Share the Spotlight!

UUCH is a community of Shared Ministry, and we invite YOU to share the spotlight.

Have you ever admired or envied the person who reads announcements and gets the service going on Sundays? Have you ever wondered how EASY it is to do it? Do you want to practice your speaking in front of a loving audience without having to compose anything? Are you craving an opportunity to ring the bowl? Do you want to show off your new haircut?

Being a host for our worship services could be for you! You don’t have to be a member of any committee to try it. You can do it only one time, or you can continue to be part of the rotation. Whatever is right for you. It’s TOTALLY SCRIPTED! No worries, no need to ad lib. 

Contact Suzey Delacey at pseuzieq@gmail.com to get access to the spotlight.

The Real Mission: How Do I Find My Own Values?

Part 2 of a 2-part article

“One of the best ways to research complex spiritual questions is to talk about them with children. That kind of conversation once brought me to explain the human soul as a night-light. It is always on, I said, and it never goes out. Even if you have your own eyes shut. It is still there, glowing in the darkness. And it will be there when you wake up, showing you a simple path to follow. The soul is the night-light of the Spirit.” ~Steven Charleston, January 30th 2023

Last week I posted a question that was asked by an 8th grader in an Our Whole Lives class on values: “How do I find my own values?” The OWL facilitator who was asked this question reached out to other facilitators to get some help with a response.

Who knew that an 8th grader’s question could send me on a professional and personal quest to search for a response And not just a response for them! A response for myself. How DO I find my own values? How DID I find them at all my ages and stages? How am I paying attention to them now?

This 8th grader’s question illuminated my personal and professional path. It was a bit of an epiphany. After over 20 years serving congregations as their lead religious education staff person, the process I had facilitated wasn’t just learning. It was a search and affirmation of values. An active experience being shared by everyone that included their church friends and many times guided by adults whose own values were clarified and sometimes challenged by answering “complex spiritual questions” of the children and youth.

It wasn’t “education.” It was values formation. And we do it all of our lives. Ideally, we do it in Beloved community. “As UU educators we are in the business of helping our youth feel held by Beloved Community, and practice their values by exercising character. And learn about religion and sexuality. Pretty much in that order. When we reverse the order, or don’t acknowledge the weighted role in each, it can be anxiety producing.” ~Sara Sutter

During the last OWL facilitator class, I asked the participants to list their top 4 values. Many struggled, but with integrity and interest. After they all shared their values they were asked, “How is sexuality education ministry?” Which in a way was asking them why they agreed to commit so much time and energy to the youth in their congregation. We all immediately reviewed those 15 lists of values. “That’s why, they all said.”

Many of you have been asked to be a part of the children and youth’s Sunday morning experience. You’ve likely been asked to “teach.” So many have said YES over the years and many continue to say yes. The “ask” may not be accurate. None of us are invited to just “teach.” We are being invited to learn, reflect, grow, affirm our Unitarian Universalist values, be joyful and inquisitive and hold brave space….we are being invited into Beloved Community.

When we wonder what families need at this moment in their lives, my observation confirms that this is what is needed. Experiences to connect, challenge, find joy and love, and yes, to learn. I see this every OWL class I teach at my own church; a small class of 8 youth. Each of those 7th graders are watching and absorbing those feelings.

It is my hope that we as Unitarian Universalists move into a more complex, heart-felt experience that cannot be reduced to a job description of “teaching.” I hope you all at UUCH are ready to launch into brave space….into Beloved Community. I look forward to seeing your “soul’s night-light.”

In faith,

Sandra Greenfield (my pronouns are she/her)

RE Transition Consultant living on the tribal lands of the Cocheco in NH

sandra.l.greenfield@gmail.com

Seed Starting Workshop This Saturday

Calling all gardeners and plant lovers: February is prime time for seed starting in Zone 8 and this Saturday, February 18 from 10 am to noon, Property Chair & Master Gardener Intern Paul Wieland will lead a free workshop on growing plants from seeds. The main goal is to start popular vegetables for our community garden to provide fresh vegetables for our Little Food Pantry, but home gardeners are welcome, too. No fancy equipment is needed. Potting soil will be provided and we'll have some trays, but if you have small plastic garden pots, yogurt cups, or egg cartons (especially cardboard cartons) they can be used, too. We'll have seeds for a variety of vegetables, but if you have seeds for your favorite vegetables bring them along! Depending on the weather, we'll either meet outside near the garden or in the Fellowship Hall.

This is also a great activity for plant-loving kids. Please RSVP to LaDawn Edwards at 319-431-7461

Sponsored by the Property Committee

Pizza at Pieology



Join us for PIZZA PIZZA on Thursday, Feb 23 at 5:30pm at Bridge Street's Pieology.

Please sign up so we know how many to expect. Sign up Genius link here.

Money will never be a barrier to participating in Fellowship at UUCH. If you need financial assistance to participate, please contact Rev. Jaimie at minister@uuch.org

Contact Sarah Rody at Sarah.Rody@live.com or Steve Rittenberg at srittenberg@gmail.com if you have questions. Thanks!

Sponsored by the Fellowship Committee

Join UUCH at the Community Kite Festival

March 4, 2023, from 11am to 3pm at John Hunt Park.

The 11TH Annual Community Kite Festival, “SOARING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,” is on March 4, 2023, from 11am to 3pm at John Hunt Park. It is free and open to the public. (See the flyer below). UUCH is supporting this event by hosting an exhibit table along with many other organizations in our community, and by encouraging all our members and friends to attend the festival. It will be a fun day of kite flying, social justice networking, food trucks, music and art activities for the entire family.

The Kite Festival was organized by AshaKiran in order to “foster inclusiveness, diversity, equity, and harmony across all ethnic and social backgrounds by bringing people together through kite flying and family friendly activities.” You can bring your own kite, purchase one there, or just sit on a blanket and watch.

The Festival includes an area for booth exhibits where local organizations can present information about their goals, and network with each other and the public. They call it a “social justice outreach event.”

The host organization for the event, AshaKiran, was started in 2006 to help foreign-born individuals experiencing crises such as human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence. Asha Kiran also focuses on working to overcome barriers such as language, cultural and/or religious stigmas.

How you can participate:

- We need some people to help set up our exhibit table and staff it from 11 am to 3 pm (in 1 or 2 hour shifts).

- We want everyone to come enjoy the festival – bring your family and friends. Wear your “Stand With Love” t-shirt if you have one.



If you would like to volunteer to help set up or staff the UUCH exhibit table, contact Nancy Finley finleyn@uah.edu or Brad Korb Bradley.s.korb@gmail.com . If you have any questions, just let us know. Hope to see you at the Kite Festival!

Sponsored by the Board

Stewardship Matters

What is “stewardship”? One definition (from Wikipedia) is this: “Stewardship is an ethical value that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources.” An important phrase here is “an ethical value.” In other words, how we take care of something reflects our values! In our case, that “something” includes all of the ministries that benefit us and the wider community, as well as our facility that we require for our communal gatherings and for administration.

Here are some opportunities for important volunteer engagement to support stewardship at UUCH:

First, we are currently seeking volunteers to host cottage meetings for the upcoming Annual Budget Drive. There will be a training session for that on February 25, although be reassured that you will not be asked to do the “selling” for the budget drive, but rather simply to host a good “listening room” meeting. We may need up to 20 households to host! Please consider signing up, and do so (soon!) on the Google document here. Email stewardship@uuch.org if you have any questions, and someone will be sure to get back to you quickly.

SAVE THE DATE! Our kick-off for our annual budget drive is Sunday, March 5 during our monthly potluck. We've planned fun activities for the whole family.... and cake will be provided! Bring a dish to share and join the fun as we celebrate our spiritual home and share our dreams for the future! See Zena Tucker if you’d like to help with this fun event!

Finally, we are seeking leaders and helpers for the UUCH Yard Sale, which is scheduled for the last Saturday of April. Please email stewardship@uuch.org if you think you might be able to help

Sponsored by the Stewardship Committee

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the UUCH. Support us every time you shop. Follow this link and search for Unitarian Church to choose us as your chosen organization.

If you have any questions about how to use the link, please contact Ryan Gonzales , Office Administrator, during office hours or send an email to the church office at uuch@uuch.org