The Forum: September 2022 Newsletter

The Forum

Miami Valley Unitarian

Universalist Fellowship's

Monthly Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2022

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE FORUM!

Did you know that your email server often

cuts off a big part of our messages to you?

They think our newsletters are too long--

we think MVUUF has a lot going on, hehe!

If you would like to read the entire email message and learn about ALL the exciting things happening at MVUUF, please click HERE

DEADLINE FOR THE OCTOBER 2022 FORUM

If you'd like to have an announcement published in the October 2022 edition of The Forum, please make sure to send your info

to the Editor, Jennie Freiberger, at admin@mvuuf.org by

Friday, September 23rd.

We'd love to read what YOU have to offer!

SECTIONS INCLUDED THIS MONTH:

Staff Notes

Children & Youth Religious Enrichment

Adult Religious Education

Small Group Ministry

Around the Fellowship

In-Person Activities

Showing Up for Social Justice

Save the Dates for October

STAFF NOTES

FROM REV. KELLIE:

My Dear Ones,

It’s that time of year again—my favorite time of year—Ingathering. Our fellowship year starts with Ingathering in September and ends with our Flower Communion and semi-annual congregational meeting in June. During July, our committees and groups often reduce their fellowship workloads so staff and lay leaders can rest and enjoy the summer. You’ll notice significantly fewer folx in Sunday worship because many are choosing Nature’s cathedral for the short time summer provides. In August, we begin planning for Ingathering and the start of the new fellowship year, filling up the MVUUF calendar with discussions, activities, and social justice events. Finally, on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we join hundreds of our sibling UU congregations across the United States in our beloved homecoming ritual, Water Communion. This year, we will host a potluck afterward so that everyone has an opportunity to reconnect with dear friends and make new connections. We hope you’ll be able to join us in-person for this special day!

(If you are feeling under the weather or following strict COVID protocols, we’ll still be multi-platform with Zoom and Facebook Live access. We won’t leave you out!)

As I mentioned in my letter last month, we have so much good stuff happening this fall and there are even more events to add to last month’s LONG list:

SEP 11th We are hosting a Miami Valley Immigration Coalition (MVIC) workshop, with incredible speakers.
SEP 17th Our Affiliated Community Minister, Rev. Dr. Alice Diebel, will be hosting our first of several voter registration actions.
SEP 18th Somaya Bernard, our Director of Religious Education, and Shannon Harper, our Lifespan Religious Education Rep, will offer a Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE) Volunteer Training immediately after the service—with lunch provided!
SEP 27th & OCT 2nd Our new Long-term Sustainability Task Force will host a Zoom town hall on Tuesday night (9/27) and an in-person lunch (10/2) to gather your ideas for making MVUUF financially sustainable in the new Post-COVID world.
OCT 9th I am co-hosting a Climate Response Lunch with our phenomenal Social Justice Committee (once again with lunch provided).
OCT 22nd We are hosting a Newcomer Dinner for members and friends who started attending during COVID. We are inviting the Board and Program Council to join us so our newbies can make or strengthen their MVUUF connections.
OCT 23rd CYRE Trunk or Treat (Need I say more?)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

While we hold the anticipation and excitement that come from all the new energy pouring back into MVUUF, I know that most of us are holding anxiety and fear as well. The return to school can be especially stressful for many of our families and our congregants who work in the schools. The relentless inflation of the last year continues to climb—making it harder for us all and devastating for some of our congregants and community neighbors. The continued war in Ukraine, global economic disparity, increasing climate disasters, loss of US legal protections, and fragility of our democracy are terrifying to us, as well as our world siblings. And this list is obviously far from complete.

When we add the stresses of our personal lives and our vast world to MVUUF’s current sustainability issues, it can feel overwhelming (and rightfully so). It is a lot to hold—too much to hold. Yet, it is only too much to hold if we try to hold it by ourselves as individuals and families. If we spread out the burden, the load, we can stretch and grow together.

The next time you feel anxious or overwhelmed—whether about your personal life, our world, or your spiritual home—remember that you are not alone. You have us and we will share the load. We will hold it so you can rest. We will remind you that the possible always looks impossible until it happens. We will hold hope for one another. This isn’t the time to retreat under our covers and skip worship. This is the time to participate—to engage—and most importantly, to hold onto each other tight. We can do this together.

May we remember that we are stronger and healthier when we are together. May we give ourselves permission to put roots down in this liminal space; to remain open, present, and hopeful as we learn to live in this new space; to play, imagine, dream and fantasize in this playground of possibility. May we know that discomfort and uncertainty are necessary for growth and transformation. May we find joy in the questions and joy in the Changes. May we live everything.

I pray for your health, growth, and flourishing.

With gratitude and love,

Kellie

Rev. Kellie Kelly

Mobile (847) 804-4614

Email minister@mvuuf.org

Appointment Scheduler: calendly.com/kellieuukelly.

How and When to Reach Me:

The best way to reach me quickly is to text or call my mobile phone between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM on my office days: Monday through Thursday.
Unless a pastoral care emergency, I typically do not return email messages, text messages, or calls on the following days: Sunday is "Church" and Friday is my personal Sabbath (day off).
For non-emergencies, please feel free to send me an email or text reminder if you don’t receive a reply to your message in 3 days.
You can also schedule a quick call (less than 30 minutes) or longer meeting/visit (60 minutes) with me online: calendly.com/kellieuukelly.

What I’ve Been Seeing, Reading, Listening to, and Watching:

*Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or Pacific Islander author(s)

**Important antiracism reads

Washington Post

New York Times

The Atlantic

Dayton Daily News

Apple News+

*Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings by Joy Harjo

**My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Minds and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

*You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel by Akwaeke Emezi

*The Parted Earth: A Novel by Anjali Enjeti (about the Indian Subcontinent Partition)

*Harlem Shuffle: A Novel by Colson Whitehead

The Vanishing of Esme Lennox: A Novel by Maggie O’Farrell

Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt

*Tales from the Café: A Novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (bittersweet time travel)

*The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan (similar to Handmaid’s Tale)

*Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart: A Novel by Alice Walker

The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Margaret Atwood

The Furies: A Novel by Natalie Haynes

March: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks (Little Women from the perspective of the father)

Becoming Elizabeth—1^st season (Starz)

Never Have I Ever—NEW season! (Netflix)

Persuasion (Netflix)

Hotel Portofino (PBS Masterpiece)

A MINUTE FOR MUSIC

It's the beginning of a new church year, our "homecoming" or in-gathering, which we honor with our Water Communion ritual on Sunday, Sept. 11th. It makes me remember the words of a Methodist hymn: "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together..."

But there are so many activities, committees, projects, groups, programs, etc. in which to participate here at MVUUF, it can feel a little overwhelming. I know that I can't do all the things I believe are important each week like: reaching out to offer pastoral care, attending Zoom meetings, assisting our immigrant neighbors, getting new voters registered, self-care, oh....and planning music each week! It is always a balance over the course of months.

My wish for each of you is that this Fall you will find the niche here at MVUUF that feeds your spirit and helps you feel supported and loved as a part of our community. And when you do, know that your involvement is exactly what makes us the church together.

---Sara Davis, Director of Music

CYRE NEWS

I don't know about you, but summer really

flew by in our household this summer. It's hard to believe the kids are already back in school and even harder to believe that we have been handling a global pandemic for the last 2 years. Things seem to be trying to go back to normal now. Our lives seem busier, being packed full of events and activities we put on hold during the pandemic. It's hard to know what to prioritize when everything seems to be back in full force.

A lot of us promised ourselves that we wouldn't let our lives get so mindlessly busy again, we enjoyed the still and the quiet of being able to rest, and enjoy our family's company without having to rush off to the next practice, rehearsal, meeting etc. My hope for us as a whole of people is that we can still find time to slow down. Truly slow down, take time to not think about work, or school, or the things that we have to do. I hope that we can find the time to enjoy each other's presence without worrying about where we need to be next.

We have started the hiring process for two childcare providers, a prek-5th grade teacher and a youth group advisor! (Wooo!) I am so excited that we have the opportunity to do this and looking forward to what this will mean for our children and youth programing.

With the new program year starting, we are rolling out the 2022-2023 CYRE Registration. We are hoping to have registrations in by Sunday, October 2nd. With CYRE being mostly volunteer based we do require that each parent volunteers throughout the year so that we can continue to offer our programming. The link to the form is below:

https://forms.gle/S4jvoZHrDRusbmJ58

---Somaya Bernard, Director of Religious Education, re @ mvuuf.org

OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE CALENDAR

SEP

4th (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie

UUs on the Wrong Sides of History

11th (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie & Somaya Bernard, Director of Religious Education

Worship For All Ages: Water Communion & In-Gathering Potluck

18th (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie

Radical Welcoming

25th (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

OCT

2nd (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie & Somaya Bernard, Director of Religious Education

Worship For All Ages: Animal Blessing

9th (multi-platform)

Rev. Kellie

Why Multiculturalism Matters

To attend the service on Zoom, please use the following link:

https://uuma.zoom.us/j/95381147453?pwd=Wng5YXFTUnJ0NU44aHhySUxCQjBrUT09

Meeting ID: 953 8114 7453 and Passcode: 869000

CHILDREN & YOUTH

RELIGIOUS ENRICHMENT

What's Ahead: CYRE Calendar, CYRE Committee,

Juust Breathe Podcast

CYRE CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

4th no events this Sunday

11th Worship For All Ages: Water Communion

18th CYRE Classes for 2022-2023 begin!

25th CYRE Classes; Nursery (infants thru 3 years)

OCTOBER

2nd Worship For All Ages (no CYRE Classes; Nursery available)

9th CYRE Classes; Nursery

16th CYRE Classes; Nursery

23rd CYRE Classes; Nursery

30th CYRE Classes; Nursery

CYRE COMMITTEE

Our Children and Youth Religious Education Committee is open to all. Whether you have children in the CYRE program or not, the committee if always looking for people to teach classes and/or volunteer to help with family-friendly activities.

The committee is not currently meeting at a regular time but if you have any questions or would like to join the committee please contact our Director of Religious Education, Somaya Bernard, at re@mvuuf.org.

JUUST BREATHE PODCASTS

Looking for a podcast that's interesting and covers topics of interest to UUs? Then take a listen to JUUst Breathe Live Podcasts, where youth ministry has a say! Hosts Shannon Harper (yes, THAT Shannon Harper!) and Eric Bliss interview youth and adults who hold a vision of liberal religious youth ministry that is both life-saving and spirit-lifting.

Among some of the topics are: Dinner Church, Mental Health First Aid, Climate Change, Resonance in Activism, and more!

Click below for the link to check them out:

JUUst Breathe Live

ADULT

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

What's Ahead: Scripture Study, Daytime Book Club

SCRIPTURE STUDY

Sunday Mornings, 9:00 AM

If you are interested in learning about different religions, and especially in the writings from those different religions, then you should consider attending our weekly Scripture Study. They meet every Sunday morning, beginning at 9:00 AM on Zoom; you can contact John Bierman if you have any questions at johnbierman78@gmail.com.

To join their Zoom meeting, use the information posted below:

To join the gathering online, click the link below---

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/424304843?pwd=RFcyeTlpR2J5bVRoZlk3TElEU3UzUT09

Passcode: 720015 Meeting ID: 424 304 843

DAYTIME BOOK CLUB

Third Wednesday Each Month

Wednesday, September 21st, 10:30 AM

Our Daytime Book Club continues to meet monthly to discuss a featured book; here's what they'll be discussing on Wednesday, September 21st, 10:30 AM on Zoom: The Maid by Nita Prose.

What are they reading next? Here's a list:

OCT 19th--The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

NOV 16th--Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

If you'd like to join them online, please click the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83229588801?pwd=RHlBM2Z4WnBXZzJyWnc3WmpRN3VuUT09

Meeting ID: 832 2958 8801 Passcode: 224361

SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

What's Ahead: Small Groups Sign-Ups, Women's Group

SMALL GROUP SIGN-UPS COMING SOON!

Are you hoping to strengthen your connection to MVUUF? Create new connections at MVUUF? Or deepen your connection to that which is greater than us all?

In these difficult times, it is even more important for us to be part of a loving community that can support us as we seek to understand our lives, create meaning, find the Holy, and grow into new ways of being. Our Small Group ministry provides this spiritual grounding by creating small groups of 6-10 MVUUF members and friends who travel together for a year, meeting once a month via Zoom. Groups meet from October through June.

If you are new to Small Group ministry or even to MVUUF, fear not! We follow a simple formula of non-judgmental listening that makes even the shyest of hearts feel comfortable: we contemplate a topic, share from our experiences and beliefs, listen deeply, and get to know one another. Small Group ministry is one of the best ways to forge new connections and develop friendships.

Watch for a special email as well as notices in future Friday eBlasts and don’t miss out. Registration involves sharing your name, phone, email and selecting your preferred small group choice. For additional information or to express an interest in facilitating a group this year, contact Diane Colvin (diane70colvin@gmail.com) or Rev. Kelly (minister@mvuuf.org).

WOMEN'S GROUP

Sunday Mornings, 9:00 AM, on Zoom

This weekly group is open to all who identify as female, and they would love to have you join them for one of their interesting and thought-provoking discussions!

To join the gathering online, click on the link below---

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/339923301?pwd=eFJVNWZaSTRPdHQ5NkM4REt2WTg3QT09

Passcode: 042027 Meeting ID: 339 923 301

AROUND THE FELLOWSHIP

What's Ahead: Pronoun Stickers, Pictures for New Website, Family Area in the Sanctuary, Pastoral Associates,

Voter Registration Training, Alternative Worship Experience (AWE) Training, Welcome Session, Acoustic Folk Jam,

Annual Minister Review Town Halls, Board Meeting,

Long-Term Sustainability Town Hall,

Deep Canvassing Training, Production Team

PRONOUN STICKERS NOW AVAILABLE!

Did you know we now have pronoun stickers available? We do, and you can find them on the Welcome Table in the Gathering Space. Feel free to stick one on your wooden name tag (members), plastic-coated name tag (friends), or your stick-on name tag from the Welcome Table.

Why is it important to know each others pronouns? Click HERE to find out why it matters.

PICTURES FOR THE NEW WEBSITE

We now have an online folder for collecting pictures of MVUUF and MVUUF activities to be used on our new website. Do you have any pictures you'd like to share? Of course you do!

Please make sure that when you save your pictures you save them with the highest resolution possible, as those are high quality photos needed for the website.

You should use the link below to upload your photos:

https://mvuuf.org/?ff_landing=3

FAMILY AREA IN THE SANCTUARY

We have added some activity supplies to a table at the back of the Sanctuary (just inside the doors at the west end of the room). When you are entering the Sanctuary, feel free to pause a moment and find something to keep you little one(s) occupied during the service, if you'd like to do so.

After service, please make sure to return the supplies so that we can continue to enjoy them during future services. And if you make any "creations" with the wiki stix, feel free to keep them, or leave them behind to inspire other artists!

PASTORAL CARE ASSOCIATES

The Pastoral Care Team at MVUUF is a group of lay leaders who volunteer their time to tend to the heart of our community. Led & guided by Rev. Kellie, this group reaches out to or works with individuals who reach out to the Team who are in need—for many different reasons. You can reach out to anyone on the Team at any time, and rest assured all info is kept confidential.

Mike Fanelli

fanellimike@aol.com

937.231.6359

Steve Steel

steel.steven@yahoo.com

937.304.4087

Maury Wyckoff

mwyckoff@woh.rr.com

937.478.2993

You can also reach them at: pastoralcare@mvuuf.org

Many hands (and hearts) make light work.

VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING

Saturday, September 10th, 10:00 AM on Zoom

Learn how to assist people in registering to vote!

For more details, please contact Alice Diebel at diebelalice@gmail.com or 937.350.7763

ALTERNATIVE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE (AWE) TRAINING

Saturday, September 10th, 1:00 PM

What does worship mean to us in a modern age, both as individuals and as a fellowship? MVUUF will be hosting a forum and discussion on this and related topics on Saturday, September 10th at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary at MVUUF. Please bring an open mind and questions to ask. We hope to learn from each other and learn more about ourselves.

It is hoped that this discussion, possibly the first in a series, will help us shape our services in the future. We'd also like to engage the congregation in exploring alternate forms of worship, and how our shared faith can fill these needs in our lives. If any of this sounds interesting to you, please plan to join us!

WELCOME SESSION

Sunday, September 18th, 12:15 PM, in the Library

following the Worship Service

Are you new to MVUUF? Would you like to know more about the Fellowship and what we have to offer?

We offer a Welcome Session monthly where you'll have the opportunity to find out more about our Fellowship and meet Rev. Kellie and other members of MVUUF.

While we have been having these sessions multi-platform, this month's meeting will be in-person only.

We hope to see you there!

ACOUSTIC FOLK JAM SESSION

Third Tuesday Each Month

Tuesday, September 20th, 7:00 PM, on Zoom and in-person

We will gather on Tuesday, September 20th, starting at 7:00 PM at the Fellowship. Please feel free to bring any music/lead sheets or just lyrics you'd like to share. Instrumentalists, singers and just "listeners" are all welcome!

No need to RSVP but text or email me if you have questions or concerns. The more the merrier! Hope to see you there.

--Sara Davis,

Director of Music, music@mvuuf.org

To connect with us online, please use the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87689689805?pwd=SVltaFVTWVpKNWRPVDllOW5oSTREQT09

Meeting ID: 876 8968 9805 Passcode: 639360

ANNUAL MINISTER REVIEW TOWN HALLS

Thursday, September 22nd, 7:00 PM, on Zoom

Sunday, September 25th, 12:15 PM, in the Sanctuary at MVUUF

These Town Halls are for our members & friends to have a chance to voice their thoughts as the Committee on Ministry gathers congregational information as they prepare for their annual review of Rev. Kellie's performance over the past program year. Your participation is invaluable as they go through this process, so please try to attend a Town Hall; we have scheduled two meetings, one on Zoom on a Thursday evening, and one in-person after a Sunday service, to try and accommodate different schedules and needs.

If you will be attending the Town Hall on Zoom, please use the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84305376789?pwd=cDd5YzBHMVA1RDZ5cmN0K2h4aGxZdz09

Meeting ID: 843 0537 6789 Passcode: 817295

BOARD MEETING

Sunday, September 25th,

2:00 PM, on Zoom

Our Board meetings are open to EVERYONE, and time is set aside at the beginning of the meeting to answer any questions our members and friends may have for Board members.

The next Board Meeting will take place (on Zoom) Sunday, September 25th, at 2:00 PM.

To join the Zoom meeting, click below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81521323250?pwd=YWgxKzlWRnJXZDFiTG9pT1ZYbWIrdz09

Meeting ID: 815 2132 3250 Passcode: 003493

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY TOWN HALL

Tuesday, September 27th, 7-8:00 PM, ZOOM only

Join the Long-term Sustainability Task Force for their first town hall session and share your ideas for helping MVUUF become financially sustainable in 2-5 years. In this initial series of meetings, we want to get creative and try to generate as many options as possible. No idea is too big or too outlandish. They need your unique perspective!

As a reminder, the Long-term Sustainability Task Force will not make any decisions for the fellowship. Appointed by the Board, these committed members will create a plan that represents our members' ideas, needs, and dreams. The fellowship will then vote on their plan at the June 2023 Congregational Meeting.

If you cannot attend this meeting, there will be another town hall, in-person with lunch, immediately following the 11:00 AM service on Sunday, October 2nd.

DEEP CANVASSING TRAINING:

AN INTRODUCTION TO DEEP CANVASSING

Tuesday, September 27th, 7-9:00 PM, online

If you already know you'll want to learn the ins-and-outs of Deep Canvassing, please make sure to register for The Intro to Deep Canvassing training with LM Davis!

The session will be from 7-9:00 PM, on Tuesday, September 27th. You can register for that session HERE.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Tuesday, September 27th, 7:00 PM, on Zoom

The Production team typically meets on the 4th Tuesday each month at 7:00 PM on Zoom. This team includes Zoom host and co-host roles as well as in-person AV Booth and Mevo roles. Those interested in learning more about what we do and potentially volunteering on this team are invited to join us.

You can do so by using the Zoom link below:

https://uuma.zoom.us/j/95267921276?pwd=NDlsaG10ZE1uZzRXekpVeU9KZlRkQT09

Meeting ID: 952 6792 1276 Passcode: 381047

IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES

What's Ahead: Choir, Kettering Holiday at Home Festival, The Friel Sisters in Concert, CUUPS Monthly Discussion,

In-Gathering Potluck, Peace Heroes Celebration, Voter Registration Event, Radical Welcoming Workshop,

Sewing Circus

CHOIR

Every Wednesday Evening

Each Month, In the Sanctuary

Our worship Choir is back, meeting in-person every Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM, in the Sanctuary!

If you are seeking a fun and supportive way to connect through music, you are invited to give the Choir a try! We would love to have more voices join us as we look forward to singing in service two Sundays every month. Contact Sara Davis, our Director of Music, if you want to know more at music@mvuuf.org.

KETTERING HOLIDAY AT HOME

Sunday, September 4th thru Monday, September 5th

10:00 AM-6:00 PM

Fraze Pavilion & Lincoln Park Blvd., in Kettering

This year, our MVUUF Ambassadors will be working at a booth at Kettering's Holiday at Home! If you stop by to see them, you'll also enjoy arts & crafts, an auto show, concessions, entertainment, and much more...it's always a great time, so make sure to stop by!

CONCERT WITH THE FRIEL SISTERS

Thursday, September 8th, 7:30 PM, in the Sanctuary at MVUUF

Please join us on Thursday evening, September 8th, as we welcome The Friel Sisters for an evening of beautiful Irish music! Tickets are just $10 at the door, and the concert begins at 7:00 PM. Please tell your family & friends, as well, so we can make sure to greet these talented women with a great big crowd!

If you'd like to find out more about The Friel Sisters, please visit:

frielmusic.com

CHALICE OF THE WILLOW (CUUPS)

DISCUSSION GROUP

Second Sunday Each Month

Sunday, September 11th, 12:30 PM,

in the Founders' Room

Our pagan group, Chalice of the Willow (CUUPS) has a discussion group on the second Sunday of each month, beginning at 12:30 PM. It's a great way to find out a little bit more about pagan beliefs & traditions, and to converse with others in a comfortable, non-judgmental atmosphere.

This group will be meeting (in-person only) at MVUUF; meeting dates can be found on the MVUUF calendar. You can find out more by contacting Tina Porter at ladyosun@yahoo.com.

IN-GATHERING POTLUCK

Sunday, September 11th, following the Worship Service, at MVUUF

Each year, we begin the church year with our annual Water Communion service. After we celebrate this beloved UU ritual together, let's share a potluck lunch and reconnect with one another.

Early September is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and will make eating together safer. If our beloved Ohio weather doesn't cooperate, we will have an outdoor tent and will set up tables throughout the fellowship to accommodate a variety of risk tolerances. At the end of August, look for the Sign-up Genius information in our weekly eBlast so that we have enough food and volunteers for set-up and clean-up.

Hope to see you there-- we've missed you!

PEACE HEROES TRAIL 2022 CELEBRATION

Saturday afternoon, September 17th, 12:30 PM at MVUUF

Make sure to click HERE to see ALL the great details

about this wonderful celebration!

ALL DAY VOTER REGISTRATION EVENT

Saturday, September 17th, 3-7:00 PM, Fairborn Community Park

Spend an afternoon in the park and assist people registering to vote!

For more information, please contact Alice Diebel at diebelalice@gmail.com or 937.350.7763

RADICAL WELCOMING WORKSHOP

Saturday, September 24th, 1-3:00 PM, at MVUUF

This workshop is designed for ALL MVUUF congregants (yes, that means YOU!): friends and members alike; greeters, ushers, and MVUUF ambassadors; folx who attend worship frequently or infrequently; fellowship leaders and volunteers; folx who attend service in-person or online; folx who are part of our Facebook group, Beloved Community.

This is the type of workshop that makes some people roll their eyes, yet we know that "welcoming" isn't "common sense" because "common sense" is just another myth. What is welcoming to one person can be off-putting to another. Learning how to welcome in an inclusive way is an important part of our mission to practice compassion, make connections, and pursue justice. We have much to learn from one another!

Help us share our mission and message with the larger Dayton community!

SEWING CIRCUS

Saturday, September 24th, 2-4:00 PM, at 758 Grants Trail, 45459

Our next meeting date for Sewing Circus “performers” is Saturday September 24th, from 2-4:00 PM. Wearing face masks is encouraged due to the high rate of COVID-19 transmission. We meet at 758 Grants Trail, 45459.

Those with completed stuffed animals or baby quilts for the Wesley Baby Shower may bring them to our circus on September 24th or get them to Steve Steel at MVUUF. It sounds like those will be given out in October; Steve needs them in September so he knows how much to purchase. A big thanks to Bonnie Thompson, who already got a stack of baby quilts to Steve!

Sewing Circus:

Open to those who sew, knit, crochet, craft, color, etc. No skill level required. Bring your own materials and equipment for personal projects. Wearing face masks is always okay, as long as covid-19 continues.

Our purpose:

Sewing Circus provides encouragement for all creators, and moral support to makers of baby quilts for the Wesley Dayton Baby Shower.

“Performers” are welcome to help make bibs, stuffed animals, and the baby quilts.

Schedule:

Sewing Circus meets monthly, in person when possible. Contact cqofdayton@gmail.com to get on our email list for the monthly update on whether we are zooming or meeting in person.

Looking ahead, let’s get together next month:

On Saturday, October 15th, we plan to meet from 2-4:00 PM at 758 Grants Trail 45459.

Questions? Contact cqofdayton@gmail.com

SHOWING UP FOR

SOCIAL JUSTICE

What's Ahead: Mark Your Calendars, West Dayton Action Group, Transgender Alliance Group, Taproot, Social Justice Committee, UUA Transgender/Non-Binary Monthly Gathering

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The West Dayton Action Group has many events planned over the next few months and we need your support to make them successful.

Upcoming events include:

September 11th-25th Annual collection of baby supplies for Wesley Dayton Baby Shower
October 2nd Assembly of gift baskets for Wesley Dayton Baby Shower
Mid October- Baby Shower at Wesley Dayton

Stay tuned for more details on all these events and how you can participate!

WEST DAYTON ACTION GROUP

First Tuesday Each Month

Tuesday, September 6th,

6:30 PM, on Zoom

If you are concerned by the conditions of our siblings living in West Dayton, please consider attending our West Dayton Action Group. They meet--on Zoom--the first Tuesday of every month, and have already developed and participated in several actions to benefit those living on the west side of town.

The group will next meet on Tuesday, September 6th, at 6:30 PM.

You can find out more by contacting

Bob Lewis at bobslewis@hotmail.com.

TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE GROUP

Second Thursday Each Month

Thursday, September 8th, 7:00 PM

MVUUF's Transgender Alliance Group meets each month on the second Thursday; the group is a supportive place of community for transgender folx and their allies.

For more information, please email René Hick, rene@hickfamily.net.

To join the Zoom meeting online, click below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84107866724?pwd=T0pXZnVYTVRSZzR6MmZmeVZxNThldz09

Passcode: 774615 Meeting ID: 841 0786 6724

TAPROOT:

A NATIONAL BIPOC SPACE

Second Thursday Each Month

Thursday, September 8th, 9:00 PM

The work of spiritual community is complicated in the 21st century. The need for faithful leadership that is grounded and resilient is imperative. This is all the more true for leaders within our communities and congregations who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC).

All too aware of this need, Congregational Life is excited to explore and co-create a network with congregational leaders that support them in this time in emergent ways through Taproot: A National BIPOC Space. BIPoC Leaders rooted in the Unitarian Universalist congregations are invited to take part in this monthly, virtual gathering.

To register online, please visit:

https://uua.wufoo.com/forms/m1w669841ox9xn1/

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Third Monday Each Month

Monday, September 19th, 6:30 PM

Our Social Justice Committee offers many different ways for you to "be the change" you'd like to see in the world: immigration action, improving conditions in west Dayton, literacy & tutoring projects, and the list goes on.

Feel free to join their next meeting by using the info below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85022429356?pwd=dmhiKzIzZzhvTTdwbTBpQ1JzWVlpdz09

Passcode: 613674 Meeting ID: 850 2242 9356

UUA TRANSGENDER/NON-BINARY MONTHLY GATHERING

Fourth Tuesday Each Month

Tuesday, September 27th, 8-9:30 PM, online

Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings focused on trans, nonbinary, and other not (completely or at all) cis UUs. Join us to connect with other trans/nonbinary UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like)!

These gatherings focus on getting to know each other and on sharing our collective dreams, ideas, and talents for this space. Expansive definitions of trans, nonbinary, and UU all apply. If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t cisgender, it’s a space for you.

NOTE: This space is intentionally multi-generational. It is open to and welcoming of trans/nonbinary elders as well as children, youth, and young adults. Standard UUA online safety measures apply to ensure all people under 18 are able to attend. We're glad to have you here!

To join them online, use the link below:

online at https://www.uua.org/lgbtq/transnb

SAVE THE DATES FOR OCTOBER

What's Ahead: Animal Blessing, Long-term Sustainability Town Hall, Climate Response Lunch, DRUUMM New Member Orientation, Starting Point Sessions, Newcomer Dinner, Special Congregational Meeting Regarding Endowment Withdrawal