NUUC December 2023 Newsletter

December 2023

Construction Update:

NUUC to Return to our Church Home on Christmas Eve

Work on our newly renovated and expanded building is proceeding apace! Our last worship in our temporary location at the Delaware County Historical Society Barn will be Sunday, Dec. 17. Our first worship back home in our own building will be Sunday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve at 7 PM (no morning worship that day). We will celebrate Christmas Eve as usual, with a ceremony of candles, choral music, carols and story. Sunday worship on Dec. 31 will return at the usual time of 10:30 AM with a New Year's related theme. And then on Sunday, January 7, we will officially dedicate our new building during the 10:30 AM Sunday worship, with a celebration to follow. Look for a formal invitation to the building ceremony in mid-December. We're almost there, and we can't wait to show you our new facility!

NUUC Seeking Applications for Part Time Custodian

Unfortunately, our Custodian Ken Burkard is experiencing some health challenges that require him to retire. Consequently, we are now accepting applications for this position, details below. Please pass this announcement on to anyone you might think is interested. And, if you know a good place to post this job opportunity, please let Rev. Susan know at minister@nuuc.org.

Part Time Custodian Wanted

To Apply:

To apply send a cover letter and resume via email to Rev. Susan Ritchie at minister@nuuc.org on or before December 15, 2023.

Background:

The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a small-medium sized progressive church with a newly renovated and expanded building in Lewis Center Ohio. We are seeking a resourceful and reliable part time Custodian.

Job Summary:

· Performs regular cleaning duties in all parts of the building. Vacuums and sweeps or damp-mop floors, dusts, and cleans surfaces. Removes trash and recycling from bathrooms, kitchen, offices, sanctuary and meeting spaces. Thoroughly cleans the kitchen and restrooms.

· As time allows, conducts deep cleaning tasks such as washing windows, cleaning kitchen appliances, cleaning the carpets, etc…

· Ensures kitchen, custodial and bathroom supplies are kept in stock and notifies office staff when ordering is necessary. Advises church on appropriate equipment needed to perform cleaning tasks.

· As directed, arrange sanctuary, fellowship hall or meeting room chairs and tables for special events.

Qualifications:

· High reliability and good attention to detail

· Ability to work independently, to prioritize tasks appropriately, and choose appropriate projects for deep cleaning

· Experience with large scale cleaning or maintenance a plus but not a requirement

Job Terms:

This part-time job is for 10 hours a week at an annual compensation of $8250. Hours are very flexible. Job to start January 2, 2023. The Custodian reports to the Minister.

Calling All Singers!!

Have you been enjoying our choir? Have you noticed how much fun we have? Would YOU like to be a part of that fun???

The New Year is an EXCELLENT time to join the choir! If your New Year’s resolution is to get healthy, singing in choir can do that for you! Studies have shown that singing in a choir can boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness. Additionally, singing has been shown to lessen anxiety, stimulate memory, and increase lung capacity. Singing is GOOD for you!

Come join the choir family! We rehearse on Sunday mornings before the service, so no midweek commitment. Choir members get a midweek email with information about Sunday’s rehearsal and video links to help with home practice. During each Sunday rehearsal, we go over several pieces to prepare for the upcoming weeks, so you have plenty of time to get familiar with the songs. All voices are welcome! We’re in extra need of sopranos!

If you have any questions or would like to have your name added to the choir list, please feel free to contact Molly Watson at mollystarfish@gmail.com.

An Update from Former Intern Minister Liora Gubkin Malicdem

Dear members and friends of NUUC,

It has been a few years since we worshipped, learned, mourned, and celebrated together through my time with you as a ministerial intern in 2020-2021. We are once again in a time of tumult and challenge, and my hope is that you continue to support one another as you did so beautifully when we co-ministered one another then.

Some of you are aware that I officially began my journey toward ministry in 2012. It was an amazing journey filled with wonderful colleagues, congregants, friendships, and service. NUUC played an essential role in my journey, and my life was blessed by the precious time we spent together.

Last year I accepted a position as dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences at California State University, San Marcos in northern San Diego county, which set me on an unexpected trajectory. I am profoundly grateful for the skills I developed through the ministerial formation process, especially as your ministerial intern, and my ability to use them in service to a diverse community in my new position.

I lead the largest college at a public regional university where approximately half the students identify as Latinx and just over 50% are first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. I oversee 25 degree programs that include @ 6000 students and @ 430-500 faculty depending on the term. It is a fulfilling job with amazing challenges and opportunities to support these students on their educational journey and help create the conditions where both students and faculty can thrive.

After an intensive discernment period over the past two years, I realized that I had to fully say 'no' to my ministerial path to say a fully open-hearted 'yes' to this shift in my calling.

Therefore, with much gratitude for all who have supported me along the way, I concluded my affiliation with the Unitarian Universalist Ministerial Association.

I may not be a minister, but I continue a life of ministry in this broken world longing for wholeness.

With much love,

Liora Gubkin Malicdem

P.S. Our university communications office recently published a profile on me and my deanship. I thought you might enjoy it:

Dean's Formative Experiences Made Her Right Fit for CHABSS

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. The next meeting is Orange Branch of the Delaware library, 12 noon on December 12th to discuss The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable Life of a 109 Year Old Man . Contact Ruth Rusk with questions: rutharusk@gmail.com.

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.