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Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship | | |
THE FORUM
September 2026 | Issue 6
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Are you a shutterbug? Let us feature your photos in a future Forum!
Send your photos to Meredith at life@mvuuf.org
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In this month's Forum:
Read a message from Diane C. (Vice President of our Board), reflect on the joy of our Ice Cream Social, celebrate unsung hero Dori D., take a peek into MVUUF's past, discover a new segment of our newsletter, learn about our Committee on Ministry, find out about upcoming events and opportunities, and discover how you can be part of it all!
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| A Message from... Diane C. | |
Two years ago when MVUUF moved to its new home at St. John’s UCC, we knew that our beloved community would be different. As a member for about twelve busy fulfilling years, I was a greeter, a membership coordinator, a pianist for worship, active in the book club and the women’s group. I had developed as both a facilitator and a participant in “covenant groups,” and I felt like I was acquainted with most of MVUUF’s friends and members.
Wow, have things changed! Now we have many new members and friends, visitors and regulars, I see more new faces than familiar faces. I am more convinced than ever that to become part of the MVUUF beloved community, each person should strive to be part of one or more groups where you really get to know one another. Many such groups are available as we start a new program year, and the enthusiasm and excitement of Sunday’s worship and ice cream “social” was a great start. Read the Forum and the eBlast. Check the calendar for “happenings.”
As an elected board member, I am excited to be involved in completing the five-year Strategic Plan for Sustainability, inspired by the Listening Circles held in early spring. The board expects to have that plan available to all in the near future. We are also busy implementing the changes in the by-laws which you approved in June. You may be called on to volunteer more of your time and your experience as the fellowship searches for a new home even more suited to our mission, vision, and participation needs. Meanwhile, I hope to see you on Sunday at worship or in one of the many zoom or in-
person opportunities. Stay informed. Stay involved. You are needed in this
congregation.
Diane
Vice President of MVUUF's Board
| | | Memorable Moments From This Month | | |
Ice Cream Social
By Shannon H.
MVUUF celebrated the last few weeks of summer with our annual Ice Cream Social on August 23rd. "Socialites" got to choose between several flavors of Ice Cream (Mint chocolate chip and s'mores were very popular!) and community-contributed toppings like homemade rhubarb sauce and cookie crumbles. Thank you to veryone who brought toppings and helped with clean-up! It was great to see all ages socializing and enjoying a sweet treat together!
| | Additional Pictures From This Month | | Dozens gather for our Annual Ice Cream Social | |  | Congregants stand during our Blessing of the Backpacks service. | | | Rachel F. and Tina M. receive a Seminarian Blessing from Rev. Kellie | | | Jeff B., PJ B., Jessicah T., and Kristen B. sing during our America 250 service. | | | | |
Unsung Hero
Unitarian Universalist congregations are seeded, cultivated, and harvested by all who give. We are honored to celebrate those who give of their time, talent, and energy to this community and its mission.
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Please Celebrate Dori D.
Major life changes often have a way of leading us toward connection and community. And, that's exactly what happened to Dori D., this month's Unsung Hero. In 2002, after retiring from her career as an aero-space engineer, Dori visited MVUUF for the first time. She recalls, "my girl friends thought I would like it. My husband's children (all been UUs) have been saying for years that I would fit in. I had never before gone to church."
However, unbeknownst to her, Dori's Unitarian Universalist roots actually run deep! She explains, "Come to find out, my mother's mother was a UU from Boston. And I learned that my great uncle Ran was a UU minister. That's where my morals come from." And, it's those morals that have kept Dori at MVUUF for over two decades, "I enjoy coming to MVUUF to share and socialize with like-minded socially liberal people." And, she adds, "I really hope we can find a comfortable location for our like-minded people to gather."
Today, Dori leads our Ushers - a position she's held since 2006 - and volunteers at other organizations around Dayton. In particular, Dori volunteers at the SICSA, where she cleans cat cages, and at Cox Arboretum, where she and other volunteers "build/repair bridges, benches, trail signs, and play equipment for the Metro Parks." Sounds like fun!
| | | Did you know that, stored in our office, MVUUF has a collection of photo albums and memorabilia from the 1950's to the early 2000's? Did you know many of our current members can be found in the pages of those photo albums? Take your best guess at who is featured above. | |
Answer: Iris C.
This picture of Iris was taken 30 years ago in 1996. Today, Iris is still active - attending online services and other offerings. Next year will mark her 60th year of membership!
| Stop by our office TUE, THUR, or SUN to view our collection for yourself! | | MVUUF Moments that Made Us | |
This fall, MVUUF member and Seminarian, Tina Musgrove, will be researching the history and evolution of Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for her UU History and Polity course at Meadville-Lombard Theological School. That research will also become a new series of columns in the Forum called MVUUF Moments that Made Us. The series will explore the people, relationships, ministries, congregations, and gathering places that have shaped MVUUF—from our predecessor communities and their eventual convergence through the many thresholds that have brought us to our present moment.
Over the past 115 years, MVUUF has weathered financial strain, difficult transitions, fluctuating membership, and changes in governance. We have also worshiped together, gathered in community, communicated across differences, cared for one another in hard times, celebrated life's milestones, and visioned a better tomorrow for us and our world. Today, we are welcoming new members, strengthening community partnerships, reorganizing ourselves, and living into our mission. The thoughtful work undertaken by our deeply dedicated lay leadership and excellent staff is helping us.
MVUUF’s history lives in more than official records. It also lives in the memories, photographs, newsletters, documents, and stories carried by members and friends. In the coming weeks, Meredith and Tina will share more about the project and how you can help.
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We are a congregation with business to conduct, but we are more than an organization. We are a beloved community – a family of faith whose members have continued to love and care for one another through generations of change. By gathering our living memory, we can better understand what MVUUF has inherited, what has sustained us, what we want to carry forward, and what must be done to do the work now.
Look for the first MVUUF Moments that Made us column in the upcoming issue of the Forum.
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Worship & CYRE Schedule
(CYRE = Children and Youth Religious Education)
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Missed a service?
You can view past services, at your convenience, on our website. New worships uploaded by Wednesday of each week. Just click the button to the right.
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| This quarter (July - August), half of our plate collection will go to support House of Bread. House of Bread serves free, hot, nutritious lunchtime meals to anyone in need, 365 days a year. MVUUF is a member of LEAD (Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton); the House of Bread has been incredibly supportive of LEAD’s parent organization. House of Bread also serves meals to the Reentry Career Alliance Academy at the Montgomery County Office of Reentry. | | | |
Quarterly Offering Updates | So far this year, because of you, we have been able to donate $1,306.25 to House of Bread, and $1,326.26 to Miami Valley Immigration Coalition. That's a total of $2,632.51, and that doesn't even cover your donations toward specific offerings or resource drives! Thank you for your continued kindness and generosity. | | | | |
Last Minute Offering: Support Trans Kids
Wednesday, September 2nd @ 6:30 PM
Resurrection Lutheran Church
(1270 N. Broadway St. Lebanon, OH)
RSVP Required
Nico Lang is a longtime LGBTQ+ journalist, as well as the author of the award-winning national bestseller, American Teenager, which documents the lives of trans youth and their loved ones in seven different states. For the past 23 months, he's been traveling the country on a historic 50-state tour to bring their voices to as many communities as possible, and as part of that work, he'll be in Lebanon on September 2nd for a reading and Q&A, in conversation with civil rights legend Jim Obergefell. Reserve your spot now through Eventbrite.
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Food & Hygiene Drive for Springfield
Sundays, September 6th
ICE is terrorizing Haitian and other immigrant families in Springfield. The MVUUF Social Justice Committee is organizing a food and hygiene drive to help replenish items in the assistance boxes which are “flying out the door” in Springfield. Those who are able can donate any of the following items in the marked boxes as you enter worship on Sept. 6.
Please bring only these items:
- Dried beans – one or two pound bags
- Canned chicken
- Shelf stable milk
- Peanut butter
- Diapers size 5, 6, 7
- Shampoo, conditioner
- Dawn dish soap
- Laundry detergent
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Sanitary pads and liners
Also welcomed and needed:
- Bagged rice – one or two pound bags, apple sauce cups, cereal (boxed), mac and cheese (boxed), ramen (boxed), spaghetti (boxed)
- Canned: corn, peas, green beans, potatoes, peaches, ravioli, spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, tuna
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Diapers size 4 and under, toilet paper, baby wipes, toiletries (unopened)
Thank you for your generosity!
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Wesley Baby Shower
Sundays: SEP 20, SEP 27, OCT 4
Each October MVUUF helps put on a baby shower at Wesley Dayton Community Center. The baby shower is one part of a larger effort to reduce infant mortality in Dayton. Expecting moms who attend the shower are connected to vital resources and support such as home nursing visits, which help keep mom and baby healthy before and after delivery. Moms who attend also receive one of our gift baskets filled with essential baby supplies. Our goal is to provide 12 gift baskets. Our partners, United Women in Faith, will also provide gift baskets. This year’s shower will be held at the Dakota Community Center who are also key partners in this effort.
In order to fill our gift baskets, we’ll be accepting donations from SEP 20th through OCT 4th. There are several ways you can contribute:
- Purchase an item and place it in the collection bin located at the greeters’ area. The list of needed items includes: pack of baby socks, pack of size 1 diapers, pack of baby wipes, pack of bibs, plush baby blanket, pack of receiving blankets, baby safe stuffed animal.
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Purchase an item from our Baby Registry at Target online. The item will be shipped to Steve Steel for inclusion in a gift basket.
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Donate funds through MVUUF's online donation page. Just select “Wesley Baby Shower” from the drop down menu.
Thanks to everyone for your continuing support! Please contact Steve S. if you have any questions.
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MVUUF is a busy community - from weekly and monthly offerings, to one-off events and seasonal workshops, there is something for everyone. See below for an overview of this month's calendar; click the title of each offering for more information, or click on the button below for our full calendar. | | | |
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Scripture Study
Sundays @ 3:00 PM on Zoom (NEW TIME!)
Explore sacred texts from the world’s religions. Current text of study: the 1838 “Divinity School Address” by Ralph Waldo Emerson in which this famous Transcendentalist UU asks us to trust our own intuition of the Divine as a religious idea in our faith. For info contact John B.
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Women's Group
Sundays @ 10:00 AM on Zoom
The Women's Group is starting a new program year in September. The overall topic is "Building Beloved Community" and the topic for September is "Covenant." All women are welcome and anyone who would like to have the reading material should contact Diane C.
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Week 1 (September 6 - September 12) | |
Music Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 8th @ 7:00 PM on Zoom
Join our Music Committee for their meeting today! No music experience is required– just a love of music. Click the title above for more information and zoom link.
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Smart Choices Lunch
Thursday, September 10th @ 11:30 AM at MCL Cafeteria
This wonderful group of ladies gathers once a month to share about life and to celebrate birthdays. Click the title above to learn more.
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Social Justice Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 10th@ 6:00 PM on Zoom
Interested in "being the change you want to see in the world?" Join our Social Justice Committee today to get involved. Click the title above for more information and zoom link.
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Board Meeting
Saturday, September 12th @ 10:00 AM on Zoom
The Board of MVUUF does the work of governance, so we all may do the work of church. All are welcome to attend and observe their meetings. Click the title above for more information and zoom link.
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Week 2 (September 13 - September 19) | |
Food & Fellowship - Ingathering
Sunday, September 13th @ 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary
Food & Fellowship is now every Second Sunday of the month (except in December)! We hope this new, consistent date will make it easier for you and yours to participate. And, just in time for our annual ingathering (AKA Water Communion)! Please bring one of your favorite snacks to this month's Food & Fellowship Sunday.
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ALL AGES - Postcard Writing Party
Sunday, September 13th @ 2:30 PM in the Conference Room
As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the power of democracy. Now, our democracy is on the line. That’s why we’re inviting you – our adults, children and youth – to join us as we write “Get out the Vote” postcards ahead of the midterm elections. Click on the title above for more information.
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CUUPS Discussion Group
Sunday, September 13th @ 2:30 PM in the Chapel
Join our pagan group—Chalice of the Willow—today, after the service, in the chapel, for their monthly discussion. Click on the title for more information.
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Third Thursday Talk
Thursday, September 17th @ 7:00 PM on Zoom
Join us for this informal and informational lecture series! With 20 minutes of 'talk,' and 20 minutes of Q&A, this new Adult Enrichment offering is designed to fit right into your work week. New presenter every month! Check your eblast for future updates, and click on the title above for more information (including the zoom link).
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Field Trip to Heritage Acres
Saturday, September 19th @ 12:00 PM at Heritage Acres (796 Locust Corner Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45245)
RSVP by Wednesday, September 16th
About a decade ago Heritage Acres was founded by Rev. Bill Gupton and members of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church as a Green Burial Sanctuary. Join Rev. Kellie at Heritage Acres today to learn more about Green Burial and how it ties in with our Unitarian Universalist Values. RSVP required by Wednesday, September 16th. Please RSVP by emailing Rev. Kellie.
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Week 3 (September 20 - September 26) | |
LAST DAY TO REGISTER - Small Groups
Sunday, September 20th
Small Group sharing circles give you the opportunity to dive deep into compassionate, facilitated conversations around monthly spiritual topics relevant to your life. Meetings usually last two hours, and you have a choice – you can meet in-person or online. Register now! Conversation, compassion, connection - Small Groups: Dive Deep!
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CUUPS Maboon Ritual
Sunday, September 20th @ 6:30 PM in the Chapel
Join our pagan group, Chalice of the Willow (CUUPS), as they celebrate the harvest season with a Maboon Ritual. The ritual will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by a potluck meal. Click the title for more information.
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Sharing Stories Book Group
Wednesday, September 23rd @ 10:30 AM on Zoom
Join the discussion! Our Sharing Stories Book Group meets over zoom the fourth Wednesday of every month to discuss a different book. This month's book: James by Percival Everett. Click on the title above for more information and zoom link.
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Third Thursday Talks Workshop
Sunday, September 27th @ 7:00 PM on Zoom
You have expertise no one else does. We want to learn from you. Join us for this workshop so you may craft a 'Third Thursday Talk' of your own! Click on the title for more information.
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Adult Game Night
Saturday, September 26th @ 7:00 PM in the Chapel
What a better way to relax and build community than to play some games together! All are welcome. Click on the title above for more information.
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Week 4 (September 27 - October 3) | |
Fiber Arts Group
Sunday, September 27th@ 2:30 PM in the Chapel
Do you weave, sew, crochet, knit, felt, do needlework or macrame? Are you just starting to learn? If so, this group is for you! Please bring your own project to work on. Click on the title above for more information.
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CUUPS Full Moon Ritual
Sunday, September 27th @ 6:30 PM in the Chapel
Join our pagan group, Chalice of the Willow (CUUPS), as they gather to celebrate the full moon! Ritual to be followed by a potluck meal. Click on the title for more information.
| | | | Faith in Action: Social Justice | | | |
Dear MVUUF Friends,
Below is a list of upcoming local events and advocacy actions to take, as we continue in the spirit of the UUA’s Side with Love to “lament the cruelty on display…rejoice in the rising…to action, resistance and the power of community” and that “even in the storm, we carry something precious: a fire we refuse to let go out.” Learn more by clicking on the links attached to each offering.
Justice for Haitians
Friday, September 4th @ 3 PM on Zoom
Join Lynn B in a community Zoom to call and text for justice for Haitians. Lynn recently participated in this recurring activity and shares that it was good to be in community while doing needed advocacy. Hear updates from Amnesty International and Haitian Bridge Alliance, receive instructions to make and log a few phone calls followed by sending text advocacies. Preregistration required at Amnesty USA's website.
Protest Art
Through Saturday, September 12th at The Contemporary Dayton
(25 W. 4th St.)
A few weeks left for this incredible experience. Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi, Black-and-white art quilts memorializing the lives and legacies of Black freedom fighters. Learn more at The Contemporary's website.
ACLU Ohio Trivia Night on Voting Rights
Tuesday, September 15th @ 7 PM at Jimmie's Ladder Company 11
(936 Brown St.)
Two free tickets available! The $25 fundraiser tickets include trivia, light refreshments, and an ACLU swag item. Not in your budget? Contact Meredith to claim one or both tickets donated to MVUUF. Learn more at ACLU Ohio's website.
Dayton Hispanic Heritage Festival
Saturday, September 9th @ 11 am to 11 pm at Riverscape
(237 E Monument Ave)
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Hispanic Heritage Festival! Learn more on Facebook.
Call to Action
Advocacy
Please join UUJME (UU’s for Justice in the Middle East) to call for the termination of all deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi. Mahdawi is a UU connected, lawful, permanent US resident, Columbia University student, and Palestinian human rights activist. You can sign the petition here.
Thank you for also reading the weekly eblast for social justice events and advocacies!
| | | A traveler couldn’t find the local Unitarian Universalist church. After looking in the center of town, in the suburbs, and out in the surrounding countryside. the traveler asked a farmer “Am I too far out for the UU church?” The farmer’s reply: “Nobody is too far out for them.” | | | | |
