 541, Lewis Center, OH 43035
• Required Minimum Distribution: for those who hold retirement accounts (401K, IRA, and some others) who are 72 or older (if you were born on or after July 1, 1949) or those 70.5 and older (if born before July 1, 1949), you can have your required minimum distribution (RMD) transferred directly to the NUUC. The advantage of this for you is that you then do not have to pay tax on these monies.

Help Make Cards for Individuals with Alzheimers

Join Cheri Tolley in Room 1 after worship on June 22nd to help spread some sunshine to individuals with Alzheimer's. Around 11:45AM please gather to create special cards for individuals with Alzheimer's. Card making supplies will be furnished. If you have a special pair of scissors bring them. Our goal is to make 100 cards. Let's spread a little sunshine!

Audio Visual Team Looking for Volunteers

Do you want to do something fun and interesting? Would you like working with rad technology and being part of a team? Consider becoming a member of NUUC’s Audio-Visual Team! Every Sunday, 2 team members manage the audio in the sanctuary for the Sunday service and they also handle broadcasting the Sunday service to the world using Zoom.

For the sound, the team uses the latest in sound technology, which is a 16-channel digital mixer. This mixer allows the person handling the sanctuary sound to use a digital tablet to adjust and control the sound while remaining in the sanctuary throughout the service.

The 2nd team member handles the Zoom broadcast from the audio-video room. This role involves panning and zooming the video camera and adjusting the sound for the video. This team member uses a variety of programs on an array of computer screens to manage the video broadcast.

The Audio-Video Team is looking to increase its size to reach their goal of having enough members so members will only need to handle audio-video on one Sunday a month. If you have limited audio-video experience, no problem- we will train you. If you are interested in joining the Audio-Video Team, please contact contact Bob Keith at bobkeith@zoho.com.

Religious Exploration at NUUC

Summer Sunday School Begins June 8

It's RPG summer for our youth! They'll be off on a variety of short campaigns. No RPG experience necessary - and we will catch anyone up who misses class. Our children will set their sights for Castaway Cove. We'll be doing crafts, playing games, and having lots of fun in the sun (weather permitting).

Special thanks to our summer teaching teams! John Daquila, Theo Daquila, Mary Dixon, Nancy Gamso, Sara Irish, Pete Kelly, Sarah Reeder, and Jewlia Whaley.

First Friday for Families - June 6 @ 6pm

Bring the whole family to NUUC for some casual community time. We'll provide dinner, play a movie (probably a Studio Ghibli film) for kids, and have time for adults to chat. Please RSVP with the number of people attending and any dietary needs to Morgan at morgan@nuuc.org today.

Trail Blazers: NUUC Summer Camp Aug. 4-8

For the first time, NUUC is hosting a summer camp! Learn more and register. We would love it if you helped us spread the word by sharing with your networks. In addition, we will need volunteers during the week of camp. Email Morgan at morgan@nuuc.org if you would like to volunteer.

Ongoing Ways to Connect

Mindful Writing meets monthly, with members sharing a variety of written pieces and thoughts. All are welcome! Please contact Marty Keith if you're interested in joining the group so she can send you time and the Zoom link. martykeith@zoho.com

Brown Bag Books Discussion Group meets monthly at noon on the Third Tuesday of each month, in Room 3 at church.  

Beyond Words Covenant Group Pam Spence is coordinating a new covenant group, "Beyond Words." The group will explore a variety of paths that help deepen spiritual connection focused on "whole body" experience by participating in local initiatives. Experiences we will pursue might include, singing bowls/sound baths, drum circles, chanting, labyrinth walking, heart-centered meditation, Dances of Universal Peace, animal assisted prayer and meditation - depending on the interest of the group. We will each be responsible for any fee involved and, of course, you are not obligated to participate in any of the events. Contact: pammy.spence@gmail.com or text at 740-816-1905 for further information. Pam holds a MA in Transformational Theater/ Sacred Drama from Antioch University and is a commissioned community minister through the Federation of Christian Ministries, licensed through the state of Ohio.

Life has a way of rushing by. Sometimes we feel the need to pause or to reflect more deeply. Join me for a virtual half hour of mindful contemplation that is inclusive, non-judgmental and expectation free. I’ll bring a mix of poetry, music, breathwork, silence, or meditation to create a space for you to relax. Participants are muted. Feel free to turn your video off. Please engage in whatever way feels most meaningful to you. A Space for Reflection is freely offered the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm on Zoom. Registration is required (link here).

As for me, Karen McGuire, the facilitator, I’m a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, a retired educator, and a trained Interspiritual Companion who finds it necessary to stop every once in a while, and pay attention.



Lessons Learned From Sixty Years

by Thomas A. McKean

Later this month, the clock ticks forward to where I am sixty years old. When I first started attending the NUUC, I was certain I was not going to see that happen. I'm not going to tell you what I've seen, most of you have seen the same things. And I'm not going into personal experiences because most of you know that as well. What I want to do this time is tell you what I've learned.

In no particular order...

I have learned our time here is limited. When we're young, we're also immortal. Or at least we think we are. Death is for old people and we'll never be old. But then we age and the reality sinks in that one day it will be our turn to go. Along with that, depending on what you believe, comes fear or eager anticipation. Some of us can't wait to "go home to be with the Lord." Others of us feel the weight of the uncertainty of death. I came to terms with this in the wheels. I am ready to go and I am at peace with it. I don't know what - if anything - awaits me on the other side. I have my thoughts on it, but I don't know for sure. I had to get to a place where I was okay with that and I did. This congregation was helpful with that. Thank you.

I have learned that a lot of what we believe is simply because we were told to believe it. Religious faith is an example of this. Our parents take us to whatever church of whatever faith and we carry forward with that as adults. Sometimes, when we grow older and we can think for ourselves, we ask valid questions that lead us away from what we were taught as kids. Others of us continue to accept things are true just because someone said so. I have learned it is okay to ask questions.

I have learned that I do not like voting a straight ticket in the elections. I have been through enough political training, service, and experience to know how our two party system is supposed to work. It was designed by our Founding Fathers specifically to make this country stronger as time went on. And if it was working as it was designed to, this is exactly what would be happening. But it's not working as it was designed to and it hasn't been for a long time. I am not happy with either party. They have placed me in position where instead of voting for who I want, I am forced to vote for who I do not want less than the other. I can't fix this. The ones who currently can, they do not seem interested. As an American citizen, I feel absolutely powerless, like all I can do is sit back and watch us deteriorate. It is not a good feeling.

I have learned that sometimes different isn't wrong, it's just different. I have learned that I am also different and that I don't have the right to judge others who are different. There is, however, one exception to this. That exception - at least for me - is whether or not that difference is harming others. I have problems with man's inhumanity to man.

I have learned to not live in an echo chamber. A lot of people do, a lot of people will watch only FOX or MSNBC. The Jehovah's Witnesses will disown you if hang out with anyone who isn't JW, and even the Bible itself tells us not to associate with anyone outside the faith. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14.) But while we may be more comfortable in the echo chamber, there is also no room to grow. 

One of the many things traveling taught me is there are so many different ways to perceive the world and the environment around us. It taught me to consider other points of view instead of dismissing them completely. This isn't to say I will always agree with those other views, but my mind has been changed before when presented with valid evidence. I want to always be open to that.

I have learned that despite what we are told (and despite the countless thousands of comics I have read), love does not always conquer all, good does not always triumph over evil. There are, and will be, days when the dragon wins. 

Okay - maybe Spider-Man can web the bad guy, maybe Wonder Woman can ensnare an evil doer in a magic lasso, maybe Batman can punch and batarang his way to justice, maybe at 60 I can still feel the same joy I did as a child every time I see that happen. But ...

... but the real world doesn't work that way. 

Darkness is out there. Evil is out there. There is no webbing, no magic lasso, no batarang, no power ring, no strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men that's going to save us. We need to save ourselves and right now we seem determined not to. I am believer in Roddenberry's vision of the future, but with things like Nazis currently free to walk our soil while waving their flag and hiding their faces, I also have my doubts that mankind will ever see it.

I have learned the world will change and go on without us. In my own field of autism, there are changes happening that I consider to be dangerous and harmful. But Elvis gyrating on the Ed Sullivan Show was also considered dangerous and harmful. We've had our time, now we pass the baton on to the next generation as the previous one did for us. And - like us - that generation will reshape the country and the planet as it sees fit, and sink or swim on it's own. We need to step back and allow them to do that.

I have learned the things we think matter really don't. It isn't about the mansion on the hill, the sports car in the garage, the designer clothes in the closet, the jewelry in the drawer, it isn't about keeping up with the Joneses. All of that will fade, it will be forgotten. What's important, the *only* thing that's important, is what we leave behind in the hearts and memories of others. One would hope we leave kindness.

I have learned that there are other things that just don't matter. Too many people think they do, but they don't. Things like the color of your skin, who you choose to love, what faith you choose to believe, where you were born, how much money or education you do or don't have, whether you're healthy or not, how much you do or don't weigh, things like this are all on the surface. What matters goes deeper. It is just one thing - whether or not you are a good person, whether or not you follow the law and care about others. As MLK said, it isn't about the color of your skin, it's about the content of your character. 

There is one other thing I have learned.

I have learned that friendship is real. Connection is real. Community is real. Another thing I learned from the traveling is the most important things are local and they matter just as much as any place else. We don't need to make a difference out there because there are differences to be made here where we are. I am currently serving on a board of directors that gives grant money away within the State of Ohio. I love doing that. The real victories happen locally at the grass roots level. Local friends, family, and community are what sustains us. That includes, for me anyway, the community at the NUUC. 

I can sit here and tell you what I've learned, that's easy. Putting it into practice, that's a lot harder. But I find that even as so many other things become more difficult with age, these things become easier. We are, I hope, forever growing. That isn't something we ever age out of. I know I am a better now than I was before. I hope soon to be a better person still. And on it goes.

If there is something you would add to this list, let me know. I'd love to hear your own take on aging.