Your monthly news & updates
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Biographies of Board Nominees
Lyn Savidge: Lyn grew up in Michigan but doesn't want that held against her because she then attended and graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in Business Administration. Not able to decide between business and law, she went on to earn a Master's in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron. Lyn utilized both her business and law education working in the health care industry throughout her career, retiring as the Chief Executive Officer of a healthcare management company in 2010. After retiring Lyn moved to Columbus and has utilized her education and work experience by being involved with and serving on the Boards of multiple non-profit organizations including the Columbus Museum of Art Sessions Society, the Columbus Symphony League, Altrusa International, the Women's Club of Powell, and Horizon Prison Initiative. Lyn has two daughters and six grandchildren who all live in the greater Columbus area. For relaxation Lyn likes to do yoga, walk, read, and throw pottery.
Bruce Reed:
* Member of the UU church for 20 yrs.
* Board member of First UU for three years. Project manager for First UU church expansion.
* Lives in Worthington with his wife Patricia Reed, also a North UU member.
* Likes the North UU small church experience. And definitely Susan whom Patricia already knew.
* Retired after 30+ years in IT as developer and project manager.
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Congregational Meeting Called for June 7, 2020, Immediately Following Worship
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Your Board of Trustees has called a congregational meeting for immediately after worship on Sunday, June 7. The meeting will take place on the same Zoom Video Conference platform as the worship. The purpose of the meeting will be to elect two new board members. In March, the Nominating Committee had proposed two names for two the board positions opening in March. The Covid-19 crisis caused us to cancel that planned meeting.
Please know as well that the board is anticipating calling a more robust congregation meeting for early July for the purposes of receiving the year end financial report, electing the Nominating Committee vacancies, hearing an update from the building expansion committee, reviewing virtual operations, and approving a budget for fiscal year July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021. Please contact board@nuuc.org with any questions.
The March report regarding the board vacancies is here:
The nominating committee would like to submit the names of two persons to serve on the Board of Trustees: Lyn Savidge and Bruce Reed (biographies in the column to the left). Lyn has been serving on the Board following the vacancy of Lynn Foreman, whose seat now expires. We are delighted to be able to put forth Lyn as a candidate for a full term of her own. The additional vacancy is that of Molly Watson, who retires from service after faithfully fulfilling her three-year term.
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New Programming: "UU Identity," "Exercise with David Jon," and, a Preview of Youth Programming in Development
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UU Identity: A Virtual Summer “Boot Camp”
Rev. Ritchie will be offering an exciting new virtual learning opportunity this summer. “UU Identity: A Virtual Summer Boot Camp” will meet for an hour and a half virtually twice a month in June, July, and August (the exact day and time will be coordinated with the schedules of those registering for the class). This course is intended to be an in-depth treatment of topics intended to develop and enhance Unitarian Universalist identity. We’ll cover our history, our polity (how we organize authority), our theology, and explore the basis of our commitments to social action. Participants can expect to spend two to three hours between each class session watching some video presentations and doing some reading (all of which will be provided online). While this course is geared towards adults, young people interested in serious engagement are most welcome. To register, write
minister@nuuc.org by Sunday, June 7, at 2:00PM. Classes will meet virtually using ZOOM video teleconferencing. Not used to zoom? No worries, we will provide assistance.
Religious Education for Young People
Our Director of Religious Education, Jen Aultman, is currently working with volunteers from the congregation to develop robust virtual programming for our younger people. In the works are story times for the youngest, a virtual game and book club for those in upper elementary and early middle school, and a complete virtual Coming of Age program for 8th-12th grade. Stay tuned here for more details.
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Exercise with David Jon
David Jon Krohn will lead all interested in a 15-20 minute exercise class every Sundays at 11:45 AM, following the worship, on the same Zoom connection, and starting June 7 (the start time on June 7 might be slightly delayed by the congregational meeting called for that day). The class will be lively and fun, and requires no special equipment or preparation. People of all fitness levels are welcome. David Jon has been dancing professionally for 55 years and has been working as a personal trainer for about 20 yrs. Here’s what David Jon has to say: “As a gymnast and dancer I was exposed to a wide variety of injuries and therapies. For many years I did not have health insurance and that gave added incentive to me keeping in shape and staying healthy. I follow my own fitness routine (not every trainer does) and for decades I’ve collected articles, studies and information about the benefits of exercise, especially endurance or aerobic exercise. I hope this will be a fun class and only as demanding as you want to make it for yourself. The most important thing about ANY exercise routine is that you ACTUALLY DO IT! Being in good condition is the best way to resist health hazards. I’ll give tips on how to get more out of what you do right now. I hope you will join me.”
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"Building a New Way" Pledge Drive Announced
June 1-June 20, 2020
Dear NUUC Members and Friends,
If you told me six months ago that I would be writing the annual stewardship letter after two and half months of living under a global pandemic, I likely would not have believed you. Or, if I did, I certainly would not have been able to imagine in detail all the strange and difficult ways we are now living. And yet as a people, we have proven to be resilient, and this does not surprise me at all. This is why we are calling this year’s annual pledge drive for support of the annual budget, after the title of one of our hymns, “We Are Building A New Way.” We will be running this drive between June 1, 2020, and June 20, 2020.
We Are Building A New Way: Virtual Programming
We made a quick pivot from face to face meeting to virtual operation. Worshipping together in videoconference was a new experience for all of us, and especially needed as we process the many losses associated with the Covid-19 crisis. Our attendance on Zoom worship has been between 77-99 different devices (many shared by more than one person), which is up for our average face to face attendance of over 70. Our worship continues to be enriched by the gifts of our talented musicians even under these difficult circumstances. Thanks to Wade Jones for his inspiring piano solos, and to our intrepid Music Director Marlene Hartzler for her weekly live singalongs and as well as the stunning debut last week of the NUUC Virtual Choir. We also moved quickly to create other online options for connection beyond worship. We have an informal check-in and conversation every Wednesday at Noon and we formed three “Soul Matters Small Groups” for facilitated check-ins and spiritual reflections. In June we add an all summer-long intensive course in UU Identity, and on a lighter note, a fun-driven exercise class (see the June newsletter for the details).
We Are Building A New Way: Virtual Programming for Young People
Our Director of Religious Education, Jen Aultman, is currently working with volunteers from the congregation to develop robust virtual programming for our younger people. In the works are story times for the youngest, a virtual game and book club for those in upper elementary and early middle school, and a complete virtual Coming of Age program for 8th-12th grade.
We are Building A New Way: A Glimpse into the Future
Currently it is not clear when it will be safe for us to open again for face-to-face large gatherings. And yet we know when we do, we will have been changed by the experiences we have had online. One of the best things about our virtual operations has been the ability of people to participate who might not ordinarily make the drive to Lewis Center. We’ve enjoyed the company of beloved members who now live in other parts of the country, as well as people with health and mobility concerns dating prior to Covid-19, not to mention people who might just prefer to worship in lounge clothes and with a cup of their own coffee. Even when we re-open we are committed to being a hybrid congregation, with fulsome offerings in both our face-to-face and virtual manifestations.
We are Building A New Way: Operational Health
While many of us have suffered serious financial hardship because of Covid-19 related changes to our economy, many of those who were able generously stepped up their giving. Donors have told us that they have been inspired not only by our programming, but by our justice-based commitment to retain staff as if we were operating normally. Our financial bottom line also benefitted from a grant from the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program that insulated us from the loss of income from not being able to hold a service auction this year. For these reasons we anticipate closing the fiscal year on June 30 with no deficit and no reductions in staffing. We will give you a full accounting at a congregational meeting in early July, during which we will also ask members to approve a budget based on the results of this pledge drive.
We are Building A New Way: Notes on our Expansion Project
We continue to move ahead with our exciting building expansion project. Currently, the Building Committee is working with our construction consultant and architect to complete the details that will allow us to bring our complete plans before Orange Township and proceed to develop a construction timeline. Once we have our construction documents, we will be able to present to the congregation the final cost for the total project and bring our capital campaign pledge drive to completion. If you have not made a pledge to the capital campaign, you will have an opportunity to do so then, as well as adjust previous pledges. For more information on the Building Expansion Project, please see the “Building Expansion” menu tab on our main website: www.nuuc.org
Ways to Make a Pledge
3. You can speak to an actual living person! Indicate your interest in talking to a steward through by
clicking here
4. You can go to our online donations platform and set up a recurring gift to be paid from either a deposit account or credit card. Gifts made in the Month of June that are set up to be recurring will be considered pledges. You can access our online giving platform by
clicking here
Thank you for many forms of support you offer our congregation. I could not even imagine better “ship’s companions” for navigating these uncharted waters.
Warmly,
Rev. Susan Ritchie and your NUUC Board of Trustees
P.S. Need to know the last amount your pledge or do you have any other question not addressed here? Drop a line to minister@nuuc.org
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Help Feed the Hungry
St. John's United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus has asked for help with providing and serving the free bagged lunch they offer to the hungry each Wednesday at noon. We've agreed to handle the food and the serving on Wednesday, July 15. Rev. Susan Ritchie, Rev. Chris Jones-Leavy, Pam Patsch and Donna DeGeorge have already committed to help, but we need volunteers for the following. Please email minister@nuuc.org if you can help. Mask wearing and social distance provisions are expected. Needs:
Two additional volunteers: set bags and bottled water on tables, greet guests & distribute
Three volunteers: make 25 bagged vegetable side dishes and drop them off at NUUC by noon 7/14
One volunteer: purchase 75 pieces of fruit and drop them off at NUUC by noon 7/14
One volunteer: purchase 75 bags of chips and drop them off at NUUC by noon 7/14
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Resources for Support of Racial Justice
In light of the widespread protests and unrest this week regarding the murder of George Flloyd and other persons of color, here are some resources for things you might do if you don’t feel called to direct protest.
If you would like offer direct support front line activist protesting racial injustice, consider a contribution to the Columbus Freedom fund which offer assistance with bail and other legal expenses.
If you are a white identified person, do not just assume that you personally are anti-racist just because your intent
ions are good. Make sure you are educating yourself about how white privilege works. Educating ourselves means we all must learn to become capable of thinking systemically. What is going on is not because there are a few randomly violent people or bad apples out there. Our institutions and culture are themselves biased. The UU has a self-lead curriculum, Examining Whiteness, that offers a good first step:
https://www.uua.org/racial-jus
tice/curricula/whiteness
Consider Martin Luther King’s words: "America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots.” Are you condemning systemic racism as often as you express concern about riots?
Make sure that you are bearing witness to the primary targets of racism. If you are a white identified person, don’t make your response to events be about your distress, as in: “I am so distressed about the death of George Floyd.” Instead, be crystal clear that the events and their underlying systemic racisms are themselves distressing.
Speak up. Systemic racism depends on subtly and unsubtly racist things not being called out in those circles where white people are having conversations among themselves. A
ll the public protests in the world can’t manifest justice until it is brought into our personal spaces. Name racism when you hear it.
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Mowing at NUUC – We Need Some Help
For this mowing season, the Building and Grounds Committee (B&G) again plans to handle the mowing using the same approach as last year, which will avoid us having to contract out the mowing and save about $3,710 in the budget. With activities being limited by the COVID-19 virus shutdown, we have had to adjust our mowing plan for this season.
When mowing started in April, we limited the mowing to 3 members of B&G on a rotating basis. However, now that activities are starting to open up in the economy, we feel it is time to expand the mowing to include volunteers from the congregation. We will be taking recommended virus precautions for volunteers. But we want to point out that the mowing is mostly a solitary activity.
Our plan is for the B&G Committee to handle the mowing on a rotating basis with some help from the congregation. B&G Committee members will mow 3 weeks of each month, and the 4th week plus sometimes the 5th week will be handled by a different volunteer from the congregation. This approach will spread the work so each committee member will mow about once a month, and each congregational volunteer would mow just one time during the season. Our approach will keep everyone's work commitments reasonable.
The areas to be mowed include the church yard (bounded by the driveway and the parking lot) plus the yard around Nielsen House. The southern field at the rear of our property and the west side of the parking lot are excluded and will be mowed separately by the B&G Committee members.
We got a zero-turn riding mower about 2 years ago, which can be used for almost all of the mowing.
The mower’s cost was totally funded by a very generous donation from Gary and Ruth Rusk, plus a generous donation from John and Lynn Foreman. For a few small, tight areas, which the zero-turn mower cannot handle, we then use a self-propelled push power mower. If you are not familiar with using a zero-turn mower, we will give you some brief training for about 15 minutes that gets you familiar enough with the mower to comfortably mow the main parts of the yard. You will still trim the edges of the yard with the self-propelled push mower. Using a zero-turn mower is fun and allows the mowing to be done in about half the time. But, some people prefer to use the push mower to mow the entire yard instead of the zero-turn mower.
We would like to get 1 or 2 volunteers from the congregation each month to mow one time in the season. The mowing season runs from April through early November. But this year volunteers from the congregation only will be needed beginning in the 2nd week of June through October. One of those months will contain 5 weeks and require 2 volunteers, so we need a total of 6 volunteers.
Please consider volunteering to mow one time this season. If you would like to help the church handle the mowing, you can see the mowing sign-up schedule posted at this weblink:
3.ly/a74rs
. To get scheduled, just pick a date that works for your schedule and then contact Bob Keith at
bobkeith@zoho.com
or 740-369-1919. You also can contact Bob if you have questions or would like more information.
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NUUC Virtual Connection Information
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Here is the Information you Need to Connect to All NUUC Virtual Gatherings:
Join Zoom Meeting directly with this link (no password required):
Or join by going to https://zoom.us and manually entering this information:
Meeting ID: 754 112 6323
Password: 152468
Or dial by phone and enter the meeting ID and password manually:
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
Meeting ID: 754 112 6323
Password: 152468
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Soul Matters Small Covenant Groups
Soul Matters Small Groups invite people to deepen their connection to self, others, and spirit, through regular monthly meetings, reflection and spiritual practice. Soul Matters Small Groups consist of 6-8 people, one of whom acts as facilitator, who meet once a month for one and a half hours. Like covenant groups, group meetings provide opportunity for personal check-ins, with the additional of a mutual exploration of a monthly theme.. Groups have already started meeting, but if you are interested, we can still try to work you into a group just email minister@nuuc.org
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Other Adult Enhancement Updates
The
Second Monday Morning Covenant Group used Zoom Video Conferencing for the May meeting, discussing “Our Authentic Selves and the Roles and Filters We Use.” Participants will “zoom” again on June 8, 10 am until noon, if they cannot meet at the church. The topic on June 8 will be “Handling Anger.” Please contact Marty Keith for new developments and instructions for joining the meeting.
The
NUUC Women's Group also utilized Zoom capabilities for the Sunday, May 31, session, to talk and bring each other up to date. Zoom can be used in the future as well, if needed. Again, please contact Marty for information.
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