Posts by UUCSS (Page 5)

March Volunteer of the Month – Maggie Hayes

Maggie Hayes grew up in a Methodist family in Kansas, but early in her college years she came to the realization that she was no longer a believer.  For most of her adult life, the New York Times (especially the crossword puzzle) was her preferred way to spend Sunday morning.  Yes, there was a foray into Unitarian-Universalism at Cedar Lane more than 25 years ago, but she didn’t develop much of a connection with that church.  After retiring from the State Department, and at the end of a long marriage, space opened up for a small “s” spirituality, and Maggie began to see a place for a church community in her life.  So, encouraged by long-time friends Doneby Smith and David Miley, she arrived at our doorstep.

February Volunteer of the Month – Michelle Levesque

Michelle Levesque had tried but had accepted that religion wasn’t going to help her understand her mother’s death when she was 14.  Even so on Christmas Eve, 1990 she suggested to her sister, Nicole Levesque, “Why don’t we go to that thing you go to?”  The thing Nicole went to was a Unitarian Universalist Church and there was one in Chandler, AZ reasonably close by.

January Volunteer of the Month – Matthew Rice

In his seventeen years Matthew Rice has never missed a Catoctin weekend. What inspired him then and inspires him now is that unbeatable combination of community in a beautiful natural setting. Protecting our natural world has become extremely important in Matthew’s life. He believes that our culture is unsustainable in its use of resources and from the age of twelve has been a vegetarian.

Upcoming Sabbatical for DRE Sarah Gonzalez

Dear UUCSS members and friends, Director of Religious Education Sarah Gonzalez will be away on sabbatical for one month starting January 16, 2017 and returning on February 16, 2017. Her sabbatical committee, made up of Miranda Bradley, Phil Doyle, and Corita Waters, have been working with Sarah to prepare and have created a guide with…

Gathering in Community Following the Election

On Wednesday, November 9th, Rev. Liz and I invited people to gather with us at the church to process the results of the presidential election. We began together in the Sanctuary, and then I met with a number of children in the Community Hall while the adults continued processing with Rev. Liz. I wanted to share…

November Volunteer of the Month – Dorothy Hale

Dorothy Hale had become a self-described “troublemaker” in her New York Baptist church and UUism’s religious diversity was attractive. A Hindu-Catholic wedding and a visit to a Wiccan coven in a Brooklyn UU church enticed Dorothy into joining Community Church of New York where major religious festivals from around the world were celebrated weekly.

Turning towards covenant in a difficult time

Our monthly ministry theme for the month of September is covenant, and that theme is particularly poignant for me during this time. Many of us, myself included, are grieving over the resignation of associate minister Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley, and as we come to terms with this transition I see some people turning to our congregational covenant. But what does it mean to covenant with one another, particularly in times when we may be feeling broken?  Are our covenants uplifting us or are they silencing honest expression of pain?